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MEASURE for MEASU

A C T I. SCENE I.

The Duke's PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

ESCALUS
Efcal. My Lord.

DUKE.

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

My ftrength can give you: then no more remains Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's inftitutions, and the terms

Of common justice, 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. Call hither,
I fay, bid come before us Angelo:

What figure of us, think you, he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special roll
Elected him our Absence to supply;

Lent him our Terror, dreft him with our Love;

The ftory is taken from Cinthio's Novels, December 8. November 5.

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you

And giv'n his Deputation all the organs
Of our own Power: fay, what think
Efcal. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo fuch ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

SCENE

Enter Angelo.

Duke. LOOK, where he comes.

II.

of it?

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' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thyfelf upon thy virtues; they 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 alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends

The smallest scruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty Goddess, fhe 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

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus
Though firft in queftion, is thy Secondary.
Take thy Commission.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,
Before fo noble and so great a figure

Be flampt upon it.

Duke.

Duke. Come, no more evasion :

We have with a prepar'd and *level'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unqueftion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
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 your Commiffions.

Ang. Yet give me 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 qualify the Laws,

As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people;
But do not like to stage 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 safe discretion,
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.

[Exit.
Efcal. I fhall defire 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 pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature
I am not yet instructed.

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

Efcal. I'll wait upon your honour.

* Leaven'd choice] We should read level'd choice.

[Exeunt.

The Allufion

is to Archery, when a Man has fix'd upon his Object, after taking Aim.

B 3

SCENE

Lucio.

I

SCENE III.

The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen,

F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to compofition with the King of Hungary, why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

i Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious Pirate, that went to fea with the ten Commandments, but scrap'd one out of the Table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fteal.Lucio, Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to fteal; there's not a foldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, does relifh the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio. I believe thee for, I think, thou never waft were grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

1. Gent. What, in meeter?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers be

tween us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good vel

vet; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a lift of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think, thou doft; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy fpeech: I will, out of thine own confeffion, learn to begin thy health; but, whilft I live, forget to drink after thee.

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong, have I

not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes.

1 Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases 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 difeafes in me; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would say healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feaft of thee.

SCENE

Enter Bawd.

IV.

x Gent. H moft profound sciatica?

How
TOW now, which of your hips has the

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prifon, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee ?

Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio; Signior Claudio.

A 4

1 Gent.

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