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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, ninescore and seventeen 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 beggar. Then have we here young Dizy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copperspur, and Master Starve-lackey the rapier and dagger man, and young Drop-heir that killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the tilter, and brave Master Shooty the great traveller, and 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.’
I know this place as well as I knew our old business: you’d think it was Mistress Overdone’s house, because so many of her old customers are here. First, here’s young Master Rash; he’s in for a lot of brown paper and old ginger, nearly two hundred pounds worth; he made five marks in cash from it: but ginger wasn’t in much demand since all the old women are dead. Then there’s Master Caper, at the suit of Master Three-pile the mercer, for four suits of peach-colored satin, which now leaves him a beggar. Then there’s young Dizy, and young Master Deep-vow, and Master Copperspur, and Master Starve-lackey the sword-and-dagger man, and young Drop-heir who killed lusty Pudding, and Master Forthlight the jouster, and brave Master Shooty the great traveler, and wild Half-can who stabbed Pots, and I think forty more; all big players in our line of work, and now they’re all ’for the Lord’s sake.’
Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.
Hey, bring Barnardine here.
Master Barnardine! you must rise and be hanged. Master Barnardine!
Master Barnardine! you need to get up and be hanged. Master Barnardine!
What, ho, Barnardine!
What, ho, Barnardine!
[Within] A pox o’ your throats! Who makes that noise there? What are you?
[Within] Damn your throats! Who’s making that noise? Who are you?
Your friends, sir; the hangman. You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death.
Your friends, sir; the executioner. You have to be so kind, sir, to get up and be executed.
[Within] Away, you rogue, away! I am sleepy.
[Within] Get lost, you scoundrel! I’m trying to sleep.
Tell him he must awake, and that quickly too.
Tell him he has to wake up, and do it quickly.
Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.
Please, Master Barnardine, wake up before they execute you, and then you can sleep later.
Go in to him, and fetch him out.
Go inside and bring him out.
He is coming, sir, he is coming; I hear his straw rustle.
He’s coming, sir, he’s coming; I hear him moving on the straw.
Is the axe upon the block, sirrah?
Is the axe ready on the block, you fool?
Very ready, sir.
All set, sir.
How now, Abhorson? what’s the news with you?
What’s up, Abhorson? What’s the news?
Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant’s come.
Honestly, sir, I’d suggest you start praying; the warrant’s come for you.
You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not fitted for ’t.
You idiot, I’ve been drinking all night; I’m not ready for this.
O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night, and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the sounder all the next day.
Oh, that’s actually better, sir; because if you’ve been drinking all night, and then you get hanged early in the morning, you’ll sleep better the whole next day.
Look you, sir; here comes your ghostly father: do we jest now, think you?
Look, sir; here comes your spiritual advisor: do you think we’re joking now?
Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you and pray with you.
Sir, moved by my charity, and knowing how quickly you’re about to leave, I’ve come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you.
Friar, not I I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets: I will not consent to die this day, that’s certain.
Friar, not me. I’ve been drinking heavily all night, and I need more time to prepare; or they will bash my brains out with logs: I will not agree to die today, that’s for sure.
O, sir, you must: and therefore I beseech you Look forward on the journey you shall go.
Oh, sir, you must: and so I beg you to think about the journey you’re about to take.
I swear I will not die to-day for any man’s persuasion.
I swear I won’t die today because anyone tells me to.
But hear you.
But listen.
Not a word: if you have any thing to say to me, come to my ward; for thence will not I to-day.
Not a word: if you have something to say to me, come to my cell; I’m not going anywhere today.
Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart! After him, fellows; bring him to the block.
Unfit to live or die: oh, what a stubborn heart! After him, men; take him to the execution block.
Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner?
A creature unprepared, unmeet for death; And to transport him in the mind he is Were damnable.
A man completely unprepared, unfit for death; And to send him to die when he’s in this state Would be a sin.
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 the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio?
Here in the prison, sir, A man named Ragozine died this morning from a bad fever, A notorious pirate, about Claudio’s age; His beard and hair were the same color as Claudio’s. What if we just pretend this man is Ragozine until Barnardine is more willing? And then show the deputy someone who looks more like Claudio?
O, ’tis an accident that heaven provides! Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on Prefix’d by Angelo: see this be done, And sent according to command; whiles I Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die.
Oh, this is a coincidence that heaven provides! Do it quickly; the time is coming As Angelo has planned: make sure this is done, And sent as ordered; while I Try to convince this stubborn man to die willingly.
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?
This will be done, good sir, right away. But Barnardine must die this afternoon: How do we deal with Claudio, To avoid the risk that might come If he’s found alive?
Let this be done. Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio: Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting To the under generation, you shall find Your safety manifested.
Let it be done. Lock up both Barnardine and Claudio in secret cells: Before the sun has made its second trip across the sky, You’ll see that your safety is guaranteed.
I am your free dependant.
I am your faithful servant.
Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo.
Quickly, get it done, and send the head to Angelo.
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.
Now I will write letters to Angelo,-- The prison warden, he’ll deliver them, and their contents Will show him that I’m close to home, And that, by strong orders, I must appear In public: I’ll ask him To meet me at the holy water fountain A mile outside the city; and from there, Step by step and in a well-planned way, We’ll move forward with Angelo.
Here is the head; I’ll carry it myself.
Here’s the head; I’ll take it myself.
Convenient is it. Make a swift return; For I would commune with you of such things That want no ear but yours.
That’s good. Make sure to come back quickly; I need to talk to you about things That no one else should hear but you.
I’ll make all speed.
I’ll hurry.
[Within] Peace, ho, be here!
[From inside] Quiet, please, I’m coming!
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.
That’s Isabel’s voice. She’s come to ask If her brother’s pardon has arrived: But I’ll keep her unaware of the good news, To turn her despair into heavenly joy, When it’s least expected.
Ho, by your leave!
Excuse me, please!
Good morning to you, fair and gracious daughter.
Good morning to you, my fair and gracious daughter.
The better, given me by so holy a man. Hath yet the deputy sent my brother’s pardon?
I’m better, thanks to such a holy man. Has the deputy sent my brother’s pardon yet?
He hath released him, Isabel, from the world: His head is off and sent to Angelo.
He’s freed him, Isabel, from this world: His head is gone and sent to Angelo.
Nay, but it is not so.
No, that’s not true.
It is no other: show your wisdom, daughter, In your close patience.
It’s the truth: show your wisdom, daughter, And be patient.
O, I will to him and pluck out his eyes!
Oh, I’ll go to him and tear his eyes out!
You shall not be admitted to his sight.
You won’t be allowed to see him.
Unhappy Claudio! wretched Isabel! Injurious world! most damned Angelo!
Poor Claudio! miserable Isabel! Cruel world! damnable Angelo!
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 to-morrow; 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.
This doesn’t hurt him, nor does it help you at all; So stop it; leave it to heaven. Listen to what I say, you’ll find every word of it true: The duke will be back tomorrow; now, dry your tears; One of our monks, and his confessor, Has already told me That he has notified Escalus and Angelo, Who are getting ready to meet him at the gates, To give up their power. If you can, follow my advice And walk the path I’d want you to, And you will have your heart’s desire, The duke’s mercy, revenge against this villain, And general honor.
I am directed by you.
I will follow your direction.
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 to-night. 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. 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. Who’s here?
Give this letter to Friar Peter; It’s the one he sent me about the duke’s return: Tell him, by this sign, that I want him to join me At Mariana’s house tonight. I’ll fill him in on your case, And he will bring you Before the duke, and he will accuse Angelo Right to his face. As for me, I am bound by a sacred vow And must be absent. Go with this letter: Wipe those tears from your eyes And go with a light heart; don’t trust my holy orders, If I lead you astray. Who’s here?
Good even. Friar, where’s the provost?
Good evening, Friar. Where’s the provost?
Not within, sir.
He’s not here, sir.
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 to-morrow. By my troth, Isabel, I loved thy brother: if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he had lived.
Oh, poor Isabella, I feel sick at heart to see Your eyes so red: you must be patient. I’m forced To eat and drink only water and bran; I can’t risk Filling my stomach; one good meal would make me ready. But they say the duke will be here Tomorrow. Honestly, Isabel, I loved your brother: If the old, strange duke of dark corners had been Around, he would have lived.
Sir, the duke is marvellous little beholding to your reports; but the best is, he lives not in them.
Sir, the duke doesn’t owe you much for your reports, But the good news is, he doesn’t live by them.
Friar, thou knowest not the duke so well as I do: he’s a better woodman than thou takest him for.
Friar, you don’t know the duke as well as I do: He’s a better man than you think.
Well, you’ll answer this one day. Fare ye well.
Well, you’ll see one day. Farewell.
Nay, tarry; I’ll go along with thee I can tell thee pretty tales of the duke.
Wait, I’ll go with you. I can tell you some funny stories about the duke.
You have told me too many of him already, sir, if they be true; if not true, none were enough.
You’ve already told me too many stories about him, sir, if They’re true; if they’re not true, none of them are enough.
I was once before him for getting a wench with child.
I was once brought before him for getting a girl pregnant.
Did you such a thing?
Did you do something like that?
Yes, marry, did I but I was fain to forswear it; they would else have married me to the rotten medlar.
Yes, indeed, I did, but I had to deny it; they would have otherwise married me off to a rotten, useless thing.
Sir, your company is fairer than honest. Rest you well.
Sir, your company is more charming than honest. Take care.
By my troth, I’ll go with thee to the lane’s end: if bawdy talk offend you, we’ll have very little of it. Nay, friar, I am a kind of burr; I shall stick.
Honestly, I’ll go with you to the end of the street: if rude talk bothers you, we won’t have much of it. No, friar, I’m like a burr; I’ll stick around.