come again. I go, sir; but I would not have] you to think, that my desire of having is the sin of covetousness; but, as you say, sir, let your bounty take a nap, I will wake it anon. [Erit Clown. Enter Antonio and Officers. me. Duke. That face of his I do remember well; Oli. Still so constant, lord. you uncivil To whose ingrate and unauspicious altars That e'er devotion tender'd! What shall I do 7 Duke. Why should I not, had I the heart to Like to the Egyptian thief, at point of death, That sometimes savours nobly 7-But hear me Cry'd fame and honour on him.-What's the Since you to non-regardance cast my faith, matter? 1 Of. Orsino, this is that Antonio That took the Phoenix and her fraught, from And this is he that did the Tiger board, Duke. Notable pirate thou salt-water thief! What foolish boldness brought thee to their mercies, Whom thou, in terms so bloody, and so dear, Ant. Orsino, noble sir, Be pleas'd that I shake off these naines you give me; Antonio never yet was thief, or pirate, purse, Which I had recommended to his use Ant. To-day, my lord; and for three months (No interim, not a minute's vacancy,) Both day and night did we keep company. Enter Olivia and Attendants. Duke. Here comes the countess; now heaven walks on earth. But for thee, fellow, fellow, thy words are Three months this youth hath tended upon me; Wherein Olivia may seem serviceable?- Duke. Gracious Olivia, Oli. What do you say, Cesario 7Good my Vio. My lord would speak, my duty hushes me. And that I partly know the instrument That screws me from my true place in your favour, Live you, the marble-breasted tyrant, still: I'll sacrifice the lamb that I do love, [Following. After him I love, Oli. Where goes Cesario? Oli. Hast thou forgot thyself ? Is it so long?- stay. Duke. Husband? Oli. Ay, husband; Can he that deny ? Re-enter Attendant and Priest. Hold little faith, though thou hast too much So went he suited to his watery tomb: Enter Sir Andrew Ague-cheek, with his head broke. Sir And. For the love of God, a surgeon; send one presently to Sir Toby. Oli. What's the matter? Sir And. He has broke my head across, and has given Sir Toby a bloody coxcomb too: for the love of God, your help: I had rather than forty pound, I were at home. Ol. Who has done this, Sir Andrew? Sir And. The count's gentleman, one Cesario: we took him for a coward, but he's the very devil incardinate. Duke. My gentleman, Cesario? Sir And. Od's lifelings, here he is -You broke my head for nothing: and that that I did, I was set on to do't by Sir Toby. Vio. Why do you speak to me? I never hurt you: You drew your sword upon me, without cause: But I bespake you fair, and hurt you not. Sir And. If a bloody coxcomb be a hurt, you have hurt me: I think you set nothing by bloody coxcomb. a Enter Sir Toby Belch, drunk, led by the Clown. Here comes Sir Toby halting, you shall hear more: but if he had not been in drink, he would have tickled you othergates than he did. Duke. How now, gentleman ? how is't with you ? Sir To. That's all one; he has hurt me, and there's the end on't.-Sot, didst see Dick surgeon, sot ? Clo. O, he's drunk, Sir Toby, an hour agone: his eyes were set at eight i' the morning. Sir To. Then he's a rogue, and a passy-meaBures pavin; I hate a drunken rogue. Oli. Away with him: Who hath made this havock with them? Sir And. I'll help you, Sir Toby, because we'll be dressed together. Sir To. Will you help 7-An ass-head, and a coxcomb, and a knave? a thin-faced knave, a gull ? Oli. Get him to bed, and let his hurt be look'd to. [Exeunt Clown, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. But, had it been the brother of my blood, Seb. A spirit I am, indeed; Which from the womb I did participate. But am in that dimension grossly clad, Were you a woman, as the rest goes even, should my tears let fall upon your cheek, And say-Thrice welcome, drowned Viola! Vio. My father had a mole upon his brow. Seb. And so had mine. I Vio. And died that day when Viola from her birth Had number'd thirteen years. Seb. O, that record is fively in my soul! He finished, indeed, his mortal act, Vio. If nothing lets to make us happy both, That day that made my sister thirteen years. But this my masculine usurp'd attire, Of place, time, fortune, do cohere, and jump, Do not embrace me, till each circumstance That I am Viola: which to confirm, I'll bring you to a captain in this town, Where lie my maiden weeds; by whose gentle I was preserv'd, to serve this noble count: help All the occurrence of my fortune since Hath been between this lady, and this lord. Seb. So comes it, lady, you have been mistook : But nature to her bias drew in that. [To Olivia. You would have been contracted to a maid; Nor are you therein, by my life, deceived, You are betroth'd both to a maid and man. Duke. Be not amaz'd: right noble is his blood.If this be so, as yet the glass seems true, shall have share in this most happy wreck: Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times, 1 [To Viola. Thou never should'st love woman like to me. Duke. Give me thy hand; And let me see thee in thy woman's weeds. Vio. The captain, that did bring me first on shore, Hath my maid's garments: he, upon some action, Is now in durance, at Malvolio's suit, And yet, alas, now I remember me, They say, poor gentleman, he's much distract. Re-enter Clown, with a letter. Duke. One face, one voice, one habit, and two A most extracting frenzy of mine own persons; A natural perspective, that is, and is not. How have the hours rack'd and tortur'd me, From my remembrance clearly banish'd his.How does he, sirrah? Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may do: he has here writ a letter to you. 1 should have given it you to-day morning; but as a ? madman's epistles are no gospels, so it skills Ant. How have you made division of your-not much when they are delivered." self 7 Ant. Sebastian are you? Seb. Fear'st thou that, Antonio Oli. Open it, and read it. Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman:-By the lord, madam Oli. How now! art thou mad? Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow vox. Oli. 'Pr'ythee, readi' thy right wits. Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus: therefore perpend, iny princess, and give ear. Oli. Read it you, sirrah. [To Fabian. Fab. [Reads. By the Lord, madam, you wrong me, and the world shall know it: though Thou shalt be both the plaintiff and the judge you have put me into darkness, and given your Of thine own cause. drunken cousin rule over me, yet have I the be- Fab. Good madam, hear me speak; nefit of my senses as well as your ladyship. I And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, have your own letter that induced me to the "Taint the condition of this present hour, semblance I put on; with the which I doubt not Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, but to do myself much right, or you much Most freely I confess, myself, and Toby, shame. Think of me as you please. I leave my Set this device against Malvolio here, duty a little unthought of, and speak out of my Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts injury. The madly-used Malvolio. We had conceiv'd against him: Maria writ The letter, at Sir Toby's great importance; In recompense whereof, he hath married her. How with a sportful malice it was follow'd, May rather pluck on laughter than revenge: If that the injuries be justly weigh'd, That have on both sides past. Öli. Did he write this ? Clo. Ay, madam. Duke. This savours not much of distraction. Oli. See him delivered, Fabian; bring him hither. [Exit Fabian. My lord, so please you, these things further thought on, To think me as well a sister as a wife, One day shall crown the alliance on't, so please Here at my house, and at my proper cost. offer. Your master quits you [To Viola;] and, for So much against the mettle of your sex, A sister 7-you are she. Oli. Ay, my lord, this same: Have I, Malvolio ? no. Mal. Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter: You must not now deny it is your hand. Bade me come smiling, and cross-gartered to you, To put on yellow stockings, and to frown And n such forms which here were presuppos'd hee; Bu when we know the grounds and authors! of it, Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled thee !' Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interlude: one Sir Topas, sir; but that's all one--By the Lord, fool, I am not mad.-But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges. Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of [Exit. you. Oli. He hath been most notoriously abus'd. He hath not told us of the captain yet; Clo. SONG. [Exeunt When that I was and a little tiny boy, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, A foolish thing was but a toy, For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came to man's estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, 'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate, For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came, alas! to wive, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, By swaggering could I never thrive, For the rain it raineth every day.' But when I came unto my bed, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, A great while ago the world began, MEASURE FOR MEASURE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. VICENTIO, Duke of Vienna. Two other like Gentlemen. |FROTH, a foolish Gentleman. VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke. FRANCISCA, a Nun. PROVOST. THOMAS, Two Friars. PETER, ELBOW, a simple Constable. ACT I. A Justice. MISTRESS OVER-DONE, a Bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE-Vienna. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. 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 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. Duke. Enter Angelo. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Angelo, Duke. There is a kind of character in thy life, That, to the observer doth thy history Fully unfold: Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, them 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 Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Ang. 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 the hopeful execution do I leave you Of your commissions. Ang. As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; Duke. I thank you: Fare you well. [Exit. Escal. 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. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Street. 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. No7 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 shears 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, 1 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 teeling 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 discases 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. 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. 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. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, 1 would not have it so: Art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. 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. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now ? what's the news with you? 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 th 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 you tapster still. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers; Lucio, and two Gentlemen. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. As surfeit is the father of much fast, Lucio. What is it? murder 7 Prov. Away, sir; you must go. I Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a trus contract, got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack Of outward order: this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. Lucio. With child, perhaps? Claud. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,- |