Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants. SCENE 1. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke, ESCALUS, and Attendants. Duke. Escalus, Escal. My lord? Duke. Of government the properties t' unfold, My strength can give you then no more remains And let them work. The nature of our people, For common justice, you're as pregnant in That we remember. There is our commission, [Giving it. From which we would not have you warp.- Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. For you must know, we have with special soul Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love, Duke. Look where he comes. Enter ANGELO. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Angelo, Duke. 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 issues; nor 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 my part in him advértise; Hold, therefore, Angelo : [Tendering his commission. In our remove be thou at full ourself; Mortality and mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus, Though first in question, is thy secondary:- Ang. Now, good my lord, [Giving it. Let there be some more test made of my metal, Be stamp'd upon't. Duke. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it; Nor need you, on mine honor, have to do With any scruple: your scope is as mine own, As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand: But do not like to stage me to their eyes: That does affect it. Once more, fare you well. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave A power I have, but of what strength and nature [Exit. Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honor. [Exeunt SCENE II. A street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why, then, all the dukes fall upon the king. First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's! Sec. Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table. Sec. Gent. "" First 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 before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for I thir.k thou never wast where grace was said. Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least. First Gent. What, in meter? Lucio. In any proportion or in any language. Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example,- -thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the list and the velvet. Thou art the list. First Gent. And thou the velvet thou art good velvet; thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, 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 confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. |