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 fantastick. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the duke. Provost. A Justice. Elbow, a simple constable. Froth, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done Abhorson, an executioner. Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. Isabella, sister to Claudio. Mariana, betrothed to Angelo. Juliet, beloved by Claudio. Francisca, a nun. Mistress Over-done, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Vienna. * Varrius might be omitted, for he is only once spoken to, and says nothing. JOHNSON. 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, Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: Then no more remains For common justice, you are as pregnant in, That we remember: There is our commission, put to know,] may mean, I am compelled to lists-] Bounds, limits. Then no more remains But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work.] Something is wanting in this passage, which the commentators have not been able to supply. The meaning may be, your skill in government is, in ability to serve me, equal to the integrity of your heart, and let them co-operate in your future ministry. VOL. II. K From which we would not have you warp.-Call I hither, say, bid come before us Angelo.— [Exit an Attendant. Lent him our terror, drest 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, That, to the observer, doth thy history Fully unfold: Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste 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:7 nor nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence, 4 with special soul Elected him;] By these words the poet perhaps means that he was the immediate choice of his heart. 5 thy belongings-] i. e. endowments. Are not thine own so proper,] i. e. are not so much thy own property. STEEVENS. 7 to fine issues:] To great consequences. But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise;8 In our remove, be thou at full ourself: Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, 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. Duke. No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice Of your commissions. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise;] This is obscure. I believe the meaning is-I am talking to one who is himself already sufficiently conversant with the nature and duties of my office. MALONE. " — first in question,] That is, first called for; first appointed. As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: ness. you: Fare you well. [Exit. Duke. I thank 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 I am not yet instructed. Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw toge ther, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II. [Exeunt. 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. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. |