MEASURE FOR

MEASURE

PERSONS

REPRESENTED

VINCENTIO: THE DUKE.

ANGELO: THE DEPUTY.

ESCALUS: AN ANCIENT LORD.

CLAUDIO: A YOUNG GENTLEMAN.

LUCIO: A FANTASTIC.

TWO OTHER LIKE GENTLEMEN.

VARRIUS: A GENTLEMAN, SERVANT TO THE DUKE.

LORDS, GENTLEMEN, GUARDS, OFFICERS, AND OTHER

ATTENDANTS.

SCENE-Vienna.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

ACT I

SCENE I. An Apartment in the DUKE's Palace.

Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants.
DUKE. Escalus!

DUKE. Of Government the properties to unfold
Would seem in me t'affect speech and discourse;
Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds in that the lists1 of all advice
My strength can give you: then no more remains
But add sufficiency, as your worth is, ample,
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our City's institutions, and the terms

For common justice, y' are as pregnant2 in

As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commission,

IO

From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither,

I

say,

bid come before us Angelo.

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?
ESCAL. If any in Vienna be of worth

To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.

20

ACT I

DUKE.

Sc. I

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-

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'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.1 But I do bend2 my speech

To one that can my part in him advertise.3

Hold, therefore, Angelo:

In our remove, be thou at full ourself;

Mortality and Mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart. Old Escalus,

Though first in question, is thy secondary.

Take thy commission.

ANG.

Now, good my Lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure

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.

30

40

50

Yet, give leave, my Lord,

60

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 scope1 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 Aves2 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.

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. "Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

ESCAL.

༡༠

[exit.

I'll wait upon your Honour.

80

SCENE II. A Street.

[exeunt.

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.

FIRST GENT. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the
King of Hungary's!

SEC. GENT. Amen.

LUCIO. Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious Pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.

SEC. GENT. Thou shalt not steal?

LUCIO. Ay, that he raz❜d.

ΤΟ

FIRST GENT. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the Captain and all the rest from their functions: they