Over-done's own house, for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young Mr. Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper 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 Mr. Caper 3, at the suit of master Threepile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizzy, and young Mr. Deep-vow, and Mr. Copper-spur, and Mr. Starve-lackey, the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd Lusty Pudding, and Mr. Forthright the tilter, and brave Mr. Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-can that stabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more, all great doers in our trade, and are now for the Lord's sake. Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clo. Mr. Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, Mr. Barnardine. Abhor. What, ho, Barnardine! Barnar. [Within.] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you? Clo. Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. 2 - he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger,] This passage refers to the practice of money-lenders to compel persons, who came to borrow of them, to take part in commodities, such as "brown paper and old ginger,” which the borrowers were afterwards obliged to sell at a heavy loss. This custom is alluded to by Wilson in his "Discourse upon Usury," 1572; by Nash in his "Christ's Tears over Jerusalem," 1594; by Dekker in his "Seaven Deadley Sins," 1606, and by many other writers both dramatic and undramatic. 3 Then is there here one MR. Caper,] So printed in the old copies, and probably to be pronounced mister, because when "Three-pile the mercer" is mentioned, he is called master at length: Shakespeare seems to have intended to make a distinction between gentlemen and tradesmen. 4- and are now for the Lord's sake.] Alluding to the custom of prisoners begging for the Lord's sake," as, until recently, they were allowed to do at the Fleet. Thomas Nash thus mentions begging "for the Lord's sake" at the Fleet in his Pierce Penniless, 1592, “At that time that thy joys were in the fleeting, and thus crying, 'for the Lord's sake,' out of an iron window." Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy. Abhor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too. Clo. Pray, master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out. Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming: I hear his straw rustle. Enter BARNARDINE. Abhor. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? Barnar. How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you? Abhor. Truly, sir, I would desire 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. Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day. Enter DUKE. Abhor. Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father. Do 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 shall beat out my brains with billets. I will not consent to die this day, that's certain. Duke. O, sir, you must; and therefore, I beseech you, Look forward on the journey you shall go. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any man's persuasion. 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. Enter Provost. [Exit. Duke. Unfit to live, or die. O, gravel heart!— After him, fellows: bring him to the block. [Exeunt ABHORSON and Clown. Prov. Now, sir; 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 prison, father, There died this morning of a cruel fever One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate, A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head, Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides! Prov. This shall be done, good father, presently. And how shall we continue Claudio, To save me from the danger that might come, If he were known alive? Duke. Let this be done.-Put them in secret holds, Both Barnardine and Claudio : Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting To yond generation, you shall find Your safety manifested 5. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, despatch, and send the head to Angelo. Now will I write letters to Angelo, [Exit Provost. (The provost, he shall bear them) whose contents Shall witness to him, I am near at home, And that by great injunctions I am bound To meet me at the consecrated fount, Re-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 such things, That want no ear but yours. Prov. I'll make all speed. [Exit. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! Duke. The tongue of Isabel.-She's come to know, If yet her brother's pardon be come hither; But I will keep her ignorant of her good, 3 Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting TO YOND generation, you shall find Your safety manifested.] This is the regulation of the measure in the old copies, which was altered by Malone and Steevens thus :- "Ere twice The sun hath made his journal greeting to The under generation, you shall find Your safety manifested." The text and the metre are here corrupted. The old copies are right in both respects; for "generation" is a word of five syllables, and it is not necessary even to alter "yond" to yonder. This line is only one out of many instances in which the termination tion is to be read as two syllables, according to the common practice of our old poets. and WEAL-balanc'd form,] Well-balanced seems the more proper reading. Weal-balanc'd may, however, refer to the State. VOL. II. G To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected. Enter ISABELLA. Isab. Ho! by your leave. Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Isab. The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the world. His head is off, and sent to Angelo. Isab. Nay, but it is not so. It is no other. Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience. Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes! Duke. You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isab. Unhappy Claudio! Wretched Isabel! Injurious world! Most damned Angelo! Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot : Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven. Mark what I say, which you shall find By every syllable a faithful verity. The duke comes home to-morrow;-nay, dry your eyes: One of our convent, and his confessor, Gives me this instance. Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo, Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom In that good path that I would wish it go; And you shall have your bosom on this wretch, Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart, And general honour. Isab. I am directed by you. Duke. This letter, then, to friar Peter give; 7 your BOSOM on this wretch,] i. e., as the Duke just afterwards expresses it," revenges to your heart." |