deed fhe is now with the Doctor at the Deanry, and there married.

SCENE

VII.

Enter Caius.

Caius. Ver is Miftrefs Page? by gar, I am cozen'd; I ha' marry'd one garfoon, a boy; one peasant, by gar; a boy; it is not Anne Page; by gar, I am cozen'd.

Mrs. Page. Why? did you not take her in green? Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy; be gar, I'll raise all Windfor.

Ford. This is ftrange! who hath got the right Anne? Page. My heart mifgives me; here comes Mr. Fenton Enter Fenton, and Anne Page.

How now, Mr. Fenton ?

Anne. Pardon, good father; good my mother, par

don.

Page. Now, Mifrefs, how chance you went not with Mr. Slender?

Mrs.Page. Why went you not with Mr.Doctor, maid? Fent. You do amaze her: hear the truth of it. You would have marry'd her moft fhamefully, Where there was no proportion held in love: The truth is, fhe and I long fince contracted, Are now fo fure, that nothing can diffolve us. Th' offence is holy that the hath committed; And this deceit lofes the name of craft, Of difobedience, or unduteous title; Since therein the doth evitate and fhun

A thousand irreligious curfed hours,

Which forced marriage would have brought upon her.
Ford. Stand not amaz'd, here is no remedy.
In love, the heav'ns themfelves do guide the ftate;
Money buys lands, and wives are fold by fate.

Fal. I am glad, though you have ta'en a special stand to ftrike at me, that your arrow hath glance'd. Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, Heav'n give thee joy!

What cannot be efchew'd, must be embrace'd.

Eva. I will alfo dance and eat plums at your wedding.

Fal.

Fal. When night-dogs run, all forts of deer are

chas'd.

Mrs. Page. Well, I will mufe no further. Mr. Fenton. Heav'n give you many, many merry days! Good husband, let us every one go home, And laugh this fport o'er by a country-fire, Sir John and all.

Ford. Let it be fo

-Sir John,

To Master Brook you yet fhall hold your word;
For he to-night fhall lie with Miftrefs Ford.

[Exeunt omnes.

MEASURE

DRAMATIS

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vi

enna.

Angelo, Lord-deputy in the
Duke's abfence.
Efcalus, an ancient Lord,
joined with Angelo in the
deputation.

Claudio, a young gentleman.
Lucio, a fantastic.
Two Gentlemen.

PERSON Æ.

A Justice.

Elbow, a fimple conftable.
Froth, a foolish gentleman.
Clown, fervant to Mrs. O-
verdone.

Abhorfon, an executioner.
Barnardine, a diffolute pri-
foner.

Ifabella, fifler to Claudio.
Mariana, betrothed to Angelo.

Varrius, a gentleman, fer- Juliet, beloved of Claudio.

vant to the Duke.

Francifca, a nun.

Mistress Overdone, a bawd. Guards, Officers, and other attendants.

SCENE, Vienna.

Would feem in me t'affect speech and discourse.
Since I am not to know, that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lifts of all advice

My ftrength can give you: then no more remains :
Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able,
And let them werk. The nature of our people,
Our city's inflitutions, and the terms

*The ftory is taken from Cinthio's novels, December 8. November 5. Mr. Pope,

Of

Of common justice, 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,
I fay, bid come before us Angelo :

What figure of us, think you, he will bear ›
For you must know, we have with special roll
Elected him our abfence to fupply;

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

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.

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 th' obferver doth thy history
Fully unfold thyfelf and thy belongings
Are not thine own fo proper, as to waste
Thyfelf upon thy virtues; they on thee.
Heav'n doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themfelves: 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 fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, fhe 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 firft in queftion, is thy fecondary.
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my Lord,

VOL. I.

K k

Let

Let there be fome more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and fo great a figure

Be ftamp'd upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evasion :

We have with a prepar'd and level 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 to you,
As time and our concernings fhall importune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befal you here. So fare you well.
To th' hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commiffions.

Ang. Yet give me leave, my Lord,

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 fcope is as mine own,
So to inforce, 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 applaufe, and Ave's vehement :
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

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

[Exit. Efcal. I fhall defire you, Sir, to give me leave To have free fpeech 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 inftructed.

Ang. 'Tis fo with me: let us withdraw together, And we may foon our fatisfaction have

Touching that point.

Efcal, F'll wait upon your Honour.

[Exeunt.

SCENE