Act 4, Scene 3 Summary

Abhorson tells Pompey to bring Barnardine out to be executed. Pompey cannot get him to move because he wants to sleep. Finally, Barnardine comes out on his own and refuses to be executed that day because he has been drinking too heavily the night before: "I will not consent to die this day, that's certain." The Duke, as friar, agrees that it would be a crime to execute a man in such a condition. Luckily, a man named Ragozine, "a most notorious pirate," died the night before from a fever. They could cut off his head and send it to Angelo as Claudio's; he looks much more like Claudio than Barnardine did anyway. The Duke calls Ragozine's death an accident provided by heaven.

The Provost takes Ragozine's head to Angelo. Isabella enters and asks after her brother. The Duke tells her...