Barnar. Friar, not I: I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they fhall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certain. Duke. Oh, Sir, you muft; and therefore, I beseech you, look forward on the journey you fhall go. Barnar. I fwear, I will not die to day for any man's perfuafion. Duke. But hear you,~ Barnar. Not a word: if you have any thing to fay to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to day. [Exit. Duke. Enter Provoft. U him, bring block. NFIT to live, or die: oh, gravel heart! : 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 prifon, father, There dy'd this morning of a cruel fever Duke. O, 'tis an accident, that heav'n provides : Difpatch it prefently; the hour draws on Prefixt by Angelo: fee, this be done, And fent according to command; while I Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. Prov. This fhall be done, good father, presently: But Barnardine muft die this afternoon: And how fhall we continue Claudio, To To fave me from the danger that might come, If he were known alive? Duke. Let this be done; Put them in fecret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: Your fafety manifefted. Prov. I am your free dependant. Duke. Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. Now will I write letters to Angelo, [Exit Provoft. (The Provost, he fhall bear them;) whose contents To meet me at the confecrated fount, Enter Provost. Prov. Here is the head, I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it: make a swift return; For I will commune with you of fuch things, That want no ears but yours. Prov. I'll make all speed. Ifab. [within.] Peace, hoa, be here! [Exit. Duke. The tongue of Isabel.-She comes to know, If yet her brother's pardon be come hither: SCENE X. Enter Ifabel. fab. LOA, by your leave. H Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Ifab. Ifab. The better, giv'n me by fo holy a man: Hath yet the deputy fent my brother's pardon? Duke. He hath releas'd him, fabel, from the world; His head is off, and fent to Angelo. Ifab. Nay, but it is not so. Duke. It is no other. Shew your wisdom, daughter, in your clofeft patience. Duke. This nor hurts him, nor profits you a jot: The Duke comes home to-morrow; dry your eyes; Gives me this inftance: already he hath carry'd Who do prepare to meet him at the gates, [wisdom Ifab. I'm directed by you. Duke. This letter then to Friar Peter give; And fhall be abfent. Wend you with this letter: SCENE Lucio. Oh, pretty Ifabella, I am pale at mine heart, to fee thine eyes fo red; thou must be patient; I am fain to dine and fup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly: one fruitful meal would fet me to't. But they fay the Duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Ifabel, I lov'd thy brother: if the old fantastical Duke of dark corners had been at home, he had liv'd. [Exit Ifabella. Duke. Sir, the Duke is marvellous little beholden to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio. Friar, thou knoweft not the Duke so well as I do; he's a better woodman, than thou tak’ft him for. Duke. Well, you'll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio. Nay, tarry, I'll go along with thee: I can tell thee pretty tales of the Duke. Duke. You have told me too many of him already, Sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough. Lucio. I was once before him for getting a wench with child. Duke. Did you fuch a thing? Lucio. Yes, marry, did I; but I was fain to forfwear it; they would elfe have marry'd me to the rotten medlar. Duke. Sir, your company is fairer than honeft: reft you well. Lucio. By my troth, I'll go with thee to the lane's end: if bawdy talk offend you, we'll have very little of it; nay, Friar, I am a kind of bur, I fhall flick. [Exeunt. SCENE, Efcal. E Changes to the Palace. Enter Angelo and Escalus. VERY letter, he hath writ, hath difvouch'd other. Ang. In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions fhew much like to madnefs: pray heav'n, his wisdom be not tainted! and why meet him at the gates, and deliver our authorities there? Efcal. I guess not. Ang. And why fhould we proclaim it in an hour. before his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the street? Efcal. He fhews his reason for that; to have a dispatch of complaints, and to deliver us from devices hereafter, which fhall then have no power to ftand against us. Ang. Well; I befeech you, let it be proclaim'd betimes i'th' morn: I'll call you at your house: give notice to fuch men of fort and fuit, as are to meet him. Efcal. I fhall, Sir: fare you well. Ang. Good night. [Exit. This deed unfhapes me quite, makes me unpregnant, The law against it! but that her tender shame How might the tongue me? yet reason dares her No. But it confounds the breather. He should have liv`d, |