DRAMATIS PERSONE.

VINCENTIO, the Duke.

ANGELO, Deputy.

ESCALUS, an ancient Lord.
CLAUDIO, a young gentleman.
LUCIO, a fantastic.

Two other gentlemen.

The Provost.

THOMAS & PETER, two friars.

A Justice.

VARRIUS.

ELBOW, a simple constable.

FROTH, a foolish gentleman.

POMPEY, servant to Mistress Overdone.

ABHORSON, an executioner.

BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner.

ISABELLA, sister to Claudio.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.

JULIET, beloved of Claudio.

FRANCISCA, a nun.

MISTRESS OVERDONE, a bawd.

Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants.

SCENE: Vienna.

THE VALE SHAKESPEARE.

M.D.CCCCII.

VP

HACON &
RICKETTS.

R

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE.

SCENE I. An apartment in the Duke's

ACT palace. Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords

I.

and Attendants.

ESCALUS.

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,

But that to your sufficiency

as your worth is able,

And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's institutions, and the terms

For common justice, you 're 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, (Exitan Attendant.) What figure of us think you he will bear?

I say, bid come before us Angelo.

For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply;

Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: what think you of it?
ESCALUS.

If any in Vienna be of worth

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

DUKE.

ANGELO.

Look where he comes.
Enter Angelo.)

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