PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, duke of Austria. ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the deputation. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. LUCIO, a fantastick. FREDERICK, } two gentlemen. PROVOST. PETER, a friar. ELBOW, a simple constable. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. POMPEY, servant to Mrs. Over-done. ABHORSON, an executioner. BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner. THOMAS, servant to Angelo. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. FRANCISCA, a nun. MISTRESS OVER-DONE. Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Vienna. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. EASUR ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. The DUKE, ESCALUS, FREDERICK, and LEOPOLD, discovered. 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 : The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms For common justice, you are as pregnant in That we remember: There is our commission, From which we would not have you warp. Call hither, [ESCALUS kneels, and takes his commission, I say, bid come before us, Angelo. [Exit LEOPOLD. What figure of us, think you, he will bear? For you must know, we have, with special soul, 1 Bounds. VOL. II. Full of. 1 Elected him our absence to supply; Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love; . To undergo such ample grace and honour, Duke. Enter LEOPOLD and ANGelo. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, Be stamp'd upon it. Duke. We have, with a leaven'd and prepared choice, Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours. As time and our concernings shall impórtune, Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it: I'll privily away.— [Exeunt LEOPOLD and FREDERICK Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do With any scruple: your scope is as mine own. So to inforce, or qualify the laws, As to your soul seems good. Once more, fare you well. Ang. The heavens give safety to your purposes. Esca. Lead forth, and bring you back in happi Esca. 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. Ang. 'Tis so with me: gether, Let us withdraw to And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Esca. I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt ANGELO and ESCALUS SCENE II. The Garden of a Monastery. Enter FRIAR PETER and the DUKE. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought Believe not, that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a cómplete bosom: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Peter. May your grace speak of it? you Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep: Now, as (fond fathers Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, For terror, not to use,) in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Peter. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleased: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault, to give the people scope, 'Twould be my tyranny, to strike and gall them For what I bid them do: For we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, my father, I have on Angelo imposed the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home. And, to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, |