This is another prisoner that I saved.
Who should have died when Claudio lost his head;
As like almost to Claudio as himself.

This, my lord.

His name is Barnardine.

Pardon me, noble lord:
I thought it was a fault, but knew it not;
Yet did repent me, after more advice;
For testimony whereof, one in the prison,
That should by private order else have died,
I have reserved alive.

No, my good lord; it was by private message.

It was commanded so.

I'll make all speed.

Here is the head; I'll carry it myself.

I am your free dependant.

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?

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 ...

Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?

I know them both.

But what likelihood is in that?

To him, and to his substitutes.

Pardon me, good father; it is against my oath.

Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

A lack, 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.

Pray, sir, in what?

He will hear none: he hath evermore had the 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 ...

A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but
as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless
of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of
mortality, and desperately mortal.

Most manifest, and not denied by himself.

His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and,
indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord
Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.

A Bohemian born, but here nursed un and bred; one
that is a prisoner nine years old.

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

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

I shall obey him.

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
Profess'd the contrary.
Enter a Messenger
This is his lordship's man.

None, sir, none.

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

It is a bitter deputy.

What comfort is for Claudio?

No.

None, since the curfew rung.

Who can do good on him?
Well, go, prepare yourself.
Knocking within
But, hark, what noise?
Heaven give your spirits comfort!
Exit CLAUDIO
By and by.
I hope it is some pardon or reprieve
For the most gentle Claudio.
Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before
Welcome father.

Call hither Barnardine and Claudio:
Exeunt POMPEY and ABHORSON
The one has my pity; not a jot the other,
Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter CLAUDIO
Look, here's the warrant, Claudio, for thy death:
'Tis now dead midnight, and by eight to-morrow
Thou must be made ...

You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe
to-morrow four o'clock.

Are you agreed?

Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn
the scale.

Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you to-morrow in
your execution. If you think it meet, compound with
him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if
not, use him for the present and dismiss him. He
cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been ...

What, ho! Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a
direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio
and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common
executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if
you will take it on you to assist him, it shall
redeem you from ...

Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head?

So please you, this friar hath been with him, and
advised him for the entertainment of death.

A bawd of eleven years' continuance, may it please
your honour.

In good time.

What's your will, father

As many as you please.

And very welcome. Look, signior, here's your sister.

Who's there? come in: the wish deserves a welcome.