(94) MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Vincentio, duke of Vienna. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. Abhorson, an executioner. Angelo, lord deputy in the duke's absence. Escalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. the deputation. Claudio, a young gentleman. Lucio, a fantastic. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. ESCALUS, Escal. My lord. Duke. 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 For common justice, you are as pregnant in, That we remember: there is our commission, hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an attendant. Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth Isabella, sister to Claudio. Mariana, betrothed to Angelo. Juliet, beloved by Claudio. Francisca, a nun. Mistress Over-done, a bawd. Lords, gentlemen, guards, officers, and other attendants. Scene, Vienna. Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, The smallest scruple of her excellence, 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. 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 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 honour, 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; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: Nor do I think the man of safe discretion, Lucio. A French crown more. Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes! me: but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Thou 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? 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 sheers between us. 2 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, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pild, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet.3 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; 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art have I not? tainted, or free. Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased 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. (1) Measure. (2) A cut of the same cloth. (3) A jest on the loss of hair by the French disease, 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. 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, I 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? SCENE III. The same. Enter Provost, Clau- Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. dio, Juliet, and Officers; tlemen. Lucio, and two Gen I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there reccíve her approbation: Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to Acquaint her with the danger of my state; the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.. The words of heaven;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint? 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 die. (Like rats that ravin2 down their proper bane,) thirsty evil; and when we drink, 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? Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a word [Takes him aside. with you. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me:- Upon a true contract, I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Of outward order: this we came not to, Remaining in the coffer of her friends; Till time had made them for us. Lucio. With child, perhaps? And the new deputy now for the duke,- I stagger in:-But this new governor Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, 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. (1) Gaoler. (2) Voraciously devour. (5) Enter on her probation. (6) Prompt. Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends Such as moves men; besides, she hath prosperous Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a cómplete bosom: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds,) Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: 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 past, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on Angelo impos'd the office; |