HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY FROM

THE BEQUEST OF

EVERT JANSEN WENDELL

1918

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

VOL. II.

B

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 king.

Provost.

Thomas,
Peter,
A Justice.

? two friars.

Elbow, a simple constable.
Froth, a foolish gentleman.

Clown, servant to Mistress Over-done.

Abhorson, an executioner.
Bernardine, 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.

* Bounds.

+ Full of.

Enter Angelo.

Duke.

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 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 advértise ;
Hold therefore, Angelo ;

In our remove, be thou at full ourself;
Mortality and merey 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.

Endowments.
For high purposes.

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 impórtune,

+ So much thy own property.
§ Interest.

1