Measure for Measure

persuasion. Duke But hear you. Barnardine Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day. Exit. Duke

Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart!
After him, fellows; bring him to the block. Exeunt Abhorson and Pompey.

Enter Provost. Provost Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner? Duke

A creature unprepared, unmeet for death;
And to transport him in the mind he is
Were damnable.

Provost

Here in the prison, father,
There died this morning of a cruel fever
One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
A man of Claudio’s 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?

Duke

O, ’tis an accident that heaven provides!
Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on
Prefix’d by Angelo: see this be done,
And sent according to command; whiles I
Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.

Provost

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?

Duke

Let this be done.
Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio:
Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting
To the under generation, you shall find
Your safety manifested.

Provost I am your free dependant. Duke

Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. Exit Provost.
Now will I write letters to Angelo⁠—
The provost, he shall bear them⁠—whose contents
Shall witness to him I am near at home,
And that, by great injunctions, I am bound
To enter publicly: him I’ll desire
To meet me at the consecrated fount
A league below the city; and from thence,
By cold gradation and well-balanced form,
We shall proceed with Angelo.

Re-enter Provost. Provost Here is the head; I’ll carry it myself. Duke

Convenient is it. Make a swift return;
For I would commune with you of such things
That want no ear but yours.

Provost I’ll make all speed. Exit. Isabella Within. Peace, ho, be here! Duke

The tongue of Isabel. She’s come to know
If yet her brother’s pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.

Enter Isabella. Isabella Ho, by your leave! Duke Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter. Isabella

The better, given me by so holy a man.
Hath yet the deputy sent my brother’s pardon?

Duke

He hath released him, Isabel, from the world:
His head is off and sent to Angelo.

Isabella Nay, but it is not so. Duke

It is no other: show your wisdom, daughter,
In your close patience.

Isabella O, I will to him and pluck out his eyes! Duke You shall not be admitted to his sight. Isabella

Unhappy Claudio! wretched Isabel!
Injurious world! most damned Angelo!

Duke

This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot;
Forbear it therefore; give your cause to heaven.
Mark what I say, which you shall find
By every syllable a faithful verity:
The duke comes home to-morrow; nay, dry your eyes;
One of our convent, and his confessor,
Gives me this instance: already he hath carried
Notice to Escalus and Angelo,
Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
There to give up their power. If you can, pace your wisdom
In that good path that I would wish it go,
And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
Grace of the duke, revenges to your heart,
And general honour.

Isabella I am directed by you. Duke

This letter, then, to Friar Peter give;
’Tis that he sent me of the duke’s return:
Say, by this token, I desire his company
At Mariana’s house to-night. Her cause and yours
I’ll perfect him withal, and he shall bring you
Before the duke, and to the head of Angelo
Accuse him home and home. For my poor self,
I am combined by a sacred vow
And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter:
Command these fretting waters from your eyes
With a light heart; trust not my holy order,
If I pervert your course. Who’s here?

Enter Lucio. Lucio Good even. Friar, where’s the provost? Duke Not within, sir. Lucio O pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see thine eyes so red: thou must be patient. I am fain to dine and sup with water and bran; I dare not for my head fill my belly; one fruitful meal would set me to’t. But they say the duke will be here to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived. Exit Isabella. Duke Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them. Lucio Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he’s a better woodman than thou takest him for. Duke Well, you’ll answer this one day. Fare ye well. Lucio Nay, tarry; I’ll go along with thee: I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke. Duke You have 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 child. Duke Did you such a thing? Lucio Yes, marry, did I: but I was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar. Duke Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Rest you well. Lucio By my troth, I’ll go with thee to the lane’s end: if bawdy talk offend you, we’ll have very little of it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick. Exeunt.

Scene IV

A room in Angelo’s house.

	Enter Angelo and Escalus.
Escalus	Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.
Angelo	In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and redeliver our authorities there?
Escalus	I guess not.
Angelo	And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his entering, that if any crave redress of injustice, they should exhibit their petitions in the