SCENE--Vienna.
FOOTNOTES:
1: DRAMATIS PERSONÆ] THE NAMES OF ALL THE ACTORS Ff (added at the end of the play). 2: Omitted in Ff. 3: Clowne. Ff.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
ACT I.
SCENE I. An apartment in the DUKE'S palace.
_Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords and Attendants._
Duke. Escalus.
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 5 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, 10 Our city's institutions, and the terms 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, 15 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, 20 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. 25
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' observer doth thy history Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings 30 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, 'twere all alike 35 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, 40 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 45 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 50 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 55 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 60 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, 65 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 well, I do not relish well 70 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 purposes!
Escal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness! 75
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 me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have, but of what strength and nature 80 I am not yet instructed.
Ang. 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point.
Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. [_Exeunt._
NOTES: I, 1.
SCENE I. Lords and Attendants.] Singer. Lords. Ff. and Attendants. Capell. 5: _put_] not Pope. apt Collier MS. 7, 8: _remains, But that_] remains; Put that Rowe. 8, 9: _But that to your sufficiency ..._] But that to your sufficiency you add Due diligency ... Theobald conj. But that to your sufficiency you joyn A will to serve us ... Hanmer. But that to your sufficiency you put A zeal as willing ... Tyrwhitt conj. But that to your sufficiencies your worth is abled Johnson conj. But your sufficiency as worth is able Farmer conj. Your sufficiency ... able Steevens conj. But that your sufficiency be as your worth is stable Becket conj. But state to your sufficiency ... Jackson conj. But thereto your sufficiency ... Singer. But add to your sufficiency your worth Collier MS. But that [tendering his commission] _to your sufficiency. And, as your worth is able, let them work_ Staunton conj. But that to your sufficiency I add Commission ample Spedding conj. See note (I). 11: _city's_] cities Ff. 16: [Exit an Attendant.] Capell. 18: _soul_] roll Warburton. seal Johnson conj. 22: _what_] say, what Pope. 25: SCENE II. Pope. 27: _your pleasure_] F1. your Graces pleasure F2 F3 F4. 28: _life_] look Johnson conj. 28, 29: _character ... history_] history ... character Monck Mason conj. 32: _they_] them Hanmer. 35, 36: _all alike As if we_] all as if We Hanmer. 37: _nor_] om. Pope. 42: _my part in him_] in my part me Hanmer. my part to him Johnson conj. in him, my part Becket conj. 43: _Hold therefore, Angelo:--_] Hold therefore, Angelo: [Giving him his commission] Hanmer. Hold therefore. Angelo, Tyrwhitt conj. Hold therefore, Angelo, our place and power: Grant White. 45: _Mortality_] Morality Pope. 51: _upon it_] upon 't Capell. _No more_] Come, no more Pope. 52: _leaven'd and prepared_] Ff. leven'd and prepar'd Rowe. prepar'd and leaven'd Pope. prepar'd and level'd Warburton. prepar'd unleaven'd Heath conj. 56: _to you_] om. Hanmer. 61: _your commissions_] F1. your commission F2 F3 F4. our commission Pope. 66: _laws_] law Pope. 76: [Exit.] F2. [Exit. (after line 75) F1. 84: _your_] you F2.