SCENE I. Enter M.] Ff. M. discovered sitting. Steevens.

5, 6: F4 omits the refrain in l. 6. Rowe omits it in both lines.

6: _but_] _though_ Fletcher's version.

13: _it_] _is_ Warburton.

17: _meet_] _meet one_ Hanmer.

19: Enter I.] Transferred by Singer to line 23.

24: SCENE II. Pope.

_well come_] Ff. _welcome_ Warburton.

32, 33, 34: _There have I made my promise Upon the heavy middle of the night To call upon him._] S. Walker conj.

_There have I made my promise, upon the Heavy middle of the night to call upon him._ Ff.

_There on the heavy middle of the night Have I my promise made to call upon him._ Pope.

_There have I made my promise to call on him Upon the heavy middle of the night._ Capell.

_There have I made my promise in the heavy Middle...._ Singer.

_There have I made my promise on the heavy Middle...._ Dyce.

Delius and Staunton read with Ff. but print as prose.

38: _action all of precept_] _precept of all action_ Johnson conj.

49: SCENE III. Pope.

52: _have_] _I have_ Pope.

58-63: _O place ... fancies_] These lines to precede III. 2. 178.

Warburton conj.

60: _these_] _their_ Hanmer. _base_ Collier MS.

_quests_] _quest_ F1.

61: _escapes_] _'scapes_ Pope.

62: _their idle dreams_] Pope. _their idle dreame_ Ff.

_an idle dream_ Rowe.

63: _Welcome, how agreed?_] _Well! agreed?_ Hanmer.

SCENE IV. Pope.

65: _It is_] _'Tis_ Pope.

74: _t.i.the's_] _t.i.thes_ F1 F2 F3. _Tythes_ F4. _tilth's_ Hanmer (Warburton).

_Our ... sow_] _Our tythe's to reap, for yet our corn's to sow_ Capell conj. MS.

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 s.n.a.t.c.hes, 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 a.s.sist 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 wh.o.r.es, 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.