MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Vincentio, duke of Vienna. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Angelo, lord deputy in the duke's absence. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. Abhorson, an executioner. Escalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. the deputation. Claudio, a young gentleman. Lucio, a fantastic. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. 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 at tendants. Scene, Vienna. 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 For common justice, you are as pregnant2 in, 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. Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Ang. 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, 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 As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; (5) For high purposes. king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. A French crown4 more. 1 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 Bawd. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. have it so: art thou sure of this? Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious to meet me two hours since; and he was ever prepirate, that went to sea with the ten command-cise in promise-keeping. ments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre? Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 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. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us.2 Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet.3 Do [ 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. 1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 Gent. Besides you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. sweat; what with the gallows, and what with Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. 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? Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. 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. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster sull. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exe. (4) Corona Veneris. Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. | Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found Lucio. I pray she may as well for the encourage- Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.—A monastery. Enter Duke and Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Fri. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word Is lechery so look'd after? (A man of stricture,10 and firm abstinence,) Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a true My absolute power and place here in Vienna, contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, And the new deputy now for the duke,— wall And he supposes me travell'd to Poland; Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Fri. Duke. I have on Angelo impos'd the office; (7) Completely armed. (8) Retired. To do it slander: and to behold his sway, Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? men, But in the presence of the prioress: [Exit Francisca. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! can you so stead me, Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks : Isab. Sir, make me not your story.2 This is the point. The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Lucio. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me As they themselves would owe them. But speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother10 Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you: Commend me to my brother soon at night It is true. I'll send him certain word of my success. Lucio. I take my leave of you. Isab. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking|| me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,3 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd: (1) On his defence. (2) Do not make a jest of me. (3) In few and true words. (4) Breeding plenty. (5) Tilling. (6) Extent. ACT II. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt. SCENE I.—A hall in Angelo's house. Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and attendants. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror. Power of gaining favour. (8) Sentenced. (9) Have. (10) Abbess. (11) Scare. |