DUKE. Were you fworn to the Duke, or to the deputy? PROV. To him, and to his fubftitutes.

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

PROV. But what likelihood is in that?

DUKE. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since 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 seal 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 fhall 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 tenor; perchance, of the Duke's death; perchance, of his entering into fome monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the shepherd; put not yourself into amazement how these things fhould 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 abfolutely refolve you. Come away, it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.

Enter Clown.

CLOWN. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profeffion; one would think it were Mrs. Overdone's own house; for here be many of her old customers, VOL. 1.

X

First, here's young Mr. Rafh; he's in for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninefcore 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 Mr. Caper, at the fuit of master Three-pile the mercer; for fome four fuits of peach-colour'd fattin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young Mr. Deepvow, and Mr. Copper-fpur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lufty Pudding, and Mr. Forthright the tilter, and brave Mr. Shoor ty 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. Master Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, master Barnardine.

ABHOR. What, hoa, Barnardine!

BARNAR. [within.] A pox o' your throats; who makes that noise there? what are you?

CLOWN. Your friend, fr, the hangman: you must be so good, fir, to rife, to be put to death.

BARNAR. [within.] Away, you rogue, away; I am fleepy.. ABHOR. Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too. CLOWN. Pray, master 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 straw rustle.

Enter Barnardine.

ABHOR. Is the ax 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. Oh, the better, fir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may sleep the founder all next day.

Enter Duke.

ABHOR. Look you, fir, here comes your ghostly father; dọ we jest now, think you?

DUKE. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily. 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 I 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, fir, you must; and therefore, I beseech you, look forward in the journey you shall 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 say to me,

come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day.

SCENE IX.

Enter Provost.

DUKE. Unfit to live, or die: oh, gravel heart 1

[Exit.

PROV. After him, fellows: bring him to the block.

[Exeunt Abhorfon and Clown.

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,

Were damnable.

PROV. Here in the prifon, father,

There dy'd this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,

A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head,
Juft of his colour: what if we omit
This reprobate, 'till he were well inclin'd;
And fatisfy the deputy with the visage

Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

DUKE. O, 'tis an accident, that heaven provides :
Dispatch it prefently. The hour draws on
Prefixt by Angelo. See, this be done,
And fent according to command; while I
Perfuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
PROV. This shall be done, good father, presently.
But Barnardine muft die this afternoon;

And how fhall we continue Claudio,

To fave me from the danger that might come,

If he were known alive?

DUKE. Let this be done;

Put them in fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio:

Ere twice the fun hath made his journal greeting

To th'under generation, you shall find

Your fafety manifested.

PROV. I am your free dependent.

DUKE. Quick, dispatch, and fend the head to Angelo.

[Exit Provost.

Now will I write letters to Angelo,

(The Provost, he fhall bear them;) whofe contents
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly; him I'll defire
To meet me at the confecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and well-balanc'd form,
We fhall proceed with Angelo.

Enter Provost.

PROV. Here is the head, I'll carry it myself,
DUKE. Convenient is it. Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of fuch things,
That want no ears but yours.

PROV. I'll make all speed.

[Exit.

She comes to know,

ISAB. [within.] Peace, hoa, be here!

DUKE. The tongue of Isabel.

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heav'nly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.

DUKE. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.

ISAB. The better giv'n me by so holy a man.

Hath yet

the deputy fent my brother's pardon?

DUKE. He hath releas'd him, Ifabel, from the world;

His head is off, and fent to Angelo.