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DRAMATIS PERSONA.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.
ANGELO, Lord-deputy in the Duke's abfence.
ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joint Deputy with Angelo.
CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.

Lucio, a Fantaftick.

Two Gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke,

PROVOST.

THOMAS,

PETER,

two Friars.

ELBOW, a fimple Conftable.

FROTH, a foolish Gentleman.

CLOWN, Servant to Mrs. Over-don.

ABHORSON, an Executioner.

BARNARDINE, a diffolute Prifoner.

ISABELLA, Sifter to Claudio.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.

JULIET, beloved of Claudio.
FRANCISCA, a Nun.

Miftrefs OVER-DON, a Bawd.

Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE Vienna.

The Story is taken from Cinthio's Novels. Dec. 8. Nov. 5.

Measure

Measure for Measure.

Duke.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

E

Scalus!

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t' unfold

Would seem in me t' affect speech and dif-
course;

Since I am not to know, that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lifts of all advice

My ftrength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your fufficiency you join

A will to serve us as your worth is able,

And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's inftitutions, and the terms
Of common justice, y'are as pregnant in,
As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commiffion,

From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,

I fay, bid come before us Angelo :

[To the Attendants.

What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special foul
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

Lent him our terror, dreft him with our love;
And giv'n his deputation all the organs

Of our own power: fay, what think you of it?
Efcal. If any in Vienna be of worth

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To undergo fuch ample grace and honour,

It is lord Angelo.

SCENE II. 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 th' obferver, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to wafte
Thy felf upon thy virtues, them on thee:
Heav'n 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 as if

We had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine iffues; nature never lends
The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, the determines
Herfelf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks, and ufe. But I do bend my fpeech
To one that can in my part me advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo.

[Giving him bis commission.

In our remove, be thou at full our felf.

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,
Before fo noble and fo great a figure

Be flampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evasion:

We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers it felf, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,"
How it goes with us, and do look to know

What

What doth befal you here. So fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of our commiffion.

Ang. Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
Duke. My hafte may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple; your fcope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualifie the law,

As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to ftage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applaufe, and Ave's vehement :
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.

Efcal. I fhall defire 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 pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature
I am not yet inftructed.

[Exit.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together, And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

Efcal. I'll wait upon your honour.

SCENE III. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

[Exeunt.

Lucio. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to compofition with the King of Hungary, why then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen!

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious pyrate, that went to fea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fteal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to fteal: there's not a foldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving after meat doth relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for I think thou never waft where grace was said.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

I Gent. What? in meeter?

Lucio. Not in any profeffion, or in any language, I think, or in any religion.

2 Gent. And why not? grace is grace, despight of all controverfie.

Lucio. As for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

.us.

2 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

2 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou doft; and indeed with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

2 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? I Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

SCENE IV. Bawd, coming at a distance. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes, 1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof,

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