Duke. Not a resemblance, 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, fir, here is the hand and feal of the duke; you know the character, I doubt not, and the fignet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both. Duke. The contents of this is the return of the duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you shall 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 strange tenour, perchance, of the duke's death, perchance, of his entring into fome monaftery, but, by chance, nothing of what is here writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the fhepherd; put not yourself into amazement how these things should be; all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this shall absolutely refolve you. Come away; it it almoft clear dawn. [Exeunt. Clown. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profeffion; one would think, it were miftrefs Over-don's own houfe; for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made five marks ready money: marry, then, ginger was not much in request; for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one mafter Caper, at the fuit of master Three-Pile the mercer, for fome four fuits of peach-colour'd fatin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young mafter Deep-vow, and mafter Copper-fpur, and mafter Starve-Lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-beire that kill'd lufty Pudding, and master Froth-light the tilter, and brave master Shoo-tye Shoo-tye 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. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clown. Mafter Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine. Abbor. What hoa, Barnardine! Barnardine within. Barnar. A pox o'your throats! who makes that noise there? what are you? Clown. Your friend, fir, the hangman: you must be so good, fir, to rise, and be put to death. Barnar. Away, you rogue, away; I am fleepy. Abhor. Tell him, he muft awake, and that quickly too. Clown. Pray, mafter Barnardine, awake 'till you are executed, and fleep afterwards. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Clown. He is coming, fir, he is coming; I hear the ftraw ruftle. Enter Barnardine. Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, firrah? Clown. Very ready, fir. Barnar. How now, Abhorfon? what's the news with you? Abhor. Truly, fir, 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. O, the better, fir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may fleep the founder all the next day. Enter Duke. Abhor. Look you, fir, here comes your ghoftly father; do we jeft 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 shall beat out my brains with billets; I will not consent to die this day, that's certain. Duke. O, fir, you must; and therefore, I beseech you, look forward on the journey you fhall go. Barnar. I fwear, I will not die to day for any man's perfuafion. Duke. But hear you. Barnar. Not a word: if you have any thing to fay to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. [Exit. Duke. Unfit to live, or die : o gravel heart! Prov. After him, fellows: bring him to the block. Now, fir, how do you find the prisoner? Duke. A creature unprepar'd, unmeet for death; And to transport him in the mind he is, Prov. Here in the prison, father, This reprobate, till he were well inclin'd, Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heav'n provides: Prov. This fhall be done, good father, presently. But But Barnardine muft die this afternoon : And how fhall we continue Claudio, To fave me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done; Put them in fecret holds, Claudio and Barnardine : To th' under generation, you shall find Your fafety manifeft. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, quick, and send the head to Angelo. [Exit. Prov. Now will I write letters to Angelo. The provost he shall bear them, whofe contents Shall witness to him I am near at home; And that by great injunctions I am bound Enter Provoft. Prov. Here is the head, I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it: make a fwift return; For I would commune with you of fuch things That want no ear but yours. Prov. I'll make all speed. SCENE X. [Exit. Ifabel within. If Ifab. Peace, hoa, be here! Duke. The tongue of Ifabel. She comes to know yet her brother's pardon be come hither: But I will keep her ign'rant of her good, To make her heav'nly comfort of despair, Ifab. By your leave. Enter Ifabel. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Ifab. The better giv'n me by fo holy a man: Hath yet the deputy fent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world; His head is off, and fent to Angelo. Ifab. Nay, but it is not fo. Duke. It is no other. Show wifdom, daughter, in your closest patience. Duke. This hurts not him, nor profits you a jot: The duke comes home to-morrow; dry your eyes ; Gives me this news: already he hath carry’d Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, Ifab. I'm directed by you. Duke. This letter then to friar Peter give; Accufe |