Page 1173 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

The contents of this is the return of the Duke: you shall anon over-read it at
your pleasure, where you shall find within these two days he will be here.
This is a thing that Angelo knows not; for he this very day receives letters of
strange tenour, perchance of the Duke’s [190] death, perchance entering into

some monastery; but, by chance, nothing of what is writ. Look, th’unfolding
star calls up the shepherd. Put not yourself into amazement how these things
should be; all difficulties are but easy when they are known. Call your
executioner, and off [195] with Barnardine’s head. I will give him a present

shrift, and advise him for a better place. Yet you are amazed; but this shall
absolutely resolve you. Come away; it is almost clear dawn.
Exeunt.

Scene III IT

[The Same.]

Enter Pompey.

POMPEY
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, nine score and [5] 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 [10] now peaches him a beggar. Then have we here young Dizie,
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 Forthright the tilter, and brave Master Shoe-tie [15] the
great traveller, and wild Halfcan that stabbed Pots, and I think forty more, all
great doers in our trade, and are now ‘for the Lord’s sake’.

Enter Abhorson.

ABHORSON
Sirrah, bring Barnardine hither.