PERSONS REPRESENTED.

VINCENTIO, 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 fantastic.

Two other like gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to the Duke.

Provost.

THOMAS,

PETER,

}

two friars.

ELBOW, a simple constable.

CLOWN, servant to Mrs. Overdone.

ABHORSON, an executioner.

BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner.

ISABELLA, sister to Claudio.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.

JULIET, beloved by Claudio.

FRANCISCA, a run.

Mistress OVErdone.

Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other

Attendants.

SCENE, Vienna.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

An Apartment in the Duke's Palace.

Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, and Lords.

Duke. Escalus.

Esc. My lord.

Duke. Of government, the properties to unfold, Would 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

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 cities, institutions, and the terms
For common justice, y'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:

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 deputations all the organs
Of our own power; What think you of it?
Esc. If any in Vienna be of worth

To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

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' observer, doth thy history Fully unfold:- Thyself, and thy belongings, Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues; they 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:

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.

Ang.

Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my mettle,

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 th' 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

With any scruple: your scope is as mine own,
So to enforce or qualify the laws

As to your soul seems good:- Give me your hand,

I'll privily away: I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause, and aves vehement:
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes.
Esc. Lead forth, and bring you back in happi-
[Exit.

ness!

Duke. I thank you. Fare you well.

Esc. 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.

Ang. 'Tis so with me: - Let us withdraw together.

And we may soon our satisfaction have
Touching that point.

Esc.

I'll wait upon your honour.

[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.

1st Gent. Heaven grant us its peace; but not the King of Hungary's!

2d Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2d Gent. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

1st 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. 2d Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. But see, where Madam Mitigation comes.

Enter Mrs. Overdone.

Overdone. There's one yonder, arrested and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1st Gent. Who's that, I pray thee?