Measure for Measure - ebook

Actus Primus

Scena prima.

Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords.

Duke. Escalus.
Esc. My Lord.
Duk. Of Gouernment, the properties to vnfold,
Would seeme in me t’affect speech & discourse,
Since I am put to know, that your owne Science
Exceedes (in that) the lists of all aduice
My strength can giue you: Then no more remaines
But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able,
And let them worke : The nature of our People,
Our Cities Institutions, and the Termes
For Common Iustice, y’are as pregnant in
As Art, and practise, hath inriched any
That we remember : There is our Commission,
From which, we would not haue you warpe; call hither,
I say, bid come before vs Angelo:
What figure of vs thinke you, he will beare.
For you must know, we haue with speciall soule
Elected him our absence to supply;
Lent him our terror, drest him with our loue,
And giuen his Deputation all the Organs
Of our owne powre : What thinke you of it?
Esc. If any in Vienna be of worth
To vndergoe such ample grace, and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.

Enter Angelo.

Duk. Looke where he comes.
Ang. Alwayes obedient to your Graces will,
I come to know your pleasure.
Duke. Angelo:
There is a kinde of Character in thy life,
That to th’obseruer, doth thy history
Fully vnfold: Thy selfe, and thy belongings
Are not thine owne so proper, as to waste
Thy selfe vpon thy vertues; they on thee
Heauen doth with vs, as we, with Torches doe,
Not light them for themselues: For if our vertues
Did not goe forth of vs, ‘twere all alike
As if we had them not: Spirits are not finely touch’d,
But to fine issues: nor nature neuer lends
The smallest scruple of her excellence,
But like a thrifty goddesse, she determines
Her selfe the glory of a creditour,
Both thanks, and vse; but I do bend my speech
To one that can my part in him aduertise;
Hold therefore Angelo:
In our remoue, be thou at full, our selfe:
Mortallitie and Mercie in Vienna
Liue 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 mettle,
Before so noble, and so great a figure
Be stamp’t vpon it.
Duk. No more euasion:
We haue with a leauen’d, and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors:
Our haste from hence is of so quicke condition,
That it prefers it selfe, and leaues vnquestion’d
Matters of needfull value: We shall write to you
As time, and our concernings shall importune,
How it goes with vs, and doe looke to know
What doth befall you here. So fare you well:
To th’hopefull execution doe I leaue you,
Of your Commissions.
Ang. Yet giue leaue (my Lord,)
That we may bring you something on the way.
Duk. My haste may not admit it,
Nor neede you (on mine honor) haue to doe
With any scruple: your scope is as mine owne,
So to inforce, or qualifie the Lawes
As to your soule seemes good: Giue me your hand,
Ile priuily away: I loue the people,
But doe not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it doe well, I doe not rellish well
Their lowd applause, and Aues vehement:
Nor doe I thinke the man of safe discretion
That do’s affect it. Once more fare you well.
Ang. The heauens giue safety to your purposes.

Esc. Lead forth, and bring you backe in happinesse.

Exit.

Duk. I thanke you, fare you well.
Esc. I shall desire you, Sir, to giue me leaue
To haue free speech with you; and it concernes me
To looke into the bottome of my place:
A powre I haue, but of what strength and nature,
I am not yet instructed.
Ang. ’Tis so with me: Let vs with-draw together,
And we may soone our satisfaction haue
Touching that point.

Esc. Ile wait vpon your honor.

Exeunt.

.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Lucio, and two other Gentlemen.

Luc.
If the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to
composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the
Dukes fall vpon the King.
1.Gent.
Heauen grant vs its peace, but not the King
of Hungaries.
2.Gent.
Amen.
Luc.
Thou conclud’st like the Sanctimonious Pirat,
that went to sea with the ten Commandements, but
scrap’d one out of the Table.
2.Gent.
Thou shalt not Steale?
Luc.
I, that he raz’d.
1.Gent.
Why? ’twas a commandement, to command
the Captaine and all the rest from their functions: they
put forth to steale: There’s not a Souldier of vs all, that
in the thanks-giuing before meate, do rallish the petition
well, that praies for peace.
2.Gent.
I neuer heard any Souldier dislike it.
Luc.
I beleeue thee: for I thinke thou neuer was’t
where Grace was said.
2.Gent.
No? a dozen times at least.
1.Gent.
What? In meeter?
Luc.
In any proportion: or in any language.
1.Gent.
I thinke, or in any Religion.
Luc.
I, why not? Grace, is Grace, despight of all controuersie:
as for example; Thou thy selfe art a wicked
villaine, despight of all Grace.
1.Gent.
Well: there went but a paire of sheeres betweene
vs.
Luc.
I grant: as there may betweene the Lists, and
the Veluet. Thou art the List.
1.Gent.
And thou the Veluet; thou art good veluet;
thou’rt a three pild-peece I warrant thee: I had as liefe
be a Lyst of an English Kersey, as be pil’d, as thou art
pil’d, for a French Veluet. Do I speake feelingly now?
Luc.
I thinke thou do’st: and indeed with most painfull
feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine owne confession,
learne to begin thy health; but, whilst I liue forget
to drinke after thee.
1.Gen.
I think I haue done my selfe wrong, haue I not?
2.Gent.
Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted,

or free.

Enter Bawde.

Luc.
Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes.
I haue purchas’d as many diseases vnder her Roofe,
As come to
2.Gent.
To what, I pray?
Luc.
Iudge.
2.Gent.
To three thousand Dollours a yeare.
1.Gent.
I, and more.
Luc.
A French crowne more.
1.Gent.
Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me; but
thou art full of error, I am sound.
Luc.
Nay, not (as one would say) healthy: but so
sound, as things that are hollow; thy bones are hollow;
Impiety has made a feast of thee.
1.Gent.
How now, which of your hips has the most
profound Ciatica?
Bawd.
Well, well: there’s one yonder arrested, and
carried to prison, was worth fiue thousand of you all.
2.Gent.
Who’s that I pray’thee?
Bawd.
Marry Sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.
1.Gent.
Claudio to prison? ’tis not so.
Bawd.
Nay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested:
saw him carried away: and which is more, within these
three daies his head to be chop’d off.
Luc.
But, after all this fooling, I would not haue it so:
Art thou sure of this?
Bawd.
I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam
Iulietta with childe.
Luc.
Beleeue me this may be: he promis’d to meete
me two howres since, and he was euer precise in promise
keeping.
2.Gent.
Besides you know, it drawes somthing neere
to the speech we had to such a purpose.
1.Gent.
But most of all agreeing with the proclamatiõ.
Luc.

Away: let’s goe learne the truth of it.

Exit.

Bawd.
Thus, what with the war; what with the sweat,
what with the gallowes, and what with pouerty, I am
Custom-shrunke. How now? what’s the newes with

you.

Enter Clowne.

Clo.
Yonder man is carried to prison.
Baw.
Well: what has he done?
Clo.
A Woman.
Baw.
But what’s his offence?
Clo.
Groping for Trowts, in a peculiar Riuer.
Baw.
What? is there a maid with child by him?
Clo.
No: but there’s a woman with maid by him:
you haue not heard of the proclamation, haue you?
Baw.
What proclamation, man?
Clow.
All howses in the Suburbs of Vienna must bee
pluck’d downe.
Bawd.
And what shall become of those in the Citie?
Clow.
They shall stand for seed: they had gon down
to, but that a wise Burger put in for them.
Bawd.
But shall all our houses of resort in the Suburbs
be puld downe?
Clow.
To the ground, Mistris.
Bawd.
Why heere’s a change indeed in the Commonwealth:
what shall become of me?
Clow.
Come: feare not you; good Counsellors lacke
no Clients: though you change your place, you neede
not change your Trade: Ile bee your Tapster still; courage,
there will bee pitty taken on you; you that haue
worne your eyes almost out in the seruice, you will bee
considered.
Bawd.
What’s to doe heere, Thomas Tapster? let’s
withdraw?
Clo.
Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the Prouost

to prison: and there’s Madam Iuliet.

Exeunt.

Scena Tertia.

Enter Prouost, Claudio, Iuliet, Officers, Lucio, & 2.Gent.

Cla.
Fellow, why do’st thou show me thus to th’ world?
Beare me to prison, where I am committed.
Pro.
I do it not in euill disposition,
But from Lord Angelo by speciall charge.
Clau.
Thus can the demy-god (Authority)
Make vs pay downe, for our offence, by waight
The words of heauen; on whom it will, it will,
On whom it will not (soe) yet still ’tis iust.
Luc.
Why how now Claudio? whence comes this restraint.
Cla.
From too much liberty, (my Lucio) Liberty
As surfet is the father of much fast,
So euery Scope by the immoderate vse
Turnes to restraint: Our Natures doe pursue

Like Rats that rauyn downe their proper Bane,
A thirsty euill, and when we drinke, we die.
Luc.
If I could speake so wisely vnder an arrest, I
would send for certaine of my Creditors: and yet, to say
the truth, I had as lief haue the foppery of freedome, as
the mortality of imprisonment: what’s thy offence,
Claudio?
Cla.
What (but to speake of) would offend againe.
Luc.
What, is’t murder?
Cla.
No.
Luc.
Lecherie?
Cla.
Call it so.
Pro.
Away, Sir, you must goe.
Cla.
One word, good friend:
Lucio, a word with you.
Luc.
A hundred:
If they’ll doe you any good: Is Lechery so look’d after?
Cla.
Thus stands it with me: vpon a true contract
I got possession of Iulietas bed,
You know the Lady, she is fast my wife,
Saue that we doe the denunciation lacke
Of outward Order. This we came not to,
Onely for propogation of a Dowre
Remaining in the Coffer of her friends,
From whom we thought it meet to hide our Loue
Till Time had made them for vs. But it chances
The stealth of our most mutuall entertainment
With Character too grosse, is writ on Iuliet.
Luc.
With childe, perhaps?
Cla.
Vnhappely, euen so.
And the new Deputie, now for the Duke,
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newnes,
Or whether that the body publique, be
A horse whereon the Gouernor doth ride,
Who newly in the Seate, that it may know
He can command; lets it strait feele the spur:
Whether the Tirranny be in his place,
Or in his Eminence that fills it vp
I stagger in: But this new Gouernor
Awakes me all the inrolled penalties
Which haue (like vn-scowr’d Armor) hung by th’ wall
So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round,
And none of them beene worne; and for a name
Now puts the drowsie and neglected Act
Freshly on me: ’tis surely for a name.
Luc.
I warrant it is: And thy head stands so tickle on
thy shoulders, that a milke-maid, if she be in loue, may
sigh it off: Send after the Duke, and appeale to him.
Cla.
I haue done so, but hee’s not to be found.
I pre’thee (Lucio) doe me this kinde seruice:
This day, my sister should the Cloyster enter,
And there receiue her approbation.
Acquaint her with the danger of my state,
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputie: bid her selfe assay him,
I haue great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechlesse dialect,
Such as moue men: beside, she hath prosperous Art
When she will play with reason, and discourse,
And well she can perswade.
Luc.
I pray shee may; aswell for the encouragement
of the like, which else would stand vnder greeuous imposition:
as for the enioying of thy life, who I would be
sorry should bee thus foolishly lost, at a game of ticketa>Exeunt.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Duke and Frier Thomas.

Duk.
No: holy Father, throw away that thought,
Beleeue not that the dribling dart of Loue
Can pierce a compleat bosome: why, I desire thee
To giue me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More graue, and wrinkled, then the aimes, and ends
Of burning youth.
Fri.
May your Grace speake of it?
Duk.
My holy Sir, none better knowes then you
How I haue euer lou’d the life remoued
And held in idle price, to haunt assemblies
Where youth, and cost, witlesse brauery keepes.
I haue deliuerd to Lord Angelo
(A man of stricture and firme abstinence)
My absolute power, and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me trauaild to Poland,
(For so I haue strewd it in the common eare)
And so it is receiu’d: Now (pious Sir)
You will demand of me, why I do this.
Fri.
Gladly, my Lord.
Duk.
We haue strict Statutes, and most biting Laws,
(The needfull bits and curbes to headstrong weedes,)
Which for this foureteene yeares, we haue let slip,
Euen like an ore-growne Lyon in a Caue
That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond Fathers,
Hauing bound vp the threatning twigs of birch,
Onely to sticke it in their childrens sight,
For terror, not to vse: in time the rod
More mock’d, then fear’d: so our Decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselues are dead,
And libertie, plucks Iustice by the nose;
The Baby beates the Nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.
Fri.
It rested in your Grace
To vnloose this tyde-vp Iustice, when you pleas’d:
And it in you more dreadfull would haue seem’d
Then in Lord Angelo.
Duk.
I doe feare: too dreadfull:
Sith ’twas my fault, to giue the people scope,
‘Twould be my tirrany to strike and gall them,
For what I bid them doe: For, we bid this be done
When euill deedes haue their permissiue passe,
And not the punishment: therefore indeede (my father)
I haue on Angelo impos’d the office,
Who may in th’ ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet, my nature neuer in the sight
To do in slander: And to behold his sway
I will, as ‘twere a brother of your Order,
Visit both Prince, and People: Therefore I pre’thee
Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person beare
Like a true Frier: Moe reasons for this action
At our more leysure, shall I render you;
Onely, this one: Lord Angelo is precise,
Stands at a guard with Enuie: scarce confesses
That his blood flowes: or that his appetite
Is more to bread then stone: hence shall we see

If power change purpose: what our Seemers be.

Exit.

Scena Quinta.

Enter Isabell and Francisca a Nun.

Isa.
And haue you Nuns no farther priuiledges?
Nun.
Are not these large enough?
Isa.
Yes truely; I speake not as desiring more,
But rather wishing a more strict restraint
Vpon the Sisterhood, the Votarists of Saint Clare.

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