The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

  Announced the opposite.

  Enter a Messenger

  This is his lordship's man.

  This is his lordship’s messenger.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  And here comes Claudio's pardon.

  And here comes Claudio’s pardon.

  MESSENGER

  [Giving a paper]

  [Hands over a paper]My lord hath sent you this note; and by me this

  My lord sends you this note; and with me thisfurther charge, that you swerve not from the

  Additional instruction: to not stray from thesmallest article of it, neither in time, matter, or

  Smallest direction in it, not in time, or subject matter, orother circumstance. Good morrow; for, as I take it,

  Any other situation. Have a good day tomorrow; for I believeit is almost day.

  It’s almost day.

  PROVOST

  I shall obey him.

  I will obey him.

  Exit MESSENGER

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  [Aside] This is his pardon, purchased by such sin

  [Aside] This is his pardon, bought by the same sinFor which the pardoner himself is in.

  That the man who pardoned him committed.Hence hath offence his quick celerity,

  In this way, sin multiplies quicklyWhen it is born in high authority:

  When it is held up by those with authority:When vice makes mercy, mercy's so extended,

  When sin is the reason for mercy, mercy becomes so overstretchedThat for the fault's love is the offender friended.

  That for the love of sin the prisoner is helped.Now, sir, what news?

  Now, sir, what’s the news?

  PROVOST

  I told you. Lord Angelo, belike thinking me remiss

  As I told you before. Lord Angelo, perhaps thinking I am irresponsiblein mine office, awakens me with this unwonted

  In my work, wakes me up with these strangeputting-on; methinks strangely, for he hath not used it before.

  Directions; or I think it’s strange, as he hasn’t done this before.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Pray you, let's hear.

  Please, tell me what it is.

  PROVOST

  [Reads]

  [Reads]'Whatsoever you may hear to the contrary, let

  ‘Despite whatever else you might hear, Claudio be executed by four of the clock; and in the

  Execute Claudio by four o’clock; and in theafternoon Barnardine: for my better satisfaction,

  Afternoon execute Barnardine: to assure me of thislet me have Claudio's head sent me by five. Let

  Have Claudio’s head sent to me by five. Thisthis be duly performed; with a thought that more

  Should be properly carried out; know that moredepends on it than we must yet deliver. Thus fail

  Depends on this than I may tell you know. So do not failnot to do your office, as you will answer it at your peril.'

  To do your job, as you will answer for it your own risk.’What say you to this, sir?

  What do you think of this, sir?

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  What is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the

  Who is this Barnardine who is to be executed in theafternoon?

  Afternoon?

  PROVOST

  A Bohemian born, but here nursed up and bred; oneHe was born in Bohemia, but was raised here;

  that is a prisoner nine years old.

  He has been a prisoner for the last nine years.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  How came it that the absent duke had not either

  How is it that the absent duke had neitherdelivered him to his liberty or executed him? I

  Given him his freedom nor executed him? Ihave heard it was ever his manner to do so.

  Have heard that it was his style to do so.

  PROVOST

  His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and,

  His friends were able to get a stay of execution for him: andindeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord

  In fact, until now in the government of Lord Angelo, his crimeAngelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.

  Had not been absolutely proven.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  It is now apparent?

  Is it now evident?

  PROVOST

  Most manifest, and not denied by himself.

  Most clear, not he does not deny it.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Hath he born himself penitently in prison? How

  Has he been remorseful while in prison? Howseems he to be touched?

  Does he seem to be affected?

  PROVOST

  A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but

  A man that worries about death no more fearfully thanas a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless

  If it were a drunken sleep; he’s carless, reckless, and fearlessof what's past, present, or to come; insensible of

  Of what’s in his past, present or future; uncaring ofmortality, and desperately mortal.

  Death, and sure to die.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  He wants advice.

  He needs guidance.

  PROVOST

  He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty

  He won’t hear it: he has always had the freedomof the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he

  To go about the prison; if you gave him a way to escape here, hewould not: drunk many times a day, if not many days

  Still wouldn’t go: he’s drunk most of the day, and many daysentirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if

  Entirely drunk. We have often woken him up, as ifto carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming

  To bring him to his execution, and showed him a supposedwarrant for it: it hath not moved him at all.

  Warrant for it: it has not changed him at all.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  More of him anon. There is written in your brow,

  More about him in a moment. It shows on your face,provost, honesty and constancy: if I read it not

  Provost, that you are honest and consistant: if I am in wrongtruly, my ancient skill beguiles me; but, in the

  In seeing that, than my practiced skill in reading face has deceived me; but sinceboldness of my cunning, I will lay myself in hazard.

  I am confident of my skill, I will put myself at risk.Claudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is

  Claudio, who’s warrant of execution you have, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo who hath

  No greater criminal against the law than Angelo, who hassentenced him. To make you understand this in a

  Sentenced him. To make you understand this in amanifested effect, I crave but four days' respite;

  Clear way, I need only a four day delay;for the which you are to do me both a present and a

  In which you need to do me an immediate anddangerous courtesy.

  Dangerous favor.

  PROVOST

  Pray, sir, in what?

  Please, sir, what is it?

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  In the delaying death.

  Delay the death.

  PROVOST

  A lack, how may I do it, having the hour limited,

  How can I do that with this specific time,and an express command, under penalty, to deliver

  And an express order, under penalty, to deliverhis head in the view of Angelo? I may make my case

  His head for Angelo to see? I may be sentenced to deathas Claudio's, to cross this in the smallest.

  Like Claudio, if I don’t do this exactly.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  By the vow of mine order I warrant you, if my

  By the vows I took in the holy order I guarantee your saftey, if youinstructions may be your guide. Let this Barnardine

  Follow my instructions. Have Bernardinebe this morning executed, and his head born to Angelo.

  Executed this morning, and send his head to Angelo.

  PROVOST

&nbs
p; Angelo hath seen them both, and will discover the favour.

  Angelo has seen them both, and will discover the exchange

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  O, death's a great disguiser; and you may add to it.

  Oh but, death is a great camouflage; and you can add to it.Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say it was

  Shave his head, and tie up his beard; tell him it wasthe desire of the penitent to be so bared before his

  The wish of the remorseful man to be displayed as such before hisdeath: you know the course is common. If any thing

  Death: you know the practice is common. If anythingfall to you upon this, more than thanks and good

  Happens to you because of this, besides thanks and goodfortune, by the saint whom I profess, I will plead

  Fortune, by the saint whom I am devoted to, I will pleadagainst it with my life.

  Against it with my life.

  PROVOST

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

  I’m sorry, good father; but it is against my oaths.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Were you sworn to the duke, or to the deputy?

  Were your oaths sworn to the duke, or to the governor?

  PROVOST

  To him, and to his substitutes.

  To the duke and his those who take his place.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  You will think you have made no offence, if the duke

  Will you think you done nothing wrong, if the dukeavouch the justice of your dealing?

  Vouches for the justice of your effort?

  PROVOST

  But what likelihood is in that?

  But how likely is that?

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Not a resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since I see

  Not even likely, but certain. But since I can tellyou fearful, that neither my coat, integrity, nor

  You are afraid, that neither my holy robes, nor integrity, norpersuasion can with ease attempt you, I will go

  Persuasion can easily persuade you, I will show youfurther than I meant, to pluck all fears out of you.

  More than I wanted, to take away all your fear.Look you, sir, here is the hand and seal of the

  Look, sir, here is the handwriting and seal of theduke: you know the character, I doubt not; and the

  Duke: you know the look of it, I don’t doubt; and thesignet is not strange to you.

  Seal of authority is not unfamiliar to you.

  PROVOST

  I know them both.

  I know them both.

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  The contents of this is the return of the duke: you

  The meaning of this that the duke will return: youshall anon over-read it at your pleasure; where you

  Can later read this over at your leisure; and it willshall find, within these two days he will be here.

  Tell you that within the next two day he will be hereThis is a thing that Angelo knows not; for he this

  This is something that Angelo doesn’t know, for very day receives letters of strange tenor;

  Today he will receive letters with strange subjects;perchance of the duke's death; perchance entering

  Perhaps the death of the duke; perhaps him enteringinto some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what

  Into a monastery; but, as it happens, nothing of whatis writ. Look, the unfolding star calls up the

  Is written is true. Look, the morning start calls to the shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement how these

  Sheperd to release his sheep. Don’t be amazed at how thesethings should be: all difficulties are but easy

  Things all happen: all difficulties are only easywhen they are known. Call your executioner, and off

  When they are known. Call your executioner, and cut offwith Barnardine's head: I will give him a present

  Bernardine’s head: I will immediately go to receive hisshrift and advise him for a better place. Yet you

  His confession and guide him to a better place. Still, youare amazed; but this shall absolutely resolve you.

  Are amazed; but this will absolutely make up your mind.Come away; it is almost clear dawn.

  Come along; it is almost dawn.

  Exeunt

  Enter POMPEY

  POMPEY

  I am as well acquainted here as I was in our house

  I am as familiar here as I was in the brothel houseof profession: one would think it were Mistress

  I worked in: you would think it was MistressOverdone's own house, for here be many of her old

  Overdone’s own house, for many of her oldcustomers. First, here's young Master Rash; he's in

  Customers are here. First, here’s young Mister Rash; he’s in here for a commodity of brown paper and old ginger,

  For a worthless store of brown wraping paper and old ginger,ninescore and seventeen pounds; of which he made

  He bought for a hundred and ninety-seven pounds; from which he only madefive marks, ready money: marry, then ginger was not

  Three pounds and thirty-three pence, putting him in debt: remember, then ginger wasn’tmuch in request, for the old women were all dead.

  In high demand, because all the old women had died.Then is there here one Master Caper, at the suit of

  Then there is Mister Caper here, who has a lawsuit against him fromMaster Three-pile the mercer, for some four suits of

  Mister Three-pile the fabrics seller, for about four suits made ofpeach-coloured satin, which now peaches him a

  Peach-colored satin, which now have made him abeggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young

  Beggar. Then we have young Dizy here, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copperspur, and Master

  Mister Deep-vow, and Mister Copperspur, and MisterStarve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young

  Starve-lackey the sword and dagger man, and youngDrop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master

  Drop-heir that killed that fat heir named Pudding, and MisterForthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shooty the

  Forthlight the fighter, and well dressed Mister Shoe-tie thegreat traveller, and wild Half-can that stabbed

  Great traveler, and wild Half-can here stabbedPots, and, I think, forty more; all great doers in

  the man Pots, and, I believe, forty others; all great vistorsour trade, and are now 'for the Lord's sake.'

  Of our brothel, and now prisoners crying ‘for Lord’s sake.’

  Enter ABHORSON

  ABHORSON

  Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.

  Man, bring Bernardine here.

  POMPEY

  Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged.

  Master Barnardine! You must wake up and be executed.Master Barnardine!

  Master Barnardine!

  ABHORSON

  What, ho, Barnardine!

  Well hello, Barnardine!

  BARNARDINE

  [Within] A pox o' your throats! Who makes that

  [Inside] I hope you get a sickness in your throat! Who is making all thatnoise there? What are you?

  Noise? Who are you?

  POMPEY

  Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be so

  We’re your friends, sir; the executioners. I you wouldgood, sir, to rise and be put to death.

  Please, sir, wake up and be put to death.

  BARNARDINE

  [Within] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.

  [Inside] go away, you scoundrel, go away! I am sleepy.

  ABHORSON

  Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.

  Tell him he must wake up right away.

  POMPEY

  Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are

  Please, Master Bardardine, wake up until you areexecuted, and sleep afterwards.

  Executed, and then you can sleep afterwards.

  ABHORSON

  Go in to him, and fetch him out.

  Go in there and drag him out.

  POMPEY

  He
is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.

  He’s coming, sir, he’s coming; I hear his bed moving.

  ABHORSON

  Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?

  Is the axe on the execution block, man?

  POMPEY

  Very ready, sir.

  It’s ready, sir.

  Enter BARNARDINE

  BARNARDINE

  How now, Abhorson? what's the news with you?

  What now, Abhorson? What’s going on with you?

  ABHORSON

  Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your

  Honestly, sir, I want you to get on with yourprayers; for, look you, the warrant's come.

  Prayers; because, look, your warrant has finally come.

  BARNARDINE

  You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not

  You scoundrel, I’ve been drinking all night; I’m notfitted for 't.

  Ready for it.

  POMPEY

  O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night,

  Oh, all the better, sir; since he drank all night,and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the

  And is to be hanged early in the morning, he may sleepsounder all the next day.

  Soundly all the next day.

  ABHORSON

  Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father: do

  Look, sir; here comes your holy confessor: dowe jest now, think you?

  You still think we’re joking?

  Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before

  DUKE VINCENTIO

  Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily

  Sir, encouraged by my kindness, and hearing how quicklyyou are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort

  You are to leave for the grave, I have come to give you guidance and comfortyou and pray with you.

  And to pray with you.