Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?

Duke. There's fome in hope.

Prov. It is a bitter Deputy.

Duke. Not fo, not fo; his life is parallel'd

Ev'n with the ftroak and line of his great juftice;

He doth with holy abftinence fubdue

That in himself which he spurs on his pow'r

To qualifie in others.

Were he meal'd

With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;

But this being fo, he's juft. Now are they come. [Knock again.

This is a gentle Provoft, feldom when
The fteeled goaler is the friend of men.

Exit Provoft.

How now? what noise? that spirit's poffeft with hafte
That wounds th' unrefting postern with these strokes.

Provoft returns.

Prov. There he muft ftay until the officer

Arife to let him in; he is called up.

Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he muft die to-morrow?

Prov. None, Sir, none.

Duke. As near the dawning, Provoft, as it is, You fhall hear more ere morning.

Prov. Happily

You fomething know; yet I believe there comes
No countermand; no fuch example have we:
Befides, upon the very fiege of justice,

Lord Angelo hath to the publick ear

Profeft the contrary.

SCENE VII. Enter a Mejenger

Duke. This is his lordship's man.

Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Me. My lord hath fent you this note, and by me this further charge, that you fwerve not from the fmalleft article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumftance. Good-morrow; for as I take it, it is almoft day.

Prov. I fhall obey him.

[Exit. Meffen.

Duke. This is his pardon, purchas'd by fuch fin

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,

When it is born in high authority;

When

When vice makes mercy, mercy's fo extended,
That for the fault's love, is th' offender friended.
Now, Sir, what news?

Prov. I told you: lord Angelo, be-like thinking me remifs in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on, methinks ftrangely, for he hath not us'd it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

Provost reads the letter.

Whatfoever you may bear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock, and in the afternoon Barnardine : for my better fatisfaction, let me bave Claudio's head fert me by fiue. Let this be duly performed, with a thought that more depends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail not to do your office, as you will answer it at your peril.

What fay you to this, Sir?

Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon ?

Prov. A Bohemian born, but here nurft up and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old.

Duke. How came it, that the abfent Duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard it was ever his manner to do fo.

Prov. His friends ftill wrought reprieves for him; and indeed his fact, 'till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.

Duke. Is it now apparent ?

Prov. Moft manifeft, and not deny'd by himself.

Duke. Hath he born himself penitently in prifon? how feems he to be touch'd?

Prov. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, but as a drunken fleep; carelefs, rechlefs, and fearless of what's paft, prefent, or to come; infenfible of mortality, and mortally defperate.

Duke. He wants advice.

Prov. He will hear none; he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison: give him leave to escape hence, he would not drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very oft awak'd him,

as if to carry him to execution, and fhew'd him a feeming warrant for it; it hath not mov'd him at all.

Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honefty and conftancy; if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay my felf in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo, who hath fentenc'd him. To make you understand this in a manifefted effect, I crave but four days refpite, for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtefie.

Prov. Pray, Sir, in what?

Duke. In the delaying death.

Prov. Alack! how may I do it, having the hour limited, and an exprefs command under penalty to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my cafe as Claudio's, to crofs this in the smallest.

Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my inftructions may be your guide: let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head born to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

Duke. Oh, death's a great disguiser, and you may add to it; fhave the head, and tie the beard, and fay it was the defire of the penitent to be barb'd before his death; you know the courfe is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune; by the Saint whom I profefs, I will plead against it with my life.

Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. Duke. Were you fworn to the Duke, or to the Deputy? Prov. To him, and to his Subftitutes.

Duke. You will think you have made no offence, if the Duke avouch the justice of your dealing?

Prov. But what likelihood is in that?

Duke. Not a refemblance but a certainty. Yet fince I fee you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my perfuafion, can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, Sir, here is the hand and feal of the Duke; you know the character, I doubt not, and the fignet is not ftrange to you.

Pro. I know them both.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke; you fhall anon over-read it at your pleafure; where you full find within these two days he will be here. This is a thing which Angelo knows not; for he this very day receives Letters of furange tenor, perchance of the Duke's death, perchance of his entering into fome monaftery, but, by chance, nothing of what is here writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the fhepherd; put not yourself into amazement how these things fhould be; all difficulties are but eafie when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a prefent fhrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this fhall abfolutely refolve you. Come away,

it is almoft clear dawn.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII. Enter Clown. Clown. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our houfe of profeffion; one would think it were miftrefs Overdon's own houfe; for here be many of her old cuftomers. First here's young Mr. Rafh; he's in for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninefcore and feventeen pounds; of which he made five marks ready money: marry then, ginger was not much in requeft; for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one Mr. Caper, at the suit of mafter Three-Pile the mercer, for fome four fuits of peach-colour'd fattin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then we have here young Dizzy, and young Mr. Deep-vow, and Mr. Copper-fpur, and mafter Starve-Lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-beire that kill'd lufty Pudding, and Mr. Forth-light the tilter, and brave Mr. Shooty the great traveller, and wild Half-Canne that stabb'd Pots, and I think forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now in for the Lord's fake.

Enter Abhorfon.

Abbor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clown. Mafter Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, mafter Barnardine.

Abbor. What hoa, Barnardine!

Bar

Barnardine within.

Barnar. A pox o' your throats; who makes that noise there? what are you?

Clown. Your friend, Sir, the hangman: you must be so good, Sir, to rife, and be put to death.

Barnar. Away, you rogue, away; I am fleepy.

Abbor. Tell him he muft awake, and that quickly too. Clown. Pray, mafter Barnardine, awake 'till you are executed, and fleep afterwards.

Abbor. Go into him, and fetch him out.

Clown. He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear the ftraw rufsle.

Abbor. Is the ax upon the block, firrah?

Clown. Very ready, Sir.

Barnar. How now, Abborfon? what's the news with you?

Abbor. Truly, Sir, I would defire you to clap into your prayers for look you, the warrant's come.

Barnar. You rogue, I have been drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.

Clown. Oh, the better, Sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may fleep the founder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abbor. Look you, Sir, here comes your ghoftly father; do we jest now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how haftily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar. Friar, not I: I have been drinking hard all night, and will have more time to prepare me, or they fhall beat out my brains with billets: I will not confent to die this day, that's certain.

Duke. Oh, Sir, you muft; and therefore I beseech you, look forward on the journey you fhall go.

Barnar. Ifwear I will not die to-day for any man's perfuafion.

Duke. But hear you.

Barnar,