PROVOST

I do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge. Away, Sir, you must go. Here if it Like your honour. pray you do; I'll know His pleasure, may be he will relent; alas He hath but as offended in a dream, All Sects, all Ages smack of this vice, and he To die for't? Is it your will Claudio shall die to morrow? Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen When after execution, Judgement hath Repented over his doom. I crave your Honours pardon: What shall be done Sir, with the groaning Juliet ? She's very near her hour. I my good Lord, a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a Sisterhood, If not already. Save your Honour. Heaven give thee moving graces. Pray heaven she win him. I am the Provost: whats your will, good Friar? I would do more then that, if more were needful Look here comes one: a Gentlewoman of mine, Who falling in the flaws of her own youth, Hath blisterd her report: She is with child, And he that God it, sentenced: a young man, More fit to do another such offence, Then die for this. As I do think to morrow. I have provided for you, stay a while And you shall be conducted. It's pity of him. Who's there? Come in, the wish deserves a welcome. And very welcome: look Signior, here's your sister. As many as you please. What's your will (father?) In good time. A Bawd of eleven years continuance, may it please your Honour. So please you, this Friar hath been with him, and advised him for the entertainment of death. Come hither sirrah; can you cut off a men head? Come sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To morrow morning are to die Clau dio and Barnardine: here is in our prison a common exe cutioner, who in his office lacks a helper, if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your Gives: if not, you shall have your full time of imprison meant, and your deliverance with and unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd. What hoa, Abhorson: where's Abhorson there? Sirrah, 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. Go too Sir, you weigh equally: a feather will turn the Scale. Are you agreed? You sirrah, provide your block and your Axe to morrow, four a clock. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio : the one has my pity; not a jot the other, Being a Murderer, though he were my brother. Look, here's the Warrant Claudio, for thy death, It's now dead midnight, and by eight to morrow Thou must be made immortal. Where's Barnardine ? Who can do good on him? Well, go, prepare your self. But hark, what noise? Heaven give your spirits comfort: by, and by, I hope it is some pardon, or repreeve For the most gentle Claudio. Welcome Father. None since the Curphew rung. No. What comfort is for Claudio ? It is a bitter Deputy. There he must stay until the Officer Arise to let him in: he is called up. None Sir, none. Happily You something know: yet I believe there comes No countermand: no such example have we: Beside, upon the very siege of Justice, Lord Angelo hath to the public ear Professed the contrary. And here comes Claudio is pardon. I shall obey him. I 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. A Bohemian born: But here nursed up & bred, One that is a prisoner nine years old. His friends still wrought Repreeues for him: And indeed his fact till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to and undoubtful proof. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. A man that apprehends death no more dread fully, but as a drunken sleep, careless, wreakless, and fearless of what's passed, present, or to come: insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. He will hear none: he hath evermore had the li berty 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 war rant for it, it hath not moved him at all. Pray Sir, in what? Alack, how may I do it? Having the hour li mited, and and express command, under penalty, to de liver his head in the view of Angelo ? I may make my case as Claudio is, to cross this in the smallest. Angelo hath seen them both, And will discover the favour. Pardon me, good Father, it is against my oath. To him, and to his Substitutes. But what likelihood is in that? I know them both. Now Sir, how do you find the prisoner? Here in the prison, Father, There died this morning of a cruel Favour, One Ragozine, a most notorious Pirate, A man of Claudio is years: his beard, and head Just of his colour. What if we do omit This Reprobate, till he were well inclined, And satisfy the Deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more Like to Claudio ? This shall be done (good Father) presently: But Barnardine must die this afternoon, And how shall we continue Claudio, To save me from the danger that might come, If he were known alive? I am your free dependant. Here is the head, I'll carry it my self. I'll make all speed. It was commanded so. No my good Lord: it was by private message. Pardon me, noble Lord, I thought it was a fault, but knew it not, Yet did repent me after more advice, For testimony whereof, one in the prison That should by private order else have died, I have reserved alive. His name is Barnardine. This my Lord. This is another prisoner that I saved, Who should have died when Claudio lost his head, As Like almost to Claudio, as himself.