SCENE I. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords and Attendants. Duke. Escalus.

Escalus. My lord.

Duke. Of government the properties to unfold Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse, Since I am put to know that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice

My strength can give you; then no more remains

But that to your sufficiency-as your worth is able—

And let them work. The nature of our people,

Our city's institutions, and the terms

For common justice, you 're as pregnant in

As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commission,

From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither,

I

say,

[Exit an Attendant.

bid come before us Angelo.-
What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply,

Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power. What think you of it?

Escalus. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.

Duke.

Look where he comes.

Enter ANGELO.

Angelo. Always obedient to your grace's will,

I come to know your pleasure.

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That to the observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,

Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
Did not go forth of us, 't were 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 advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo :

In our remove be thou at full ourself;
Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart.

Though first in question, is thy secondary.

Take thy commission.

Angelo.

Old Escalus,

Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,

Before so noble and so great a figure

Be stamp'd upon it.

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition
That it prefers itself and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with us, and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well;
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.

Angelo.

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 honour, have to do

With any scruple; your scope is as mine own,

So to enforce or qualify the laws

As to your soul 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 aves vehement;

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Nor do I think the man of safe discretion

That does affect it.

Once more, fare you well.

Angelo. The heavens give safety to your purposes !
Escalus. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Duke. I thank you. Fare you well.

Escalus. I shall desire 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 power I have, but of what strength and nature

I am not yet instructed.

Angelo. 'T is so with me.

And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

[Exit.

80

Let us withdraw together,

[Exeunt.

Escalus. I'll wait upon your honour.

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.

I Gentleman. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gentleman. Amen.

Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

2 Gentleman. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

ΤΟ

I Gentleman. Why, 't was 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, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.

2 Gentleman. I never heard any soldier dislike it.