DRAMATIS PERSONE.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.
ANGELO, Lord-deputy in the Duke's absence.
ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joint Deputy with Angelo.
CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.

Lucio, a Fantaftick.

Two Gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke,

PROVOST.

81

two Friars.

THOMAS, 2
PETER,
ELBOW, a fimple Conftable.
FROTH, a foolish Gentleman,
CLOWN, Servant to Mrs. Over-don.
ABHORSON, an Executioner.
BARNARDINE, a diffolute Prifoner.

ISABELLA, Sifter to Claudio.
MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.
JULIET, beloved of Claudio.
FRANCISCA, a Nun.
Miftrefs OVER-DON, a Bawd.

Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE Vienna.

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

Measure

Measure for Measure.

Duke.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A PALACE.
Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.
Scalus!

E

Efcal. My lord.

Duke. Of Government the properties t' unfold

Would feem in me t' affect speech and difcourse;

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,
But that to your fufficiency you join

A will to ferve us as your worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's inftitutions, and the terms

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,
[To the Attendants.

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

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 hiftory
Fully unfold: thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to wafte
Thy felf upon thy virtues, them 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 as if

We had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine iffues; nature never lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But, like a thrifty goddess, the determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks, and ufe. But I do bend my speech
To one that can in my part me advertise;
Hold therefore, Angelo.
In our remove, be thou at full our felf.
Mortality and mercy in Vienna

[Giving bim bis commiffion.

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

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,
Before fo noble and fo great a figure
Be fampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evafion :
We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers it felf, and leaves unqueftion'd
Matters of needful value. We fhall write,
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 our commiffion.

Ang. Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.
Duke. My hafte 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 qualifie the law,

As to your foul feems 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 safe difcretion
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.

[Exit.

Efcal. I fhall defire 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 pow'r I have, but of what strength 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.

[Exeunt.

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 pyrate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fteal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to fteal: there's not a foldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving after meat doth relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike 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 meeter?

Lucio. Not in any profeffion, or in any language, I think, or in any religion.

2 Gent. And why not? grace is grace, defpight of all controverfie.

Lucio. As for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

2 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between

.us.

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

2 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.

2 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? 1 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

SCENE IV. Bawd, coming at a distance. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. 1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof,

as come to

2 Gent. To what, pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year.

A quibble intended between dollars and dolours.

1 Gent,

2