Page 1164 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

He is your husband on a pre-contract: [70]
To bring you thus together ’tis no sin,
Sith that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. − Come, let us go;

Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow.
Exeunt.

Scene II IT

[The Prison.]

Enter Provost and Pompey.

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

POMPEY
If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he’s his wife’s
head; and I can never cut off a woman’s head. [5]

PROVOST
Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. Tomorrow
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 your [10] gyves: if not, you shall have your full
time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for

you have been a notorious bawd.

POMPEY

Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind, but yet I will be content
to be a lawful hangman. I would [15] be glad to receive some instruction
from my fellow-partner.

PROVOST
What hoa, Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson there?

Enter Abhorson.