Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare

Act 4 - Scene 4

A room in ANGELO’s house.

Escalus : Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.

Angelo : In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions [p]show much like to
madness: pray heaven his wisdom be [p]not tainted! And why meet him at
the gates, and [p]redeliver our authorities there

Escalus : I guess not.

Angelo : And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his [p]entering, that
if any crave redress of injustice, [p]they should exhibit their
petitions in the street?

Escalus : He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of [p]complaints, and
to deliver us from devices [p]hereafter, which shall then have no
power to stand [p]against us.

Angelo : Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes [p]i' the morn; I'll
call you at your house: give [p]notice to such men of sort and suit as
are to meet [p]him.

Escalus : I shall, sir. Fare you well.

Angelo : Good night. [p][Exit ESCALUS] [p]This deed unshapes me quite, makes me
unpregnant [p]And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid! [p]And
by an eminent body that enforced [p]The law against it! But that her
tender shame [p]Will not proclaim against her maiden loss, [p]How
might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no; [p]For my authority
bears of a credent bulk, [p]That no particular scandal once can
touch [p]But it confounds the breather. He should have lived, [p]Save
that riotous youth, with dangerous sense, [p]Might in the times to
come have ta'en revenge, [p]By so receiving a dishonour'd life [p]With
ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived! [p]A lack, when once our
grace we have forgot, [p]Nothing goes right: we would, and we would
not.

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Next: Act 4 - Scene 5