The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Thyself 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 issues; 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 use. § But I do bend my speech
To one that can my part in him advértise;
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 first in question, is thy secondary:

Take thy commission.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal?

Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to com. mand the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace.

2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said.

2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

1 Gent. What? in metre?

Lucio. In any proportion, • or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: As for example; Thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us. +

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet; Thou art the list.

1 Gent. And thou the velvet thou art good" velvet thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee I had as lief be a list of an English ker

Let there be some more test made of my metal, sey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French Before so noble and so great a figure

Be stamp'd upon it.

Duke. No more evasion:

We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,
That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestion'd
Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
As time and our concernings shall impórtune,
How it goes with us; and do look to know
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.

Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.
Duke. My baste 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 laws,

As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand;

I'll privily away: I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
Though it do weil, I do not relish well
Their loud applause, and aves ¶ vehement:
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
Ang. The heavens give safety to your pur-
poses !

Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness.

Duke. I thank you: Fare you well. [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, Sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns To look into the bottom of my place: [me A power I have; but of what strength and naI am not yet instructed. [ture

Ang. 'Tis so with me :-Let us withdraw togetler,

And we may soon our satisfaction have
Tonching that point.

Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Street.

Enter LUCIO and two GENTLEMEN. Lucio. if the duke with the other dukes

velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

Gent. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not?

2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted, or free.

Lucio. Pehold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I lave purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come to

2 Gent. To what, I pray?

1 Gent. Judge.

2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more

Lucio. A French crown § more.

1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: But thou art full of error; I am sound.

Lucio. 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.

Enter BAWD.

1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ?

Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all.

1 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 days his head's to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not bave it so: Art thou sure of this?

Bawd. I am too sure of it and it is for getting madain Julietta with child.

Lucio. Believe me, this may be he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was eve precise in promise-keeping.

2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws some

thing near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt LUCIO and GENTLEMAN. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you?

Enter CLOWN.

Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. Well; what has he done?

Clo. A woman.

Bawd. But what's his offence ?

Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him?

Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

Bawd. What proclamation, man?

Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down.

Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city?

Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgber put in for them.

Bawd. But shall all our house sof resort in the suburbs be pull'd down?

Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?

Clo. Come; fear not you; good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be you tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn our eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw.

Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet.

SCENE III.-The same.

[Exeunt.

Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and
Officers; Lucio, and two Gentlemen.
Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to
the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,
But from lord Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demi god, Authority,. Make us pay down for our offence by weight.The words of heaven ;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty;

As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, (Like rats that ravint down their proper bane,) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.-What's thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again.

Lucio. What is it? murder?

Cland. One word, good friend :~Lacio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. -Is lechery so look'd after ?

Claud. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true contract,

I got possession of Julietta's bed;
You know the lady; she is fast my wife,
Save that we do the denunciation Jack
Of outward order: this we came not to,
Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;
From whom we thought it meet to hide our love,
Till time had made them for us. But it chances,
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment,
With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even so.

And the new deputy now for the duke,-
Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness:
Or whether that the body public be

A horse whereon the governor doth ride,
Who, newly in the seat, that it may know
He can command, lets it straight feel the spar :
Whether the tyranny be in his place,
Or in his eminence that fills it up,
I stagger in:-But this new governor
Awakes me all the enrolled penalties,
Which have, like unscour'd armour, hung by the
wall

So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round,
And none of them been worn; and, for a name,
Now puts the drowsy and neglected act
Freshly on me :-'tis surely, for a name.

Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle+ on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, many sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found.

I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service :
This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation:

Acquaint her with the danger of my state;
Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends
To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him;
I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect,
Such as moves men; besides, she hath pros-
perous art

When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.

Lucio. I pray, she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her.

Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours,-
Claud. Come, officer, away.

SCENE IV.-A Monastery.

[Exeunt.

I have delivered to iord Angelo
(A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,)
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;
For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,
And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious Sir,
You will demand of me, why I do this?
Fri. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting
laws,

(The needful bits and curbs for headstrong
steeds)

Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep;
Even like an o'ergrown lion in cave,

That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers
Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children's sight,
For terror, not to use: in time the rod
Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our de-
crees,

Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.

Fri. It rested in your grace

To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd;
And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd,
Than in lord Angels.

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, indeed, my
father,

I have on Angelo impos'd the office;

Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike
home,

And yet my nature never in the sight,
Te do it slander: And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'y-
thee,

Supply me with the habit, and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. More reasons for this
tion,

Enter LUCIO.

Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheer

roses

Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me
As bring me to the sight of Isabella,

A novice of this place, and the fair sister
To her unhappy brother, Claudio?

Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask
The rather, for I now must make you know
I am that Isabella, and his sister.

Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly
greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.
Isab. Woe ine! For what?

Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be
bis judge,

He should receive his punishment in thanks :
He bath got his friend with child.

Isab. Sir, make me not your story.⚫
Lucio. It is true.

I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin
With maids to seem the lapwing, and to jest,
Tongue far from heart,-play with all virgins so:
I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted;
By your renouncement, an immortal spirit;
And to be talk'd with in sincerity,
As with a saint.

Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mock-
ing me.

Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,†
'tis thus:

Your brother and his lover have embrac'd:
As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time,
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison; even so her plenteous womb
Expresseth his full tilth § and husbandry.
Isab. Some one with child by him?-My
cousin Juliet ?

Lucio. Is she your cousin ?
Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their
names,

By vain though apt affection.
Lucio. She it is.

Isab. Oh let him marry her!

Lucio. This is the point.

The duke is very strangely gone from hence : ac- Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,

At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one :-Lord Angelo is precise;
Stauds at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: Hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.
[Exeunt.

SCENE V.-A Nunnery.
Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.
Isab. And have you nuns no further privi-
leges ?

Fran. Are not these large enough?
Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring

In band, and hope of action: but we do leara
By those that know the very nerves of state,
His givings out were of an infinite distance
From his true-meant design. Upon his place,
And with full line of his authority,
Governs lord Angelo; a man, whose blood
Is very snow-broth; one who never feels
The wanton stings and motions of the sense;
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
With profits of the mind, study and fast.
He (to give fear to use and liberty,
Which have, for long, run by the hideons law,
As mice by lions,) hath pick'd out an act,
Under whose heavy sense your brother's life
Falls into forfeit: he arrests him on it;
And follows close the rigour of the statute,
To make him an example: all hope is gone,
Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer
To soften Angelo: And that's my pith
Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother.
Isab. Doth he so seek his life?
Lucio. Has censur'd ** him
Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath
A warrant for his execution.

Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

Lucio. Assay the power you have.
Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt.
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors,

And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo,
And let him leain to know, when maidens sue,

Ang. How now, Sir! What's your name! and what's the matter?

Elb. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and any name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, Sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.

Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they are they not malefactors?

Elb. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have.

Escal. This comes off well; here's a wise officer.

Ang. Go to: What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak,

Elbow?

Clo. He cannot, Sir; he's out at elbow.
Ang. What are you, Sir?

Elb. He, Sir? a tapster, Sir; parcel +-bawd;

Ang. We must not make a scare-crow of the one that serves a bad woman; whose house, Sir, law,

pregnant,

'Tis very

The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it.
Because we see it; but what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,
For ** I have had such faults: but rather tel! me,
When I, that censure + him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Ang. Where is the provost ?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
Ang. See that Claudio

was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs ; and now she professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

Escal. How know you that?

Elb. My wife, Sir, whom I detest ý before heaven and your honour,

Escal. How! thy wife?

Elb. Ay, Sir? whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,—

Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore ?

Elb. I say, Sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty

house.

Escal. How dost thou know that, constable?

Elb. Marry, Sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accused in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanness there.

Escal. By the woman's means?

Elb. Ay, Sir, by mistress Overdone's means: but as she spit in his face, so she defied him. Clo, Sir, if it please your honour, this is not

Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man, prove it.

Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? To ANGELO. Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence,) for stew'd prunes; Sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time stood, as it were, in a fruit dish, a dish of some three-pence; your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes, but very good dishes.

Escul. Go to, go to: no matter for the dish,

Sir.

Clo. No, indeed, Sir, not of a pin; you are there'n in the right: but, to the point; As I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great belly'd, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, pay[Exit PROVOST.ing for them very honestly;-for, as you know, master Froth, I cou'd not give you three-pence again.

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:
Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared;
For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

Escal. Well, heaven forgive him; and forgive
us all!

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:
Some run from brakes ‡ of vice, and answer

Froth. No, indeed.

Clo. Very well you being then, if you be remember'd, cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes.

Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.

Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if yon be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you. Froth. All this is true.

Clo. Why, very well then. Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. What was done to Elbow's wife, that

Scene 1.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

he hath cause to complain of? Come me to
what was done to her.

Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Escal. No, Sir, nor I mean it not.

Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your
honour's leave: And, I beseech you, look into
master Froth here, Sir; a man of fourscore
pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas :
-Was't not at Hallowmas, master Froth?

Froth. All-hollondeve.

Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths: He, Sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, Sir; 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where, indeed, you have a delight to sit Have you not?

Froth I have so; because it is an open room, and good for winter.

Clo. Why, very well then ;-I hope here be truths.

Ang. This will last out a night in Russia,
When nights are longest there: I'll take my
leave,

And leave you to the hearing of the cause;
Hoping, you'll find good cause to whip them all.
Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your
lordship.
Now, Sir, come on; What was done to Elbow's
[Exit ANGELO.
wife, once more?

Clo. Once, Sir? there was nothing done to her

once.

Elb. I beseech you, Sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.

Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me. Escal. Well, Sir: What did this gentleman to her?

Clo. I beseech you, Sir, look in this gentleman's face :-Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth your honour mark his face?

Escal. Ay, Sir, very well.

Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.

Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face?

Escal. Why, no.

Clo. I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him: Good then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.

Escal. He's in the right: Constable, what say you to it?

Elb. First, an it like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.

Clo. By this hand, Sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.

Elb. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come, that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.

Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.

Escal. Which is the wiser bere? Justice or Iniquity? Is this true?

Elb. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her, before I was married to her? If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer:-Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.

Escal. If he took you a box o' ear, you might have your action of slander too.

Elb. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is't your worship's pleasure I should do with this wicked caitiff?

Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences tu him, that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let bim continue in his courses, till thou know'st what they are.

Elb. Marry, I thank your worship for it :

819

Thou seest, thou wicked varlet now, what's come
let; thou art to continue,
upon thee; thou art to continue now, thou var-

Escal. Where were you born, friend?

[TO FROTH.

Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.
Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a year?
Froth. Yes, au't please you, Sir.
Escal. So.-What trade are you of, Sir?
[To the CLOWN.

Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
Escal. Your mistress's name?
Clo. Mistress Over-done.

Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband.

Clo. Nine, Sir; Over-done by the last. Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acEscal. Nine!-Come hither to me, master quainted with tapsters: they will draw you, master and let me hear no more of you. Froth, and you will haug them: Get you gone,

Froth. I thank your worship: For mine own but I am drawn in. part, I never come into any room in a taphouse,

Escal. Well; no more of it, master Froth: me, master tapster: what's your name, master farewell. [Exit FROTH.]-Come you hither to tapster?

Clo. Pompey.

Escal. What else?
Clo. Bum, Sir.

Escal. 'Troth, and your bum is the greatest you are Pompey the great. Pompey, you are thing about you; so that, in the beastliest sense, in being a tapster. partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it true; it shall be the better for you. Are you not? come, tell me Clo. Truly, Sir, I am a poor fellow, that would live.

Escal. How would you live Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?

Clo. If the law would allow it, Sir.
Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey ;
nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna.

spay all the youth in the city?
Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and

Escal. No, Pompey.

Clo. Truly, Sir, in my poor opinion, they will the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear to't then If your worship will take order for the bawds.

can tell you: It is but beading and hanging.
Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I

that way but for ten year together, you'll be
Clo. If you head and hang all that offend
If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I'll rent the
glad to give out a commission for more heads.
fairest house in it, after threepence a bay: If you
you so.
live to see this come to pass, say, Pompey told

requital of your prophecy, hark you,-I advise
Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in
any complaint whatsoever, no, not for dwelling
you, let me not find you before me again upon
where you do if I do, Pompey, I shall beat
you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Cæsar to
you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have
you whipt: so for this time, Pompey, fare you
well.

sel; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and for-
Clo. I thank your worship for your good conn-
Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade;
tune shall better determine.
The valiant heart's not whipt out his trade.

[Exit.

come hither, master Constable. How long have
Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow;
you been in this place of constable ?

Elb. Seven year and a half, Sir.
Escal. I thought, by your readiness in the
office, you had continued in it some time: You
say, seven years together?

• Measures.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare: With Glossarial Notes, a Sketch of ...