_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.

[_Exit Provost._

This is a gentle provost: seldom when The steeled gaoler is the friend of men. [_Knocking within._ How now! what noise? That spirit's possessed with haste That wounds the unsisting postern with these strokes. 85

_Re-enter PROVOST._

_Prov._ There he must stay until the officer Arise to let him in: he is call'd up.

_Duke._ Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow?

_Prov._ None, sir, none.

_Duke._ As near the dawning, provost, as it is, 90 You shall hear more ere morning.

_Prov._ Happily You something know; yet I believe there comes No countermand; no such example have we: Besides, upon the very siege of justice Lord Angelo hath to the public ear 95 Profess'd the contrary.

_Enter a MESSENGER._

This is his lordship's man.

_Duke._ And here comes Claudio's pardon.

_Mes._ [_Giving a paper_] My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this further charge, that you swerve not from the smallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or other circ.u.mstance. 100 Good morrow; for, as I take it, it is almost day.

_Prov._ I shall obey him. [_Exit Messenger._

_Duke._ [_Aside_] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin For which the pardoner himself is in.

Hence hath offence his quick celerity, 105 When it is borne in high authority: When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended, That for the fault's love is the offender friended.

Now, sir, what news?

_Prov._ I told you. Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss 110 in mine office, awakens me with this unwonted putting-on; methinks strangely, for he hath not used it before.

_Duke._ Pray you, let's hear.

[Transcriber's Note: In order to preserve the marked line breaks without losing readability, each line of the quoted message has been split into two equal halves.]

_Prov._ [_Reads_]

Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and in the afternoon Barnardine: for my 115 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? 120

_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.

_Duke._ How came it that the absent Duke had not 125 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, till now in the government of Lord Angclo, came not to an undoubtful proof. 130

_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 dreadfully 135 but as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal.

_Duke._ He wants advice.

_Prov._ He will hear none: he hath evermore had the 140 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. 145

_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 my self in hazard. Claudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the 150 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? 155

_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.