Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Measure For Measure (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene i
1: Actus primus, Scena prima.
2: [ Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords.]
3:
Duke.
4: Escalus.
5:
Esc.
My Lord.
6:
Duk.
Of Gouernment, the properties to vn-fold,
7: Would seeme in me t' affect speech & discourse,
8: Since I am put to know, that your owne Science
9: Exceedes (in that) the lists of all aduice
10: My strength can giue you: Then no more remaines
11: But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able,
12: And let them worke: The nature of our People,
13: Our Cities Institutions, and the Termes
14: For Common Iustice, y'are as pregnant in
15: As Art, and practise, hath inriched any
16: That we remember: There is our Commission,
17: From which, we would not haue you warpe; call hither,
18: I say, bid come before vs Angelo:
19: What figure of vs thinke you, he will beare.
20: For you must know, we haue with speciall soule
21: Elected him our absence to supply;
22: Lent him our terror, drest him with our loue,
23: And giuen his Deputation all the Organs
24: Of our owne powre: What thinke you of it?
25:
Esc.
If any in Vienna be of worth
26: To vndergoe such ample grace, and honour,
27: It is Lord Angelo.
28: [ Enter Angelo.]
29:
Duk.
Looke where he comes.
30:
Ang.
Alwayes obedient to your Graces will,
31: I come to know your pleasure.
32:
Duke.
Angelo:
33: There is a kinde of Character in thy life,
34: That to th' obseruer, doth thy history
35: Fully vnfold: Thy selfe, and thy belongings
36: Are not thine owne so proper, as to waste
37: Thy selfe vpon thy vertues; they on thee:
38: Heauen doth with vs, as we, with Torches doe,
39: Not light them for themselues: For if our vertues
40: Did not goe forth of vs, 'twere all alike
41: As if we had them not: Spirits are not finely touch'd,
42: But to fine issues: nor nature neuer lends
43: The smallest scruple of her excellence,
44: But like a thrifty goddesse, she determines
45: Her selfe the glory of a creditour,
46: Both thanks, and vse; but I do bend my speech
47: To one that can my part in him aduertise;
48: Hold therefore Angelo:
49: In our remoue, be thou at full, our selfe:
50: Mortallitie and Mercie in Vienna
51: Liue in thy tongue, and heart: Old Escalus
52: Though first in question, is thy secondary.
53: Take thy Commission.
54:
Ang.
Now good my Lord
55: Let there be some more test, made of my mettle,
56: Before so noble, and so great a figure
57: Be stamp't vpon it.
58:
Duk.
No more euasion:
59: We haue with a leauen'd, and prepared choice
60: Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors:
61: Our haste from hence is of so quicke condition,
62: That it prefers it selfe, and leaues vnquestion'd
63: Matters of needfull value: We shall write to you
64: As time, and our concernings shall importune,
65: How it goes with vs, and doe looke to know
66: What doth befall you here. So fare you well:
67: To th' hopefull execution doe I leaue you,
68: Of your Commissions.
69:
Ang.
Yet giue leaue (my Lord,)
70: That we may bring you something on the way.
71:
Duk.
My haste may not admit it,
72: Nor neede you (on mine honor) haue to doe
73: With any scruple: your scope is as mine owne,
74: So to inforce, or qualifie the Lawes
75: As to your soule seemes good: Giue me your hand,
76: Ile priuily away: I loue the people,
77: But doe not like to stage me to their eyes:
78: Though it doe well, I doe not rellish well
79: Their lowd applause, and Aues vehement:
80: Nor doe I thinke the man of safe discretion
81: That do's affect it. Once more fare you well.
82:
Ang.
The heauens giue safety to your purposes.
83:
Esc.
Lead forth, and bring you backe in happi-nesse.
84: [ Exit.]
85:
Duk.
I thanke you, fare you well.
86:
Esc.
I shall desire you, Sir, to giue me leaue
87: To haue free speech with you; and it concernes me
88: To looke into the bottome of my place:
89: A powre I haue, but of what strength and nature,
90: I am not yet instructed.
91:
Ang.
'Tis so with me: Let vs with-draw together,
92: And we may soone our satisfaction haue
93: Touching that point.
94:
Esc
Ile wait vpon your honor. [ Exeunt.]