Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure

ACT I SCENE I	An apartment in the DUKE'S palace.
	Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, ESCALUS, Lords andAttendants
DUKE VINCENTIO	Escalus.
ESCALUS	My lord.
DUKE VINCENTIO	Of government the properties to unfold,
	Would seem in me to affect speech and discourse;	5
	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 [ ]

	And let them work. The nature of our people,	10
	Our city's institutions, and the terms
	For common justice, you're as pregnant in
	As art and practise hath enriched any
	That we remember. There is our commission,
	From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,	15
	I say, bid come before us Angelo.
	Exit an Attendant
	What figure of us think you he will bear?
	For you must know, we have with special soul
	Elected him our absence to supply,
	Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,	20
	And given his deputation all the organs
	Of our own power: what think you of it?
ESCALUS	If any in Vienna be of worth
	To undergo such ample grace and honour,
	It is Lord Angelo.	25
DUKE VINCENTIO	Look where he comes.
	Enter ANGELO
ANGELO	Always obedient to your grace's will,
	I come to know your pleasure.
DUKE VINCENTIO	Angelo,
	There is a kind of character in thy life,	30
	That to the observer doth thy history
	Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
	Are not thine own so proper as to waste
	Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
	Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,	35
	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, nor Nature never lends
	The smallest scruple of her excellence	40
	But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
	Herself the glory of a creditor,
	Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
	To one that can my part in him advertise;
	Hold therefore, Angelo:--	45
	In our remove be thou at full ourself;
	Mortality and mercy in Vienna
	Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
	Though first in question, is thy secondary.
	Take thy commission.	50
ANGELO	Now, good my lord,
	Let there be some more test made of my metal,
	Before so noble and so great a figure
	Be stamp'd upon it.
DUKE VINCENTIO	No more evasion:	55
	We have with a leaven'd and prepared choice
	Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
	Our haste from hence is of so quick condition
	That it prefers itself and leaves unquestion'd
	Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,	60
	As time and our concernings shall importune,
	How it goes with us, and do look to know
	What doth befall you here. So, fare you well;
	To the hopeful execution do I leave you
	Of your commissions.	65
ANGELO	Yet give leave, my lord,
	That we may bring you something on the way.
DUKE VINCENTIO	My haste may not admit it;
	Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
	With any scruple; your scope is as mine own	70
	So to enforce or qualify the laws
	As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand:
	I'll privily away. I love the people,
	But do not like to stage me to their eyes:
	Through it do well, I do not relish well	75
	Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
	Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
	That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
ANGELO	The heavens give safety to your purposes!
ESCALUS	Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!	80
DUKE	I thank you. Fare you well.
	Exit
ESCALUS	I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave
	To have free speech with you; and it concerns me
	To look into the bottom of my place:
	A power I have, but of what strength and nature	85
	I am not yet instructed.
ANGELO	'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
	And we may soon our satisfaction have
	Touching that point.
ESCALUS	I'll wait upon your honour.	90
	Exeunt