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shame. Think of me as you please. I leave my duty a little unthought of, and speak out of my inThe madly-used Malvolio.

jury.

Oli. Did he write this?

Clo. Ay, madam.

Duke. This savours not much of distraction. Oli. See him delivered, Fabian; bring him hither. [Exit FABIAN. My lord, so please you, these things further thought on,

To think me as well a sister as a wife,

One day shall crown the alliance on't, so please

you,

Here at my house, and at my proper cost.

Duke. Madam, I am most apt to embrace your

offer.

Your master quits you [To VIOLA]; and, for your service done him,

So much against the mettle of your sex,
So far beneath your soft and tender breeding,
And since you call'd me master for so long,
Here is my hand; you shall from this time be
Your master's mistress.

Oli.

A sister?-you are she.

Re-enter FABIAN, with MALVOLIO.

Duke. Is this the madman?

Oli.

How now,

Malvolio?

Ay, my lord, this same :

Mal. Madam, you have done me wrong, Notorious wrong.

Oli.

Have I, Malvolio? no.

Mal. Lady, you have. 'Pray you, peruse that letter:

You must not now deny it is your hand,
Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase;
Or say 'tis not your seal, nor your invention:
You can say none of this: Well, grant it then,
And tell me, in the modesty of honour,
Why you have given me such clear lights of
favour;

Bade me come smiling, and cross-garter'd to

you,

To put on yellow stockings, and to frown
Upon Sir Toby, and the lighter people:
And, acting this in an obedient hope,

Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd, Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, And made the most notorious geck, and gull, That e'er invention play'd on? tell me why.

Oli. Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing, Though, I confess, much like the character: But, out of question, 'tis Maria's hand. And now I do bethink me, it was she

First told me, thou wast mad; then cam❜st in smiling,

And in such forms which here were presuppos'd Upon thee in the letter. 'Pr'ythee, be content: This practice hath most shrewdly pass'd upon thee;

But, when we know the grounds and authors of it,

Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge Of thine own cause.

Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, Taint the condition of this present hour, Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, Most freely I confess, myself, and Toby, Set this device against Malvolio here, Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts We had conceiv'd against him: Maria writ The letter, at Sir Toby's great importance; In recompense whereof, he hath married her. How with a sportful malice it was follow'd, May rather pluck on laughter than revenge; If that the injuries be justly weigh'd, That have on both sides past.

Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled thee!

Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interlude; one Sir Topas, sir; but that's all one :-By the Lord, fool, I am not mad. But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.

Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of [Exit. Oli. He hath been most notoriously abus'd.

you.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

VICENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

ANGELO, Lord Deputy in the Duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the Deputation.

CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.

LUCIO, a Fantastick.

Two other like Gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke,

Provost.

THOMAS, Two Friars.

PETER,

A Justice.

ELBOW, a simple Constable.

FROTH, a foolish Gentleman.

Clown, Servant to Mrs. Over-done.

ABHORSON, an Executioner.

BARNARDINE, a dissolute Prisoner.

ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.

JULIET, beloved by Claudio.

FRANCISCA, a Nun.

MISTRESS OVER-DONE, a Bawd.

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

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?
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.

Duke.

Enter ANGELO.

Look, where he comes.

Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure.

VOL. I.

T

Duke.

Angelo,

There is a kind of character 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, them 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, 'twere 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,

Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
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 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,

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