Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

A Justice.

Appears, Act II. sc. I. ELBOW, a simple constable. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 2. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Appears, Act II. sc. 1.

Clown.

Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3.
ABHORSON, an executioner.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3.
BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 3. Act V. sc. 1.
ISABELLA, sister to Claudio.

Appears, Act I. sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1.
Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.
Appears, Act IV. sc. i; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1.
JULIET, beloved of Claudio.

Appears, Act I. sc. 3. Act II. sc. 3. Act V. sc. 1.
FRANCISCA, a nun.

Appears, Act I. sc. 5.

MISTRESS OVERDONE, a bawd.
Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 2.

Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other
Attendants.

SCENE,-VIENNA.

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,
Would seem in me to 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 d
For common justice, you are as pregnant in,
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember: There is our commission,

From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither,
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, dress'd him with our love;
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: What think you of it?

• Put to know-equivalent to I cannot avoid knowing.
Lists-limits.

• We encounter at the onset one of the obscure passages for which this play is remarkable. We believe it may be read thus, without much difficulty: Then, no more remains: (to say ou government) But that, (your science) to your sufficiency, (joined to your authority) as your worth (as well as your virtue) is able; equal to the duty) and let them work (call them into action).

Teras. Blackstone explains this to mean the technical language of the courts.

[blocks in formation]

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 the observer, doth thy history
Fully unfold: Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do;
Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike
Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd
But to fine issues: nor Nature never lends
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 advertise;"
Hold, therefore, Angelo:

a Character has here the original meaning of something engraved or inscribed; thy life is thy habits. Use-interest of money.

[ocr errors]

My part in him is, my part deputed to him, which he can advertise-direct his attention to-without my speech.

a Hold. The word hold is, we believe, addressed to Angelo; and used technically in the sense of to have and to hold. Hold, therefore, our power, Angelo.

[blocks in formation]

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 importune,
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.

Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do

With any scruple: your scope 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 vehement:
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

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. "T is so with me :-Let us withdraw together,
And we may soon our satisfaction have
Touching that point.

Escal.

I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Street.

Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen.

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. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

1 Gent. Why, 't was 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?

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

[blocks in formation]

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 '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.

1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not?

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

Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to

[blocks in formation]

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! 't is not so.

Bawd. Nay, but I know 't is 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 ma dam Julietta with child.

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

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

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. Well; what has he done?
Clo. A woman.

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 plucked down.

a Dollars-a quibble upon dolours.

Baud. 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. Bard. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

Clo. To the ground, mistress.

Bad. 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 consi

dered.

[blocks in formation]

Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Pro. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, 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 't is just.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast,

So every scope, by the immoderate use,

Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue
(Like rats that ravin down their proper bane
A thirsty evil, and when we drink we die.

Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, 1 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 murther?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Pro. Away, sir; you must go.

you.

Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they 'll do you any good.— Is lechery so look'd after?

Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract,

I got possession of Julietta's bed;

You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation lack

Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud.

Unhappily, even so.

And the new deputy now for the duke,-
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness;
Or whether that the body public be

• To pay down by weight is to pay the full price or penalty. Ravin-devour greedily.

A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in:-But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the
wall

So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :-'t is surely for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he 's not to be found.
I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service;
This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation;
Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,
Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray she may as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours.
Claud. Come, officer, away.

SCENE IV.-A Monastery.

Enter DUKE and Friar THOMAS.

[Exeunt.

Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought;
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.

Fri.
May your grace speak of it?
Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd;
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies,
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.
I have deliver'd to lord Angelo

(A man of strictured and firm abstinence)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me why I do this?

[blocks in formation]

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri.
It rested in your grace
To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleas'd:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd
Than in lord Angelo.

Duke.
Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope,
I do fear, too dreadful:
"T would be my tyranny to strike and gall them
For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permissive pass,

And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father,
I have on Angelo impos'd the office;

Who may,
in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the fight,
To do in slander: And to behold his sway,
I will, as 't were a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee,
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear

Like a true friar. More reasons for this action,
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only this one :-Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite

Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be. [Exeunt.
SCENE V.-A Nunnery.

Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.

Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges
Fran. Are not these large enough?

Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare.
Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place!
Isab.
Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella,
Who 's that which calls?
[Within.
Turn you the key, and know his business of him;
You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn:
When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men,
But in the presence of the prioress:
Then, if you speak, you must not show
Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.
He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit FRAN.
Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is 't that calls?

Enter LUCIO.

your

face;

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses
Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me,
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,

A novice of this place, and the fair sister

To her unhappy brother Claudio?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; The rather, for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets

you:

Not to be weary with you, he 's in prison.

Isab. Woe me! For what?

[blocks in formation]

Your brother and his lover a have embrac'd:
As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time,
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

İsab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin
Juliet?

Lucio. Is she your cousin?

Isab. Adoptedly; as schoolmaids change their

names,

By vain though apt affection.
Lucio.

Isab. O, let him marry her!
Lucis.

She it is.

This is the point.

The duke is very strangely gone from hence;
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn
By those that know the very nerves of state,
And with full line of his authority,
His givings out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,

Governs lord Angelo: a man whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense;
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He (to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have, for long, run by the hideous law,
As mice by lions) hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
To make him an example; all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: And that 's my pith of business
"Twixt you and your poor brother.

Isab.
Seek his life?

Lucio.

Doth he so

provost hath a warrant Hath censur'd him already,

And, as I hear, the
For his execution.
Isab.

Alas! what poor

Ability 's in me to do him good?
Lucio. Assay the power you have.
Isab.
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors,
My power! Alas! I doult-
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,
And let him learn to know, when maidens sue
Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,
All their petitions are as freely theirs
As they themselves would owe them.
Isab. I'll see what I can do.
Lucio.

But speedily.

Isab. I will about it straight;

Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his judge, No longer staying but to give the mother

He should receive his punishment in thanks:

He hath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your story.

Lucio. "T is true.

familiar sin

I would not-though 't is my

Make me not your story-invent me not your story.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

SCENE I-A Hall in Angelo's House.

ACT II.

[blocks in formation]

Let but your honour know,

(Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections,

Had time cober'd with place, or place with wishing,
Or that the resolute acting of our blood a

Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose,
Whether you had not sometime in your life
Err'd in this point which now you censure him,
And pull'd the law upon you.

Ang. T is one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,

The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,

May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two

they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good christians ought to have.

Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow? Clo. He cannot, sir; he 's out at elbow. Ang. What are you, sir?

Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before Heaven and your honour,

Escal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank Heaven, is an honest

woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable?

Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in

Griltier than him they try: What's open made to fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

justice,

That justice seizes. What know the laws,

[ocr errors]

That thieves do pass on thieves? T is very pregnant,
The jewel that we find we stoop and take it,
Because we see it; but what we do not see
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,

For I have had such faults; but rather tell me
When I, that censure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang.

Where is the provost?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang.

See that Claudio
Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Being him his confessor, let him be prepar'd;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Erit Prov.
Escal. Well, Heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes of ice, and answer none;
And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c. E. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a commonweal that do nothing but use their abrises in com non houses, I know no law; bring them away.

Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

Eb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon Justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good hoDour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors?

Eb. If it please your honour, I know not well what

* The Provost is nere a kind of sheriff--a keeper of prisoners. 79 fear-to affright.

Fall. The verb is here nsen actively. We still say to fall tree, and probably Shakspere had this image in his mind. Our blood may mean, our nature-the nature of man. We must understand for after censure him. 'P » on-coudemn, adjudicate.

For-because.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Overdone's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him.

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.

Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? [TO ANG. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stewed prunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, sir.

Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right but, to the point: As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said. master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed.

Clo. Very well you being then, if you be remembered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remembered, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.

Froth. All this is true.
Clo. Why, very well then.

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. -What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her. Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet. Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not.

leave: And, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's sir; a man of fourscore pound a-year; whose father died at Hallowmas:-Was 't not at Hallowinas, master Froth? Froth. All-hallownd eve.

Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He,

« ZurückWeiter »