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_Duke._ Were you sworn to the Duke, or to the Deputy?
_Prov._ To him, and to his subst.i.tutes.
_Duke._ You will think you have made no offence, if the 175 Duke avouch the justice of your dealing?
_Prov._ But what likelihood is in that?
_Duke._ Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see you fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor persuasion can with ease attempt you, I will go further than I 180 meant, to pluck all fears out of you. Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the Duke: you know the character, I doubt not; and the signet is not strange to you.
_Prov._ I know them both.
_Duke._ The contents of this is the return of the Duke: 185 you shall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you shall find, within these two days he will be here. This is a thing that Angelo knows not; for he this very day receives letters of strange tenour; perchance of the Duke's death; perchance entering into some monastery; but, by 190 chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement how these things should be: all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine's head: I will give him a present shrift and 195 advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: IV, 2.
SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope.
2-4: Printed as verse in Ff.
37-42: Abhor. _Sir,.......thief_] Abhor. ***Clown.*** _Sir, it is a mystery._ Abhor. _Proof.--_ Clown. _Every ... thief_ (42) Hanmer.
Pom. _Proof ... thief_ (42) Lloyd conj.
39-42: _Every......thief_] Capell. Abh. _Every....thief_ (39).
Clo. _If it be ... thief_ (41) Ff. Abh. _Every ... thief, Clown: if it be......thief_ (42) Theobald.
45: _your_] _you_ F2.
53: _yare_] Theobald. _y'are_ Ff. _yours_ Rowe.
56: _The one_] _Th' one_ Ff. _One_ Hamner.
58: SCENE VI. Pope.
63: _He will not wake_] F1 F2. _He will not awake_ F3 F4.
_He'll not awake_ Pope.
64: _yourself_] _yourself_ [Ex. Claudio.] Theobald.
65: _comfort!_ [Exit Claudio.] _By and by.--_] Capell.
_comfort: by and by,_ Ff.
70: _None_] F1. _Now_ F2 F3 F4.
71: _They_] _She_ Hawkins conj. _There_ Collier MS.
85: _unsisting_] F1 F2 F3. _insisting_ F4. _unresisting_ Rowe.
_unresting_ Hanmer. _uns.h.i.+fting_ Capell.
_unlist'ning_ Steevens conj. _resisting_ Collier conj.
_unlisting_ Mason conj. _unfeeling_ Johnson conj.
_unwisting_ Singer.
86: ....Provost] ....Provost, speaking to one at the door, after which he comes forward. Capell.
91: _Happily_] _Happely_ F1 F2. _Happily_ F3 F4. See note (XVIII).
96: SCENE VII. Pope.
_lords.h.i.+p's_] Pope. _lords_ Ff. om. Capell.
96, 97: _This ... man._ Duke. _And ... pardon_] Knight (Tyrwhitt conj.). Duke. _This ... man._ Pro. _And ... pardon_ Ff.
98-101: Printed as verse in Ff.
113: _you_] om. F4.
114: Prov. [Reads] Rowe. The letter. Ff.
117: _duly_] _truly_ Capell (a misprint).
131: _It is_] Ff. _Is it_ Pope.
136: _reckless_] Theobald. _wreaklesse_ F1 F2 F3. _wreakless_ F4.
_rechless_ Pope.
138: _desperately mortal_] _mortally desperate_ Hanmer.
161-165: Printed as verse in Ff. Rowe.
167: _tie_] F1 F4. _tye_ F2 F3. _tire_ Theobald conj.
_dye_ Simpson conj.
168: _bared_] Malone. _bar'de_ F1 F2 F3. _barb'd_ F4.
179: _persuasion_] Ff. _my persuasion_ Rowe.
188: _that_] F1 F2 F3. _which_ F4.
191: _writ_] _here writ_ Hanmer.
SCENE III. _Another room in the same._
_Enter POMPEY._
_Pom._ I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house of profession: one would think it were Mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old customers.
First, here's young Master Rash; he's in for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger, nine-score and seventeen 5 pounds; of which he made five marks, ready money: marry, then ginger was not much in request, for the old women were all dead. Then is there here one Master Caper, at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of peach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a 10 beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copper-spur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that killed l.u.s.ty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shooty the great traveller, and 15 wild Half-can that stabbed Pots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in our trade, and are now 'for the Lord's sake.'
_Enter ABHORSON._
_Abhor._ Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.
_Pom._ Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged, 20 Master Barnardine!
_Abhor._ What, ho, Barnardine!
_Bar._ [_Within_] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?
_Pom._ Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be 25 so good, sir, to rise and be put to death.
_Bar._ [_Within_] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.
_Abhor._ Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.
_Pom._ Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards. 30
_Abhor._ Go in to him, and fetch him out.
_Pom._ He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.
_Abhor._ Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
_Pom._ Very ready, sir. 35
_Enter BARNARDINE._
_Bar._ How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?
_Abhor._ Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant's come.
