Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Enter ABHORSON.

Abh. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution.

Abh. Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. Provide your block and your axe, to-morrow, four o'clock.

Abh. Come on; I will instruct thee in follow.

my trade ;

Pom. I 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:

[Exeunt ABHORSON and POMPEY. The one has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer.

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 fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless la

bour,

When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones:

He will not wake.

Prov. Who can do good on him?

Well, go, prepare yourself.—

[Knocking without..

But, hark, what noise?—

Heaven give your spirits comfort!

[Knocking again.-Exit CLAUDIO.

By and by:

I hope it is some pardon, or reprieve,
For the most gentle Claudio.

Enter the DUKE, as a Friar.

Welcome, father.

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?

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;

He doth, with holy abstinence subdue

That in himself, which he spurs on his power

To qualify in others.—

Now are they come.—

[Knocking again. [Exit PROVOST.

This is a gentle provost : Seldom, when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.

Re-enter PROVOST.

Prov. [Speaking to one without.] There must he 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.

Pro. Happily,

You something know; yet, I believe there comes

No countermand:

Besides, upon the very siege of justice,

Lord Angelo hath to the public ear

Profess'd the contrary.

Enter THOMAS, with a letter.

This is his lordship's man.

Duke. And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Tho. 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. [Having read the order.] I shall obey him.
[Exit THOMAS.

Duke. Now, sir, what news?

Prov. I told you: Lord Angelo, belike, thinking me remiss in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting on: methinks, strangely; for he hath not used it before.

Duke. 'Pray you, let's hear.

Prov. [Reads.] Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and, in the afternoon, Barnardine: for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent to me by five. Let this be duly performed; 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 nursed up and bred one that is a prisoner nine years old.

Duke. How came it, that the absent Duke had not

F

either delivered him to his liberty, or executed him? I have heard, it was ever his manner to do so.

Prov. His friends still 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. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? How seems he to be touched?

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

Duke. More of him anon. There is written in your brow, Provost, honesty and constancy: If I read it not truly, my ancient skill beguiles me: but, in the boldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have a warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenced him. To make you understand this in a manifested effect, I crave but four days respite; for the which you are to do me both a present and a dangerous courtesy.

Prov. 'Pray sir, in what?

Duke. In the delaying death.

Prov. Alack! how may I do it? Having the hour limited, and an express command, under penalty, to deliver his head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case as Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

Duke. By the vow of mine order, I warrant you, if my instructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head borne to Angelo.

Prov. Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

Duke. O, death's a great disguiser: and you may add to it. Shave the head, and say it was the desire

of the penitent to be so bared before his death: You know, the course 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 against it with my life.

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

Duke. Were you sworn to the Duke, or to the deputy?

Prov. To him, and to his substitutes.

Duke. You will think, you have made no offence, if the Duke avouch the justice of your dealing?

Prov. But what likelihood is in that?

Duke. Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet, since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor my persuasion, 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 seal of the Duke: You know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.

Prov. I know them both.

Duke. The contents of this is the return of the Duke; you shall anon overread it at your pleasure; where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing that Angelo knows not.Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd.-Put not yourself into amazement, how these things should be: all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [Exeunt the DUKE and PROVOst.

Enter POMPEY.

Pom. I am as well acquainted here, as I was in our house of profession: one would think, it were Mistress Overdone's own house; for here be many of her old customers.