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Dramatis Perfonæ.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

Angelo, Lord Deputy in the Duke's abfence.

Elcalus,

An ancient Lord, join'd with Angelọ in the

Deputation.

Claudio, a young Gentleman.

Lucio, a Fantastic.

Two Gentlemen

Varrius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke.

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MEASURE for MEASURE,

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Duke's PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

SCALUS,-
Efcal. My Lord.

DUKE.

Duke. Of Government the properties t'unfold, Would seem 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 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 supply;

Lent him our Terror, dreft him with our Love;

The story is taken from Cinthio's Novels, December 8. November 5.

B 2

Mr. Pope.

And

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.

Juke.OOK, 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' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so 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'd, But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends

The smalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty Goddefs, fhe determines
Herfelf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and ufe.

But I do bend my fpeech

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

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalu
Though firft in queftion, is thy Secondary.
Take thy Commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of
Before fo noble and fo great a figure
Be ftampt upon it.

my

metal,

Duke.

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 befał 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 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 qualify the Laws,

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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 applause, 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.

[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 ftrength 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.

* Leaven'd choice] We fhould read level'd choice. The Allufion

is to Archery, when a Man has fix'd upon his Object, after taking Aim.

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