Now stands our fortune on a tickle point, And now or never ends Lorenzo's doubts. One only thing is uneffected yet, And that's to see the executioner,-- But to what end? I list not trust the air With utterance of our pretence therein, For fear the privy whisp'ring of the wind Convey our words amongst unfriendly ears, That lie too open to advantages. Et quel che voglio io, nessun lo sa, Intendo io quel mi bastera. Exit. [ACT III. SCENE 5.] [A street.] Enter BOY with the box. [BOY.] My master hath forbidden me to look in this box, and, by my troth, 'tis likely, if he had not warned me, I should not have had so much idle time; for we men-kind in our minority are like women in their uncertainty; that they are most forbidden, they will soonest attempt; so I now. By my bare honesty, here's nothing but the bare empty box! Were it not sin against secrecy, I would say it were a piece of gentlemanlike knavery. I must go to Pedringano and tell him his pardon is in this box! Nay, I would have sworn it, had I not seen the contrary. I cannot choose but smile to think how the villain will flout the gallows, scorn the audience, and descant on the hangman, and all presuming of his pardon from hence. Will't not be an odd jest, for me to stand and grace every jest he makes, pointing my finger at this box, as who should say: "Mock on, here's thy warrant!" Is't not a scurvy jest that a man should jest himself to death? Alas, poor Pedringano! I am in a sort sorry for thee, but, if I should be hanged with thee, I could not weep. Exit. [ACT III. SCENE 6.] [The court of justice.] Enter HIERONIMO and the DEPUTY. HIERO. Thus must we toil in others men's extremes That know not how to remedy our own, And do them justice, when unjustly we For all our wrongs can compass no redress. But shall I never live to see the day That I may come by justice to the Heav'ns To know the cause that may my cares allay? This toils my body, this consumeth age, That only I to all men just must be, And neither gods nor men be just to me! DEP. Worthy Hieronimo, your office asks A care to punish such as do transgress. HIERO. So is't my duty to regard his death Who when he liv'd deserv'd my dearest blood. But come; for that we came for, let's begin; For here lies that which bids me to be gone. Enter OFFICERS, BOY, & PEDRINGANO with a letter in his hand, bound. DEPU. Bring forth the prisoner for the court is set. PED. Gramercy, boy! but it was time to come, For I had written to my lord anew A nearer matter that concerneth him, For fear his lordship had forgotten me; But, sith he hath remember'd me so well, Come, come, come on! when shall we to this gear?