MEASURE FOR MEASURE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna. Froth, a foolish gentleman. BARNARDINE, a dissolute Prisoner. ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio. MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. FRANCISCA, a Niin. Mistress OVERDONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Elbow, a simple Constable. Attendants. ACT I. SCENE I.-An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd But to fine issues: nor nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence, But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Esc. My lord. Herself the glory of a creditor, In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Take thy commission. Ang. Now, good my lord, As art and practice hath enriched any Let there be some more test made of my metal, That we remember: There is our commission, Before so noble and so great a figure From which we would not have you warp. Call Be stamp'd upon it. hither, Duke. No more evasion: I say, bid come before us, Angelo. We have with a leaven'd and prepar'd choice What figure of us think you he will bear! Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors. For you must know, we have with special soul Our haste from hence is of so quick condition, Elected him our absence to supply; That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd Lent him our terror, drest him with our love, Matters of needful value. We shall write to you, And given his deputations all the organs As time and our concernings shall importune, Of our own power: What think you of it? How it goes with us, and do look to know Esc. If any in Vienna be of worth What doth befall you here. So, fare you well : To undergo such ample grace and honor, To th' hopeful execution do I leave you It is lord Angelo. of your commissions. Enter ANGELO. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. Look, where he comes. Duke. My haste may not admit it; With any scruple: your scope is as mine own, Duke. Angelo, So to enforce or qualify the laws There is a kind of character in thy life, As to your soul seems good:- Give me your hand: That, to th' observer, doth thy history I'll privily away; I love the people, Fully unfold :- Thyself, and thy belongings, But do not like to stage me to their eyes: Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Though it do well, I do not relish well Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. Their loud applause, and aves vehement: Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do, Nor do I think the man of safe discretion Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes Esc. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness! Lucio But, after all this fooling, I would not Duke. I thank you.-- Fare you well. (Exi. have it so: art thou sure of this! Esc. I shall desire you, sir, io give me leave Bawd. I ain too sure of it; and it is for getting To have free speech with you; and it concerns me Madam Julietta with child. To look into the bottom of my place: Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to A power I have, but of what strength and nature, meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise I am not yet instructed. in promise-keeping. Ang. "I'is so with me :- Let us withdraw to- 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something gether, near to the speech we had to such a purpose. And we may soon our satisfaction have 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proTouching that point. clamation. Esc. I'll wait upon your honor. Lucio. Away; let's go leam the truth of it. (Exeunt. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. SCENE II.-A Street. Bard. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat;s what with the gallows, and what with porEnter Lucio, and two Gentlemen. erty, I am custom-shrunk. How now! what's the news with you! Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why Enter Clown. then all the dukes fall upon the king. Clown. Yonder man is carried to prison. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace; but not the Bawd. Well; what has he done? king of Hungary's! Clown. A woman. 2 Gent. Amen. Band. But what's his offence? Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious Cloun. Groping for trouts in a seculiar river. pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, Bowd. What, is there a maid with child by him? but scraped one out of the table. Clown. No; but there's a woman with maid by 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal ? him: you have not heard of the proclamation, have Lucio. Ay, that he razed. you? 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their func Bard. What proclamation, man? tions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier must be pluck'd down. ('lown. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna of us all, thai, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth Bulud. And what shall become of those in the relish the petition well that prays for peace. city ? 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never down too, but ibat a wise burgher put in for them. Clown. They shall stand for seed: they had gone wast where grace was said. Bawi, But, shall all our houses of resort in the 2 Genl. No? a dozen times at least. suburbs be pulled down? 1 Gent. What? in metre? ('loun. To the ground, mistress. Lucio. In any proportion,' or in any language. Bawd. Why, here's a change indeed in the com1 Gent. I think, or in any religion. monwealth: what shall become of me? Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy : as, for example, thou thyself art a lack no clients. Though you change your place, Clown. Come, fear not you; good counsellors wicked villain, slespite of all grace. i Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers ster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapbetween us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. and the velvet: thou art the list. Bawl. What's to do here? Thomas Tapster, 1 Gent. And thou the velvet : thou art good vel. let's withdraw. vet: thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I Clown. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pild, as thou art pild, for a French velvet.}? Doi provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most SCENE III.- The same. painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers. own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus 1 Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have to the world. Bear me to prison, where I am I not? committed. 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art Pror. I do it not in evil disposition, tainted, or free. But from lord Angelo by special charge. L'ucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, comes! I have purchased as many diseases under Make us pay down for our offence by weight.her roof, as come to The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; 2 Gent. To what, I pray ? On whom it will not, so; yet still tis just. 1 Gent. Judye. Enter Lucio. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio ? whence comes Lucio. A French crowne more. this restraint ? 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, libme: but thou art full of error; I am sound. erty: L'icio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy, but As surfeit is ihe father of much fast, 50 sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are So every scope by the immoderate use hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee. Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue (Like rats that ravin down their proper bane) Enter Bawd. A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, most profound sciatica ? I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, Bawl. Well, well; there's one yonder, arrested, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy ollence, Claudio? 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Cloud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. What is it? murder! Bawd. Marry sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio. i Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Claud. No. Bawd. Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him ar Lucio. Lechery? rested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, Claud. Call it so. within th three days his head's to be chopped off. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. 1 Measure. A cut of the same cloth. Claud. one word, good friend: - Lucio, a word 3A jest on the loss of hair by the French disease. [Takes him aside 4 Corona Veneris, * The sweating sickness. you all. with you. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Recomes more muck'd than feard: so our decrees, Is lechery so look'd alter! Dead to intriction, to themselves are dead; Cuud. Thus stands it with me:- Upon a true And liberty plucks justice by the nose; contract, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart I got possession of Julietta's bed; Goes all decorum. You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Fri. It rested in your grace Save that we do the denunciation lack To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleas'd; Oioutward order: this we came not lo, And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Only for propagation of a dower Than in lord Angelo. Reinaining in the coiler of her friends; Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: From whom we thought it meet to bude our love, Sith 'twas my fault, to give the people scope, Till time had made thein for us. But it chances, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them The stealth of our most mutual intercourse, For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. When evil deeds have their permissive pass, Lucio. With child, perhaps? And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my Claud. Unhappily, even so. father, And the new deputy now for the duke, I have on Angelo imposed the office; Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness, Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, Or whether that the body public be And yet my nature never in the sight, A horse whereon the governor doth ride, To do it slander: And to behold his sway, Who newly in the seat, that it may know I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, He can coinmand, let's it straight teei the spur: Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr’ythee, Whether the tyranny be in his place, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me Or in his eminence that tills it up, How I may formally in person bear me I stagger in:- But this new governor Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, Awakes me all the unrolled penalties, At our more leisure shall I render you; Which have, like unscoured armor, hung by the Only, this one:- Lord Angelo is precise; wall Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, That his blood flows, or that his appetite And none of thein been worn; and for a name, Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act If power change purpose, what our seemers be. Freshly on me:-'ris, surely, for a name. [Exeunt. Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-roaid, if she be SCENE V.- A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges ? This day my sister should the cloister enter, Fran. Are not these large enough? And there receive her approbation : Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; Acquaint her with the danger ot' my state; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Implore her, in my voice, that she inake friends Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of saint Clare. To the strici deputy: bid herself assay him; Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within I have great hope in that: for in her youth Isab. Who's that which calls ? There is a prone and speechless dialect, Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Such as moves inen: beside, she hath prosperous art | Turn you the key, and know his business of him; When she will play with reason and discourse, You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: And well she can persuade. When you have vowed, you must not speak with Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encour men, agement of the like, which else would stand under But in the presence of the prioress: grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost Or if you show your face, you must not speak. at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit FRANCISCA. Cluu. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours, Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Claud. Come, officer, away. [Excunt. Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek-roses SCENE IV.- A Monastery. Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stcad me, As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? puke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; Beleve not that the dribbling dart of love The rather, for I, now must make you know Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee I am that Isabella, and his sister. To give me secret harbor, hath a purpose Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends you: or burning youth. Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Isab. Woe me! For what? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you Lucio. For that which if myself might be his How I have ever lov'd the life remov'd; judge, And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, He should receive his punishment in thanks: Isab. Sir, make me not your story.. (A man of stricture and firm abstinence) Lucio. It is true. My absolute power and place here in Vienna, I would not - though 'tis my familiar sin And he supposes me travell’d to Poland; With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest, For so I have strew'd it in the cominon ear, Tongue far from heart,- play with all virgins so. And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious sir, I hold you as a thing ensky'd, and sainted; You will demand of me, why I do this? By your renouncement an immortal spirit; Fri. Gladly, my lord. And to be talked with in sincerity, Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting As with a saint. laws, Isab. You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. (The needful bits and curbs for headstrong steeds.) Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; 'tis thus: Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave, Your brother and his lover have embraced : That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time, Having bound up the threat’ning twigs of birch, That from the seedness the bare fallow brings Only to stick it in their children's sight, . Do not make a jest of me. For terror, not to use; in time the rod 1 In few and true words. To teeming foison ;even so her plenteous womb To make him an example: all hope is gone, Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer of business 'twixt you and your poor brother. Lucio. Is she your cousin ? Isab. Doth he so seek his lite? Isab. Adoptedly: as school-maids change their Lucio. Has censur'd: him naines, Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath By vain though apt affection. A warrant for his execution. Lucio. She it is. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me To do him good ? Assay the power you have. Lucio, Our doubts are traitors, In hand, and hope of action: but we do learn And make us lose the good we oft might win, By those that know the very nerves of state, By fearing to attempti Go to lord Angelo, His givings-out were of an infinite distance And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, From his true-meant design. Upon his place, Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, And with full line of his authority, All their petitions are as freely theirs Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood As they themselves would owe them. Is very snow-broth; one who never feels Isab. I'll see what I can do. The wanton stings and motions of the sense ; Lucio. But speedily. But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge Isab. I will about it straight: With protits of the mind, study and fast. No longer staying but to give the mother He (to give fear to use and liberty, Notice of my atlair. I humbly thank you: Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, Commend me to my brother: soon at night As mice by lions) hath pick'd out an act, I'll send him certain word of my success. Under whose heavy sense your brothers life Lucio. I take my leave of you. Falls into forfeit! he arrests him on it; Isab. Good sir, adieu. And follows close the rigor of the statute, [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Hall in Angelo's House. Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall: Some run from brakes of vice, and answer none; Enter ANGELO, Escalus, Provost, Officers, and And some condemned for a fault alone. other Attendants. Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, omcers, &c. Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the Elb. Come, bring them away: if these be good law, people in a common weal, that do nothing but use Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, their abuses in common houses, I know no law; And let it keep one shape, till custom make it bring them away. Their perch and not their terror. Ang. How now, sir! what's your name? and Escal. Ay, but yet what's the matter? Let us be keen, and rather cut a litile, Elb. If it please your honor, I am the poor duke's Than fall, and bruise to death: Alas! this gentle-constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon man, justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good Whom I would save, had a most noble father. honor two notorious benefactors. Let but your honor know, Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are (Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) they! are they not malefactors? That, in the working of your own affections, Ålb. If it please your honor, I know not well Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing, what they are: but precise villains they are, that I Or that the resolute acting of your blood am sure of; and void of all profanation in the Could have attain'd the eilect of your own purpose, world, that good christians ought to have. Whether you had not some time in your lite Escal. This comes off well;- here's a wise officer. Err'd in this point which now you censure him, Ang. Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow And pull’d the law upon you. is your name? Why dost thou not speak, Elbow ? Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Clo. He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow. Another thing to fall. I not deny, Ang. What are you, sir? The jury, passing on the prisoners life, Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcelt bawd: one May, in the sworn twelve, have a thier' or tivo that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as Guiltier than him they try: What's open made to they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now justice, she professess a hot-house, which, I think, is a very That justice seizes. What know the laws, ill house too. That thieves do pass on thieves ? 'Tis very pregnant, Escal. How know you that? The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it, Elb. My wife, sir, who.n I detest before heaven Because we see it; but what we do not see, and your honor, We tread upon and never think of it. Escal. How! thy wife? You may not so extenuate his oflence, Elb. Ay, sir ; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest Fors I have had such faults; but rather tell me, woman, When I that censure him, do so offend, Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore ? Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, Elb. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die. as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, Escal. Be it as your wisdom will. it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house. Ang Where is the provost? Escal. How dost thou know that, constable ? Prov. Here, if it like your honor. Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had Ang. See that Claudio been a woman cardinally given, might have been Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliBring him his confessor, let him be prepared: ness there. For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. Escal. By the woman's means? [Exeunt ANGE1.o and Provost. Elb. Ay, sir, by mistress Over-done's means: but Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive us 1 Sentenced Have. all! • Thickets, thorny paths of vice. sWealth. &Well told. + Partly. 8 Breeding plenty. • Tilling. 3 Because, Keeps a bagnio. . For protest. 8 as «he spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo. By this hand, sir, his wife is a more resClo. Sir, if it please your honor, this is not so. pected person than any of us all. El. Prove it before these varlets here, thou hon- Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet : orable man, prove it. the time is yet to come, that she was ever respecte Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? ed with man, woman, or child. [TO ANGELO. Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and long- married with her. ing (saving your honors reverence) for stew'd Escal. Which is the wiser here? justice or iniprunes; sir, we had but two in the house, which at quityIs this true! ihat very distant time stood as it were, in a fruit- Eib. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wickdish, a dish of some three-pence: your honors have ed Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was seen such dishes; they are not china dishes, but married to her? If ever I was respected with her, very good dishes. or she with me, let not your worship think me the Escal. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir. poor duke's officer:- Prove this, thou wicked Han Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are there- nibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee. fore in the right; but, to the point: as I say, this Escal. If he took you a box o' the ear, you mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and be- might have your action of slander too. ing great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: and having but two in the dish, as I said, master what is't your worship's pleasure I should do with Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as this wicked caitiff? I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly ; Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some of —for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give fences in him, that thou wouldst discover if thou you three-pence again. couldst, let him continue in his courses, till thou Froth. No, indeed. know'st what they are. Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be re- Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it: thou member'd, cracking the stones of thể 'foresaid seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come upon prunes. thee; thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed. art to continue. Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you Escal. Where were you born, friend! be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, [TO FROTH. were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they Froth. Here, in Vienna, sir. kept very good diet, as I told you. Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year? Froth. All this is true. Froth. Yes, and 't please you, sir. Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. So.—What trade are you of, sir? Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the pur [To the Clown. Clo. Mistress Over-done. band? and you will hang them: get you gone, and let me Froth. All-hollondi eve. hear no more of you. Clo. Why, very well: I hope here be truths: Froth. I thank your worship: for mine own part, he, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lowera chair, sir;- I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you drawn in. have a delight to sit: have you not? Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: fareFroth. I have so; because it is an open room, well. [Erit FROTH.] — Come you bither to mo and good for winter. master tapster; what's your name, master tapster? Clo. Why, very well then;-I hope here be Clo. Pompey. truths. Escal. Whai else? Clo. Bum, sir. about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, you are Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all. Pompey the great. Pompey, you are partly a Escal. I think no less: good morrow to your bawd, Pompey, howsoever you color it in bein a lordship. [Exit ANGELO. tapster. Are you not? come, tell me true; it shall Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, be the better for you. once more? Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow, that would Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her live. Escal. How would you live, Pompey? by being Elb. I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pomdid to my wife? pey? is it a lawful trade? Clo. I beseech your honor, ask me. Clo. If the law would allow it, sir. Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Escal. No, Pompey. Escal. Ay, sir, very well. Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will Clo. Nay. I beseech you, mark it well. to 't then: if your worship will take orders for the Escal Well, I do so. drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the Clo. Doth your honor see any harm in his face? bawds. Escal. Why, no. Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can Clo. I'll be suppos'da upon a book, his face is tell you : it is but heading and hanging. the worst thing about him: good then; if his face Cio. If you head and hang all that offend that be the worst thing about him, how could master way but for ten years together, you'll be glad to Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would give out a commission for more heads. If this law know that of your honor. hold in Vienna ten years, I'll rent the fairest house Excal. He's in the right: constable, what say you in it, after three-pence a day: if you live to see to it? this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in rehouse; next, this is a respected fellow; and his quital of your prophecy, hark you, I advise you, mistress is a respected woman. let me not find you before me again upon any com• Eve of All Saints day. - Easy. For cannibal. & Measures. once. |