Novelty is only in request, and it is as dangerous to be
aged in any kind of course as it is virtuous to be
constant in any undertaking. There is scarce truth
220
enough alive to make societies secure; but security
enough to make fellowships accurst. Much upon this
riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old
enough, yet it is every day’s news. I pray you, sir, of
what disposition was the Duke?
225
ESCALUS One that, above all other strifes, contended
especially to know himself.
DUKE What pleasure was he given to?
ESCALUS Rather rejoicing to see another merry, than
merry at anything which professed to make him
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rejoice. A gentleman of all temperance. But leave we
him to his events, with a prayer they may prove
prosperous, and let me desire to know how you find
Claudio prepared. I am made to understand that you
have lent him visitation.
235
DUKE He professes to have received no sinister measure
from his judge, but most willingly humbles himself to
the determination of justice. Yet had he framed to
himself, by the instruction of his frailty, many
deceiving promises of life, which I, by my good
240
leisure, have discredited to him; and now is he
resolved to die.
ESCALUS You have paid the heavens your function, and
the prisoner the very debt of your calling. I have
laboured for the poor gentleman to the extremest
245
shore of my modesty, but my brother-justice have I
found so severe that he hath forced me to tell him he
is indeed Justice.
DUKE If his own life answer the straitness of his
proceeding, it shall become him well: wherein if he
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chance to fail, he hath sentenced himself.
ESCALUS I am going to visit the prisoner; fare you well.
DUKE Peace be with you. Exeunt Escalus and Provost.
He who the sword of heaven will bear
Should be as holy as severe:
255
Pattern in himself to know,
Grace to stand, and virtue, go:
More nor less to others paying
Than by self-offences weighing.
Shame to him whose cruel striking
260
Kills for faults of his own liking!
Twice treble shame on Angelo,
To weed my vice, and let his grow!
O, what may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!
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How may likeness made in crimes,
Making practice on the times
To draw with idle spiders’ strings
Most ponderous and substantial things!
Craft against vice I must apply.
270
With Angelo tonight shall lie
His old betrothed, but despised:
So disguise shall by th’disguised
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting. Exit.
275
4.1 Enter MARIANA, and a boy singing.
Song.
Take, o take those lips away
that so sweetly were forsworn,
And those eyes, the break of day
lights that do mislead the morn:
But my kisses bring again,
bring again;
5
Seals of love, but seal’d in vain,
seal’d in vain.
Enter DUKE, disguised.
MARIANA
Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away;
Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
Hath often still’d my brawling discontent. Exit boy.
I cry you mercy, sir, and well could wish
10
You had not found me here so musical.
Let me excuse me, and believe me so;
My mirth it much displeas’d, but pleas’d my woe.
DUKE ’Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm
To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.
15
I pray you tell me, hath anybody enquired for me here
to-day? Much upon this time have I promised here to
meet.
MARIANA You have not been enquired after: I have
sat here all day.
20
Enter ISABELLA.
DUKE I do constantly believe you: the time is come even
now. I shall crave your forbearance a little; may be I
will call upon you anon for some advantage to
yourself.
MARIANA I am always bound to you. Exit.
25
DUKE [to Isabella] Very well met, and well come.
What is the news from this good deputy?
ISABELLA He hath a garden circummur’d with brick,
Whose western side is with a vineyard back’d;
And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
30
That makes his opening with this bigger key.
This other doth command a little door
Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
There have I made my promise
Upon the heavy middle of the night
35
To call upon him.
DUKE But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
ISABELLA I have ta’en a due and wary note upon’t;
With whispering and most guilty diligence,
In action all of precept, he did show me
40
The way twice o’er.
DUKE Are there no other tokens
Between you ’greed, concerning her observance?
ISABELLA No; none, but only a repair i’th’ dark;
And that I have possess’d him my most stay
Can be but brief: for I have made him know
45
I have a servant comes with me along,
That stays upon me; whose persuasion is
I come about my brother.
DUKE ’Tis well borne up.
I have not yet made known to Mariana
A word of this. – What hoa, within! Come forth.
50
Enter MARIANA.
[to Mariana] I pray you be acquainted with this maid;
She comes to do you good.
ISABELLA I do desire the like.
DUKE Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
MARIANA
Good friar, I know you do, and so have found it.
DUKE Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
55
Who hath a story ready for your ear.
I shall attend your leisure; but make haste,
The vaporous night approaches.
MARIANA [to Isabella] Will’t please you walk aside?
[Mariana and Isabella withdraw.]
DUKE O place and greatness! Millions of false eyes
60
Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report
Run with these false, and most contrarious quest
Upon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dream
And rack thee in their fancies.
[Mariana and Isabella return.]
Welcome; how agreed?
65
ISABELLA She’ll take the enterprise upon her, father,
If you advise it.
DUKE It is not my consent,
But my entreaty too.
ISABELLA Little have you to say
When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
‘Remember now my brother’.
MARIANA Fea
r me not.
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DUKE Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
He is your husband on a pre-contract:
To bring you thus together ’tis no sin,
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. – Come, let us go;
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Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow. Exeunt.
4.2 Enter Provost and POMPEY.
PROVOST Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s
head?
POMPEY If 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.
5
PROVOST Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield
me a direct answer. Tomorrow 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
10
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.
POMPEY Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of
15
mind, but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman.
I would be glad to receive some instruction from my
fellow-partner.
PROVOST What hoa, Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson
there?
20
Enter ABHORSON.
ABHORSON Do you call, sir?
PROVOST Sirrah, here’s a fellow will help you tomorrow
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
25
cannot plead his estimation with you: he hath been a bawd.
ABHORSON A bawd, sir? Fie upon him, he will discredit
our mystery.
PROVOST Go to, sir, you weigh equally: a feather will
30
turn the scale. Exit.
POMPEY Pray, 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?
ABHORSON Ay, sir, a mystery.
35
POMPEY Painting, 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.
40
ABHORSON Sir, it is a mystery.
POMPEY Proof?
ABHORSON Every 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
45
it little enough. So every true man’s apparel fits your
thief.
Enter Provost.
PROVOST Are you agreed?
POMPEY Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your
hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he
50
doth oftener ask forgiveness.
PROVOST You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe
tomorrow four o’clock.
ABHORSON Come on, bawd, I will instruct thee in my
trade. Follow.
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POMPEY I 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.
PROVOST Call hither Barnardine and Claudio.
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Exeunt Abhorson and Pompey.
Th’one has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter CLAUDIO.
Look, here’s the warrant, Claudio, for thy death;
’Tis now dead midnight, and by eight tomorrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where’s Barnardine?
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CLAUDIO As fast lock’d up in sleep as guiltless labour
When it lies starkly in the traveller’s bones.
He will not wake.
PROVOST Who can do good on him?
Well, go; prepare yourself.
[knocking within] But hark, what noise?
Heaven give your spirits comfort! Exit Claudio.
[knocking] – By and by. –
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I hope it is some pardon or reprieve
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 357