William Shakespeare - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

He doth with holy abstinence subdue

That in himself which he spurs on his power

To qualify in others: were he meal’d

With that which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;

But this being so, he’s just.—Now are they come.

[Knocking within—PROVOST goes out.]

This is a gentle provost: seldom when

The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.—

How now? what noise? That spirit’s possess’d with haste

That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes.

[PROVOST returns, speaking to one at the door.]

PROVOST.

There he must 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 tomorrow?

PROVOST.

None, sir, none.

DUKE.

As near the dawning, Provost, as it is,

You shall hear more ere morning.

PROVOST.

Happily

You something know; yet I believe there comes

No countermand; no such example have we:

Besides, upon the very siege of justice,

Lord Angelo hath to the public ear

Profess’d the contrary.

[Enter a Messenger.]

DUKE.

This is his lordship’s man.

DUKE.

And here comes Claudio’s pardon.

MESSENGER. 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.

PROVOST.

I shall obey him.

[Exit Messenger.]

DUKE.

[Aside.] This is his pardon, purchas’d by such sin,

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 so extended

That for the fault’s love is the offender friended.—

Now, sir, what news?

PROVOST. 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.

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 the afternoon?

PROVOST. 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 either delivered 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 undoubtful proof.

DUKE.

It is now apparent?

PROVOST.

Most manifest, and not denied by himself.

DUKE. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? How seems he to be touched?

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 awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed 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 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.

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 bared 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 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 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: 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, 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: I will give him a present shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed: but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III. Another Room in the same.

[Enter CLOWN.]

CLOWN. 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-coloured 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 killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shoetie the great traveller, and wild Halfcan that stabbed 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.

CLOWN.

Master Barnardine! You must rise and be hanged, Master

Barnardine!

ABHORSON.

What ho, Barnardine!

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