VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the deputation. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. LUCIO, a fantastick. Two other like Gentlemen. VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to the duke. ELBOW, a simple constable. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. JULIET, beloved by Claudio. FRANCISCA, a nun. Mistress OVER-DONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Vienna. *Varrius might be omitted, for he is only once spoken to, and says nothing. JOHNSON. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. Duke. ESCALUS, Escal. 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 are 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, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. What figure of us think you he will bear? Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; To undergo such ample grace and honour, Duke. Enter ANGELO. 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, Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues 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 advértise❜ Hold therefore, Angelo; In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Take thy commission. Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, 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 Of your commissions. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do 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, But do not like to stage me to their eyes: well. Though it do well, I do not relish well you: Fare you well. 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 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 pi |