Measure For Measure

1 Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords and Attendants.
2 DUKE.
3 Escalus.
4 ESCALUS.
5 My lord.
6 DUKE.
7 Of government the properties to unfold
8 Would seem in me t’ affect speech and discourse,
9 Since I am put to know that your own science
10 Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
11 My strength can give you. Then no more remains
12 But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able,
13 And let them work. The nature of our people,
14 Our city’s institutions, and the terms
15 For common justice, you’re as pregnant in
16 As art and practice hath enriched any
17 That we remember. There is our commission,
18 From which we would not have you warp.—Call hither,
19 I say, bid come before us, Angelo.
20 [_Exit an Attendant._]
21 What figure of us think you he will bear?
22 For you must know we have with special soul
23 Elected him our absence to supply;
24 Lent him our terror, drest him with our love,
25 And given his deputation all the organs
26 Of our own power. What think you of it?
27 ESCALUS.
28 If any in Vienna be of worth
29 To undergo such ample grace and honour,
30 It is Lord Angelo.
31 Enter Angelo.
32 DUKE.
33 Look where he comes.
34 ANGELO.
35 Always obedient to your Grace’s will,
36 I come to know your pleasure.
37 DUKE.
38 Angelo,
39 There is a kind of character in thy life
40 That to th’ observer doth thy history
41 Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
42 Are not thine own so proper as to waste
43 Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.
44 Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,
45 Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
46 Did not go forth of us, ’twere all alike
47 As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touched
48 But to fine issues; nor nature never lends
49 The smallest scruple of her excellence
50 But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
51 Herself the glory of a creditor,
52 Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
53 To one that can my part in him advertise.
54 Hold, therefore, Angelo.
55 In our remove be thou at full ourself.
56 Mortality and mercy in Vienna
57 Live in thy tongue and heart. Old Escalus,
58 Though first in question, is thy secondary.
59 Take thy commission.
60 ANGELO.
61 Now, good my lord,
62 Let there be some more test made of my metal,
63 Before so noble and so great a figure
64 Be stamped upon it.
65 DUKE.
66 No more evasion.
67 We have with a leavened and prepared choice
68 Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
69 Our haste from hence is of so quick condition
70 That it prefers itself, and leaves unquestioned
71 Matters of needful value. We shall write to you,
72 As time and our concernings shall importune,
73 How it goes with us; and do look to know
74 What doth befall you here. So, fare you well.
75 To th’ hopeful execution do I leave you
76 Of your commissions.
77 ANGELO.
78 Yet give leave, my lord,
79 That we may bring you something on the way.
80 DUKE.
81 My haste may not admit it;
82 Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
83 With any scruple. Your scope is as mine own,
84 So to enforce or qualify the laws
85 As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand;
86 I’ll privily away. I love the people,
87 But do not like to stage me to their eyes.
88 Though it do well, I do not relish well
89 Their loud applause and _Aves_ vehement;
90 Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
91 That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
92 ANGELO.
93 The heavens give safety to your purposes!
94 ESCALUS.
95 Lead forth and bring you back in happiness.
96 DUKE.
97 I thank you. Fare you well.
98 [_Exit._]
99 ESCALUS.
100 I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave
101 To have free speech with you; and it concerns me
102 To look into the bottom of my place.
103 A power I have, but of what strength and nature
104 I am not yet instructed.
105 ANGELO.
106 ’Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
107 And we may soon our satisfaction have
108 Touching that point.
109 ESCALUS.
110 I’ll wait upon your honour.
111 [_Exeunt._]