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By Root 21132 0

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 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 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 depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.

BARNARDINE.

Friar, not I; I have been drinking hard all night, and

I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my

brains with billets. I will