Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go:
[Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow].
Exeunt.
[ IV. 2 Scene II.] A room in the prison.
Enter Provost and Pompey.
[Prov.] Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man’s head?
Pom. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he’s his wife’s head, and I can never cut off a woman’s head.
5 Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine. Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; 10 if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping, for you have been a notorious bawd.
Pom. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I 15 would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.
Prov. What, ho! Abhorson! Where’s Abhorson, there?