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. Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit into the house. Enter ISABELLA. Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy? Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd ; And to that vineyard is a planchè i3 gate, 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 on the heavy Middle of the night to call upon him. Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way? Isab. 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 The way twice o'er. Duke. Are there no other tokens Between you 'greed concerning her observance ?s Isab. No, none, but only a repair i' the dark ; And that I have possess'd him my most stay Can be but brief; for I have made him know I have a servant comes with me along, That stays upon me; 10 whose persuasion is, I come about my brother. 4. Circummur'd. Walled round; Latin, muratus. 5. Planched. Planked, or made of boards. French, planche, a plank. 6. Heavy middle of the night. Shakespeare applies the epithet "heavy" to "night" here, and in "Othello," v. 1, to express darkness that seems ponderous. 7. In action all of precept. Conveying all his directions in action, rather than in speech. 8. Concerning her observance. That concern her to observe. Possess'd him. Possessed him with the knowledge that; 9. informed him that. Stays for me, waits for me. 10. Stays upon me. 11. Millions of false eyes. "False" here means falselyjudging. This speech of the duke's shows his thought to be reverting to his bitter rumination upon Lucio's slanderous talk; and which rumination (beginning "No might nor greatness," &c.") was broken off in the midst by the coming in of Escalus, the Provost, &c., iii. 2. Its resumption at this juncture has a most natural effect, and serves several purposes: it serves to fill up the stage-time required for Isabella's communication to Mariana: it serves to depict the speaker's reflective character: 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.15 Come, let us go: Our corn's to reap, for yet our tilth's 16 to sow. [Exeunt. SCENE II.—A room in the Prison. Enter PROVOST and CLOWN. Prov. Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head? Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but it serves to show how sensitive to public opinion he is, and how much even the despicable Lucio's aspersions wound him, and rankle in his mind. 12. These false and most contrarious quests. The use of "these," to instance a generalisation, has been pointed out in Note 69, Act ii. Contraricus" here means contrary to fact, and contradictory to each other. "Quests" mean inquisitions, or spyings. 13. Escapes. Sallies, words uttered wantonly and with levity. 14. Rack thee in their fancies. Shakespeare uses the verb "rack" in various ways: for expressing 'to torture,' "" "Tempest," i. 2, and "Measure for Measure," v. 1; 'to exaggerate,' or 'strain,' "Much Ado," iv. 1: and here it seems to mean something equivalent to stretching into enormity,' or 'torturing into semblance of evil.' Perhaps the sentence implies, mangle thy reputation by their false representations.' 15. Flourish the deceit. "Flourish" means to decorate or adorn with exterior ornament; therefore, the duke says that the justice of Mariana's claim to her affianced husband renders less ill-favoured the deception she is about to practise upon him. 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 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 rogue. Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful rogue 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. Prov. What, ho, Abhorson! horson, there ? Enter ABHORSON. Abhor. Do you call, sir? Where's Ab Prov. 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 cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a tapster. Re-enter PROVOST. Prov. Are you agreed? Clo. Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than your tapster,—he doth oftener ask forgiveness, 22 Prov. You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe to-morrow, four o'clock. Abbor. Come on, tapster; I will instruct thee in my trade; follow. Clo. 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;23 for, truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you a good turn. Prov. Call hither Barnardine and Claudio: Enter CLAUDIO. Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death: Claud. As fast lock'd up in sleep, as guiltless 24 Abhor. A tapster, sir! fie upon him! he will When it lies starkly in the traveller's bones: discredit our mystery. 18 He will not wake. Prov. Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale. [Exit. Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour,1o-for surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,-do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery? Abbor. Ay, sir; a mystery. Clo. Painting, 20 sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; but what mystery there should be in hanging, if I should be hanged, I cannot imagine. Abbor. Sir, it is a mystery. Clo. Proof? Who can do good on him? Heaven give your spirits comfort! [Exit CLAUDIO.] I hope it is some pardon or reprieve Enter DUKE disguised as before. Duke. night Not Isabel? Abhor. Every true man's apparel fits your Envelope you, good provost! Who call'd here of late? thief,Prov. None, since the curfew rung. 25 Duke. Prov. No. Duke. They will, then, ere't be long. 20 Prov. What comfort is for Claudio? Clo. 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,21 every true man's apparel fits your thief. 17. Gyves. Fetters. 18. Mystery. Trade. From old French, maistrie, or mestier; and old English, maistery, or mastery. 19. Good favour. The clown first uses this expression in the sense of 'good leave ;' secondly, in the sense of 'comely appearor goodly countenance.' ance,' 20. Painting. That this was practised by the clown's former associates we find from Lucio's question, "Does Bridget paint still, Pompey, ha?" iii. 2. 21. So, every true man's apparel fits your thief. Some editors print this speech of the clown's as if it were the remainder of Abhorson's previous one. But we give the two speeches as they stand in the Folio; taking this to be the interpretation :— Abhorson states his proof that hanging is a mystery by saying, "Every true man's apparel fits your thief," and the clown taking the words out of his mouth, explains them after his own fashion, and ends by saying "So (in this way,' or 'thus'), every true man's apparel fits your thief." Moreover, the speech is much more in character with the clown's snip-snap style of chop-logic, than with Abhorson's manner, which is remarkably curt and bluff. 22. Ask forgiveness. It was a customary form for the executioner, previous to the fulfilment of his office, to ask forgiveness of the person about to suffer. 23. Yare. Ready, prompt, apt. 24. Starkly. Stiffly and strongly; German, stark. 25. Since the curfew rung. "Curfew" is from the French, couvrefeu; and signifies the bell which was rung at nightfall (in Norman-English and even earlier times of Northern observance) to announce that all fires were then to be extinguished; and subsequently came to mean even-tide, or nightfall, simply. "Rung" was often used where now 'rang' would be more correctly written. 26. They will, then, ere't be long. In some editions "they" is changed to 'there.' But the "they" here is the same 'they' that occurs some few lines farther on-"Now are they come;" and Duke. There's some in hope. in time, matter, or other circumstance. Prov. It is a bitter deputy. Duke. Not 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 28 in others: were he meal'd with that Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous; But this being so, he's just. [Knocking within. Now are they come. [Exit PROVOST. This is a gentle provost: seldom-when 30 The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. [Knocking. How now! what noise? That spirit's possess'd with haste That wounds the unsisting" postern with these strokes. represents those whose advent the duke expects,-Isabella and the messenger with a reprieve. This passage affords an instance of Shakespeare's peculiar use of relatively-used pronouns. He here makes a thoroughly dramatic use of them; to indicate a mind occupying itself with a subject, just in that indefinitely expressed form which such musing takes. While speaking of Angelo, the duke is thinking of those he eagerly expects; and when he gives utterance to his thought, he does so with the indefinitely-sounding but pertinently-emphatic "they." 27. Stroke. A ruled pen-mark. 28. Qualify. Lower, abate, bring down; as the strength of spirituous liquor is qualified by water. 29. Meal'd. Mingled, mixed; French, mêlé. As mixed with alloy, or adulterated. 30. Seldom-when. An old compound form of the word; as 'seldom-time,'' seldom-what,' &c. The same form occurs again, "2 Henry IV." iv. 4: ""Tis seldom-when the bee doth leave her comb in the dead carrion." 31. Unsisting. Unstill, never at rest; Latin, sistere, to stand still. Some editors suspect a misprint in this word; but Shakespeare has used one with a similar derivation from the Latin,'insisture," "Troilus and Cressida," i. 3; therefore, if we take him to have meant by "insisture," stability, steadfast position, or even steadfast course, we may believe him to have used "un 46 Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day. Prov. I shall obey him. [Exit Messenger. Duke. [Aside.] This is his pardon, purchas'd by such sin For which the pardoner himself is in. When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, Prov. 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, 35 Duke. Pray you, let's hear. Whatsoever 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. What is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the afternoon? Prov. A Bohemian born, but here nursed up and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old. 36 Duke. How 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. Prov. His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and, indeed, his fact, 37 till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof. Duke. It is now apparent? Prov. Most manifest, and not denied by himself. Duke. Hath he borne himself penitently in prison? how seems he to be touched? Prov. A man that apprehends death no more sisting" in the sense of 'unstill,' in reference probably to the frequent knockings that have just struck upon the never-resting postern, or gate, of the prison. 32. Happily. Sometimes used for 'haply;' perhaps, perchance. Here it is felicitously employed, as conveying the effect of the provost's feeling that "something" might be fortunately as well as possibly known to the friar. 33. Siege. Official seat. 34 Putting on. Urging, incitement. 35. He hath not used it before. In these words, and in the word "unwonted," Shakespeare gives one of his touches indicating Long Time. He conveys thereby the idea of sufficient lapse of time for the provost to speak of unaccustomed urging, not hitherto used by Angelo, as if long in office under him. Just before, the passage "No such example have we," &c., gives the same idea of a certain period having elapsed, for Angelo's procedure as a ruler to be made known; but, together with these indications of Long Time, the dramatist has not failed to insert concurrent touches of Short Time through the scene, as, to-morrow, four o'clock;" "by eight to-morrow;" "near the dawning;" "ere morning;" 'almost day," &c. ; so as to mark the immediate course of the event in hand. 36. A prisoner nine years old. A prisoner during nine years. 37. His fact. His deed, his crime. dreadfully but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. 38 Duke. He wants advice. Prov. He 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. More 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. Prov. Pray, sir, in what? 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. 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. 40 Duke. Oh! death's a great disguiser; and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard;"1 and say it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: you know the course is common. If anything 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. Prov. Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath. 38. Insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal. Insensible of his being subject to death, and desperate in his incurring of death. 39. Boldness of my cunning. Intrepidity of my discernment. 40. Favour. Appearance, look, countenance. 41. Tie the beard. "Tie" has been changed by various editors to 'dye,' and 'trim.' But it is probable that the beard was sometimes tied up out of the way of the axe, previous to beheading, at the request of the sufferer: as the anecdote of Sir Thomas More may be remembered; who, when laying his neck on the block, said to the executioner, "Let me put my beard aside; that hath not committed treason." 42. The contents of this, By this the friar-duke means the paper which he has just shown the provost, that he may recognise the duke's handwriting, or "character." Afterwards, "nothing of what is writ" may refer to the contents of the same paper; unless the word "writ" bear the interpretation given to it by Mr. Staunton, who states that it is here used in the sense of truth,' or 'gospel, citing in confirmation the line from "Pericles," ii. (Gower), "Thinks all is writ he spoken can." 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 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 farther 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. Prov. I know them both. Duke. The contents of this 42 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 43 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. 45 43. Unfolding. This epithet, applied to the morning star, poetically serves to indicate the time for the shepherd to send his sheep forth from the fold, and to picture the planet revealing itself to the sight of those looking for the approach of dawn. 44. Give him a present shrift. Hear him make his confession immediately. 45. This shall absolutely resolve you. "This" again alludes to the paper which the duke shows to the provost, promises that he shall "over-read," and guarantees shall entirely convince him. ances. 46. I am as well acquainted. I am as well off for acquaint47. Master Rash. "Rash" is not only given as a name for this youngster in the sense of heedless, inconsequent; but also in its sense, as the name of a satin stuff, probably favoured by him for his fashionable wear. The "commodity" that "he's in (prison) for," alludes to the practice of money-lenders who made advances partly in cash and partly in goods, worth but a small portion of the price they represented, and among which frequently figured "brown paper." The characteristic names given to the |