Measure for Measure | Page 4

mercy in Vienna Live in thy tongue and heart!
Old Escalus, Though first in question, is thy secondary: Take thy
commission.
ANGELO. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of
my metal, Before so noble and so great a figure Be stamped upon it.
DUKE. 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.
ANGELO. Yet give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something
on the way.
DUKE. 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:
Though 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.
ANGELO. The heavens give safety to your purposes!
ESCALUS. Lead forth and bring you back in happiness.
DUKE. I thank you. Fare you well.
[Exit.]
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
pow'r I have, but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed.
ANGELO. 'Tis so with me.--Let us withdraw together, And we may
soon our satisfaction have Touching that point.
ESCALUS. I'll wait upon your honour.
[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. 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.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of
Hungary's!
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Amen.
LUCIO. Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate that went to sea
with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Thou shalt not steal?
LUCIO. Ay, that he razed.
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.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. I never heard any soldier dislike it.
LUCIO. I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was
said.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. No? A dozen times at least.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. What? in metre?
LUCIO. In any proportion or in any language.

FIRST GENTLEMAN. 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.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Well, there went but a pair of shears between
us.
LUCIO. I grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art
the list.
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?
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.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. I think I have done myself wrong; have I not?
SECOND GENTLEMAN. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted
or free.
LUCIO. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes! I have
purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to--
SECOND GENTLEMAN. To what, I pray?
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Judge.
SECOND GENTLEMAN. To three thousand dollars a year.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Ay, and more.
LUCIO. A French crown more.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. 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.]
FIRST GENTLEMAN. 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.
FIRST GENTLEMAN. Who's that, I pray thee?
BAWD. Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.