upon her. 235 261 Caius. Ay, by gar, and 'tis a boy: by gar, I'll A thousand irreligious cursed hours, raise all Windsor. [Exit. Which forced marriage would have brought Ford. This is strange. Who hath got the right Anne? Ford. Stand not amaz'd: here is no remedy: Page. My heart misgives me: here comes In love the heavens themselves do guide the Master Fenton. state: 257 Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate. Fal. I am glad, though you have ta en a Enter FENTON and ANNE PAGE. special stand to strike at me, that your arrow How now, Master Fenton! hath glanced. Anne. Pardon, good father! good my mother, Page. Well, what remedy?-Fenton, heaven pardon! 240 give thee joy! Page. Now, mistress, how chance you went What cannot be eschew'd must be embrac'd. Dot with Master Slender? Fal. When night dogs run all sorts of deer Mrs. Page. Why went you not with Master are chas'd. 264 Doctor, maid? 244 Mrs. Page. Well, I will muse no further. Fent. You do amaze her: hear the truth of it. Master Fenton, You would have married her most shamefully, Heaven give you many, many merry days! Where there was no proportion held in love. Good husband, let us every one go home, The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, 248 And laugh this sport o'er by a country fire; 268 Are now so sure that nothing can dissolve us. Sir John and all. The offence is holy that she hath committed, Ford. Let it be so. Sir John, And this deceit loses the name of craft, To Master Brook you yet shall hold your word; Of disobedience, or unduteous title, 252 For be to-night shall lie with Mistress Ford. 272 Since therein she doth evitate and shun [Exeunt. MEASURE FOR MEASURE DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. VINCENTIO, the Duke. ELBOW, a simple Constable. ABHORSON, an Executioner. BARNARDINE, a dissolute Prisoner. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. PROVOST. JULIET, beloved of Claudio. THOMAS, FRANCISCA, a Nun. two Friars. PETER, MISTRESS OVERDONE, a Bawd. A Justice. Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants. SCENE.-Vienna. } 28 ACT I. Enter ANGELO. Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will, SCENE I.–An Apartment in the DUKE'S I come to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. There is a kind of character in thy life, Duke. Escalus. That, to th’ observer doth thy bistory Escal. My lord? Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings Duke. Of government the prope: ties to un. Are not thine own so proper, as to waste fold, Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse, Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, 32 Since I am put to know that your own science 5 Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice Did not so forth of us, 'twere all alike My strength can give you: then no more remains, As we had them not. Spirits are not finely But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, touch'd And let them work. The nature of our people, 9 But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends 36 Our city's institutions, and the terms The smallest scruple of her excellence, For common justice, you're as pregnant in, But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines As art and practice hath enriched any 12 Herself the glory of a creditor, That we remember. There is our commission, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech [Giving it. To one that can my part in him advertise; From which we would not have you warp. Call Hold, therefore, Angelo: hither, [Tendering his commission. I say, bid come before us Angelo. In our remove be thou at full ourself; (Exit an Attendant. Mortality and mercy in Vienna 44 What figure of us think you he will bear? 16 Live in thy tongue and heart. Old Escalus, For you must know, we have with special soul Though first in question, is thy secondary. Elected him our absence to supply, Take thy commission. [Giving it. Lent him our terror, drest him with our love, Ang. Now, good my lord, And given his deputation all the organs 20 Let there be some more test made of my metal, Of our own power: what think you of it? Befcro so noble and so great a figure 49 Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth Be stamp'd upon it. To undergo such ample grace and honour, Drike. No more evasion: It is Lord Angelo. We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice Duke. Look where he comes. 24 Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours. 41 21 26 32 а 37 Our haste from hence is of so quick condition 53 Second Gent. I never heard any soldier dis- Second Gent. No? a dozen times at least. Lucio. In any proportion or in any language. Of your commissions. First Gent. I think, or in any religion. 25 Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, 60 Lucio. Ay; why not? Grace is grace, despite That we may bring you something on the way of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself Duke. My haste may not admit it; art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. For need you, on mine honour, have to do First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of With any scruple: your scope is as mine own, 64 shears between us. So to enforce or qualify the laws Lucio. I grant; as there may between the As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; lists and the velvet: thou art the list. I'll privily away: I love the people, First Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art But do not like to stage me to their eyes. 68 good velvet; thou art a three-piled piece, I warThough it do well, I do not relish well rant thee. I had as lief be a list of an English Their loud applause and Aves vehement, kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French Hor do I think the man of safe discretion velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. 72 Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes! most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out Escal. Lead forth and bring you back in of thine own confession, learn to begin thy happiness! health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after Duke. I thank you. Fare you well. [Exit. thee. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, To have free speech with you; and it concerns me have I not? 44 To look into the bottom of my place: Second Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether A power I have, but of what strength and nature thou art tainted or free. iam not yet instructed. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Miti. Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw to gation comes! I have purchased as many diseases gether, under her roof as come to 49 And we may soon our satisfaction have Second Gent. To what, I pray? Touching that point. Lucio. Judge. Escai. I'll wait upon your honour. Second Gent. To three thousand dolours a [Exeunt. year. 53 First Gent. Ay, and more. SCENE II.-A Street. Lucio. A French crown more. First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. in me; but thou art full of error: I am sound. 57 Lucio. If the Duke with the other dukes come Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; not to composition with the King of Hungary, but so sound as things that are hollow: thy why then, all the dukes fall upon the king. bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but thee. sot the King of Hungary's! Second Gent. Amen. Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimo- First Gent. How now! which of your hips rious pirate, that went to sea with Ten Com has the most profound sciatica? mandments, but scraped one out of the table. Mrs. Ov. Well, well; there's one yonder ar Second Gent. 'Thou shalt not steal?' 10 rested and carried to prison was worth five Lucio. Ay, that he razed. thousand of you all. 66 First Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to Second Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? command the captain and all the rest from their Mrs. Ov. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior functions: they put forth to steal. There's not Claudio. 2 soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving be- First Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. 70 fore meat, doth relish the petition well that Mrs. Ov. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him prays for peace. 17 arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is 80 61 5 128 144 more, within these three days his head to be Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers. chopped off. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not to the world? have it so. Art thou sure of this? 76 Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Mrs. Ov. I am too sure of it; and it is for Prov. I do it not in evil disposition, getting Madam Julietta with child. But from Lord Angelo by special charge. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised Claud. Thus can the demi-god Authority to meet me two hours since, and he was ever Make us pay down for our offence' by weight. precise in promise-keeping. 81 The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; Second Gent. Besides, you know, it draws on whom it will not, so: yet still ’tis just. 132 something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 84 Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen, First Gent. But most of all, agreeing with Lucio. Why, how now, Claudiol whence comes the proclamation. this restraint? Lucio. Away! let's go learn the truth of it. Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. liberty: Mrs. Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with As surfeit is the father of much fast, the sweat, what with the gallows and what with So every scope by the immoderate use 136 poverty, I am custom-shrunk. Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue- A thirsty evil, and when we drink we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an How now! what's the news with you? arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors. Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison. 92 And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the Mrs. Ov. Well: what has he done? foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonPom. A woman. ment. What's thy offence, Claudio? Mrs. Ov. But what's his offence? Claud. What but to speak of would offend Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. again. Mrs. Ov. What, is there a maid with child by Lucio. What, is't murder? him? Claud. No. 148 Pom. No; but there's a woman with maid Lucio. Lechery? by him. You have not heard of the proclama- Claud. Call it so. tion, have you? Prov. Away, sir! you must go. Mrs. Ov. What proclamation, man? Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word Pom. All houses of resort in the suburbs (Takes him aside. of Vienna must be plucked down. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Mrs. Ov. And what shall become of those in Is lechery so looked after? the city? Claud. Thus stands it with me: upon a true Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had contract gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in I got possession of Julietta's bed: 156 for them. 109 You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Mrs. Ov. But shall all our houses of resort in Save that we do the denunciation lack the suburbs be pulled down? Of outward order: this we came not to, Pom. To the ground, mistress. 112 Only for propagation of a dower Mrs. Ov. Why, here's a change indeed in the Remaining in the coffer of her friends, commonwealth! What shall become of me? From whom we thought it meet to hide our Pom. Come; fear not you: good counsellors love lack no clients: though you change your place, Till time had made them for us. But it chances you need not change your trade; I'll be your The stealth of our most mutual entertainment tapster still. Couragel there will be pity taken with character too gross is writ on Juliet. 165 on you; you that have worn your eyes almost Lucio. With child, perhaps? out in the service, you will be considered. Claud. Unhappily, even so. Mrs. Ov. What's to do here, Thomas tapster? And the new deputy now for the duke,Let's withdraw. Whether it be the fault and glimpse of new. Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the ness, provost to prison; and there's Madam Juliet. Or whether that the body public be [Exeunt. | A horse whereon the governor doth ride, with you. 104 160 120 168 12 16 180 20 25 28 Vho, newly in the seat, that it may know A man of stricture and firm abstinence- For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, I stagger in:—but this new governor And so it is receiv'd. Now, pious sir, Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting steeds, Freshly on me: 'tis surely for a name. Which for this fourteen years we have let sleep; Lacio. I warrant it is: and thy head stands Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, to tickle on thy shoulders that a milkmaid, if That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers, she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, dake and appeal to him. 185 Only to stick it in their children's sight Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be For terror, not to use, in time the rod found. Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our deI prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service. crees, This day my sister should the cloister enter, 188 Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead, And there receive her approbation: And liberty plucks justice by the nose; Acquaint her with the danger of my state; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends Goes all decorum. To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him: 192 Fri. T. It rested in your Grace I have great hope in that; for in her youth Tunloose this tied-up justice when you pleas'd; There is a prone and speechless dialect, And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous Than in Lord Angelo. art Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: When she will play with reason and discourse, Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, 35 And well she can persuade. 197 'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them Lacio. I pray she may: as well for the en. For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, couragement of the like, which else would stand When evil deeds have their permissive pass under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, o thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus my father, foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. I have on Angelo impos’d the office, Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike Lucio. Within two hours. home, Ciaud. Come, officer, away! And yet my nature never in the sight I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee, Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS. Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Duke. No, holy father; throw away that How I may formally in person bear me thought: Like a true friar. Moe reasons for this action Believe not that the dribbling dart of love At our more leisure shall I render you; Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise; To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose 4 Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends That his blood flows, or that his appetite Of burning youth. Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, Fri. T. May your Grace speak of it? If power change purpose, what our seemers be. Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than [Exeunt. you Hoe I have ever lov'd the life remov'd, SCENE IV.- A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. i have deliver'd to Lord Angelo Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? 40 44 49 52 8 |