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, fervant to the Duke.

The ftory is taken from Cinthio's Novels,
Dec. 8. Nov. 5.

Measure

t

Measure for Measure.

ACT I.

I. SCENE I.

E

A PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords

DUKE,

SCALUS.

Efcal. My lord..

Duke Of Government, the properties t' unfold,

Would feem in me t'affect speech and
discourse.

Since I am a not to know, that your own fcience
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 inftitutions, and the terms

Of common justice, y'are as pregnant in,

As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commilion,

From which we would not have you warp. Cali hither;

jut to know..

I fay, bid come before us Angelo :
What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with fpecial 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.

Duke. Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That, to th' obferver, doth thy hiftory
Fully unfold: thy felf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to wafte
Thy felf upon thy virtues; they on thee.
Heav'n doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themfelves 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 iffues: nature never lends

The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But like a thrifty goddefs, fhe determines

Her felf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks, and ufe. But I do bend my fpeech
To one that can my part in him advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo:

In our remove, be thou at full our felf.
Morality and mercy in Vienna,

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang