MEASURE FOR MEASURE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Vincentio, duke of Vienna. Angelo, lord deputy in the duke's absence. | Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. Abhorson, an executioner. Escalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. the depulation. Claudio, a young gentleman. Lucio, a fantastic. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. Thomas, Peter, } two friars. A Justice. Elbow, a simple constable. Froth, a foolish gentleman. ACT I. 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, For common justice, you are as pregnant in, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear? For you must know, we have with special soul Elected him our absence to supply; Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; And given his deputation all the organs Of our own power: what think you of it? Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour, It is lord Angelo. Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thec. Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Ang. Duke. No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice 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 Of your commissions. Ang. With any scruple: your scope' is as mine own ; As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; Nor do I think the man of safe discretion, ness. Duke. I thank you: fare you well. [Exit. A power I have; but of what strength and nature Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw to- And we may soon our satisfaction have I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II-A street. Enter Lucio and two Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy, but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter Bawd. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry,sir,that's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever pre 2 Gent. Besides you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious cise in promise-keeping. pirate, that went to sea with the ten command-| ments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 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. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre? 1 Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion. Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as for example; thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us.2 Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, 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. 1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not? 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat; what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: you have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. 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. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art no clients: though you change your place, you need tainted, or free. not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitiga-Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that tion comes! I have purchased as many diseases have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you under her roof, as come to 2 Gent. To what, I pray? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Measure. (2) A cut of the same cloth. (3) A jest on the loss of hair by the French disease. will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exe, (4) Corona Veneris. SCENE III.-The same.-Enler Provost,' Clau- Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. dio, Juliet, and Officers; Lucio, and two Gen-I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: tlemen. This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation: Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to Acquaint her with the danger of my state; the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends art SCENE IV.A monastery. Enter Duke and 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 Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder? Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. To Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee Fri. 8 May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, [Takes him aside. Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.* Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.-I have delivered to lord Angelo with you. Is lechery so look'd after? (A man of stricture,1° and firm abstinence,) Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true My absolute power and place here in Vienna, contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Of outward order: this we came not to, And the new deputy now for the duke,- wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs3 have gone round, And he supposes me travell'd to Poland; Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Fri. Duke. Lucio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she I have on Angelo impos'd the office; be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home. and appeal to him. And yet my nature never in the sight, |