*MEASURE for MEASU

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Duke's PALACE.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

ESCALUS
Efcal. My Lord."

DUKE.

Duke. Of Government the properties t'unfold, Would feem in me t' affect speech and discourse. 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 Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's inftitutions, and the terms

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?
For you must know, we have with special roll
Elected him our Abfence to supply;

Lent him our Terror, dreft him with our Love;

The ftory is taken from Cinthio's Novels, December 8. November 5.

B 2

Mr. Pope.
And

And giv'n his Deputation all the organs
Of our own Power: fay, what think
you of it?
Efcal. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo fuch ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

Duke. LOOK, where he comes.

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: thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to wafte
Thyfelf upon thy virtues; they 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 alike

As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, 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 use.

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 ourself.

Mortality and Mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though firft in question, is thy Secondary.
Take thy Commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,
Before fo noble and so great a figure

Be flampt upon it.

Duke.

Duke. Come, no more evasion :

We have with a prepar'd and *level'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unqueftion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes
with us; and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So, fare you well.
To th'hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your Commiffions.

Ang. Yet give me leave, my lord,

That we may bring you fomething 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 qualify the Laws,

As to your foul feems good. Give me your hand;
I'll privily away. I love the people ;
But do not like to ftage 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 discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes!
Efcal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you, fare you well.

[Exit.
Efcal. I fhall 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 ftrength and nature
I am not yet instructed.

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

Efcal. I'll wait upon your honour.

* Leaven'd choice] We should read level'd choice.

[Exeunt.

The Allufion

is to Archery, when a Man has fix'd'upon his Object, after taking Aim.

B 3

SCENE

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen,

Lucio to compofition with the King of Hungary,

F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not

why, then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

i Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'st 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 fteal.Lucio, Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to com-. mand the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to fteal; there's not a foldier of us. all, that, in the thankfgiving before meat, does relish the petition well that prays for Peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any foldier diflike it.

Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wait were grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

1. Gent. What, in meeter?

Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? grace is grace, defpight of all controverfy; as for example, thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, defpight of all grace.

1 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers be

tween us.

may

Lucio. I grant; as there the velvet. Thou art the lift.

between the lifts and

1 Gent. And thou the velvet; thou art good vel

1

I

vet; thou'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee : had as lief be a list of an English kerfey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I fpeak feelingly now?

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

1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong, have I

not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou haft; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation

comes.

1 Gent. I have purchas'd 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.

Lucio. A French crown more.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring difeafes in me; but thou art full of error; I am found.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would fay healthy; but fo found, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow; impiety hath made a feast of thee.

I Gent.

SCENE

HOW

Enter Bawd.

IV.

TOW now, which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carry'd to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 Gent. Who's that, I pr'ythee?

Bawd. Marry, Sir, that's Claudio; Signior Claudio. A 4

1 Gent.