University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The Prison.
Enter Provost and Claudio.
Pro.
Here is the Warrant Claudio for thy Death.
'Tis now past four, and before eight this Morning,
You must be made Immortal; I pity you.

Clau.
Art thou then so capable of pity,
For that small pang of Death I then must feel?
Sure thou canst never just Compassion want,
For the extreamest Torture of the Mind.
'Tis true, I know the Brutal Deputy,
Forbids my sight of my unhappy Wife.
But sure thou hast more soft humanity,
Than not to let me see her e're I dye.

Pro.
I have the Will, but dare not disobey,
Or break my Oath, which does oblige obedience.

Clau.
Such blind implicit Oaths suppose a Justice,
In what shall be commanded, else thou must
If he command, destroy thy Father, break
All the Laws, both Humane and Divine.

Pro.
But in obeying here I shall break none.

Clau.
Thou break'st the Laws of pity and compassion.

Pro.
So does the Judge that sits upon the Criminal,
If with his Pray'rs unmov'd, he gives his Sentence.

Clau.
That's with the Law, but sure no Law denies
Us liberty to take a parting look,
Before we seperate for ever. Oh! by thy hopes
By all that thou hold'st dear! by Heav'n I beg thee
Grant me this last request! thou shalt be by,
Hear all that's said, see all that we shall do.

Pro.
Well, let me think a while!

Enter Duke and Fryer.
Duke.
The best and wholsom'st spirits of the night
Surround thee Provost.

Pro.
Thanks, my holy Father.

Duke.
What Comfort is for Claudio?

Pro.
He is a Judge inexorable.

Duke.
He walks himself so straitly by the line
Of the severest Justice, that he thinks
All men might do the same.
This is a gentle Provost, 'tis seldom seen,
That the harsh Goaler is the Friend of men.
Have you no countermand for Claudio yet?

Pro.
None, Sir, none.

Duke.
As near the dawning as it is,
You shall hear more e're morning.

Pro.
I wish I may.

Enter Messenger.
Duke.
This is that Lord's man,
And here comes Claudio's pardon.

Mess.
My Lord has sent you here this Note,
And by me too this further charge,
That you presume not in the least to swerve,
Ev'n from the smallest Article of it,
In time or matter, or in any circumstance.
Good morrow, as I take it 'tis almost day.

Exit.
Pro
I shall obey him—I told you, Sir, my fear,
Lord Angelo perhaps thinking me remiss
In the performance of my Office, wakes me
With this, and that most strangely too methinks.

Duke.
Pray let us hear it.

The Letter.
Pro.
(reads.)

—Whatever you may hear to the contrary, let Claudio be executed
by six this morning, and Bernardine by twelve; for my better satisfaction, let me
have Claudio's Head sent me by seven. Let this be duly executed with a thought
that more depends on't than yet you know. Thus fail not to do your Office, as
you will answer it at your peril.

Pro.
What say you to this, Sir?

Claud.
You see how short a time I have to live,
Oh! let me Fathers beg you, by your order,
By the blest Saint that was your holy Founder,
That you prevail with him to let me see
My Wife before I dye, 'tis all I ask.

Duke.
Gentle Provost, you'll not deny him that?

Clau.
He fears, his Oath of strict Obedience ties him
To a denial.

Duke.
Let me assure you no.
We will take all the guilt upon us two.

Prov.
I'll trust to your opinion, Sir, I'll fetch her.
The unlocking of that door admits her to you.
[He unlocks the door.
Madam, you may come out to see your Lord.

[Enter Julietta.
They run and embrace one another.
Jul.
My Claudio!

Clau.
My Juliet!

Duke.
Let us retire and leave them to themselves.
We may be near enough to overhear them;
Besides I have some Business with the Provost.

Exeunt all but Claudio and Juliet.
Jul.
Oh! my Claudio, do I once more behold thee!

Clau.
This once, my Juliet, but alas no more!
The galloping minutes fly swiftly on,
That will for ever bear me from thy sight.

Jul.
Oh! torturing sound! Oh! sad! Oh! narrow view
Of all my Life's dear happiness at once!
I cannot teach my heart the hateful truth.
What no more see thee? see my Love no more?

Clau.
No more my Love—

Jul.
Oh! say not thou so, for from thee it sounds
Unkindly harsh, and the least empty shadow
Of thy unkindness soon would break my heart!

Clau.
Ah! thou art Love and Tenderness it self,
Chast, humble and obedient to my Will,
If I had any Will that was not thine.

Jul.
Ah! my dear Lord our Wills were so much one,
I had no use at all of my Obedience.

Clau.
Thy Virtues, as thy Beauties are Divine,
And Heavenly goodness is in all thou dost.
Oh! Juliet! how happy have we been!
Within our selves we'd perfect happiness.
We built it not on the frail Goods of Fortune,
But thou alone were't mine, and only I was thine.

Jul.
And yet curs'd fortune too has ruin'd us!
That stream of Life that fed our mutual joys,
This shock of Fate has thrown from out his bed,
And in thy Death choaks up its pleasing source.

Clau.
Like a good Play, our first Act promis'd wonders,
But the false Deputy and Miser Pedro,
With envious guilty hands pulls down the Curtain,
And spightfully forbid the rest.
Oh! Julietta, how canst thou forgive me?
The cursed cause of this thy shameful woe?

Jul.
Oh! rather how can'st thou forgive me, Claudio?
Who thus have brought thee to untimely death?
To ignominious death!

Clau.
Oh charge not thy dear self with such a guilt,
'Twas I, 'twas I alone, that caus'd it all.
Wretch that I was, oh miserable wretch,
That could seek ought but thee, tho it was thine!
Were not thy vertues, and thy wondrous Beauties
A Treasure large enough for my desires?
But I must hazard those for dirt, and Counters,
O! foolish Caution that regarded trifles,
And left my only Jewel so expos'd.
Yes, yes, I do deserve this hateful lot,
Imprisonment, foul Death, and every thing
That's ignominious, for so vile a Crime.

Jul.
Forbear, my Love, thou could'st not see
This sad event, our Innocence could not fear
Those Laws, it ne're should break: Laquinas absent,
And Father Pierre in France! enough to prove
Our Marriage, had we time. Our Enemys
Deny me that, to rob me of my Dower.
Oh! let them take it, and with it take my life,
If they would spare but thee. 'Tis I, 'tis I
That robb'd my Claudio of his noble Life!
Oh! Heaven, I shall grow wild with the sad Thought!
'Tis Julietta murders her dear Claudio!

Clau.
Oh! do not grieve for what is not thy guilt,
It is Heaven's Will, and we are innocent!
Then grieve not thus, my Love, I hardly got
This short permission for my last farewel,
Which I wou'd use to comfort thy sad soul,
And not t'encrese thy sorrows—Grieve no more.

Jul.
Oh! Can'st thou love! And yet forbid my grief?
Thou deal'st not by me with the Rule of Justice.
Wou'd'st thou not grieve were I to dye like thee?
Yes, yes, thou wou'd'st, my Claudio, for my shame,
Tho fortify'd with innocence, just now
Shook thy dear Soul with Agonies of Grief.
And wilt thou rob me then of the sad Priviledge
Of my misfortunes?
No I will grieve as long as I have life,
For Life has now no joys t'appease my sorrows.
What can I see thee leaving me for ever?
For ever! oh dismal! cursed sound!
And part without a pang or tear!
No I'll indulge so just a grief, and melt,
Dissolve into a watry Deluge, that shall
Bear down the damms of Life, and drown my Woe.

Clau.
Think of thy Child, which is a part of me,
Thou'lt murder that with thy excess of sorrow:
Preserve that Image of th' unhappy Claudio.
And if thou must be griev'd (for thou dost love me,
And it is just thou grieve a little for me)
Be moderate in it, for mine and thy Child's sake.
Think me but going a most happy Voyage,
To a blest Region of Content and Peace,
Where Innocence and Truth are undisturb'd
By cruel envy, avarice or pride,
There to make ready a retreat for thee;
Who at the night of this short day of life
Wilt follow me, and stay with me for ever.

Jul.
Oh! oh! my heart.

Weeps, and shews great sorrow and impatience.
Clau.
Prethee, my Love, have patience!

Jul.
Indeed I cannot help it!

Clau.
Good Heaven assist thee, for thy grief unmans me.
And I dissolve in tears too, like a woman.

Enter Provost, Duke and Fryar.
Pro.
You have enough convinc'd me.

Duke.
Fear not, but do as I advise.

Pro.
Time forces now your parting.

To Claud. and Jul.
Jul.
Alas! my Claudio, must we part for ever!

Clau.
Oh! think not so, in Heav'n we sure must meet.
O kind Provost allow a little time!
A little more, that we may gently part,
Not as if torn by force from one another.

Pro.
A little and a little will be much,
And the Deputy in less than half an hour
Expects your head, these holy men attend you.

Jul.
Oh!

Faints away, and they carry her off
Clau.
Oh! take care of her, her sorrows fall
With an oppressing weight upon her head.
Oh! holy Father, apply your Sacred Comforts
To her sad soul diseas'd with love and grief.
Oh! Julietta! Oh! most wretched Claudio!

Duke.
Go after him, and mind my last direction.
Exit.
We'll follow you.

Pro.
I shall.

Exit.
Isabella
(within.)
Peace hoa! be here.

Duke.
The Tongue of Isabella.
She comes to know if Claudio yet be pardon'd,
And will be strangely startled at the contrary.
I'll send these Letters just now to Lord Angelo;
And let him know that I am now near home,
And that he attend me in the publick Hall.

Enter Isabella.
Isa.
By your leave.

Duke.
Good morrow, Gracious Daughter.

Isab.
The better—giv'n me by so holy a man.
Has yet the Deputy sent my Brothers pardon?

Duke.
He has releas'd him from this wicked world.
His head is off and sent to Angelo.

Is.
This cannot be.

Duke.
'Tis so indeed, good Daughter.
But shew your wisdom in your patience now.

Isa.
No, I will to him and pull his eyes out.

Duke.
You will not be admitted to his presence.

Isa.
Unhappy Claudio, wretched Isabella.
Injurious World, accursed Angelo!

Duke.
This hurts not him, nor profits you a jot,
Forbear it therefore, give your Cause to Heav'n.
Mark what I say, which you shall find
In every syllable a faithful truth.
The Duke comes home this morning, dry your eyes,
One of our Convent and his Confessor
Gives us this News, he has already carry'd
Notice to Escalus and Angelo.
This Holy Father shall bring you and Mariana
Before the Duke, to the head of Angelo.
Accuse him home and home, nor be dismaid
At what the Duke may say to search the bottom,
Be rul'd by this good Father and you're safe.

Isa.
I'll be directed by you.

Fryer.
Let Mariana and your self then meet me
Near the Palace, e're the Duke arrive.

Isa.
I go to fetch her, and will not fail you.

Exit.
Duke.
This day again I will appear at helm.
For Angelo I find would weed the vices
Of others, while he lets his own still grow;
But I will soon let his false Reason know,
That he that wou'd the Sword of Justice bear,
Shou'd be as holy as he is severe.