Measure for Measure | Page 6

name, Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly
on me; 'tis surely for a name.
LUCIO. I warrant it is: and thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders
that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Send after the duke,
and appeal to him.
CLAUDIO. I have done so, but he's not to be found. I pr'ythee, Lucio,
do me this kind service: This day my sister should the cloister enter,
And there receive her approbation: Acquaint her with the danger of my
state; Implore her, in my voice, that she make friends To the strict
deputy; bid herself assay him; I have great hope in that: for in her youth
There is a prone and speechless dialect Such as moves men; beside, she
hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And
well she can persuade.
LUCIO. I pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like,
which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying
of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game
of tick-tack. I'll to her.
CLAUDIO. I thank you, good friend Lucio.
LUCIO. Within two hours,--
CLAUDIO. Come, officer, away.
[Exeunt.]

SCENE IV. A Monastery.
[Enter DUKE and FRIAR THOMAS.]
DUKE. No; holy father; throw away that thought; Believe not that the
dribbling dart of love Can pierce a complete bosom: why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour hath a purpose More grave and wrinkled
than the aims and ends Of burning youth.
FRIAR. May your grace speak of it?
DUKE. My holy sir, none better knows than you How I have ever lov'd
the life remov'd, And held in idle price to haunt assemblies Where
youth, and cost, a witless bravery keeps. I have deliver'd to Lord
Angelo,-- A man of stricture and firm abstinence,-- My absolute power
and place here in Vienna, And he supposes me travell'd to Poland; For
so I have strew'd it in the common ear, And so it is received. Now,
pious sir, You will demand of me why I do this?
FRIAR. Gladly, my lord.
DUKE. We have strict statutes and most biting laws,-- The needful bits
and curbs to headstrong steeds,-- Which for this fourteen years we have
let sleep, Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to
prey. Now, as fond fathers, Having bound up the threat'ning twigs of
birch, Only to stick it in their children's sight For terror, not to use, in
time the rod Becomes more mock'd than fear'd; so our decrees, Dead to
infliction, to themselves are dead; And liberty plucks justice by the
nose; The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart Goes all decorum.
FRIAR. It rested in your grace To unloose this tied-up justice when you
pleas'd; And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd Than in Lord
Angelo.
DUKE. I do fear, too dreadful: Sith 'twas my fault to give the people
scope, 'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them For what I bid
them do: for we bid this be done When evil deeds have their permissive
pass And not the punishment. Therefore, indeed, my father, I have on
Angelo impos'd the office; Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike
home, And yet my nature never in the fight To do in slander. And to
behold his sway, I will, as 'twere a brother of your order, Visit both
prince and people: therefore, I pr'ythee, Supply me with the habit, and
instruct me How I may formally in person bear me Like a true friar.
Moe reasons for this action At our more leisure shall I render you; Only,
this one:--Lord Angelo is precise; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce

confesses That his blood flows, or that his appetite Is more to bread
than stone: hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our
seemers be.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE V. A Nunnery.
[Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA.]
ISABELLA. And have you nuns no further privileges?
FRANCISCA. Are not these large enough?
ISABELLA. Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more, But rather
wishing a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of
Saint Clare.
LUCIO. [Within.] Ho! Peace be in this place!
ISABELLA. Who's that which calls?
FRANCISCA. It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella, Turn you the key,
and know his business of him; You may, I may not; you are yet
unsworn: When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men But in
the presence of the prioress; Then, if you speak, you must not show
your face; Or, if you show your face, you must not speak. He calls
again; I pray you answer him.
[Exit FRANCISCA.]
ISABELLA. Peace and prosperity!