MEASURE FOR MEASURE

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

VINCENTIO, the Duke.

ANGELO, the Deputy.

ESCALUS, an ancient Lord.
CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.
LUCIO, a Fantastic.

Two other like Gentlemen.

Provost.

THOMAS,
PETER,

A Justice.
VARRIUS.

}

Two Friars.

ELBOW, a simple Constable.

FROTH, a foolish Gentleman.

POMPEY, Servant to Mistress Overdone.

ABHORSON, an Executioner.

BARNARDINE, a dissolute Prisoner.

ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio.

MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo.

JULIET, beloved of Claudio.

FRANCISCA, a Nun.

MISTRESS OVERDONE, a Bawd.

Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants.

SCENE

Vienna.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

ACT I

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

Duke. Escalus.

Escal. 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, bid come before us, Angelo.

Exit an Attendant.

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?

Escal. 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.

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 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,

'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 advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo :

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.

Take thy commission.

Ang.

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.

Duke.

No more evasion :

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice