Measure for Measure

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ORDER	STAGE	ACT	SCENE	CHARACTER	LINE
1	(stage directions)	1	1		[An apartment in the DUKE'S palace. Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, ESCALUS, Lords and Attendants]
2		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	Escalus.
3		1	1	ESCALUS	My lord.
4		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	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 practise hath enriched any 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 Elected him our absence to supply, Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love, And given his deputation all the organs Of our own power: what think you of it?
5		1	1	ESCALUS	If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour, It is Lord Angelo.
6		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	Look where he comes.
7	(stage directions)	1	1		[Enter ANGELO]
8		1	1	ANGELO	Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know your pleasure.
9		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life, That to the 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:-- 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.
10		1	1	ANGELO	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.
11		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	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.
12		1	1	ANGELO	Yet give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way.
13		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	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: Through 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.
14		1	1	ANGELO	The heavens give safety to your purposes!
15		1	1	ESCALUS	Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
16		1	1	DUKE VINCENTIO	I thank you. Fare you well.
17	(stage directions)	1	1		[Exit]
18		1	1	ESCALUS	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.
19		1	1	ANGELO	'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point.
20		1	1	ESCALUS	I'll wait upon your honour.
21	(stage directions)	1	1		[Exeunt]
22	(stage directions)	1	2		[Enter LUCIO and two Gentlemen]
23		1	2	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.
24		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary's!
25		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	Amen.
26		1	2	LUCIO	Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.
27		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	'Thou shalt not steal'?
28		1	2	LUCIO	Ay, that he razed.
29		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	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, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.
30		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	I never heard any soldier dislike it.
31		1	2	LUCIO	I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.
32		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	No? a dozen times at least.
33		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	What, in metre?
34		1	2	LUCIO	In any proportion or in any language.
35		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	I think, or in any religion.
36		1	2	LUCIO	Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.
37		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.
38		1	2	LUCIO	I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.
39		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?
40		1	2	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.
41		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?
42		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.
43		1	2	LUCIO	Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to--
44		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	To what, I pray?
45		1	2	LUCIO	Judge.
46		1	2	SECOND GENTLEMAN	To three thousand dolours a year.
47		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	Ay, and more.
48		1	2	LUCIO	A French crown more.
49		1	2	FIRST GENTLEMAN	Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound.
50		1	2	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.

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A comedy written in 1604 by William Shakespeare