"me here to day? much upon this time, have I "promis'd here to meet.'

20

"Mari. You have not been enquir'd after: I have "sat here all day.".

Enter ISABELLA.

"Duke. I do constantly believe you :

"The time is come, even now.' I shall crave your "forbearance a little; may be, I will call upon you "anon for some advantage to yourself. "Mari. I am always bound to you.

Duke. Very well met, and welcome.

What is the news from this good deputy?

[Exit."

Isab. He hath a garden" circummurd with

brick,

Whose western side is" with a vineyard back'd;
And to that vineyard is a planched gate,"
That makes his opening with this bigger key:
This other doth command a little door,

Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
There have I made my promise to call on him,
Upon the heavy middle of the night.

30

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this

way?

Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't:

With whispering and most guilty diligence,

In action all of precept, he did shew me

The way twice o'er.

Duke. Are there no other tokens

Between you 'greed, concerning her observance ?

40

Isab. No, none; but only a repair i' the dark;
And that I have possess'd hiin, my most stay
Can be but brief: for I have made him know,
I have a servant comes with me along,

That stays upon me; whose persuasion is,
I come about my brother.

Duke. 'Tis well borne up.

I have not yet made known to Mariana

50

A word of this :-What, ho! within! come forth!

"Re-"enter MARIANA.

I pray you be acquainted with this maid,

She comes to do you good.

Isab. I do desire the like.

Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?

Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have found it.

Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand, Who hath a story ready for your ear:

I shall attend your leisure; but make haste;
The vaporous night approaches.

Mari. Will't please you walk aside?

60

[Exeunt MAR. and ISAB.

Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false

eyes.

Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report

Run with these false and most contrarious quests
Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit

Make thee the father of their idle dream,

And

And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome: How

agreed?

Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA.

Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father,

If

you advise it.

Duke. It is not my consent,

71

But my intreaty too.

Isab. Little have you to say,

When you depart from him, but soft and low,

Remember now my brother.

Mari. Fear me not.

Duke. Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all:

He is your husband on a pre-contract:

To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin;
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;
Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.

80

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Changes to the Prison.

Enter Provost and Clown.

Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head?

Clown. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a marry'd man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpity'd whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd. 97 Clown. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

Prov. What ho, Abhorson! where's Abhorson, there?

Enter ABHORSON.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your exécution: "if you think it meet, com"pound with him by the year, and let him abide here "with you; if not, use him for the present, and "dismiss him:” he cannot plead his estimation with you, he hath been a bawd.

110

Abher. A bawd, sirè fie upon him, he will discredit our mistery.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. 7 [Exit.

Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging

H

hanging look) do you call, sir, your occupation a mistery?

Abhor. Ay, sir; a mistery.

Clown. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mistery and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mistery but what mistery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine.

:

Abhor. Sir, it is a mistery.

Clown. Proof.

Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief. Clown. If it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so : so every true man's apparel fits your thief.

131

Re-enter Provost.

·Prov. Are you agreed ?

Clown. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftner ask forgiveness.

Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe, to-morrow four o'clock.

Abhor. Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.

139

Clown. I do desire to learn, sir; and, I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you shall find me yare: for, truly, sir, for your kindness, I owe you a good turn.

[Exit.