SCENE I.-An apartment in the DUKE's Palace. Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants.

Duke. Escalus,

Escal. My lord?

Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me t' affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you; then no more remains, But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms For common justice, you're as pregnant in As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember. There is our commission, [Giving it.

From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither,

1. "MEASURE FOR MEASURE" was first printed in the 1623 Folio; and there is record that it was played before the Court on St. Stephen's night (Dec. 26), 1604, which proves it to have been written before that date. The source of the plot is supposed to have been found in a play called "Promos and Cassandra" (1578), by George Whetstone; who took the story from an Italian novel of Giraldi Cinthio. Unfortunately, the chief incidents have formed the basis of more than one romance of real life; and Shakespeare, with his knowledge of human nature, has adopted them for his purpose of dramatic moral teaching, by making them the groundwork of this noble and profoundly preceptive play. Out of strong and even repulsive materials, he has contrived to produce a lesson that may be taken to heart by all men; from the prince who rules, the minister who dispenses justice, the young fellow launched upon his destined career, the young girl entering upon the duties and trials of existence, the gaoler with culprits beneath his charge and supervision, down to the ill-chosen constable whose inefficiency helps to foster the growth of vice and foulness among the uncleansed dregs of the people.

2. I am put to know. I have cause to know.

3. Lists. Limits, bounds.

4. Then no more remains, &c. This passage is obscurely expressed, from its excess of condensation; and there have been

various attempts to alter it, some editors having substituted words, some having omitted them, and some having suspected omissions in the Folio version. If taken as an instance of Shakespeare's way of making a relative pronoun refer to an implied particular, the passage, as it stands, seems to bear this interpretation: 'Then no more remains [there is nothing more required] but that [meaning the "strength" mentioned in the previous line, the governing power embodied in the "commission" he gives him] to your sufficiency [sufficing authority], as your worth is able [your excellence rendering you competent], and let them work' [let them operate in combination].

5. Terms. Blackstone says that "terms "mean the technical language of the law courts; and he mentions that an old book, called "Les Termes de la Ley" (written in Henry VIII.'s time), was in Shakespeare's days, and is now, the accidence of young students in the law. If, as is probable, this was one of our poet's reference-books, it goes far to account for his intimate acquaintance with legal forms and expressions.

6. Pregnant. Here used for skilled, proficient.

7. Character in thy life. "Character," or written mark, is here used figuratively for legible indication; and "life," for external conduct or behaviour.

8. Not thine own so proper. Not so exclusively and peculiarly thine own property.

Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
Not light them for ourselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd

But to fine issues; nor Nature never lends1o

The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,-

Both thanks and use." But I do bend my speech

To one that can my part in him advértise ;12
Hold, therefore, Angelo:-

[Tendering his commission. In our remove 13 be thou at full ourself;

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice1
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall impórtune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
your commissions.
Ang.

Of

Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way.16

Duke. My haste may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any scruple: your scope 17 is as mine own,
So to enforce or qualify the laws

As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:

I'll privily away. I love the people,

But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause and aves 1 vehement;
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

9. Fine issues. Exalted purposes, lofty results. Shakespeare thus combines varied meanings in one well-selected expression. 10. Nor Nature never lends. An instance of Shakespeare's use of the double negative, not (as is usual now) to express an affirmative.

11. Use. This word is here employed in its ordinary sense of putting in operation, and of usurious interest.

12. Advertise. Proclaim, set forth; the phrase means, 'I speak to one who can himself state the duties I delegate to him as my representative.'

13. In our remove. While we are away.

14. Mortality and mercy in Vienna live in thy tongue and

Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes! Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness!

Duke. I thank you. Fare

you well. [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place :

A power I have, but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed.

Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

And we may soon our satisfaction have
Touching that point.

Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table. Sec. Gent. "Thou shalt not steal?" Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

First Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions they put forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 19

Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

First Gent. What, in metre?

Lucio. In any proportion or in any language. First Gent. I think, or in any religion. Lucio. Ah! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example,—thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.21

First Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee. I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech; I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

Act I. Scene 1.

Sec. Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes!

VOL. I.

18

Mrs. Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?

Mrs. Ov. I am too sure of it; and it is for Madam Julietta.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.

Sec. Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

First Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and Gentlemen.

Mrs. Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk,

Enter Clown,

How now! what's the news with you?

Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man?

Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

Mrs. Ov. And what shall become of those in the city?

Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Mrs. Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

Clo. To the ground, mistress.

Mrs. Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clo. Come; fear not you : good counsellors lack no clients though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demigod, Authority,24 Make us pay down for our offence by weight.-The words of Heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?

Claudio. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

25

As surfeit is the father of too much fast,
So every scope as by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint, Our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,26
A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.

Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What, is't murder?

Claud. No.

Prov. Away, sir! you must go.

Claud. One word, good friend.—Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside.

Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Claud. Thus stands it with me :-upon a true contráct

I got possession of Julietta's trust :
You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack

23. Provost. A superintendent of executions; a sheriff; also employed in this play for the keeper of a prison, a gaoler.

24. The demigod, Authority. Claudio calls "Authority," in its controlling power, a "demigod ;" and compares it to the "words of Heaven," in absolute and irresponsible degree. "Pay down for our offence by weight" means, 'pay for our offence by heavy penalty.'

25. Scope. Here used for extent of license.

26. Ravin down their proper bane. To "ravin" is to devour eagerly; "their proper bane" is 'their own poison or destruction.'

27. Save that we do the denunciation lack of outward order.

Only for propagation of 28 a dower

'Except that we have not the proclamation according to external and established form.' The use of denunciation" in precisely this sense, is shown by a quotation from Bishop Hall: "This public and reiterated denunciation of banns before matrimony, is an institution."

28. Propagation of. Used to express promoting the bestowal of, or payment of. Claudio and Juliet, believing her friends to be adverse to their union, and likely to withhold her "dower" if they married, resolve to conceal their "contract" of affianced "love," until "time" should bring consent and forgiveness, together with payment of the marriage-portion. Deriving the latter portion of the word from the Italian pagare, to pay, this