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- William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act IV, Scene II
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Scene IIA room in the prisonEnter Provost and PompeyProvostCome hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s head?PompeyIf 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.ProvostCome, 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.PompeySir, 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.ProvostWhat, ho! Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson, there?Enter AbhorsonAbhorsonDo you call, sir?ProvostSirrah, 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.AbhorsonA bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery.ProvostGo to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.ExitPompeyPray, 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?AbhorsonAy, sir; a mysteryPompeyPainting, 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.AbhorsonSir, it is a mystery.PompeyProof?AbhorsonEvery 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.Re-enter ProvostProvostAre you agreed?PompeySir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth oftener ask forgiveness.ProvostYou, sirrah, provide your block and your axe to-morrow four o’clock.AbhorsonCome on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow.PompeyI 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.ProvostCall hither Barnardine and Claudio:Exeunt Pompey and AbhorsonThe one has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a murderer, though he were my brother.Enter ClaudioLook, 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?ClaudioAs fast lock’d up in sleep as guiltless labour When it lies starkly in the traveller’s bones: He will not wake.ProvostWho can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself.Knocking withinBut, hark, what noise? Heaven give your spirits comfort!Exit ClaudioBy and by. I hope it is some pardon or reprieve For the most gentle Claudio.Enter Duke Vincentio disguised as beforeWelcome father.Duke VincentioThe best and wholesomest spirts of the night Envelope you, good Provost! Who call’d here of late?ProvostNone, since the curfew rung.Duke VincentioNot Isabel?ProvostNo.Duke VincentioThey will, then, ere’t be long.ProvostWhat comfort is for Claudio?Duke VincentioThere’s some in hope.ProvostIt is a bitter deputy.Duke VincentioNot 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 withinNow are they come.Exit ProvostThis is a gentle provost: seldom when The steeled gaoler is the friend of men.Knocking withinHow now! what noise? That spirit’s possessed with haste That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes.Re-enter ProvostProvostThere he must stay until the officer Arise to let him in: he is call’d up.Duke VincentioHave you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow?ProvostNone, sir, none.Duke VincentioAs near the dawning, provost, as it is, You shall hear more ere morning.ProvostHappily 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 MessengerThis is his lordship’s man.Duke VincentioAnd here comes Claudio’s pardon.MessengerGiving a paperMy 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.ProvostI shall obey him.Exit MessengerDuke VincentioAsideThis 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?ProvostI 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 VincentioPray you, let’s hear.ProvostReadsWhatsoever 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 VincentioWhat is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the afternoon?ProvostA Bohemian born, but here nursed un and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old.Duke VincentioHow 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.ProvostHis 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 VincentioIt is now apparent?ProvostMost manifest, and not denied by himself.Duke VincentioHath he born himself penitently in prison? how seems he to be touched?ProvostA 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 VincentioHe wants advice.ProvostHe 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 VincentioMore 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.ProvostPray, sir, in what?Duke VincentioIn the delaying death.ProvostA lack, 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 VincentioBy 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.ProvostAngelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.Duke VincentioO, 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.ProvostPardon me, good father; it is against my oath.Duke VincentioWere you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy?ProvostTo him, and to his substitutes.Duke VincentioYou will think you have made no offence, if the duke avouch the justice of your dealing?ProvostBut what likelihood is in that?Duke VincentioNot 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.ProvostI know them both.Duke VincentioThe 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 tenor; 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
William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act IV
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William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act IV, Scene III
- William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act IV, Scene III
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
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TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
