Fal. When night-dogs run, all forts of deer are chas'd. Mrs. Page. Well, I will mufe no further. Mr. Fenton, Heav'n give you many, many merry days!

Good husband, let us every one go home,
And laugh this fport o'er by a country-fire,
Sir John and all.

Ford. Let it be fo:- Sir John,
To Mafter Brook you yet fhall hold
For be to-night fhall lie with Mistress. Ford.

your

word;

[Exeunt omnes..

Duke.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

The Duke's palace.

Enter Duke, Efculas, and Lords.

ESCALUS,

Efeal. My Lord.

Duke Of government the properties t' unfold,
Would feem in me t' affect speech and difcourfe.
Since I am 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 inftitutions, and the terms

Of

The flory is taken from Cinthio's novels, December 8. No- ́

vember 5. Mr. Pope.

Of common juftice, y'are as pregnant in,

As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commiffion,

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 roll
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

Lent him our terrot, dress'd 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.

SCENE II. Enter 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 history
Fully unfold: thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thyfelf 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
But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends

The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

Bat, like a thrifty goddefs, fhe determines
Herfelf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and ufe

But I do bend my fpecch

To one that can my part in him advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo;

In our remove, be thou at full ourself.

Mortality and Mercy in Vienna

Liye in thy tongue and heart; old Efcalus,
Though firit in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion..,

Ang Now, good my Lord,

Let there be fome more test made of my metal,
Before fo noble and fo great a figure
Be ftamp'd upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evasion:

We have with a prepar'd and level'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unqueftion'd
Matters of needful value. We fhall write to you,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So, fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commiffions.

Ang. Yet give me leave, my Lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
Duke. My hafle may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple; your fcope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualify the laws,

As to your foul feeins good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people;
But do not like to ftage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applaufe, and Ave's vehement :
Nor do I think the man of fafe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
Ang. The Heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare
you well.

Efcal. I fhall defire you, Sir, to give me leave
To have free fpeech with you; and it concerns me
To look into the bottom of my place:

A pow'r I have, but of what itrength and nature
I am not yet inftructed.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together,
And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

Efcal. I'll wait upon your Honour.

[Exil.

[Exeunt

SCENE

SCENE III. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

Lucio. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to compofition with the King of Hungary, why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent, Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious pirate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the Captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to steal; there's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relish the petition well that prays for peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier dislike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for I think thou never waft where grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

I 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, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of fheers be

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may be between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece. I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou doft; and indeed with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent.