The cuckoo then, on every tree, Cuckoo; And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks, And maidens bleach their summer smocks, Cuckoo ; Unpleasing to a married ear! And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, And milk comes frozen home in pail, To-who; And coughing drowns the parson's saw, And Marian's nose looks red and raw, To-who; Measure for Measure. ACT I. VIRTUE GIVEN TO BE EXERTED. THE CONSEQUENCE OF LIBERTY INDULGED. In her youth PARDON THE SANCTION OF WICKEDNESS. For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. A SEVERE GOVERNOR. Lord Angelo is precise ; Stands at a guard * with envy; scarce confesses That his blood flows, or that his appetite Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. RESOLUTION. Our doubts are traitors, Go to lord Angelo, ACT II. ALL MEN FRAIL. Ler but your honour know f, (Whom I believe to be most strait in virtue), That in the working of your own affections, Had time coherd § 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 puild the law upon you. THE FAULTS OF OTHERS NO JUSTIFICATION OF OUR OWN. "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, * On his defence. + Have. Examine. Suited. The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, MERCY FREQUENTLY MISTAKEN. Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so; Pardon is still the nurse of second woe. MERCY IN GOVERNORS COMMENDED. THE DUTY OF MUTUAL FORGIVENESS. Alas! alas! t Because. Yet show some pity. Ang. I show it most of all, when I show justicc; 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. THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY. O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant. Could great men thunder, As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, For every pelting *, petty officer, [der.Would use his heaven for thunder; nothing but thunMerciful heaven! Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt, Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarledt oak, Than the soft myrtle:-0, but man, proud man! Drest in a little brief authority; Most ignorant of what he's most assurd, |