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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
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signet is not strange to you。 PROVOST。 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 shall 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 strange tenour； perchance of the Duke's death； perchance entering into
some monastery； but； by chance； nothing of what is writ。 Look； th'
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。 I will give him a
present shrift； and advise him for a better place。 Yet you are amaz'd； but
this shall absolutely resolve you。 Come away； it is almost clear dawn。
Exeunt
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SCENE III。 The prison
Enter POMPEY
POMPEY。 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。 First； here's young Master Rash； he's
in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger； nine score and
seventeen 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 suit of Master Threepile the mercer； for
some four suits of peach…colour'd satin； which now peaches him a beggar。
Then have we here young Dizy； and young Master Deepvow； and Master
Copperspur； and Master Starvelackey； the rapier and dagger man； and
young Dropheir that kill'd lusty Pudding； and Master Forthlight the tilter；
and brave Master Shootie the great traveller； and wild Halfcan that stabb'd
Pots； and； I think； forty more… all great doers in our trade； and are now 'for
the Lord's sake。' Enter ABHORSON
ABHORSON。 Sirrah； bring Barnardine hither。 POMPEY。 Master
Barnardine！ You must rise and be hang'd； Master Barnardine！
ABHORSON。 What ho； Barnardine！ BARNARDINE。 ＇Within＇ A pox o'
your throats！ Who makes that noise there？ What are you？ POMPEY。 Your
friends； sir； the hangman。 You must be so good； sir； to rise and be put to
death。 BARNARDINE。 ＇ Within ＇ Away； you rogue； away； I am sleepy。
ABHORSON。 Tell him he must awake； and that quickly too。 POMPEY。
Pray； Master Barnardine； awake till you are executed； and sleep afterwards。
ABHORSON。 Go in to him； and fetch him out。 POMPEY。 He is coming；
sir； he is coming； I hear his straw rustle。
Enter BARNARDINE
ABHORSON。 Is the axe upon the block； sirrah？ POMPEY。 Very
ready； sir。 BARNARDINE。 How now； Abhorson； what's the news with you？
ABHORSON。 Truly； sir； I would desire you to clap into your prayers； for；
look you； the warrant's come。 BARNARDINE。 You rogue； I have been
drinking all night； I am not fitted for't。 POMPEY。 O； the better； sir！ For he
that drinks all night and is hanged betimes in the morning may sleep the
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sounder all the next day。
Enter DUKE； disguised as before
ABHORSON。 Look you； sir； here comes your ghostly father。 Do we
jest now； think you？ DUKE。 Sir； induced by my charity； and hearing how
hastily you are to depart； I am come to advise you； comfort you； and pray
with you。 BARNARDINE。 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。 O； Sir；
you must； and therefore I beseech you Look forward on the journey you
shall go。 BARNARDINE。 I swear I will not die to…day for any man's
persuasion。 DUKE。 But hear you… BARNARDINE。 Not a word； if you
have anything to say to me； come to my ward； for thence will not I to…day。
Exit DUKE。 Unfit to live or die。 O gravel heart！ After him； fellows； bring
him to the block。 Exeunt ABHORSON and POMPEY
Enter PROVOST
PROVOST。 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。 PROVOST。 Here in the prison； father； There died this
morning of a cruel fever One Ragozine； a most notorious pirate； A man of
Claudio's years； his beard and head Just of his colour。 What if we do omit
This reprobate till he were well inclin'd； And satisfy 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 sent according to command； whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die。 PROVOST。 This shall be done；
good father； presently。 But Barnardine must die this afternoon； And how
shall we continue Claudio； To save me from the danger that might come If
he were known alive？ DUKE。 Let this be done： Put them in secret holds；
both Barnardine and Claudio。 Ere twice the sun hath made his journal
greeting To the under generation； you shall find Your safety manifested。
PROVOST。 I am your free dependant。 DUKE。 Quick； dispatch； and send
the head to Angelo。 Exit PROVOST Now will I write letters to Angelo…
The Provost； he shall bear them… whose contents Shall witness to him I am
near at home； And that； by great injunctions； I am bound To enter publicly。
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Him I'll desire To meet me at the consecrated fount； A league below the
city； and from thence； By cold gradation and well…balanc'd form。 We shall
proceed with Angelo。
Re…enter PROVOST
PROVOST。 Here is the head； I'll carry it myself。 DUKE。 Convenient
is it。 Make a swift return； For I would commune with you of such things
That want no ear but yours。 PROVOST。 I'll make all speed。 Exit
ISABELLA。 ＇ Within ＇ Peace； ho； be here！ DUKE。 The tongue of Isabel。
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 least expected。
Enter ISABELLA
ISABELLA。 Ho； by your leave！ DUKE。 Good morning to you； fair
and gracious daughter。 ISABELLA。 The better； given me by so holy a man。
Hath yet the deputy sent my brother's pardon？ DUKE。 He hath releas'd
him； Isabel； from the world。 His head is off and sent to Angelo。
ISABELLA。 Nay； but it is not so。 DUKE。 It is no other。 Show your
wisdom； daughter； in your close patience。 ISABELLA。 O； I will to him
and pluck out his eyes！ DUKE。 You shall not be admitted to his sight。
ISABELLA。 Unhappy Claudio！ Wretched Isabel！ Injurious world！ Most
damned Angelo！ DUKE。 This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot； Forbear
it； therefore； give your cause to heaven。 Mark what I say； which you shall
find By every syllable a faithful verity。 The Duke comes home to…morrow。
Nay； dry your eyes。 One of our convent； and his confessor； Gives me this
instance。 Already he hath carried Notice to Escalus and Angelo； Who do
prepare to meet him at the gates； There to give up their pow'r。 If you can；
pace your wisdom In that good path that I would wish it go； And you shall
have your bosom on this wretch； Grace of the Duke； revenges to your
heart； And general honour。 ISABELLA。 I am directed by you。 DUKE。
This letter； then； to Friar Peter give； 'Tis that he sent me of the Duke's
return。 Say； by this token； I desire his company At Mariana's house to…
night。 Her cause and yours I'll perfect him withal； and he shall bring you
Before the Duke； and to the head of Angelo Accuse him home and home。
For my poor self； I am combined by a sacred vow； And shall be absent。
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