my head for nothing; and that that I did, I was set on to do't by sir Toby. Vio. Why do you speak to me? I never hurt you: You drew your sword upon me, without cause; But I bespake you fair, and hurt you not. Sir And. If a bloody coxcomb be a hurt, you have hurt me; I think, you set nothing by a bloody corcomb. Enter Sir Toby Belch, drunk, led by the Clown. Here comes Sir Toby halting, you shall hear more: but if he had not been in drink, he would have tickled you othergates than he did. Duke. How now, gentleman? how is't with you? Sir To. That's all one; he has hurt me, and there's the end on't.-Sot, did'st see Dick surgeon, sot? All the occurrence of my fortune since [To Viola. Thou never should'st love woman like to me. Give me thy hand; Clo. O he's drunk, sir Toby, an hour agone; his Oli. Away with him: Who hath made this ha- Sir And. I'll help you, sir Toby, because we'll be dressed together. Sir To. Will you help? an ass-head, and a coxcomb, and a knave; a thin-faced knave, a gull ? Oli. Get him to bed, and let his hurt be look'd to. [Exeunt Clown, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. Enter Sebastian. Vio. The captain, that did bring me first on shore, A most extracting frenzy of mine own [man; Seb. I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your persons; A natural perspective, that is, and is not. How hase the hours rack'd and tortur'd me, Ant. Sebastian are you? two Fear'st thou that, Antonio ? Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian Clo. Truly, madam, he holds Belzebub at the stave's end, as well as a man in his case may do: he has here writ a letter to you, I should have given it you to-day morning; but as a madman's epistles are no gospels, so it skills not much, when they are delivered. Oli, Open it, and read it. Clo. Look then to be well edified, when the fool delivers the madman:-By the Lord, madam,Oli. How now! art thou mad? Clo. No, madam, I do but read madness: an your ladyship will have it as it ought to be, you must allow vox. Oli. Pr'ythee, read i'thy right wits. Clo. So I do, madonna; but to read his right wits, is to read thus: therefore perpend, my prin?cess, and give ear. Seb. Do I stand there? I never had a brother: Seb. A spirit I am, indeed: Vio. And died that day when Viola from her birth Seb. O, that record is lively in my soul! Oli. Read it you, sirrah. [To Fabian. Fab. [reads. By the Lord, madam, you wrong. me, and the world shall know it: though you have put me into darkness, and given your drunken cousin rule over me, yet have I the benefit of my senses as well as your ladyship. I have your own letter that induced me to the semblance I put on; with the which I doubt not but to do myself much right, or you much shame. Think of me as you please. I leave my duty a little unthought of, and speak out of my injury. The madly-used Malvolio. Oli. Did he write this? Clo. Ay, madam. How now, Malvolio? Have I, Malvolio? no. Mal. Lady, you have. Pray you, peruse that letter: You must not now deny it is your hand, Write from it, if you can, in hand, or phrase; Or say, 'tis not your seal, nor your invention: You can say none of this: Well, grant it then, And tell me, in the modesty of honour, Why you have given me such clear lights of favour; Bade me come smiling, and cross-garter'd to you. To put on yellow stockings, and to frown Upon sir Toby, and the lighter people: And, acting this in an obedient hope, Why have you suffer'd me to be imprison'd, Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, And made the most notorious geck, and gull, That e'er invention play'd on? tell me why. "Oli. Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing, Though I confess, much like the character: But, out of question, 'tis Maria's hand. And now I do bethink me, it was she First told me, thou wast mad; then cam'st in smiling, And in such forms which here were presuppos'd Fab. 1 Good madam, hear me speak; And let no quarrel, nor no brawl to come, Taint the condition of this present hour, Which I have wonder'd at. In hope it shall not, Most freely I confess, myself, and Toby, Set this device against Malvolio here, Upon some stubborn and uncourteous parts We had conceiv'd against him: Maria writ The letter, at Sir Toby's great importance; In recompense whereof, he hath married her. How with a sportful malice it was follow'd, May rather pluck on laughter than revenge; If that the injuries be justly weigh'd, That have on both sides past. Vincentio, Duke of Vienna. Oli. Alas, poor fool! how have they baffled thee! Clo. Why, some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon them. I was one, sir, in this interlude; one sir Topas, sir; but that's all one:-By the Lord, fool, I am not mad-But do you remember? Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? an you smile not, he's gagg'd: And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges. Mal. I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you. [Exit: Oli. He hath been most notoriously abus'd. Of our dear souls.-Mean time, sweet sister, Clo. When that I was and a little tiny boy, For the rain it raineth every day. But when I came to man's estate, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, But when I came, alas! to wive, A great while ago the world begun, MEASURE FOR MEASURE. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Angelo, lord deputy in the Duke's absence. Froth, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-done. Escalus, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the Abhorson, an executioner. deputation. Claudio, a young gentleman. Lucio, a fantastick. Two other like gentlemen. Varrius, a gentleman, servant to the Duke. Provost. Barnardine, a dissolute prisoner. Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life, As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself: Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, 1 Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, Before so noble and so great a figure Be stamp'd upon it. Duke. No more evasion: Ang. As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; ness. [Exit. Duke. I thank you: Fare you well. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have; but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed. [ther, Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw togeAnd we may soon our satisfaction have.. Touching that point. Escal I'll wait upon your SCENE II-A Street. Enter Lucio and two Gentlemen. 1 Gent, Heaven grant us its peace, but hot the king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table, 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal ?... Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas, a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it, Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre? Lucio, In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion. Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: As for example; Thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. ! 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: Thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good vel vet; thou art a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. 1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong; have I not? 2 Gent, Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art tainted, or free. Lucio Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come to 2 Gent. To what, I pray? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a-year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me: but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow: impiety has made a feast of thee. 1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? Band. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: Art thou sure of this? Band. I am too sure of it; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio, Believe me, this may be: he promised to honour.meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise [Exeunt. in promise-keeping. Lacio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the pro clamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. Band. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with po verty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Band. Well; what has he done? Clo. A woman. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Band. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there's a woman with maid by him: You have not heard of the proclamation, have you? Band. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Band. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Band. But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Band. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster still. Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered. Band. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Let's withdraw. Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison: and there's madam Juliet. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The same. Claud. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke,- A horse whereon the governor doth ride, [wall Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio, do me this kind service; This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my state; Implore her in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; I have great hope in that: for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.. Lucio. I pray, she may: as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, Enter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and Officers; Lu- who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost cio and two Gentlemen. Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use, Turns to restraint: Our natures do pursue, (Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,) A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: And yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment. What's thy offence, Claudio ? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend again. Lucio. Lechery? Claud. Call it so. Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend :-Lucio, a word with you. [Takes him aside. Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? Claud. Thus stands it with me :-Upon a true I got possession of Julietta's bed; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, [contract, From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment, With character too gross, is writ on Juliet. Lucio. With child, perhaps? at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. 1 thank you, good friend Lucio. Lucio. Within two hours, Claud. Come, officer, away. SCENE IV.-A monastery. Enter Duke and Friar Thomas. [Exeunt. Duke. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd the life removed; And held in idle price to haunt assemblies, Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps. I have deliver'd to lord Angelo (A man of stricture, and firm abstinence,) My absolute power and place here in Vienna, And he supposes me travell'd to Poland; For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, And so it is receiv'd: Now, pious sir, You will demand of me, why I do this? Fri. Gladly, my lord. [laws, Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting (The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; Even like an o'er-grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: Now, as fond fathers Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch, Only to stick it in their children's sight, For terror, not to use; in time the rod Becomes more mock'd, than fear'd: so our decrees, Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead; And liberty plucks justice by the nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Goes all decorum. Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful. Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them J SCENE V-A Nunnery. Enter Isabella and Francisca. [Exeunt. Isab. And have you nuns no farther privileges ?> Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sister-hood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! [Within. Isab. Who's that which calls? Fran. It is a man's voice: Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him: You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with But in the presence of the prioress: [men, Then, if you speak, you must not show your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit Francisca. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter Lucio. Lucio. Hail, virgin, if you be; as those cheek roses Proclaim you are no less! Can you so stead me, As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this place, and the fair sister To her unhappy brother Claudio? Isab. Why her unhappy brother? let me ask; The rather, for I now must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister. Lucio. Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets Not to be weary with you, he's in prison. [you: Isab. Woe me? for what? This is the point. Lucio. Of business 'twixt you and your poor brother. Isab. Alas! what poor ability's in me Lucio. Assay the power you have. Isab. My power! Alas! I doubt, Lucio. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, By fearing to attempt: Go to lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel, All their petitions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them. Isab. I'll see what I can do. Lucio. But, speedily. Isab. I will about it straight; No longer staying but to give the mother Notice of my affair. 1 humbly thank you : Commend me to my brother: soon at night I'll send him certain word of my success. Lucio. I take my leave of you. Isab. ACT II. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt. SCENE I-A Hall in Angelo's House. Lucio. For that, which if myself might be his Enter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Provost, Officers, judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks: He hath got his friend with child. It is true. I would not-though 'tis my familiar sin ་་ Isab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me. Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus: Your brother and his lover have embrac'd :. Isab. Some one with child by him?My cousin Isab. O, let him marry her! Let us be keen, and rather cut a little, (Whom 1 believe to be most strait in virtue,) Ang. "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, |