MEASURE FOR MEASURE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, the Duke. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; se. 4. Act IV. se. 1; sc. 2; Act II. sc. 3. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2. sc. 3; sc. 5. Act V. sc. 1. ANGELO, the deputy [in the Duke's absence]. Appears, Act I. sc. 1. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 4. Act V. sc. 1. ESCALUS, an ancient lord [joined with Angelo in the A Justice. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. ELBOW, a simple constable. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 2. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Clown. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3. Act III. sc. 1. Appears, Act I. sc. 5. MISTRESS OVERDONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other SCENE, VIENNA. АСТ I. SCENE I.—An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. Duke. Escalus,— Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know," that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: Then, no more remains: d For common justice, you are as pregnant in, From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither, Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love; • Put to know-equivalent to I cannot avoid knowing. • We encounter at the onset one of the obscure passages for which this play is remarkable. We believe it may be read thus, without much difficulty: Then, no more remains: (to say ou government) But that, (your science) to your sufficiency, (joined to your authority) as your worth (as well as your virtue) is able; (equal to the duty) and let them work (call them into action). Terms. Blackstone explains this to mean the technical language of the courts. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, Duke. As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech d a Character has here the original meaning of something engraved or inscribed; thy life is thy habits. Use-interest of money. My part in him is, my part deputed to him, which he can advertise-direct his attention to-without my speech. d Hold. The word hold is, we be.ieve, addressed to Angelo; and used technically in the sense of to have and to hold. Hold therefore, our power, Angelo. We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice Of Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, 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 scope is as mine own: So to enforce or qualify the laws As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: you [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave A power I have; but of what strength and nature Ang. 'T is so with me:-Let us withdraw together, Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt. SCENE II-A Street. 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. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 't was a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: There's not a soldier of us all, that, the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 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, despite of all Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: Thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou 'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. I Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted or free. Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who 's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, sir, that 's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 't is not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know 't is so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head 's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: Art thou sure of this? Bard. I am too sure of it; and it is for getting ma dam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise. keeping. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclama tion. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. But what 's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there 's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. a Dollars-a quibble upon dolours. Band. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bard. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburls be pulled down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bard. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bared. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there 's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Pro. I do it not in evil disposition, But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight."The words of Heaven;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 't is just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope, by the immoderate use, Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio! Claud. What but to speak of would offend again. Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Pro. Away, sir; you must go. you. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they 'll do you any good.Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Of cutward order: this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Unhappily, even so. Or whether that the body public be • To pay down by weight is to pay the full price or penalty. Ravin-devour greedily. A horse whereon the governor doth ride, So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he 's not to be found. Lucio. I pray she may as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. SCENE IV.-A Monastery. Enter DUKE and Friar THOMAS. [Exeunt. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought; Fri. (A man of strictured and firm abstinence) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, It rested in your grace Fri. Duke. And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, To do in slander: And to behold his sway, Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; This is the point. The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Governs lord Angelo: a man whose blood Isab. Hath censur'd him already, He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit FRAN. And, as I hear, the provost hath a warrant Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is 't that calls? Enter LUCIO. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister. For his execution. Alas! what poor My power! Alas! I doult- Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets As they themselves would owe them. you: Not to be weary with you, he 's in prison. Isab. Woe me! For what? Isab. I'll see what I can do. Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his judge, No longer staying but to give the mother He should receive his punishment in thanks : He hath got his friend with child. Isab. Sir, make me not your story. Lucio. "T is true. I would not-though 't is my familiar sin Make me not your story-invent me not your story. Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: a Lover-mistress. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt b Censur'd-sentenced. ACT II. SCENE I-A Hall in Angelo's House. they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Justice, Provost," Officers, of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good and other Attendants. Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentleman, Let but your honour know, (Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, Ang. T is one thing to be tempted, Escalus, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, christians ought to have. Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too. Escal. How know you that? Elb. My wife, sir, whom I detest before Heaven and your honour, Escal. How! thy wife? Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank Heaven, is an honest woman, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore? Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Escal. How dost thou know that, constable? Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in Griltier than him they try: What's open made to fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? T is very pregnant, For I have had such faults; but rather tell me Where is the provost ? See that Claudio Be executed by nine to-morrow morning : Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c. away. Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? El. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's Constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon Justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good hoour two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors? Ebb. If it please your honcur, I know not well what The Provost is nere a kind of sheriff--a keeper of prisoners. 19 fear-to affright. 瘫 Fall. The verb is here nsen actively. We still say to fall tree, and probably Shakspere had this image in his mind. Our blood may mean, our nature-the nature of man. 'Pon-condemn, adjudicate. & For-because. Escal. By the woman's means? Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Overdone's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so. Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it. [TO ANG. Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stewed prunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes. Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, sir. Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right but, to the point: As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said. master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again. Froth. No, indeed. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remembered, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes. Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remembered, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. leave: And, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He, |