PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna. ANGELO, Lord Deputy in the Duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the Deputation. CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman. LUCIO, a Fantastic. Two other like Gentlemen. VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant 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. Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, My strength can give you: then no more remains, Lent him our terror, dressed him with our love; Duke. Enter ANGELO. 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, (259) That, to the observer, doth thy history Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touched, 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; Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus, Now, good my lord, Ang. Be stamped upon it. Duke. No more evasion: We have with a leavened and prepared choice Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Duke. My haste may not admit it; Nor need you, on mine honor, 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; But do not like to stage me to their eyes; Nor do I think the That does affect it. Ang. man of safe discretion, Once more, fare you well. Escal. I am not I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave I have; but of what strength and nature Tis so with me:-let us withdraw together, that point. I'll wait upon your honor. [Exeunt SCENE II. A Street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then, all the dukes fall upon the king. 1 Gent. Hungary's! 2 GentLucio. that went one out of 2 Gent Lucio. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Amen. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped the table. Thou shalt not steal? Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command 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. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion. In any proportion, or in any language. 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 shears between us. |