No Fear Shakespeare: Measure for Measure: Act 4 Scene 2 Page 7

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DUKE VINCENTIO 135What is that Barnardine who is to be executed in the afternoon?	DUKE VINCENTIO Who is this Barnardine who’s to be executed in the afternoon?
PROVOST A Bohemian born, but here nursed un and bred; one that is a prisoner nine years old.	PROVOST He was born in Bohemia, but raised here. He’s been a prisoner for the last nine years.
DUKE VINCENTIO How came it that the absent duke had not either 140delivered him to his liberty or executed him? I have heard it was ever his manner to do so.	DUKE VINCENTIO How did it happen that the absent duke neither freed him nor executed him? I’ve heard he usually does one or the other.
PROVOST His friends still wrought reprieves for him: and, indeed, his fact, till now in the government of Lord Angelo, came not to an undoubtful proof.	PROVOST Barnardine’s friends kept getting him reprieves. And there was no clear evidence that he was actually guilty, until now, when Angelo came to power.
DUKE VINCENTIO 145It is now apparent?	DUKE VINCENTIO It’s clear now?
PROVOST Most manifest, and not denied by himself.	PROVOST Very clear, and he doesn’t deny it himself.
DUKE VINCENTIO Hath he born himself penitently in prison? how seems he to be touched?	DUKE VINCENTIO Has he shown remorse while in prison? What effect has it had on him?
PROVOST A man that apprehends death no more dreadfully but 150as a drunken sleep; careless, reckless, and fearless of what’s past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal.	PROVOST He’s a man who fears death as no worse than a drunken sleep. He’s careless, reckless, and fearless of the past, present, or future. He’s unaware of the concept of death, and desperately clinging to life.
DUKE VINCENTIO He wants advice.	DUKE VINCENTIO He needs counseling.
PROVOST He will hear none: he hath evermore had the liberty 155of the prison; give him leave to escape hence, he would not: drunk many times a day, if not many days entirely drunk. We have very oft awaked him, as if to carry him to execution, and showed him a seeming warrant for it: it hath not moved him at all.	PROVOST He won’t listen to any. He’s always had the freedom to go anywhere inside the prison. If you gave him a chance to escape, he wouldn’t run. He’s drunk many times a day, or spends many days entirely drunk. Often, we’ve woken him up, as if to take him to be executed, and shown him a pretend warrant. It’s never affected him at all.