DRAMATIS PERSONE.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

ANGELO, Lord-deputy in the Duke's absence.

ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joint Deputy with Angelo. CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.

LUCIO, a Fantastick.

Two Gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke,

PROVOST.

THOMAS, two Friars.
PETER,

}

ELBOW, a fimple Conftable.
FROTH, a foolish Gentleman.

CLOWN, Servant to Mrs. Over-don.

ABHORSON, an Executioner.

BARNARDINE, a diffolute Prisoner.

ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio.
MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.
JULIET, beloved of Claudio.
FRANCISCA, a Nun.

Mistress OVER-DON, a Bawd.

Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE Vienna.

The Story is taken from Cinthio's Novels. Dec. 8. Nov.

5.

Meafure

Measure for Measure.

Duke.

ACT I. SCENE I.
A PALACE.

Enter Duke, Escalus, and Lords.
Scalus!

Efcal. My lord.

Duke. Of Government the properties

t' unfold

Would feem in me t' affect speech and dif

course;

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,
But that to your sufficiency you join
A will to serve us as your worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's institutions, 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,

[To the Attendants.

I say, bid come before us Angelo :
What figure of us think you he will bear ?
For you must know, we have with special foul
Elected him our absence to fupply;
Lent him our terror, drest him with our love;
And giv'n his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: say, what think you of it?

Efcal, If any in Vienna be of worth

A 3

To 1

To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

SCENE II.

Duke. Look where he comes.

Enter Angelo.

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 so proper, as to wafte
Thy self upon thy virtues, them 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 as if

We had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine issues; 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 in my part me advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo.

[Giving bim bis commiffion.

In our remove, be thou at full our felf.

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and fo great a figure
Be stampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evafion :
We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers it felf, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write,
As time and our concernings thall importune,
How it goes with us, and do look to know

What

What doth befal you here. So fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of our commiffion.

Ang. Yet give leave, my lord,
That we may bring you something on the way.
Duke. My hafte may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple; your scope is as mine own,
So to inforce, or qualifie the law,

As to your foul seems 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 difcretion
That does affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give safety to your purposes !
Efcal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.
Efcal. I shall 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.

[Exit.

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

Efcal. I'll wait upon your honour.

SCENE III. The Street.

Enter Lucio, and truo Gentlemen.

[Exeunt.

Lucio. If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to 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'st like the sanctimonious pyrate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent, Thou shalt not steal?

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 steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving after meat doth relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier dislike it.

Lucio. I believe thee: for I think thou never waft where grace was said.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

I Gent. What? in meeter?

Lucio. Not in any profeffion, or in any language, I think, or in any religion.

2 Gent. And why not? grace is grace, despight of all controverfie.

Lucio. As for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despight of all grace.

US.

2 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between

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

2 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good velvet; 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 speak feelingly now ?

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

2 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have I not? I Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted, or free.

SCENE IV. Bawd, coming at a distance. Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. I Gent. I have purchas'd as many diseases under her roof,

as come to

2 Gent. To what, pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars * a year.