For Measure.
Scalus.
Cities Institutions, and the Termes
Angelo:
Viennabe of worth
Angelo.
Angelo:
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Left Column
Scalus.
Right Column
Scalus.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
<head rend="italic center">Actus primus, Scena prima.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 1]</head>
<cb n="1"/>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duke.</speaker>
<p n="1">
<c rend="decoratedCapital">E</c>
<hi rend="italic">Scalus.</hi>
</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-esc">
<speaker rend="italic">Esc.</speaker>
<l n="2">My Lord.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duk.</speaker>
<l n="3">Of Gouernment, the properties to vn
<lb rend="turnover"/>
<pc rend="turnover">(</pc>fold,</l>
<l n="4">Would seeme in me t'affect speech & discourse,</l>
<l n="5">Since I am put to know, that your owne Science</l>
<l n="6">Exceedes (in that) the lists of all aduice</l>
<l n="7">My strength can giue you: Then no more remaines</l>
<l n="8">But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able,</l>
<l n="9">And let them worke: The nature of our People,</l>
<l n="10">Our<hi rend="italic">Cities Institutions</hi>, and the Termes</l>
<l n="11">For Common Iustice, y'are as pregnant in</l>
<l n="12">As Art, and practise, hath inriched any</l>
<l n="13">That we remember: There is our Commission,</l>
<l n="14">From which, we would not haue you warpe; call hither,</l>
<l n="15">I say, bid come before vs<hi rend="italic">Angelo:</hi>
</l>
<l n="16">What figure of vs thinke you, he will beare.</l>
<l n="17">For you must know, we haue with speciall soule</l>
<l n="18">Elected him our absence to supply;</l>
<l n="19">Lent him our terror, drest him with our loue,</l>
<l n="20">And giuen his Deputation all the Organs</l>
<l n="21">Of our owne powre: What thinke you of it?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-esc">
<speaker rend="italic">Esc.</speaker>
<l n="22">If any in<hi rend="italic">Vienna</hi>be of worth</l>
<l n="23">To vndergoe such ample grace, and honour,</l>
<l n="24">It is Lord<hi rend="italic">Angelo.</hi>
</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Angelo.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duk.</speaker>
<l n="25">Looke where he comes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-ang">
<speaker rend="italic">Ang.</speaker>
<l n="26">Alwayes obedient to your Graces will,</l>
<l n="27">I come to know your pleasure.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duke.</speaker>
<l n="28">
<hi rend="italic">Angelo</hi>:</l>
<l n="29">There is a kinde of Character in thy life,</l>
<l n="30">That to th'obseruer, doth thy history</l>
<l n="31">Fully vnfold: Thy selfe, and thy belongings</l>
<l n="32">Are not thine owne so proper, as to waste</l>
<l n="33">Thy selfe vpon thy vertues; they on thee:</l>
<l n="34">Heauen doth with vs, as we, with Torches doe,</l>
<l n="35">Not light them for themselues: For if our vertues</l>
<l n="36">Did not goe forth of vs, 'twere all alike</l>
<l n="37">As if we had them not: Spirits are not finely touch'd,</l>
<l n="38">But to fine issues: nor nature neuer lends</l>
<l n="39">The smallest scruple of her excellence,</l>
<l n="40">But like a thrifty goddesse, she determines</l>
<l n="41">Her selfe the glory of a creditour,</l>
<l n="42">Both thanks, and vse; but I do bend my speech</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="43">To one that can my part in him aduertise;</l>
<l n="44">Hold therefore<hi rend="italic">Angelo:</hi>
</l>
<l n="45">In our remoue, be thou at full, our selfe:</l>
<l n="46">Mortallitie and Mercie in<hi rend="italic">Vienna</hi>
</l>
<l n="47">Liue in thy tongue, and heart: Old<hi rend="italic">Escalus</hi>
</l>
<l n="48">Though first in question, is thy secondary.</l>
<l n="49">Take thy Commission.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-ang">
<speaker rend="italic">Ang.</speaker>
<l n="50">Now good my Lord</l>
<l n="51">Let there be some more test, made of my mettle,</l>
<l n="52">Before so noble, and so great a figure</l>
<l n="53">Be stamp't vpon it.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duk.</speaker>
<l n="54">No more euasion:</l>
<l n="55">We haue with a leauen'd, and prepared choice</l>
<l n="56">Proceeded to you; therefore take your honors:</l>
<l n="57">Our haste from hence is of so quicke condition,</l>
<l n="58">That it prefers it selfe, and leaues vnquestion'd</l>
<l n="59">Matters of needfull value: We shall write to you</l>
<l n="60">As time, and our concernings shall importune,</l>
<l n="61">How it goes with vs, and doe looke to know</l>
<l n="62">What doth befall you here. So fare you well:</l>
<l n="63">To th' hopefull execution doe I leaue you,</l>
<l n="64">Of your Commissions.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-ang">
<speaker rend="italic">Ang.</speaker>
<l n="65">Yet giue leaue (my Lord,)</l>
<l n="66">That we may bring you something on the way.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duk.</speaker>
<l n="67">My haste may not admit it,</l>
<l n="68">Nor neede you (on mine honor) haue to doe</l>
<l n="69">With any scruple: your scope is as mine owne,</l>
<l n="70">So to inforce, or qualifie the Lawes</l>
<l n="71">As to your soule seemes good: Giue me your hand,</l>
<l n="72">Ile priuily away: I loue the people,</l>
<l n="73">But doe not like to stage me to their eyes:</l>
<l n="74">Though it doe well, I doe not rellish well</l>
<l n="75">Their lowd applause, and Aues vehement:</l>
<l n="76">Nor doe I thinke the man of safe discretion</l>
<l n="77">That do's affect it. Once more fare you well.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-ang">
<speaker rend="italic">Ang.</speaker>
<l n="78">The heauens giue safety to your purposes.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-esc">
<speaker rend="italic">Esc.</speaker>
<l n="79">Lead forth, and bring you backe in happi
<lb/>nesse.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-mm-duk">
<speaker rend="italic">Duk.</speaker>
<l n="80">I thanke you, fare you well.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-esc">
<speaker rend="italic">Esc.</speaker>
<l n="81">I shall desire you, Sir, to giue me leaue</l>
<l n="82">To haue free speech with you; and it concernes me</l>
<l n="83">To looke into the bottome of my place:</l>
<l n="84">A powre I haue, but of what strength and nature,</l>
<l n="85">I am not yet instructed.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-ang">
<speaker rend="italic">Ang.</speaker>
<l n="86">'Tis so with me: Let vs with‐draw together,</l>
<l n="87">And we may soone our satisfaction haue</l>
<l n="88">Touching that point.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-mm-esc">
<speaker rend="italic">Esc.</speaker>
<l n="89">Ile wait vpon your honor.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>