MEASURE FOR MEASURE

OBSERVATIONS.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.] The story is taken from Cinthio's Novels, Decad. 8, Novel 5.

POPE.

We are sent to Cinthio for the plot of Measure for Measure, and Shakespeare's judgment hath been attacked for some deviations from him in the conduct of it, when probably all he knew of the matter was from Madam Isabella, in The Heptameron of Whetstone, Lond. to. 1582.-She reports, in the fourth dayes Exercise, le rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra. A marginal ite informs us, that Whetstone was the author of the Imedie on that subject; which likewise had probably fien into the hands of Shakespeare.

FARMER.

here is perhaps not one of Shakespeare's plays more dabned than this by the peculiarities of its author, and thenskilfulness of its editors, by distortions of phrase, or Tyligence of transcription.

JOHNSON. DiJohnson's remark is so just respecting the corruptions! this play, that I shall not attempt much reformation ints metre, which is too often rough, redundant, and irr-ular. Additions and omissions (however trifling) cannot made without constant notice of them; and such notices, the present instance, would so frequently occur, as become equally tiresome to the commentator

Shakesare took the fable of this play from the Promos and șsandra of George Whetstone, published in 1578. Sec'heobald's note at the end.

A hint, lila seed, is more or less prolific, according

and the ruler.

to the qualities of the soil on which it is thrown. This story, which in the hands of Whetstone produced little more than barren insipidity, under the culture of Shakespeare became fertile of entertainment. The curious reader will find that the old play of Promos and Cas. sandra exhibits an almost complete embryo of Measure for Measure; yet the hints on which it is formed aré so slight, that it is nearly as impossible to detect them as it is to point out in the acorn the future ramification of the oak.

Whetstone opens his play thus :

ACT I.-SCENE I.

« Promos, Mayor, Shirife, Sworde Bearer : one with a bunche of keyes. Phalla

Promos Man.
" You officers which now in Julio staye,
" Koow you your leadge, the King of Hungarie,
+ Sent me to Promos, to joyne with you in sway:
" That styll we may to Justice have an eye.
" And now to show my rule and power at lardge,
4 Attentivelie his letters patents heare :

" Phallar, reade out my Soveraines chardge.
Phal. “ As you commaunde I wyll: give heedeful eare,

Phallax readeth the Kinges Letters Pattents, which must be

fayre wrillen iu parchment, with some great counterfeat gle.
Pro. “Loe, here you see what is our Soveraignes wyl,

" Loe, heare his wish, that right, pot might, beare swaye :
“ Loe, heare his care, to weede from good the yll,
“ To scoorge the wights, good lawes that disobay.
“ Such zeale he beares, unto the common weale,

(How so he byds, the ignoraunt to save)
As he commaundes, the lewde doo rigor feele, &c. &c. &

Pro.“ Both swoorde and keies, unto my prioces use,

"I do receyve, and gladlie take my chardge.
" It resteth now, for to reforme abuse,
“ We poynt a tyme of councell more at lardge,

“ To treate of which, a whyle we wyll depart. 41. speake. "To worke your wyll, we yeelde a willing hart.

Ereunt."

The reader will find the argument of GWhetstone's Promos and Cassandra, at the end of th play. It is 100 bulky to be inserted here. See likese the piece

itself among Six old Plays on which Shakespeare founded, &c. published by S. Leacroft, Charing Cross.

STEEVENS.

Measure for Measure was, I believe, written in 1603. See An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays, Vol. II.

MALONE.