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 Ragusine, 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 Ragusine, more like to Claudio?

DUKE

O, ’tis an accident that heaven provides.

Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on

Prefixed 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 yonder 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.

Enter the Provost, with Ragusine’s head

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.

ISABELLA ⌈within⌉ Ho, by your leave!

⌈Enter Isabella⌉

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 (weeping)

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 tomorrow—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 tonight. 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. (Giving the letter) 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.

Enter Lucio

Who’s here?

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 tomorrow. 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 beholden 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 tak’st 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.