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 refemblance, 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, fir, 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. 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, that Angelo knows not: for he this very day receives letters of ftrange tenor; perchance, of the duke's death; perchance, entering into fome monaftery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding ftar calls up the fhepherd: Put not yourself into amazement, how these 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 prefent 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. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter Clown.

Clown. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our * house of profeffion: one would think, it were mistress Over-done's own houfe, for here be many of her old

here writ.-(pointing to the letter in his hand.)

give him a prefent fhrift, and advife him]-confefs him inftantly, and prepare him. boufe of profeffion :]-nunnery.

Z 2

customers.

W

customers. First, here's young mafter Rafh; he's in for "a commodity of brown paper 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 master Caper, at the fuit of master Three-pile the mercer, for fome four fuits of peach-colour'd fatin, which now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young master Deep-vow, and mafter Copper-spur, and mafter Starve-lacky the rapier and dagger-man, and young Drop-heir that kill'd lufty Pudding, and mafter *Forthright the tilter, and brave master Shoe-tye the great traveller, and wild Half-can that ftabb'd Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now"for the Lord's fake."

Enter Abborfon.

Abbor. Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

Clown. Mafter Barnardine! you must rise and be hang'd, mafter Barnardine!

Abbor. What, ho, Barnardine!

Barnar. [Within] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?

Clown. Your friend, fir, the hangman: You must be fo good, fir, to rife and be put to death.

u

Barnar. [Within.] Away you rogue, away; I am sleepy. Abbor. Tell him, he must awake, and that quickly too.

a commodity of brown paper and old ginger,]-a purchase of ginger, packed up in brown paper, faddled upon him by fome ufurer at that enormous fum, and fold for 3£ 6s 8d.

w peaches him a beggar.]-prefers a charge of beggary against him. Forth-light-from making the light fhine through his antagonist. y brave]-finical.

z are now" for the Lord's fake."]-are now reduced to the debtor's for the Lord's fake."-i. e. to beg for the remainder of

tune
their lives.

Clown.

Clown. Pray, mafter Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and fleep afterwards.

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

Clown. He is coming, fir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

Enter Barnardine.

Abbor. Is the axe upon the block, firrah?
Clown. Very ready, fir.

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

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

Enter Duke.

Abbor. Look you, fir, here comes your ghostly father; Do we jest 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. 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. Oh, fir, you must: 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,

Z 3

Barnar.

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 Provoft.

[Exit.

Duke. Unfit to live, or die: Oh, gravel heart !— Prov. After him, fellows; bring him to the block.— [Exeunt Abborfon and Clown.

Now fir how do you find the prifoner?

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
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,

A man of Claudio's years; his beard, and head,
Juft of his colour; What if we do omit
This reprobate, till he were well inclin'd;
And fatisfy the deputy with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?

Duke. O, 'tis an accident that heaven provides!
Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix'd by Angelo: See, this be done,
And fent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.

Prov. This fhall be done, good father, prefently.
But Barnardine muft die this afternoon :

And how fhall we continue Claudio,

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 :

Ere twice the fun hath made his journal greeting

a

to tranfport him]-from this world to the next.

journal greeting to the under generation,]-daily vifit to the antipodes yond generation,

Το

To the under generation, you fhall find

Your fafety manifested.

Prov. I am your free dependent.

Duke. Quick, dispatch, and fend the head to Angelo.

Now will I write letters to Angelo,

[Exit Provoft.

The provost, he fhall bear them,-whofe contents
Shall witness to him, I am near at home;

And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publickly: him I'll defire

To meet me at the confecrated fount,
A league below the city; and from thence,
"By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,
We fhall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provoft.

Prov. Here is the head; I'll carry it myself. Duke. Convenient is it: Make a fwift return; For I would commune with you of fuch things,

That want no ear but yours.

Prov. I'll make all speed.

Jab. [Within.] Peace, ho, be here!

[Exit.

Duke. The tongue of Ifabel :-She's come to know,

If yet her brother's pardon be come hither:

But I will keep her ignorant of her good,

To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is leaft expected.

Enter Ifabella.

Ijab. Ho, by your leave.—

Duke. Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Ifab. The better, given me by fo holy a man.

Hath yet the deputy fent my brother's pardon?

с

By cold gradation and weal-balanced form,]-flowly and majestically.