MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Vincentio, duke of Vienna. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. Abhorson, an executioner. Angelo, lord deputy in the duke's absence. Escalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in Bernardine, a dissolute prisoner. the deputation. Claudio, a young gentleman. Lucio, a fantastic. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. Thomas, A Justice. two friars. Elbow, a simple constable. Froth, a foolish gentleman. 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, For common justice, you are as pregnant in, 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? For you must know, we have with special soul Elected him our absence to supply; Lent him our terror, drest 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. Isabella, sister to Claudio. Mistress Over-done, a bawd. Lords, gentlemen, guards, officers, and other attendants. Scene, Vienna. Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Ang. No more evasion: Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it; or 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; Nor do I think the man of safe discretion, ness. 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. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have I'll wait upon your honour. 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, '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 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 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. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy, but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter Bawd. 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! '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. 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 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good be pluck'd down. velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: Bawd. And what shall become of those in the I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be city? 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? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Measure. (2) A cut of the same cloth. disease.! Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. 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? let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exe, Corona Veneris. (3) Then eating sickness. SCENE III.-The same.-Enter Provost,' Clau- Cland. I have done so, but he's not to be found. dio, Juliet, and Officers; Lucio, and two Gen-I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter, tlemen. And there receive her approbation: Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to Acquaint her with the danger of my state; the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. But from lord Angelo by special charge. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: 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? Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. with you. Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends Such as moves men; besides, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse. 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. Lucio. Within two hours,Claud. Come, officer, away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.A monastery. Enter Duke and Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you Claud. One word, good friend-Lucio, a word How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, [Takes him aside. Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.' Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good.-have delivered to lord Angelo Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; Of outward order: this we came not to, He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: So long, that nineteen zodiacs3 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. (1) Gaoler. A man of stricture,10 and firm abstinence,) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Fri. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: |