VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.
Angelo, Lord-deputy in the Duke's absence,
Escalus, an ancient Lord.
Claudio, a young gentleman.
Lucio, a fantastick.
Two Gentlemen.
Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the Duke.
Isabella, fister to Claudio.
Mariana, betrothed to Angelo.
Juliet, beloved of Claudio.
Abhorson, a Nun.
Mistress Over-don, a bawd.
Guards, Officers, and other attendants.
The story is taken from Cinthio's Novels,
Des. 8. Nov. 5.
A PALACE.
Enter Duke, Efscalus, and Lords.
Efcal. My lord.
Duke. Of Government, the properties
t' unfold,
Would seem in me t'affect speech and
difcourse.
Since I am a not to know, that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lifts of all advice
My ftrength can give you: then no more remains
Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people,.
Our city's institutions, and the terms
Of common justice, y'are as pregnant in,
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commiflion.
From which we would not have you warp. Call hither;
I fay, bid come before us Angelo :
What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special foul
Elected him our abfence to fupply;
Lent him our terror, dreft him with our love;
And giv'n his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: fay, what think you of it?
Efcal. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo fuch ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.
Duke. Look where he comes.
Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will,
I come to know your pleasure.
There is a kind of character in thy life,
That, to th' obferver, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thy felf and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thy felf upon thy virtues; they on thee.
Heav'n doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves: 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: nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Her felf the glory of a creditor,
Both thanks, and use. But I do bend my fpeech
To one that can my part in him advertise;
In our remove, be thou at full our felf.
Morality and mercy in Vienna,
Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though first in question, is thy fecondary.
|