MEASURE FOR MEASURE. VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs Over-done. ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in | ABHORSON, an executioner. the deputation. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. LUCIO, a fantastick. Two other like gentlemen. VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost, THOMAS, s, } PETER, two friars. A Justice. ELBOW, a simple constable. BERNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. Mistress OVER-DONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE,-Vienna. ACT I. SCENE I.-An apartment in the Duke's palace. 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 re mains 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 For common justice, you are as pregnant in, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth Enter ANGELO. ook, where he comes. ways obedient to your grace's will, There is a kind of character in thy life, As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine issues: nor nature never lends Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus, Take thy commission. Ang. Now, good my lord, 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, 'twas 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 be Let there be some more test made of my metal, fore meat, doth relish the petition well, that 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 Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, 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: 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 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 controversy: As for example; Thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us. 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 art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersøy, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, 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. 1 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 roof, as come to 2 Gent. To what, I pray? Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. 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. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has Let's withdraw. the most profound sciatica? Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrest-provost to prison; and there's madam Juliet. ed, and carried to prison, was worth five thou sand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? SCENE III-The same. [Exeunt. Bawd. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers; Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis 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? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam 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 proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn, the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. Well; what has he done? Clo. A woman. 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 is 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 pluck'd down. Bawd. 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. LUCIO, and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. 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 'tis 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, 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. Lucio. What is it? murder? Claud. No. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [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 contráct I got possession of Julietta's bed; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, And the new deputy now for the duke,— A horse, whereon the governor doth ride, the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacks have gone round, Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, 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. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: ous art, Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; crees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; Fri. It rested in your grace Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, "Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; And yet my nature never in the sight, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me SCENE V.-A nunnery. [Exeunt. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin As with a saint. Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: Isab. Some one with child by him?-My cousin Juliet ? Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain, though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. Isab. O, let him marry her! The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Assay the power you have. And make us lose the good we oft might win, kneel, |