The story is taken from Cinthio's Novels, ecad. 8, Novel 5. POPE. We are sent to Cinthio for the plot of Measure r Measure, and Shakspeare's judgment hath en attacked for some deviations from him in e conduct of it, when probably all he knew of e matter was from Madam Isabella, in The eptameron of Whetstone, Lond. 4to. 1582.he reports, in the fourth dayes Exercise, the re Historie of Promos and Cassandra. A arginal note informs us, that Whetstone was e author of the Comedie on that subject; which kewise had probably fallen into the hands of akspeare. FARMER. There is perhaps not one of Shakspeare's plays ore darkened than this by the peculiarities of author, and the unskilfulness of its editors, distortions of phrase, or negligence of tranription. JOHNSON. Dr. Johnson's remark is so just respecting the rruptions of this play, that I shall not attempt uch reformation in its metre, which is too often ugh, redundant, and irregular Additions and omissions (however trifling) cannot be made without constant notice of them; and such notices, in the present instance, would so frequently occur, as to become equally tiresome to the commentator and the reader. Shakspeare took the fable of this play from the Promos and Cassandra of George Whetstone, published in 1578. A hint, like a seed, is more or less prolific, according to the qualities of the soil on which it is thrown. This story, which in the hands of Whetstone produced little more than barren insipidity, under the culture of Shakspeare became fertile of entertainment. The curious reader will find that the old play of Promos and Cassandra exhibits an almost complete embryo of Measure for Measure; yet the hints on which it is formed are so slight, that it is nearly as impossible to detect them, as it is to point out in the acorn the future ramifications of the oak. Measure for Measure was, I believe, written in 1603. MALONE. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. The novel of Giraldi Cinthio, from which Shakspeare is supposed to have borrowed this fable, may be read in Sakspeare Illustrated, elegantly translated, with remarks which will assist the inquirer to discover how much aburity Shakspeare has admitted or avoided. I cannot but suspect that some other had new-modelled the novel of Cinthio, or written a story which in some particulars resembled it, and that Cinthio was not the author whom Shakspeare immediately followed. The emperor 1. Cuchio is named Maximine: the duke, in Shakspeare's enumeration of the persons of the drama, is called Vinrea. This appears a very slight remark; but since the duke has no name in the play, nor is ever mentioned but by La tide, why should he be called Vincentio among the persons, but because the name was copied from the story, and placed superfluously at the head of the list, by the mere habit of transcription? It is therefore likely that there was then a story of Vincentio duke of Vienna, different from that of Maximine emperor of the Romans. Of this play, the light or comic part is very natural and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few passages be excepted, have more labour than elegance. The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indete some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the duke and the imprisonment of Clodio, for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise, or he delegated his power to a man already mown to be corrupted. The unities of action and place are sufficiently preserved. Johnson. ACT I. FROTH, a foolish Gentleman. Clown, Servant to Mrs. Over-done. ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio. Mistress OVER-DONE, a Bawd. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other SCENE,- Vienna. ENE L-An Apartment in the Duke's Palace. inter DUKE, ESCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. Duke. Escalus, Escal. My lord. Duke. Of government the properties to unfold, strength can give you: then no more remains that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, d let them work. The nature of our people, rcity's institutions, and the terms common justice, you are as pregnant in, at we remember: there is our commission, at him our terror, drest him with our love; Duke. Enter ANGELO. Look, where he comes. Ang. Always obedient to your grace's will, me to know your pleasure. Duke. Angelo, ere is a kind of character in thy life, eaven doth with us, as we with torches do; if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, ut to fine issues: nor nature never lends the smallest scruple of her excellence, But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech In our remove, be thou at full ourself: Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Ang. Duke. No more evasion: Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, 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; But do not like to stage me to their eyes: I am not yet instructed. Escal I'll wait upon your honour. [Exeunt. SCENE IL-A Street. Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king. 1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the king of Hungary's! 2 Gent. Amen. Lucio. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, 'twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions; they put forth to steal: there's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, doth relish the petition well, that prays for peace. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre? Lucio. In any proportion, or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion. Lucio. Ay! why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as for example; Thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace. 1 Gent. Well, there went but a pair of sheers between us. Lucio. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet: thou art the list. 1 Gent. And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou art a three-pil'd piece. I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now? Lucio. I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee. 1 Gent. I think, I have done myself wrong; have I not? [tainted or free. 2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast; whether thou art Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof, as come to 2 Gent. To what, I pray? 1 Gent. Judge. 2 Gent. To three thousand dollars a-year. 1 Gent. Ay, and more. Lucio. A French crown more. 1 Gent. Thou art always figuring diseases in me : but thou art full of error; I am sound. Lucio. Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound, as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow: impiety has made a feast of thee. Enter Bawd. 1 Gent. How now? which of your hips has the most profound sciatica? Bawd. Well, well; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was worth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who's that, I pray thee? Bawd. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, signior Claudio. 1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 'tis not so. Bawd. Nay, but I know, 'tis so: I saw him arrested; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head's to be chopped off. Lucio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so: art thou sure of this? Bawd. I am too sure of it: and it is for getting madam Julietta with child. Lucio. Believe me, this may be; he promised to meet me two hours since; and he was ever precise in promise-keeping. 2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose. 1 Gent. But most of all, agreeing with the pro clamation. Lucio. Away; let's go learn the truth of it. [Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen. Bawd. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows, and what with po verty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what's the news with you? Enter Clown. Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Bawd. But what's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Bawd. What, is there a maid with child by him! Clo. No; but there is a woman with maid by him you have not heard of the proclamation, have you! Bawd. What proclamation, man? Clo. All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be pluck'd down. Bawd. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed: they had ge down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them. Bawd. But shall all our houses of resort in suburbs be pull'd down? Clo. To the ground, mistress. Bawd. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the com monwealth! What shall become of me? Clo. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I'll be your tapster s Courage; there will be pity taken on you: you, th have worn your eyes almost out in the service, y will be considered. [withdraw Bawd. What's to do here, Thomas Tapster? Lets Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the pr vost to prison; and there's madam Juliet. Exe SCENE III.-The same. Enter Provost, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and Officers Bear me to prison, where I am committed. Claud. Thus can the demi-god, Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weightThe words of heaven;-on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just. Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?" Claud. From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint: our natures do pursue, (Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,) A thirsty evil; and when we drink, we die. Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest I would send for certain of my creditors: and y t say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.Wi thy offence, Claudio? Claud. What, but to speak of would offend aga Lucio. Lechery? Prov. Away, sir; you must go. Claud. One word, good friend:-Lucio, a we with you. (Takes him aside Lucio. A hundred, if they'll do you any good. Is lechery so look'd after? [contra Claud. Thus stands it with me:-Upon a tro I got possession of Julietta's bed; For terror, not to use; in time the rod You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Of outward order: this we came not to, Remaining in the coffer of her friends; From whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Cand. Unhappily, even so. And the new deputy now for the duke, Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness; A horse, whereon the governor doth ride, He can command, lets it straight feel the spur: [wall I stagger in:-But this new governor Lucio. I warrant, it is: and thy head stands so bckle on thy shoulders, that a milk-maid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke, and appeal to him. Claud. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I prythee, Lucio, do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my state; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict deputy; bid herself assay him; I have great hope in that: for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Sach as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art, When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade. Lucio. I pray, she may as well for the encou ragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition; as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I'll to her. Claud. I thank you, good friend Lucio. Claud, Come, officer, away. SCENE IV.-A Monastery. [Exeunt. Duke. No, holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not, that the dribbling dart of love Can pierce a cómplete bosom: why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burning youth. Fri. May your grace speak of it? Duke. My holy sir, none better knows than you A man of stricture, aud firm abstinence,) For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, Even like an [laws, Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting The needful bits and curbs for head-strong steeds,) Which for these fourteen years we have let sleep; o'er-grown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey: now, as fond fathers Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of birch Unly to stick it in their children's sight, Becomes more mock'd than fear'd: so our decrees, The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Fri. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice, when you pleas'd: And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd, Than in Lord Angelo. Duke. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope, "Twould be my tyranny to strike, and gall them For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done, When evil deeds have their permissive pass, And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my I have on Angelo impos'd the office; [father Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home, And yet my nature never in the sight, To do it slander: and to behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me How I may formally in person bear me Like a true friar. More reasons for this action, At our more leisure shall I render you; Only, this one :-Lord Angelo is precise; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses That his blood flows, or that his appetite Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A Nunnery. Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA. Isab. And have you nuns no further privileges? Fran. Are not these large enough? Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more; But rather wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sister-hood, the votarists of saint Clare. Lucio. Ho! Peace be in this place! (Within.) Who's that which calls) Isab. Fran. It is a man's voice: gentle Isabella, Turn you the key, and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with But in the presence of the prioress: Then, if you speak, you must not shew your face; Or, if you shew your face, you must not speak. He calls again; I pray you answer him. [Exit. Isab. Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls? Enter LUCIO. [men, |