Measure for Measure The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] · William Shakespeare
SCENE II. _A room in the prison._
_Enter PROVOST and POMPEY._ _Prov._ Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head? _Pom._ 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. _Prov._ Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me 5 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 10 your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd. _Pom._ Sir, 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 15 partner. _Prov._ What, ho! Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there? _Enter ABHORSON._ _Abhor._ Do you call, sir? _Prov._ Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in your execution. If you think it meet, compound with 20 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.
_Abhor._ A bawd, sir? fie upon him! he will discredit our mystery. 25 _Prov._ Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [_Exit._ _Pom._ 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? 30 _Abhor._ Ay, sir; a mystery. _Pom._ 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 35 hanged, I cannot imagine. _Abhor._ Sir, it is a mystery. _Pom._ Proof? _Abhor._ Every true man's apparel fits your thief: if it be too little for your thief, your true man thinks it big 40 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 PROVOST._ _Prov._ Are you agreed? _Pom._ Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your bawd; he doth 45 oftener ask forgiveness. _Prov._ You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe to-morrow four o'clock. _Abhor._ Come on, bawd; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. 50 _Pom._ 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.
_Prov._ Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: [_Exeunt Pompey and Abhorson._ 55 The 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 to-morrow Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine? 60 _Claud._ As fast lock'd up in sleep as guiltless labour When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: He will not wake. _Prov._ Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare yourself. [_Knocking within._] But, hark, what noise?-- Heaven give your spirits comfort! [_Exit Clandio._] By and by.-- 65 I hope it is some pardon or reprieve For the most gentle Claudio. _Enter DUKE disguised as before._ Welcome, father. _Duke._ The best and wholesomest spirits of the night Envelop you, good Provost! Who call'd here of late? _Prov._ None, since the curfew rung. 70 _Duke._ Not Isabel? _Prov._ No. _Duke._ They will, then, ere't be long. _Prov._ What comfort is for Claudio? _Duke._ There's some in hope. _Prov._ It is a bitter Deputy. _Duke._ Not so, not so; his life is parallel'd 75 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; 80 But this being so, he's just. [_Knocking within._ Now are they come.
_Duke._ In the delaying death. _Prov._ 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. 160 _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. _Prov._ Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour. 165 _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 any thing fall to you upon this, more than thanks and good fortune, by the Saint 170 whom I profess, I will plead against it with my life. _Prov._ Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. _Duke._ Were you sworn to the Duke, or to the Deputy? _Prov._ To him, and to his substitutes. _Duke._ You will think you have made no offence, if the 175 Duke avouch the justice of your dealing? _Prov._ 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 180 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.
_Prov._ I know them both. _Duke._ The contents of this is the return of the Duke: 185 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 190 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 195 advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [_Exeunt._
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