Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure

ACT IV SCENE IV	A room in ANGELO's house.
	Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS
ESCALUS	Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.
ANGELO	In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions
	show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be
	not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and	5
	redeliver our authorities there
ESCALUS	I guess not.
ANGELO	And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his
	entering, that if any crave redress of injustice,
	they should exhibit their petitions in the street?	10
ESCALUS	He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of
	complaints, and to deliver us from devices
	hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
	against us.
ANGELO	Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes	15
	i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give
	notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet
	him.
ESCALUS	I shall, sir. Fare you well.
ANGELO	Good night.	20
	Exit ESCALUS
	This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
	And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
	And by an eminent body that enforced
	The law against it! But that her tender shame
	Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,	25
	How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
	For my authority bears of a credent bulk,
	That no particular scandal once can touch
	But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
	Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense,	30
	Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
	By so receiving a dishonour'd life
	With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived!
	A lack, when once our grace we have forgot,
	Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.	35
	Exit