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Complete Plays, The

Page 282

by William Shakespeare

Of him that makes it: then, if sickly ears,

  Deaf’d with the clamours of their own dear groans,

  Will hear your idle scorns, continue then,

  And I will have you and that fault withal;

  But if they will not, throw away that spirit,

  And I shall find you empty of that fault,

  Right joyful of your reformation.

  Biron

  A twelvemonth! well; befall what will befall,

  I’ll jest a twelvemonth in an hospital.

  Princess

  [To Ferdinand] Ay, sweet my lord; and so I take my leave.

  Ferdinand

  No, madam; we will bring you on your way.

  Biron

  Our wooing doth not end like an old play;

  Jack hath not Jill: these ladies’ courtesy

  Might well have made our sport a comedy.

  Ferdinand

  Come, sir, it wants a twelvemonth and a day,

  And then ’twill end.

  Biron

  That’s too long for a play.

  Re-enter Don Adriano De Armado

  Don Adriano de Armado

  Sweet majesty, vouchsafe me,—

  Princess

  Was not that Hector?

  Dumain

  The worthy knight of Troy.

  Don Adriano de Armado

  I will kiss thy royal finger, and take leave. I am a votary; I have vowed to Jaquenetta to hold the plough for her sweet love three years. But, most esteemed greatness, will you hear the dialogue that the two learned men have compiled in praise of the owl and the cuckoo? It should have followed in the end of our show.

  Ferdinand

  Call them forth quickly; we will do so.

  Don Adriano de Armado

  Holla! approach.

  Re-enter Holofernes, Sir Nathaniel, Moth, Costard, and others

  This side is Hiems, Winter, this Ver, the Spring; the one maintained by the owl, the other by the cuckoo. Ver, begin.

  The Song

  Spring.

  When daisies pied and violets blue

  And lady-smocks all silver-white

  And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue

  Do paint the meadows with delight,

  The cuckoo then, on every tree,

  Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;

  Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,

  Unpleasing to a married ear!

  When shepherds pipe on oaten straws

  And merry larks are ploughmen’s clocks,

  When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws,

  And maidens bleach their summer smocks

  The cuckoo then, on every tree,

  Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo;

  Cuckoo, cuckoo: O word of fear,

  Unpleasing to a married ear!

  Winter.

  When icicles hang by the wall

  And Dick the shepherd blows his nail

  And Tom bears logs into the hall

  And milk comes frozen home in pail,

  When blood is nipp’d and ways be foul,

  Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;

  Tu-who, a merry note,

  While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

  When all aloud the wind doth blow

  And coughing drowns the parson’s saw

  And birds sit brooding in the snow

  And Marian’s nose looks red and raw,

  When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl,

  Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit;

  Tu-who, a merry note,

  While greasy Joan doth keel the pot.

  Don Adriano de Armado

  The words of Mercury are harsh after the songs of

  Apollo. You that way: we this way.

  Exeunt

  Measure for Measure

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  ACT I

  SCENE I. AN APARTMENT IN THE DUKE’S PALACE.

  SCENE II. A STREET.

  SCENE III. A MONASTERY.

  SCENE IV. A NUNNERY.

  ACT II

  SCENE I. A HALL IN ANGELO’S HOUSE.

  SCENE II. ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME.

  SCENE III. A ROOM IN A PRISON.

  SCENE IV. A ROOM IN ANGELO’S HOUSE.

  ACT III

  SCENE I. A ROOM IN THE PRISON.

  SCENE II. THE STREET BEFORE THE PRISON.

  ACT IV

  SCENE I. THE MOATED GRANGE AT ST. LUKE’S.

  SCENE II. A ROOM IN THE PRISON.

  SCENE III. ANOTHER ROOM IN THE SAME.

  SCENE IV. A ROOM IN ANGELO’S HOUSE.

  SCENE V. FIELDS WITHOUT THE TOWN.

  SCENE VI. STREET NEAR THE CITY GATE.

  ACT V

  SCENE I. THE CITY GATE.

  CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY

  Vicentio, 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 Fantastic.

  Two other like Gentlemen.

  Varrius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke.

  Provost.

  Thomas, friar.

  Peter, friar.

  A Justice.

  Elbow, a simple Constable.

  Froth, a foolish Gentleman.

  Pompey, Tapster to Mistress Overdone.

  Clown, Servant to Mistress Overdone.

  Abhorson, an Executioner.

  Barnardine, a dissolute Prisoner.

  Isabella, Sister to Claudio.

  Mariana, betrothed to Angelo.

  Juliet, beloved by Claudio.

  Francisca, a nun.

  Mistress Overdone, a Bawd.

  Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Attendants.

  ACT I

  SCENE I. AN APARTMENT IN THE DUKE’S PALACE.

  Enter Duke Vincentio, Escalus, Lords and Attendants

  Duke Vincentio

  Escalus.

  Escalus

  My lord.

  Duke Vincentio

  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

  For common justice, you’re as pregnant in

  As art and practise 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?

  Escalus

  If any in Vienna be of worth

  To undergo such ample grace and honour,

  It is Lord Angelo.

  Duke Vincentio

  Look where he comes.

  Enter Angelo

  Angelo

  Always obedient to your grace’s will,

  I come to know your pleasure.

  Duke Vincentio

  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, they on thee.

  Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,

  Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues

  D
id 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

  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

  Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,

  Though first in question, is thy secondary.

  Take thy commission.

  Angelo

  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 Vincentio

  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

  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.

  Angelo

  Yet give leave, my lord,

  That we may bring you something on the way.

  Duke Vincentio

  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:

  I’ll privily away. I love the people,

  But do not like to stage me to their eyes:

  Through 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.

  Angelo

  The heavens give safety to your purposes!

  Escalus

  Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!

  Duke

  I thank you. Fare you well.

  Exit

  Escalus

  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.

  Angelo

  ’Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

  And we may soon our satisfaction have

  Touching that point.

  Escalus

  I’ll wait upon your honour.

  Exeunt

  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 Gentleman

  Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of

  Hungary’s!

  Second Gentleman

  Amen.

  Lucio

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

  Second Gentleman

  ‘Thou shalt not steal’?

  Lucio

  Ay, that he razed.

  First Gentleman

  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 thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.

  Second Gentleman

  I never heard any soldier dislike it.

  Lucio

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

  Second Gentleman

  No? a dozen times at least.

  First Gentleman

  What, in metre?

  Lucio

  In any proportion or in any language.

  First Gentleman

  I think, or in any religion.

  Lucio

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

  First Gentleman

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

  Lucio

  I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.

  First Gentleman

  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?

  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 Gentleman

  I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

  Second Gentleman

  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 as come to —

  Second Gentleman

  To what, I pray?

  Lucio

  Judge.

  Second Gentleman

  To three thousand dolours a year.

  First Gentleman

  Ay, and more.

  Lucio

  A French crown more.

  First Gentleman

  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; impiety has made a feast of thee.

  Enter Mistress Overdone

  First Gentleman

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

  Mistress Overdone

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

  Second Gentleman

  Who’s that, I pray thee?

  Mistress Overdone

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

  First Gentleman

  Claudio to prison? ’tis not so.

  Mistress Overdone

  Nay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested, saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these 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?

  Mistress Overdone

  I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam

  Julietta with child.

  Lucio

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

  Second Gentleman

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

  First Gentleman

  But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

  Lucio

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

  Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen

  Mistress Overdone

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

  Enter Pompey

  How now! what’s the news with you?

  Pompey

  Yonder man is carried to prison.

  Mistress Overdone

  Well; what has he done?

  Pompey

  A woman.

  Mistress O
verdone

  But what’s his offence?

  Pompey

  Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

  Mistress Overdone

  What, is there a maid with child by him?

  Pompey

  No, but there’s a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?

  Mistress Overdone

  What proclamation, man?

  Pompey

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

  Mistress Overdone

  And what shall become of those in the city?

  Pompey

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

  Mistress Overdone

  But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?

  Pompey

  To the ground, mistress.

  Mistress Overdone

  Why, here’s a change indeed in the commonwealth!

  What shall become of me?

  Pompey

  Come; fear you not: 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 eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.

  Mistress Overdone

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

  Pompey

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

  Exeunt

  Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers

  Claudio

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

  Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

  Provost

  I do it not in evil disposition,

  But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

  Claudio

  Thus can the demigod Authority

  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?

  Claudio

  From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

  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.

  Lucio

  If 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?

  Claudio

  What but to speak of would offend again.

  Lucio

  What, is’t murder?

  Claudio

  No.

 

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