Appears, Act II. sc. 1. Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3.

ABHORSON, an executioner.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3.

BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 3. Act V. sc. 1.

ISABELLA, sister to Claudio.

Appears, Act I. sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1.

Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.
Appears, Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1.
JULIET, beloved of Claudio.
Appears, Act I. sc. 3. Act II. sc. 3. Act V. sc. 1.

FRANCISCA, a nun.

Appears, Act I. sc. 5.

MISTRESS OVERDONE, a bawd.
Appears, Act I. sc, 2. Act III. sc. 2.

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,-

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:
But that, to your sufficiency as your worth, is able;
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's institutions, and the terms d

For common justice, you are as pregnant in,
As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember: There is our commission,

From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo.-[Exit an Attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear?

a Put to know-equivalent to I cannot avoid knowing. b Lists-limits.

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 on government) But that, (your science) to your sufficiency, (joined to your authority) as your worth (as well as your virtue) is ables (equal to the duty) and let them work (call them into action).

Terms. Blackstone explains this to mean the' technical language of the courts.

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.

Duke.

Enter ANGELO.

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 a 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, 't were 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,

C

Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
To one that can my part in him advertise; ©
Hold,d therefore, Angelo:

a Character has here the original meaning of something engraved or inscribed; thy life is thy habits.

b 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 believe, addressed to Angelo; and used technically in the sense of to have and to hold. Hold. therefore, our power, 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

Be stamp'd upon it.

Duke.

No more evasion:

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.

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;
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 aves 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.
[Exit.
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. "T is so with me :-Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

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, in 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