Prov. This is another prisoner, that I saved, That should have died when Claudio lost his head; As like almost to Claudio as himself.

[Unmues Claudio. Duke. If he be like your brother, [To Isabella.] for his sake

Is he pardon'd; and, for your lovely sake,
Give me your hand, and say you will be mine,
He is my brother too: but fitter time for that.
By this, lord Angelo perceives he's safe;
Methinks I see a quick'ning in his eye-
Well Angelo, your evil quits you well:
Look that you love your wife; her worth, worth

yours.

I find an apt remission in myself:

And yet here's one in place I cannot pardonYou sirrah, [To Lucio.] that knew me for a fool, a coward,

One of all luxury †, an ass, a madman;
Wherein have I so deserved of you,

That you extol me thus ?

Lucio. 'Faith my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick: if you will hang me for it, you may, but I had rather it would please you, I might be whipp'd.

Duke. Whipp'd first, Sir, and hang'd after.-
Proclaim it provost, round about the city;

If any woman's wrong'd by this lewd fellow,
(As I have heard him swear himself, there's one
Whom he begot with child,) let her appear,
And he shall marry her; the nuptial finish'd,
Let him be whipp'd and hang'd.

Lucio. I beseech your highness, do not marry. me to a whore! Your highness said even now, I made you a duke; good my lord, do not recompence me in making me a cuckold.

Duke. Upon mine honour thou shalt marry her. Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

Remit thy other forfeits :-Take him to prison: And see our pleasure herein executed.

Lucio. Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging.

Duke. Sland'ring a prince deserves it.

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore. Joy to you, Mariana!-Love her, Angelo ;;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.

• Requites.

Thoughtless practice.

+Incontinence.

Punishments.

Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much good

ness:

There's more behind, that is more gratulate ..
Thanks, provost, for thy care, and secrecy;
We shall employ thee in a worthier place;
Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home
The head of Ragozine for Claudio's;
The offence pardons itself.-Dear Isabel,
I have a motion much imports your good;
Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is your's, and what is your's is mine:
So, bring us to our palace; where we'll shew
What's yet behind, that's meet you all should
[Exeunt.

know.

To reward.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.]-We are sent to Cinthio for the plot of Measure for Measure, and Shakspeare's judgement hath been attacked for some deviations from him in the conduct of it, when probably all he knew of the matter was from Ma dam Isabella, in The Heptameron of Whetstone, Lond. 4to. 1582.-She reports, in the fourth dayes Exercise, the rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra. A marginal note informs us, that Whetstone was the author of the Comedie on that subject; which likewise had probably fallen into the hands of Shakspeare. FARMER.

The novel of Giraldi Cinthio, from which Shakspeare is supposed to have borrowed this fable, may be read in Shakspeare Illustrated, elegantly translated, with remarks which will assist the enquirer to discover how much absurdity Shakspeare has admitted or avoided.

I cannot but suspect that some other had new-modelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story which in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The emperor in Cinthio is named Maximine: the duke, in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vincentio. This appears a very slight remark; but since the duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by his title, why should he be called Vincentio among the persons, but because the name was

copied from the story, and placed superfluously at the head of the list, by the mere habit of transcrip tion? It is therefore likely that there was then a story of Vincentio duke of Vienna, different from that of Maximine, emperor of the Romans.

Of this play, the light or comic part is very natural and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few passages be expected, have more labour than elegance. The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indefinite: some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the duke and the imprisonment of Claudio; for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise: or he delegated his power to a man already known to be corrupted. The unities of action and place are sufficiently preserved. JOHNSON.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.

CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence, favourite to
Don Pedro.

BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua, favourite likewise of Don Pedro.

LEONATO, Governor of Messina.

ANTONIO, his Brother.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Don Pedro.

BORACHIO, Followers of Don John.
CONRADE,

DOGBERRY,
VERGES,

A SEXTON.

A FRIAR.

A Boy.

Two foolish Officers.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.

MARGARET, Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

URSULA,

Messengers, Watch, and Attendants.

Scene, Messina.