Act III, Scene vi
Act III, Scene vi
Enter Officers [including a Hangman], Boy and Pedringano, with a letter in his hand, bound.
Deputy
Bring forth the prisoner, for the court is set. 17
Pedringano
Gramercy, boy, but it was time to come, 18
For I had written to my lord anew 19
A nearer matter that concerneth him, 20
For fear his lordship had forgotten me; 21
But sith he hath remembered me so well - 22
Come, come, come on, when shall we to this gear? 23
Hieronimo
Stand forth, thou monster, murderer of men, 24
And here, for satisfaction of the world, 25
Confess thy folly and repent thy fault, 26
For there's thy place of execution. 27
Pedringano
This is short work. Well, to your marshalship 28
First I confess, nor fear I death therefore, 29
I am the man, 'twas I slew Serberine. 30
But sir, then you think this shall be the place 31
Where we shall satisfy you for this gear? 32
Deputy
Ay, Pedringano. 33
Pedringano
Now I think not so. 33.1
Hieronimo
Peace, impudent, for thou shall find it so. 34
For blood with blood shall, while I sit as judge, 35
Be satisfied, and the law discharged; 36
And though myself cannot receive the like, 37
Yet will I see that others have their right. 38
Dispatch! The fault's approv'd and confessed, 39
And by our law he is condemned to die. 40
Hangman
Come on, sir, are you ready? 41
Pedringano
To do what, my fine officious knave? 42
Hangman
To go to this gear. 43
Pedringano
O sir, you are too forward. Thou wouldst fain furnish me 44
with a halter, to disfurnish me of my habit; so I should go 45
out of this gear, my raiment, into that gear, the rope. But, 46
hangman, now I spy your knavery, I'll not change 47
without boot, that's flat. 48
Hangman
Come, sir. 49
Pedringano
So then, I must up. 50
Hangman
No remedy. 51
Pedringano
Yes, but there shall be for my coming down. 52
Hangman
Indeed, here's a remedy for that. 53
Pedringano
How? Be turned off? 54
Hangman
Ay, truly. Come, are you ready? I pray, sir, dispatch; 55
the day goes away. 56
Pedringano
What, do you hang by the hour? If you do, I may 57
chance to break your old custom. 58
Hangman
Faith, you have reason, for I am like to break your 59
young neck. 60
Pedringano
Dost thou mock me, hangman? Pray God I be 61
not preserved to break your knave's pate for this! 62
Hangman
Alas, sir, you are a foot too low to reach it, and I 63
hope you will never grow so high while I am in the office. 64
Pedringano
Sirrah, dost see yonder boy with the box in his hand? 65
Hangman
What, he that points to it with his finger? 66
Pedringano
Ay, that companion. 67
Hangman
I know him not, but what of him? 68
Pedringano
Dost thou think to live till his old doublet will 69
make thee a new truss? 70
Hangman
Ay, and many a fair year after, to truss up many 71
an honester man than either thou of he. 72
Pedringano
What hath he in his box, as thou think'st? 73
Hangman
Faith, I cannot tell, nor I care not greatly. Methinks 74
you should rather hearken to your soul?s health. 75
Pedringano
Why, sirrah hangman? I take it, that that is good 76
for the body is likewise good for the soul; and t may be, 77
in that box is balm for both. 78
Hangman
Well, thou art even the merriest piece of man?s 79
flesh that e?er groaned at my office door. 80
Pedringano
Is your roguery become an office, with a knave's 81
name? 81.1
Hangman
Ay, and that shall all they witness that see you 82
seal it with a thief?s name. 83
Pedringano
I prithee request this good company to pray with me. 84
Hangman
Ay, marry sir, this is a good motion. My masters, 85
you see here's a good fellow. 86
Pedringano
Nay, nay, now I remember me, let them alone till 87
some other time, for now I have no great need. 88
Hieronimo
I have not seen a wretch so impudent! 89
O monstrous times, where murder's set so light, 90
And where the soul, that should be shrin'd in heaven, 91
Solely delights in interdicted things, 92
Still wand'ring in the thorny passages 93
That intercepts itself of happiness. 94
Murder, O bloody monster God forbid 95
A fault so foul should scape unpunished! 96
Dispatch, and see this execution done. 97
This makes me to remember thee, my son. 98
Exit Hieronimo.
Pedringano
Nay, soft, no haste. 99
Deputy
Why, wherefore stay you? Have you hope of life? 100
Pedringano
Why, ay. 101
Hangman
As how? 102
Pedringano
Why, rascal, by my pardon from the King. 103
Hangman
Stand you on that? Then you shall off with this. 104
He turns him off.
Deputy
So, executioner; convey him hence. 105
But let his body be unburi'd. 106
Let not the earth be chok'd or infect 107
With that which heaven contemns and men neglect. 108
Exeunt
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