Duke. As near the dawning, Provost, as it is, You fhall hear more ere morning.

Prov. Happily,

You fomething know; yet, I believe, there comes No countermand; no such example have we: Befides, upon the very fiege of justice,

Lord Angelo hath to the public ear

Profeft the contrary..

SCENE VII.

Enter a Messenger.

Duke. Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

HIS is his lordship's man.

Meff. My lord hath sent you this note, and by me the further charge, that you fwerve not from the fmalleft article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circumftance. Good morrow; for as I take it, it is almoft day.

Prov. I fhall obey him.

[Exit Meffenger. Duke. This is his pardon, purchas'd by fuch fin,

For which the pardoner himself is in:
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is borne in high authority;
When vice makes mercy, mercy's fo extended,
That, for the fault's love, is th' offender friended.
Now, Sir, what news?

Prov. I told you: lord Angelo, be-like, thinking me remifs in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on; methinks, strangely; for he hath not us'd it before.

Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

Provoft reads the letter.

Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock, and in the afternoon Barnardine: for my better fatisfaction, let me have Claudio's

head

head fent 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 fay you to this, Sir?

Duke. What is that Barnardine, who is to be executed in the afternoon?

Prov A Bohemian born; but here nurst up and bred; one, that is a prifoner nine years old.

Duke. How came it, that the abfent Duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do fo.

Prov. His friends ftill wrought reprieves for him, and, indeed, his fact, 'till now in the government of lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. Is it now apparent?

Prov. Moft manifeft, and not deny'd by himself. Duke. Hath he born himself penitent in prifon? how feems he to be touch'd?

Prov. A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully, but as a drunken fleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what's paft, present, or to come; infenfible of mortality, and desperately mortal.

Duke. He wants advice.

Prov. He will hear none; he hath evermore had the liberty of the prifon: give him leave to escape hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very oft awak'd him, as if to carry him to execution, and fhew'd him a feeming warrant for it; it hath not mov'd him at all.

Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honefty and conftancy; if I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but in the boldnefs of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here have warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo, who hath fentenc'd him. To make you understand this in a manifefted

you

manifefted effect, I crave but four days refpite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy.

my

Prov. Pray, Sir, in what?

Duke. In the delaying death.

Prov. Alack how may I do it, having the hour limited, and an exprefs command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make cafe as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest. Duke. By the vow of mine Order, I warrant you, if my inftructions may be your guide: let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath feen them both, and will difcover the favour.

Duke. Oh, death's a great disguiser, and you may add to it; shave the head, and tie the beard, and fay it was the defire of the penitent to be fo barb'd before his death; you know the courfe is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune; by the Saint whom I profess, I will plead againft it with my life.

Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath.

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 fince 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 feal of the Duke; you know the character, I doubt not; and the fignet is not ftrange to you.

Prov. I know them both.

Duke.

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 intofome monaftery; but, by chance, nothing of what is here writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the fhepherd; put not yourself into amazement how thefe things fhould be; all difficulties are but eafy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I'will give him a present fhrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this fhall abfolutely refolve you. Come away, it is almost clear dawn.

Clown.

[Exeunt.

Am as well acquainted here, as I was im our house of profeffion; one would think, it were mistress Over-done's own house; for here be many of her old customers. First, here's young Mr. Rafh; he's for a commodity of brown pepper and old ginger, ninefcore and feventeen 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 mafter 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. Deep-vow, and Mr. Copper-fpur, and mafter Starve-lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heire that kill'd lufty Pudding, and Mr. Forth-right the tilter, and brave Mr. Shooter the great traveller, and wild Half-canne that ftabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now in for the Lord's fake.

Enter

Enter Abhorfon.

Abhor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither. Clown. Mafter Barnardine, you must rife and be hang'd, mafter Barnardine.

Abhor. What, hoa, Barnardine!

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

Clown. Your friend, Sir, the hangman: you must be fo good, Sir, to rife, and 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, mafter Barnardine, awake 'till you are executed, and fleep afterwards.

Abhor. Go in to him, and fetch him out.

Clown. He is coming, Sir, he is coming; I hear the ftraw ruftle.

Enter Barnardine.

Abhor. Is the ax upon the block, Sirrah?
Clown. Very ready, Sir.

Barnar. How now, Abhorfon? what's the news with you?

Abhor. Truly, Sir, 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, Sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hang'd betimes in the morning, may fleep the founder all the next day.

Enter Duke.

Abhor. Look you, Sir, here comes your ghoftly father; do we jeft now, think you?

Duke. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how haftily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

Barnar.