PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, duke of Vienna. ANGELO, lord deputy in the duke's absence. ESCALUS, an ancient lord, joined with Angelo in the deputation. CLAUDIO, a young gentleman. Two other like Gentlemen. *VARRIUS, a gentleman, servant to i duke. Provost. THOMAS, PETER, two friars. A Justice. ELBOW, a simple constable. FROTH, a foolish gentleman. Clown, servant to Mrs. Over-dons ABHORSON, an executioner. BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner. ISABELLA, sister to Claudio. MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo. Mistress OVER-DONE, a bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Atten dants. SCENE.-Vienna. * Varrius might be omitted, for he is only once spoken to, and says nothing JOHNSON ACT L SCENE I. An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke, ESCALUs, Lords, and Attendants. ESCALUS, Escal. My lord. Duke. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, My strength can give you: Then no more remains For common justice, you are as pregnant in, That we remember: There is our commission, 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 Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; To undergo such ample grace and honour, Enter ANGELO. Duke. 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, Fully unfold Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, 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, Be stamp'd upon it. Duke. No more evasion: We have with a leaven'd' and prepared choice Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, well: That we may bring you something on the way. 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, [1] To great consequences; for high purposes. JOHNSON. 2) When bread is leavened it is left to ferment; a leavened choice is therefore a choice not hasty, but considerate, not declared as soon as it fell into the imagina ion, but suffered to work long in the mind. JOHNSON. |