As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time,
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you: Lucio. I take my leave of you.

78

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

That, in the working of your own affections,
Had time coher'd 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 jus-
That justice seizes. What know the laws,
tice,
That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it,

[Аст ІІ.

Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means: but
as she spit in his face, so she defied him.

Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honour-
able man, prove it!

Escal. Do you hear, how he misplaces? [To Angelo.
Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing
longing
(saving your honour's reverence,) for stew'd prunes;
sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very
distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish
of some three-pence; your honours have seen such
dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.
Escal. Goto, goto; no matter for the dish, sir.
Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in
the right; but, to the point: As I say, this mistress
Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great bel-
ly'd, aud longing, as I said, for prunes, and having but
two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very
man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, pay-
ing for them very honestly; - for, as you know, master
Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.

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Because we see it; but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.

You may not so extenuate his offence,

For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that censure him, do so offend,

Let miue own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.

Froth. No, indeed.

cal

Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.

Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd,

ract

Ang. Where is the provost?

Prov. Here, if it like your honour.

Ang. See, that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:

Bring him his confessor, let him be prepar'd!

For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Exit Provost.
Escal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!
Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall :

Some run from brakes ofvice, and answer none;
And some condemned for a fault alone.

Enter ELBOW, FROTH, Clown, Officers, etc.
Elb. Come, bring them away! If these be good people
in a common-weal, that do nothing but use their abu-
ses in common houses, 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 honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I dolean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors?

Elb. Ifit please your honour, 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. Ang. Go to! What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow?

Clo. He cannot, sir, he's out at elbow.

Ang. What are you, sir?

cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes..

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and sucha one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.

Froth. All this is true.

Clo. Why, very well then.

Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose!
-What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause
to complain of? Come me to what was done to her.
Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not.

Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave: and, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas:- Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth?

Froth. All-hollondeve.

Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir;- 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit: have you not?

Froth. I have so; because it is an open room, and good
for winter.

Clo. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.
Ang. This will last outa night in Russia,

When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave,
And leave you to the hearing of the cause;
Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all.
Escal. I think no less: good morrow to your lord-
ship.-
[Exit Angelo.
Now, sir, come on! What was done to Elbow's wife,
once more?

Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once. Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him, what this man did to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.

Escal. Well, sir: what did this gentleman to her?

Elb. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face!

woman,

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?

Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, ifit be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable?

Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there. Escal. By the woman's means?

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stable's wife any harm? I would know that of your

honour.

Escal. He's in the right. Constable, what say you to it? Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.

Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respected person, than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Which is the wiser here? Justice, or Iniqui

ty?-Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer! -Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee!

Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have your action of slander too!

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this

wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him, that thou wouldst discover, if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou know'st, what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it: - Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.

Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to't then: if your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds.

Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging.

Clo. If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you'll be glad to give out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the fairest house in it, after threepence a bay: if you live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told you so.

Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you, I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your teut, and prove a shrewd Caesar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you well! Clo. I thank your worship for your good counsel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better

determine.

Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth.
Froth. Here in Vienna, sir.

Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year?

Elb. Faith, sir, few of any witin such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.

Froth. Yes, and't please you, sir.

Escal. Look you, bring me in the names of some six

Escal.So. What trade are you of, sir? [To the Clown. or seven, the most sufficient of your parish!

Clo. Atapster; a poor widow's tapster.

Elb. To your worship's house, sir?

Escal. Your mistress's name?

Escal. To my house. Fare you well! - [Exit Elbow.

Clo. Mistress Over-done.

What's o'clock, think you?

Escal. Hathshe had any more than one husband?

Just. Eleven, sir.

Clo. Nine, sir; Over-done by the last.

Escal. Nine! - Come hither to me, master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you!

Froth. I thank your worship. Formine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: farewell! [Exit Froth.]-Come you hither to me, master tapster; what's your name, master tapster?

Clo. Pompey.

Escal. What else?

Clo. Bum, sir.

Escal. I pray you home to dinner with me.

Just. I humbly thank you.

Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio; but

there's no remedy.

Just. Lord Angelo is severe.
Escal. It is but needful:

Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:
But yet, -poor Claudio! - There's no remedy.
Come, sir!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.- Another room in the same.
Enter Provost and a Servant.

Escal. 'Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing I'll tell him of you.
about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Prov. Pray you, do. [Exit Servant.]I'll know
Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, His pleasure; may be, he will relent: alas,
Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster. He hath but as offended in a dream!

Serv. He's hearing of a cause; he will come straight.

Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall be the bet- All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he

Ang. Stay a little while. - [To Isab.] You are wel

come. What's your will?

Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your honour,

Please but your honour hear me.

Ang. Well; what's your suit?

Isab. There is a vice, that most I do abhor,

And most desire should meet the blow of justice;
For which I would not plead, but that I must;

For which I must not plead, but that I am

At war, twixt will, and will not.

Ang. Well; the matter?

Isab. I have a brother is condemn'd to die:
I do beseech you, let it be his fault,

Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son,
It should be thus with him; - he must die to-morrow.
Isab. To-morrow? O, that's sudden! Spare him,

spare him!

He's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens
We kill the fowl of season; shall we serve heaven
With less respect, than we do minister

To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you:
Who is it that hath died for this offence?

There's many have committed it.

Lucio. Ay, well said.

Ang. The law hath not been dead, though it hath

slept:

Those many had not dar'd to do that evil,
If the first man, that did the edict infringe,
Ilad answer'd for his deed: now, 'tis awake,
Takes note of what is done, and, like a prophet,
Looksin a glass, that shows what future evils,
(Either now, or by remissness new-conceiv'd,
And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,)
Are now to have no successive degrees,

But, where theylive, to end.

Isab. Yet, show some pity!

Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justice;

For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall;

And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong,
Lives not to act another. Be satisfied;

Your brother dies to-morrow: be content!

Isab. So you must be the first, that gives this sentence,

And he, that suflers. O, it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous,

To use it like a giant.

Lucio. That's well said.

And not my brother.

Prov. Heaven give thee moving graces!

Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it!

Why, every fault's condemn'd, ere it be done:

Mine were the very cypher of a fuuction,

To fine the faults, whose fine stands in record,

And let go by the actor.

Isab. O just, but severelaw!

I had a brother then. -Heaven keep your honour!

[Retiring.

Lucio. [To Isab.] Give't not o'er so: to him again,
intreat him;

Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown!
You are too cold: if you should need a pin,

You could not with more tame a tongue desire it:

To him, I say!

Isab. Musthe needs die?

Isab. Could great men thunder

Ang. Maiden, no remedy!

Isab. Yes; Ido think that you might pardon him,
And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy.

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,
For every pelting, petty officer,

Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing butthun

Ang. I will not do't.

Merciful heaven!

der.

Isab. But can you, if you would?

Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.

If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse,

[To Isabella.

Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt,
Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak,

Isab. But might you do't, and do the world no wrong, Than the soft myrtle: - O, but man, proud man!

As mine is to him?

Ang. He's sentenc'd; 'tis too late.

Lucio. You are too cold.

Isab. Too late? why, no. I, that do speak a word,
May call it back again: well believe this,
No ceremony that to great ones 'longs,

Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe,
Become them with one half so good a grace,
As mercy does. If he had been as you,

And you as he, you would have slipt, like him;
But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
Ang. Pray you, begone!

Isab. I would to heaven, I had your potency,
And you were Isabel! should it then be thus?

Drest in a little brief authorithy,

Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal.

Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench! he will relent;
He's coming, I perceive't.

Prov. Pray heaven, she win him!

Isab. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself:
Great men may jest with saints: 'tis wit in them;
But, in theless, foul profanation.

Lucio. Thou'rt in the right, girl; moreo' that!
Isab. That in the captain's but a choleric word,
Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
Lucio. Art advis'd o' that? more on't!

Such sense, that my sense breeds with it. - Fare you And he, that got it, sentenc'd: a young man

Isab. Ay, with such gifts, that heaven shall share with Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?

[Aside to Isabel. Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind, than his.

Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father.
Duke. 'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent,

[Aside. As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,

That modesty may more betray our sense,
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground

When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her, Of my conception: the state, whereon I studied,