MEASURE FOR MEASURE ACT I. SCENE 1-An apartment in the Duke's palace. Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, My strength can give you: Then no more remains For common justice, you are as pregnant in, As art and practise 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.- [Exit an Attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear? For you must know, we have with special soul Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; To undergo such ample grace and honour, 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, As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, The smallest scruple of her excellence, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise; 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 metal, Be stamp'd upon it. Duke. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do With any scruple: your scope is as mine own; As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes ! [Exit, Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave A power I have; but of what strength and nature Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II-A street. [Exeunt. 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. 1 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 sea with the ten commandments, 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. 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. 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. 1 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? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a-year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me ; but thou art full of error; I am sound. |