MEASURE FOR MEASURE. paid for the nursing a thousand: he had some feel-| Duke. I never heard the absent duke much de- Lucio. Who? not the duke? yes, your beggar of fifty;-and his use was, to put a ducat in her clackdish: the duke had crotchets in him: he would be drunk too; that let me inform you. Duke. You do him wrong, surely. Lucio. Sir, I was an inward of his: a shy fellow was the duke: and, I believe, I know the cause of his withdrawing. 107 Can censure 'scape; back-wounding calumny Escal. Go, away with her to prison. Escal, Double and treble admonition, and still it Prov. A bawd of eleven years continuance, may please your honour. Duke. What, I pr'ythee, might be the cause? Lucio. No, pardon;-'tis a secret must be against me: mistress Kate Keep-down was with Bawd. My lord, this is one Lucio's information lock'd within the teeth and the lips; but this I can child by him in the duke's time, he promised her let you understand,-The greater file2 of the sub-marriage; his child is a year and a quarter old, ject held the duke to be wise. Duke. Wise? why, no question but he was.. Lucio. A very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow. come Philip and Jacob: I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me. Escal. That fellow is a fellow of much license: Duke. Either this is envy in you, folly, or mis- prison: Go to; no more words. [Exeunt Bawd and -let him be called before us.-Away with her to taking the very stream of his life, and the business Officers.] Provost, my brother Angelo will not be he hath helmed,4 must, upon a warranted need, alter'd, Claudio must die to-morrow; let him be give him a better proclamation. Let him be but furnished with divines, and have all charitable pretestimonied in his own bringings forth, and he shall paration: if my brother wrought by my pity, it appear to the envious, a scholar, a statesman, and should not be so with him. a soldier: therefore, you speak unskilfully; or, if your knowledge be more, it is much darken'd in your malice. Lucio. Sir, I know him, and I love him. Duke. Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with dearer love. Lucio. Come, sir, I know what I know. Lucio. Sir, my name is Lucio; well known to the duke. and advised him for the entertainment of death. Duke. Bliss and goodness on you! Duke. Not of this country, though my chance is now Duke. I can hardly believe that, since you know To use it for my time: I am a brother not what you speak. But, if ever the duke return Of gracious order, late come from the see, (as our prayers are he may,) let me desire you to In special business from his holiness. make your answer before him: if it be honest you have spoke, you have courage to maintain it: I am Escal. What news abroad i' the world? bound to call upon you; and, I pray you, your on goodness, that the dissolution of it must cure it; Duke. None, but that there is so great a fever name? be constant in any kind of course, as it is virtuous novelty is only in request; and it is as dangerous to truth enough alive, to make societies secure; but to be constant in any undertaking. There is scarce security enough, to make fellowships accurs'd: This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news. much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. pray you, sir, of what disposition was the duke? Escal. One, that, above all other strifes, contended especially to know himself. Duke. He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to report you. Lucio. I fear you not. Duke. O, you hope the duke will return no more; or you imagine me too unhurtful an opposite. But, indeed, I can do you little harm: you'll forswear this again. Lucio. I'll be hang'd first: thou art deceived in me, friar. But no more of this: can'st thou tell, if Claudio die to-morrow, or no? Duke. Why should he die, sir? I Duke. What pleasure was he given to? Escal. Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than merry at any thing which profess'd to make Lucio. Why? for filling a bottle with a tun-dish. leave we him to his events, with a prayer they may him rejoice; a gentleman of all temperance. But I would, the duke, we talk of, were return'd again: prove prosperous: and let me desire to know how this ungenitur'd agent will unpeople the province you find Claudio prepared. I am made to underwith continency; sparrows must not build in his stand, that you have lent him visitation. house-eaves, because they are lecherous. The duke Duke. He professes to have received no sinister yet would have dark deeds darkly answer'd; he measures from his judge, but most willingly hum- (1) Suspected. (2) The majority of his subjects. (3) Inconsiderate. (4) Guided. (5) Opponent. tremest shore of my modesty; but my brother jus-is come, even now. I shall crave your forbearance tice have I found so severe, that he hath forced me a little; may be, I will call upon you anon, for to tell him, he is indeed-justice. some advantage to yourself. Duke. If his own life answers the straitness of his proceeding, it shall become him well; wherein, if he chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself. Escal. I am going to visit the prisoner: Fare you well. Duke. Peace be with you! [Exeunt Escalus and Provost. Most pond'rous and substantial things! ACT IV. [Exit. I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. here to meet. Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day. Enter Isabella. [Exit. Mari. I am always bound to you. Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't; Duke. Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana Re-enter Mariana. Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? Mari. Good friar, I know you do; and have found it. Who hath a story ready for your ear: I shall attend your leisure; but make haste; Will't please you walk aside? Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests" agreed? Little have you to say, Duke. I do constantly believe you:-The time Sith that the justice of your title to him Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's' to sow. One has my pity; not a jot the other, [Exeunt. Being a murderer, though he were my brother. Enter Claudio. SCENE II-A room in the prison. Enter Prov. Come hither, sirrah: can you cut off man's head? a Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if He will not wake. Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and Who can do good on him? yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise? are to die Claudio and Barnardine: here is in our [Knocking within. prison a common executioner, who in his office Heaven give your spirits comfort! [Exit Claudio. facks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist By and by: him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and For the most gentle Claudio.-Welcome, father. your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. Clo. 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 tomorrow in your execution: if you think him meet, compound 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. Enter Duke. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the Envelop you, good provost! Who call'd here of late? Prov. No. Not Isabel? They will then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? Duke. There's some in hope. Prov. It is a bitter deputy. Duke. Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd Even with the stroke and line of his great justice; He doth with holy abstinence subdue That in himself, which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: were he meal'd With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather But this being so, he's just.-Now are they come.will turn the scale. [Knocking within-Provost goes out. Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery." [Exit. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour (for, surely, This is a gentle provost: Seldom, when sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a How now? What noise? That spirit's possess'd mystery? That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clo. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hang'd, I cannot imagine. Abhor. Sir, it is a mystery. Clo. Proof. Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your thief: 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 every true man's apparel fits your thief. Re-enter Provost. Prov. Are you agreed? Clo. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find, your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener 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. Clo. 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. Prov. Call hither, Barnardine and Claudio: (1) Tilth, land prepared for sowing. (2) Fetters. with haste, Provost returns, speaking to one at the door. Enter a Messenger.- Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon. Mess. My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, nor other circumstance. Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day. Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. purchased by such [Aside. For which the pardoner himself is in: Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, think-I ing me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this Awonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for be hath not used it before. Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say, it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death; you know, the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom profess, I will plead against it with my life. Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. Duke. Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy? Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: if for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let this be duly perform'd ;| 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 say you to this, sir? Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon? Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nursed up and bred: one that is a prisoner nine years old.2 Prov. To him, and to his substitutes. Duke. You will think you have made no offence, the duke avouch the justice of your dealing? Prov. But what likelihood is in that? Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, 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 signet is not strange to you. Prov. I know them both. Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke. How came it, that the absent duke had duke; you shall anon over-read it at your pleanot either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed sure; where you shall find, within these two days him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so. he will be here. This is a thing, that Angelo Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for knows not: for he this very day receives letters of him and, indeed, his fact, till now in the govern- strange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; ment of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful perchance, entering into some monastery; but, by proof. Duke. Is it now apparent? chance, nothing of what is writ.-Look, the un folding star calls up the shepherd: put not your. self into amazement, how these things should be all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's Prov. A man that apprehends death no more head: I will give him a present shrift, and advise dreadfully, but as a drunken sleep; careless, reck-him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but less, and fearless of what's past, present, or to this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it come; insensible of mortality, and desperately is almost clear dawn. mortal. Duke. He wants advice. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Another room in the same. Enter Clown. Prov. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty of the prison; give him leave to escape Clo. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if house of profession: one would think, it were misnot many days entirely drunk. We have very tress Over-done's own house, for here be many of often awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, her old customers. First, here's young master Rash; and show'd him a seeming warrant for it: it hath he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old not mov'd him at all. ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which Duke. More of him anon. There is written in he made five marks, ready money: marry, then, your brow, provost, honesty and constancy: If ginger was not much in request, for the old women read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; were all dead. Then is there here one master Cabnt in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay my-per, at the suit of master Three-pile the mercer, for self in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a some four suits of peach-colour'd satin, which now warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young than Angelo who hath sentenced him: to make Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and master you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy. Prov. Pray, sir, in what? Duke. In the delaying death. Prov. Alack! how may I do it? having the hour limited; and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest. Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head be borne to Angelo. Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.' (1) Spur, incitement. (2) Nine years in prison.] Copper-spur, and master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lusty Pudding, and master Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tie the great traveller, and wild Half-cann 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. Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, master 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 (3) Countenance. be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death. Barnar. [Within.] Away, you rogue, away; 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. Both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice Prov. I am your free dependant. Quick, despatch, [Exit Provost. And send the head to Angelo. Clo. He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his The provost, he shall bear them, whose contents 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. Shall witness to him, I am near at home; 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; Clo. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all For I would commune with you of such things, night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may That want no ear but yours. sleep the sounder all the next day. I'll make all speed. [Exit. Isab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here! Duke. The tongue of Isabel :-She's come to know, Enter Duke. Abhor. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father; do we jest now, think you? Prov. Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise But I will keep her ignorant of her good, you, comfort you, and pray with you. To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected. 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. 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. Barnar. I swear, I will not die to-day for any Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon? 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. [Exit. Enter Provost. Duke. Unfit to live, or die: O, gravel heart!- [Exeunt Abhorson and Clown. Prov. Duke. O, 'tis an accident that Heaven provides! To save me from the danger that might come, Duke. Let this be done;-Put them in secret Duke. He hath releas'd him, Isabel, from the His head is off, and sent to Angelo. It is no other: tience. Isab. O, I will to him, and pluck out his eyes. Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: The duke comes home to-morrow ;-nay, dry your eyes; One of our convent, and his confessor, Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, your wisdom In that good path that I would wish it go; |