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Measure for Measure - Act 4, scene 3
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Measure for Measure - Act 4, scene 3Act 4, scene 3
Scene 3
Synopsis:
Barnardine declares himself not ready to die. The provost and the “Friar” agree to spare him temporarily and to send Angelo instead the head of a dead prisoner, Ragozine. Claudio will be safely hidden in a secret prison cell. When Isabella comes to ask about Claudio, the “Friar” tells her that Claudio has been executed, but that the duke is returning and that she will soon be able to get revenge on Angelo.
Enter ⌜Pompey.⌝POMPEY 2097 I am as well acquainted here as I was in our
2098 house of profession. One would think it were Mistress
2099 Overdone’s own house, for here be many of
2100 her old customers. First, here’s young Master Rash.
2101 5 He’s in for a commodity of brown paper and old
2102 ginger, ninescore and seventeen pounds, of which
2103 he made five marks ready money. Marry, then
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153
2104
ginger was not much in request, for the old women2105 were all dead. Then is there here one Master Caper,
2106 10 at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for some
2107 four suits of peach-colored satin, which now
2108 peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young
2109 Dizzy and young Master Deep-vow, and Master
2110 Copper-spur and Master Starve-lackey the rapier-and-dagger
2111 15 man, and young Drop-heir that killed
2112 lusty Pudding, and Master Forth-light the tilter, and
2113 brave Master Shoe-tie the great traveler, and wild
2114 Half-can that stabbed Pots, and I think forty more,
2115 all great doers in our trade, and are now “for the
2116 20 Lord’s sake.”
Enter Abhorson.
ABHORSON 2117 Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.
POMPEY, ⌜calling⌝ 2118 Master Barnardine, you must rise
2119 and be hanged, Master Barnardine.
ABHORSON, ⌜calling⌝ 2120 What ho, Barnardine!
BARNARDINE, within 2121 25A pox o’ your throats! Who makes
2122 that noise there? What are you?
POMPEY, ⌜calling to Barnardine offstage⌝ 2123 Your friends,
2124 sir, the hangman. You must be so good, sir, to rise
2125 and be put to death.
BARNARDINE, ⌜within⌝ 2126 30Away, you rogue, away! I am
2127 sleepy.
ABHORSON, ⌜to Pompey⌝ 2128 Tell him he must awake, and
2129 that quickly too.
POMPEY, ⌜calling⌝ 2130 Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till
2131 35 you are executed, and sleep afterwards.
ABHORSON 2132 Go in to him, and fetch him out.
POMPEY 2133 He is coming, sir, he is coming. I hear his
2134 straw rustle.
ABHORSON 2135 Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
POMPEY 2136 40Very ready, sir.
Enter Barnardine.
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BARNARDINE
2137
How now, Abhorson? What’s the news2138 with you?
ABHORSON 2139 Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into
2140 your prayers, for, look you, the warrant’s come.
BARNARDINE 2141 45You rogue, I have been drinking all night.
2142 I am not fitted for ’t.
POMPEY 2143 O, the better, sir, for he that drinks all night
2144 and is hanged betimes in the morning may sleep the
2145 sounder all the next day.
Enter Duke, ⌜as a Friar.⌝
ABHORSON, ⌜to Barnardine⌝ 2146 50Look you, sir, here comes
2147 your ghostly father. Do we jest now, think you?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar, to Barnardine⌝ 2148 Sir, induced by my
2149 charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I
2150 am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with
2151 55 you.
BARNARDINE 2152 Friar, not I. I have been drinking hard all
2153 night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or
2154 they shall beat out my brains with billets. I will not
2155 consent to die this day, that’s certain.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2156 60O, sir, you must. And therefore I
2157 beseech you look forward on the journey you shall
2158 go.
BARNARDINE 2159 I swear I will not die today for any man’s
2160 persuasion.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2161 65But hear you—
BARNARDINE 2162 Not a word. If you have anything to say to
2163 me, come to my ward, for thence will not I today.
He exits.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2164 Unfit to live or die. O gravel heart!
2165 After him, fellows; bring him to the block.
⌜Abhorson and Pompey exit.⌝
Enter Provost.
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PROVOST 2166 70 Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2167 A creature unprepared, unmeet for death,
2168 And to transport him in the mind he is
2169 Were damnable.
PROVOST 2170 Here in the prison, father,
2171 75 There died this morning of a cruel fever
2172 One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate,
2173 A man of Claudio’s years, his beard and head
2174 Just of his color. What if we do omit
2175 This reprobate till he were well inclined,
2176 80 And satisfy the Deputy with the visage
2177 Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2178 O, ’tis an accident that heaven provides!
2179 Dispatch it presently. The hour draws on
2180 Prefixed by Angelo. See this be done
2181 85 And sent according to command, whiles I
2182 Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
PROVOST
2183 This shall be done, good father, presently.
2184 But Barnardine must die this afternoon,
2185 And how shall we continue Claudio,
2186 90 To save me from the danger that might come
2187 If he were known alive?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2188 Let this be done:
2189 Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and
2190 Claudio.
2191 95 Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting
2192 To ⌜yonder⌝ generation, you shall find
2193 Your safety manifested.
PROVOST 2194 I am your free dependent.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2195 Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo.
⌜Provost⌝ exits.
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159
⌜DUKE⌝ 2196 100 Now will I write letters to Angelo—
2197 The Provost he shall bear them—whose contents
2198 Shall witness to him I am near at home
2199 And that by great injunctions I am bound
2200 To enter publicly. Him I’ll desire
2201 105 To meet me at the consecrated fount
2202 A league below the city; and from thence,
2203 By cold gradation and well-balanced form,
2204 We shall proceed with Angelo.
Enter Provost, ⌜carrying a head.⌝
PROVOST
2205 Here is the head. I’ll carry it myself.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2206 110 Convenient is it. Make a swift return,
2207 For I would commune with you of such things
2208 That want no ear but yours.
PROVOST 2209 I’ll make all speed.
He exits.
ISABELLA, within 2210 Peace, ho, be here.
DUKE
2211 115 The tongue of Isabel. She’s come to know
2212 If yet her brother’s pardon be come hither.
2213 But I will keep her ignorant of her good
2214 To make her heavenly comforts of despair
2215 When it is least expected.
Enter Isabella.
ISABELLA 2216 120 Ho, by your leave.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2217 Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.
ISABELLA
2218 The better, given me by so holy a man.
2219 Hath yet the Deputy sent my brother’s pardon?
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DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2220 He hath released him, Isabel, from the world.
2221 125 His head is off, and sent to Angelo.
ISABELLA
2222 Nay, but it is not so.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2223 It is no other.
2224 Show your wisdom, daughter, in your close patience.
ISABELLA
2225 O, I will to him and pluck out his eyes!
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2226 130 You shall not be admitted to his sight.
ISABELLA
2227 Unhappy Claudio, wretched Isabel,
2228 Injurious world, most damnèd Angelo!
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2229 This nor hurts him nor profits you a jot.
2230 Forbear it, therefore; give your cause to heaven.
2231 135 Mark what I say, which you shall find
2232 By every syllable a faithful verity.
2233 The Duke comes home tomorrow—nay, dry your
2234 eyes.
2235 One of our convent, and his confessor,
2236 140 Gives me this instance. Already he hath carried
2237 Notice to Escalus and Angelo,
2238 Who do prepare to meet him at the gates,
2239 There to give up their power. If you can, pace your
2240 wisdom
2241 145 In that good path that I would wish it go,
2242 And you shall have your bosom on this wretch,
2243 Grace of the Duke, revenges to your heart,
2244 And general honor.
ISABELLA 2245 I am directed by you.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar, showing her a paper⌝
2246 150 This letter, then, to Friar Peter give.
2247 ’Tis that he sent me of the Duke’s return.
2248 Say, by this token, I desire his company
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2249
At Mariana’s house tonight. Her cause and yours2250 I’ll perfect him withal, and he shall bring you
2251 155 Before the Duke, and to the head of Angelo
2252 Accuse him home and home. For my poor self,
2253 I am combinèd by a sacred vow
2254 And shall be absent. Wend you with this letter.
⌜He hands her the paper.⌝
2255 Command these fretting waters from your eyes
2256 160 With a light heart. Trust not my holy order
2257 If I pervert your course.—Who’s here?
Enter Lucio.
LUCIO 2258 Good even, friar, where’s the Provost?
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2259 Not within, sir.
LUCIO 2260 O, pretty Isabella, I am pale at mine heart to see
2261 165 thine eyes so red. Thou must be patient. I am fain to
2262 dine and sup with water and bran. I dare not for my
2263 head fill my belly. One fruitful meal would set me to
2264 ’t. But they say the Duke will be here tomorrow. By
2265 my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother. If the old
2266 170 fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home,
2267 he had lived.⌜Isabella exits.⌝
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2268 Sir, the Duke is marvelous little beholding
2269 to your reports, but the best is, he lives not
2270 in them.
LUCIO 2271 175Friar, thou knowest not the Duke so well as I do.
2272 He’s a better woodman than thou tak’st him for.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2273 Well, you’ll answer this one day. Fare
2274 you well.
LUCIO 2275 Nay, tarry, I’ll go along with thee. I can tell thee
2276 180 pretty tales of the Duke.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2277 You have told me too many of him
2278 already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were
2279 enough.
LUCIO 2280 I was once before him for getting a wench with
2281 185 child.
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DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝
2282
Did you such a thing?LUCIO 2283 Yes, marry, did I, but I was fain to forswear it.
2284 They would else have married me to the rotten
2285 medlar.
DUKE, ⌜as Friar⌝ 2286 190Sir, your company is fairer than honest.
2287 Rest you well.
LUCIO 2288 By my troth, I’ll go with thee to the lane’s end. If
2289 bawdy talk offend you, we’ll have very little of it.
2290 Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr. I shall stick.
They exit.