MEASURE for MEASURE.

Perfons reprefented.

Vincentio, duke of Vienna,

Angelo, lord deputy in the duke's absence,

Efcalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the deputa

tion.

Claudio, a young gentleman.

Lucio, a fantastick.

Two other like gentlemen.

Varrius, a gentleman, fervant to the duke.

Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Vienna.

MEASURE for MEASURE.

ACT I.

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

DUKE. Efcalus,→→→

ESCAL. My lord.

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

My ftrength can give you: Then no more remains,
But that to your fufficiency, 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 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,
I fay, 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 foul
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

Lent him our terror, dreft 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 fuch ample grace and honour,
It is lord Angelo.

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 the observer, doth thy history
Fully unfold: Thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thyfelf upon thy virtues, them 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 iffues: 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 ufe. But I do bend my fpeech

To one that can my part in him advértife;

Hold therefore, Angelo;

In our remove, be thou at full ourfelf;

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy secondary:

Take thy commission.

ANG. Now, good my lord,

Let there be fome more teft made of my metal,

Before fo noble and fo great a figure

Be stamp'd upon it.

DUKE. No more evasion :

We fhall write to you,

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

ANG. Yet, give leave, my lord,

you

well:

That we may bring you fomething on the way.
DUKE. My hafte may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any fcruple: your scope is as mine own;
So to enforce, or qualify the laws,

As to your foul feems 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 aves vehement ;
Nor do I think the man of fafe difcretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
ANG. The heavens give fafety to your purposes!

ESCAL. Lead forth, and bring you back in happinefs!

DUKE. I thank you : Fare you well.

ESCAL. 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:

[Exit.