The Bodleian First Folio

I Sir, a Misterie.

Painting Sir, I haue heard say, is a Misterie; and

your Whores sir, being members of my occupation, v­

sing painting, do proue my Occupation, a Misterie: but

what Misterie there should be in hanging, if I should

be hang'd, I cannot imagine.

Sir, it is a Misterie.

Proofe.

Euerie true mans apparrell fits your Theefe.

If it be too little for your theefe, your true man

thinkes it bigge enough. If it bee too bigge for your

Theefe, your Theefe thinkes it little enough: So euerie

true mans apparrell fits your Theefe.

Are you agreed?

Sir, I will serue him: For I do finde your Hang­

man is a more penitent Trade then your Bawd: he doth

oftner aske forgiuenesse

You sirrah, prouide your blocke and your Axe

to morrow, foure a clocke.

Come on (Bawd) I will instruct thee in my

Trade: follow.

I do desire to learne sir: and I hope, if you haue

occasion to vse me for your owne turne, you shall finde

me y'are. For truly sir, for your kindnesse, I owe you

a good turne.

Whatsoeuer you may heare to the contrary, let Claudio be ex­

ecuted by foure of the clocke, and in the afternoone Bernar­

dine: For my better satisfaction, let mee haue Claudios

head sent me by fiue. Let this be duely performed with a

thought that more depends on it, then we must yet deliuer.

Thus faile not to doe your Office, as you will answere it at

your perill.

What say you to this Sir?

What is that Barnardine, who is to be execu­

ted in th'afternoone?

How came it, that the absent Duke had not

either deliuer'd him to his libertie, or executed him? I

haue heard it was euer his manner to do so.

It is now apparant?

Most manifest, and not denied by himself.

A man that apprehends death no more dread­

fully, but as a drunken sleepe, carelesse, wreaklesse, and

fearelesse of what's past, present, or to come: insensible

of mortality, and desperately mortall.

He wants aduice.

He wil heare none: he hath euermore had the li­

berty of the prison: giue him leaue to escape hence, hee

would not. Drunke many times a day, if not many daies

entirely drunke. We haue verie oft awak'd him, as if to

carrie him to execution, and shew'd him a seeming war­

rant for it, it hath not moued him at all.