Pr ]

Dramatis Perfonæ.

VINCENTIO, Duke of Vienna.

Angelo, Lord Deputy in the Duke's abfence.

Efcalus, }

An ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the

Claudio, a young

Deputation.

Gentleman.

Lucio, a Fantaftick.

Two Gentlemen.

Varius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke.

1fabella, Sifter to Claudio.

Marina, betrothed to Angelo.

Juliet, beloved of Claudio.

Francifca, a Nun.

Miftrefs Over-done, a Bard.

Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Vienna.

MEA

MEASURE for MEASURE.

A C T I.

SCENE, the Duke's PALACE.

E

Efcal. My Lord.

Duke. Of Government the properties t'unfold,
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: (1)

then no more remains:

(1) Put that to your Sufficitney, as your Worth is able,

Put

And let them work.] I doubt not, but this Paffage, either from the Impertinence of the Actors, or the Negligence of the Copyifts, has come maimed to us. In the first Place, what an unmeafurable, inharmonious, Verfe have we here; and, then, how lame is the Senfe! What was Efealus to put to his Sufficiency? Why, his Science. But his Science and his Sufficiency were but one and the fame Thing. On what then does the Relative, them, depend? The old Editions read thus.

Put that to your fufficiency, as your worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city's inftitutions, and the terms

Of common juftice, 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 foul
Elected him our absence to supply;

Lent him our terror, dreft 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.

"Enter Angelo.<

Duke. Look, where he comes.

Ang. Always obedient to your Grace's will,

Then no more remains,

But that to your Sufficiency, as your Worth is able,
And let them work.

Here, again, the Senfe is manifeftly lame and defective, and as the Verfification is fo too, they concur to make me think, a Line has accidentally been left out. Perhaps, Something like this might fupply our Author's Meaning.

•Then no more remains,
But that to your Sufficiency you add
Due Diligency, as your Worth is able;
And let them work.

By fome fuch Supplement both the Senfe and Measure would be cured. But as the Conjecture is unfupported by any Authorities, I have not pretended to thrust it into the Text; but fubmit it to Judgment. They, who are acquainted with Books, know, that, where two Words of a fimilar Length and Termination happen to lie under one another, nothing is more common than for Tranfcribers to glance their Eye at once from the first to the undermaft Word, and fo leave out the intermediate part of the Sentence.

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 walle
Thyfelf upon thy virtues; they on thee.
Heav'n 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', But to fine iffues: nor Nature never lends

The fmalleft fcruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty Goddefs, fhe determines

Herself the glory of a creditor,

Both thanks and ufe. 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 our felf.
Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Efcalus,
Though firft in queftion, is thy Secondary:
Take thy commiffion.

Ang. Now, good my lord,

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

Be ftampt upon it.

Duke. Come, no more evafion:

We have with a prepar'd and leaven'd choice
Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
Our hafte from hence is of fo quick condition,
That it prefers itfelf, and leaves unqueftion'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.

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 applause, and Ave's vehement:
Nor do I think the man of fafe discretion,
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
Ang. The heav'ns give fafety to your purpofes!
Ejcal. 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 speech 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. I'll wait upon your Honour.

Lucio.

SCENE, The Street.

Enter Lucio, and two Gentlemen.

[Exeunt.

F the Duke, with the other Dukes, come not to

I compofition with the King of Hungary, why,

then all the Dukes fall upon the King.

1 Gent. Heav'n grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!

2 Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou conclud'ft like the fanctimonious Pirate, that went to fea with the ten Commandments, but fcrap'd one out of the Table.

2 Gent. Thou shalt not fleal?

Lucio. Ay, that he raz'd.

1 Gent. Why, 'twas a Commandment to command the captain and all the reft from their functions; they

put