MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

ACT I.
SCENE I.–An Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords, and Attendants.
D zike. Escalus,-
Escal. My lord ?

D zike. Of government the properties to unfold, W ould seem in me t' affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice M y 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 ’re as pregnant in As art and practice hath enriched any hat we remember. There is our commission, [Giving it. rom which we would not have you warp.-Call hither, say, bid come before us Angelo.- [Exit an Attendant. nat figure of us think you he will bear? or, you must know, we have with special soul lected him our absence to supply; ent him our terror, drest him with our love,

d given his deputation all the organs
our own power. What think you of it?

scal. If any in Vienna be of worth
undergo such ample grace and honour,

Of our own

To undergo s
It is Lord Angelo.

Ducke.

Look where he comes.

Enter ANGELO.
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’ 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 :

[Tendering his commission.
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.

[Gives it. 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

W ith any scruple : your scope is as mine own,
S o to enforce or qualify the laws
As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand :

I 'll privily away. I love the people,
B ut do not like to stage me to their eyes :
Though it do well, I do not relish well

Their loud applause and aves vehement;
N or do I think the man of safe discretion,

That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
A zzg. The heavens give safety to your purposes !
ESCezl. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness!
D zekee. I thank you. Fare you well.
E m al. 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.
An3. Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

A nd we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point. Escal.

I'll wait upon your honour.

[Exit.

[Exeunt.

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.

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 sed with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

2 Gent. “Thou shalt not steal ?” Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

rent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and me rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There's not

oldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace.

Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it.

ucio, I believe thee ; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

Gent. No? a dozen times at least.
Gent. What, in metre?
bero. In any proportion, or in any language.

i 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.

i Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet : thou art the list.

I Gent. And thou the velvet : thou art good velvet ; thou art a three-piled piece, I warrant thee. I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, 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.

i 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?
Lucio. Judge.
2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a-year.
i Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more.

i 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 Mistress OVERDONE. i Gent. How now! Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

Mrs Ov. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

2 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee?
Mrs Ov. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio.
i Gent. Claudio to prison ! 'tis not so.

Mrs Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head is to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this ?

Mrs Ov. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.

Czecio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.

2 G ent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech re ha d to such a purpose.

G ent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Czecio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

[Excunt Lucio and Gentlemen. I s Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.

Enter Clown.
How now! what's the news with you ?
Clo, Yonder man is carried to prison.
Mrs Ov. Well; what has he done?
Clo. A woman.
M rs Ov. But what's his offence ?

Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
N rs Ov. 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? M rs Ov. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down. 11rs Ov. 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.

N rs Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

Clo. To the ground, mistress.

Mrs Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth ! What shall become of me?

Clo. Come ; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients : mough 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

have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be

considered.

Mrs Ov. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster ? Let's withdraw.

slo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison ; and there's madam Juliet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.— The Same.

Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers. laud. Fellow, why dost thou shew me thus to the world ? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.