Clown. I do defire to learn, Sir; and I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your own turn, you fhall find me (a) yare: for, truly, Sir, for your kindnefs I owe you a good turn. [Exit.

Prov. Call hither Barnardine, and Claudio:
One has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murth'rer, tho' he were my brother.

S CE N E VI.
Enter Claudio.

Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death;
'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to morrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine?
Claud. As faft lock'd up in fleep, as guiltless labour
When it lyes starkly in the traveller's bones:
He'll not awake.

Prov. Who can do good on him?

Well, go, prepare your felf. [Exit Claud.] But, hark, what noife? [Knock within. Heav'n give your spirits comfort! by and by ;I hope it is fome pardon, or reprieve,

For the moft gentle Claudio. Welcome, father.

Enter Duke.

;

Duke. The beft and wholefom'ft fpirits of the night Invellop you, good Provoft! who call'd here of late? Prov. None, fince the curphew rung.

Duke. Not Ifabel?

Prov. No.

Duke. They will then, ere't be long.

Prov. What comfort is for Claudio?

Duke. There is fome in hope.

Prov. It is a bitter deputy.

Duke. Not fo, not fo; his life is parallel'd

Ev'n with the ftroak and line of his great justice;

[(4) jare: the old books. Vulg. yours.]

He

He doth with holy abftinence fubdue
That in himself, which he fpurs on his pow'r
To qualifie in others. Were he meal'd

With that, which he corrects, then were he tyrannous
But this being fo, he's juft. Now they are come.
[Knock again. Provost goes out.

This is a gentle Provoft; feldom, when

The fteeled goaler is the friend of men.

How now? what noise? that spirit's poffeft with haste, That wounds th' unrefifting postern with these strokes.

[Provost returns.

Prov. There he must stay, until the officer

Arife to let him in; he is call'd up.

Duke. Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he muft die to morrow?

Prov. None, Sir, none.

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 fuch example have we:
Befides, upon the very fiege of justice,

Lord Angelo hath to the publick ear
Profeft the contrary.

Duke. This is his lordship's man.

Prov. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Melf. My lord hath fent you this note, and by me this 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.

8 meal'd] i. e. mingled.

[Exit Messenger.

Duke.

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, ftrangely; for he hath not us'd it before.

Duke. Pray you, let's hear.

Provoft reads the letter.

What foever 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 bave Claudio's 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 say you to this, Sir?

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

Prov. A Bohemian born; but here nurft up and bred; one, that is a prisoner 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 manifelt, 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 past, prefent, 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 prison: 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 shew'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 you 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 effect, I crave but four days refpite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtefie.

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 my cafe as Claudio's, to crofs this in the fmalleft.

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; fhave the head, and tie the beard, and fay 9 lay myself in bazard.] Metaphor from chefs-play.

it was the defire of the penitent to be so barb'd before his death; you know the courfe is common. If any thing fail to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune; by the Saint whom I profefs, I will plead against 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. The contents of this is the return of the Duke; you fhall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you fhall find, within thefe two days he will be here. This is a thing, which Angelo knows not, for he this very day receives letters of ftrange tenor; perchance, of the Duke's death; perchance, of his entering into fome monastery; 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 eafie when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a prefent shrift, and advife him for a better place. Yet you are amaz'd, but this fhall abfolutely refolve you. Come away, it is almoft clear dawn. [Exeunt.

1 nothing of what is writ.] We fhould read -bere writ the Duke pointing to the let.er in his hand.

SCENE