Enter Barnardine. ABHORSON. Is the axe upon the block, sirrah? POMPEY. Very ready, sir. BARNARDINE. How now, Abhorson? What’s the news with you? ABHORSON. Truly, sir, I would desire you to clap into your prayers; for, look you, the warrant’s come. BARNARDINE. You rogue, I have been drinking all night; I am not fitted for’t. POMPEY. O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night and is hanged betimes in the morning may sleep the sounder all the next day. Enter Duke. ABHORSON. Look you, sir, here comes your ghostly father. Do we jest now, think you? DUKE. Sir, induced by my charity, and hearing how hastily you are to depart, I am come to advise you, comfort you, and pray with you. BARNARDINE. Friar, not I. I have been drinking hard all night, and I will have more time to prepare me, or they shall beat out my brains with billets. I will not consent to die this day, that’s certain. DUKE. O, sir, you must; and therefore I beseech you Look forward on the journey you shall go. BARNARDINE. I swear I will not die today for any man’s persuasion. DUKE. But hear you— BARNARDINE. Not a word. If you have anything to say to me, come to my ward, for thence will not I today. [_Exit._] DUKE. Unfit to live or die. O gravel heart! After him, fellows; bring him to the block. [_Exeunt Abhorson and Pompey._] Enter Provost. PROVOST. Now, sir, how do you find the prisoner? DUKE. A creature unprepared, unmeet for death; And to transport him in the mind he is Were damnable. PROVOST. Here in the prison, father, There died this morning of a cruel fever One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate, A man of Claudio’s years; his beard and head Just of his colour. What if we do omit This reprobate till he were well inclined, And satisfy the Deputy with the visage Of Ragozine, more like to Claudio? DUKE. O, ’tis an accident that heaven provides! Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on Prefixed by Angelo. See this be done, And sent according to command, whiles I Persuade this rude wretch willingly to die. PROVOST. This shall be done, good father, presently. But Barnardine must die this afternoon; And how shall we continue Claudio, To save me from the danger that might come If he were known alive? DUKE. Let this be done: Put them in secret holds, both Barnardine and Claudio. Ere twice the sun hath made his journal greeting To yonder generation, you shall find Your safety manifested. PROVOST. I am your free dependant. DUKE. Quick, dispatch, and send the head to Angelo. [_Exit Provost._] Now will I write letters to Angelo, The Provost, he shall bear them, whose contents Shall witness to him I am near at home; And that by great injunctions I am bound To enter publicly. Him I’ll desire To meet me at the consecrated fount, A league below the city; and from thence, By cold gradation and well-balanced form. We shall proceed with Angelo. Enter Provost. PROVOST. Here is the head; I’ll carry it myself.