This text of Measure for Measure is from Volume I of the nine-volume 1863 Cambridge edition of Shakespeare. The Preface ([e-text 23041]) and the other plays from this volume are each available as separate e-texts.

General Notes are in their original location at the end of the play, followed by the text-critical notes originally printed at the bottom of each page. All notes are hyperlinked in both directions. In dialogue, a link from a speaker’s name generally means that the note applies to an entire line or group of lines.

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THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

EDITED BY

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.

FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR
IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE;

and JOHN GLOVER, M.A.

LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

VOLUME I.

Cambridge and London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1863.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

[ DRAMATIS PERSONÆ].[1]

Scene—Vienna.

[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.]

[ I. 1 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;

5 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,

10 And let them work. The nature of our people,

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,

15 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;

20 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.

I. 1.
25 Duke.

Look where he comes.

[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]

30 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

35 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; [nor] Nature never lends

The smallest scruple of her excellence,

But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines

40 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;

45 [Mortality] and mercy in Vienna

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,

I. 1.
50 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

Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.

Our haste from hence is of so quick condition,

55 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:

60 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

65 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:

I’ll privily away. I love the people,

But do not like to stage me to their eyes:

70 Though it do well, I do not relish well

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!

I. 1.
75 Escal. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!

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:

80 A power I have, but of what strength and nature

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.

[ I. 2 Scene II.] 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.

First Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the 5 King of Hungary’s!

Sec. Gent. Amen.

Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.

10 Sec. Gent. ‘Thou shalt not steal’?

Lucio. Ay, that he razed.

[First Gent.] Why, ’twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There’s not a soldier of us all, that, in the 15 thanksgiving [before] meat, [do] relish the petition well that prays for peace.

Sec. Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it.

Lucio. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.

20 Sec. Gent. No? a dozen times at least.

First Gent. What, in metre?

[Lucio.] In any proportion or in any language.

First Gent. I think, or in any religion.

Lucio. Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all I. 2.
25 controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.

First Gent. Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.

Lucio. I grant; as there may between the [lists] and the 30 velvet. Thou art the list.

First Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou’rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?

35 Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.

First Gent. I think I have done myself wrong, have 40 I not?

Sec. Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.[ ]

[Lucio. Behold, behold], where Madam Mitigation comes! [I have] purchased as many diseases under her roof 45 as come to—

Sec. Gent. To what, I pray?

Lucio. Judge.

Sec. Gent. To three thousand [dolours] a year.

First Gent. Ay, and more.

I. 2.
50 Lucio. A French crown more.

First Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound.

Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; 55 impiety has made a feast of thee.

[Enter Mistress Overdone].

First Gent. How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

Mrs Ov. Well, well; there’s one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

60 Sec. Gent. Who’s that, I pray thee?

Mrs Ov. Marry, sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.

First Gent. Claudio to prison? ’tis not so.

Mrs Ov. Nay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these 65 three days his [head] to be chopped off.

Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?

Mrs Ov. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting

Madam Julietta with child.

70 Lucio. Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.

Sec. Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.

I. 2.
75 First Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

Lucio. Away! let’s go learn the truth of it.

Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.

Mrs Ov. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am 80 custom-shrunk.

[Enter Pompey.]

How now! what’s the news with you?

Pom. Yonder man is carried to prison.

Mrs Ov. Well; what has he done?

Pom. A woman.

85 Mrs Ov. But what’s his offence?

Pom. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

Mrs Ov. What, is there a maid with child by him?

Pom. No, but there’s a woman [with maid] by him.

You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

90 Mrs Ov. What proclamation, man?

Pom. All [houses] in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

Mrs Ov. And what shall become of those in the city?

Pom. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, 95 but that a wise burgher put in for them.

Mrs Ov. But shall [all] our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

Pom. To the ground, mistress.

Mrs Ov. Why, here’s a change indeed in the commonwealth! I. 2.
100 What shall become of me?

Pom. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I’ll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your 105 eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

Mrs Ov. What’s to do here, Thomas tapster? let’s withdraw.

Pom. Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there’s Madam Juliet.

Exeunt.

[Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers.]

110 Claud. Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

Prov. I do it not in evil disposition,

But from [Lord] Angelo by special charge.

Claud. Thus can the demigod Authority

115 Make us pay down for our [offence] [by weight]

[The words] of heaven;—on whom it will, it will;

On whom it will not, so; [yet still ’tis just].

Re-enter Lucio and two Gentlemen.

Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?

Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

120 As surfeit is the father of much fast,

So [every scope] by the immoderate use

Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,

Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,

[A thirsty evil]; and when we drink we die.

I. 2.
125 Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the [morality] of imprisonment. What’s thy offence, Claudio?

Claud. What but to speak of would offend again.

130 Lucio. What, is’t murder?

Claud. No.

Lucio. Lechery?

Claud. Call it so.

Prov. Away, sir! you must go.

135 Claud. One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

Lucio. A hundred, if they’ll do you any good.

Is lechery so look’d after?

Claud. Thus stands it with me:—upon a true contract

I got possession of Julietta’s bed:

140 [You know the lady]; she is fast my wife,

Save that we do the [denunciation] lack

Of outward order: this we came not to,

Only for [propagation] of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her friends;

145 From whom we thought it meet to hide our love

Till time had made them for us. But it chances

The stealth of our [most] mutual entertainment

With character too gross is writ [on] Juliet.

Lucio. With child, perhaps?

Claud.

Unhappily, even so.

I. 2.
150 And the new Deputy now for the Duke,—

Whether it be the [fault and glimpse] of newness,

Or whether that the body public be

A horse whereon the governor doth ride,

Who, newly in the seat, that it may know

155 He can command, lets it straight feel the spur;

Whether the tyranny be in his place,

Or in his eminence that fills it up.

I stagger in:—but this new governor

Awakes me all the enrolled penalties

160 Which have, like unscour’d armour, hung by the wall

So long, that [nineteen] zodiacs have gone round,

And none of them been worn; and, for a name,

Now puts the drowsy and neglected act

Freshly on me: ’tis surely for a name.

165 Lucio. I warrant [it is]: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if [she be] in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him.

Claud. I have done so, but he’s not to be found.

I prithee, Lucio, do me this kind service:

170 This day my sister should the cloister enter

And there receive her approbation:

Acquaint her with the danger of my state;

Implore her, in my [voice], that she make friends

To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him:

I. 2.
175 I have great hope in that; for in her [youth]

There is a [prone] and speechless dialect,

Such as [move] men; [beside], she hath prosperous art

When she will play with reason and discourse,

And well she can persuade.

180 Lucio. I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand [under] grievous [imposition], as for [the enjoying of] thy life, [who I would] be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I’ll to [her].

185 Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio.

Lucio. Within two hours.

Claud.

Come, officer, away!

Exeunt.

[ I. 3 Scene III.] A monastery.

Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.

Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought;

Believe not that the dribbling dart of love

Can pierce a complete [bosom]. Why I desire thee

To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

5 More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends

Of burning youth.

Fri. T.

May your grace speak of it?

Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you

How I have ever loved the life removed,

And held in idle price to haunt assemblies

10 Where youth, and cost, [and witless] bravery [keeps].

I have deliver’d to Lord Angelo,

A man of [stricture] and firm abstinence,

My absolute power and place here in Vienna,

And he supposes me travell’d to Poland;

15 [For] so I have strew’d it in the common ear,

And so it is received. Now, pious sir,

You will demand of me why I do this?

Fri. T. Gladly, my lord.

Duke. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,

20 The needful bits and curbs [to] headstrong [weeds],

Which for [this fourteen] years we have let [slip];

Even like an o’ergrown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,

Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,