William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.

Act I. Scene I.

Measure for Measure

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

For common justice, you’re as pregnant in,

As art and practice hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commission,[Giving it.

From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,

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, drest him with our love,

And given his deputation all the organs

Of our own power: what think you of it?

Escal.If any in Vienna be of worth

To undergo such ample grace and honour,

It is Lord Angelo.

Duke.Look where he comes.

Enter ANGELO.

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 th’ 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,

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,

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:[Tendering his commission.

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.[Giving it.

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

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,

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.

Ang.Yet, give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.

Duke.My haste may not admit it;

Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do

With any scruple: your scope is as mine own,

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.

Though it do well, I do not relish well

Their loud applause and Aves vehement,

Nor do I think the man of safe discretion

That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

Ang.The heavens give safety to your purposes!

Escal.Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!

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 together,

And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

Escal.I’ll wait upon your honour.[Exeunt.