Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 1
An apartment in the DUKE’S palace.
Vincentio : Escalus.
Escalus : My lord.
Vincentio : Of government the properties to unfold,
[p]Would seem in me to affect
speech and discourse;
[p]Since I am put to know that your own
science
[p]Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
[p]My strength
can give you: then no more remains,
[p]But that to your sufficiency
[--]
[p][--] as your Worth is able,]
[p]And let them work. The nature
of our people,
[p]Our city's institutions, and the terms
[p]For common
justice, you're as pregnant in
[p]As art and practise hath enriched
any
[p]That we remember. There is our commission,
[p]From which we
would not have you warp. Call hither,
[p]I say, bid come before us
Angelo.
[p][Exit an Attendant]
[p]What figure of us Think you he will
bear?
[p]For you must know, we have with special soul
[p]Elected him
our absence to supply,
[p]Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our
love,
[p]And given his deputation all the organs
[p]Of our own power:
what think you of it?
Escalus : If any in Vienna be of worth
[p]To undergo such ample grace and
honour,
[p]It is Lord Angelo.
Vincentio : Look where he comes.
Angelo : Always obedient to your grace's will,
[p]I come to know your
pleasure.
Vincentio : Angelo,
[p]There is a kind of character in thy life,
[p]That to the
observer doth thy history
[p]Fully unfold. Thyself and thy
belongings
[p]Are not thine own so proper as to waste
[p]Thyself upon
thy virtues, they on thee.
[p]Heaven doth with us as we with torches
do,
[p]Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues
[p]Did not go
forth of us, 'twere all alike
[p]As if we had them not. Spirits are
not finely touch'd
[p]But to fine issues, nor Nature never
lends
[p]The smallest scruple of her excellence
[p]But, like a thrifty
goddess, she determines
[p]Herself the glory of a creditor,
[p]Both
thanks and use. But I do bend my speech
[p]To one that can my part in
him advertise;
[p]Hold therefore, Angelo:--
[p]In our remove be thou
at full ourself;
[p]Mortality and mercy in Vienna
[p]Live in thy
tongue and heart: old Escalus,
[p]Though first in question, is thy
secondary.
[p]Take thy commission.
Angelo : Now, good my lord,
[p]Let there be some more test made of my
metal,
[p]Before so noble and so great a figure
[p]Be stamp'd upon
it.
Vincentio : No more evasion:
[p]We have with a leaven'd and prepared
choice
[p]Proceeded to you; therefore take your honours.
[p]Our haste
from hence is of so quick condition
[p]That it prefers itself and
leaves unquestion'd
[p]Matters of needful value. We shall write to
you,
[p]As time and our concernings shall importune,
[p]How it goes
with us, and do look to know
[p]What doth befall you here. So, fare
you well;
[p]To the hopeful execution do I leave you
[p]Of your
commissions.
Angelo : Yet give leave, my lord,
[p]That we may bring you something on the
way.
Vincentio : My haste may not admit it;
[p]Nor need you, on mine honour, have to
do
[p]With any scruple; your scope is as mine own
[p]So to enforce or
qualify the laws
[p]As to your soul seems good. Give me your
hand:
[p]I'll privily away. I love the people,
[p]But do not like to
stage me to their eyes:
[p]Through it do well, I do not relish
well
[p]Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
[p]Nor do I think the
man of safe discretion
[p]That does affect it. Once more, fare you
well.
Angelo : The heavens give safety to your purposes!
Escalus : Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!
Vincentio : I thank you. Fare you well.
Escalus : I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave
[p]To have free speech with
you; and it concerns me
[p]To look into the bottom of my place:
[p]A
power I have, but of what strength and nature
[p]I am not yet
instructed.
Angelo : 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
[p]And we may soon our
satisfaction have
[p]Touching that point.
Escalus : I'll wait upon your honour.
Next: Act 1 - Scene 2
