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DRAMATIS PERSON Æ.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

ANGELO, Lord-deputy in the Duke's absence.

ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joint Deputy with ANGELO.
CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman.

LUCIO, a Fantaftick.

Two Gentlemen.

VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke.
PROVOST.

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The Story is taken from Cinthio's Novels. Dec. 8. Nov. 5.

MEASURE

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Palace.

Enter Duke, Efcalus, and Lords.

SCALUS!

Efcal. My lord.

DUKE.

Duke. Of government the properties t' unfold
Would seem in me t'affect speech and discourse;
Since I am not to know, that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lift of all advice

My ftength can give you: then no more remains,
But that to your fufficiency you join

A will to ferve us 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,

[To the attendants.

I fay, bid come before us Angelo:
What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special foul
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

Lent him our terror, drefs'd him with our love;
And giv'n his deputation all the organs

Of

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.

SCENE II.

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Enter 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' obferver, doth thy history
Fully unfold: thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, them 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 as if

We had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd,
But to fine iffues; nature never lends

The smallest fcruple 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 in my part me adertise;
Hold therefore, Angelo:

[Giving him his commiffion.

In our remove, be thou at full ourself.

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more test made of my metal,

Before so noble and fo great a figure

Be ftamp'd upon it.

Duke.

Duke. Come, no more evasion:

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

Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.
Duke. My hafte 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 law,

As to your soul seems 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 fafe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare well.

you

Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purposes! Efcal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness ! you, fare well.

Duke. I thank

you

Efcal. I fhall defire you, fir, 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

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[Exit.

[Exeunt. SCENE

Lucio.

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SCENE III.

The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

F 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 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 sea with the ten commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz’d.

I Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that in the thanksgiving after meat doth 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 wast where grace was faid.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

I Gent. What? in metre?

Lucio. Not in any profession, or in any language, I think, or in any religion.

2 Gent. And why not? grace is grace, despite of all controverfy.

Lucio. As for example, thou thyfelf art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

2 Gent. Well; there went but a pair of sheers between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lifts and the velvet. Thou art the lift.

2 Gent.

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