Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/Measure, for Measure/Act 4 Scene 3
Scena Tertia.
Enter Clowne.
Clo.
I am as well acquainted heere, as I was in our house of profession: one would thinke it were Mistris Ouer-dons owne house, for heere be manie of her olde Customers. First, here's yong Mr Rash, hee's in for a commoditie of browne paper, and olde Ginger, nine score and seuenteene pounds, of which hee made fiue Markes readie money: marrie then, Ginger was not much in request, for the olde Women were all dead. Then is there heere one Mr Caper, at the suite of Master Three-Pile the Mercer, for some foure suites of Peachcolour'd Satten, which now peaches him a beggar. Then haue we heere, yong Dizie, and yong Mr Deepevow, and Mr Copperspurre, and Mr Starue-Lackey the Rapier and dagger man, and yong Drop-heire that kild lustie Pudding, and Mr Forthlight the Tilter, and braue Mr Shootie the great Traueller, and wilde Halfe-Canne that stabb'd Pots, and I thinke fortie more, all great doers in our Trade, and are now for the Lords sake.
Enter Abhorson.
Sirrah, bring Barnardine hether
Clo.
Mr Barnardine, you must rise and be hang'd, Mr Barnardine
Abh.
What hoa Barnardine.
Barnardine within.
A pox o'your throats: who makes that noyse there? What are you?
Clo.
Your friends Sir, the Hangman:
You must be so good Sir to rise, and be put to death.
Bar.
Away you Rogue, away, I am sleepie
Abh.
Tell him he must awake,
And that quickly too.
Clo.
Pray Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleepe afterwards.
Ab.
Go in to him, and fetch him out.
Clo.
He is comming Sir, he is comming: I heare his Straw russle.
Enter Barnardine.
Is the Axe vpon the blocke, sirrah?
Clo.
Verie readie Sir.
Bar.
How now Abhorson?
What's the newes with you?
Abh.
Truly Sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers: for looke you, the Warrants come.
Bar.
You Rogue, I haue bin drinking all night, I am not fitted for't.
Clo.
Oh, the better Sir: for he that drinkes all night, and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleepe the sounder all the next day.
Enter Duke.
Looke you Sir, heere comes your ghostly Father: do we iest now thinke you?
Duke.
Sir, induced by my charitie, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to aduise you, Comfort you, and pray with you.
Bar.
Friar, not I: I haue bin drinking hard all night, and I will haue more time to prepare mee, or they shall beat out my braines with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that's certaine.
Duke.
Oh sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you
Looke forward on the iournie you shall go.
Bar.
I sweare I will not die to day for anie mans perswasion.
Duke.
But heare you:
Bar.
Not a word: if you haue anie thing to say to me, come to my Ward: for thence will not I to day. Exit
Enter Prouost.
Vnfit to liue, or die: oh grauell heart.
After him (Fellowes) bring him to the blocke.
Pro.
Now Sir, how do you finde the prisoner?
Duke.
A creature vnprepar'd, vnmeet for death,
And to transport him in the minde he is,
Were damnable.
Pro.
Heere in the prison, Father,
There died this morning of a cruell Feauor,
One Ragozine, a most notorious Pirate,
A man of Claudio's yeares: his beard, and head
Iust of his colour. What if we do omit
This Reprobate, til he were wel enclin'd,
And satisfie the Deputie with the visage
Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Duke.
Oh, 'tis an accident that heauen prouides:
Dispatch it presently, the houre drawes on
Prefixt by Angelo: See this be done,
And sent according to command, whiles I
Perswade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Pro.
This shall be done (good Father) presently:
But Barnardine must die this afternoone,
And how shall we continue Claudio,
To saue me from the danger that might come,
If he were knowne aliue?
Duke.
Let this be done,
Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio,
Ere twice the Sun hath made his iournall greeting
To yond generation, you shal finde
Your safetie manifested.
Pro.
I am your free dependant. Exit.
Duke.
Quicke, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo
Now wil I write Letters to Angelo,
(The Prouost he shal beare them) whose contents
Shal witnesse to him I am neere at home:
And that by great Iniunctions I am bound
To enter publikely: him Ile desire
To meet me at the consecrated Fount,
A League below the Citie: and from thence,
By cold gradation, and weale-ballanc'd forme.
We shal proceed with Angelo.
Enter Prouost.
Heere is the head, Ile carrie it my selfe.
Duke.
Conuenient is it: Make a swift returne,
For I would commune with you of such things,
That want no eare but yours.
Pro.
Ile make all speede. Exit.
Isabell within.
Peace hoa, be heere.
Duke.
The tongue of Isabell. She's come to know,
If yet her brothers pardon be come hither:
But I will keepe her ignorant of her good,
To make her heauenly comforts of dispaire,
When it is least expected.
Enter Isabella.
Hoa, by your leaue.
Duke.
Good morning to you, faire, and gracious
daughter.
Isa.
The better giuen me by so holy a man,
Hath yet the Deputie sent my brothers pardon?
Duke.
He hath releasd him, Isabell, from the world,
His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
Isa.
Nay, but it is not so.
Duke.
It is no other,
Shew your wisedome daughter in your close patience.
Isa.
Oh, I wil to him, and plucke out his eies.
Duk.
You shal not be admitted to his sight.
Isa.
Vnhappie Claudio, wretched Isabell,
Iniurious world, most damned Angelo.
Duke.
This nor hurts him, nor profits you a iot,
Forbeare it therefore, giue your cause to heauen.
Marke what I say, which you shal finde
By euery sillable a faithful veritie.
The Duke comes home to morrow: nay drie your eyes,
One of our Couent, and his Confessor
Giues me this instance: Already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo,
Who do prepare to meete him at the gates,
There to giue vp their powre: If you can pace your wisdome,
In that good path that I would wish it go,
And you shal haue your bosome on this wretch,
Grace of the Duke, reuenges to your heart,
And general Honor.
Isa.
I am directed by you.
Duk.
This Letter then to Friar Peter giue,
'Tis that he sent me of the Dukes returne:
Say, by this token, I desire his companie
At Mariana's house to night. Her cause, and yours
Ile perfect him withall, and he shal bring you
Before the Duke; and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home and home. For my poore selfe,
I am combined by a sacred Vow,
And shall be absent. Wend you with this Letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eies
With a light heart; trust not my holie Order
If I peruert your course: whose heere?
Enter Lucio.
Good' euen;
Frier, where's the Prouost?
Duke.
Not within Sir.
Luc.
Oh prettie Isabella, I am pale at mine heart, to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient; I am faine to dine and sup with water and bran: I dare not for my head fill my belly. One fruitful Meale would set mee too't: but they say the Duke will be heere to Morrow. By my troth Isabell I lou'd thy brother, if the olde fantastical Duke of darke corners had bene at home, he had liued.
Duke.
Sir, the Duke is marueilous little beholding to your reports, but the best is, he liues not in them.
Luc.
Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so wel as I do: he's a better woodman then thou tak'st him for.
Duke.
Well: you'l answer this one day. Fare ye well.
Luc.
Nay tarrie, Ile go along with thee, I can tel thee pretty tales of the Duke.
Duke.
You haue told me too many of him already sir if they be true: if not true, none were enough
Lucio.
I was once before him for getting a Wench with childe.
Duke.
Did you such a thing?
Luc.
Yes marrie did I; but I was faine to forswear it,
They would else haue married me to the rotten Medler.
Duke.
Sir your company is fairer then honest, rest you well.
Lucio.
By my troth Ile go with thee to the lanes end: if baudy talke offend you, wee'l haue very litle of it: nay Friar, I am a kind of Burre, I shal sticke. Exeunt.