Enter CAIUS. Carus. Vere is mistress Page? By gar, I am cozened, I ha' married un garcon, a boy; un paisan, by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page: by gar, I am cozened. Mrs. Page. Why, did you take her in green? Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy: be gar, I'll raise all Windsor. [Exit CAIUS. Ford. This is strange : Who hath got the right Anne? Page. My heart misgives me : Here comes master Fenton. Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE. How now, master Fenton ? Anne. Pardon, good father! good my mother, pardon ! Page. Now, mistress, how chance you went not with master Slender? Mrs. Page. Why went you not with master doctor, maid? Fent. You do amaze her: Hear the truth of it. You would have married her most shamefully, Where there was no proportion held in love. The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. The offence is holy, that she hath committed: And this deceit loses the name of craft, Of disobedience, or unduteous title; Since therein she doth eviate and shun A thousand irreligious cursed hours, Which forced marriage would have brought upon her. Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special stand to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanced. Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heaven give thee What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac❜d. [joy! Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are chac'd. Eva. I will dance and eat plums at your wedding. Mrs. Pa. Well, I will muse no further :-Master Fenton. Heaven give you many, many merry days !— Good husband, let us every one go home, And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire; Sir John and all. Ford. Let it be so :-Sir John, To master Brook you yet shall hold your word; [Exeunt. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. OBSERVATIONS. MEASURE FOR MEASURE.] The story is taken from Cin thio'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. 4to. 1582.-She reports, in the fourth dayes Exercise, the rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra. A marginal note informs us, that Whetstone was the author of the Comedie on that subject; which likewise had probably fallen into the hands of Shakespeare. FARMER. There is perhaps not one of Shakespeare's plays more darkened than this by the peculiarities of its author, and the unskilfulness of its editors, by distortions of phrase, or negligence of transcription. JOHNSON. Dr. Johnson's remark is so just respecting the corruptions of this play, that I shall not attempt much reformation in its metre, which is too often rough, redundant, and irregular. Additions and omissions (however trifling) cannot be made without constant notice of them; and such notices, in the present instance, would so frequently occur, as to become equally tiresome to the commentator and the reader. Shakespeare took the fable of this play from the Promos and Cassandra of George Whetstone, published in 1578. See Theobald's note at the end. A hint, like a seed, is more or less prolific, according 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 Cassandra exhibits an almost complete embryo of Measure for Measure; yet the hints on which it is formed are so slight, that it is nearly as impossible to detect them, as it is to point out in the acorn the future ramifications of the oak. "Promos, Mayor, Shirife, Sworde Bearer : one with a bunche of keyes. Phallax, Promos Man. "You officers which now in Julio staye, "Know you your leadge, the King of Hungarie, Phallax readeth the Kinges Letters Pattents, which must be Pro. "Loe, here you see what is our Soveraignes wyl, "Loe, heare his wish, that right, not might, beare swaye : "Loe, heare his care, to weede from good the yll, "(How so he byds, the ignoraunt to save) "As he commaundes, the lewde doo rigor feele, &c. &c. &c. Pro." Both swoorde and keies, unto my princes 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, Al. speake. "To worke your wyll, we yeelde a willing hart. Exeunt." The reader will find the argument of G. Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra, at the end of this play. It is too bulky to be inserted here. See likewise the piece itself among Six old Plays on which Shakespeare found ed. &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. PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the deputation. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. LUCIO, a fantastic. Two other like Gentlemen. *VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. THOMAS, } two friars. PETER, ELBOW, a simple constable. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. ABHORSON, an executioner. BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. JULIET, beloved by Claudio. FRANCISCA, a nun. Mistress OVER-DONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Atten dants. SCENE.-Vienna. Varrius might be omitted, for he is only once spoken to, and says nothing JOHNSON |