MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. Duke. Escalus,— Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know,' that your own science, Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you: Then no more remains But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work. The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms 3 For common justice, you are as pregnant in, That we remember: There is our commission, 1 Since I am put to know,] may mean, I am compelled to acknowledge. But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, And let them work.] Something is wanting in this passage, which the commentators have not been able to supply. The meaning may be, your skill in government is, in ability to serve me, equal to the integrity of your heart, and let them co-operate in your future ministry. From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo. [Exit an Attendant. Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; Duke. Enter ANGELO. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life, That, to the observer, doth thy history Fully unfold: Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do; Not light them for themselves: for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine issues:7 nor nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence, he 5 with special soul Elected him; By these words the poet perhaps means that was the immediate choice of his heart. thy belongings-] i. e. endowments. Are not thine own so proper,] i. e. are not so much thy own property. STEEVENS. to fine issues:] To great consequences. But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise; In our remove, be thou at full ourself: Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, 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: We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice Of your commissions. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do * I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise;] This is obscure. I believe the meaning is-I am talking to one who is himself already sufficiently conversant with the nature and duties of my office. 9 MALONÉ. - first in question,] That is, first called for; first appointed. As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: ness. Duke. I thank you: Fare you well. [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave To have free speech with you; and it concerns me To look into the bottom of my place: A power I have; but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed. Ang. 'Tis so with me:-Let us withdraw toge ther, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not 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 velyet; 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. 1 there went but a pair of sheers between us.] We are both of the same piece. |