MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Dramatis Perfonæ.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

Angelo, Lord-deputy in the Duke's abfence.

Escalus, an ancient Lord, joint Deputy with Angelo.
Claudio, a young Gentleman.

Lucio, a Fantaftick.

Two Gentlemen.

Varrius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke.
Provoft.

Ifabella, Sifter to Claudio.

Mariana, betrothed to Angelo.

Juliet, beloved of Claudio.

Francifca, a Nun.

Miftrefs Over-don, a Bawd.

Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE Vienna.

The Story is taken from Cinthio's Novels. Dec. 8. Nov. 5.

MEA

MEASURE for MEASURE.

E

ACT. I. SCENE I.

Scalus!

A PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

Escal. My lord.

DUKE.

Duke. Of Government the properties t' unfold
Would seem in me t' affect speech and difcourfe;
Since I am not to know, that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lifts of all advice

My strength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your fufficiency you joyn

A will to serve us as your worth is able,

And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's inftitutions, and the terms
Of common juftice, y'are as pregnant in,
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commiffion,
From which we would not have you warp.

I fay, bid come before us Angelo:
What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special foul
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

Lent him our terror, dreft him with our love;
And giv'n his deputation all the organs

Call hither,

;

[To the Attendants.

Of

Of our own power: fay, what think you of it?
Efcal. If any in Vienna be of worth

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

SCENE II.

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' obferver, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thy felf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thy felf upon thy virtues, them on thee:
Heav'n 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 as if

We had them not.

Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine iffues; nature never lends

The smallest scruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, fhe determines

Her felf the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks, and ufe. But I do bend my speech

To one that can in my part me advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo:

In our remove, be thou at full our self.

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

[Giving him his commission.

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,

Before fo noble and fo great a figure

Be stampt upon it.

Duke.

Duke. Come, no more evasion:
We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers it self, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We fhall write,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes with us, and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of our commiffion.

Ang. Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
Duke. My hafte may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any scruple; your scope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualifie the law,

As to your foul seems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people,
But do not like to ftage me to their eyes:
Though it do well, I do not relish well
Their loud applause, and Ave's vehement :
Nor do I think the man of fafe difcretion
That does affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.

Escal. I fhall defire you, Sir, to give me leave

To have free fpeech with you; and it concerns me
To look into the bottom of my place:

A pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature

I am not yet inftructed.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together, And we may foon our fatisfaction have

[Exit.

[Exeunt. SCENE

PP