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mine office； awakens me with this unwonted putting…on； methinks
strangely； for he hath not us'd it before。 DUKE。 Pray you； let's hear。
PROVOST。 ＇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 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 th' afternoon？ PROVOST。 A Bohemian born； but here
nurs'd up and bred。 One that is a prisoner nine years old。 DUKE。 How
came it that the absent Duke had not either deliver'd him to his liberty or
executed him？ I have heard it was ever his manner to do so。 PROVOST。
His friends still wrought reprieves for him； and； indeed； his fact； till now
in the government of Lord Angelo； came not to an undoubted proof。
DUKE。 It is now apparent？ PROVOST。 Most manifest； and not denied by
himself。 DUKE。 Hath he borne himself penitently in prison？ How seems
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he to be touch'd？ PROVOST。 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。 He wants advice。 PROVOST。 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 show'd him
a seeming warrant for it； it hath not moved him at all。 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 warrant
to execute； is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath sentenc'd
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。 PROVOST。 Pray； sir； in what？ DUKE。 In the delaying
death。 PROVOST。 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。 PROVOST。 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 tie the beard； and say it was the desire of the
penitent to be so bar'd before his death。 You know the course is common。
If anything 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。 PROVOST。
Pardon me； good father； it is against my oath。 DUKE。 Were you sworn to
the Duke； or to the deputy？ PROVOST。 To him and to his substitutes。
DUKE。 You will think you have made no offence if the Duke avouch the
justice of your dealing？ PROVOST。 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 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
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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