Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendants.

SCENE - Vienna

1 This play was first printed in the First Folio. It was there divided into Acts and Scenes. At the end of the text "The Scene scribed as "Vienna," and "The Names of all the Actors at length.

was dewere given

DUKE

SCALUS.

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: then no more remains,

But that to your sufficiency.

as your worth is able,

And let them work. The nature of our people,

Our city's institutions, and the terms

4 to affect speech] to love talk for its own sake.

5 I am put to know] Cf. 2 Hen. VI, III, i, 43: "Had I been first put [i. e.,

10

For common justice, you 're as pregnant in
As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commission,

From which we would not have you warp. Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo.

[Exit an Attendant.

What figure of us think you he will bear?
For you must know, we have with special soul
Elected him our absence to supply;

Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: what think you of it?
ESCAL. If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.

DUKE.

Look where he comes.

Enter ANGELO

ANG. Always obedient to your Grace's will, I come to know your pleasure.

7-10 then no more remains . . . work] This is obscure, and it is usually assumed that some words have accidentally dropped out. Theobald inserted in the dotted spaces you add Due diligency, for which Spedding substituted I add Commission ample. The meaning obviously is: Nothing more remains for me to tell you except to commit my authority to your own fit knowledge, with which your moral worth is on a level, and to let the principles or properties of government work out their way.

11-12 the terms

justice] the technical language of the courts.

13 art and practice] Cf. Hen. V, I, i, 51 : “art and practic part of life.” 17 figure of us] resemblance to us.

18 with special soul] out of my special affection for him. Cf. Tempest, III, i, 44: “With so full soul."

20

30

40

There is a kind of character in thy life,
That to th' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own so proper, as to waste
Thyself upon thy virtues, they 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, 't were 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 advertise;

Hold therefore, Angelo:

In our remove be thou at full ourself;

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

31 thine own so proper] so exclusively thine own property.

36-37 Spirits... issues] The soul is not endowed with nobleness, but for realising noble purposes.

39-41 she determines . . . use] she allots to herself the creditor's splendid advantages both of gratitude for service rendered and of interest on the loan.

42 can . . . advertise] can give instruction as to the part of deputy which I bestow on him. Advertise is accented on the second syllable.

44 In our remove] On our withdrawal.

45 Mortality and mercy] Power of capital punishment and of granting

pardon.

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.

ANG.

Now, good my lord,

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

Be stamp'd upon it.

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 importune,
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 haste 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:

47 Though... secondary] Though he was first under consideration for this post, [Escalus] now thy subordinate.

52 leaven'd] well fermented, mature.

55 prefers... unquestion'd] takes precedence of everything else, and

leaves undiscussed.

50

60