Pr ] Dramatis Perfonæ. VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna. Angelo, Lord Deputy in the Duke's abfence. Efcalus, } An ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the Claudio, a young Deputation. Gentleman. Lucio, a Fantaftick. Two Gentlemen. Varius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke. 1fabella, Sifter to Claudio. Marina, betrothed to Angelo. Juliet, beloved of Claudio. Francifca, a Nun. Miftrefs Over-done, a Bard. Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Vienna. MEA MEASURE for MEASURE. A C T I. SCENE, the Duke's PALACE. E Efcal. My Lord. Duke. Of Government the properties t'unfold, Exceeds, in that, the lifts of all advice My ftrength can give you: then no more remains: (1) then no more remains: (1) Put that to your Sufficitney, as your Worth is able, Put And let them work.] I doubt not, but this Paffage, either from the Impertinence of the Actors, or the Negligence of the Copyifts, has come maimed to us. In the first Place, what an unmeafurable, inharmonious, Verfe have we here; and, then, how lame is the Senfe! What was Efealus to put to his Sufficiency? Why, his Science. But his Science and his Sufficiency were but one and the fame Thing. On what then does the Relative, them, depend? The old Editions read thus. Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able, Of common juftice, 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? Lent him our terror, dreft him with our love; To undergo fuch ample grace and honour, "Enter Angelo.< Duke. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will, Then no more remains, But that to your Sufficiency, as your Worth is able, Here, again, the Senfe is manifeftly lame and defective, and as the Verfification is fo too, they concur to make me think, a Line has accidentally been left out. Perhaps, Something like this might fupply our Author's Meaning. •Then no more remains, By fome fuch Supplement both the Senfe and Measure would be cured. But as the Conjecture is unfupported by any Authorities, I have not pretended to thrust it into the Text; but fubmit it to Judgment. They, who are acquainted with Books, know, that, where two Words of a fimilar Length and Termination happen to lie under one another, nothing is more common than for Tranfcribers to glance their Eye at once from the first to the undermaft Word, and fo leave out the intermediate part of the Sentence. I come to know your pleasure. There is a kind of character in thy life, As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch', But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence, But, like a thrifty Goddefs, fhe determines Herself the glory of a creditor, Both thanks and ufe. 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 our felf. Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus, Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be fome more teft made of my metal, Be ftampt upon it. Duke. Come, no more evafion: We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice Ang. Yet give me leave, my lord, That we may bring you fomething on the way. Duke. Duke. My hafte may not admit it; Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand; [Exit. A pow'r I have, but of what ftrength and nature Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together, Touching that point. Efcal. I'll wait upon your Honour. Lucio. SCENE, The Street. Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen. [Exeunt. F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to I compofition with the King of Hungary, why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King. 1 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 fcrap'd one out of the Table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not fleal? Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put |