ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 2
1A room in the prison.
2Enter Provost and Pompey.
3ProvostCome hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s head?
4PompeyIf the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he’s his wife’s head, and I can never cut off a woman’s head.
5ProvostCome, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd.
6PompeySir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.
7ProvostWhat, ho! Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson, there?
8Enter Abhorson.
9AbhorsonDo you call, sir?
10ProvostSirrah, here’s a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present and dismiss him. He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd.
11AbhorsonA bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery.
12ProvostGo to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. Exit.
13PompeyPray, sir, by your good favour—for surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look—do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery?
14AbhorsonAy, sir; a mystery
15PompeyPainting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occupation, using painting, do prove my occupation a mystery: but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hanged, I cannot imagine.
16AbhorsonSir, it is a mystery.
17PompeyProof?
18AbhorsonEvery true man’s apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big enough; if it be too big for your thief, your thief thinks it little enough: so every true man’s apparel fits your thief.
19Reenter Provost.
20ProvostAre you agreed?
21PompeySir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness.
22ProvostYou, sirrah, provide your block and your axe to-morrow four o’clock.
23AbhorsonCome on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.
24PompeyI do 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.
25ProvostCall hither Barnardine and Claudio: Exeunt Pompey and Abhorson.
The one has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
26Enter Claudio.
27Look, 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?
28ClaudioAs fast lock’d up in sleep as guiltless labour
When it lies starkly in the traveller’s bones:
He will not wake.
29ProvostWho can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself. Knocking within. But, hark, what noise?
Heaven give your spirits comfort! Exit Claudio. By and by.
I hope it is some pardon or reprieve
For the most gentle Claudio.
30Enter Duke disguised as before.
31Welcome father.
32DukeThe best and wholesomest spirts of the night
Envelope you, good Provost! Who call’d here of late?
33ProvostNone, since the curfew rung.
34DukeNot Isabel?
35ProvostNo.
36DukeThey will, then, ere’t be long.
37ProvostWhat comfort is for Claudio?
38DukeThere’s some in hope.
39ProvostIt is a bitter deputy.
40DukeNot 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: were he meal’d with that
Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;
But this being so, he’s just. Knocking within. Now are they come. Exit Provost.
This is a gentle provost: seldom when
The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. Knocking within.
How now! what noise? That spirit’s possess’d with haste
That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes.
41Reenter Provost.
42ProvostThere he must stay until the officer
Arise to let him in: he is call’d up.
43DukeHave you no countermand for Claudio yet,
But he must die to-morrow?
44ProvostNone, sir, none.
45DukeAs near the dawning, provost, as it is,
You shall hear more ere morning.
46ProvostHappily
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.
47Enter a Messenger.
48This is his lordship’s man.
49DukeAnd here comes Claudio’s pardon.
50MessengerGiving a paper. 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.
51ProvostI shall obey him. Exit Messenger.
52DukeAside. This is his pardon, purchased by such sin
For which the pardoner himself is in.
Hence hath offence his quick celerity,
When it is born 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?
53ProvostI 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.
54DukePray you, let’s hear.
55ProvostReads.
“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?
56DukeWhat is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the afternoon?
57ProvostA Bohemian born, but here nursed un and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old.
58DukeHow 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.
59ProvostHis friends still wrought reprieves for him: and, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.
60DukeIt is now apparent?
61ProvostMost manifest, and not denied by himself.
62DukeHath he born himself penitently in prison? how seems he to be touched?
63ProvostA 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.
64DukeHe wants advice.
65ProvostHe 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.
66DukeMore 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.
67ProvostPray, sir, in what?
68DukeIn the delaying death.
69ProvostAlack, 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.
70DukeBy 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 born to Angelo.
71ProvostAngelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.
72DukeO, 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 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.
73ProvostPardon me, good father; it is against my oath.
74DukeWere you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy?
75ProvostTo him, and to his substitutes.
76DukeYou will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing?
77ProvostBut what likelihood is in that?
78DukeNot 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.
79ProvostI know them both.
80DukeThe 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, 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.