Mari. Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away; Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice Hath often still'd my brawling discontent. Enter Duke. [Exit Boy I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish Duke. 'Tis good: though music oft hath such a charm, To make bad, good, and good provoke to harm. I pray you, tell me, hath any body inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promis'd here to meet. Mari. You have not been inquired after here all day. Duke. I do constantly believe you :- The time is come, even now. I have sat I shall crave your for bearance 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? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick," Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd; And to that vineyard is a planched gate,3 That makes his opening with this bigger key: Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed, concerning her observance ? On whose tops the pinks that grow, Circummured, walled round. JOHNSON. WARBURTON. [Exit. i. e. A gate made of boards; planche. Fr. A plancher is a plank. STEEV Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' th' dark; Duke. 'Tis well borne up. I have not yet made known to Mariana A word of this :-What, ho! within! come forth! I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; 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; Mari. Wilt please you walk aside? [Exe. MARI. and ISAE. Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false eyes Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report Run with these false and most contrarious quests Make thee the father of their idle dream, Welcome! how agreed? If Re-enter MARIANA and ISAbella. Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father, you advise it. Duke. It is not my consent, But my entreaty 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. [Exeunt SCENE II. A room in 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 married 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 unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. 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 execution: If you think it 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. Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fye upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clown. Pray, sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Abhor. Ay, sir, a mystery. Clown. 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. Clown. 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? Clown. 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. 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. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio : One has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer, though he were my brother. [Exeunt Clown and ABHORSON. Enter CLAUDIO. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: Prov. Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. But hark, what noise ? [Knocking within. Heaven give your spirits comfort !-By and by: [Exit CLAU. For the most gentle Claudio.-Welcome, father. Enter Duke. Duke. The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelop you, good provost! Who call'd here of late? Prov. None, since the curfew rung. Duke. Not Isabel? Prov. No. Duke. They will then, ere't be long. Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? [4] Starkly--Stiffly. These two lines afford a very pleasing image. JOHN. 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 ; That in himself, which he spurs on his power To qualify in others: Where he meal'd With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; But this being so, he's just.—[Knocking within.] Now are they come.— This is a gentle provost: Seldom, when The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. [Provost goes out. How now? what noise? that spirit's possess'd with haste, That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. Provost returns, speaking to one at the door. Prov. There he must stay, until the officer Arise to let him in; he is call'd up. Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow? Prov. None, sir, none. Duke. As near the dawning, provost, as it is, You shall hear more ere morning. Prov. Happily, You something know; yet, I believe, there comes Lord Angelo hath to the public ear Profess'd the contrary. Enter a Messenger. Duke. This is his lordship's man. 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, or other circumstance. Good-morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day. Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. Duke. [Asi.] This is his pardon; purchas'd by such sin, For which the pardoner himself is in: Hence hath offence his quick celerity, [5] Where he sprinkled, where he defiled. A figure of the same kind our author uses in Macbeth: The blood-boller'd Banquo." JOHNSON. [6] i. e. seat of justice. Siege, French. STEEVENS. |