MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Persons represented. VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. LUCIO, a fantastic. Two other like gentlemen. ELBOW, a simple constable. VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to the duke. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. PROVOST. THOMAS, two friars. PETER, MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. MISTRESS OVER-DONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. Scene, Vienna. ACT I. able, And let them work. The nature of our people, I bid come before us Angelo.- Duke. Enter ANGElo. ་ Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. That, to the observer, doth thy history Mortality and mercy in Vienna Though first in question, is thy secondary: Duke, anat No more evasion: 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 honor, 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, Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness. 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 con 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thon 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? Luc. 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-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English ker sey, as be piled, as thou art piled, 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 to2 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. Enter Bawd. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. arrested; saw him carried away; and which Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so; I saw him is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. have it so: Art thou sure of this? Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not 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? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by 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 the 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 your 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. Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, (Like rats that rayin down their proper bane,) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of, would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder? Save that we do the denunciation lack And the new deputy now for the duke,- So long, that nineteen zodiacs have goneround, Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I prithee, Lucio, da me this kind service: When she will play with reason and discourse, Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of ticktack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Claud. Come, officer, away. [Exeunt. Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you, How I have ever loved the life removed; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. I have deliver'd to lord Angelo (A man of stricture and firm abstinence) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Which, for these fourteen years, we have let sleep; Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; Friar. It rested in your grace, To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleased; And it in you more dreadful would have seem❜d, Than in lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, "Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo imposed the office; And yet my nature never in the sight, I Supply me with the habit, and instruct me SCENE V. A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab.Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint. Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within.] Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress; Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embraced : Lucio. Is she your cousin? Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection. Lucio. She it is. Isab. O, let him marry her! Lucio. This is the point. The duke is very strangely gone from hence; Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn | Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath By those that know the very nerves of state, A warrant for his execution. Which have, for long, run by the hideous kneel, As mice by lions,) hath pick'd out an act, Our doubts are traitors, All their petitions are as freely theirs, Isab. I will about it straight; Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt. SCENE I. A Hall in Angelo's House. Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Ay, but yet Whom I would save, had a most noble father. Let but your honor know, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time cohered with place, or place with wishing, Or that the resolute acting of your blood Could have attain'd the effect of your own purpose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him, And pull'd the law upon you. Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, May, in the sworn twelve, have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to justice, That justice seizes. What know the laws, That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very give us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none; And some condemned for a fault alone. Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, &c. Elb. Come, bring them away if these be good people in a common-weal, that do nothing but use their abuses in common honses, I know no law; bring them away. Ang. How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter? Elb. If it please your honor, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honor two notorious benefactors. Ang. Benefactors! Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors? Elb. If it please your honor, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good christians ought to have. Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer. |