Page 1166 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Every true man’s apparel fits your thief. If it be too little for your thief, your
true man thinks it big [40] enough. If it be too big for your thief, your thief
thinks it little enough. So every true man’s apparel fits your thief.

Enter Provost.

PROVOST
Are you agreed?

POMPEY

Sir, I will serve him; for I do find your hangman is a more penitent trade than
your bawd; he doth oftener [45] ask forgiveness.

PROVOST
You, sirrah, provide your block and your axe tomorrow, four o’clock.

ABHORSON
Come on, bawd, I will instruct thee in my trade. Follow. [50]

POMPEY
I do desire to learn, sir; and I hope, if you have occasion to use me for your
own turn, you shall find me yare. For truly, sir, for your kindness I owe you a

good turn.

PROVOST
Call hither Barnardine and Claudio. [55]
Exeunt [Abhorson and Pompey].
Th’one has my pity; not a jot the other,

Being a murderer, though he were my brother.
Enter Claudio.
Look, here’s the warrant, Claudio, for thy death;
’Tis now dead midnight, and by eight tomorrow
Thou must be made immortal. Where’s Barnardine? [60]

CLAUDIO
As fast lock’d up in sleep as guiltless labour
When it lies starkly in the traveller’s bones.