COLLEG

LIBRAm

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE.

\^o\

Preface.
The

First

printed in
and

holds

Edition.

the

First

the

fourth

direct reference

to

Measure

FoHo,

the

for

Measure

it

occupies

where

place among
play has been

the

'

into

for Measure
play.

one

The

Date

of

and

Much

found

Composition.

Ado

61-84,

pp.

Comedies.'

No

anterior

is there any
record
of
publication in 1623, nor
before the Restoration, when
Davenant
his Lazv againstLovers, a wretched
attempt
Measure

first

was

About

A 11arguments

to

its

its performance
to

produced
fuse

Nothing

for the date

of

from
composition of Measure for Measure mu.sthedva.wn
considerations
of style,
and from
general
allegedallusions.
As
the
it
been
has
maintained
that two
latter,
regards
(Act I. i. 68-71 and Act II. iv. 27-30) offer
passages
a
courtlyapology for King James I.'s statelyand ungracious
demeanour
his
into
on
England," and
entry
various
of
likeness
in
of the Duke
the
character
points
"^
and James have been detected.
This
evidence by itself
would
be of littlevalue, but it certainlycorroborates
the
"

aesthetic and
about

metrical
the

tests, which

of sition
compoin 1607, William

fix the

date

1603-4. Further,
of our
Barksted, an admirer
poet, published a
the
Mother
Myrrha,
of Adonis, wherein
*

The

Court
"

'

on

usually cited from the accounts

entry
from
Oct. 1604 to Oct. 1605 is now
known

By his Matis
Mesur

year

for

authentic

Plaiers

Mesur

'

on

"

information.

Stivens

of

night in the Hall,

probably, however,

the

occurs

be
a

an

Revels

the

to

titled
en-

poem,

at

a
forgery.
Play called

forgery

was

based

Preface

MEASURE

obvious

reminiscence

of

FOR

MEASURE

in Measure

passage

for

ure
Meas-

:
"

"

And

like

Seizeth

the

Folke

So

to

been

the

The

his

to

as

straight by and

swoon,

their

fetch

the

ran

by

him

backe,
lacke."

doth

ayre

II. iv.

advanced
of the

one

man

helpe confusedly have

for Measure,
has

extasie

sicklie

art to
seeking
that
he
the
throng,
many

Stokes

Barksted,

of

nature

with

(cp. Measure
Mr.

sudden

some

he 's discerned

When
And

when

as

24-27).

ingenious conjecture that

children

of the

Revels, may

of the part of Isabella.*

for the date
1603,
argument

have

originalactor

strongest

critics,is derived

adopted by
this

and

from

the

generally

links between
many
contain
similar

they both
reflections on
Life and Death, though Measure
ure
for Measwith the problems which
set
bedeals,not like Hamlet
of exceptionaltemperament,
but with mere
human
one
nature"
(W. Pater, Appreciations,p. 179). There
are,
of
in
the
two
expression
strikingparallelisms
moreover,
call
replays. Similarly,incidents in Measure
for Measure
play

Hamlet;

"

All 's Well

almost
the

twin-sisters

latter

play

conclusions

Source
was

Giraldi

as

the

; but
too

are

; Isabella

Well

that Ends

questions

intricate

regards

the

date

Play. The
ultimately derived
Cinthiof (Decad. 8,
of the

to

and

at

issue

warrant

of the

plot

Helena

us

former

of Measure

from

the

Nov.

5)

seem

concerning
drawing
play.

in

-for Measure

of

Hecatommithi
:

the

direct

source,

of Shakespeare's Plays; H. P.
^Cp. The Chronological Order
Stokes; 106-109.
and
t Concerning the historical basis of the story, cp. Notes
in Vienna
student
Queries, July 29th 1893 ; in 1547 a Hungarian
narrated
the occurrence
in a letter to a friend in Sarvar:
{cp. also
Goulast's

Temps,
dramatized

1563, two

Histoires

1607).
by
years

admirables

It would
Claude
before

seem

Rouillet
Cinthio's

et

mcmorahles

that'the
in

his

advenues

subject had
Philamire,

Hecatommithi.

de

Nostre

already been

published

in

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Preface

dramatisation
of the story by George
a
however, was
Promos
and
acted,
Whetstone, whose
Cassandra, never
in
The
title
of
tedious
this
was
printed
production
1578.
is noteworthy as indicatingthe rough outhne
speare's
of Shake-

original:
Right Excellent
"

Famoiis\ History\ of Promos

and
Cassandra;]divided into two Comical
Disconrses.\
In the first part is shown,\ the unsufferable
abuse
of a
behaviour
lezvd Magistrate,]
the virtuous
of a chaste
lezvdness
tesan,]
Lady:\ the uncontrolled
of a favoured Courand
estimation
the undeserved
of a pernicious
the perfect
Parasite.]In the second part is discoursed,]
magnanimity of a noble King] in checking Vice and favourin
Wherein
is
Ruin
and
the
shozvn]
Virtue:]
dishonest
zvith the advancement
Overthrozv
practices,]
of
brary;
of upright dealing.] \Cp. Hazlitt's Shakespeare LiPart 11. Vol. ii.)
In 1582 Whetstone
included
version of the same
a prose
The

and

of Civil Discourses,

story in his Heptameron

known

probably

*'

that

first

the

he

in this narrative
of

glimpse

it has

Shakespeare;

to

"

composition

been

even

well

may

have

ferred
in-

caught

nobler

with

version

tions."
propor-

claim
and Cassandra
play of Promos
may
distinction
of having provided the rough material
Measure
for Measure; the earlier production should

The

read

old

order

in

Shakespeare
has

has

to

somewhat

loftier motive

at

; how

for

be

least, how

original; how

his crude

transformed

into it

infused

understand,

tJic

he has

he

ennobled

characters.
episodes and new
heroine, and created new
The
picture of the wronged, dejected mistress of the
is wholly Shakespeare's.
moated
grange

its

of Action.

The

Act I. Scene
after which
some

i. may

Duration
four

days

Day

in order

time

of

action

consists

of

:
"

I.

to

permit the

be taken

little interval
new

governors
3

as

must

of the

kind
be

of prelude,

supposed

cityto

settle

MEASURE

Preface

to

Act

Day
of

Act

Times

1877-79).

the

is

play

in

comprised

three

includes

Act

I.

Scene

ii.

and

ends

with

with

ii.
with

commences

Scene

IV.

Act

of

with

commences

Scene

IV.

Day

rest

days.

consecutive

Day

The

work.

their

MEASURE

FOR

Act

IV.

Scene

ii.

and

ends

and

vi.,

and

the

iv.
Act
is

V.

which

in

Shakespeare's

Scenes

IV.

one

v.

only

scene

Plays;

(P.
New

A.

Daniel;

Shakespeare

whole
On

the

Soc,

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Critical

Comments.
I.

Argument.
I.

Vincentio, Duke
into

reforms
the

line of

in distant

life.

of

of

his

that

the

remains

is

to

secretlythe

watch

to

of

gentleman

travel

child

is with

to

old

an

law

by

him.

Claudio

obsolete

till then

"

actions

Vienna,

contemplate early marriage,

lovers

amenable

becomes

he

delegateshis authority to Angelo, a

for probity in public and purity in private
the
of leaving the city,the Duke
assumes

friar and

Though

particularlyalong

government,

deputy. Claudio, a young

his betrothed, Juliet,who

wrongs

of introducing

lands, and

Instead

habit

his

Vienna, being desirous

public morality,announces

renowned

man

of

"

capitalpunishment for his sin. And the stern

make
to
a
strikingexample of the first
Angelo, anxious
offender
Claudio
to death.
brought before him, sentences

which

The

fixes

latter's
but

nunnery,
to

II.

sister,Isabella, is

being

advised

morality.

In

and

Isabella

at her

his

zeal

her

brother.

that

had

hitherto

passion
words

her

interview

second
that

she

has

he

But

brother's

entering a
solves
peril, re-

his work

of

him

with
she

purchase

her

for

time

scant

can

in

awakens

reform
mercy;

obtain

no

Angelo

in his cold

lain dormant
with

of

point

deputy.

first interview

leniency for
her

the

Angelo vigorously prosecutes

in

At

of

the

with

intercede

on

nature.

in so many
proposes
brother's
pardon wdth her

him

he

honour.

own

III.
and

The

hastens

virtuous
to

maiden

spurns

the

Claudio, in prison, whom

proffered terms
she

exhorts

to

Comments

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

for death, since his Hfe can

be procured only by
prepare
her disgrace. Claudio
at first upholds her decision; but
the

fear of death

her

to

weakens

his resolution

yieldfor his sake.

point of leaving him

the
Duke
He

who

"

has

heard

and

he

implores

Isabella,deeply angered, is on
the disguised
to his fate,when

their conversation

enters

"

the cell.

tells Isabella

privatelyof a way by which she can save

her brother
without
It is by apcompromising herself.
pearing
to yieldto Angelo, appointinga rendezvous
with
him, and then sending in her stead one
Mariana, who
had
been
engaged in marriage to and then deserted by
Angelo.
IV.

The

where

Duke

Isabella

takes

the details of the

Mariana's

house,
ing
arranged. Angelo, hav-

plan are

to

accomplished his
sends

order

an

Claudio.

The

and
head

of

Duke

finds

that he will

The

proper
Isabella

The

is in the
to

means

another
him.

V.

to

with the supposed Isabella,

purpose
execution
of
prison for the immediate

The

Duke

then

appears

He

costume.

is met

publiclyaccuses

Duke

Mariana

arrest.

towards

in his costume

witness

testimony

in the trial force

Duke

Angelo,

whereupon

who

sembled
re-

letter

deputy by

of seduction
her and

and

murder.

places her

under

The
Duke
brings accusation.
inquiry in his deputy's hands, and

shortlyreturns

as

his

who

and

in turn

retires,leaving the
in the

rives,
ar-

city.
at the city gates, clad in his
by Angelo and other officials.

Angelo

feigns anger

died

just

advises

order

to the

shortly return
Duke

had

the

by displayingthe

Claudio

save

who

man

prison when

of friar in order

of

him

the
to

two

is sentenced

act

as

stances
Circum-

women.

suddenly his

resume

he visits merited

to

rank

condemnation

to death, after

upon
married
to

being
for her own
protection. The penalty is averted
bella.
by the entreaties of the wife, seconded by the gentle IsaClaudio
from
is released
prison and enjoined to
wed
with Juliet,
for the hand
of Isawhile the Duke
bella.
sues
Mariana

McSpadden

Shakespearian Synopses.

FOR

MEASURE

Comments

MEASURE
II.

Poet's

The
The

Puritans, who

Church

back

could

their

the
in

desired

Mary

their

eyes,

to

Church

see

by laymen,
into England,

government

aristocracyof the bishops' Others

spiritual
the necessity of one
still farther, denied
common
the Church
of worship for all,and desired to have

place of

form
broken

the

officiate

might

Presbyterians and
So

far

whatever

can

to

write
he

subject as
the

cannot

took

time

into

All

no

interest

ments.
religiousmovePuritanism
only in its
art, and in its severely
or

punishment

frailties.

woof

and

he

saw

of

for

Measure.

the

interests

of
w^as

sombre

warp

scenes,

moral, and
saic
its Phari-

relieve

the

positivelycriminal

throughout,even

of
as

treated

the

of the theatre
be

manded
de-

interwoven

tragedy. But what

the poet's mood
a
"

unusually broad and realistic

their pictures of the dregs of society,
painfulness of the theme, or disguise

which

with

He

should

comedy

Dark, tragic, heavy

tragi-comedy,in
comic

and

Measure

the

severe

comedy!

of his

hatred

did, because

that
with

any
the

enough only simulated virtue.

virtue that
indignationat this hypocritical

his

led him

here

its often

aspect, and
was

with

into contact

especiallyof sexual,
It

in Cromwell's

ecclesiastical

of these

condemnation

intolerant

have

We

Shakespeare

see,

fanatical

and

which

Independents.

we

as

in any
He came

narrow

priest.

as

great party division

of the

germs

independent congregations,in

into

up

believer

the

of

State Church

congregation,introduced

of the

elders

w^ent

of

before

returned

subjectto
such an institution as Episcopacy. Some
to Scottish
Presbyterianismas a worthy

of
the crown,
or
looked
of them

model, and

Christian

leading the

Church

democratic

possibly approve

not

of

dreamed

Play.

originalpurity,and who had

banishment
during the reign

ideal of

the

this

in

its

to

after

home
with

Purpose

the

nature

of

the

action.

One

feels

episodes,that Shakespeare's

in the comic
7

MEASURE

Comments

burning

wrath

underlies

the

and

comedy

of

yet it is

And

too

great

of

he

shows
if

will

prove,
the temptation which

us

only

weak

how
he

the

even

happens

to

finished
strictest

come

across

reallytempts him ; and how

with
man's
desire, if it meets
opposition,reveals
who
quite another being a villain,a brute beast
actions

worse

in others

punished

hundredfold

superiorityof

the calm

such

than

in him
allows

"

"

himself

tack
at-

stage of his development he is far

this

psychologistto depict a ready-made,

hypocrite. No,
Pharisee

obligatorymerriment.
reallyagainst hypocrisy that his

not

At

is aimed.

volcano, which
every
form
through the superficial
like

structure

up its flames
the interludes

shoots

moment

hypocrisy of self-righteousness

at the moral

whole

MEASURE

FOR

which, in

those

to
spotlessconscience, he has hitherwith the utmost
severity.
Brandes
: William
Shakespeare.
a

III.
Isabella.
The

humorous
that

it not

were

of and

out

the

are

above

would

be

needed

to

altogetherrepulsive

was

of

about

now

Helena

"

one

worst

of moral

which

rise the

and

personality. Out

of will.

emerges

this pure

ruption
cor-

virginalstrength

At

the

entrance

which

into

to

Shak-

heart

Isabella

and

is the

only

one

of

fixed

upon
is
something abstract
more,
human
of her youth, than
any
energy
of this Vienna, in which
"

Till it o'errun

and

pass stand the figuresof Isabella

of conscience, the
the embodiment

whose
Shakspere's women
an
impersonal ideal,to whom
ardor

license

to

other the embodiment

in the

guise
dis-

present, without

severityand beauty of Isabella.

dark
and dangerous tragic world

spere

and

they

extenuation, the

or

and

scenes

the

are

eyes

Corruption boils and

bubbles

stew,"

zeal, this rectitude

of

w411,this virgin

MEASURE

sanctity. Isabella's
merely

or

of holiness

nothing

meditative

kind.

exercise

It is

And
purposes.
invigorated,she would

that

own

"

in

captivity, having
Isabella docs

Putting aside

not

and

to

body

for

may

be

soul

into

all disobedience."

revenge

to the sisterhood

of Saint

Clare.

religion,and the strict

conventual
of
rule, she accepts her place as Duchess
Vienna.
In this there is no dropping-away, through love
of pleasure or through supineness, from
her ideal ; it is
and

entirelymeet
world
than

may
the

the world

her the dress

the

uses

unruly thought

every

readiness

return

from

body; the life runs

simply her soul is set

life of the

the

bring

knows

of the

strongly and gladly in her veins ;

things belonging to the soul,
upon
its

an

orous,
passive,timactive pursuit

discipline. She

and

hatred

Manichsean

of the

is not

saintliness

through

of

Comments

MEASURE

FOR

right.

be found

disciplineof
has

of

She

has

over

charge of

in

the

awful,

she has learned

that
convent;
life is still a consecrated
of her.
Her

need

the

fully than

station, more
this

that

strict,more

disciplinemore

life ; the vital energy

of her heart
itself through glad and
faithful
noble

learned

and

exert

can

wifehood,

is the

"

through
preside

To

in seclusion.

polluted and feculent Vienna

Isabella, a thing ensky'd and

augment

and

office and

sainted."

DowDEN

Shakspere.

self-deceiver.

IV.

Angelo.

Angelo
For

be;

is not

it is very
thinks
as

is

so

properly a hypocriteas

considerable
that

plain from

he

is what

opportunity awakens

him.

For

most

wishes
affects

he

his consternation

which

that he

into

searching

and
the

conscious

and

this type of character the reader may

Butler's Sermon
before the House

at

to

be, and

cerely
sin-

to
appears
wickedness

action

within

exposition of
referred to Bishop

pregnant
be

of Lords

on

the

30th

of

January
is

sentence
"

who

; where

that great and

of wisdom,

acorn

an

try appearances

the world, and

to manage

so

with

faults, which

can

be

scarce

man,

speaks

of

much

as

their

make

to

as

good

themselves

upon
at least

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Comments

as

minds

done

every

class of

success

own

whose
well

men

upon
and
choose
;
easy with their

without

as

management,

Angelo for self-ends

imitation.
and gets taken in by his own
imitates sanctity,
His originalfault lay in forgettingor ignoring his own
his
darling sin is
frailty.As a natural consequence,
pride that apes humility ; and his pride of virtue, his
hear
conceit of purity, my
(letno man
gravity wherein
me) I take pride," while it keeps him from certain vices,
than

rather

them."

mend

to

Thus

''

"

''

is itself

insomuch
elevate

from ;
far greater vice than any it keeps him
almost
be said to
that Isabella's presence
may
the array of low
has clustered about

And

into lust.

him

perhaps

the Poet
vices, which
of Lucio, the Clown, and
in the persons
loathsome

and
him

Over-done,

Mrs.

feel how

unspeakably worse
It
all of these is Angelo's pride of virtue.
than any
or
can
hardly be needful to add, that in Angelo this
tery
mysof
of iniquity is depictedwith a truth and sternness
have been achieved but in an age
pencil,that could scarce
fruitful in livingexamples of it.
Hudson
Works
: The
of Shakespeare.
to

necessary

was

make

us

"

"

V.
Duke.

The
The
The

Duke

Poet

judge
have

"

has
than

of what
him

whom

as

strategicalarts

compatible with

for

it would

such

and

rather

roundabout
a

be easy to find a better

and goodness
to
seems
"

good
more

ways

character.
10

critics.

not

wisdom

wise

having
and

hardly dealt with by

rather

belongs to

him

meant

been

man

resented
yet he has rep-

pleasure in

skill and
than

Some

is
of

altogether
alleged

his

MEASURE

FOR
for the action

reasons

him

on

; but

them

been

have

better

of

more

is

been

about

going

the

that

his real

motives

; which

beginning

he

it is observable
to

infers

end

Comments

MEASURE

than

of

does

not

prove
ap-

at

the

offered

at

the

that there
in his

truth

honour

no

his conduct

speech

naturally suggests

purpose

result

ones

his

than

reflect

have

may

of

statement

liberal,sagacious,and merciful prince, but with

of whim
and
more
caprice than suits the dignity of his
his lips; yet in his
place, humanity speaks richly from

them.

action

the

philosopher and
; and

statesman

in
counsels

he

take

to

seems

is better

divine

moving about as an
leading the wicked

than

shown

the

light
questionable deprovidence, by secret

very

unseen

designs
wholesome
issues.
Schlegel thinks
in overhearing his subjects than
the usual way
of princes ; and sets

of others
"

he

in

"

safe

to

has

ure
pleas-

more

governing

him

down

and

as

them

in

an

ception
ex-

''

A
cowl
does not
make
a
proverb,
and
monk
:
perhaps his princely virtues are somewhat
obscured
so
completely transforms
by the disguisewhich
the wicked
Whether
he acts upon
him into a monk.
ciple
printhe

to

old

"

"

with

which

fraternityis

that

not, it is pretty certain

by nothing
in what

wrong

but

the

the

end:

custom

of

the

often

of his

some

does, he has

he

settled

so
no

reproached,

means

can

that if he be
shield

order

from

not

the

be

tified
jus-

himself

charge

functions

whose

or

he

''

undertakes.
amidst

but

that

so

the

Shakespeare,
Schlegeljustlyremarks, that
of
rancour
religiousparties,delightsin painting

ficial
always represents their influence as beneof the black and knavish
; there being in his plays none
for Protestantism,
enthusiasm
an
specimens, which
modern
than
rather
poetical inspiration,has put some
an
delineating. He merely gives his monks
poets upon
incHnation
to be busy in the affairs of others, after renouncing
for themselves
the world
; though in respect of

and

monks,

pious
As
to
more

frauds

to the

cry

out

he

Duke's

does

pardon

of

them

scrupulous."
Angelo, though Justiceseems
very

the act, yet in the premises it were

still
in him to do otherwise; the deception he has

against

unjust

make

not

Comments

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

practised upon
Ang-elo in the substitutingof Mariana
bound
him
he takes.
to the course
having plainl}^
Hudson
Works
: The
of Shakespeare.

VI.
The

Minor

Characters.

They [the comic scenes],as well as the loftier scenes

piece,are but too faithful picturesof the degrading
and
hardening influence of licentious passion,from the
lighterprofligacyof Lucio, the dissipatedgentleman, to
the grosser
and contented
degradation of the Clown; and
if these are
all painted with
of Hogarth or
the truth
Crabbe, they are depicted with no air of sport or mirth,
of the

but
to

rather
smile

that

with

like his

Thus

contemptuous
too

life

Cassius,

own

Elbow, in
ignorance, would
him, simply as an
is not a Dogberry
luxuriates,but one
a

of bitter

his

in whose

as

some

version

author

if he mocked
conceit
of

the

and

seems

himself."

pedantic
regard

critics

of

Dogberry.

absurdities

the author

But

he

himself

whose

sneer.
common

as

self-satisfied

appear,
inferior

The

scorn.
"

delineated
with
are
peculiarities
Lucio, again, is a character
fortunately
unin civilized,
in city,
and especially
and education, and of good
manners

gentleman in
frivolous
and
natural
in mind
debased
in
ability,made
sentiment
and
dispositionby licentious and idle habits
from some
thus substantially
not a very different character
of the prior dramas
of the lighterpersonages
he
; but
differs mainly from
because
exhibited
under
them
a very
The
different light,
and regarded in a different temper.
others are
as
they appeared to
representedin his scenes
the transient
acquaintance, or the companions of their
pleasures. But the poet looks deeper into the heart and
of pleasure in the
life of Lucio, and
portrays this man
the higher and
which
mood
more
same
tragic
governs
"

"

scenes

of this drama

"

mood
12

sometimes

contemptuous,

MEASURE

FOR

sometimes
been

Comments

sad, often indignant, but

his former

mirth

MEASURE

either

wont,

Thus

it

from

their

to

seems

such

never

merely playful or

that, if his comic

me

truth, it is

mirth

as

tive.
imaginaexcite

scenes

in which

had

the

author

did not

assimilates
participate
; and their sarcastic humour
itself in feelingto that of the stern
and grave
interest of
the plot,
and the strong passion of its poeticscenes.
acters,
Charin themselves
lightand amusing, are branded with

contempt from
the

the

degradation

passion,in

same

guilt,
prostrates before
The

purchase
at any

it

intellectual
''

of less grossness,

form

of licentious

habits ; while
but of deeper

talent,and
high reputation,
amiable

and

Claudio, willing to

the .weariest and

loathed
most
worldly
of shame
and sin, is strangelycontrasted

cost

dom.
wis-

life,"
with

"

the drunken

Barnardine,
careless,reckless,and fearless
is past, present, or to come."
Indeed, the higher

of what
characters

mainly

are

in this moral
in the

and

discriminated

from

delineation,in that conscience

latter,while

Claudio, and

the lower

ones,

is dull

dead

or

it appears
in all its terrors
in Angelo
in all the majesty of purity in Isabella.

Verplanck

Illustrated

The

Shakespeare,

VII.
The
There

is very

itself would

much

All's

Labour's

Well

as

Whole.

for

in Measure

assign it to

of Verona,
Love's

Play
the

period of

that Ends

Measure

that of

the Tzi'o Gentlemen

Well, Titus Andronicns,

markable
plays which are all equally replays
for imperfections,
and for the beauties and disof genius associated with them.
of the play it is repreThe cityof Vienna
is the scene
sented
and
sensual
sink
of
defilement,
corrupted
as
a very
quence
ravaged in every physicaland moral quality,the conse-

Lost

"

"

of the
of most

tendency

severe

to

ity
years, of the activthe national
framed
to check
The
delineation of
licence.

suspension,for
statutes

grossness

and

13

fourteen

MEASUPvE

Comments
such

of

state

presents

course

disgusting and
this is

MEASURE

FOR

us

with

images

and

persons
sense
; and
every
uncongenial effect of the

contemptiblein

of the
entire play. The
is
of public demoralization
progress
rather exaggerated than relieved by the character
of the
it has conduced.
reaction to which
Dissoluteness
in one

great

one

cause

quarter is compensated by austerityequally in

another,
vice
The

and

the

is matched

pictureis a

maxims

too

from
had

pride of unblushing and ostentatious

by equal parade of ostentatious virtue.

true

of the effect

be executed

the farther

the

obsolete

and

of laws

morals

on

; and

disorder

the action

or

of the

ing
complicationresult-

statutes, that
ment,
for their need of amend-

of unamended

revival

mere

become

never

one

to

severe

play exhibits

in

excess

but

scarcelyhave a better fate again. All the

questionsinvolved are brought to issue in the play,though
in conclusion
it scarcelyleaves assurance
that the instructi
ture.
experiencewill have its full weight for the fupurities
We
are
spectators of a receptacleof stagnant imin vehement
ferment, and working through stages
is
of decomposition, but the hope of ultimate purification
scarcelyset forth so cheeringlyas to compensate for the
witness.
of what we
disagreeableness
Lloyd : Critical Essays on the Plays of Shakespeare.
and

can

[Measure for Measure] is perhaps,after Hamlet, Lear,

and Macbeth, the play in which
as
Shakspeare struggles,
of his own
it were,
with the over-masteringpower
most
mind; the depths and intricacies of being, which he has
with intense reflection,
searched
and sounded
perplex and
harass

him

to pour
use,

; his

forth,in language the

and

in that

few

which

thoughts

I do not

arrest

personages

thus
of

value

the
profligacy,

most

could

he loses

their
remote

grasp

something

of action

course

from

in the

common

clearest

of dramatic

pression;
ex-

lence
excel-

contemplativephilosophy.
comic
parts highly: Lucio's impudent

his

the

result rather

of sensual
14

debasement

than

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Comments

ill disposition,
is well

of natural

represented; but Elbow

inferior repetitionof Dogberry.
In dramatic
is a very
ranks
effect,Measure
for Measure
high : the two scenes
Isabella

between

and

where

dio, those

that between

Angelo,

the

Duke

her

Clau-

and

in

disguise,and the
catastrophein the fifth act, are admirably written and very
interesting
knowledge of
; except so far as the spectator's
the two

from

Hallam

by

Measure

the

of

with

of

kinds

deceived

the Literature

to

the

criminal

Shakspeare
make

justicethan

is usual

his

the

with

of Europe.

compelled,

was

subject, to

proceedings connected

of active

Angelo

may
vent
preIsabella's
indignationat
lamentations
excite.
would

her

Measure

for

nature

familiar

have

participatingin the

which
wrong
: Introduction

imaginary

In

which

stratagems

him

appears

poetry

with

more

him.

subject,all

All
sorts

passive persons, pass in review before us : the

hypocriticallord deputy, the compassionate provost, and
the hard-hearted
of qualitywho
man
hangman; a young
or

is to suffer

for the

loose
a

seduction

wretches

hardened

awaken

cannot

notwithstanding this
mild

takes

is the

its

by

of his callousness.

out

name

man

being

himself

entitled to

deal

it out

to

his

of mercy
free from errors

so

equals.

of the

composition is
who, on the point of taking
by sisterlyaffection to
upon
the

stained

with

the

novice

and

stern

is

Angelo,

The

very

angel

heretofore
15

of

strict

over
as

to

be

beautiful

most

the character

of Isabella,

the

veil, is yet prevailed

tread

again the perplexing

the general corruption,

world, while, amid

heavenly purity of
one
unholy thought :

she

yet,

tender

picture! The piece

nifican
punishment ; the true sig-

triumph

justice;no

of the

But

of the

from

is the

riage,
mar-

police,nay, even
preparationsfor his

agitatingtruthfulness, how

of the whole

ways

before

the

the

even

pervading tone

improperly

embellishment

in

brought

criminal, whom

execution
and

of his mistress

her

mind

is not

even

in the humble

robes of

light.

the

When

of unblemished

cold

reputation,

Comments
whom

MEASURE

the

duke

MEASURE

FOR

has

commissioned, during his pretended

of the laws,
absence, to restrain,by a rigidadministration
the excesses
of dissolute
himself
immorality, is even
tempted by the virgincharms of Isabella,supplicatingfor
the pardon of her brother
to death
Claudio, condemned
for a youthful indiscretion ; when
and
at first,in timid
obscure
language, he insinuates, but at last impudently
his readiness

avouches,

of her honour
noble

; in

scorn

; when

her

length,overcome
her

grant Claudio's
Isabella

to

Shakspeare

heart.

The

fear

the

by

consent

scenes,

the

to

of

sounded

has

interest here

rifice
sac-

offer with

interview

to

her

conduct, but

death, strives to persuade

in these
masterly

dishonour

"

the

reposes

contributes
action ; curiosity
for the

repulseshis

of

account

life to the

the latter at first applauds her

brother,when
at

to

duke, in the disguiseof

depths of the human

altogetheron the represented
nothing to our delight,
is

monk,

always present

and to avert
dangerous representative,
look
could possiblybe apprehended ; we
every evil which
The
duke acts
for a happy result.
with confidence
to him
the part of the monk
to deception; he
naturally, even
of the priestand the
the wisdom
unites in his person
prince. Only in his wisdom he is too fond of round-about
ways ; his vanity is flattered with acting invisiblylike an
pleasurein overhearing
earthlyprovidence; he takes more
of
in the customary
his subjectsthan governing them
way
princes. As he ultimatelyextends a free pardon to all the
mitting
guilty,we do not see how his originalpurpose, in comto watch

his

over

the

execution

their

In Measure
execution

strictness, has
Lectures

Schlegel:

of

of the

on

laws
in

Dramatic

to

other

any

Art

wise
and

hands, of
been

storing
re-

plished.
accom-

Literature.

with the flawless

for Measure, in contrast
and Juliet,Shakespeare has spent his
Romeo

just enough modification of the scheme of the older

play to make it exponent of this purpose, adapting its terart

in

i6

MEASURE
rible

FOR

essential

MEASURE

incidents

Comments
that

Coleridge found it the

Shakespeare's dramas, and

so

only painful work

among
for
the
reader
of to-day more
than
leaving
number
of difficult expressions; but infusinga
and

into it,so
profound significance

certain

select

but

own

so

his

portions of

the

lavish color

that under

it rise far above

the

usual

his touch
level of all

best poetry, and working out of it a morality

characteristic that the play might wxU
tral
pass for the cenof
his
moral
expression
judgements. It remains
a

comedy,

as

humorous

indeed

is congruous
equity which informs

sinking from
rough scheme

the

of the

full of what

of

heights

with
the

bland, halfcomposition,

whole
and

sorrow

earlier

the

piece; yet,

into

the

hardly

less

terror

it is

is

reallytragic in man's existence than if

Claudio had indeed
Even
the humorous
stooped to death."
have
traits of special grace,
concluding scenes
retainingin less emphatic passages a stray line or word of
"

power,
traces

it seems,
so
where
the nobler

as
vestiges,

the

that

we

hand

has

as

watch

to

the

end

for the

glancedalong,leavingits
or
accidentally
wastefully,in the risingof

if

style.

The

of the

action

play,like the action of life itself for

the keener
observer, develops in us the conception of this
and
the yearning to realize it,the true
poeticaljustice,
it lies
justiceof which
nothing, because
Angelo knows
for the most
part beyond the limits of any acknowledged
law.
The
idea of justiceinvolves
the idea of rights.
But at bottom
rightsare equivalentto that which reallyis,
the recognitionof his rightstherefore,the
to facts ; and
justicehe requires of our hands, or our thoughts,is the
recognitionof
reallyis; and

that which

the person,
sympathy alone can

as

reallyis in matters
is in its

essence

a
"

The

tread

we

'Tis very
see

upon,

discover

we

pregnant
find

it ; but
and

we

what

never

17

stoop and
we

think

do

take
not

of it."

see

nature,

that which

feelingand thought, true

knowledge through love.

finer

jewel that

Because

We

of

in his inmost

it,

justice

justice,a justicebased

It is for this finer

appreciationof

delicate

things, a

true

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Comments

the

conditions

true

of

respect

actions, that the people

on

of

persons
in Measure

in

more

men

estimate

our

for

Measure

cry

and
of
out

pass before us ; and as the poetry of this play is

of Shakespeare's poetry, so in its
full of the peculiarities

they

as

ethics it is

They
sits

are

as

an

the

spectator, and

before
the
a

epitome of Shakespeare'smoral judgements.

moral
judgements of an observer,of one who

him

judgements

half-amused

ways

of

ordinary
and

human
men

togetherunder

hold

of the
but

humourist

the surface

also, who

between

what

are

sees

called

they are

follows

always pitifulsympathy,

and
disposition,

in the design

the threads

how

knows

the

with

various

less distance

than

respectively
great

little things.

Pater

i8

Appreciations.

Measure

for

Measure.

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE.

ViNCENTio,

Deputy.

Angelo,
EscALUS^

Lucio,

ancient

an

Claudio,

Lord.

gentleman.

young

fantastic.

gentlemen.

other

Two

Duke.

the

Provost.

Thomas,

"

friars.

two

.^

Peter,
A

Justice.

Varrius.

Elbow,

simple

constable.

Froth,

foolish

gentleman.

PoMPEY,

servant

Abhorson,

Isabella,

Juliet,

sister

Mistress

Lords,

to

Claudio.

betrothed

of

beloved

Francisca,

to

Angelo.

Claudio.

nun.

Overdone,

Officers,

prisoner.

dissolute

Mariana,

Overdone.

executioner.

an

Barnardine,

Mistress

to

Citizens,

Scene:

bawd.

Boy,

Vienna.

and

Attendants.

Measure

for

Measure.

FIRST.

ACT

I.

Scene
An

Duke.

Escalus.

Escal.

My

Duke.

Of
Would

Attendants.

and

Exceeds,

My

strength

But

that

that

know

to

give

can

you

diligency]

And

let them

Our

city's institutions,

That

The

work.

practice

which

the

and

're

would

we

any

commission.

our

have

not

lo

in

pregnant

as

is

There

people,

our

terms

enriched

hath

remember.

we

of

nature

justice, you

and

From

your

as

is able,

worth

Due

art

remains,

more

no

sufficiency [you add

your

common

;
"

all advice
then

science

own

your

lists of

that, the

in

to

to

me

put

am

properties to unfold,
discourse
affect speech and

the

in

seem

Since

As

Lords

palace.

lord.

government

For

Duke's

the

Escalus,

Duke,

Enter

in

apartment

warp.

you

Call

hither,
I say,

bid

What

figure

For

you

Elected

him

him

And

given
our

of

terror,

own

his

we

you
have

absence

our

our

Angelo.

us

think

us

know,

must

Lent

Of

before

come

dress'd

deputation

power:

to

what

he

[Exit

special soul

supply

all the
think

will bear

with

him

Attendant.

an

with

our

organs
you

of

it?

love,

20

Act

Escal.

be of worth

in Vienna

If any

undergo such ample

is Lord
Angelo.

To
It

Enter

obedient

Ang. Always
I

to

come

know

to

and

grace

Look

Duke.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

I. Sc. i.

honour,

he

where

comes.

Angelo.
Grace's

your

will,

pleasure.

your

Angelo,

Duke.
is

There

of character

kind

thy history
Thyself and thy belongings

Fully unfold.
Are

thine

not

Thyself
Heaven

with

Did

not
we

go forth of us,
had them not.
nor

on

thee.

torches

with

we

for themselves

to fine issues ;

But

as

us

for if

do.
virtues

our

all alike

'twere

Spiritsare
Nature

not

finelytouch'

lends

never

scrupleof her excellence.

But, like a thriftygoddess, she determines
Herself
the glory of a creditor,
thanks

Both
To

one

Hold

that

and
can

my

part in him

therefore,Angelo

our

be thou

remove

I do bend

But

use.

my

advertise

40

speech
;

:
"

at

full ourself

Mortalityand mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart : old Escalus,
Though first in question,is thy secondary.
Take
thy commission.
Now, good my lord,
Ang.
Let

smallest

The

In

30

to waste

as

proper,

thy virtues,they

upon
doth

lightthem
if

so

own

Not

As

doth

to th' observer

That

thy life,

in

there be

some

more

test
22

made

of my

metal,

MEASURE

FOR

Before
Be

MEASURE

noble

so

stamp'd

and

so

No
have

with

Proceeded

Our

it

more

evasion

leaven'd

and

prepared choice

take your honours.

you ; therefore
from hence is of so quick condition,

prefersitself,and

Matters

of needful

As

and

time

50

to

haste

That

figure

great

it.

upon

Duke.
We

How

it goes

What

doth

leaves

value.

We

concernings

our

with

; and

us

unquestion'd
shall write

shall

To
Of

your

importune.

So, fare you

I leave

Nor

we

need

something

bring you

may

haste

With

60

mine

on

you,

admit

not

may

lord,

the way.

on

it ;

honour, have

to

do

scruple; your scope is as mine

So to enforce or quahfy the laws
As to your soul seems
good. Give me your
I '11 privilyaway.
I love the people.
any

But

do not

Nor

loud

does

The

the

Lead

Duke.

I thank

forth

have

and

you.

To

look

free

not

relish well

Aves

vehement

Once

more,

bring you
Fare

hand

70
;

you

fare you

your

purposes

back

in

with

into the bottom

happiness!
[Exit.
leave

you ; .and it
of my
place:

23

well.

well.

sir,to give me

you,

speech

own,

of safe discretion

man

give safetyto

I shall desire

To

and

affect it.

heavens

Escal.

Escal.

applause

to their eyes

me

well, I do

do I think

That

Ang.

like to stage

it do

Though
Their

you

Yet, give leave,my

My

well

commissions.

Aug.
Duke.

to you.

do look to know

befall you here.

the hopeful execution
do

That

I. Sc. i.

Act

concerns

me

A
I

'Tis

Ang.

And

with

so
we

MEASURE

strength and

of what

80

nature

yet instructed.

not

am

have, but

power

FOR

MEASURE

I. Sc. ii.

Act

that

us

withdraw

satisfaction

our

soon

may

Touching

Let

me.

together.
have

point.
I '11 wait

EscaL

upon

your

honour.

[Exciuit.
Scene
A
Liicio

Enter

Lueio.

If the

King

Heaven
of

Sec. Gent.

Lncio.

Lucio.

grant

Hungary's

to

scraped

Ay,

Gentlemen.

of

King

fall upon
us

the

not

come

Hungary,
king.

its peace,

but

not

to

why
the

like the sanctimonious

concludest

Thou

Sec. Gent.

tzvo

Amen.

that went
but

and

the

with

all the dukes

First Gent.

street.

Duke, with the other dukes,

composition
then

II.

'

Thou

sea

one

with
out

the

Ten

pirate,

Commandments,

of the table.

shalt not

steal '?

10

that he razed.

to command
Why, 'twas a commandment
their functions :
the captainand all the rest from
they put forth to steal. There 's not a soldier
of us all,that, in the thanksgiving before meat,
well that prays for peace.
do relish the petition

First Gent.

Sec. Gent.
Lucio.

never

I believe

where

grace

heard

any soldier dislike it.

for I think thou
wast
never

thee ;
said.
was

20

24

MEASURE

FOR

Sec. Gent.

No?

First Gent.

MEASURE
dozen

times

I. Sc. ii.

least.

at

in metre?

What,

Liicio. In any

Act

proportion or

in any

language.
First Gent. I think, or in any religion.
Lucio.
Grace
is grace, despiteof all
Ay, why not?
controversy : as, for example, thou thyselfart a
wicked
villain,despiteof all grace.
First Gent.

Well, there

but

went

pair of

shears

tween
be-

us.

Lucio.

I grant;
the velvet.

First Gent.

Thou

And

; thou

there

as

between

may

the lists and

30

art the list.

thou

the velvet

thou

good

art

vet
vel-

'rt a

thee :
three-piled
piece,I warrant
I had a'S lief be a list of an English kersey,as be
Do
piled,as thou art piled,for a French velvet.
I speak feelingly
?
now

Lucio.

I think

and, indeed, with most

painful feelingof thy speech : I will,out of thine
own
confession, learn to begin thy health; but,

whilst

First Gent.

thou

dost ;

live,forgetto

I think

I have

drink

after thee.

done

myself

40

wrong,

have

I not?

Sec. Gent.
tainted
Lucio.

her

Sec. Gent.
Lucio.

whether

thou

art

roof

To

purchased as

as

what,

Madam

come

to

Mitigation
diseases

many

der
un-

"

pray?

Judge.

Sec. Gent.
First Gent.

Lucio.

behold, where

I have

hast,

free.

or

Behold,

comes

thou

Yes, that

To

three

Ay,
French

and

thousand

dolours

more.

crown

more.

25

year.

50

Act

MEASURE

I. Sc. ii.
Thou

First Gent.

but thou

Lucio.

Nay,

full of

sound

as

hollow

; I

error

say,

things that are

has made
impiet}^

hollow

one

as

First Gent.

Ov.

Well,

carried

See. Gent.

are

hips

has

the

sciatica?

prison

was

Ov.

Ov.

's

Who

and

arrested

yonder

60

of

five thousand

worth

pray thee?
's Claudio,

that,I
Marry, sir,that

First Gent.
Mrs

bones

all.

you
Mrs

of your

well ; there 's one

to

thy

so

Overdone.

! which

now

profound

most

Mrs

How

but

healthy ;

feast of thee.

Elite?' Mistress

in me;

sound.

am

would

not

MEASURE

always figuringdiseases

art

art

FOR

Claudio

Nay,
;

but

within

more,

'tis

I know
him

saw

'tis not

prison?

to

carried

these

Signior Claudio.

so

days

him

saw

rested
ar-

and, which

away

three

so.

his

head

to

is
be

chopped off.
Lucio.

But,

Art

it so.
Mrs

Ov.

thou

me,

hours

two

have

not

of this ?

sure

of it :

sure

70
it is for

and

getting

child.

Juliettawith

Believe

me

fooling,I would

all this

too

am

Madam

Lucio.

after

this may
be : he
since, and he was

promised
ever

to

meet

precise in

promise-keeping.
Sec. Gent.

Besides, you

First Gent.

Lucio.

the

to

near

But,

Away

know,
had

speech we
most

it draws
to

purpose.
of all,agreeing with the proclamation.

! let 's go

learn

Ov.

Thus,

what

with

the
26

the truth

[Exeunt
Mrs

such

something

Lucio

war,

80

of it.

what

and

Gentlemen.

with

the

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

what

sweat,

poverty, I

with

the

gallows,

Pom.
Mrs
Pom.
Mrs
Pom.
Mrs

Pom.

! what

now

Yonder

Ov,
A

what

with

Pompey.

's the

; what

has

with

news

is carried

man

Well

and

I. Sc. ii.

custom-shrunk.

am

Enter

How

Act

you

prison,

to

he done

woman.

Ov.

But

what

for trouts

Groping
Ov.

but

You

there 's

have

in

is there

What,

No,

's his offence

peculiarriver.

maid

by him ?
with maid
by him.
proclamation,have

with

woman

heard

not

of the

child

90

you?
Mrs
Pom.

Ov.

What

All

proclamation, man

houses

in the

suburbs

?
of Vienna

be

must

plucked do\vn.
Mrs
Pom.

Mrs

Ov.

And

what

shall stand

They

be

Mrs

To

Ov.

pulled

city?

though
not change your
Courage ! there
:

have

service,you
Ov.

they had

down?

100

What's

indeed

shall become

What

; fear not

Come

that

ground, mistress.
Why, here 's a change

clients

Mrs

in the

the

!
Pom.

for seed

of those

gone down
too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.
But
shall all our
of resort
in the
Ov.
houses

suburbs
Pom.

shall become

of

trade ; I '11be your

will be pity taken

almost
eyes
your
will be considered.
do

me

worn

to

monwealth
com-

good counsellors lack no

change your place,you need

you

you

in the

here, Thomas

withdraw.
2;

tapster still.
on

you
out

in

you

the

tapster? let's

no

Act

I. Sc. ii.
Here

Pom,
to

MEASURE

comes

and

prison;

MEASURE

Signior Claudio, led by the provost

there 's ]\Iadam
Juhet.
[Exeunt.

Provost, Claudio, Juliet

Enter

Claud.

FOR

thou

dost

Fellow, why

show

and

Officers.

thus

me

world?

to the

prison,where I am committed.
I do it not in evil disposition.
Prov.
Lord
But from
Angelo by specialcharge.
the demigod Authority
Claud, Thus
can
offence by weight
for our
Make
us
pay down
Bear

to

me

The

of heaven

words

On

it will not,

whom

Why,

so

Lucio

Re-enter

Lucio.

"

how

will,it

will ;

120

yet still'tisjust.

and

Gentlemen.

two

Claudio

now,

it

whom

on

! whence

comes

this

straint
re-

Claud.

From

too

much

Lucio, liberty
:
of much
fast,

liberty,
my

surfeit is the father

As

every scope by the immoderate

Our natures
Turns
to restraint.

So

Like
A

Lucio.

rats

that ravin

down

and

when

thirstyevil

If I could

speak

send

would

say the
of freedom
to

What

's

so

use

do

pursue,

their proper
we

drink

bane,
die.

we

wisely under

an

for certain of my creditors :

truth, I had as lief have the
as

the

morality

thy offence, Claudio ?

but to speak of would

Claud.

What

Lucio.

What,

Claud.

No.

Lucio.

Lechery?

Claud.

Call it

is 't murder?

so.

of

arrest, I 130
and yet,

foppery
imprisonment.

offend

again.

MEASURE

FOR
sir ! you

Away,

Prov.

Claud.

One

Liicio.

Is

they "11do

it with

the

know
that

Save

me

this

Till time

stealth of

With

too

child,

not

But

us.

the

Or

that the

whether

can

Whether

the tyranny

glimpse of
body publicbe

be in his

but

this

I stagger in

Awakes

all the enrolled

So
And
Now

Duke,

"

newness.

me

"

none

nineteen

of them

been

me:

penalties
hung by

armour,

worn

gone
; and, for

name.

neglectedact

'tis surely for

29

the wall

round,

zodiacs have

puts the drowsy and

Freshly on

place,

governor

new

have, like unscour'd

long,that

160

that fillsit up,

in his eminence

Which

so.

doth ride.
the governor
newly in the seat, that it may know
lets it straightfeel the spur ;
command,

Who,

Or

for the

now

even

whereon

horse

He

it chances

Juliet.

on

it be the fault and

Whether

love

perhaps?

Deputy

new

our

entertainment

Unhappily,

And

150

to hide

is writ

gross

to,

friends

mutual

Claud.

for

them
most

our

character

With

Lucio.

made

had

contract

true

came

we

Only for propagation of a dower

Remaining in the coffer of her
From
whom
we
thought it meet
The

she is fast my wife,

lack
the denunciation

order

outward

you.

lady ;
do

we

with

good.

any

you

word

after?

look'd

stands

Lucio,

upon
bed
of
possession Julietta's

got

Of

if

hundred,

Thus

You

140

go.

word, good friend.

lecheryso

Claud.

must

I. Sc. ii.

Act

MEASURE

name.

170

Act

MEASURE

I. Sc. iii.

Lucio.
on

it is : and

I warrant

love, may

sigh it off.

appeal to

him.

I have

done

Claud.

stands

so

if she

milkmaid,

Send

after the

he 's not

but

so,

MEASURE

thy head

that

thy shoulders,

FOR

to

tickle
be

in

Duke, and
found.

be

prithee,Lucio, do me this kmd service:

This day my
sister should the cloister enter
there receive her approbation:
And
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 have great hope in that ; for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless
dialect,
Such
When
And

Lucio.

besides, she hath prosperous

she will play with reason
and discourse,

as

men

move

well

she

well for the encouragement

I pray she may ; as

of the like,which

else would
for the

grievous imposition,as
I would

ishlylost

at

be

I thank

you,

Lucio.

Within

two

be thus

hours.

Scene
A
Duke

that the

[Exeunt.

III.

monastery.
and

No, holy father; throw

Believe not

fool- 190

I '11 to her.

Come, officer,
away

Enter

under

friend Lucio.

good

Claud.

Duke.

should

sorry

stand

enjoying of thy

of tick-tack.

game

Claud.

art

persuade.

can

life,who

i8o

Friar

away

Thomas.
that

dribblingdart
30
.

thought;

of love

FOR

MEASURE

Why I desire
piercea complete bosom.
give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

Can
To

Alore

Of

and

grave
ends

wrinkled

May

aims

I have

How

and

And

in idle

held

haunt

price to

youth, and

I have

deliver'd

of stricture

Lord

to

firm

abstinence,
place here in Vienna,

and

My

absolute

And

travell'd
he supposes
me
I have strew'd it in the
so

For

it is received.

And

so

You

will demand

Fri. T.

have

bits and

Even

like

That

goes not
Having bound

Only
For

And
The

Goes

out

up

to

the

terror, not

to

to use,

mock'd

more

most

to

lion in

let

have

we

years

prey.

to stick it in their

Becomes
Dead

curbs

o'ergrown

an

bitinglaws.
headstrong weeds,

and

for this fourteen

Which

ear,

common

I do this.

why

strict statutes

needful

The

pious sir,

Now,
me

Poland

to

lord.

Gladly,my
We

of

bravery keeps. lo

Angelo,

and

power

you

assemblies

witless

cost, and

Where

man

than

it?

the life removed,

loved

ever

speak of

Grace

your

better knows

My holy sir,none

Duke.

Now,

fond

as

threateningtwigs
children's sight
fear'd ;

libertyplucks justiceby
baby beats the nurse, and

slip;
fathers,

of birch,

the rod

in time
than

dead

are

the

nose

decrees.

our

so

quite athwart

all decorum.
It rested
unloose

this

in your

Grace

when
tied-upjustice
31

20

cave,

to themselves
infliction,

Fri. T.
To

the

than

thee

burning youth.

Fri. T.

Duke.

I. Sc. iii.

Act

MEASURE

you

pleased:

30

Act I. Sc. iv.

it in you
in Lord
Than

And

I do
Sith 'twas my
For

And

do

I bid them

for

their

have

bid this be

w^e

done,

permissivepass,

punishment. Therefore, indeed,

the

not

give the people scope,

tyranny to strike and gallthem

evil deeds

When

dreadful

fear, too

fault to

be my

what

seem'd

Angelo.

Duke.

'Twould

have

would

dreadful

more

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

my

father,
I have

may,

And

yet my

And

'twere

brother

will,as

At

our

this

Stands

at

Is

one

bear

person

guard

Angelo

flows, or

change

me

is

you

precise;

50

confesses
envy ; scarce
that his appetite

with

than

me

for this action

reasons

Lord

to bread

If powder

instruct

leisure shall I render

his blood

more

order.
therefore,I prithee,

people:

Moe

friar.

more

Only,
That

of your

formally in

true

home.

his sway,

behold

to

with the habit,and

me

I may

Like

prince and

Visit both

How

never

in slander.

do

Supply

nature

40

strike
of my
name,
in the fight

in the ambush

Who

To

the office ;

Angelo imposed

on

stone

purpose,

shall

hence

what

our

seemers

we

see.

be.

\Excunt.
Scene
A

Enter

Isab. And
Fran.

Are

have
not

you

these

IV.

nunnery.

Isabella and

nuns

no

Francisca.

farther

large enough?
32

privileges?

truly: I speak not as desiringmore

strict restraint
But rather wishing a more
Upon the sisterhood,the votarists of Saint
Lucio.
[zvithin]Ho ! Peace be in this place !
Isah. Yes,

It is
Turn

voice.

the

key, and

you

calls ?

of him

his business

know

Clare.

Isabella,

Gentle

man's

I may
not ; you
are
yet unsworn.
not speak with
When
you have vow'd, you must
of the prioress
But in the presence
:

You

Hail, virgin,if

Proclaim

Isah.

bring me
novice
her

of this

'

her

that

am

Not

Isah. Woe
Lucio.

For

He

should

He

hath

Isah.

brother
must

now

Isabella

that

me

'

20

? let

make

me

you

ask
know

his sister.

and

fair,your
with

brother

you,

kindly greets you

he 's in

prison.

which, if myself might be his judge,

receive

his

punishment

got his friend with

Sir,make

stead

Claudio?

brother

! for what

me

so

you

sight of Isabella,
place,and the fair sister

be weary

to

cheek-roses

those
Can

less !

unhappy

and

Gentle

as

the

rather, for I

The

Lucio.

to

be,

you

no

unhappy

Why,
I

are

you

calls?

Lucio.

Enter

To

1 1

[Exit.

him.
again ; I pray you, answer
is 't that
and prosperity! Who

Isah. Peace

As

men

show
if you speak,you must
not
your face ;
not speak.
your face, you must
you show

calls

He

may,

Then,
Or, if

Lucio.

iv.

's that which

Who

I sab.
Fran.

I. Sc.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

me

not

your

in thanks

child.

story.
It is true.

Lucio.
22

30

Act

I would

not

By

Isab.

with

You

LiiCio. Do

blaspheme

thus

the

spirit;

sincerity.
in

good

it.

believe

not

Your

in

saint.

do

immortal

an

jest,

virgins so:

sainted

thing ensky'd and

be talk'd with

to

all

with

play

"

renouncement,

to

As

as

you

your

And

heart

sin

lapwing, and

the

seem

far from

Tongue
I hold

to

MEASURE

famiUar

'tis my

though

"

maids

With

FOR

MEASURE

I. Sc. iv.

mocking

me.

truth,

and

Fewness

'tis

:
"

brother

and

embraced

have

his lover

40

blossommg time,
the bare fallow brings
That
her plenteouswomb
To teeming foison, even
so
Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.
As

that feed grow

from
the seedness

full,

those

as

"

"

Isah.

Some

Is she your

Liicio.
Isah.

with child

one

cousin

by

him

?
"

change
Adoptedly ; as school-maids
By vain, though apt, affection.
She

Liicio.
Isah.

let him

O,

marry

is the

This
duke

Bore

many

In

hand,

By

those

His

is very

point.
from
hence;

hope

that know

givings-outwere

of action

but

we

do

learn

of state,
the very nerves
of an infinite distance
his

Is very snow-broth
who
; one
The
wanton
stingsand motions

feels

But

his true-meant

doth

rebate and

50

one.

design. Upon
And
with full line of his authority.
whose
Governs
Lord Angelo ; a man
From

names

it is.

strangelygone
gentlemen, myself being

and

their

her.

Liicio.
The

Juliet?

cousin

My

blunt
34

never

place.

blood

of the sense,

his natural

edge

60

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

I. Sc.

Act

iv.

profitsof the mind, study and fast.

He
and Hberty,
to give fear to use
Which
have for long run
by the hideous law,
hath pick'dout an act,
As mice by lions
Under
whose
brother's life
heavy sense
your
With
"

"

Falls into forfeit

And
To

follows

him

arrests

close the

him

make

he

rigour of
All

example.

an

the statute,
is gone,
fair prayer

hope

Unless
To

you have the grace by your

soften Angelo : and that 's my

'Twixt

he

Doth

Isab.

and

you

your

seek

so

him

do

as

censured

him

I hear, the provost

hath

ability's in

poor

Assay
My

me

good?

Lucio.
Isah.

power

the power

us

lose the

good
Go

By fearingto attempt.
And

let him

Men

give

have.

"

Our
make

you

Alas, I doubt,

Lucio.
And

y\

for his execution.

warrant

To

business

his life ?
Has

Alas ! what

Isah.

pith of

brother.

poor

Liicio.

Already; and,

it ;

on

learn
like

to

know,

gods

but

oft

we

to

doubts

Lord

when

might win
Angelo,

maidens

when

traitors,

are

they

sue,

weep

kneel.
All their
As

they themselves

I '11see

Isah.

are
petitions

what

freelytheirs

would

I will about

owe

them.

do.
But

Lucio.
Isah.

can

as

speedily.

it

straight:
No
longer staying but to give the Mother
I humbly thank
Notice of my affair.
you
35

80
and

Act

Commend

to

me

night

at

soon

of my

word

MEASURE

success.

of you,

leave

I take my

Lncio.

brother:

my

certain

him

I '11send

FOR

MEASURE

II. Sc. i.

Good

Isab.

sir,adieu.

90

[Exeunt.

SECOND.

ACT

I.

Scene
A

Angela, Escalus,

Enter

other

and

Ang. We must not

Settingit up to
let it keep

And

Justice,Provost, OMcers,
Attendants, behind.
and

make

of the

scarecrow

not

Ay,

I would

Whom
Let

bruise

fall,and

Than

rather cut

be keen, and

us

but

your

had

save,

honour

time

Or

cohered

strait in

Whether

you
in this

had

not

10

place or place with wishing,

acting of your blood

attain'd the effect of your

have

Err'd

own

virtue.
affections,

with

that the resolute

Could

father !

noble

know.

That, in the working of your

Had

Alas, this gentleman,

most

but yet

little.

to death.

I believe to be most

Whom

it

their terror.

Escal.
Let

law,

fear the birds of prey.

make
one
shape,tillcustom

perch,and

Their

Angela's house.

hall in

sometime

point which

now

own

in your
you

purpose.
life

censure

puU'd the law upon you.

Ang. 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another
thing to fall. I not deny,
And

36

him,

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE
The

the prisoner'slife,

jury,passing on
in the

May

him

than

Guiltier

twelve

sworn

That

have

what

thief

Because

see

we

it ; but what

do not

we

tread

You

his offence
not so extenuate
may
I have had such faults ; but rather

For
When

and

upon,

I, that

never

him, do

censure

pregnant,

't,

see

tell me,

offend,

so

judgement pattern out my death,

die.
in partial. Sir,he must
nothing come

Let mine
And
Be

it

as

will.

wisdom

your

is the

Where

Here, if it like

your

See

by nine to-morrow
his confessor, let him

executed

Bring

him

of his

that 's the utmost

For

provost?

honour.

Aug.
Be

that Claudio

morning :
be prepared

Some

rise

Some

run

Enter

by sin,and

commonweal

bring them

in

by virtue
vice, and
a

forgive

common

away

that

fall :

37

40

Pompey.

be

good
nothing but

if these
do

and

houses, I know

away.

none

answer

fault alone.

Officers zvith Froth

Come, bring them

their abuses

of
for

condemned

Elbozv, and

some

brakes

from

some

in

Provost.

all !

us

And

! and

forgive him

heaven

[Aside] Well,

pilgrimage.
[Exit

Escal.

30

own

Aug.

Elb.

to

of it.

think

We

Prov.

made

thieves

The

20

the laws

know

'Tis very
do pass on thieves ?
jewel that we find,we stoop and take

That

EscaL

two

or

's open

What

they try.

justice,
justiceseizes

II. Sc. i.

Act

no

ple
peouse

law

Act

MEASURE

II. Sc. i.
How

Aug.

what
If it

Eib.

What's

sir!

now,

's the matter

pleaseyour

honour,

constable, and

name

my

justice,sir, and
good honour two

upon
your

do

the poor Duke's

is Elbow
I do lean
:
am

bring

notorious

This

He

Po)n.

benefactors.

50

benefactors

are

cannot,

sir;

are

you,
a

60

at elbow.

sir?

woman

ill house

very

How

that

one

house, sir,was,

whose

as

know

too.

you

My wife, sir,whom
honour,

your

How?

thy
"

woman,

Dost

that ?
I detest before

heaven

and

"

wife?

Ay, sir; whom,

Escal.

is

in the suburbs
; and
say, plucked down
she professesa hot-house, which, I think, is

now

Escal.

he 's out

tapster, sir; parcel-bawd;

bad

they

EscaL

wise officer.

name?

serves

qualityare they of ? Elbow

why dost thou not speak, Elbow?

sir!

He,

's

what

Aug. What
Elb.

off well ; here

comes

to

your

Elb.

before

pleaseyour honour, I know not well what

they are : but precisevillains they are, that I am
of ; and void of all profanationin the world
sure
that good Christians ought to have.

Aug. Go

Elb,

in here

If it

Escal.

Elb.

and

name?

your

what
Well;
Aug. Benefactors?
they ? are they not malefactors
Elb.

MEASURE

FOR

70
I thank

heaven, is

an

honest

"

thou

detest her therefore

I say, sir,I will detest myself also, as well as

she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house,
it is

pityof

her life,for it is
38

naughty

house.

FOR

MEASURE
Escal.
Elb.

MEASURE

dost thou

How

know

IL Sc. i.

Act

that,constable

sir,by my wife ; who, if she had been

INIarry,
been
a
woman
cardinally given, might have
accused
in fornication,adultery,and all unclean-

80

liness there.
Escal.
Elb.

the woman's

By

Overdone's

Ay, sir,by Mistress

she spitin his face, so
Sir,if

Pom.
Elh.

Prove

it

Escal.

Do

3'ou

Sir, she

Pom.

these

he

had
prunes ; sir,we
distant
at that very
dish

China

Escal.

Go

have

seen

dishes, but
to

to, go

not

here, thou

so.

able
honour-

misplaces?

but two
time
of

in the

stood,

it were,

as

some

in

your
not

"

no

matter

of

for the

pin ; you
point. As

dish, sir.
are

therein

I say, this
right: but to the
Mistress
Elbow, being, as I say, with child,and
and
being great-bellied,
longing, as I said, for
having but two in the dish, as I
prunes ; and
Froth
said, Master
here, this very man,
having
the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying
eaten
for them
ter
know, Masvery honestly; for, as you
Froth, I could not give you
three-pence
again.
in the

Froth.
Pom.

No, indeed.

Very

wxll;
"

90

house, which

three-pence;
such
dishes ; they are
very good dishes,

No, indeed, sir,not

Pom.

as

in great with child ; and longing,

for stewed
honour's
reverence,

saving your

honours

honour, this is
varlets

how

came

fruit-dish,a

but

it.

prove

hear

means

she defied him.

pleaseyour

it before

man

means

you

being then,
39

if you

be

re-

100

Act

II. Sc. i.

MEASURE

membered,
prunes,

Froth.
Pom.

I did indeed.

so

well ; I telling
you then, if you
that such
and
such
a
one
a

very

remembered,
past

of the

cure

thing

they kept very good diet,as

Why,

Escal.

very

Come,

What

was

done

Escal.

to

Sir,but

of?

purpose.
wife, that he hath
to

me

what

it not.

mean

shall

you

look

you,

of

died

into

fourscore

Froth?

]\Iaster

pound

Hallowmas

at

^Master

honour's

it,by your

to

come

father

All-hallond

I have

good

:
"

so

't

was

"

eve.

because

it is

an

open

He,

130

'twas

room,

have

and

for winter.

Why,

A Jig. This
When

120

was

that yet.

to

come

Why, very well; I hope here be truths.

I say, in a lower chair, sir ;
as
sir,sitting,
in the Bunch
of Grapes, where, indeed, you
a delightto sit,have
you not ?

Froth.

very

well,then

will last out

; I

hope

here be truths.

night in Russia,

longestthere
And
leave you to the hearing
Hoping you '11find good cause

to the

Come

cannot

Hallowmas,

at

fool

Elbow's

to

honour

year ; whose

Pom.

tedious

And, I beseech
here, sir; a man

Froth

not

her.

No, sir,nor

leave.

Pom.

"

"

you are
done

Sir,your

Froth.

I told you,

well, then,

complain

to

cause

Pom.

one

of, unless

wot

you

be

All this is true.

Froth.

Pom.

foresaid

the

no

Why,

Pom.

of

stones

MEASURE

"

Ay,

were

the

cracking

FOR

nightsare

40

I '11take my
of the cause
;
:

to

whip

them

leave,
all. 140

MEASURE

FOR

Escal.

no

I think

MEASURE
less.

IL Sc. i.

Act

Good

lordship.

to your

morrow

[Exit Angela.
Now,

sir,come

wife,

sir?

Once,

Elh,

I beseech

what

done

was

Elbow's

to

more?

once

Pom.

on

there

to her

nothing done

was

you, sir,ask him

this

what

once.

did to

man

wife.

my

your honour, ask me.

did this gentleman to her ?
sir ; what

I beseech

Pom.
Escal.

Well,

you, sir,look in this

Master
Froth, look upon

I beseech

Pom.

Good
for

good

Doth

purpose.

gentleman'sface.
his

honour

your

'tis 150
mark

honour;

his face?
Escal.
Pom.
Escal.

Well, I do
Doth

Pom.
Escal.

well.

Ay, sir,very
Nay, I beseech

Why,

so.

honour

your

see

be the
Froth

do the constable's

know

that

Escal.

He

in his face?

no.

supposed upon
thing about him.
worst
thing about

worst

harm

any

I '11 be

Pom.

it well.

mark

you,

of 3'our

's in the

book, his face is the

Good, then ; if his face

him, how could Master
wife

any

160

? I would

harm

honour.

right. Constable,

what

say you

to

it?
Elb.

Po7n.

is a
it like you, the house
house ; next, this is a respectedfellow
mistress is a respected woman.

First, an

By
person

Elb.

this

hand, sir,his wife is

than

any

Varlet, thou
time

is yet to

with

man,

of

us

woman,

best, wicked

that
or

more

; and

his

respected

all.

liest ; thou
come

respected

she

child.
41

was

ever

varlet ! the

respected 170

Act

II. Sc. i.

MEASURE

Sir, she

Pom.

married

Escal.

with

respected

was

with

MEASURE

him

before

he

her.

is the wiser

Which

FOR

here ?

Justiceor Iniquity?

Is this true?
Elb.

thou

caitiff !

Hannibal

respected

married

to

her!

her, or

she

with

the

me

Elb.

was

respected with
worship think

was

I '11 have

or

wicked

before

her

your
officer.
Prove

you a box
of slander

action

Marry,

ever

thou

this, thou

mine

action

i8o

of

thee.

If he took

your

with

let not

me,

Hannibal,

batteryon
Escal.

If

Duke's

poor

wicked

varlet !

thou

o' th' ear, you

might

have

too.

good worship for it. What

worship'spleasure I shall do with this

I thank

your

is 't your
wicked
caitiff?

Escal.

in him

that thou

wouldst

continue

in his

let him

what
Elh.

they

Marry,
thou

I thank

Escal.

Where

Froth.

Here

your

continue

were

couldst,

courses

till thou

worship

for it. Thou

knowest

190

what

's

thou

now,

seest,

thee :
upon
varlet ; thou art
come

Froth.

Yes,

an

Escal.

So.

What

tapster

Your

't

please you,
trade

poor

mistress'

Mistress

pounds

of fourscore

Are

you

born, friend ?

you

Vienna, sir.

in

Escal.

Pom.

offences

continue.

to

Escal.

some

if thou

discover

varlet,now,

to

art

hath

are.

wicked

thou

Pom.

he

because
Truly, officer,

are

widow's

Overdone.
42

year ?

sir.
you

name?

of, sir?
tapster.

200

she had

Hath

Escal.

Escal.

Nine!

Come

Master
with

will

you

hear

no

never

Froth.

Master

me,

you acquainted
Froth,
you, Master

have

not

Get

you

and

gone,

let

of you.

210

mine

part, I

own

taphouse, but

am

in.

Well,

no

of it,blaster

more

Come

[Exit Froth.']

Froth

hither

you

's your

tapster. What
Pom.

to

them.

hang

husband

one

the last.

your worship. For

into any room
in a

come

drawn
Escal.

hither

more

I thank

Froth.

by

tapsters : they will draw

and
me

than

Froth, I would

II. Sc. i.

Act

more

any

sir ; Overdone

Nine,

Pom.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

to

Master

me,

tapster?

Master

name.

farewell.

Pompey.
What

Escal.

Bum,

Pom.

Escal.

sir.

Troth, and

about
are
a

else ?

the Great.

Pompey

tapster,

are

Truly, sir, I

you

not?

you

it shall be the better

Pom.

Pompey,

howsoever

bawd, Pompey,
a

is the

greatest thing

that, in the beastliest

so

you;

bum

your

sense,

220

you

you are partly

ing
colour it in be-

come,

tell

me

true:

for you.

am

fellow

poor

that

would

live.
Escal.

How

bawd?

would
What

? is it
Pom.

Escal.

lawful

If the law

would

But

the

it shall not
Pom.

live, Pompey?
you
do you think of the

law

by being

pey
trade, Pom-

trade ?
allow

it,sir.
allow

will not

be allowed

230

it, Pompey;

nor

in Vienna.

your worship mean

the youth of the city?
Does

43

to

geld and

splay all

Act

II. Sc. i.

Escal.
Pom.

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

No, Pompey.

Truly, sir,in
then.

If your
and the

drabs

will take

worship
knaves,

will to

opinion,they

poor

my

need

you

for the

order
not

't,

fear

to

the

bawds.
There

Escal.

beginning, I
hanging.

pretty orders

are

tell 240

can

you : it is but heading and

If you head and hang all that offend that way
Pom.
but for ten year together,you '11be glad to give
out

for

commission

hold

in

Vienna

ten

heads

more

I '11 rent

year,

if this law
the

fairest

three-pencea bay : if you live to

told you so.
this come
to pass, say Pompey
see
Escal. Thank
and, in requital
you, good Pompey;
of your
prophecy, hark you : I advise you, let
before me
not find you
me
again upon any com250
plaintwhatsoever; no, not for dwelling where
house

in it after

do

you

if I

tent, and

your

Pom.

do, Pompey, I shall beat

shrewd

Caesar to you ; in
I shall have you whipt:

prove

to

you

plain dealing,Pompey,
well.
so, for this time, Pompey, fare you
I thank your worship for your good counsel :
tune
[Aside] but I shall follow it as the flesh and fordetermine.

shall better
me?

Whip

No,

let

no;

valiant heart 's not

The

carman

whipt

his

whip
out

jade:

of his trade.

[Exit.
Escal.

Come

hither

to

hither,Master
been

Elb.

in this

Seven

Escal.

year

Master

me,

constable.

place of
and

years

continued

long

come

have

you

constable?

half, sir.

your readiness
time.
in it some

thought,by

had

How

Elbow:

together?
44

in the
You

office,you
say,

seven

261

And

Elh.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

been

do

They
great pains to you.
oft
't
are
:
put you so
upon

to

wrong
you
there not men
Elh.

II. Sc. ii.

half,sir.

Alas, it hath

Escal.

Act

in your

ward

sufficient to

serve

Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters

they are chosen, they are glad to choose me
them

I do

through

piece of

some

To
To

Escal.

What

Fare

house.

my
's

for
go

o'clock,think

well.

you
you

of

some

six

parish.

sir ?

worship's house,

your

as

all.

with

in the names
you bring me
the most
sufficient of your
seven,

or

and

money,

Look

Escal.

Elb.

it for

270

it?

[Exit Elbozv.]

280

Just. Eleven, sir.

I pray

Escal.
I

Just.
Escal.

home

you

humbly thank
It grievesme

But

there 's

Just. Lord

no

Angelo

to dinner

with

you.
for the death

me.

of Claudio

remedy.
is

severe.

It is but needful

Escal.

Mercy

is not

But

that oft
itself,

is stillthe

Pardon

yet,
"

poor

looks

of second

nurse

Claudio

There

woe

is

no

Another
Enter

's

remedy.

300

II.
in the

room

and

Provost

hearing of

I '11tell him

[Exeunt.

Scene

He

so

Come, sir.

Serv.

cause

of you.
45

; he

same.

Servant.

will

come

straight:

MEASURE

II. Sc. ii.

Act

FOR

Pray

Prov.

MEASURE

do.

you,

[Exit Servant.^

I '11know
His
He

pleasure;
hath

but

as

be he will relent.
may
in a dream
offended
!

of this vice ; and

smack

All sects, all ages

To die for 't!

he

Angela.

Enter

Ang. Now, what 's the

Alas,

provost ?

matter,

shall die to-morrow

?
Is it your will Claudio
Did not I tell thee yea ? hadst thou not order ?

Prov.

Ang.

dost thou

Why

ask

again ?
I

Lest

Prov.

might

be too 'rash

good correction, I have seen,

When, after execution. Judgement hath
Repented o'er his doom.

Under

Go
Do

or
your office,
you shall well be

you

And
Prov.

She 's very

Ang.
some

Here
Desires

more

access

Ay,
If not

pardon.
groaning Juliet?

your

the

Servant.

to

condemn'd

man

you.

Hath

And

Ang.

honour's

crave

is the sister of the

Ang.
Prov.

Dispose of her
fitter place,and that with speed.
Re-enter

Serv.

place.

mine:

hour.

her

near

let that be

to;

give up your
spared.

shall be done, sir,with

W^hat

To

lo

your

Ang.

he

sister ?

good lord ; a very virtuous

shortlyof a sisterhood.
already.
Well, let her be admitted.

my
to be

46

maid,

20

[Exit Servant.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

be removed

the fornicatress

See you

Let her have

needful,but

Isabella

Enter

Stay

httle while.

Lucio.

and

God

Prov.

Ang.

lavish,means

not

II. Sc. ii.

for 't.

shall be order

There

Act

save

honour

your

[To Isah.'\ You

're welcome:

Isah.

am

woeful

Please

will ?

's your

what

but your

suitor to your
honour
hear

honour,
me.

Well

Ang.
is

There

Isah.

And

most

For

which

I would

For

which

I must

At

desire should

the blow

meet

of

plead,but that
plead,but that I

not

brother

is condemn'd

I do

beseech

you,

And

not

brother.

my

Ang. Condemn
Why,
Mine
To

the

every

am

to

die

give thee moving

Heaven

fault,and

not

it be done

ere

graces

were

let go

by

the

brother, then.

Kneel

down
are

too

him

justbut

't not

o'er

law !

severe

keep

Heaven

"

[Aside to Isab.] Give

entreat

so

your
:

honour!

to him

again,

before

40

actor.

O
I had

of it?

the actor

fault 's condemn'd

Isab.

You

31

the very cipherof a function.

fine stands in record,
fine the faults whose

And

Lucio.

I must;

let it be his fault.

[Aside]

Prov.

justice;

the matter?

Well;
I have

suit ?

will not.

Ang.
Isab.

's your

abhor,

not

'twixt will and

war

I do

vice that most

; what

his gown
need a pin,

him, hang upon

cold ; if you
47

should

II. Sc.

Act

MEASURE

ii.
with

You

could not

To

him, I say!

tame

more

Maiden,
;

And

I do

think

neither

that you

heaven

nor

Isab.

But

Ang. Look, what

Isah. But might
If

so

As

do

is to him

late ?
call

May
No

's sentenced

no

that

The

marshal's

; 'tistoo

with

nor

half

one

deputed sword,
the judge's robe,

good

so

been

would

as

have

not

have

and

Pray
to

heaven

you were
No ; I would
And
what
a

tell what

'twere to be

judge.

prisoner.

brother
but

be gone.

I had

[Aside to Isab.] Ay,

you

you,

your potency.
Isabel ! should
it then be thus ?

And

And

grace

you as he.
sliptlike him ; but he, like you.
been so stern.
you,

Ang.

Ang. Your

60

does.

mercy
If he had

Lucio.

late.

'longs.

ones

the

nor

truncheon,

them

I would

remorse

cold.

too

are

great

king's crown,

As

Isah.

wrong,

that to

the

Would

with

no

I, that do speak a word,

it back again. Well, believe this,

Not

You

do.

why,

ceremony

Become

50

would?

do the world

touch'd

[Aside to Isah.'\You

Too

if you

you,

't,and

He

Isah.

man

can

were

Ang.
Liicio.

might pardon him,

grieveat the mercy.

I will not, that I cannot

you
heart

your

mine

remedy.

no

do 't.

I will not

Ang.

tongue desire it :

die ?

Ang,
Isah. Yes

MEASURE

he needs

Must

Isah.

FOR

is

waste

touch

him

forfeit of the

words.

your

48

law,

there 's the vein.

71

FOR

MEASURE

MEASURE

II. Sc. ii.

Act

Alas, alas

Isah.

Why, all the

souls that

were

forfeit

were

once

that

He

might the vantage best have took

Found
How
would
out the remedy.
you be,
is the top of judgement, should
If He, which

And

But

judge

And

mercy

Like

as

you
then

man

are?

you

O,

will breathe

think

within

lips.

your

made.

new

Be

Ang.
It is the law, not

content, fair maid

you

I condemn

brother

your

he my kinsman, brother, or my
It should be thus with him : he must
Were

Isab. To-morrow

that;

on

O,

that 's sudden

80

son,

die to-morrow.

Spare him,

spare

him!
He

's not

We

kill the fowl

With
To

of

season

less respect than

our

Even

prepared for death.

do

we

selves?

gross

shall

for

we

our

kitchens

heaven

serve

minister

Good, good

lord, bethink

my

you;
Who

is it that hath

There

's many

have

Liicio.

Ang.

for this offence

died

committed

law hath

Those

not

had

many

been

dead, though

dared

not

to do

If the first that did the edict

Had

answer'd

for his deed

Takes

note

of what

Looks

in

glass,that shows
or
by remissness

Either now,
And

so

Are

now

But,

it.

[Aside to Isah.} Ay,

The

ere

is done

in progress
to have no

they live,to

to

that

end.
49

well said.
it hath

slept:

evil,

infringe
'tis awake.

now

and,
what

like

future

prophet.
evils.

new-conceived.

be hatch' d and

successive

born.

degrees.

91

Act II. Sc. ii.

MEASURE

Isah.

FOR

Yet
I show

Aug.

For

it most

then

Which
And

pity those

dismiss'd

do

him

not

Your

brother

have

To

use

Lucio.

suffers.

O,

For

Would

it is tyrannous

use

Nothing

well said.

thunder

men

himself

every

foul wrong.

gives this sentence,

giant'sstrength; but
it like a giant.

Jove

one

gall;

it is excellent

[Aside to Isab.'\ That's

As

after

great

lOO

satisfied ;
; be content.

be the first that

must

Could

Isah.

Be

dies to-morrow

he, that

To

justice;

know,

offence would

another.

to act

Isah. So you

I show

I do not

pity.

some

rightthat, answering

Lives

And

of all when

show

MEASURE

no

ne'er be

does, Jove would

quiet,

pelting,petty officer
his heaven
for thunder.

but

thunder

Merciful

heaven.

thy sharp and sulphurous bolt

the unwedgeable and gnarled oak
Split'st
Than
the soft myrtle : but man,
proud man,

Thou

rather

Drest

in

with

little brief

authority.

Most

ignorant of what he 's most assured.

His glassy essence,
like an angry
120
ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As make
the angels weep
spleens,
; who, with our
Would

Lucio.

He

all themselves

{Aside to Isab.] O,
relent ;
's coming ;

laugh
to

mortal.

him,

to

Isab, We

cannot

Great
But

men

in the

! he will

perceive't.
[Aside] Pray

Prov.

him, wench

heaven

she

win

him

weigh our brother with ourself :

jestwith saints ; 'tis wit in them,
may
less foul profanation.
50

MEASURE
Liicio.

FOR
Thou

That

Isah.

MEASURE

'rt i' the

Which

right,girl;

captain 's but

in the

in the soldier

do

Ang. Why

yet

That

skins

avised

err

in

more

on

like

others.
itself.

Go

bosom

to your

ask

's like my
such
natural guiltiness
sound

it not

Against

my

thought

brother's

Such

sense,

know

his.

upon

tongue

your

140

Hfe.

She

[Aside]

Ang.

is

as

't.

me?

it doth
your heart what
brother's fault : if it confess

That

Let

it

the vice o' the top.

there, and

Knock

o' that ?

of medicine

kind

130

blasphemy.

authority,though

Hath

word,

put these sayings upon

you

Because

Isab.

o' that.

more

choleric

is flat

[Aside to Isab.] Art

Lucio.

II. Sc. ii.

Act

that my

breeds

sense

'tis

speaks, and
with

it.

Fare

you

well.
Gentle

Ang.

I will bethink

Isab. Hark

my

how

How?

Ang.

back.

lord, turn

Isab.

me

come

I '11bribe you

Ay, with such giftsthat

Lucio.
[Aside to Isab.] You
with

Or

stones

As

fancy

That
Ere

To

fond

sides

whose

rates

values

shall be up

them
at

sun-rise,prayers

From

heaven

had

; but

heaven

keep

your

honour
51

and

or

poor

true

prayers
there
enter

minds

come

dedicate

are

to

me

'tis well;
safe !

you.

gold,

preservedsouls,

from

[Aside to Isab.] Goto;

with

with

all else.

marr'd

either rich

are

Well

Isab, Heaven

shall share

of the tested

fastingmaids whose
nothing temporal.

Ang.
Lucio.

back.

bribe me?

Isab.

Isab. Not

again to-morrow.
good my lord, turn

to-morrow.

away!

150

MEASURE

II. Sc. ii.

Act

that way

am

Where

cross.

prayers

At

Isab.
Shall I attend

At

'Save

hour

what

to-morrow

worship ?

your

Ajtg.
Isab.

MEASURE

[Aside] Amen:
going to temptation,

Aug.
For

FOR

'fore

time

any

honour!

your

Isabella,Liicio,and
[EA-eiint
thee,

From

Aug.
's

What
The

i6o

noon.

's this ?

this,what

tempter

the

or

from

even

"

Is this her

tempted, who

Provost.

thy

fault

sins most

or

virtue !
mine

Ha!
Not

she ;

doth

nor

she

tempt

it is I

but

That, lyingby the violet in the sun.

Do as the carrion does, not as the flower.

Corrupt with
That
modesty
Than

virtuous

betray our
?
Having
lightness

sense

more

may

woman's

it be

Can

season.

waste

ground

enough,
Shall
And

desire

we

pitchour

What

Dost

170

dost
thou

to

the

raze

sanctuary.

evils there ?

thou,
desire

or

what

her

art

O, fie,fie,fie !
thou, Angelo ?
those

foullyfor

things

good ? O, let her brother live :

for their robbery have authority
Thieves
When
What, do I love her.
judges steal themselves.
That
I desire to hear her speak again.
That

And

make

feast upon

her eyes ?

is 't I dream

What

that, to catch
enemy,
saints dost bait thy hook !

cunning

With

Is that
To

her

sin

temptation that
in loving virtue

doth
:

52

never

goad

on

saint,
Most
us

could

180

dangerous
on

the strumpet,

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR
all her

With
Once

stir my
Subdues
me

When

men

Act

double

vigour, art

temper

nature,
maid

but this virtuous

Ever

quite.

and

11. Sc. iii.

till now,

fond, I smiled, and wonder'd

were

how.

[Exit.
Scene
A

III.

in

room

prison,

Duke
Enter, severally,

Duke.

Hail

Prov.

to you,

by

in the

Here

let

The
To

are.

's your will,good friar ?

charity and my blest order,
What

my

prison.

Do

me

spirits
the

right

common

see

nature

accordingly.

I would

Prov.

you

Provost.

them, and to make me know

minister
of their crimes, that I may

me

them

friar,and

I think

so

visit the afflicted

to

come

To

provost !

the provost.

am

Bound

Duke.

disguisedas

do

that,if

than

more

more

were

needful.

Juliet.

Enter

one
: a gentlewoman of mine,
Look, here comes
youth.
Who, fallingin the flaws of her own

Hath
And

report : she is with child

he that got it,sentenced
man
; a young
blister'd her

More

fit to do

Than

die for this.

Dtike.

When

must

he

As
I have
And

provided for

you

Repent

Jul. I do ; and

offence

die?

Prov.

Duke.

such

another

lo

you:

I do think, to-morrow.

stay awhile,

[To

Juliet.

shall be conducted.
fair one, of the sin you carry?
bear the shame
most
patiently.

you,

53

20

MEASURE

II. Sc. iv.

Act

I '11 teach

Duke.

And

hollowly put

shall

you

penitence,if

try your

Or

how

you

MEASURE

FOR

it be

arraign

science,
con-

your

sound,

on.

I '11 gladly learn.

Jut.
Jul. Yes,
Duke.
*

wrong'd you ?
that wrong'd him.

that
you the man
I love the woman

Love

Duke.

as

So, then, it seems

your
Was
mutually committed?

offenceful

most

act

Mutually.

Jul.
Then

Duke.

w^as

Jul. I do confess

so,

that the

As

Which

sorrow

Showing
But

as

we

we

stand

take

fear,

in

Jul. I do repent me,

And

"

it is

as

the shame

an

with

evil,
joy.
There

Duke.
Your
And

partner, as I hear, must

I

Grace

Jul. Must

am

going

with

me
respites
still a dying

whose
life,

'Tis

in
Enter

When

I would

{Exit.

pray

very

40

comfort

pityof

him.

{Exeunt.

IV.

Scene

Aug.

him.

to

injuriouslove,

horror

room

die to-morrow,

instruction

Prov.

rest.

Benedicite!

go with you,
die to-morrow

That
Is

his.

daughter : but lest you do repent, 30

sin hath brought you to this shame,
is always toward
ourselves,not heaven,
love it,
would
as
we
not spare heaven

'Tis meet

Duke.

than

your sin of heavier kind

it,and repent it,father.

Angelo'shouse.
Angelo.
and
54

think, I think and pray

MEASURE
To

subjects.

several

Whilst
Anchors

Isabel

on

if I did but

As
And
Of

mouth.
;

fear'd

Wherein
Could

I with

tedious

and

let

"

no

boot

How

change

Wrench

from

awe

thy

false

's write

me

with

for

seeming

Enter

Teach

thou

the way.

her

Of

necessary

So

play the
all to

which

foolish

to

access

heavens

throngs

help him,

he should

and

Quit

their

own

's there ?
you.

!
my

heart,

appear

with

one

that

swoons

stop the air

and

even

well-wish'd

so

king

obsequious fondness
their untaught love
where

part, and

to his presence,

needs

so

revive

general subject to

Must

20

fitness ?

The

Crowd

blood

! who

to
Why does my blood thus muster
Making both it unable for itself.
And
all my other parts
dispossessing

By

art

souls

devil's horn

now

Isabel,a sister,desires

Aug.

tie the wiser

Servant.

How

One

thy habit,

case,

the

lo

the devil's crest.

'Tis not

Serv.

I take

an

Blood,

good angel on

gravity,
pride,
idle plume.
place,O form,

my

thy

fools,and

read,

"

for vain.

dost thou

often

; yea,

hear

man

the air beats

Which

often

good thing,being

Grown

Come

tongue,

my

in my
his name

chew

only

not

words

the strong and swellingevil

I studied.
conception. The state, whereon

my

Let

Heaven

empty

my

heart

in my

Is like

To

hath

Heaven

invention, hearing

my

II. Sc. iv.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

in

offence.
55

MEASURE

II. Sc. iv.

Act

Enter

FOR

Isabella.

How
I

Isab.

to know

come

am

Ang. That

might

you

MEASURE

30

pleasure.

your

know

fair maid?

now,

it,would

much

better

please

me

Than

to demand

Isab.

Even

Ang.

Yet
As

so.

Isab. Under

Heaven

"

'tis.

keep

he live awhile

may

long

what

as

or

you

brother

honour

your

yet

Your

cannot

live.

it may
die.
he must

and,

be,

sentence?

your

Yea.

Ang.

Isab. When,

I beseech

you ? that in his reprieve,

Longer or shorter,he may be so fitted
That
his soul sicken not.

Ajtg.

Ha

To
A

pardon him that hath

man
already made, as

Their
In

vices
fie,these filthy

that

stamps

take

Falsely to
As

to

To

put metal

make

away

so

were

good

stolen

nature

'tis all

life true

as

remit

to

in restrained

false

Isab. 'Tis set down

from

forbid

are

It

that do coin

sweetness

saucy

heaven's
as

image

easy

made.

means

one.

in

heaven,

but

not

in earth.

Ang. Say

you so ? then I shall pose you quickly.

Which
had you rather, that the most
just law
Now
took your brother's life ; or, to redeem
him,
"

Give
As

your body to such sweet

she that he hath stain'd !
up

Isab.

Ang.

uncleanness

Sir, believe this,

I had

rather

I talk not
Stand

more

40

give my

body

than

of your soul : our

for number
than

56

my

souk

compell'd sins
for accompt.

50

II. Sc.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

How

hah.

Ang. Nay, I
Against

'11not

thing I

the

Pronounce
there

Might

can

Answer

to

say.

sentence

that ; for I

of the recorded

the voice

I, now

To

warrant

be

not

on
a

as

6o

:
"

life :

hfe?

perilto

this

sin

Please
it

speak

brother's

your

Isah.
I '11take

you?

law,

charity in

this brother's

save

say

iv.

do

to

you

't,

soul,

my

all,but

sin at

charity.
Ang. Pleased you to do 't at perilof your soul.
Were
equal poise of sin and charity.
It is

Isah.

no

That

I do

his life,if it be sin,

beg

it ! you
it my
If that be sin, I '11make

Heaven

To

let

it added

have

And

bear

me

to

of

nothing

the

sense

seem

Let
But

Ang.

ignorant,and
I
graciouslyto know
wisdom

wishes

it doth

Proclaim
Than
be

Your
Isah.

So.

Ang.

And

and

be

me

Thus

To

mine

not

craftily
;

so,

When

True.

tax

to

either

that 's not

in
am

hear

but

you

me.
are

nothing good.
no

appear
itself ; as these

better.
most

bright

black

masks
80

enshield

brother

is to die.

his offence
to

the

is so,
law

it appears,
that pain.
upon
as

rant,
igno-

good.

beauty ten times louder

beauty could, display'd. But mark me
received
plain, I '11 speak more
gross :
an

Accountant
Isah.

of mine.

answer.

your

pursues

suit, 70

prayer

Xay,

Or
Isah.

morn

faults

Ang.
Your

of my

granting

Act

II. Sc.

Admit

Aug.

As

MEASURE

iv.

other way

no

I subscribe

to

his

save

that, nor

not

in the loss of

But

FOR

Hfe,
other,
"

any

question, that
Finding yourselfdesired of such
credit with the judge, or
Whose
Could

Of

fetch

To

would

What

And
That

My

the

'twere

And
Better
Than

it

not

you

Ignomy
Are

died

in

free

'Id

rubies.

yield

brother

at

die.

once,

houses

lawful

foul

to

the

O, pardon
what

than
me,
we

the sentence
no

pardon

mercy

redemption.

of late to make

proved

as

so?

and

ransom

seem'd
rather

your

as

100

ever.

cruel

nothing kin

have

must

you, then, as
have slander'd

merriment

To

death,

sister,by redeeming him.

of two

You
And

of

cheaper way:
brother

die for

Were
That

the

were

that

Should

Aug.

myself :

as

terms

Then

Aug.

Is

manacles

impressionof keen whips I 'Id wear

stripmyself to death, as to a bed
longing have been sick for, ere I
body up to shame.

The

Isab.

great place,

own

the

brother

much

That

Aug.

person.

do?

you

for my poor
I under
is, were

As

Isab.

90

law ; and that there were

all-building
to save
him, but that either
earthlymean
of your body
must
lay down the treasures
this supposed, or else to let him
suffer ;

You

Isab.

from

sister,

the

No

Isab.

brother

his

you,

"

your

MEASURE

the law

slidingof

your

tyrant;
brother

vice.

lord ; it oft falls out.

my
would
have, we speak not

mean:

58

what

we

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

something do excuse
For his advantage that
We

Ang.
Isab.

Else
a

Owe

and

Ang. Nay,
Isab.

Ay,

let my

brother

are

Women

glasseswhere
as

they

broke

easy

And

soft

are

credulous

to

us

false

this

testimony

Since, I suppose,
faults

Than

we

are

of your own
made
to be

shake

may

frail ;

are,

I think
from

mar

prints.

Ang.
And

times

ten

complexions

our

as

call

forms.

make

their creation

"

we

themselves

view

they

as

! men
Help Heaven
by them.
Nay,
profiting

For

die,

frail too.

are

the

Which

In

120

feodary,but only he
succeed
thy weakness.

women

as

thing I hate,
dearly love.

the

all frail.

are

If not

II. Sc. iv.

Act

it well:
sex,

"

stronger

no

frames,

our

130

"

let

me

be

bold ;"
I do

arrest

That

is,a

your

as

"

Let

entreat

me

but

you

Isab.'

brother

My

And

Ang.

tell

you

Isab, I know
Which
To

seems

pluck

on

that he

virtue

your
a

none

it now,

livery.
:

the

gentle my lord.
former
language.

shall die for it.

you

hath

little fouler

others.
59

express'd

Juliet,

Isabel,if

shall not,

He

one

're

you

show

"

are,

love you.

did love
me

well

are

speak

Aug. Plainly conceive, I

that you
more,

destined

the

tongue

no

you

be

warrants,

By putting on
I have

Be

; if you

woman

If you be one,
By all external

Isab.

words.

love.

give me
license
than

it

in

't,

is,

140

MEASURE

II. Sc. iv.

Act

FOR

Believe

Ang,
My
Isab. Ha

words

express

mine

honour.

purpose.

my

to be much

! littlehonour

on

me,

MEASURE

believed,

perniciouspurpose ! Seeming, seeming !

I will proclaim thee, Angelo ; look for 't:
151
Sign me a present pardon for my brother,

And

Or

most

"

with

outstretch'd

an

"

I '11 tell the

throat

world

aloud
What

thou

man

art.

will believe

Who

Ang.

thee, Isabel?

of my
the austereness
life,
My unsoil'd name,
My vouch against you, and my place i' the state,
Will so your accusation overweigh.
And

you shall stifle in your own

I have
smell of calumny.

And

now

That

sensual

give my

report.

begun

the rein

race

160

sharp appetite;
all nicetyand prolixiousblushes.
That
banish what
they sue for ; redeem thy brother
By yieldingup thy body to my will ;
Or else he must
not only die the death,
shall his death draw
But thy unkindness
out
Answer
To
me
to-morrow.
lingeringsufferance.
guides me most,
Or, by the affection that now
Fit

thy
Lay by

consent

I '11 prove

Say what

to

my

tyrant

you

can,

to

my

As

him.
false

for you.

o'erweighsyour

true.

170

[Exit.
Isab.

To
Who

would

That

bear

Either

should

whom

believe
in them

complain ? Did I tell this.

O perilousmouths,
me?

one

of condemnation

Bidding
Hooking

the law
both

make

and

the self-same

approof;
court'syto their

rightand

tongue,

or

wrong
60

to

the

will

appetite,

follow

To

of

mind

blood,

of the

by prompture

such

in him

he

hath

Yet

falln

III. Sc. i.

brother

I '11to my

it draws

as

he hath

Though

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

honour,
i8o

That, had he twenty heads to tender down

On twenty bloody blocks, he 'Id yieldthem

pollution.

abhorr'd

such

To

body stoop

her

his sister should

Before

up,

Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die:

than

More

brother

our

chastity.

our

yet of Angelo's request,

I '11 tell him

fit his mind

And

is

to

death, for his soul's

THIRD.

ACT

I.

Scene
'A

But
I 've

have

miserable

The

Claud.

only hope
hope

medicine

other

am

preparedto

absolute

thee, I do lose

If I do lose
That

Servile
That

And

him

afflict:
thou

For

die.
or

life

thus

breath

with

thou

Hf

e :

art.

skyey influences,

merely,thou

thou

art

labour' st by thy

yet runn'st
noble

thing
keep :

habitation,where

dost this

Hourly
For

all the

to

fools would

but

none

live,and

to

no

Angelo

Lord

from

for death ;" either death

Reason
Shall thereby be the sweeter.
Be

Provost.

disguisedas before,Claudio, and

Duke

So, then, you hope of pardon

Duke.

Duke.

prison.

in the

room

Enter

[Exit.

rest.

toward

him

keep'st,

death's fool ;

flightto shun,
still. Thou

all the accommodations

Ci

lo

that thou

bear'st

art

not

MEASURE

III. Sc. i.

Act

Are

nursed

For

thou

Thou

baseness.

by

FOR
'rt

MEASURE

by

no

iant
val-

means

Of

fear the soft and

dost

fork

tender

Thy best of rest is sleep,

And
oft provokest; yet grosslyfear'st
Thou
art not thyself
Thy death, which is no more.
;
For thou exist'st on many
20
a thousand
grains
That
issue out of dust.
Happy thou art not;
poor worm.
that thou

For

what

thou

hast

And

what

thou

hast, forget'st.Thou

For

the

For,

like

Thou

an

ass

death
thine

The

mere

unloads

ending thee

age,
But, as it were,

Of

To
That

thy

bears

Lie hid
That

and

hast neither
make

moe

makes

and

aged,

palsiedeld

Thou

after-dinner's
; for all

doth

when

the

art

What

of life ?

Yet

thousand

deaths

these odds

all

nor

alms

old and

rich.

beauty.

nor

's yet in this

in this life

fear,

we

40

even.

humbly

thank

live,I find I seek to die;

And, seeking death, find life : let it come
Isab.

30

youth

yet death
I

sue

sire.

youth

nor

blessed

pleasant.

name

sleep.

beg

thou

Claud.
To

hast

heat, affection, limb,

riches

the

thy

none

loins,
the rheum.

Thou

sooner.

an

both

on
as

no

thou

call thee

do

of

journey,

hast

Friend

thy proper
gout, serpigo,and

the

Becomes

thee.

but

bowels, which

own

Dreaming

riches

thy heavy

effusion

curse

For

certain ;

art not

shifts to strange effects.

If thou art rich,thou 'rt poor ;
whose
back with ingotsbows,

moon.

bear'st

For

Do

strivest to get,

thy complexion

After

And

not, still thou

you.

to

[Within] What,
company

ho !

Peace

!
62

here ; grace

on.

and

good

MEASURE

FOR

Prov.

Who's

Duke.

Dear

Claud.

MEASURE

there?

sir,ere

Most

holy

in:

come

'11visit you
sir,I thank you.

business

My
And

Prov.

Duke.

Provost,
As

Prov.
Duke.

is

very
sister.

welcome.

Look,

word

you.

with

with

two

or

Isab.

signior,here

's your

50

what
sister,

I may
be concealed.
and Provost.

Duke

's the comfort

Why,
As

all comforts

Lord

Where

you

Therefore

your

To-morrow

you

best
set

Claud.

To

cleave

everlastingleiger:
appointment make with speed ;

an

on.

remedy

as, to

But

Yes, brother, you

There

is

remedy?

no
save

head,

in twain.

heart

Claud.
Isab.

indeed.

to

Is there

None, but such

Isab.

affairs

good

heaven,
for his swift ambassador.

shall be

you

good, most

; most

are

Angelo, having

Intends

may

live

is there

any?

in the judge,
mercy
If you '11implore it,that will free your life,
But
fetter you
till death.
a

devilish

Perpetual durance?

Claud.

Isab.

come.
wel-

Claudio.

you please.
to hear them
speak, where

me

Now,

again.

[Exeunt
Claud.

deserves

i.

Isabella.

word

III. Sc.

as

many

Bring

the 'wish

long,I

Enter

Isab.

Act

Ay, just; perpetualdurance, a restraint.

Though all the world's vastidity
you had,
To

determined

scope.

63

61

Act III. Sc. i.

MEASURE

Claud.

But
In such

Isah.

FOR

Would

one

honour

your

nature?

in what

70

consenting to 't,

as, you

bark

MEASURE

from

that

trunk

you

bear,
And

leave you

naked.
Let

Claud.

know

me

and

O, I do fear thee, Claudio;

Isah.

Lest

thou

And

six

Than

winters

seven

of death

sense

Barest

is most

in

And

the poor beetle,that we

In corporalsufferance
finds

As

when

Why
you

From

can

hug

There

Isah.

Did
Thou

art

tread
a

upon.
as

pang

resolution

darkness

it in mine

spake my

utter

die ?

apprehension;

give you

80

great

forth
too

as

fetch

die,

bride.

arms.

father's grave
my
die :
thou must

brother

; there

voice.

Yes,

noble

this shame

me

If I must

flowery tenderness?

I will encounter
And

thou

giant dies.

Claud.
Think

point.
I quake,
entertain,

respect

more

perpetualhonour.

The

or

life shouldst

feverous

the

to

conserve

life

deputy.
appliances. This outward-sainted
settled visage and deliberate w^ord
Whose
90
Nips youth i' the head, and follies doth emmew

In base

As

falcon

His
A

doth

filth within

pond

as

deep

the

fowl, is yet

being cast,
as

he

devil ;

would

appear

hell.

prenzieAngelo !
Isah. O, 'tis the cunning liveryof hell.
The
damned'st
body to invest and cover
In prenzieguards ?
Dost thou think, Claudio
If I would yieldhim my virginity,

Claud.

The

64

?
"

"

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

III. Sc. i.

Act

mightst be freed.

Thou

it cannot

heavens!

Claud.

be.

give 't thee,from this rank offence,

him still. This night 's the time
loi

Yes, he would

Isab.

So to offend
That
Or

I should
else thou

do

I abhor

what

it but

were

I 'Id throw
As

deliverance

for your

it down

frankly as

pin.

Yes.

Claud.

That

thus

When

of the

Or

sin ;

no

no

it is the least.

deadly seven

is the least?

Which

damnable, he being

If it were

Claud.

the nose.

by

Sure, it is

it?

force

he would

bite the law

him

make

can

to-morrow.

in him,

he affections

Has

death

for your

ready, Claudio,

Isabel.

dear

Thanks,
Be

do 't.

life,

my

Claud.

Isab.

shalt not

Thou

O,

Isab.

name.

diest to-morrow.

Claud.
Isab.

to

wise.

so

trick

Why w^ould he for the momentary

O Isabel !
Be perdurably fined ?
"

What

Isab.

brother ?

my

says

Death

Claud.

Claud.

Ay,

This

but to die,and

sensible

go

we

kneaded

To
In
To

bathe

clod ; and
in

know

and

fearful

thing.

the

to

where

not

rot ;

to become

motion

warm

hateful.

lie in cold obstruction

To

life

shamed

And

Isab.

is

120

delightedspirit

fieryfloods, or

to

reside

thrilling
region of thick-ribbed ice ;
be imprison'd in the viewless
winds.

And

blown

The

pendent

with

restless violence

world

; of

to be

65

worse

round

about

than

worst

MEASURE

III. Sc. i.

Act

Of

that lawless

those

Imagine howling:
The

weariest

That

age, ache, penury,

lay on nature is a

Can
To

what

sin you

That

horrible!

loathed

most

Sweet

Nature

thought

worldly life
and imprisonment
paradise

130

Claud.

What

MEASURE

fear of death.

we

Alas, alas

Isab.

incertain

and

'tis too

"

and

FOR

sister,let

do

to

save

dispenseswith
it becomes

live :

me

brother's

deed

the

life,
far

so

virtue.

you beast !
dishonest
wretch

Isab.
0

faithless coward

Wilt

Is 't not

kind

thine

From

vice ?
of my
of incest,to take life

be made

thou

!
a

out

man

sister's shame?

own

should

What

think ?
Heaven
such

For
Ne'er

mother

shield my
a

from

his blood.

Take

but my

bending

Die, perish!

Might

Reprieve thee

from

1 '11 pray
No word

Claud.

Nay,

thousand

to

Isab.

Thy sin 's not

Mercy to thee

me,

down

thy fate,it should proceed :

for thy death.
prayers

Isabel.

would

prove

diest

itself

O,
Re-enter

bawd

hear

me,

Isabella !

one

word.

150

quickly.

Claud,

Vouchsafe

O, fie,fie,fie!
accidental,but a trade.

'Tis best that thou

Duke.

defiance

my

thee.

save

hear

141

slipof wilderness

warped

issued

father fair !

play'dmy

word, young
66

Duke.

sister,but

MEASURE

FOR

What

Isah.

MEASURE

is your

will?

Might

Duke.

by

you dispensewith your

by have some
speech with

and

III. Sc. i.

Act

I would

require is

leisure,I would
the satisfaction

you

likewise

own

your

benefit.
I have

Isah.

superfluous leisure;my

no

of other

stolen out

affairs ; but

I will attend

awhile.

and

you

[Walks apart. i6o

hath passed between

what

overheard

Son, I have

Duke.

be

must

stay

Angelo had never

the purpose
made
to corrupt her; only he hath
of her virtue to practisehis judgement
an
assay
with the dispositionof natures
: she, having the
you

truth

of honour
denial

am

true;
not

her, hath

in

which

confessor

sister.

your

he is most

Angelo,

to

satisfyyour

Let

Hold

Duke.

That

Leave

there

now

with

do

to

are

you

your

are

come,

you

with the maid

habit

no

will

my
loss shall touch

be

mind
her

gone.
ises
prom-

by

my
180

company.
Prov. In good time.

[Exit

of

Provost.

will,father

you

awhile
my

170

[Exit Claudio.']

farewell.

with

word

's your

me

die; go

be

ready.

Re-enter

What

this to

I know

must

you

make

you

Provost,

Prov.

and

sister pardon. I am
ask my
out
so
life,that I will sue to be rid of it.

me

love with
Duke.

glad

that cious
graI
to receive.

prepare

fallible: to-morrow

Claud.

him

yourself to death:
resolution
with hopes that

therefore

knees, and

made

Provost.

67

Isabella

conies

forzvard.

III. Sc. i.

Act

The

Duke.

hand

MEASURE
that hath

FOR

made

MEASURE

fair hath

you
that is

made

good : the goodness

cheap in beauty
beauty brief in goodness ; but grace, being
the soul of your complexion, shall keep the body
fair.
The
of it ever
assault that Angelo hath
made
fortune
hath conveyed to my
to you,
derstanding
unhath examples
; and, but that frailty
for his falling,I should
wonder
at
Angelo.

you
makes

will you

How
to

Isab.

save

do

to

this

content

substitute,and

190

brother?

your

going to resolve him : I had rather

should
brother
die by the law than my
son
my
be unlawfully born.
much
is the
But, O, how
he
deceived
in Angelo ! If ever
good Duke
I can
and
return
speak to him, I will open my
lipsin vain, or discover his government.
I

now

am

shall

That

Duke.

matter

fasten

have

made

he

ear
your
in doing

will avoid

my

yet,

law

do

no

and

much

ture

he

your

ever

brother

to

return

200

you

stain to your
own
please the absent

shall

the

tion
accusa-

your

good a
do make
myself believe that you may
righteouslydo a poor wronged lady

benefit; redeem

as

only. Therefore
advisings: to the love
remedy presents itself.

trial of
on

amiss:

much

stands, he

now

be

not

from

most
a

the

I
I

up-

merited
angry

gracious person ;
Duke, if peradven-

have

hearing of

this

business.
Isab.

Let
to

do any

of my
Duke.

me

you speak farther. I have spirit210

thing that appears not foul in the truth

hear

spirit.

Virtue

is

bold,

and

goodness
68

never

fearful.

MEASURE

FOR

Have

MEASURE

not

you

heard

of Frederick

Act
of

speak

III. Sc.

i.

ter
Mariana, the sis-

the great soldier who

miscarried

at sea?

Isab.

I have
with

her

She

Duke.

heard

of the

lady, and good

words

went

name.

should

affianced

to

this
her

which

married;
the

and

by oath,

between

pointed :

have

Angelo

was

nuptial

of the contract

time

apand

220

limit of the

solemnity,her brother Frederick was

wrecked
at sea, having in that perished vessel
the dowry of his sister.
But mark
how
heavily
this befell to the poor gentlewoman : there she
lost

noble

toward

her

and

renowned
kind

most

ever

him, the portion and

marriage-dowry
this
Isab.
Duke.

Can

this

them

sinew

; with

his

her

in few, bestowed
which

marble

with

fortune, her

both, her combinate

comfort;

whole, pretending in

his love

natural;

of her

tears, and

in her

with

and

well-seemingAngelo.
be so ? did Angelo so leave

her

Left

brother, in

dried

230
her ?
not

swallowed

her

on

of

of

one

his

discoveries

her

band,
hus-

vows

our
dishontion,
lamenta-

own

she yet wears

for his sake ; and he, a
her tears, is washed
with them, but

to

relents not.
Isab.

What

merit

from

maid

it in death

were

the world

What

life,that it will let this

of this
Duke.

It is
the

Isab.

can
a

Show

you
me

it

from

this poor
corruption in this

live !

man

But

how

out

avail?

rupture that you

of

cure

keeps

she

to take

not

only

may

saves

dishonour

your
in

how, good father.

69

easilyheal:

doing

and

brother, but
it.

240

MEASURE

III. Sc. i.

Act

of

her

her

quenched
to

you

all

made

it

Angelo

should

reason

love, hath,

current,

Go

in

that

kindness,
the

hath yet in her the continuance

first affection : his unjust unmaid

forenamed

This

Duke.

MEASURE

FOR

like

have

impediment in
violent and
unruly. 250
his requiringwith a

more

answer

an

plausibleobedience; agree with

the point; only refer yourselfto

his demands

to

this

advantage,
be long;
not

stay with him may

your
all shadow
have
and silence
that the time may
This
in it ; and the place answer
to convenience.

that
first,

being granted in

course,

this

shall advise

we

and

"

wronged

follows all,

now

"

maid

to

stead up

counter
appointment, go in your place; if the enacknowledge itself hereafter, it may 260
and
here, by
:
compel him to her recompence

your

brother

this, is your
the

Mariana

poor

advantaged,
The

corrupt Deputy scaled.

to

fit for his attempt.

make

and

this

carry

as

benefit defends
think
hah.

The

you

you may,
the deceit

maid

and

the

will I frame

If you

think

the doubleness
from

tainted,
un-

well

of the

reproof. What

of it?

image

I trust

honour

saved, your

of it gives me

it will grow

to

content
most

already; and
prosperous

fection.
per-

270
Duke,

Haste
in your
holding up.
you
speedilyto Angelo : if for this night he entreat
It lies much

of satisfaction.
you to his bed, give him promise
there, at the
I will presentlyto Saint Luke's:
moated

grange,

At

place

that

Angelo,

resides

call upon
be
that it may

dejectedMariana.
and dispatch with
me;
quickly.
this

70

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

I thank

Isab.

for this comfort.

you
father.

good

The

Elb.

if there be

needs

will

beasts,

'Twas

Pom.

him

Elb.

the

Pompey.

for it,but

that you
like
women

and

men

all the world

world

merry

drink

of law

and

furred

warm

since,of
and

put down,

was

by order

furred
fox

with

two

the

brown

stands

you,

good

keep

than

inno-

good

father

lo

facing.

sir.

way,

lowed
al-

lamb-skins

and

cency,

your

to

gown

that craft,being richer

signify,
for the

usuries,

worser

too, to

Come

on

stuff is here?

what

never

merriest

the

sell

before;

bastard.

heavens!

DuJ?e.

shall have

white

and

Officers with

remedy

no

buy and

we

II.

disguisedas

side, Duke
other, Elbow, and

Nay,

well,

you

before the prison.

street

one

on

Fare

[Exeunt severally.

Scene

Enter,

III. Sc. ii.

Act

'Bless

you,

friar.
And

Duke.

hath
Elb.

this

made

man

you,

Marry, sir,he

hath

take him

be

we

found

upon

have

we

Duke.

brother

to

That

sent

the

to
a

thief too, sir ; for

and, sir,
we

have

thy means

Deputy.

bawd,

evil that thou

is

sir?

offended the law

a

offence

What

which
him, sir,a strange picklock,

Fie, sirrah!
The

father.

causest
to

live.
71

wicked

bawd!

be

done,

to

Do

thou

but

20

think

Act

III. Sc. ii.

What

'tis to

From

such

From

their abominable

cram

or

maw

vice
filthy

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

clothe

back

say to thyself,
and beastlytouches

I drink, I eat, array

Canst thou believe

myself,and live.
thy livingis a life,
stinkinglydepending? Go mend, go

So
Pom.

Indeed, it does stink

sir,I would prove

in

mend.

sort, sir ; but yet,

some

30

"

Duke.

Nay,

if the

devil

have

given

thee

proofs

for

sin.
Take
him
wilt prove his.
Correction and instruction must
Thou

both

work

will

profit.
before the Deputy, sir; he has given
He
must
him warning : the Deputy cannot
abide a whoreand comes
fore
bemaster
: if he be a whoremonger,
as
him, he were
good go a mile on his
Ere

Elb.

prison,officer :

to

this rude

beast

errand.
That

Duke.

from

Free
Elb.

were

we

our

would
all,as some
faults,as faults from

seem

to

seeming

be,

40

free !

your waist, a cord, sir.

's a gentleHere
I spy comfort
man
; I cry bail.
and a friend of mine.
neck

His

Pom.

will

to

come

"

Lucia.

Enter

Lucio.

How

now,

noble

What,

Pompey!

at

the

in

triumph?
of Pygmalion's images,
What, is there none
for putting
to be had
now,
newly made woman,
in
the
hand
the
extracting it
pocket and
clutched?
What
sayest thou
reply,ha? What
wheels

to

this

drowned
Trot?

of

Caesar?

tune,

matter

thou

art

and

i' the last rain, ha?

Is the

world

as

72

led

Is 't not

method?
What

it was,

sayest thou,
man?

Which

50

MEASURE

FOR

is the way
The
Duke.

Is it

thus, and

Liicio. How

doth

Procures

she

w^ords ?

thus ; still worse

dear

my

she

ha
still,

is herself

so

ever

Hi.

Sc.

how

or

li.

be

Art

so.

eaten

up

all her

beef, and

tub.
it is the

rightof it;

whore

unshunned

an

morsel, thy mistress?

fresh

your

bawd
must

in the

'tis good;

Why,

be

Pom.

few

sad, and

Troth, sir,she hath

Liicio.

Act

trick of it?

Still

Pom.

MEASURE

going

and

60

it must

your

dered
powit
;

consequence

prison,Pompey?

to

Yes, faith,sir.

Liicio.

say

amiss, Pompey.

thee

sent

thither.

For

Farewell

go

debt, Pompey?

how?

or

For

Elh.

'tis not

Why,

for

being a bawd,

being a

bawd.

Well, then, imprison him : if imprisonment

the due of a bawd, why, 'tis his right: bawd
he doubtless,and of antiquitytoo ; bawd-born.

Lucio.

Farewell, good

Commend

Pompey.

me

to

be
is

70

the

will turn
good husband
you
will keep the house.
; you

prison, Pompey:

Pompey

now,

Pom.

hope, sir,your

good worship

Liicio. No, indeed, will I not,

wear.

'Bless

Duke.

And

Lucio.

Does

Elh.

Come

you,

Pompey

Pompey,

pray,

if you take
is the
more.

bondage
mettle

will

will be my

it not

to

; it is not

increase

why,
patiently,

Adieu,

friar.

Pompey,
Bridget paint still,
ways,

sir;
7Z

come.

the
your
your

trusty Pompey.

you.

your

bail.

ha?

80

Act

III. Sc. ii.

You

Pom.
Lucio,

will not

bail me,

Then, Pompey,
what

friar?

Come

Elh.

MEASURE

Lucio.

then, sir ?

nor

ways,

sir ;

[Exeunt Elbozv,

; go.

Officers.]What

and

Pompey

abroad,

news

come.

kennel, Pompey

to

What

now.

news?

your

Go

MEASURE

FOR

friar,of the

news,

90

Duke?
Duke.

I know

Lucio.

Some

other

him

from

but

Russia;
where
is he,

wheresoever, I wish

but

where;

mad

the
born

does

little

to

the

he

beggary

Angelo dukes
puts transgressionto

he

usurp

trick of him

Lord

to.

He

harm

fantastical

state, and

his absence

Lucio.

is in Rome

not

was

never

Duke.

he

of

Emperor

well.
It

Lucio.

the

is with

of any ?

you

I know

Duke.

tell me

you

he

say

some,

think

Can

none.

steal
was

in

it well

100

't.

w^ell in 't.

lenity to lechery would

more

in him

something

too

do

that

crabbed

no

way,

friar.
Duke.

It is too

generala vice, and severitymust

cure

it.

Lucio.

Yes,

in

good sooth, the vice

is of

dred;
great kin-

it is

impossibleto
extirp it quite,friar,till eating and drinking be
They say this Angelo was not made
put down.
of
and woman
after this downright way
by man
it is well

creation
Duke.

How

Lticio. Some
that he

allied:

but

is it true, think

should

he be

report
was

made,

sea-maid

begot between
74

you

then?

spawned
two

him

some,

stock-fishes.

But

no

it is certain
is

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

that,when

he

is

Lttcio.

Why, what

are

and

heard

never

for women;

O, sir,you

Duke.

'Tis not

Who,

not

clack-dish

Lucio.

of his

Lucio.

do him

wrong,

was

and

the

had

service,

mercy.
detected

much

Duke

that let

that way.

130

inform

me

you.

surely.
of his.

I believe

shy

I know

the

fellow
cause

140

prithee,might
'tis

and

the teeth

be the cause?

secret

the

lips:

be

must

but

this I

locked
can

let

understand, the greater file of the subject

Duke

the

Wise

Lticio. A

knew

he

yes,

inward

an

pardon

No,

you
held

he

would

withdrawing.

within

Duke.

too

What,

Duke.

thousand

man

beggar of
your
in her
his use
to put a ducat
was
He
had crotchets in him.
the Duke
Duke?

the

the Duke

was

have

deceived.

are

be drunk

Sir, I

the life

away

hanged
bastards, he

inclined

not

was

him, for

in

that is absent

120

possible.

fifty; and

You

to

the absent

he

Lucio.

would

and

have

would

him

that instructed

Duke.

he

getting a hundred
paid for the nursing
feelingof the sport ;

some

Lucio.

the Duke

Ere

take

to

the

have

true

thing is this

codpiece

Would

this?

for

Duke.

of

man

ruthless

the rebellion

done

be

to

generative; that 's infalUble.

pleasant,sir,and speak apace.

You

his urine

water,

I know

ii.

motion

Duke.

of

he makes

ice ; that

congealed

III. Sc.

Act

very

why,

to
no

be

wise.

questionbut

he

was.

superficial,
ignorant,unweighing

75

low.
fel-

king
folly,or mistayou,
of his life and the business
in

is envy

this

Either

Duke.

the very stream

hath helmed
must,
:

he

give him

better

warranted

upon

proclamation.

in his

testimonied

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

III. Sc. ii.

Act

need,
be but

him

Let

he

and
bringings-forth,

own

150

shall appear to the envious a scholar, a statesman

Therefore
and a soldier.
you speak unskilfully;
ened
darkit is much
if your knowledge be more,
or
malice.

in your

Lucio.

Come,

Duke.

make
you
it:

Sir, my

Lucio.

me

Duke

not

return,

desire

you to
If it be honest
to

courage

call upon

to

know

maintain

and, I pray

you;

name?

your

you,

have

spoke, you
bound

am

the

ever

let
may,
before him.

answer

your
have

if

he

are

prayers

I know.

that, since you

believe

speak. But,

you

our

as

160

what

sir,I know

hardly

can

edge
knowl-

and

knowledge,

love.

dearer

with

what

better

talks with

Love

Duke.

him.

I love

him, and

Sir, I know

Lucio.

is Lucio

name

well

known

to

the

Duke.

shall know

He

Duke.

170
you

better,sir,if I may

live to

report you.
Lucio.

I fear you

Duke.

O,
you

hope

you

imagine me

indeed, I

can

this
Lucio.

not.

I '11be

friar.

Claudio

unhurtful

too

do

you

an

little harm

no

more

or

opposite. But,
;

you

swear
'11 for-

again.

hanged

But

will return

the Duke

no

first : thou

more

die to-morrow

of this.
or

76

no?

art

deceived

Canst

thou

in me,
tell if
180

MEASURE

FOR

Why

Lucio.

Why?

he

should

Duke.

For

would

die, sir ?

a
filling

the

III. Sc. ii.

Act

MEASURE

Duke

talk

we

with

bottle

of

tun-dish.

returned

were

again : this ungenitured agent w^ill unpeople the

must
not
province with continency ; sparrows
erous.
build in his house-eaves, because
they are lechThe

have

yet would

Duke

deeds

dark

bring them to
returned
! Marry, this
he were
for untrussing. Farewell, 190
Claudio is condemned
The
Duke,
good friar : I prithee,pray for me.
days.
FriI say to thee again, would
eat mutton
on
darkly answered
light: would

he would
brown

and

bread

I say

to

thee,

beggar,though she smelt

garlic: say that I said so.

with

mouth

never

past it yet, and

's not

He

would

; he

[ffxit.

Farewell.
No

Duke.

might

Can

censure

The

whitest

Can

tie the

But

who

Enter

nor

greatness in mortality

'scape; back-wounding calumny

What
virtue strikes.
king so strong
gallup in the slanderous tongue ?
here?

comes

200

Escahis, Provost,

Officers zvith Mistress

and

Overdone.

Mrs

with

Go ; away

Escal.

Ov.

Good

my

is accounted
Escal.

Double
the

in
swear

Prov.

and

bawd

please your

to

prison!

lord, be good
a

merciful

treble
kind!

same

and

her

man

to

me

good

admonition, and
This

would

our
hon-

your

my

lord.

still forfeit

make

mercy

play the tyrant.

of

eleven

years'continuance,

honour.
77

may

it

Act

III. Sc. ii.

Mrs

Ov.

MEASURE

lord, this is

My

information

Lucio's

one

Mistress

againstme.

MEASURE

FOR

Kate

Keepdown

210

with

was

child

by him in the Duke's

time; he promised
her marriage : his child is a year and a quarter
old, come
Philipand Jacob : I have kept it myself;
and

how

see

he

about

goes

abuse

to

me!
That

EscaL

him

fellow

is

called

before

be

Go

prison!

fellow

to;

not

to-morrow

let him

and

all

have

brother
*

with

Good

even,

Duke.

Bliss

and

EscaL

Of

Duke.

Not

In

220

die

must

divines,

preparation. If my
pity,it should not be so

good

of this

are

you

time

What

Duke.

None,

abroad

news

but

230

gracious o'rder,late
specialbusiness from

EscaL

that

am

be

virtuous
There

aged
to

is

chance

from

come

be

scarce

now

the

See

his Holiness.

i' the world

is

there

in any

is

brother

so

kind

of

constant

in

truth

enough
78

great

goodness, that the dissolution of

novelty is onl|^in request ; and
to

of death.

you!

on

country, though my

it for my

use

him,

father.

goodness

whence

with

been

for the entertainment

him

EscaL

Of

brother

with

this friar hath

please you,
advised

and

To

my

furnished

to

him.

So

Prov.

charitable

her

my

altered; Claudio
be

let

\Excunt

Oz'.] Provost,

be

wrought by

with

words.

more

Officers zvith Mistress

license:

Away

us.

no

Angelo will

of much

fever

on

it must

cure

it is

ous
danger-

as

course,

any

as

it :

it is

undertaking.
alive

to

make

240

MEASURE

FOR

societies

MEASURE
but

secure;

fellowships accurst:
the

runs

old

Duke.

What

Escal

Rather

this riddle
upon
This
world.
is
news

the

I pray
Duke?

day's news.
the
was
disposition
all other

know

to
especially

much

"

that, above

make

to

it is every

sir,of what

One

securityenough

of

enough, yet

you,
Escal.

wisdom

III. Sc. ii.

Act

strifes,contended

himself.

he

pleasurewas

given to?

rejoicingto -see another merry,

at any thing which
professed to make
merry
rejoice: a gentleman of all temperance.
leave

made

to

He

have

his

from

he

yet had
of his

which

framed

to

But

they

desire
I

prepared.
have

but

lent him

determination

himself,by

to
am

tation.
visi-

sinister

no

most

250

him

prayer

me

received

judge,

to the

himself

humbles

let

Claudio

that you

professes to

with

and

find

you

understand

measure

him,

his events,

to

prosperous;

prove
how

may
know

Duke.

him

we

than

willingly
of justice:260

the instruction

deceiving promises of life;

frailty,
many
I, by my good leisure,have discredited to

and

is he resolved

now

to

die.

paid the heavens your function,and

debt of your
the prisoner the very
calling. I
for the poor gentleman to the exhave laboured
shore of my
tremest
modesty: but my brother

Escal.

You

have

justicehave
forced

Duke.

me

If his

found

to tell him

life

own

so

severe,

he is indeed
the

answer

proceeding,

it shall become

if he chance

to

fail,he hath
79

him

that

he

hath

Justice.
straitness
well ;

sentenced

of his
wherein

himself.

270

Act

EscaL

going

am

FOR

MEASURE

III. Sc. ii.

visit the

to

MEASURE

prisoner.

Fare

Escalus

and

you

well.
be with

Peace

Duke.
He

holy

Should

be

Pattern

in himself

Grace

to

as

[Exeunt

as

severe

to

know,
virtue

stand, and

Provost.

will bear

of heaven

the sword

who

you

280

go ;

less to others

paying
Than
by self-offences weighing.
cruel striking
whose
Shame
to him
Kills for faults of his own
liking!
treble shame
Twice
on
Angelo,
vice and let his grow!
To weed
my
More

nor

O, what

may

the outward

Though angel on
How

may

likeness

made

Making practiceon
To

draw

idle

with

him

within

man

hide,
side !

in crimes.

the times,

290

spiders'strings

ponderous and substantial things !

Craft against vice I must
apply :
With
Angelo to-nightshall lie
His old betrothed but despised;
So disguiseshall,by the disguised,
Most

Pay with falsehood

And

perform

an

old

false

exacting,

contracting.

80

[Exit.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE
ACT

FOURTH.
Scene

The

moated

Take, O, take those

sweetly

so

those

And

at St. Luke's.

grange

Boy

That

I.

Mariana

Enter

and

Boy.

sings.

lipsaway,
forsworn

were

the break

eyes,

IV. Sc. i.

Act

of

day,

:
Lights that do mislead the morn
But my
kisses bring again,bring again ;

Seals of love,but seal'd in vain, seal'd in vain.

A'lari. Break
Here

oif

comes

Hath

often

song, and haste thee

of comfort, whose
man

thy

still'd my

quick away

advice

discontent.

brawling

[Exit Boy.
Enter

Duke

disguised as

before.

I cry you mercy,

sir; and well could
had not found
here so musical
You
me
Let

me

excuse

mirth

me,

and

believe

me

wish

lo

so.

but pleased my
woe.
displeased,
'Tis good ; though music
hath oft such a charm
Duke.
To make
bad good, and good provoke to harm.
I pray you, tell me,
hath anybody inquired for
I
this time have
here to-day? much
me
upon
promised here to meet.
have not been inquiredafter : I have sat
Mari. You

My

here

all

it much

day.

20

Enter
Duke.

do

Isabella.

constantly believe
81

you.

The

time

is

Act

IV. Sc. i.

come

even

I shall

now.

little:

MEASURE

be

may

advantage

some

Mari.

Duke.

Very
What

well

Isah, He

hath

Whose

That

makes

This

other

Which

you

[Exit.

you.

well

come.

this

good Deputy?

side is with

with

brick.

command

doth

from

But

Duke.

on

you

your

ta'en

due

and

whispering and

With
In

action

The

way

Between

No,

this

but
I have

And

that

Can

be but

That

did

there

show

no

about

with

my

me,

whose

word

yet made

of this.

observance?
dark
most

made

him

stay
know

along.
persuasion is
me

'Tis well
not

tokens

brother.

Duke.
I have

40

me

other

only a repair i' the

d him
possess'
my
comes

stays upon

come

guiltydiligence.

brief ; for I have

servant

't:

upon

'greedconcerning her

you

none,

I have

note

wary

most

Are

leads ;

find

knowledge

all of precept, he
twice o'er.

Duke.

him.

shall

I have

Isah.

30

wa\'

Isah.

the

call upon

little door

vineyard to the garden

There
have I made
promise
my
Upon the heavy middle of the night
To

for

anon,

vineyard back'd
vineyard is a planched gate,
his opening with this bigger key

that

to

forbearance

your

circummured

garden

western

And

to

from

news

MEASURE

yourself.

to

met, and

is the

crave

I will call upon

bound

always

am

FOR

known

What,

to

borne

Mariana

ho ! within
82

up.

come

forth !

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

She

acquainted with
do you good.

be

you,

to

comes

this maid

I do

Isab.
Do

Mari.

Good

Duke.

Take, then, this your

friar,I know
hath

Who

desire

persuade yourselfthat

Duke.

you

I shall attend

story ready for your

but

like.

I respect

you?

found
the

companion by

leisure

51

the

do, and have

you

your

IV. Sc. i.

Mariana.

Re-enter

I pray

Act

it.

hand,

ear.

haste ;

make

night approaches.
aside ?
Will 't please you walk
and Isabella.
[Exeunt Mariana
60
O place and greatness, millions of false eyes

The

vaporous

Are

stuck

Run

with

Mari.

Duke.

false and

Upon

thy doings !

Make

thee

And

rack

of report

thee ! volumes

upon
these

contrarious

most

quests

escapes of wit
of their idle dreams,

thousand

the father

thee in their fancies !

Mariana

Re-enter

and

Isabella.

Welcome, how agreed ?

Isab. She '11 take the enterpriseupon
her, father,
If you

advise

it.
It is not

Duke.
But

entreaty

my

consent,

my

too.

Little have

Isab.
When
'

you

Remember

depart
now

from
my

Xor, gentle daughter,fear

is your

husband

low,

brother.'
Fear

He

say

him, but, soft and

Mari.
Duke.

to

you

on

83

you

me

not

pre-contract

not.
at all.
:

70

MEASURE

IV. Sc. ii.

Act

To

together,'tisno sin,
justiceof your title to him

Sith that the

flourish

Our

the

deceit.

's to reap,

corn

MEASURE

thus

bring you

Doth

FOR

let

Come,

for yet

us

go

tilth 's to

our

sow.

[Exeunt.
Scene
A

prison.

and

Provost

hither,sirrah.

Come

Prov.

in the

room

Enter

II.

Can

Pompey.
off

cut

you

man's

head?
If the

Pom.
be

married

Come,
me

prison a
lacks
assist

me

snatches, and
your
To-morrow
morning

helper: if you
him, it shall redeem

take

your
deliverance
been

it

I would
from

Prov.

What,

ho !

my

be

glad to

fellow

Abhorson

you

to

lo

unpitied
bawd.

notorious

time
be

receive

out

of

lawful

some

struction
in-

Where

's Abhorson,
20

Enter

Do

our

partner.

there ?

Abhor.

on

an

bawd
Sir, I have been an unlawful
to
mind; but yet I will be content

hangman.

to

your gyves ;
of imprisonment,

with
a

are

in his office

you from
full time

shall have

have

can

yield

is in

Here

will

whipping,

head, and

executioner, who

your
for you

if he

; but

can

head.

Barnardine.

and

common

if not, you
and

Pom.

woman's

answer.

Claudio

die

he 's his wife's

sir,leave

direct

bachelor, sir,I

man,

off

cut

never

Prov.

be

man

you

Abhorson.

call,sir?
84

FOR

MEASURE

MEASURE

Sirrah, here 's

Prov.

fellow

will

help

you
think

in your
execution.
If you
compound with him by the year,
abide here with you ; if not, use him
and

dismiss
with

Abhor.
our

Proz'.

him.

He

; he

hath

bawd, sir? fie upon

mystery.
to, sir ; you

Go

cannot

been

him!

row
to-mor-

it meet,

and

let him

for the ent,

preshis
mation
estiplead

bawd.
he will discredit

weigh equally;

feather

will

the scale.

turn

Pom.

you

IV. Sc. ii.

Act

30

[Exit.

Pray, sir, by your good favour, for surely,

sir,a good favour you have, but that you have
a
hanging look, do you call,sir,your occupation
"

"

mystery ?

Ay, sir;

Abhor.

mystery.

Painting,sir,I

Pom.

and

your

have

heard

whores, sir,being

say, is
members

using painting,do
a

be

mystery

in

hanging,
imagine.

Abhor.

Sir, it

is

but

what

if I should

prove

mystery
be

Abhor.

Every

be too
it

cupation,
oc-

my
tion
occupathere should

hanged,

40

I cannot

mystery.

big

true

man's

apparelfits your

little for your thief,your true

enough; if it be too big for

your thief thinks it little enough

man's
apparel fits your thief.
Re-enter

Pom.

of my

Proof?

Pom.

Prov.

mystery;

so

thief
man

if it

thinks

your
every

thief
true

Provost.

Are

you agreed?
him
Sir,I will serve

50
; for I do

85

find your

hang-

Act

IV. Sc. ii.

is

man

he

MEASURE

penitenttrade than
ask forgiveness.

more

oftener

doth

FOR

You, sirrah, provide

Prov.

four

to-morrow

Come

Abhor.

and

I will instruct

bawd;

on,

bawd;

your

block

your
o'clock.

MEASURE

axe

your

thee

in my

hope,

if you

trade; follow.
I do

Pojn.

have

desire

to

learn, sir:

occasion

to

use

shall find
I

me

yare ;

and

for your

me

Prov.

The

dead

now

must

As

Claud.

it lies
will not

He

Claudio

Claudio, for thy death

midnight,and by eightto-morrow
be

immortal.

made

fast lock'd

When

60

Claudio.

Look, here 's the warrant,

Thou

kind-

[Exeunt Pompey and Abhorson.

has my
pity; not a jot the other.
murderer, though he were
my brother.
Enter

'Tis

your

owe

one

Being

turn, you

own

for,truly,sir,for

you a good turn.

and
Call hither Barnardine

ness

up

in

starklyin

's Barnardine?

Where

labour
sleepas guiltless
the traveller's bones

wake.

good on him ?
70
yourself.[Knocking zvithin.]But,

Who

Prov.

Well,

do

can

go, prepare
hark, what noise?

comfort
give your spirits

Heaven

and

By
hope

For

it is

the

most

Enter

[Exit Claudio.]

by.
"

pardon

some

or

reprieve

gentle Claudio.
Duke

disguised as

before.

Welcome,
Duke.

The

best and

wholesomest
86

of
spirits

father.
the

night

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Envelop

Provost!

good

you,

IV. Sc. ii.

Act

call'd

Who

here

of

late?
Prov.

None, since the curfew

Duke.

Not

rung.

Isabel ?
No.

Prov.

They will,then, ere

Duke,

Duke.

There

Prov.

It is

Duke.

Not

's

doth

and

this

being so,

his power
he meal'd with that

just.
Now

This

is

The

gentle provost

gaoler is

steeled

How

with
That

the friend

the

wounds

There
Arise

Duke.

to

Have
But

he must
let him
you

he must

no

As
You

near

of

That

unsistingpostern

90
within.

men.

[Knocking
's possess'd
spirit

the

shall hear

with

these strokes.

Provost.

stay until the officer

is call'd up.
for Claudio
countermand
in

he

die to-morrow

Prov.
Duke.

when

haste

Re-enter

Prov.

[Knocking within.
are
they come.
[Exit Provost.

seldom

noise ?

what

now

on

he tyrannous

were

he 's

:
justice

subdue

spurs

were

he corrects, then

Which

parallel'd

line of his great

he

which

others

qualifyin

But

his Hfe is

holy abstinence

with

in himself

That
To

so

the stroke

with

80

hope.
deputy.

so, not

Even
He

in

some

bitter

long.

is for Claudio.

comfort

What

Prov.

't be

yet,

None, sir,none.
dawning, provost, as it is,
more

ere

87

morning.

Act

MEASURE

IV. Sc. ii.

FOR

Happily

Prov.
You

know

something
countermand

No

the

Besides, upon
Lord

hath

Angelo

Profess'd

yet I believe there

example have
very siegeof justice
to the publicear
such

no

And

here

and

comes

by

is his

time, matter,
morrow
; for,as
I shall

Prov.

other

you
charge, that

it,it is almost

I take

Now,

[Exit Messenger,

is his

sir,what

news

Lord

Angelo, belike thinking me

office,awakens

Pray

Prov.

[Reads]

you,

you

executed

afternoon

me

with

this

strangely,for

wonted
un-

he

it before.

used

not

Duke.

be

sin

's so extended.
mercy,
mercy
for the fault's love is the offender friended.

putting-on; methinks

Whatsoever

such

no

vice makes

I told you.
remiss
in mine

hath

you

day.

pardon, purchased by
is in.
For which
the pardoner himself
Hence
hath ofifence his quick celerity,
it is borne in high authority:
When
That

this

Good

circumstance.

him.

This

[Aside]

When

Prov.

obey

or

sent

article of it,neither

the smallest

in

Duke,

lord hath

this further

me

from

not

swerve

lOO

man.
lordship's
Claudio's pardon.

[Givinga paper] My
note;

we

Messenger.

This

Duke,

comes

the contrary.

Enter

Mes.

MEASURE

let 's hear.

may

by

hear
four

to the

of

contrary, let Claudio

the clock;
for my

Barnardine:
88

and

better

in the

satisfac-

120

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

tion, let

Claudio's head

have

me

sent

more

duly performed; with a

depends on it than we must

Thus

fail not

this be

Let

say

bred ;

do

nursed

here

prisonernine

it that

came

either delivered
him

is to be executed

who

but

bom,

that is

one

How

Duke.

this, sir?

to

you

Bohemian

swer
an-

afternoon?

in the
Prov.

will

you

130

is that Bamardine

What

Duke.

yet deliver.

office,as

your

by five.
thought that
me

peril.

it at your

What

do

to

IV. Sc. ii.

Act

him

to

I have

heard

it

friends

still

years

old.

Duke

had

absent

the

his

his

not

executed

libertyor
ever

was

and

up

to

manner

"

so.

wrought reprievesfor him:

in the government
and, indeed, his fact,till now
undoubtful
of Lord
not
to
an
Angelo, came
proof.

Proz'.

His

Duke.

It is

Prov.

Most

Duke.

Hath
how

m.anifest,and

man

not

denied

himself

borne

he

but

and

apparent ?

now

apprehends death

as

drunken

fearless of what

Prov.

He
He

's

past, present, or

will hear
the

none

many

oft awaked

come

mortal.
desperately

he hath

prison; give

hence, he would
if not

to

advice.

wants

libertyof

fully
dread-

more

no

sleep; careless, reckless,

insensible of mortality,and
Ditke.

that
a

by himself.

in prison?
penitently

he to be touched

seems

Prov.

140

not

him

drunk

leave

as

if to carry

89

him

to

times

many

days entirelydrunk.
him,

had

evermore

We
to

have

the

escape
a

day,
very

execution,

150

IV. Sc. ii.

Act

and

showed

hath

him

him

of him

ancient

in the boldness
in hazard.
to

than

Angelo

you

understand

do

to

are

who

no

hath
this

four

but

crave

constancy

rant
you have wargreater forfeit to the law
sentenced
him.
To make

in

manifested

effect,I

for the which

present and

you

dangerous

courtesy.
Proz'.

Pray,

Duke.

In the

Prov.

170

sir,in what?

delayingdeath.

Alack, how
and
deliver

I do

the

Claudio's,to

case

as

vow

of mine

instructions
my
may
Barnardine
be this

head
Prov.

it,having the hour

ited,
lim-

under
command,
penalty,to
express
his head in the view of Angelo?
I may

my
smallest.

By

may

an

make

Duke.

borne

Angelo

to

hath

order
be

your

this in the

cross

I warrant

guide.

morning executed,
Angelo.
seen

them

both, and

you, if
Let this
and

his

will discover

the favour.
Duke.

O,
add

death
to

it.

's

Shave

great disguiser; and

the

head,

and

you
may
tie the beard;

and

the desire of the penitentto be so

say it was
bared before his death : you know
the course
is
If any
common.
thing fall to you upon this,
more

whom

i6o

here

days' respite;
both

me

in your
if I read

skill

Claudio, whom
is

is written

beguilesme ; but,
cunning, I will lay my self

of my

execute,

for it: it

warrant

There

anon.

truly,my

MEASURE

all.

at

brow, provost, honesty and

it not

FOR

seeming

moved

not

More

Duke.

MEASURE

than
I

thanks

and

good fortune,by the Saint

profess,I will plead againstit with my

life.
90

180

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Prov.

Pardon

Duke.

Were

me,

good

you

sworn

Prov.

To

Duke,

You

will think

the Duke

avouch

him, and

But

Duke.

Not
I

see

oath.

againstmy

Duke,

the

to

or

190

his substitutes.

to

made
no
you have
the justiceof your

offence, if

dealing?

likelihood is in that ?

what

resemblance, but a certainty. Yet since

coat, integrity,
you fearful,that neither my
a

further

go
of

the

to

persuasioncan

nor

father ; it is

IV. Sc. ii.

Deputy

Prov.

Act

than

with

I meant,

I will

attempt you,

ease

all fears

pluck

to

out

200

is the hand
and
you, sir, here
the character, I
the Duke:
know
you
not ; and the signetis not strange to you.
Look

you.
seal of
doubt

Prov.

I know

Duke.

The

both.

them

of the Duke

of this is the return

contents

it at your
shall anon
over-read
pleasure;
you
shall find, within these two
where
days he
you
This is a thing that Angelo knows
will be here.
for

not;

this

he

perchance entering into some

by chance, nothing of what
star

all difficultiesare

but

should

Call your

known.

Barnardine's
shrift
you
you.

are

and

advise

amazed
Come

him

for

;*butthis

away

when

; it is

give
a

him

better

shall

almost

not

things
they

off with

executioner, and

I will

head:

but,

Put

these
easy

210

Look, the

shepherd.

the

how

into

are

is writ.

of

death;

monastery;

amazement

yourself
be

calls up

letters

the Duke's

perchance of

strange tenour;

unfolding

receives

day

very

present

place.

Yet

absolutelyresolve
clear dawn.

220

[Exeunt.
91

Scene

III.

room

in the

Another

Enter

Pom.

am

as

house

of

well

acquainted here

Overdone's

paper

pounds ;
:

money

old
of

think

commodity

he

then

marry,

here

one

made

be

seventeen

ready

much

the

at

were

's young
of brown

all dead.

Caper,

our

here

not

was

were

Master

and

it

five marks,

ginger

women

in

was

house, for
First,here

own

which

as

ginger, nine-score

request, for the old

is there

same.

would

one

of her old customers.

many
Master
Rash ; he 's in for
and

MEASURE

Pompey.

profession:

Mistress

FOR

MEASURE

IV. Sc.iii.

Act

in

Then
suit of

lo

Master

for some
four
Three-pile the mercer,
suits of peach-colouredsatin,which
now
peaches
him a beggar. Then
have we
here young
Dizy,
and young
Master
Deep-vow, and Master Copper-spur,
and
Master
Starve-lackeythe rapier
and
and
dagger man,
Drop-heir that
young
killed lustyPudding, and Master
Forthlightthe
and brave Master
ler,
tilter,
Shooty the great travel-

and

wild

Half-can

think, forty more

,

and

'

are

now

; all

that stabbed

great doers

for the Lord's

Pots, and, I
in

our

trade,

sake.'

I
Enter

Abhor.
Pom.

Abhor

Sirrah, bring Barnardine

Master

hanged.

Barnardine!
Master

son.

Mther.

must
you
!
Barnardine

y4"/jon^What, ho, Barnardine!

Q2

rise

and

be

20

MEASURE

FOR

[Within]

Bar.

that noise

o' your
What

pox
there?

Who

throats!

you?
hangman.

makes

are

You

must

rise and

good, sir,to
[Within] Away,

Bar.

IV. Sc. iii.

Act

friends, sir; the

Pojji. Your
be

MEASURE

so

be put to death.
I
away!
rogue,

you

am

sleepy.
Tell

Abhor.

30
him

he

that

and

awake,

must

quickly

too.

Pom.

Pray,

Master

till you

awake

Bamardine,

executed, and sleepafterwards.

Go in to him, and fetch him out.
Abhor.
is coming, sir, he is coming;
He
Pom.
Is the

axe

the block, sirrah?

upon

Bamardine.

Enter
How

Bar.

what

's the

with

news

40

Truly, sir,I

your
Bar. You
am

prayers

and

for, look you, the

Look

father:

all the next

warrant

drinking

all

clap

do

's come.

night;

hastilyyou
Friar, not

to

sleep

your

ghostly

you?

charity,and hearing how

to advise
come
depart, I am

pray with you.

been
have
drinking hard

and

you
I

night,

by,my

are

comfort

disguisedas before.

Duke

Sir, induced

comes

think

jestnow,

we

into

day.

sir; here

you,

Enter

you,

to

you

the better,sir ; for he that drinks all

in the morning, may
is hanged betimes

the sounder
Abhor.

desire

would

been
I have
rogue,
not fitted for 't.

O,

Pom.

Abhorson

now,

you
Abhor.

Bar.

his

Very ready, sir.

Pom.

Duke.

I hear

rustle.

straw

Abhor.

are

93

all

50

Act

MEASURE

IV. Sc. iii.

night,and I will have

or
they shall beat out
will not

O, sir,you

Duke.

Look
I

Bar.

must

forward

and

the

on

to

me,
prepare
with billets : I

therefore

journey

I will not

swear

time

more

MEASURE

brains
my
die this day, that 's certain.

to

consent

FOR

die

I beseech

you

shall go.

you

to-day for

man's

any

60

persuasion,
But

Duke.

Not

Bar.

hear
word

have

if you

to

come

me,

you.
any thing to say to
for thence
will not
I

ward;

my

to-day.

[Exit.

Unfit to live

Duke.

After

him,

die

or

fellows

gravel heart !
bring him to the block.
O

[Exeunt

Now,

Duke.

A
And
Were

sir,how

creature
to

unprepared, unmeet

in the

Here

One
A

man

in the mind

prisoner?
for

death;

he

is

70

damnable.

Prov.
There

find the

do you

transport him

andPompey,

Provost.

Enter

Prov.

Abhorson

died

this

Ragozine,

of

morning
a

most

of Claudio's

prison,father.
a

cruel fever

notorious

years

pirate,

; his beard

and

head

do omit
if we
What
Just of his colour.
well inclined ;
This reprobate till he were
And satisfythe Deputy with the visage
like to Claudio?
Of Ragozine, more
Duke.

O,

'tis an

accident

that heaven

provides!

Dispatch it presently; the hour draws

Prefix'd by Angelo : see this be done,
94

on

80

MEASURE

FOR

And

This
But

this rude
shall be

how

To

save

If he

the

known

were

die this afternoon

Claudio,
danger that might

this be done.

Let
them

in

Claudio
Ere

twice

To

come

alive ?

Duke.
Put

continue

we

from

me

wretch

must

shall

; whiles

wilHngly to die.
done, good father,presently.

Barnardine

And

IV. Sc. iii.

Act

command

according to

sent

Persuade
Prov.

MEASURE

holds, both

secret

Barnardine

and

the

the under

hath

sun

made

his

journalgreeting90

shall find

generation,you

Your

safetymanifested.
free dependant.
I am
your
Quick, dispatch,and send the

Pvov.
Duke.

will I write

Now
The

letters to

provost, he shall bear

Shall witness
And

to

him

am

head

Angelo,
"

them,

whose

"

enter

To

meet

him

publicly:

bound

am

I '11 desire

at the consecrated

me

contents

home.

at

near

I
that, by great injunctions,

To

Angelo.
[Exit Provost.

to

fount,

lOO

league below the city; and from thence,

form,
By cold gradation and well-balanced
We
shall proceed with Angelo.
Provost.

Re-enter

Prov.

Here

Convenient

Duke.
For

That
Prov.
Isah.

Is the head

I would
want

; I '11 carry

is it.

with

commune
no

ear

Make

but

it

swift
you

yours,
I '11 make

[Within] Peace, ho, be here!

95

myself.
return

of such

all

things

speed. [Exit.

to know

's come

She

tongue of Isabel.

The

Duke.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

IV. Sc. iii.

Act

hither :
pardon be come
ignorant of her good,
of despair,
her heavenly comforts
To make
it is least expected.
When
If yet her brother's
But I will keep her

Isabella.

Enter

leave!

Ho, by your

Isah.
Good

Duke.

The

Isah.

Isah.

is

head

It is

off,and

sent

it is not

but

Nay,

Duke.

by

me

ter.
gracious daugh-

fair and

you,

holy a

so

man.

yet the Deputy sent my brother's pardon?

hath released him, Isabel,from the world :

He

His

to

better,given

Hath

Duke.

morning

i lo

Angelo.

so.

show

other:

no

to

wisdom, daughter,

your

120

In your close patience.

Isah, O, I will to him and pluck out

Duke.
Isah.

shall not

You

be admitted

Injurious world!
This

Duke.

hurts

nor

what

^lark

most

him

it therefore

Forbear

Isabel !

! wretched

Claudio

Unhappy

his eyes !
to his sight.

damned

Angelo!
nor
profitsyou a jot:
to heaven.
give your cause

which

I say,

you

shall find

syllablea faithful verity:

By

every
Duke
The

comes

home

to-morrow

nay,

;
"

dry

'

130

eyes;

One

of

Gives

me

Notice
Who
There

covent,

our

to

do
to

prepare

confessor.

already he
and Angelo ;

this instance

Escalus

his

and

to

meet

give up their

him

power.

wisdom
96

your

hath

at the

If you

carried

gates,
can,

pace

your

In that

wish

that I would

good path

it go ;
this wretch,

on
you shall have your bosom
Grace of the Duke, revenges
to your
And
general honour.

And

Isab.

letter,then,

This

Duke.

'Tis that he sent

Mariana's

At

the Duke

Accuse

him

; and

home.

shall be absent.

Wend

by

these

pervert your

trust

course.

Duke.

Not

Lucio.

see

thine

am

fain to

eyes

will

Isabel,I

Duke.

and

here

loved

thy

not

self,

poor

my

from
my

this letter
your

eyes

holy order,

150

here?

Who's

Lucio,

provost?

's the

of dark

thou

fillmy
to 't.

to-morrow.

had

Duke

is marvellous

reports; but

the

best

them.
97

and

belly;
But

one

they
By my

been

to

patient.

water

if the

brother:

corners

be

must

with

sup

heart

mine

pale at

am

lived.

Sir,the
your

dine

red

be

cal Duke
had

so

for my
head
would
set me

not

meal

Duke

you

within, sir.
pretty Isabella,I

I dare

yours

Angelo

with

you

Friar, where

even.

and

vow,

"

Enter

Liicio. Good

bring

of

For

frettingwaters

lightheart;

If I

and

home

sacred

With

140

cause

the head

to

Command

return

he shall

withal ; and

combined

And

Peter

to-night. Her

house

Before

am

by you.
give :

of the Duke's

me

I '11perfecthim

Friar

heart.

token, I desire his company

this

Say, by

directed

am

to

IV. Sc. iii.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

old
at

bran

ful
fruitsay

the

troth,

fantasti-

home,

160

he

[Exit Isabella.
little beholding to
is, he

lives not

in

Act

Friar, thou

Lncio.

I do
him

he 's

well

so

thou

than

woodman

better

the Duke

not

as

takest

for.

Well,

Duke.

knowest

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

IV. Sc. iv.

this

'11 answer

you

Fare

day.

one

ye

well.
I can
I'll go along with thee:
170
tell thee pretty tales of the Duke.
of him
told me
You
have
too
Duke.
already,
many

Liicio.

Nay, tarry;

sir, if they be

if not

true;

true,

were

none

enough.
I

Lucio.

Did

such

you

Yes,

but

fain

was

married

else have

Sir,your

to

me

180
is fairer than

company

Rest

honest.

well.

you

By

end

troth,I '11 go with thee

my
if bawdy talk offend you, we

little of it.

Nay,

friar,I

am

lane's

the

to

'11have

kind

of burr

IV.

Scene
A

Angelo's

in

room

Enter

Every

very
; I

[Exeunt.

shall stick.

Escal.

swear
for-

to

medlar.

the rotten

Lucio.

getting a wench

for

thing?

did I
marry,
it ; they would

Lucio.

Duke.

him

child.

with
Duke.

before

once

was

writ

hath

letter he

Escaliis.

and

Angelo

house.

hath

disvouched

other.

Ang.

In

most

actions
heaven

and

uneven

show
his

much

wisdom

distracted
like

be

not

98

to

His

manner.

madness

tainted!

And

pray

why

MEASURE

FOR

him

meet

MEASURE

at the

Act

redeHver

gates, and

IV. Sc. iv.

ties
authori-

our

there?
Escal.

I guess not.
And
why should

Ang.

his

entering,that if any
they should exhibit
justice,
He

shows
of

his

stand

give
Escal.

Aug.

complaints, and

Good

And

petitionsin

the

have

patch
dis-

to

deliver

to

shall then

from

us

have

no

vices
de-

power

I beseech

Fare

you

well.

20

night.
[Exit Escalus.
deed unshapes me
quite,makes me unpregnant,
dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd
maid !
by an eminent body that enforced

The

law

Will

proclaim againsther maiden

loss,
dares
might she tongue me ! Yet reason
authoritybears of a credent bulk,
my

How
For
That
But

Save

lo

against us.

I shall,sir.

And

of in-

him.

meet

This

their

fore
be-

times
you, let it be proclaimed bei' the morn
house :
at your
; I '11 call you
of sort and suit as are
notice to such men

Aug. Well,

to

redress

crave

for that

reason

hereafter, which
to

hour

an

street

Escal.

it in

proclaim

we

But

against it !

that her tender

shame

not

no

particularscandal

it confounds

once

the breather.

that his riotous

dishonour'd

With

such

ransom

of

should

have

youth, with dangerous

Might in the times

By so receivinga

to

come

no

touch

can

He

her

lived.

sense,

31

have

ta'en revenge,
life

shame.

Would

yet he

had

lived !

Alack, when

Nothing

goes

once

our

right;

grace

we

have

would, and

we

forgot,
we

would

not.

[Exit,
99

Act

MEASURE

IV. Sc. v.=vi.

Scene

The

provost knows

The

matter

And

hold

To

our

tell him

where

I stay

bid

But

send

them

bring

thee, Varrius

Will

greet

here

us

hast

thou

well.

[Exit.

lo

of

good

haste

friends

our

gentle Varrius.

my

anon,

made

's other

There

will walk.

we

speeded

Varrius.

Enter
I thank

the gate ;

to

first.

It shall be

Fri. P.

like notice

Crassus,

to

the trumpets

Flavins

me

the

give

and

Valentius, Rowland,

Come,

and

purpose

from
this \o that.
you do blench
minister.
Go call at Flavins'
house,

doth

And

Duke.

[Giving letters.
our
plot.

me

being afoot, keep your instruction,

to our
specialdrift ;
you ever

cause

And

deliver

Peter.

sometimes

Though
As

Friar

habit, and

ozvn

letters at fit time

These

Duke.

in his

Duke

V.

zi'itJwiif the town.

Fields
Enter

MEASURE

FOR

[Exeunt.
VI.

Scene
Street
Enter
Isab.

To

speak

I would
That
He

so

say

is your

Isabella

city-gate.

yet I

loath

am

the truth ; but

part

Mariana.

and

indirectlyI
am

to

accuse

advised

him
to

so,

do

it ;

by

him.

full purpose.
says, to veil
Be

Mari.
Isab.

the

near

Besides, he

tells

me

ruled

that, if peradventure

MEASURE
He

speak against me

I should
That

think

not

Friar

V. Sc. i.

Act

the adverse

on

side,

it strange ; for 'tis a

's bitter to sweet

I would

Mari.

MEASURE

FOR

physic

end.

Peter

"

O, peace ! the friar is

Isab.

Enter
I have

Friar

come.

Peter.

fit, lo
you out a stand most
Where
have such vantage on the Duke,
you
may
He
shall not
Twice
have
the trumpets
pass you.

Come,

Fri. P.

sounded

found

The

and gravest citizens

generous
Have
hent the gates, and very near
Duke

The

is

upon

entering: therefore, hence,

away

[Exeunt.
ACT

FIFTH.

Scene
The

I.

city-gate,

veiled, Isabella,and Friar Peter, at their stand.

Enter
Varriiis, Lords,
Angela, Escalus,
Duke,
Citizens, at several
Lucio, Provost, Officers, and

Mariana

doors.
Duke.

My
Our

Duke.

Many
Such

faithful

old and

\ Happy

We

worthy cousin, fairlymet!

very

return

and

be

friend, we
to

your

are

both.

hearty thankings to

you
and

made

lOI

to

royal Grace!

inquiry of you ;
goodness of your justice,that

have

glad

we
our

hear
soul

see

you.

FOR

MEASURE

Act V. Sc. i.

MEASURE

yieldyou forth to publicthanks,

requital.
Forerunning more
but

Cannot

still greater.
my bonds
loud ; and I should wrong
it,
of covert
lo
bosom,
make

You

Ang.

your desert speaks

lock it in the wards

O,

Duke.
To

it deserves, with

When
A

forted

residence
of

And

razure

And

let the

That

outward

'gainstthe

tooth

Give

oblivion.

subjectsee,

make

to

of time

your hand,
them
know

me

fain

would

courtesies

brass,

proclaim

Come, Escalus;
keep within.
walk by us on our
other hand :

that

Favours

You

must

And

good supporters
Friar

Fri. P.

of

characters

Peter

is your

Now

are

you.

Isabella

and

time

come

forzvard.

speak loud, and

kneel

before

him.

Justice,O royal Duke ! Vail your regard

Upon a wrong'd, I would fain have said,a maid
O worthy prince,dishonour
not your
eye
By throwing it on any other object
in my true complaint,
Till you have heard me
!
And
justice
justice,
justice,
given me justice,
in what?
Duke.
Relate your
by whom?
wrongs;

Isab.

20

be

brief.
is Lord

Here
Reveal
Isab.

Angelo

yourself to

shall

give you justice:

him.

worthy Duke,
bid me
You
seek redemption of the devil:
Hear
me
yourself; for that which I must speak
either punish me, not being believed.
Must
O hear
Hear
Or wring redress from
me,
you.
here!
102

30

me,

Aug, My lord, her wits, I

She

hath

Cut

off

been

by

fear me,

suitor to

of

course

Isab.

Most

she

will

justice,
"

speak

That

Angelo

's forsworn

That

Angelo
Angelo

's

That
An

is

; is it not

strange and

thief,

It is not
Than

it is ten

the end

To

as

true

times

of

it is strange :
; for truth is truth

reckoning.

speaks this

which

That

one,

May

with

touch'd

am

but

as

shy, as

this
that

opinion

Alake

50
not

possible
im-

impossible

the

ground,
as
just,as absolute
Angelo,

caitiff
grave,

world.

'tis not

soul,

believest

madness

unlike

seems

the wicked'st

seem

than

Poor

"

sense.

thou

not, with

neglectme

thou

That

But

comfort

is another

That

on

so
Angelo ; even
m.ay
all his dressings,
characts,titles,
forms,

arch-villain

an

If he

Had

infirmityof

prince,I conjure thee, as

There

Be

in the

her!

with

Away
O

strange.

as

true

Duke.
She

times

Angelo

he is

truer

this is all

Nay,

In

40

it is ten

Nay,

As

strange ?

strange?

Duke.

Isab.

speak :

hypocrite,a virgin-violator;

Is it not

Isab.

strange ?

; is 't not

adulterous

justice!

strange.

truly,will

most

murderer

an

of

course

and
bitterly

most

strange, but yet

for her brother

me

By
And

firm

not

are

Isab.

Aug.

V. Sc. i.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

be
I

believe

it,royal prince :

less,he 's nothing; but he 's

more

name

more.

for badness.

By

Duke,
103

mine

honesty,

Act

V. Sc. i.

MEASURE

If she be mad,
Her

madness

Such
As

"

I believe

as

hath

e'er I heard

of

frame

For
To

that ;
inequaHty ; but
on

make

And

of sense,

thing,

in madness.

O
not

the truth

do

nor

gracious Duke,
banish

not

let your

reason

where

appear

hide the false

serve

it

of

lack

more

hid.

seems

that

Many
sure,

reason

true.

seems

Duke.

Have,

60

"

thing on

hah.

Harp

MEASURE

other,

no

the oddest

dependency

FOR

What

reason.

not

are

would

mad
you

say?
I

Isah.

the sister of

am

Claudio,

one

Condemn'd

the act of fornication

upon
To lose his head ; condemn'd
by Angelo
I, in probationof a sisterhood,
Was

sent

As

then

by

to

my

brother

the messenger,

Lucio.
I

to

from

her

For

an

Claudio, and

brother's

her poor

Lucio

one

's I,

try her gracious fortune

To

't like your

desired her

with

Lord

That
You

not

were

bid to

No,
wish'd

to

hold

my

A
Be

take
for

business

note

indeed.

my

good lord;

of it : and

yourself,pray

when
heaven

you

then ;

now,

you
you

have
then

perfect.
A

Lucio.
Duke.

's he

I wish
you,

Angelo

peace.

Duke.

Pray

The

warrant

warrant

's for

speak.

Lucio.
Nor

Grace

pardon.

Isab.
Duke.

"

That
came

70

your

honour.

yourself;
104

take

heed

to

't.

80

This

Isah.

Lucio.

Right.

Duke.

It may

be

tale,

"

i' the wrong

Proceed.

but you
your time.

right;

speak before

To

of

told somewhat

gentleman

V. Sc. i.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

are

I went

Isah.

perniciouscaitiff Deputy,

this

To

madly spoken.

's somewhat

That

Duke.

"

Pardon

Isab.

phrase is

The

"

How

matter

needless

persuaded, how

begin with.griefand shame to utter :

chaste body
would
not, but by giftof my
his concupiscible
intemperate lust,

He
To

Release

brother

my

remorse
sisterly
I did yieldto

My
And
His

purpose

For

my

debatement,
and, after much
100
confutes mine honour,
betimes.
him : but the next morn
;

surfeiting,he sends
This

O,

that it were

as

By heaven,
thou

In

warrant

brother's head.

poor

Duke.

Or

by,
kneel'd,

process
I pray'd,and

"

now

Duke.

proceed.

;"

"

For

Isab.

90

I replied,
he refell'd me, and how
of much
this was
length, the vile conclusion

How

The

to set the

In brief,

Isah.

the matter.

again.

Mended

Duke.

to

it;

like

fond

it is true

as

!
likely

is most

wretch, thou

!
know'st

what

not

speak'st,

againsthis honour
hateful practice. First, his integrity
else thou

Stands

without
with

That

art

such

suborn'd

Next, it imports

blemish.

vehemency

proper to himself
have weigh'd
would

he

should

if he had

no

reason

pursue

offended,

Faults

He

thy brother by himself,

105

so

1 10

Act

MEASURE

V. Sc. i.
And

not

Confess
Thou

have

him

cut

here

camest

Some

off.

truth,and

the

FOR

to

hath

one

by whose
complain.
And

Keep

me

you
in

blessed

countenance!

"

is this all?

d
ripen'

is here

Heaven

on

above,

with

patience,and

the evil which

Unfold
In

ministers

set you

advice

say

Isah.

Then,

MEASURE

wrapt

shield

time

up
Grace

your

from

woe.

As

I, thus wrong'd, hence

unbelieved

you 'Id fain be gone.

prison with her ! Shall we

I know

Duke.
To

An

go !
officer!

thus

permit

"

"

blastingand

him

On
Who

so

scandalous

near

of your
that I would

One

Duke.

needs

intent and

knew

Isah.

This

us

breath

to

here. Friar

were

ghostly father,belike.

Who

fall
be

must

coming

120

practice.

hither?

Lodowick.
knows

wick?
that Lodo-

meddling friar ;
he been lay,my lord,
I do not like the man
: had
For certain words
he spake against your
Grace
In your retirement, I had swinged him soundly.
Words
Duke.
againstme! this 's a good friar belike!

Liicio.

My lord,I

And

to

set

on

; 'tis a

him

know

this wretched

woman

130

here

Let this friar be found.

Against our substitute!
Liicio. But yesternight,
lord, she and that friar,
my
I saw
them
at the prison: a saucy
friar,
A

fellow.
very scurvy
Fri. P. Blessed be your royalGrace !
I have stood by, my
lord, and I have

heard

Most

First, hath this woman

royal ear abused.
wrongfully accused your substitute,

Who

is

Your

As

as

free from

she from

one

touch

ungot.
106

or

soil with her

140

Know

Not

nor

scurvy,

he 's

As

And,
Did,

on
as

for

him

I know

Fri. P.

reportedby

that never
trust, a man
my
he vouches, misreport your

Fri. P.

Well, he in time may

at this instant

But

yet
Grace.

it.

he is

himself;

to clear

come

strange fever.

request,

"

And

all

probation will make

So
Her

he with
full

up

he 's convented.

Whensoever
To

what

false ; and

and

hither.
know

he doth
his oath

clear,

First, for this

this worthy nobleman,

justify
vulgarlyand personallyaccused,
shall you hear disproved to her

Till she herself confess

complaint

was

"

Is true

150

lord,

sick,my

Upon his mere

to knowledge that there
Being come
Intended
'gainstLord Angelo, came
his mouth, what
To speak, as from
Of

holy ;

villanously;believe

My lord,most

gentleman ;

this

Lucio.

speaks of

meddler,

temporary

and

divine

man

less.

no

that she

Lodowick

that Friar

you

believe

did

We

Duke.

V. Sc. i.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

woman.

160
eyes,

it.

friar,let 's hear it.

Good

F)iike.

[Isabellais carried off guarded;

and

Mariana

forzcard.
Do you not smile at this.Lord Angelo ?
fools !
O heaven, the vanity of wretched
Come, cousin Angelo
Give us some
seats.
judge
In this I '11be impartial
: be you

comes

"

"

Of

your

own

First, let her show

Mari.

Pardon, my
Until my

Is this the

cause.

lord

husband

her
:

face, and

I will not

bid

me.

107

witness, friar?
after

show

my

speak.
face

17"

Act

V. Sc. i.
What,

Duke.

MEASURE

are

lord.

No,

my

Duke.

Are

you

Mari.

No,

my

Duke.

Mari.

Neither, my

Duke.

Why,

maid?

lord.

widow, then?
lord.

nothing, then

are

you
wife?

nor

lord, she

My

neither

are

may

"

punk

of them

for many

i8o

wife.

nor

I would

ow,
maid, wid-

neither

he had

some

cause

prattlefor himself.

To

Well,

Lucio.
Mari.

be

maid, widow,

Silence that fellow

Duke.

MEASURE

married?

you

Mart.

Lucio.

FOR

lord, I do confess I ne'er

I confess, besides,I am
no

My
And
I have

known

Knows

not

He

Lucio.

lord.

my

husband

my

that

he

ever

maid

knew

husband

yet my
me.

lord

drunk, then, my

was

married

was

it

can

be

no

better.
the benefit of

For

Duke.

silence,would

thou

wert

so

19c

too!
Lucio.

Well,

Duke.

This

is

no

Mari.

Now

come

She

that

lord.

my

for Lord

witness
to

him

accuses

In self-same

lord

't,my
of

fornication.

doth

manner

Angelo.

accuse

charges him, my lord, with

in
I '11 depose I had him
When

And

With

Ang.

Charges

she

moe

than

arms

me?
Not

No

mine

all the effect of love.

Mari.
Duke.

husband
my
such a time

? you

say your

husband.
108

that I know.

200

he

knows

But

Aug.

This

Mari.

My

is

Let 's

bids

husband

me

body.

my

Isabel's.

knows

that he

thinks

strange abuse.

Angelo,

that he ne'er knew

he knows

thinks

Who

that is

lord, and

just,my

Why,

Mart.

V. Sc. i.

Act

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

face.

thy

see

I will unmask.

now

[Unveiling.
Which

thou

once

sworest

is the hand

Was

fast belock'd

That

took

And

did

away

Angelo,
vow'd

Carnally,she
Enough,
lord, I

Betwixt

must

more!

no

I know

confess
since there

this

her ; which

woman

speech of

some

was

broke

was

off.

promised proportions
short of com.position
; but in chief,
disvalued
that her reputationwas
of five years
her, nor heard

levity: since which time

I never
spake with her, saw
Upon my faith and honour.

Noble

Mari.
there

riage
mar-

that her

In

As

210

lord.

myself and

Partly for
For

my

five years

Came

contract,

this woman?

you

Sirrah,

And

comes

lightfrom

220

from

her.

prince,

heaven

and

words

from

breath.
As
I

am

As
But

says.

Duke.

Ang. My

on

supply thee at thy garden-house

imagined person.
Know

Lucio.

looking

in thine ; this is the body

from
the match
Isabel,

Duke.

Lucio.

the

worth

was

which, with

This

In her

cruel

face, thou

is that

This

there is

sense

and

in truth

wife

affianced this man's

words

could

make

up

Tuesday night last

vows

gone

109

truth in virtue,
as
:

strongly
and, my good lord.

in 's

garden-house

Act V. Sc. i.
He

knew

Let

me

in

marble

As

wife.

safetyraise

else for

Or

as

me

this is true,

from

me

be confixed

ever

my

poor informal women

of some
instruments

That

sets

them

find this

To

on

let

smile

are

tillnow

no

more

mightier member

more

have

me

way,

lord.

my

practiceout.
Ay, with my heart;
height of pleasure.

Duke.

punish them

And

the scope of justice

;
I do perceive

good my lord,give me
patiencehere is touch'd.

Now,

But

knees

here,

I did but

These

230

monument

Aug.
My

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

to

your
Thou
foolish friar ; and thou pernicious woman.
Compact with her that 's gone, think'st thou

240

thy

oaths.
would

they

Though

down

swear

each

particular

saint,

against his worth and credit,

Escalus,
That 's seal'd in approbation? You, Lord
cousin ; lend him
Sit with my
your kind pains
testimonies

Were

find out

To

is another

There
him

be sent

Would

he

Let
Fri. P.

this abuse, whence

friar that

here, my

were

set the

Your

provost knows
he may

Whom
Do

the

lord ! for he, indeed, 250

this

complaint :
place where he abides.

to

on

women

fetch him.

you, my
it concerns

to

hear

this matter

forth,
best,

you
your injuriesas seems
will leave
I
for
while
chastisement
a
:

with

In any

But

on

Go, do it instantly. [Exit Provost.

noble and well-warranted
cousin.

Duke.
And

them

for.

Hath

And

set

'tis derived.

stir not

you

till you
no

have

well determined

you

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Act V. Sc. i.

Upon these slanderers.

Escal. My
lord, we '11 do
Duke.]
Signior Lucio,
that Friar

knew

it

thoroughly. [Exit

did

Lodowick

not

to be

you

say

you

dishonest

260

son
per-

?
'

Lttcio.

Cucullus

nothing but
spoke most
We

Escal.

in his

and

entreat

As

any in
Call that

Escal.

would

speak

Pray

shall

you

Lucio.
Escal.
Lucio.

you,

Not

with

honest
that

one

of the

in

hath

Duke.

here

against him:

till he
shall

we

fellow.
on

word.

my

here

her.

he, by her

an

leave

me

I '11handle

Say you
Marry, sir,I think,

once

[Exit

lord, give

better than

abide

to

Isabel

same

how

see

again : I 270
Attendant.]
to question;

her.

report.

own

would

publicly,she
Lucio.

notable

Vienna,

my

she

Escal.

'

and

speeches

you
them

enforce

find this friar

Lucio.

clothes ;

villanous

shall

come,

facit monachum

non

sooner

'11 be

if you
handled
her privately,
confess:
perchance,

ashamed.

I will go darkly to work

with
That 's the way ; for women

her.

lightat

are

mid-

280

night.
Officers zvith Isabella; and

Re-enter

Duke

Escal.

Lucio.

Come

on,

in his

mistress

habit.
friar's

here

's

all that you have said.

the
My lord, here comes

here

with

zvith the

Provost

gentlewoman

rascal

nies
de-

spoke of;

the provost.

Escal. In very good time

call upon you.
we

speak

Ill

not

you

to

him

till

Act

V. Sc. i.

Lucio.

Mum.

Escal.

Come,

slander

MEASURE

sir

did

Lord

set

these

they

have

you

Angelo?

FOR

MEASURE

women

to

on

confessed

290

you

did.
Duke.

'Tis

Escal.

How

Duke.

Respect
Be

false.
! know

Escal.

Look

Duke.

is the Duke

The

least.

Come

you

Good

night to

Then

is your

Thus

to retort

Escal.

Why,

To

redress

your

too.
gone
manifest

your

Is the
The

to

come

you

unreverend

and

To

the Duke

Take

himself,to

hence

him

suborn'd

touse

tax

of.

these

friar.
women

but, in foul mouth.

him

the rack

; to

spoke

unhallow'd

of his proper
villain ? and then to

call him

Duke

accuse.

enough thou hast

this worthy man,

To

gone
's unjust,

appeal,

in the witness

And

Duke

300
?

trial in the villain's mouth

thou

accuse

speak.

poor souls,
here of the fox ?

is the rascal ; this is he I

Is 't not

you

But, O,

cause

here

This

speak.

me

will hear

we

the lamb

to seek

put your

Lucio.

; and

us

hear

speak justly.

Boldly,at

Which

? 'tis he should

's in

Duke
you

And

are

you

your great place! and let the devil

honour' d for his burning throne !

to

sometime

Where

where

you

310

ear,

glance from him

with injustice?
him

with

We

'11

you

Joint by joint,but
What,
unjust !

will know

we

his purpose.

'

'

Be

Duke.
Dare

no

Dare

rack

more

his

not

stretch
own

so

fingerof
subjectam

this
his
112

hot ; the

Duke
mine
I not,

than

he

MEASURE

FOR

Nor

here

Made

looker-on

I have

faults

Stand
As

What

Ang.

can

Lucio.

'Tis

vouch

voice:

bubble

faults,

him

at

prison!

to

Come

of?

us

hither, goodman
?

me

sir, by the sound

you,
you

statutes

shop,

with

did tell

lord.
my
do you know

I met

barber's

320

againsthim, Signior Lucio?

he,

I remember

Duke.

for all

Away

that you

man

baldpate:

and

mark.

as

the state !

you

Is this the

in this state

Vienna,

; laws

forfeits in

in mock
to

in

V. Sc. i.

countenanced, that the strong

so

Slander

Escal.

here

the stew

like the

much

business

corruption boil

seen

Till it o'er-run
But

Act

provincial My

me

Where

MEASURE

the

prison, in

of

your

the

absence

remember

what

330

of the Duke.

Lucio,

did you so?

And
said of the Duke?

you

Duke.

Most

Lucio.

Do

so

Lucio.

that

of him

; and

thee

by

the

coward,

report

my

much

Ang. Hark,

for

the

how

his treasonable

Escal.

Such

Away
?

with

Away

then

with

me,

ported
re-

abuses

with

indeed, spoke 340

worse.

Did

not

pluck

as

I love
close

myself.
after

now,

is not
to

ere

thy speeches?

villain would

fellow
him

you,
much

fellow!

damnable
nose

more,

I protest I love the Duke

Duke.

flesh-

you

as

sir, change persons

must,

thou

the Duke

was

be?

to

make

And

fool, and

You

sir?

so,

you
him

you

you

notedly,sir.

monger,

Duke.

do

O,

to

prison !
him
113

to

be
Where

talked

withal.

is the

prison! lay

provost
bolts

Act V. Sc. i.

him : let him

enough upon
Away with those gigletstoo,

confederate

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

speak
and

350

more.

no

the other

with

companion

Provost^ Stay, sir; stay awhile.

Help him, Lucio.
Aug. What, resists he?
Duke.

[To

the

sir; foh, sir!

be
Why, you bald-patedlying rascal,you must
Show
visage,
hooded, must
you?
your knave's
with a pox to you! show
your sheep-bitingface,

Liicio. Come,

sir;

sir;

come,

come,

hanged an hour ! Will 't not off?

[Pullsoff the friars hood, and discovers
be

and

Thou

Duke.

that

first knave

the

art

the Duke.

e'er

madest

360

Duke.

First,provost,

not

word

This

Duke.

[To Escalus] What

prove

may

than

worse

hanging.

have

you

him.

on

spoke

pardon

sit

down.

you

borrow

place

your leave.
Hast thou or word,
That

yet

Rely

upon
hold

And

hold

Lay

anon.

Lucio.

We'll

sir; for the friar

away,

you

have

Must

gentle three.

bail these

me

Sneak

[To Lucio]
and

let

do

can

thee

it till my

longer

no

him.

of

wit, or

or

hast.

heard.

tale be
out.

be

impudence.
If thou

office?

Aug.
1 should

[To Angelo] Sir, by

than
guiltier

my
my

dread

lord,

370

guiltiness.

be

undiscernible,
When
I perceive your Grace, like power
divine,
Hath
look'd upon
Then, good prince.
passes.
my
No
longer session hold upon my shame,

To

But

think

let my

Immediate

can

trial be mine
sentence

own

then, and
114

confession

sequent death,

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Is all the grace

Act

beg.
Come

Duke.
thou

Say, wast
I was,

Aug.

Go

Duke.
Do

hither, Mariana.

e'er contracted

Than

her

hence, and marry

the office,friar; which

him

here

Go

again.

[Exeunt Angela, Mariana,

My

lord, I
at

the

am

Friar

amazed

more

instantly.

consummate.

with

him, provost.
Peter

at his

Come
friar is

now

prince:

your

and

Provost.

dishonour

of it.

strangeness

Duke.
Your

woman

380

take her

Return

Escal.

to this

lord,

my

you

V. Sc. i.

as

hither, Isabel.
I

then

was

Advertising and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am
still
Attomey'd at your service.
O, give

Isab.
That

I, your

Your

vassal, have

unknown

employ'd
You

And

you

may

Labouring

to

Make

rash

Than

let him

was

Which

That
That
Than
So

pain'd

390

as

you

pardon'd,Isabel:

are

free to

us.

sits at your heart ;

I obscured
myself,

brother's death, I know,

Your

It

maid, be

dear

now,

and

sovereignty!

Duke.
And

pardon,

me

the

marvel
his

save

why

life,and would

not

of my hidden
kind
O most
be lost.

remonstrance
so

rather

power

maid,

swift celerityof his death.

I did

think

with

slower

foot

came

on.

But, peace be with him !

life is better life,past fearing death,
401
it your comfort,
lives to fear : make
that which
brain'd

happy

my

is your

purpose.

brother.
I

Isab.
IIS

do, my

lord.

Act V. Sc. i.
Re-enter

For

Duke.

Angela, Mariana,

Friar

this new-married

man,

Whose

salt

honour,

Peter, and

Provost.

pardon

must

you

but

sake:

Mariana's

For

MEASURE

approaching here,
imaginationyet hath wrong'd

well-defended

Your

FOR

MEASURE

he

as

adjudged

your

brother,
"

Being criminal,in double violation

and of promise-breach
Of sacred chastity,
Thereon
dependent, for your brother's life,

410

"

The
Most
'

of the

mercy

very

from

his proper
tongue,
for Claudio, death for death !

audible,even

An

Angelo

Haste

law

cries out

'

haste,and leisure
quit Hke, and measure

still pays
doth

Like

answers

leisure ;

still for

measure.

Then, Angelo, thy fault 's thus manifested

Which, though
do condemn

We
"

Claudio

Where

Away

with

him

thou

hope

It is your

Duke.

denies

thee

tage.
van-

block

stoop'dto death, and

with

like haste.

will not

you

deny,

thee to the very

Mari.

wouldst

most
my
mock
me

gracious lord,
with

mock'd

husband

420

husband.

you with
of your

husband.

honour,
safeguard
marriage fit; else imputation.
For that he knew
you, might reproach your life.
choke your good to come
And
: for his possessions.
Although by confiscation they are ours,

Consenting to
I thought your

We

do

To

buy

the

instate and
you

better

you
husband.

Mari.
I
Duke.

withal,

widow

crave

Never

no

other,nor
crave
him;

better

no
we

116

are

my

dear

man.

definitive.

lord,
430

MEASURE
Mari.

FOR

Gentle

MEASURE

Act

liege,

nay

[Kneeling.

"

Duke,

You
him

with

Away

but

do

death!

to

V. Sc. i.

labour.

lose your

sir,to

\To Lucio] Now,

you.
O

Mari.

Lend

me

I '11lend

Should

all

she

sense

do

you
down

kneel

Her

brother's

And

take her hence

ghost

importune

her:

in horror.

Isabel,
Sweet

Isabel,do

yet but

by me ;
nothing,I '11 speak

They

out

And,

for the most,

more

For

up

being a

Duke.

He

become

you

much

dies for Claudio's

As

if it

of faults ;
the better

death.

Most

Look,

all.

so

not

Isab.

pleaseyou,

bounteous
this

on

man

sir, [Kneeling.
condemn'd.

if my
brother
lived : I partlythink
due sincerity
govern'd his deeds,

Till he did look

Let

him

not

on

In that he did the

For

Angelo,

His

act

And

must

me

die.

did not

My

since it is so,
brother
had but

thing for which

o'ertake his bad

be buried

but

as

an

unprofitable
;
117

justice,
:

intent;

intent

perish'dby the way : thoughts are

Intents,but merely thoughts.
Mari.
Merely, my
suit 's

450

he died

That

Your

440

husband.
may
my
lend a knee ?

littlebad

Isabel,will

kneel

your hands, say

moulded
are
say, best men

H0I4

in mercy
of this fact,
his paved bed would
break.

Mari.

Duke.

part

my

all my
life to come
life to do you service.

all my

you

Isabel, take

knees, and

your

Against

Duke.

Sweet

lord !

good

my

stand

up,

no

subjects;

lord.
I say.

MEASURE

V. Sc. i.

Act

bethought

I have

Provost, how
At

it Claudio

came

460

beheaded

was

hour?

unusual

an

fault.

of another

me

MEASURE

FOR

It

Prov.

commanded

was

so.

for the deed ?

specialwarrant
by privatemessage.
No, my good lord ; it was
I do dischargeyou of your office :
For which

Had

Duke.
Prov.
Duke.

Give

you

keys.

your

up

Pardon

Prov.
I

it

thought

was

fault,but
after

Yet

did repent me,

Kor

testimony whereof, one

should by privateorder

That

I have

advice

more

in the

fetch

thou
him

prison.
died,

470

he?
His

Prov.

Go

else have

What's

I would

it not

knew

alive.

reserved

Duke.

Duke.

lord:

noble

me,

done

hadst

hither;

let

me

so

is Barnardine.

name

by Claudio.
look

him.

upon

[Exit Provost.
I

Escal.

am

sorry,

so

one

learned

and

so

wise

Angelo, have still appear'd,

Should slipso grossly,both in the heat of blood,
And
lack of temper'd judgement afterward.
As

Ang.

Lord

you.

am

And

sorry
so

That

'Tis my

Re-enter

that such

deep
crave

sorrow

sticks it in my
penitentheart.
death more
willinglythan mercy

deserving,and

Provost,

I procure

zvith

I do

entreat

Which

is that

Barnardine, Claudio

miMed,

Barnardine?

This, my

Prov.
118

480

it.

Juliet.

Duke.

lord.

and

MEASURE

FOR

There

Duke.

MEASURE

was

Sirrah, thou
And

said to have

art

But, for those

pray

For

better

stubborn

soul,
than this world,
a

This
Who

to

'rt condemn'd

have
to

died

when

Claudio

[To Isabella^ If

he

him

's that ?

saved,

491
lost his head ;

Claudio
himself.

as

be

all ;

fellow

muffled

prisonerthat

is another

like almost

What

provide

to

Friar, advise

come.

hand.

to your

should

this mercy

take

times

I leave him

Duke.

man.

earthly faults,I quit them

thee

And

As

of this

me

apprehends no further
squarest thy life according. Thou

That

Prov.

friar told

V. Sc. i.

Act

like

[Unmiifflcs Claudio.
brother, for his
your

sake

pardon 'd ; and,

for your lovelysake,

Give me
your hand, and say you will be mine.
for that.
is my
brother
He
too : but fitter time
By this Lord Angelo perceiveshe 's safe ;

Is he

quickening in his eye.

Well, Angelo, your evil quitsyou well :
I

Methinks

Look

see

wife ; her worth

that you

love your
in myself ;
I find an apt remission
And
yet here 's one in place I cannot
[To Lncio] You, sirrah, that knew

500
worth

yours.

pardon.
me

for

fool,a

coward.
all of

One

Wherein
That

luxury,
I

have

you

extol

so
me

an

ass,

deserved

madman

of you.

thus?

lord, I spoke it but according to the

for it,you may
If you will hang me
trick.
; but
I had rather it would
pleaseyou I might be whipt. 510
Duke.
Whipt first,sir,and hang'd after.
Lucio.

'Faith,my

Proclaim
If any

woman

it,provost,

round

about

the city,

wrong'd by this lewd fellow,

"

119

Act

V. Sc. i.

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

As

I have

Whom

he

And

he

Let

him

heard

him

begot

with

himself

swear

child,let

in

me

Duke.

your highness,do
Your
highness said

whore.

you

one

her

appear,
shall marry
her : the nuptialfinish'd.
be whipt and hang'd.

Liicio. I beseech
a

there 's

Duke

making

me

now,

not

to

me

marry

even

lord, do
my
cuckold.

good

not

I made

520

recompense

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.

lord,
Marrying a punk, my
death, whipping, and hanging.

is

pressing

Slandering a prince deserves it.

[Exeunt Officers

Duke.

She, Claudio,

Joy

to

I have

you,

that

you
Mariana
!

confess'd

Love

her, and
friend

Thanks, good

wrong'd,

look

I know

her

zvith Lucio.
restore.

you

her, Angelo

to

530

virtue.

Escalus, for thy much

ness
good-

There

's

that is

behind

more

Thanks, provost,

for

gratulate.

more

and

thy care

secrecy

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,
much
I have a motion
imports your good ;
if you '11 a willingear
Whereto
incline,
We

What

shall

's mine

So, bring
What

us

is yours,
to

our

and

540

is yours is mine.
'11 show
where
we

what

palace;

's yet behind, that 's meet

you

all should

know.

[Exeunt.
120

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Glossary.
decided; "be

Absolute,
i.e.

"

make

III. i. 5 ;

your

up

abs.,"
"

perfect,V. i. 54.

Beholding,

IV.

iii.

I. i.

30.

foundation

of all; II. iv,

tions
(other suggested emendaing).
; all-binding; all-hold-

Billets,small
Bite

by the

upon

advised,

aware

v.

IV.

in hand,

kept in expectation;

"

to

look

into the b. of
"

place," i.e. to know

thoroughly ; I. i. 79.
my

"

89.

of torture.

(See Notes.)

li. ii.

(used equivocally),

Bastard

of sweet

kind

Bay,
a

III. i. y2.

away;

an

division

marked

wine

architectural

by

of
the

ii.

163.
Bonds, obligations; V. i. 8.
Boot, advantage, profit; II. iv.

132.

Bark, peel

5.

137-

tion
proba-

II. iv.

with

treat

Blench, start
Boldness, confidence;

Brakes, instruments
;

to

I. iv. 51-2.
Borne
up, devised ; IV. i. 48.
heart's desire ; IV. iii.
Bosom,

"receive her ap.,"

; I. ii. 178.
As, though indeed

nose,

III. i. 109.
IV.
away;

contempt;

Bottom;
her

IV.

iii- 55.

Bore

i. 60.

Approbation;

logs of wood;

II.

Appliances, remedies, means

;
III. i. 89.
Appointment, equipment; III.

Avised,

beholden

Belongings, endowments

Advertise, instruct; I. i. 42.

Advertising, instructing; V. i.
387.
Advice, consideration
; V. i.468.
Affection, feeling; II. iv. 168,
Affections, passions; III. i. 108.
After, at the rate of; II. i. 246.
All-building, being the ground

i.e. enter

; II.

163.

III. i. 14.

94

openings

i. 246.

Abuse, delusion; V. i. 205.

comforts;
Accommodations,

and

other

or

dows

mind

; III. ii. 4.
for
term

building,
single win-

[21

From

an

engraving

in Steevens.

it

Glossary

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Bravery, finery; I. iii.lo.

"

Breeds;
i.e.

b. with

sense

my

"

thoughts

new

many

awakened

"

it in

by

it,"
are

; II.

me

ii. 142.

Bum,

alluding
used

Bumbast,

to

stuff

to

ton
cot-

out

ments
gar-

II. i. 220.

From

old French
painting in the
Ashmolean
Museum.

an

Clap,
IV.

Close,
an

begin without

to

delay;

iii.41.
make

to

peace,

come

i. 345.
IV.
silent, secret;

V.

agreement;

Close,

to

ii

121.

Cold, cool, deliberate

; IV.

ii

102.

Comhinatc,

betrothed; III.

229.

Combined,
From

Bulwer's
Pedigree of the
Gallant
(1653).

of grapes,

Bunch
room

it

name

of

name

the

was

several

the

English

Comes

i-57Commodity, quantity of wares,

parcel ; IV. iii.5.
Compact, leagued; V. i. 242.
i.
Composition, compact ; V.

custom

to

rooms

in

II. i, 132.

taverns;

bound; IV. iii. 147.

off well, is well told; II.

220.

Censure,

to

sentence,
i. 29.

pass

judgement,

upon;

I. iv. 72;

Concerning;

or

her

; V.

Cheap, of small value

183.
walled
Circummured,
IV.

i.

round

i. 28.

Clack-dish,
box

III.

carried

wooden

dish

by beggars

observe"

it
; IV.

ance,"
observconcerns

i. 42.

Confixed, fixed ; V. i. 232.

Conserve, preserve
; III. i. 88.

i. 56.

to

her

Concupisciblc, concupiscent; V.
i. 98.

ii. 202.

Characts, characters

c.

i.e. "which

II.

Character,
writing, outward
I. i. 28; handwriting,
mark;
IV.

"

or

; III.

ii. 134-

Constantly, firmly; IV. i. 21.

Consummate,
mated;
being consumV. i. 382.
derstood
Continue, blunderingly misunrefer
to
by Elbow
to some
penalty or other ; II.
i, 195;

122

to

let live, IV.

iii. 86.

MEASURE

FOR

Glossary

MEASURE

Contrarioiis, contradictory; IV.

Dispenses with,

i. 62.

135.

Convenient,
V.
Convented,
summoned;
158.
Countenance,
hypocrisy; V.

fitting;IV.

iii. 105.
i.

Dissolution, death ; III. ii. 237.

Disvalued,
depreciated; V. i.
221.

i.

DisvoucJied, contradicted;

118.

iv.

IV. iii. 131.

Covent, convent;
Creation; "their cr.," i.e. "their
(men's) nature
; II. iv. 127.
Credent

play

hulk, weight

readily
"

II. iv. 130.

yielding;

Cucullus

make

not

"

monks

; V.

; in

the

i. 263.

power

Drawn

III. i. 143.

Denunciation,

declaration

veyed
con-

dle
hurit is

answer

to

to

bring

motive

some

or

; II. i. 208.

in, taken

in, swindled;

Dressings, habiliments ; V.
56.
Dribbling, weak; I. iii. 2,

Definitive, resolved; V. i. 431.

to
Delighted, accustomed
and delight; III. i. 121.

on

as

by

be

to

II. i. 213.

rejection, refusal;

Defiance,

Froth's

same

"

Cunning, sagacity; IV. ii. 163.

to

means

"

along

drain,

"

execution

to
"

All

the tapster

it is related

as

it

; I. ii. 50.

to

signifiesto
"

hang

non
"

i.e.

monachum,"

hoods

it refers

as

it

"

dollar

upon

empty";

Credulous,
facit

"

Draw;

"

quibblingly with

used

"

of credit;

iv. 28.

IV.

I.

Dolours,

"

IV.

III. i.

excuses;

ease

; I. ii.

Effects, expressions ; III. i. 24.

Em

147.

i.

mew,

to

coop

up,

"to

force

without
to lie in cover
daring
Deputation, deputyship ; I. i. 21.
themselves
i.e.
show
d.
mortal,"
to
Desperately;
; III. i.
death
near
terribly
;
91.
curring Enshicld,
concealed,, enclosed ;
others,
desperate in his in"

"

"

"

"

of death";
to

die without
"

IV.

Detected,

"

hope

destined

II. iv. 80.

tion
of salva-

Ensky'd, placed in heaven

accused

limited, bounded

III. i. 70.

Determines, assigns ; I. i. 39.

for
blunder
Detest, Elbow's
"

"

protest

Entertain, desire

to

keep; III.

i. 75.

III. ii. 129.

Determined,

I.

iv. 34-

ii. 151.

charged,

Escapes, sallies ; IV. i. 63.

Estimation, reputation ; IV.
28.
I. i. 51.
Evasion, excuse;
Evils, privies; II. ii. 172.

; II. i. 68.

Discover, recognise; IV. ii. 181.

Discover, expose ; III. i. 197.

Fact, crime; IV. ii. 141.

123

ii.

Glossary

MEASURE
"

False, illegal
; II. iv.

49.

FOR
For

the Lord's

sake," the supplication

of imprisoned debtors

Falsely, dishonestly, illegally

;
II. iv. 47.
fault and
Fault;

MEASURE

to

the passers-by;

IV. iii.

"

glimpse," i.e.
the faulty glimpse ; a
fault
arising from the mind
being
dazzled by a novel authority ;

I. ii. 157Favour, used

"

equivocally with
"

play

21.

"

countenance

; IV.

ii. 32 ;

face,IV. ii. 182.

Fear, affright; II. i. 2.
to give fear,"
Fear;
"

"

"

"

favour

upon

timidate
in-

to

I. iv. 62.

Folios

Feodary (so
2, 3, 4; Fol.
I
fedarie), originally one
who
holds
estate
an
by suit
service to a superior lord,
or
hence

one

who

the

direction

here,

"

one
"

Fewness

under

acts

of

another;

of the human

ternity
fra-

; II. iv. 122.

and

truth, brieflyand

truly ; I. iv. 39.

File, multitude ; III. ii. 144.
Fine, punish; II. ii. 40; III. i.

For
From

the Lo7-d''s Sake.

Braithwait's
Honest
Voice from the Vault

Free, liberal

115.

Fine, punishment ; II. ii. 40.

Flourish, adorn ; IV. i. 75.
der
Flowery tenderness, i.e. a ten"

woman

stronger
(cp. Sonnet

no

whose
than
lxv.

action
a

4)

flower

French

used

; V.

crown,

Ghost,

or

(1658).

i. 392.

bald head

duced
pro-

by a certain disease;
equivocally; I. ii. 52.

is
"

Garden-house,

; III. i.

83.
Foison, plenty ; I. iv. 43.
Fond, foolish ; II. ii. 187 ; V. i.
105; foolishlyoverprized; II.
ii. 149.

Foppery, folly; I. ii. 132.

Forfeit, liable to penalty; III.

summer-house;

V. i. 212.

General, populace

Generation, race ; IV. iii. 91.

tion
Generative, (?) begot; "a moof
born
g." ; a puppet
female
a
being" (but probably
"

Theobald's
is correct

ii. 205.

"

III. ii. 119.

124

; II. iv. 27.

emendation

"ungenerative") ;

MEASURE

FOR

Generous

gravest, i.e.most

and

and

generous

MEASURE

most

Ignomy

grave;

vi. 13.

IV.

Glossary

Ghostly, spiritual; IV. iii.48.

Giglets,giglots; wantons
; V. i.

(so Folio i)= ignominy

word
suits
the
(which
metre
better) ; II. iv. iii.
Impartial, taking no part ; V.
i. 166.

Imports, carries

351.

Glassy

"that

essence;

of

nature

man.

glass, from
the
its own,
its

its

of

from

"

in

its

fragility,
injury or

liabilityto

destruction

flect
re-

others

; II. ii.

120.

Grace, good fortune,happiness

I. iv.

69.
Gradation,
from

Importune,
Incertain,

to

step

advance

step

IV.

i.

In

102.

unsettled,
; V.

vague

i.

be
good time, so
well; III. i. 181.

Iniquity, see
IV.

iii.

; I. i. ^7-

urge

III. i. 127.
Informal, insane

Insensible

regular

it ; V.

108.

is like

faculty to

image
and

essential

which

with

236.

it,

Justice.
of, indifferent

very

to;

ii. 151.

Instance, intimation; IV.

iii.

132.

Grange,

solitary farmhouse

III. i. 275.

Gratulate, gratifying; V. i. 533.

Gravel, flinty;IV. iii.66.
stands at a
Guard;
guard

Invention, imagination ; II.iv. 3.

Inward, intimate friend; III. ii.
138.
Issues, purposes
; I. i. 2"7-

"

"

with," i.e. is on his guard

against "; I. iii.51.
Guards,
facings, trimmings ;

lournal, diurnal
lustice

Iniquity;

or

constable

allusion

"

"

or

the

lus calls the latter

III. i. 97.

Hannibal,

; IV.

Elbow's
"

cannibal

familiar

for

error

to

the

Happily, haply; IV. ii. 98.

Heavy, drowsy ; sleepy ; IV.

"

shows
i.

that is the

fool ; EscaIniquity in

old

Vice,

in the

character

moralites

; II. i. 181.

iii. 90.

cient
an-

dumb-

and

; II. i. 174.

Keeps, dwells

; I. iii. 10.

35-

Helmed, directed; III. ii. 151.

Hent, seized, taken possession

of; IV. vi.

; V.

Hide, suppress

His, its; IV.

Home
IV.

and

to

14.

i. 67.

to

the quick;

iii. 146.

Hot-house,
i. 65.

bathing-house

the

i. 31.

home,

tention
(" the bird diverts atfrom
its nest
ing
by fly-

Lapwing

II.

125

distance

sportsman

and

ing
attract-

there

by

fluttering"); I. iv. 32.

well
fermented,
Leaven'd,
ripened; I. i. 52.
Leiger, a resident ambassador
at a foreign court
; III. i. 59.

MEASURE

Glossary
Like, likely to be believed

Pace,

; V.

i. 104.
III.

better

any

90.

chair, an

chair; II.

easy

"

lust;

i. 505.

"

"

woman

iii. 180.

; IV.

metrical
be

to

ranged
ar-

graces

said

sung)

or

"

more
Moe,
deaths,"

"

i.e.

thousand

"

abbess
a

; I. iv. 86.

with

; III. i. 120.

ii. 29.

Mystery, trade; IV.

life ; II. iv. 43.

"reason
dares her no," i.e.

Nature,

admonishes
; IV.

her

not

to

; II. i. 19.

do

iv. 27.

"

Obstruction, stagnation of the

Omit,

pass

by; IV.

Opposite, opponent;
Otcr,

possess,

have;

between

quibble

piled,peeled, stripped of hair,

ease),
disbald
(from the French
and piled as applied to
velvet ;
three-piled velvet
liest
meaning the finest and cost"

I. ii. 35-

Planched,

planked; IV.

Pluck

draw

on,

on

i. 30.

; II. iv. 147.

Possess' d, informed;

blood; III. i. 119.

Office, service; V. i.

iii. 12.

Peaches, impeaches; IV.

Piled;

thing endowed

movement

no

in p."
nothing come
lowed
partiality be al-

Jacob, i.e. the feast

St. J. (May
of St. P. and
III.
ii.
ist);
214.

deaths
more
; III. i. 40.
Mortality,death; I. i. 45.

it

my

; I. i.

i. 115.
Philip and

"

"

"

him

to

"

Pelting, paltry; II. ii. 112.

Perdurably, everlastingly; III.

thousand

moe

"

on

I. ii.22.

"

; II. i.

"; II. i. 31.

Particular,private ; IV. iv. 29.
Passes, proceedings ; V. i. 374,
tence
Passing on, i.e. passing sen-

particular; V. i. 152.
(refers probably to the

ancient

No;

the

him," i.e.

delegated

Partial;

Meal'd, sprinkled; IV. ii. 86.

for
used
wantonly
Medlar,

Mother,
Motion,

of

42.

V.

i.e.

Metre

p. in

my

office

i. 131.

Luxury,

will

iii. 135.

62.

Part;

Lower

cording
ac-

Parcel-hawd, part bawd

II. iv.

argument;

move

Pain, penalty; II. iv. 86.

Pain'd, put to trouble ; V. i.390.

of

of question, absence

(lit.to

go

to

the

to

rider) ; IV.

222.

Mere,

to

horse

i.

Limited, appointed ; IV. ii. 174.

Lists, bounds, limits ; I. i. 6.
Loss

MEASURE

make

to

teach

appointed time

Limit,

FOR

IV.

i. 44.

Practice, plot; V. i. 107, 123.

Precept, instruction; "in action
all of

368.

p."

"

with

actions
me"

tended
in-

(i.e.
shewing the several turnings
with his hand) ;
of the way

iii.75.
III. ii. 175.

to

I. iv. 83;

II. iv. 123.

IV.
126

i. 40.

instruct

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Glossary

fore
Prefers itself,places itself beeverything else ; I. i. 55.
dent;
Pregnant, expert; I. i. 12; evi-

Piitting-on, incitement

II. i. 22,.
Prensie, prim; III. i. 94, 97.
mediate
Present; "p. shrift," i.e. "im-

Qualify, check; IV. ii. 86.

Question, consideration ; I. i.

"

absolution

; IV.

ii.

; IV.

iii.

217.

Presently, immediatelv
80.

kept

pure

II.

ii.

153.

Prints, impressions; II. iv. 130.

Probation, proof; V. i. 157.
Elbow's

blunder

Profanation,
for "profession"; II. i. 55.
Profession, business ; IV. iii.2.
Profiting,taking advantage; II.

Quests, spyings ; IV. i. 62.

Quit, acquit,forgive ; V. i. 487.

II. iv. 162.

Rack, distort;IV. i. 65.

Ravin
dozvn, ravenously

considered
"

"

"

Rebate,

make

dull ; I. iv. 60.

II. iv.
understood;

Received,
82.

i. 502.

Remonstrance,
V.

Remorse,

to ; V.

100.

Remove,
absence; I. i. 44.
renunciation
Renouncement,
the world

Proportion, measure
; I. ii. 23.
Proportions, portion, fortune ;
i. 219.
"

here

; I.

v.

of

35.

Resolve, inform ; III. i. 192.

bow
Respected, misapplied by El-

i.

no.

pity; II. ii. 54; V. i.

and

to, belonging

demonstration

i. 396.

i. 31.

V.

vour;
de-

I. ii. 128.

V.

probably
speecJiless,
as
lent
equivato
speechlessly prone,"
i.e. speaking fervently and
words
eagerly without
(or
tial)
deferenperhaps
prone
; I. ii. 183.
i.
Proper, own
; III. i. 30 ; V.
412; personally,peculiarly; I.
Proper

II.

and

and

be

disposition;

iv. 160.

"

Prolixioiis, tiresome

to

47.

Refell'd,refuted; V. i. 94.
Remission;
a
ready
apt r."
hindering;
pardon, readiness to forgive;

iv. 128.

Prone

ii.

120.

Race, natural

Preserved,

; IV.

(
Pompey
II. i. 164, 167.
=

Restrained, forbidden
48.
Retort

"

to

refer back

pected)
sus-

II.

iv.

(to An-

in which
gelo the cause
you
appealed from Angelo to the
Duke)"; V. i. 303.

"

der
unProvincial;
p."
the jurisdiction of this
ecclesiastical
province ; V.
i. 318.
Provokest, invokest ; III. i. 18.
Put, compelled; I. i. 5.
=

"

Salt, lustful ; V. i. 405.

Satisfy your
resolution,sustain
your

127

courage;

III. i. 170.

MEASURE

Glossary
Saucy,

Sort

; II. iv.'45.

wanton

(or perhaps
weighed
masked;
stripped as of scales, un-

Scaled,
"

"

"foiled"

been

has

II. ii. 5.

III. ii. 233.

hypocrisy; II. iv. 150.
when, i.e. 'tis seldom

See =^Rome;
Seldom

that ; IV.

ii. 89.

Shears;
of

shears

"we

are

2.
a

pair

of

the

same

piece ; I. ii. 28.

Sheep-biting, thievish
358.
forfend;

my

fair," i.e.
thou
true

wert

son";

Shrewd,

"

make

of; I. i.

show

69.

God
not

i.

V.

up,

Stew,

cauldron;

to

V.

i. 321.

evil,mischievous

I. iv.

Story, subject of mirth;

III.

ii.

271.

suffering;; III. i.

Sufferance,

that
grant
father's
my

80.
the

plague

known

as

Sweat,

II.

sickness

Sweetness,

i. 253.

(the Folios "sickles"),

shekels; II. ii. 149.
Siege, seat; IV. ii. loi.

"

larly
popu-

was

"the

sweating

; I. ii. 82.

self-indulgence; II.

iv. 45-

Sides

Swinged,
Tax,

accuse

Temporary

savour;

meddles

II. ii. 5.
;

iv.

supply; III. i. 258.

Stead

III. i. 141.

Snatches, repartees

to ; I.

service

Stricture, strictness ; I. iii. 12.

Succeed, inherit; II. iv. 123.

s.

father

my

Sith, since; I. ii. 35.

have
a
taste,
Smack,

of

Straitness, strictness;

"Heaven

play'd

mother

to

30.

"

Shield,

234.

Stage,

Stead, be

us," i.e.

between
both

Splay (so first Folio; Steevens

"spay"), to castrate; II. i.

17.

but

went

the

on

Several, different ; II. iv.

there

iii- 33-

47-

Serpigo, a dry eruption

skin; III. i. 31.
"

and
vice
sersuit, rank
(i.e.suit-service, due to
a
superior lord) ; IV. iv. 18.
with specials.,"i.e. with
Soul,
special liking; I. i. 18.
to
offend; II.
Spare, forbear
and

hesitate; I. ii.
Stagger, waver,
164.
if dead; IV.
as
Starkly, stiffly,
ii. 69.
Stays upon, waits for; IV. i.

47-

Seeming,

MEASURE

"

suggested as an emendation);
III. i. 264.
Scope, power
; I. i. 65 ; licence ;
I. ii. 126; I. iii. 35.
Scruple, very small quantity; I.
i. 38; doubtful
perplexity; I.
i. 65.
Secondary, subordinate; I. i.
Sects, classes, ranks.

FOR

V.

IV. ii.6.
128

whipped;

i. 130.

V.

; II. iv. 79.

meddler,
with

one

temporal

i. 145.

who
ters;
mat-

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Tick-tack.
"

Terms;

called

Terms

dc

students

young

(Blackstone)

law"

established
custom
Trade,
;
habit; III. i. 149.

la

dence
acci-

the

is now,

of

old

An

picture by Teniers.

Shakespeare's

in

was
Ley
days, and

the

Les

guage
lan-

technical

the

of the courts.
book

From

Glossary

in

; I. i.

II.

Tickle, unstable; I. ii. 171.

Tick-tack,

sort

of

mon
backgam-

(used equivocally) ; I.
ii. 191.

Tilth,tillage; I. iv.
Tithe, seed
of

the

be

be

harvest
for

error

to

sown)

44.
sown

tenth

(probably

"tilth,"i.e. land
; IV.

an

to
From

'

La tryumphante..entree faicte
de. .prince.
le. .advenement
Charles des Hespaignes (i.e.
Emperor
Charles V.)
ville de Bruges'
.en
sa

i. yG.

sur

Touches,

vices; III. ii. 25.

Toiise,pull,tear; V. i. 313.

"

(15x5)129

MEASURE

Glossary
Transport,
world

from

remove

IV.

another;

to

properly

iii.70.

Trumpets

; IV.

trumpeters

Tub,
a

certain

III. ii. 59.

Tun-dish, funnel

nanced
practices long counteI.
iv. 62.
by custom
;
Use, interest, probably with a
of
tion
exersecondary sense

plied
ap-

old

"

"

gate"),

; I. i. 41.

9.

sweating-tub, used
for

cure

v.

ii. 147.

Use,

an

III. ii. 52.

("t. to the

woman;

the

to

MEASURE

UnzveigJiing,injudicious; III.

one

Trick, fashion ; V. i. 509.

Trot, a contemptuous
name,

FOR

Vail

as

regard, lower

your
"

Vain;
; III. ii. 182.

for v."

purpose;
"

avail

Academy

of Armory

i. 417.

Voice;

fold

or

pen;

IV.

from

the

Vouch,

13.

IV.

iv.

inapt ;

inevitable; III. ii.

Unshunned,
62.

"

attached
to

the

the hose

to

his

cover

v."

"

in

my

; I. ii. 180.

affirmation; II. iv. 156.

deviate; I. i. 15.
Warped, crooked, wry,
Warp,

ral
unnatu-

; III. i. 142.
Wear, fashion; III. ii. 78.
still
is a term
"weed
Weeds;

applied

to

lier)
(Col-

conditioned
emendations
;
"

steeds,"

ill-

an

horse"

posed
pro"

wills

"

I. iii.20.
[[//io =

Widow',

which;
to

give

I. ii. 190.

jointure; V.

as

i. 428.

ii. 92.

the
Untrussing; "untying
points or tagged laces which
.

III. i. 69.

Vulgarly, publicly;V. i. 160.

print
mis-

{Insisting, probably
(in Folios i, 2, 3) for
insisting (the reading of
Fol.
4), i.e. "persistent";
a

IV.

my

commonly

22.

''

in

name

ii. 213.

unready,

"

"

(?),
impotent
Ungenitured
(perhaps "unbegotten") ; III.
ii. 184.
Ungot, not begotten ; V. i. 142.
ii.
Unpitied, unmerciful
; IV.
Unpregnant,

"

thee

full p. ; IV. vi. 4.

Viewless, invisible ; III. i. 124.
Virtuous, beneficial ; II. ii. 168.

(1688).

Unfolding, releasing

v.," i.e.
nothing ;

thee

J^astidity,
vastness;
P^eil full purpose,

Holme's

no

12.

"denies

will

V.

in vain, to

II. iv.

Vantage;

From

your

look; V. i. 20.

diseases;

or

JVildcrness,

III.

i.

142.

breeches

doublet"; III. ii.

wildness

JVoodnian,

190.

game

130

one

who

; IV.

hunts

iii. 166.

male
fe-

FOR

MEASURE

Glossary

MEASURE

done
myself w.," i.e.
Wrong;
"put myself in the wrong";

Yield;

"

I. ii. 41.

Yare, ready;

IV.

ii.60.

"

y.

you

thanks,"

i.e.

thanks

you

"

"

to

public
yield public

forth

; V.

Zodiacs, circuits of
I, ii. 167.
years;

131

to

i. 7.
the

sun,

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Critical Notes.
ISRAEL

BY
I. i. 8, 9. There
Folios.
Theobald

is

no

GOLLANCZ.
between

gap

first advanced

of the passage

the

due

was

to

part of the printers. The Camb.

indicates the omission
by means
been

and
^sufficiency'

'as'

in the

scurity
plausible theory that the obcareless

some

Ed., accepting
of dots.

omission

Various

the

on

Theobald's

theory,
have

attempts

suiUcicnccs
that to your
explain the lines, e.g. "But
zi'orth is abled"
(Johnson) ; "But your suMciency as zvortJi
your
is able"
Theobald's
(Farmer);
suggestion has been adopted in
made

to

the present edition.

I. i. 43. 'Hold
therefore,Angelo' ; the Duke
words
to Angelo.
on
tendering commission
I. ii.28.
of

are

'

There

but

went

pair of shears

words/

'by zveight the zvords,' so

Hanmer;
perhaps, as Johnson

dropped

out.

I. ii. 120.

Cp. St. Paul

I will have

Moses,

again, "Therefore
and

between

these

says

us;' i.e. 'we

piece.'

one

I. ii. 119.

to

probably

on

mercy

He

hath

zvill He

He

whom

the Romans,

to

whom

mercy

Ff., 'by weight;

conjectured,
''

ix. 15, 18:

I will have
whom

on

t^'c

line

For

He

Ims

saith

mercy," and

will have

He

mercy,

hardeneth."

misprint 'mortality.'
i reads
propagation, corrected
in Folio 2 ; prorogation, procuration, preservation, have been
gested
sugrect,
by various editors, but the text as it stands is probably corincrease
clear
propagation
though not
altogether
;
;
and
increase
of
the
word
interest,'
for
implies
tion
propagaperhaps
the interest, which
that she might continue
to receive
I. ii. 133.

'Morality' ;

the Folios

I. ii. 149. 'Propagation'

; Folio

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

was

to

be hers

I. iii. 10.
*

'and

while

she

remained

witless,'F2 F3 F4

unmarried.'
;

conj.

Fi 'zvitless';Nicholson

witless.'

I. iii.27.
the .verb.

I. iii.43.

'Becomes,' added
'

To

do

by Pope
'

in slander

; so
'

132

(after Davenant)

the Folios ;

'

'

me

and

Ff. omit

'

it

'

have

MEASURE

MEASURE

FOR

Notes
'

'

'

do in
suggested for in/ but no change seems
necessary
;
me.'
bring in, bring upon
I. iv. 54.
givings-out/ Rowe ; Ff. giving-out.'
makes.'
I. iv. 78. make
; Ff.
II. i. 39. 'Some
run
from brakes of vice,and answer
none;' the
which
is kept by
brakes of ice
line as it stands in the FoHos
much
cussion.
disthe Camb.
ed., is obviously corrupt, and has occasioned
brakes of vice ; brakes
Shakespeare probably wrote
of torture
(see Glossary) ; of vice
tortures, instruments
due
vice
brakes
or
from,
to,
resulting
of vice is antithetical to
;
'a fault alone,' cp. Henry VIII., I ii. 75
been
'

'

'

'

'

'

*'

'

"

"

'

''

'

'

'

'

''

'

"

"

virtue

That
The

penaltiesof vice
while

others

it

are

'

means

'

sun,

Like

for

nostrils

his

wall then

his

in

was

the

through,

go

"public room";

perhaps

animated

and

tender-hearted

of

strongly

are

i.e. Adam
will

Angelo,

life."

of

man'

made
you

Creator

innocence,
others, "like man

days

to

; commentators

new

And

breath

the
as

appear

the

as

'

'

to
"

"

into

that vice ought

fault.'
mere

made

new

tempted to refer the words

White
paraphrased thus :
Claudio,

from

scot-free

escape

light,cheerful.'

man

life into

some

room'', Schmidt,

open
to

open

II. ii. 79.

mean

condemned

II. i. 135. 'an

through."

go

rough brakes

the

"

must

brake

'

to

seems

passage

the rough

; Holt

breathe

new

by breathing
You
explains :

Adam,

"

Malone

"

merciful

as

after

immediately

first

the
his

man

creation."

and

regenerated by
tion:
perhaps capable of this interpretawill breathe
within
And
as
Mercy
lips,even
your
mercy
made
man.
{i.e.God) breathed within the lips of new
II. ii.90.
Dormiunt
moriuntur
nunqiiam," is a
aliquando leges,
well-known
in law
maxim
(Holt White).
Schmidt

divine

and

lines

grace." The

redeemed

are

"

"

II. ii. 159.

Isabella

'

Where

cross,' i.e. where

hers, " Heaven
keep

prayers
with

crosses

his prayer
honour
your

to

sess
pos-

safe !

"

youth'; possibly Warburton's

correction, Hamcs," should be adopted; cp.
II. iii.II.

'the

Haws

of her

ozvn

"

'

To

flaming youth let virtue be

And

melt

in her

own

Hre!

"

as

zvax,

III. iv.

Hamlet,

84.

II. iii. 40.

O injuriouslove' (Folios 'hue') ; Hanmer's
gestion,
sugfor
lazv
loue,' has been generally accepted ; the law
'

'

respited her

'

'

life whose

'

very

comfort
133

'

'

was

dying horror.'

Notes

MEASURE

II. iV. 9.

fear'd;probably

FOR

rms^r'mt

'

feared' i.e.'seared.'
been sick for ; Rowe
suggested,

'

II. iv. 103.

That longing have
'I've been
sick for'; for the

MEASURE

'

omission

of

cp. 'Has

pronoun,

him,' I. iv. 72.

censured

II. iv. 172. 'O

perilous mouths'; the line is defective as it
stands.
(?) O pernicious mouths'
these perilous'
(Walker), or
'

'

(Seymour).
III. i.

'thou

II.

death's

art

fool;' the phrase

was

possibly suggested

by the introduction of the

of the old dances
fool into most
of death, one of which was
the
of the accomoriginal source
panying
initial

from

Survey of London

(1618).
Prensie; the

III.
source

has

i. 94, 97.
of this strange
baffled students ; it

identical

primsie,
which

Stowe's

with
'

the

with

prim (in
pren) : under
there
the

word

as

has

precise,'

is connected

Old

French

no

why
changed,

reason

sh6uld
been

prin

stances
circum-

any

is

seems

Scottish

demure,

in its turn

word

be

proposed,

the reading
'princely,'

to

of

the

Folio,

2nd

or

priestly,'
'pensive,'

etc.

III. i. 123.
"or
In

reside

to

thrillingregion of thick-ribbed

Cp. the following cut

hep herd es (1506).

from

Pynson's edition

ice

of the

Kalender

of

"

III. ii. 9.
The
passage
lined with lamb-skin
fur

imply, furred

(that is,
with fox-skin
fur
inside, and trimmed
of fur, to show
that craft (fox-skin),
seems

to

to

us

outside) with both kinds

being richer than innocency (lamb-skin), is used for decoration"
(Clarke).
111. ii. 12-14.
Good
father friar'
good brother father';
the joke, as Tyrwhitt pointed out, would
be clearer in French,
mon
pere frere'
mon
frere pere.'
III. ii.41. 'Free from our
faults,as faultsfrom seeming free!'
'

'

"

'

'

134

"

"

FOR

MEASURE

Fo

so

MEASURE

Notes

Fa

after seeming) ; Fi 'from our

(with comma
faults,'etc.,
itself
by Camb.
Ed., but the reading adopted commends
metrical and other considerations, i.e., Would
that we
were

retained
from

"

free from

as

Hanmer

correction
'

'

Free

faults

from

seeming (hypocrisy)."
from our
faults as from faults seeming free.'
is reallynecessary,
feels inclined to hazard
one
as

our

are

'

proposed,

If any

(Cp.

faults,

"

from

faults,as

our

from false seeming, free.'

thy falseseeming,' II. iv. 15.)

'security enough to make

III. ii. 242.

Prov. xi. 15.
III. ii.

to stand

276-298. These

III. ii.280.

'

Grace

firm, and

III. ii. 289-292.

lines do
has

fellowships aceurst'; cp.

'

to

lines

are

in

all

virtue go;
forward.'

stand, and

virtue

to

Hoiv

may

go

probability not

likeness made

'

'

i.e. To

in crimes'

have

speare's.
Shake-

grace

etc. ; these

readily admit of interpretation,and some

corruption
for
probably crept into the text; Malone
suggested wade
not

135

Notes

MEASURE

made, i.e. " How

FOR

hypocrisy wade

may

likeness shading crimes'

etc.

satisfactory. Perhaps
pieces ( ?).

to

None

"

in crimes ;
Hanmer,
of the suggestions seem
'

draw

MEASURE

to"

i.e.

draw'

'

'

that
very

pull

to

'

IV.

i.

I.

This

Brother, with

song

the

in Beaumont

appears

addition

Bloody
following stanza, assuredly not
in the spurious edition of his poems,

hide those

Fletcher's

of the

Shakespeare's, though found

(1640)"
"Hide,

and

hills of

snow

Which

hears,
thy frozen bosom
the
that
pinks
tops
grozu
Are
of those that April wears;
But first set my
poor heart free,
Bound
those
by
icy chains by thee."
On

IV.

zvhose

"

i. 13.

it had
Though the music soothed
no
sorrows,
my
merriment"
to
tendency
produce light
(Johnson).
IV. i. y6. tilth' ; Theobald's
emendation
for
tithe/the reading
of Ff., retained by Camb.
Ed.
IV. ii. 45-49. if it be too little thief; the Folios give this to
Clo. (Pompey)
it to Abhorson,
and he
; Capell first transferred
has been
followed
editors.
Cowden
Clarke defends
the
by most
'

'

"

Folio
"

arrangement

the

; among

is much

more
speech
style of chop-logic than

curt

IV.

Capell
IV.

other
he maintains
that
arguments
in character
with the clown's
snip-snap
Abhorson's

with

manner,

which

is

markably
re-

bluff."

and

iv. 6. 'redeliver' ; Folio

i,
first suggested redeliver.'

'

re-liuer'

\ Folio

'deliuer';

2,

'

iv. 28. 'bears

emendations

have

of
been

bulk'; so Folios i,
proposed; the reading of Fi
credent

'

'

2, 3;
seems

many

the
'

'

credent
hulk =
plausible bears off a credent
;
of
credit.'
weight
V. i. 64. 'do not
banish
For inequality; i.e. because
of
reason
partiality.'
improbability,' incongruity,'or, according to some,
"were
V. i. 323. "These
places of
shops," according to Nares,
idle manner.
time in an
By way
great resort, for passing away
of enforcing some
of regularity,and
kind
perhaps at least as
much
to promote
usually hung up,
drinking, certain laws were
be
the transgression of which
to
feitures.
punished by specificforwas
most

bulk

"

'

'

'

It is not
as

often laughed

at

to
as

be

wondered

obeyed."
136

that laws

of that nature

were

FOR

MEASURE

MEASURE

'

V. i. 359.
he hanged an
than
meaning little more

hour'
'

Notes
to

seems

be hanged

have

been

cant

phrase,

'

'

360. madcst,' monosyllabic; Ff. 'mad'st'; Capell 'made/

hand
V. i, 496. Give me
give me your hand.'
your
; i.e. if you
V. i. 526. "pressing to death," z=z" peine forte et dure":
trated
illusby the accompanying drawing.
V.

i.

'

From

'

The

Life and

Death

'

of Griffin Hood

137

(1623).

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

Explanatory

Notes.

in this edition have

been
specially selected and
Explanatory Notes
the
latest
and
best
with
after
the
emendations
authorities, from
adapted,
eminent
and commentators,
most
Shakespearian scholars
including Johnson,
The

Steevens,

Malone,

This

others.

annotation

Hudson,

Singer, Dyce,
here

method,

of Shakespeare

introduced

for

embraced

ever

Scene
terms:

la

de

Ley,

of young
of Henry
31.

so

2,7. to
ZJ.

nor

common

"Nor

to

Blackstone

"

VIII., and

used

was

So

much

old book, called Lcs

The

book

Tcrmcs

is now,
the accidence
in the time
written
was

in Blackstone's

time.

exclusivelythy own
property.
That is,to noble ends, to high purposes.
fine issues :
Two
Nature:
negatives,not making an affirmative,are
in Shakespeare's writings. So in Julius Ccesar, III. i.:
proper:

"

or

so

"

"

else."

Roman

no

therefore,Angelo : Tyrwhitt thinks the Duke

43. Hold
checks
himself
Hold, therefore: and that Angelo begins

here

"

"

sentence.

But

hold

"Hold, therefore,
the

Duke

best

I.

"An

says:

in the law."

students

and

Dowden,

time, provides the

single edition.

Shakespeare's da3^s,and

in

was

in

Furness,

first

FIRST.

ACT

II.

White,
the

has

"

our

ought

of the

power

in his hand.

great import, and

chief incident

seems

to

"

These," says Douce,

be made
clear, as on them

are

new

being

"

which
words

of

depends the

play."
is, I delegate
of death, and

"

Scene
94. houses

to

"

46. Mortality, etc. : That

of pronouncing sentence
power
privilegeof exercising mercy.
45,

the

sense
Angelo;
referring to ^he commission

addressed

in the suburbs

"

In

thy tongue
to
thy heart

to

the
the

II.
one

138

of the Scotch

Laws

of

James

FOR

MEASURE
"

it is ordered,

that

MEASURE

common

Notes
he put at the utmost

women

endes

of

queire least peril of fire is."

zvords
120.
of heaven : Authority, being absolute in Anthe demigod, whose
decrees
gelo, is finelystyled by Claudio
are
little to be questioned as the words
The
Poet apas
of heaven.
plies
from
to this uncontrollable
Paul's Epistle
a
passage
power
ix. 15, 18, which
to the Romans,
he styles the words
of heaven :
townes,

The

"

for he

mercy,"
he

"

saith to

I will have

Moses,

"

again
mercy," etc.

etc. ; and

will have
128. Like

ravin

that

rats

devour, ravin

ravenously
Revenge
"

Like
The
And

147.

Therefore

down,

up

for Honour

hath

etc.

is used

he

In

"

lines

I will

the

same

have

whom

on

mercy

in Macbeth,

these

are

whom

on

mercy

of

sense

II. iv.

In

man's
Chap-

"

poison'd rats, which, when

they 've swallow'd
pleasing bane, rest not until they drink.
then

rest

can

denunciation

less, until they burst."

much

Denounce

"

sometimes

was

used

in the

sense

of

in Holinshed
Thus
and others
publish,proclaim, or announce.
war."
have
the phrase, "denouncing
we
So, also, in Raleigh's
But
the
World:
Gracchus's
soldiers, which
History of
all,
were
in a manner,
the late armed
from
had
their
received
slaves,
eral
genthis
a
that,
denunciation,
or
day,
peremptory
they
-never,
for price thereof,
must
purchase their liberty,bringing every man,
an
enemy's head."
here probably
singular use of propagation. The word
149. A
In Chapman's
continuance, or perhaps increase.
means
Odyssey,
this passage
xvi.,occurs
:
"

"

"

Alone,
Our
and

may

bold

So

also in
"

"

I doubt

not

the

propagate

this

but

Greek's

night

unturned

flight."

Dryden's Virgil:
"

Afric
He

fleete to

the

victory

"

Iliad, iv. :
"

to

we.

to

propagate
encounters

again, in Chapman's

Even

try if

to

and

India

shall extend

Beyond

the

shall his power

his propagated

solar

year,

without
139

obey

sway

the

starry

way."

Notes

MEASURE

In

the present
their marriage
the

with

chance, of

word

the

are

editors

MEASURE

be, that the lovers put off

continue

the

keep up
favourably dispose the
the lady's fortune was
dependent.
different
explanations of this
many
to

until time

whom

There

"

among

view

upon

would

meaning

dower,

wills of those

183. prone:

the

case

FOR

and

should

Malone

commentators.

"

to

prospect,

"

takes

it to

and White,
humble
significant,
expressive ; Steevens
;
Nares,
sive
ready ; Clarke,
deferential,gently submisprompt,
"affectionate".
Hudson
it
; Hunter,
(Harvard ed.) makes
signify apt, ready, prompt," and adds :
The
meaning of the
is an apt and silent eloquence in her
to be, There
seems
passage
looks such as moves
men.'
Upon Davenant's
change of the word
"

mean

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

'

"

"sweet,"

to

Steevens

difficulties to
time

of

us

remarks

that

it shows

difficulties to

were

him, who,

Shakespeare, might be supposed

language

"that

living

have

to

what

appear

nearer

understood

the
his

intimately."

more

Scene
"

dribbling:

Dribble,"

III.
"

is a diminutive
of
Richardson,
do a thing by drips or
to
drib, from
drip, and means
drops."
The
of
is
Thus
in
ineffective.
sense
dribbling,therefore,
trifling,
Holland's
there
mishes
Howbeit,
passed some
Livy :
dribbling skirbetween
the rearward
of the Carthaginians and the vauntSo also in Milton's Apology for Smeccouriers of the Romans."
For
small
temptations allure but dribbling offenders !
tymnus :
in archery, Ascham,
in his ToxRespecting the use of the term
who, having learned to shoot well, neglects to
ophilus, says of one
He
shall become, of a fayre archer, a
practise with the bow :
2.

"

says

"

"

"

"

Starke

dribber."

and

squyrter

complete
the first syllable.

bosom

3.

Who

41-43.

To

has

yet
do

my

ambush

and

in the

Poet's

apparently

his action

would

This

"

Accented

often

nature

been

reading of the

is the

printed thus
in the

never

on

"

sight

it slander."

been

purpose

completely armed.

words

have

bosom

slander:
.

passage

"And

The

"

may

original. The

strike

is to avoid

expose

home

mind.

him

As
any
to

show
the
open

text

image of

stands,
with

contest

slander;
140

the

not

to

fight to
the speaker's
a

crime, where

let his person

be

MEASURE

fight,where

in the

seen

of detraction

and

Notes

MEASURE

FOR

he

would

have

make
the

forth

story:

your

virtues
the

of

"

sack.
"

meaning

IV.
Such

"

It ascends

Make

is,
fiction." Malone
changed the passage
story"; which, surely, renders
your
So

reading of the original;

is the

in the well-known

being expletive,as

me

the

that

not

me

do, In the face

to

censure.

Scene
30.

work,

to

not

me

your

thus

setting
brain," etc.

passage

the

into

tale, invent
Sir, mock

not

"

Lucio's

your

not,

me

reply, 'tis true,

"

very

unapt.
bird
diverts pursuers
lapwing: This
The
flutteringand crying in other places.
her nest," is an
old proverb.
farthest from
of Errors, IV. ii. 2y, 28:
32.

"

"

her

from

nest
by
lapwing cries most,

So

in

The

do

curse."

Comedy

"

"

Far

from

her

My

heart

prays

lapwing cries ?-.way

for him, though my
tongue
the

nest

resemble
and
Campaspc : "You
again, in Lyly's Alexander
and
her nest
is not ;
where
the lapwing, who
cryeth most
so, to
Timolove
for
from
lead me
Campaspe, you
espying your
cry
So

clea."
51,

52. Bore

in hand:
.

"

To

bear

is to

in hand

carry

along with one, or lead along with false hopes or expectations.

The
phrase is frequent in Shakespeare. So in 2 Henry IV., I.
ii.:
A rascallyyea-forsooth knave ! to bear a gentleman in hand,
and then stand upon
security!
That
62. to give fear to use, etc.:
is, to put the restraint of
"

"

"

fear

licentious

upon

abused

and

custom

SECOND.

ACT

Scene
6, fall: A
"

make

fall,or

causative
let fall.

etc.
now,
15. which
to be required
seems
"

To

"

"

means

Shakespeare.
complete the sense

so

which

Shakespeare frequentlyuses

I.

here, fall

verb

Often

freedom.

to

throw

down,

in

now

you

of

censure

expressions.
elliptical
141

him

this

line

for."

for
But

Notes

MEASURE

65. she professes

hot-house.

baths

Hot-houses

but

Jwt-Jiouse:

under

Professes,

"

bagnios

were

this

FOR

other

name

MEASURE
pretends,

or

with

suppHed

accommodations

keep

to

vapour-

often

were

furnished.
distant:

92.

distant

uses

Pompey,

"

trick

of

speech, here

for instant.

All-hallond

129.

catching Elbow's

eve:

The

"

of (evening before) All

eve

Saints

day.
131.
a

chair:

lower

lozver

choir, that

Most

"

sick

in the
"

Poet's

chamber

time.

called

the

So

the

"

in the

Will

Half-moon.

Half -moon

had

called
formerly what was
of
chair, designed for the comfort
easy
occupied by lazy ones.
Such
often given to rooms
were
names

is,an

people, and sometimes

of Grapes:
132. Bunch

houses

and

of Henry
In

the

35, ^6. let it he his fault, etc.

die, but let not him suffer.

fine the faults :

To

"

for

provided
85. of season

in the

read

we

IV., H.

iv.

of

tioned
men-

are

{Pomegranate).

Pomgarnet

Scene

40.

Henry

Harte,

II.
That

"

the

punish

is, let
faults

my

whose

brother's

fault

is

punishment

law.

In proper

fit.
or
they are mature
in a glass :
Alluding to the magic glasses or mirrors
95. Looks
of fortune-tellers
and
witches, whereby they professed to reveal
See Macbeth,
IV. i. for the use
of such a glass
the future.
made
the
Weird
Sisters.
by
:

"

; when

season

"

^ shoiu

100-104.
"

that
122,

that

When

there

123.

it most, etc.:
I find myself

is

zvith

spleens, etc.
of the

in

swayed

likewise

mercy

our

peculiar'turn

So

"

human

"

to

Matthew

mercy,

Hale's
let

morials
Me-

ber
remem-

me

country."
By spleens Shakespeare

due
:

Sir
the

to

mind, which

inclines

it to

meant

ful
spiteangels that, they would
of their immortality, by indulging a passion
out
laugh themselves
of
that prerogative.
unworthy
skins
the
vice o' the top :
Shakespeare has used this metn136.
phor again in Hamlet, III. iv. : "It will but skin and fihn the
the Poet
ulcerous
does
use
place." Only in these two
passages
and

unseasonable

Had

mirth.

the

"

the verb
"

142.

skin.
Such

157. Heaven

sense

keep

as

breeds
your

response

honour

safe!

"

in my
mind."
Isabella
prays

that

his

MEASURE
honour

FOR

MEASURE

be safe, meaning

may

is caught

by the word

therefore

says

only

her

to

his title : his mind

give him

feels that

he

honour,

to

amen

Notes

it is in danger, and

benediction.

petition of the Lord's Prayer,

into temptation," is here regarded as
Lead
not
us
crossing or
in which
intercepting the way
Angelo is going : he is exposing
himself to temptation by the appointment for the morrow's
ing.
meetThe passage
is thus explained by Heath-:
For I am
ing
labourunder
a
kind, that
temptation of that peculiar and uncommon
and every
other act of piety and virtue, tend to inflame,
prayers,
it was
instead of allaying it.' For
the very
piety and virtue of
Where

159.

prayers

cross:

The

"

"

"

Isabella

that gave
This
evils:

172.

IL

"

"

i.:

build

Nor

edge

an

'

the lust of Angelo."

to

privies is used

term

for

their

evils

the

on

again in Henry
of great

graves

VIII.,

men."

No

could

the aggravated profligacy of

more
language
forcibly express
The
of
desecration
edifices devoted
to religion,
Angelo's passion.
of nature, was
an
by converting them to the most
abject purposes
of expressing contempt.
method
See 2 Kings x, 27.
eastern

Scene
36. There
that

frame

rest

There

"

stand

III.
remain

or

Scene
3. Invention:

plays. So

keep yourself in

; or,

of mind.

in
"

term

Henry
O

for

The

for

imagination is found
V., L, Prologue, Chorus :

This

"

IV.
in

other

"

of fire,that would

muse

ascend

of invention."

brightest heaven

tinguishe
Shakespeare judiciously disseeming!
different
the different operations of high place upon
Fools
minds.
allured.
Those
who
are
frighted and wise men
cannot
judge but by the eye are easily awed
by splendor; those
well
who
consider
conditions, are
men
as
as
easily persuaded to
love the appearance
of virtue dignifiedwith power.
12-15.

place,

"

17. the devil's crest:

in the
The
on

it,the emblem

it is not

in

wearer

devil's horn

no

the

manner

The

"

crest

such, for

often

was

example,

as

emblematic
his

of

ancestral
"

is the devil's crest; but if we

write
good
is overlooked
in the
false seeming"; we
"

devil's horn, because

emblematic

of him.
143

itself tells

us

thing
somename.

angel

"

think

otherwise, and

is

MEASURE

Notes

FOR

MEASURE

people or multitude subject to a king.

The play
So in Hamlet, II. ii.:
pleased not the million;
It
is
caviare
the
'twas
to
general."
supposed that Shakespeare, in
The

27.

The

general:

"

"

and in one
this passage,
before, I. ii.,intended
of James I.,which
made
him
kingly weakness
flocked

that

crowds

by

them

46-49. 'tis all

murder

is

would

draw

as

to

un-

impatient of the
his first coming, that he restrained

at

so

proclamation.

as

etc.

easy,

The

"

fornication

as

easy

him,

see

flatter the

to

it is

is, that

the inference

; and

which

the

pardon

to

wrong

as

is, apparently, that

thought

Angelo

latter

the

as

former.

56. give
diff"erent

Isabel

"

the

uses

give

words

body in

my

"

my

die

Angelo. Her meaning is, I had rather

eternal
happiness by the prostitution of

than

sense

forfeit

than

body

my

my

person."
compell'd sins,
58. our
however
compelled to,
numerous,

etc.

57,

"

imputed

not

are

to

that

we

are

by heaven

us

crimes.

as

79. The

masks

probably
a

is, actions

That

At

meant.

of similar

passage
"

by female

worn

These

beginning
import :

are

we

here
have

"

that kiss fair ladies'

happy masks

in the loss

of Romeo

the

Being black, put

90.

of the play
and Juliet

spectators

in mind

us

is,conversation

That

of question:

"

brows,

they hide the fair."

that tends

to

nothing.
123.

121,

The

word

note

in

let my
brother die,etc. : A very obscure
passage.
old manuscript
this is adopted by Mr. Collier from
an
Else

"

belonging

of the first Folio

copy

to

Lord

Francis

still obscure,

Egerton.
good

makes

though
change,
passage,
have
brother
no
If
all frail if my
not
:
we
are
sense
enough
of
tenure
feodary, that is,no companion, one holding by the same
frailty if he alone be found to omni and succeed to this weakness
With

this

the

"

"

"

then

"

men

let him

127. men
debase

She
145-147.

die."

their creation
their

licentiousness,which
162.
"

calls

virtue,

prolixious

on

sweet, reluctant,amorous

Heaven

etc. :

"

meaning

:"

to

Your

natural

is not

blushes

The

"

appears

delay."
144

be, that
ness.
weak-

assist them.

virtue

to you,

What

to

of women's

by taking advantage

natures

therefore
your

mar:

Milton

on

an

assumes

purpose

has

to

try

air

of

me.

elegantly called

FOR

MEASURE

Notes

MEASURE

ACT

THIRD.

Scene

bore

relates

Douce

stage.
a

like

being habited

filled with

long

also

peas

paintings the

tongues

barbed

point of

like the

to

as

of

one

fool

the

of Death,

was

his victim.

last became

at

thing

serpent.

or

speare
Shakewith

wounds

serpent

his

tapestries and
always appear

is forked.
In old
tongue
of serpents
and
dragons

his

that

woodcut,
which

in

sented
repre-

painted

so

buffeting him with a

small pebbles. In all such
perform
or
have been, that the fool, after struggling

is put for any

creeping
adopts the vulgar error, that a
and

vest

Death

that

person

old

an

Death,

17. Worm

tongue,

the

black

had

of

fair,in which

clown;

close

at

the

figured on

once

his adversary, and

the rule appears

to
against the stratagems

ances,

play

a
or

Dance

representing
with
engaged in combat
bladder

in

Douce
the

series

seen

fool

that

personages

having

skeleton.

were

by

part, attended
Death

look

his fool

and

Death

II.

I.

arrow.

an

exquisitely imagined. When

for sucin forming schemes
ceeding
are
we
we
busy ourselves
young,
before us ; when
that are
time, and miss the gratifications
recollection of
of
with
the
the
old, we
are
languor
we
amuse
age
life,of which
youthful pleasures or performances ; so that our
34.

no

Dreaming

both

on

part is filled with

our

dreams

after

the

This

:
"

is

business

of the

dinner, when

the

time, resembles

present
of

events

the

morning

are

of the

mingled
evening.
designs
In youth, which
is or
eld:
old
36. palsied
Trembling
age.
wants
to
means
commonly
ought to be the happiest time, man
obtain what he could enjoy; he is dependent on palsied eld; must
beg alms from the coffers of hoary avarice ; and, being very niggardly
like
old
becomes
looks
an
supplied,
man
on
as
aged,
piness
hapAnd
when
he is old and rich, when
he
beyond his reach.
has wealth
enough for the purchase of all that formerly excited
his desires, he has no longer the powers
of enjoyment.
with

the

"

determined
a
70. To
scope:
idea ; to ignominy, of which
one

suppressed nor
escaped.
79-81. the poor beetle,etc.
minds
detached

and

memories,
from

the

but

:
"

confinement

"

the

This

it most

antecedent

line
14s

remembrance

passage

frequently

stands

The

sense

mind

your

to

neither

can

beautiful

"
"

of

is in all
in

of death

be

our

quotation
is

most

in

FOR

MEASURE

Notes
apprehension ;"
The

death, which

has

struction.
opposite con-

an

the

; and

he

giant when

dies

in

feels

no

the beetle.

zuoiild

he

loi.

pain

no

it is liable to

which

is, that fear is the principal sensation

meaning

greater pain than

100,

without

MEASURE

'give'tthcc,

etc.:

might

this offence, you

of my

committing
safety."

"

Has

very

moment

lie affections,etc.

io8 et seq. Has

him to transgress

the law

at the

That

"

"

is, "from

persist in
he

the

sinning

time
with

passions that impel

that he is enforcing

be a sin so very
heinous,
Surely
against others?
it." Shakespeare shows
is so wise, will venture
since Angelo, who
of Claudio.
in the conduct
nature
his knowledge of human
This
is a standing
the delighted spirit,etc.:
passage
121-123.
and
"region of thick"fiery floods"
puzzle to commentators;
the last places to be
ribbed ice
being, as one would think, among
explanation is, that delighted
most
common
delighted in. The
the spiritthat has been
delighted, or is accustomed
spiritmeans
to delight.
So in Ben
ice:
Jonson's Catiline,
123. region of thick-ribbed
bloods
whole
in
I'ibs
are
We
I. i,:
ice,
our
of
are
spirit-bound
thaw
cannot
us;" and in Paradise Lost,
one
stone, and honour
it cannot

then

it

"

"

"

"

Book

ii.
"

"

raging fire,to

of

From

beds

Their

soft ethereal warmth,

275. grange
often kept for
was

with
room

"

stanza

one

"Her

She

tears

could

Either
After

She
And

in

the

dews

at

fell

the

dews

were

at

ere

look

morn

the sweet

on
or

The

which

even.

dried;
heaven,

eventide.

flittingof the bats.

thickest

drew

her

did trance

dark
casement

glanc'd athwart

the

146

curtain

the

sky,

by.

glooming

as

are

grange

dreary and
is wrought out

from

poem

such

The

grange

fell with

not

the

When

fire."

tears

Her

to

safety.

moated

at the

by Tennyson,

great power

and

defence

of Mariana

solitude

for but

for

back

large farm-house,
by wealthy citizens.

residence

moated

pine

to

was

grange

summer

sometimes

desolate

there

round,

hurried

of time ; thence

Periods

and

frozen

and

Immovable-infix'd,

in ice

starve

flats

we

have

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE
'

only said, The

She
He

Cometh

is

poem

fitted to

so

am

"

said;

aweary,

that

given

not,' she

said, I

I would
whole

night is dreary

'

She

The

Notes

aweary

dead

were

'

"

specimen in the art of creating imagery

of feeling as
to reproduce the feeling

rare

tone

itself.

i8,

picklock :

housebreaker

wear

41.
42.

His

no

you

to

he

had

take

occasion

pick

for

Spanish

were

threatens

will be
for

tied, like

are

his

make

to

from

scemliness.

waist, with

your

cord.

The

girdle.
none
of Pygmalion's images, etc. : That is,have
fresh as
as
Pygmalion's living statue, to
courtesans,
rope

is there

new

to

"

customers?

your

59. in the tub :

grossly called the

The

"

keep

Pompey

honest
to

strange contrivances.
free from
faults as faults

is,as

recommend

74.

necessary

of these

48.

locks

II.

Jonson's Volpone, Corvino

neck

wore

47,

In
one

That

friar

the

padlocks.
wife

It is not

"

Scene

That

"

for

cure

certain

disease

was

tub.

powdering

the house:

of

method

is, stay

at

home,

alluding

to

the

mology
ety-

of husband.
clack-dish

134.

had
show

Lepers

and

"

movable

that it

This

which

cover,

It

empty.

was

other

dish, formerly carried

wooden

was

one

deemed

paupers

by beggars,
clattered to
or
they clacked
of attractingattention.
mode
infectious
originally used it,

that the sound

might give warning not to approach too near, and

alms be given wnthout
touching the object.
144. "The
greater Hie," the majority of his subjects.
184. ungenitured : That is, unfathered, not begotten after the
of nature
with what
Lucio
of
ordinary course
; in accordance
says
"

him

192.

little before.
mutton

"

wench

Faustus, 1604, Lechery

mutton

better

than

an

called

was
"

says,

am

one

ell of stock-fish."

laced

mutton.

that loves
See

the

an

Tzvo

In
inch

Doctor
of

raw

Gentlemen

of Verona, I. i.
The
allusion
is to those
legal securities into
242. security:
which
for each
For
this
other.
to enter
fellowship leads men
has
He
that
hateth
quibble Shakespeare
high authority :
ship
surety"

"

is sure."

"

Proverbs, xi. 15.

147

MEASURE

Notes
264. resolved:
leads

decision

to

That

"

or

FOR

MEASURE

is, satisfied;probably because

conviction

resolution.

this pasColeridge, in his Literary Remains, remarks

upon
sage
but
better
would
Worse
Grace
metre
indeed,
be,
English
:
to stand, virtue to go.'
Duke's
be explained by what
vice may
he
vice :
The
286. my
'Twas
fault to give the people scope."
himself, I. iii.:
my
says
Angelo's vice requires no explanation.
This passage,
etc. :
though rather
287 et seq. O, zvhat may man,
consider
that the
in itself,is intelligible
dark
we
enough, when
speaker has Angelo in his mind ; who, bad as he is, has by his
hypocrisy managed to raise himself as high as merit could lift him.
the same
Likeness
meaning here as what the
apparently has much
calls
So that the passage
elsewhere
Poet
virtuous-seeming."
thus : How
be rendered
seeming virtue, unsubstantial
may
may
the times draw
it is, and wickedly put on, by practising upon
as
and
itself the greatest of earthly honours
emoluments, even
to
crime
!
in
it
while
is rioting
280.

'

"

"

"

*'

"

"

FOURTH.

ACT

I.

Scene

It does

et seq.

not

certain

appear

to

this beautiful little

whom

in
additional stanza
with
an
rightly belongs. It is found
Malone
prints it as Shakespeare's,
Fletcher's
Bloody Brother.
song

thinks

Boswell

Shakespeare
second.

may

It may
author.

Fletcher

indeed

the

person

to

forgiveness: It was
before proceeding to
"

be

83. Stroke

that

it, Weber

to

first stanza,
be the property of some

written

have

Fletcher

and

unknown

or

the
gotten
for-

II.

Scene
S3, ask

claim

best

the

has

formerly the

for

custom

his office,to ask

an

forgivenessof

cutioner,
exe-

the

executed.
is here

put for the stroke

of

pen,

or

line.

is,nine years in prison.

have
should read mortally desperate; d^s we
151. Perhaps we
pest.
Temin The
harmonious
charmingly for charmingly harmonious
135.

prisoner nine

years

oW

:"

That

148

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

163. in the boldness

of my
sagacity.
186. bared:
receive

the

This

The

star:

that

star

Now

So

the

Milton

bids
of

top

et

affords

This

scq.
a

enumeration

striking view

very

Shakespeare's

Besides

age.

in Corniis:

to

"

shepherd fold

the

heaven

Scene

is, in the confidence

practice of desiring
they died.

to

before

monks
"

That

"

probably alludes

unfolding
"

cunning:

my

of the

tonsure

the

213.

"

of

Notes

hold."

doth

III.
the

of

prison

of

the

inhabitants

of

the

practices predominant

those

whose

follies

in
to

common

are

It is not
fighting
then known.
Rash
unlikely that the originalsof the pictures were
acteristic.
charsilken stuff formerly worn
in coats ; all the names
was
a
are
all times,

four

have

we

and

men

traveller.

practice of moneylenders
in Shakespeare's time, as well as more
recently,to make
The
to
advances
goods were
partly in goods and partly in cash.
and
loss upon
the cost price,
be resold generally at an
enormous
of these commodities
it appears
that brozvn paper and ginger often
If
formed
In Greene's Defence of Coney-catching, 1592:
a part.
he borrow
hundred
pound, he shall have forty in silver,and
a
in wares
threescore
paper."
lute-strings,
hobby-horses, or brown
as
ancient
It
from
an
Epigram,
21.
for the Lord's sake:
appears
confined
who
the language in which
that this was
were
prisoners
Good
for debt addressed
:
gentle writers, for the
passengers
Lord's
sake, like Ludgate prisoners, lo, I,
sake, for the Lord's
Pierce
in Nash's
mone."
And
Penniless,
begging, make
my
and thus
in
the
"At
that
time
that
were
fleeting,
thy joys
1593:
crying for the Lord's sake out of an iron window."
is, to the people dwelling on the earth below.
91. That
weal-balanc'd
The
well-balanced
original has
102.
form:
indeed
form
possibly be right, referring to the state
; which
may
is so far-fetched and
balanc'd for the public weal; but this sense
improbable, that it can scarcely be the Poet's.
That
is, he depends not on them.
164. lives not in them:
6. brozvn

paper

ginger

It

"

was

the

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

166. zvoodman
a

wanton

Falstaff

"

for

sense

asks

his

zvoedman
a

hunter

mistresses

was

of
in

The
149

hunter.

It is here

different

sort

Merry

Wives

of

game.

in

used

So,

of Windsor:

Notes

MEASURE

"Am

woodman?

s'prung from

the

Fletcher's

and

Ha!"
of

see

Your

deer

have

may

in Beaumont

as

John,

and

woodman,

choose

can

IV.

rank.
This

"

Yet reason
commonly printed thus :
dares her? no;
for my
in
which
dares has
case
authority," etc.;
the sense
of prompt,
challenge, or call forth, as in i Henry IV.,
27,

V.

her

word

deer, though it be i' the dark."

Figure and
dares

dear;

Well, well, son

Scene
i8.

and

the

"

are

you

of

use

MEASURE

Chances, I. viii. :
"

This

consonance

play, The

FOR

no

"

is

ii.:"
"

Unless
To

"Does

reason

reason

brother

her

move

clear

meaning enough.
original. Nor is ^he
printed. For dare, used
has, the effect to keep or

to

one

"

should

it."' So
reason

say

the

bids

her

text
not

expressed by

no

dare

it.

do

not

Chances,
"

as

dissuade

we

Thus,

one

to

give
me";

well

threatens
in

from

and

Beaumont

it stands

as

and

in

as

there

have, and

often

doing

strike me,
and
it the sense
the

the

passage

less clear

transitively,may

expose

reason

much

him

dare

drawings of
certainlyyields an apt and
No;

"

give the

we

sense

I dared

"

in

which

Yet

the

me?

expose
"

way

brother

ancf proof of arms."

gentle exercise

all the other

are

should

he

apt

thing;

durst

as

not

is

"

if
do

Yet

plainly
bidding being
"

effect of that

her,

overawes

and

Fletcher's

that

so

she

play, The

III. iv. :

"

His

sister that you

As

nam'd

'tis true

I have

long lov'd,

true, I have
I have a child

Or

any

Suffer
I

wear

enjoy'd her; no less truth,

by her : but that she, or he,
of that family, are
tainted.
disgrace, or ruin, by my pleasures,
no."
sword
to satisfythe world
a

So also in A Wife
is,to satisfythe world that 'tis not so.
"I'm
he did not, for I
authors:
sure
for a Month, by the same
charged him no"; that is, charged him not to do it. But indeed
this use
The
of no
is not uncommon
in the old writers.
of after
For my
:
bears, in the next line, seems
a
to have
partitivesense
authority carries so much
of weight," etc.
That

"

150

MEASURE

FOR

MEASURE

ACT

Notes

FIFTH.
Scene

64,65. do

66. Let

That
be

Macbeth

more

to

discover

to

germane

it

the

the

The

meaning

I speak

pears
ap-

ently
inconsist-

in Hamlet:

as

"The

phrase

in this

stands

So in
place for deception or pucde.
and
stii-abuse
this strange
; meaning
"

Garden-houses

formerly much
places of clandestine
meeting and

as

it lies

truth, where

true.

seems

matter;
to the matter."

My strange
of
deception
myself.
used

because

mad

the false,where

"

212.

me

serve

is, suited

Abuse

205.

suppose

reason

your

to refute

hid, and
would

not

unequally."

or

90.

Do

inequality:
"

be,

to

banish

not
"

I.

were

in fashion, and

intrigue. They

often
were

should
call summer-houses,
now
chiefly such buildings as we
in
walled
enclosed
in
the
suburbs
of London.
a
or
garden
standing
So in The
236. Informal signifiesout of their senses.
Comedy
of him
To
make
of Errors, V. i :
a
formal man
again." The
speaker had just before said that she would
keep Antipholus of
like
who
is
till
she had brought
a
Syracuse,
madman,
behaving
him to his right wits again.
is one
280. light: This
of the words
which
on
Shakespeare
Portia, in The Merchant
delights to quibble. Thus
of Venice:
Let me
but
let
be
not
me
give light,
light.''
Provincial
is
to
a
318.
pertaining
province; most
usually taken
for the circuit of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The
chief or head
of any
called the provinreligious order in such a province was
cial,
"

"

"

to

whom

alone

the

barber's

members

of that

order

were

accountable.

Barbers'

shops were
anciently
time in an
idle manner.
passing away
of enforcing some
kind of regularity,and perhaps as much
By way
to
drinking, certain laws
were
usually hung up, the
promote
of
which
be
to
was
transgression
punished by specificforfeits',
323,324.

places of great

which

were

shop,

in mock

authority of himself
of

ludicrous

Fair

we

have

to

as

enforce

mark, because the barber had no

them, and also because
they were

nature.

be hanged

359.
is a line in

"

for

resort

much

as

etc.:

an

old

an

"

hour!

"

madrigal.

Leave

"What,
And

Piper ho! be hang'd awhile,"

in Ben
Jonson's Bartholomew

the bottle behind

151

you,

and

be curst

awhile."

MEASURE

Notes

FOR

is,be hang'd,be curst; azvJiile being, like

That

merely a vulgar expletive.

That is,"a
396. rash remonstrance:
should
read
c?^monstrance
Perhaps we
"

from

formed

That

400.

like

phrase

hour

an

premature
but

the

in the text,

display" of it.
word

may

be

French, to shozv again.

remonstrer,
brain' d my
still use
in conversation
purpose : We
"
that knocked
design on the head.''
my
"

415. Measure
expression for
"

MEASURE

still for

measure

retributive

justice. So

have

to

appears

in 3

be answered."

been

current

Henry VI., II. vi. :

Perhaps the proverb

must
for Measure
With
what
it shall
the
measure
Scripture
ye mete,
grew
be measured
to you
again."
That
is,"To deny which
417. though thou zi'ouldst deny, etc.:
will avail thee nothing."
in mercy
That
this
:
is, to beg for mercy
on
438. kneel down

Measure

"

from

"

"

"

act.

or

443-445. best men

often
Providence

in Airs

Well
if

that
faults

bad:
.

uses

Ends

"

On

the

principle that Nature

down
our
pride ; as

vices to scourge
Well, IV. iii.: "Our

our

not."

them

virtues

would

be

our
whipp'd
proud,
be
must
buried, etc. : Like the traveller,who dies on
456, 457.
his journey, is obscurely interred, and thought of no more.
That
worth
is, "her value is equal to
501. her worth
yours:
of
is not unworthy
you."
; the match
yours
"

"

152

FOR

MEASURE

MEASURE

Questions

for Measure.

Measure
is the

What

on

first printed record

play? Is there any

that it was
evidence
facts
What
produced in Shakespeare's day?
used to fix the probable date of the play?
are
the Italian and English sources
of the plot. What
2. Indicate
much
time is employed in the
part is wholly Shakespeare's? How
action of the play?
it take place on
consecutive
days?
3. Does
the
Mention
attributive
that
epithets
Shakespeare affixes to
4.
1.

of the dramatis

some

the nature, in the

to

as

What

personse.

tribute does

office does

what

take

do you

this to indicate

FIRST.

the Duke

to

pay

Escalus's

How

invest Angelo?

he

the

main, of the play?

ACT
5. What

of

are

the

talents?

With

two

to

men

be

associated?

opinion of Angelo?" what is the Duke's?

keynote of Angelo's first speech?

6. What

is Escalus's

7. What

is the

8. In

what

condition

view

9. What
escort
10.

How

do

time

is

11.

the

Give

pitch

of

of the

out

characterize

likelyto have

your

State?

Is he

to

during his absence?

the Duke
give in declining an

does

himself

leave the

city?

you

that

Duke

the

functions

all duties and

renounce

What

does

inference
is taken

Sc. i. as

contributoryto

the

plot?

elapsed between Scenes i. and ii.?

concerning the spiritof the play from

in Sc. ii. before

the

entrance

of

Mistress

Overdone.
12.

the

What

Nurse

13. To

of

trait of
of Romeo

indicate
a

virtue

heels of his

allies her

character
and

with

Mistress

Quickly;

Juliet, etc.?

Shakespeare's breadth

of Claudio's

do

we

besettingvice?
153

find

of

tolerance, what

following close

upon

tion
men-

the

MEASURE

Questions
14. What

edict does

this whole

Pompey report?
between
Pompey and

passage

administration

15. Of Angelo's
is its moral
implication?

quality of Hamlet's
17. Explain the
does
Juliet. What
In

their case?
18. What

case?

of

we

see?

What

something of the

between

Claudio

and

Claudio

does

Isabella

is thus

that

not

Duke's

that

will
expect
underestimated?

dribbling dart

the

he

as

purposes

aid

his

of love

describes

can

them,

to

as

plaining
ex-

Thomas.
Which

21.

of the

motives, that the Duke

two

his aloofness, do
is the

What

22.

Francisca

when

say

consider

you

the

subject of conversation

Lucio

of the Duke's

of

advances
with

stronger
between

him?

Isabella

and

What

does

in Sc. iv. ?

enters

indictment

What

23.

he

Overdone.

do

of the

Isabella

in detail the

Give

of

comedy

legal act
was
applied
say
light does Angelo's rigor place himself?

what

Explain,
pierce a complete bosom.
Friar

Mistress

relation

the

Claudio

Believe

19.

of

nature

find that

we

the

out

first act

what

MEASURE

nature?

traits

Do

20.

Point

Claudio, in his first speech, suggest

16. Does

to

FOR

Angelo

action?

does

What

Lucio

was

make?

evidently Lucio's

social

standing?
24.
arts

Lucio

Does
that

by

convey

Isabella

should

of

the arrangement

inversion

of Scenes

Escalus

does

applicationof

the

in

suggesting the

effect is
Angelo?
in this Act, instead of the
What

scenes

duced
prosible
pos-

iii.?

ii.and

SECOND.

ACT
25. How

of Claudio

the message
with
use

advise

(Sc. i.) concerning the

gelo's
What
irony is there in An-

Angelo

Claudio?

law

to

that

follows

reply?
26. Is the
Elbow

scene

compare

in humour

with

with

Elbow

Dogberry

too

How

long?

in Much

Ado

does
About

do you
Pompey's
see
Shakespearian humour
live?
zvould
that
a poor
fellow
that
in this scene
There
is
evidently a dramatic purpose
27.
of Angelo's
is it? Speaking in extenuation
travesties justice; what
looks
that
so.
oft
severity,Escalus says, Mercy is not itself
this.
Interpret
in Sc. ii.
28. How
is the thought of pardoning Claudio managed
in

What
Nothing?
I
Truly, sir, am

"

154

MEASURE
so

to

as

FOR
in

grow

MEASURE

intensity and

Questions
take

to

its

place

as

part of the

justiceof things?
29.

What

is the temper of
it be said to contain the very
30. Explain lines 74-79.
31.

When

does

Angelo's speech (Sc. iii.37-41) ? May

kernel of the play?

justice become

How

pity in Angelo's philosophy?

ground that Angelo took too

near
right was
?
high for human
to stand
agency
upon
in Isabella's pleading
turn
32. By what

he?

reconsider

Claudio's

33. Was
the

it to

Is the

was

Angelo

won

to

case?
his

tated
injured self-pridethat Angelo medidoes Angelo himself
damage to Isabella's chastity? How
think his temptation comes?
while adding little to the action, yet adds what
34. Sc. iii.,
to the
stand for the overruling Providence?
plot? Does the Duke
the speech of Angelo
(Sc. iv.) with the prayer35. Compare
of the King in Hamlet.
What
is the difference
scene
between
a
whose
conscience
is
man
whose
weighted with a crime and one
mind is preoccupied with a crime to be committed?
here helps to establish the date of the
36. What
passage
play?
in lines 35, 36?
Is there honesty in
37. Angelo implies what
Angelo's apostrophe to these filthyvices (line 43 et seq.) ?
Isabella of craft in not following his
38. When
Angelo accuses
meaning, is he not himself employing craft to lead her into a trap?
Why could not
39. Did Angelo add cruelty to his other traits?
Isabella denounce
for
what
he
is?
Angelo
avenge

ACT

THIRD.

is the general tenor

40. What
in the beginning of Act
What

41.

III.?

What

is the

reflection
Is it the

42.

to

43.

make

of the Duke's

Does

logue
mono-

anything in Hamlet

man

in Isabella's

purpose

of herself
real

Claudio

the

44. How
leaves the

who

repeats
in Claudio?

see

you

speech of

hereafter.
of

do

she

as

breaks

down

delay in coming
it to

later and

Claudio?

bella
begs Isa-

the sacrifice ?

Compare
the

upon

dramatic

point of Angelo's demand,

the

the

temper

it for bitterness?

match

to

and

and

senses

do

How

you

the

account

do

Claudio

with

they show
of

man

for

155

difference

reflection
between

thought?

the

stage?

the

Hamlet's

words

with

which

Claudio

MEASURE

Questions
45. How
46. What

(Sc.

the Duke

does

Pompey's

MEASURE

solve the difficulty?

intended
Shakespeare have

undertake

allusions

covert

ii.)in

FOR
to

may

speech of the "two

usuries"?

it been
47. Had
he have gone
would

Claudio, instead of Lucio, who

was
asked,
bail for Pompey ?
Shakespeare intend
48. Does
"poetic justice" in the Scene
Lucio
where
berates the Duke
for
to his face, thus punishing him
his masquerading?
the reflections of the Duke
acter
(lines 196 et seq) in char49. Are
?
50.

What

motive

had

for wishing

Escalus

of

51.

Angelo's sentence
upon
Analyze the thought of the

concludes

mitigate the

to

verity
se-

Claudio?

speech with

which

the

Duke

this Act.

ACT

FOURTH.

is the emotional

52. What

effect of the song

with

which

the Act

of the
Compare this episode with Tennyson's "Mariana
what
is
internal
and
the
of
the
two.
Grange,"
harmony
say
time
What
the
and
occasion
in
do
the
t
o
suitability
see
53.
you
it with
beginning with line 60?
Compare
speech of the Duke
Act in. Sc. ii. 196-200.
turned
become
less repelor
Pompey
more
hangman
lent
54. Does

opens?
Moated

than

he

before?

was

of leading up to the point, is the

through the manner
How
keener?
does
Angelo's letter (line 123) made
affect
one's
of
it
feelingabout the character
Angelo?
From
the
Barnardine
what
56.
episode
impression does one
of the Duke's
government?
get of the nature
of events
does the
change in the natural evolution
57. What
Duke
introduce
what
in Sc. ii.? Through
supporting authority is
55. How,
surprise of

he able to effect this?

58. What
picture of prison life do you
conditions?
picture of contemporaneous
59.

Duke's

How

audience

masquerading

60. What
Moated

is the

part

Grange

61. How
62. What

of

does

of

the

to

action

aware

Was

the

term

of

the

place

at

the

that

it

close?
of

the

play takes

Mariana?
himself?
the tables upon
episodic value of Sc. iv. ?

Lucio

is the

is about

made

find in Sc. iii.?

turn

63. Explain the reflections of Angelo

156

beginning with

line

21.

MEASURE

FOR

64. What

MEASURE

preparationsfor the

Questions
of Act

events

V.

made

are

in the

fourth Act ?

ACT
the train of

65. Recount

FIFTH.
events

66. Is the interest abated

becomes

artificial,and

67. Is there
and

Mariana

controlled

still an

interest

by the Duke

derived

only partly understand

68. How

does

Angelo

they develop in the fifth Act.

of the play

as

by the fact that the action

bear

from

the

the purposes
under
the

up

deus

as

machina?

ex

fact that

Isabella

of the Duke?

uncovering

of

his

crimes?

69. Does

it

hardship that Lucio alone of all the evil-doers

has to suffer punishment?
Shakespeare not insisted upon
70. Had
turning the play into a
comedy,

how

even

action

the

evidences

72. Mention
life.
73. Does
condemnable?

would

71. What
purpose,

seem

do

have

"run

on

to

natural

sion?
conclu-

throughout the play of a comic

though the elements dealt with are tragic?
the nobler side of
qualitiesin Lucio that count
on
you

see

Shakespeare find in Claudio any trait that is distinctly

What
is the complete impression that you
derive

of his character?
the appeal to mercy
74. Compare
with
that that Portia
mc-,kes to
differences

in

spiritand

that Isabella

Shylock

and

makes

to

Angelo
for

account

the

character.

of the Duke?
What
can
75. What
justice is there in
you
say
Lucio's
description of him as the fantasticalDuke
of dark corners
f

76. When

is it

first knew
of the story of
likely that the Duke
Mariana
and
How
consequently of Angelo's relation to her?
this
does
the point of his selectingAngelo to represent
bear upon

him?

is the
77. Which
78. Did the Duke
79. If not, what
Duke?
80. Is not
81. Does

more
ever

view

subtle character

"

the Duke

or

suspect Angelo?
thereby do you get of Angelo

Angelo?
and

of the

Angelo the greatest ironic conception of Shakespeare?

Shakespeare in this play often violate consistency of
157

MEASURE

Questions
character
"

for

notably

82. What

the

apparent

in the

is the

case

purpose

of the

difference

FOR
of

proving

MEASURE
a

moral

point
stand-

Duke?

between

moralizing and

treating

subject morally?
in other plays of
characters
83. Trace the affiliated humorous
Shakespeare.
is seen
effect (Jf contrast
between
the characters
of
84. What
Angelo and Isabella and the other people of the play? Which
stirs the sympathies?
more
group
85. Weigh internal evidences, comparing this with other plays
the development of such
and situations ; consider
to characters
as
a

character

the

plot,as

this drama

as

seen

Isabella; observe
in the last Act

in the

the arrest
; then

say

of natural

evolution

where

would

you

chronology of Shakespeare's works.

158

in

place