Cljf Maths
OP
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
EXTENT or THE IMPRESSION.
/ hereby ceri 'ify that the impression of the present edition of Shahespeure has been strictly limited to One Hundred and Fifty copies, and that I am also under an engagement to furnish the Editor icith an exact account of the number of the icaste sheets. ^
In addition to the above certifcate of Mr. J. E. Adlard, it may be well to observe that it being my desire that the limitation of the impression should tje literally adhered to, I intend to number every copy of each volume, and to tal-e great care that not a single perfect copy of the icorJc shall be made up out of the waste sheets, which are the very few printed in excess to take the place of any that may be soiled or damaged. My only object in adhering so strictly to the limit is to protect, to their fullest extent, the interests of the original subscribers to the work, not from any views of excUisiveness.
The pa])er on which this work is printed is of the best and most durable quahty, manufactured by Messrs. Dickinson and Co.
Prospectus of a new Edition of Shakespeare, in TWENTY FOLIO VOL TIMES, corresponding in size with the convenient first collective edition of 1623, to suit numerous facsimiles to he made from that work. — Privately Printed, for Subscribers only.
THE WOEKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE,
WITH A
iSeh) Collation of tfje carlg a^tritionjf,
ALL THE
ORIGINAL NOVELS AND TALES ON WHICH THE PLAYS ARE FOUNDED ; COPIOUS ARCH^OLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS TO EACH PLAY; AND A LIFE OF THE POET:
BY
JAMES 0. HALLIWELL, ESQ. F.R.S.
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE IlOYAl IRISH ACADEMY; THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE ; THE NEWCASTLE ANTIQUARIAN society; THE ASHMOLEAN SOCIETY, AND OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE ; FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES ; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETIES OF SCOTLAND, POICTIERS, PICARDIE, AND CAEN (aOADEMIE DES SCIENCES), AND OF THE COMITE DES ARTS ET MONUMENTS, ETC.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS BY AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
F. W. FAIRHOLT, ESQ., F.S.A.
AUTHOR OF "COSTUME IN ENGLAND", ETC.
The Fourth Volume of this extensive work is now nearly completed, and the greatest exertions are being made to render it the most complete edition of any author ever produced in this country.
The impression of the work is strictly limited to the small number of one hundred and fifty copies, each copy being numbered, and having the printer's and editor's autograph attestation. The plates and engravings are also guaranteed to he destroyed, so that the interests of the Subscribers must always be preserved, and the work become, exceedingly difficult to be procured. The paper used is of the finest possible quality and substance, manufactured expressly for the work by Messrs. Dickinson and Co.
The few remaining copies are, at present, to be subscribed for at £4 : 4 per volume, under stringent conditions, or at £52:10 in advance. A few India paper copies ( included in the above limit of one hundred and fifty ) are to be subscribed for at £5 : 5 per volume, or £73 : 10 in advance. Subscribers in advance are protected by guarantee, if required.
All communications to be addressed to J. O. Halliwell, Esq., Avenue Lodge, Brixton Hill, Surrey.
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
" Mr. Halliwell's competency to deal with the text of our great poet, and with all that concerns him, is, we believe, all but universally acknowledged, — the best proof of which is the confidence reposed in him by the subscribers to the magnificent edition now publishing under his
2
auspices ; a confidence which, we are convinced, he will not betray by any ill-judged deviations I'roin till' authentic readings." — Blackwoocrs Magazine.
" The first of the twenty volumes proposed to be printed by Mv. Halliwell by the aid of one hundred and fifty subscribers is just completed. The undertaking was, in more respects than one, highly adventurous, and no one who did not combine perseverance and enthusiasm, with extensive reading and sound judgment, could have ventured upon such a task. The appearance of this magnificent volume assures us at once that the editor is not only in earnest, but that he feels he
can and wiW accomplish the hazardous enterprise, — hazardous in a pecuniary point of view
The value of the present work mainly consists in its severe triithfulness, not a single document, or extract from an old book, being printed before a close examination had been made of its authen- ticity. All Mr. Fairholt's beautiful drawings, with which the work is illustrated, and all the facsimiles, bear also the stamp of truth and accuracy." — The Times.
" Mr. Halliwell's great strength lies in the strict manner in M'hich he adheres to fact alone ; he advances no opinions unbacked by authority ; his book is a vast mass of facts, and Mr. Fairholt's illustrations are regarded in the same light. They abound in curiosity and interest, which must increase with years ; and Avhen the twenty volumes are complete, they will form a body of Shaksperian literature of an unique kind. The paper and print of the volume is excellent, and, as a library edition, this important one is not likely to be rivalled." — The Art Journal.
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JOHN DURDIN, Esq., 6, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
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*if.* The Names of Subscribers being printed in each volume, it is particularly requested that the exact title and address be given in the form in which it is wished to be inserted.
FROM THE
CURFEW-BELL AND ORIGINALS PRESERVED IN
COUVRE -FEU . THE MUSEUM AT
CANTERBURY.
THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
THE TEXT FOUMED FROM
^ neb C0nittioit 0f tljc carlo (StrittaiiS:
TO WHICH ARE ABDED ALL
THE ORIGINAL NOVELS AND TALES ON WHICH THE PLAYS ARE FOUNDED; COPIOUS ARCH^OLOGICAL ANNOTATIONS ON EACH PLAY; AN ESSAY ON THE FORMATION OF THE TEXT; AND A LIFE OF THE POET:
BY
JAMES 0. HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S.
I11).\0KAI1Y JIKMHKH OK THK BOVAI. IRISH ACAOKMY; THE ROYAL SOCIETY OE LITERATURE; THE NEWCASTLE ANTIQl-ARIAN SOCIETY; THE AbllMOLEAN SOCIETY, A^D THE SOCIITY EOR THE STUDY OF GOTHIC ABCHlTfCTLRE; EEl.I OW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES ; AND CORRESPONDINO MEMBER CF THE ANTlQt'ABIAN SOCIETIES OF SCOTLAN D, FOICTIEBS, IMCARDIE, AND CAEN (ACA flEM IE DF.S SCIENCES), AXIJ OF THE COMITF DESARTSET MONl'MKNTS.
VOLUME III.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND WOOD-ENGRAVINQS BV
FREDERICK WILLIAM FAIRHOLT, ESQ., F.S.A.
AUTHOR OF 'COSTUME IN ENGLAND,' ETC.
LONDON : h
PRTNTED rOU THE EDITOR, BY J. E. ADLAED, BAETIIOLOMEAV CLOSE.
1854.
L
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF PRUSSIA.
S. A. R. LE DUG D'AUMALE, Orleans House, Twickknham.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCII AND QUEENSBUUY, K.G.
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF BURLINGTON.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF FALMOUTH.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF WARWICK.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD FARNHAM, K.P.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD LONDESBOROUGH, K.C.H., F.ll.S.
HIS EXCELLENCY M. SILVAIN VAN DE WEYER.
SIR JOHN T. L. BETHUNE, Bart., KiLcoNauHAR, Fife.
SIR HARFORD JONES BRIDGES, Bart.. F.L.S.
SIR WILLIAM JARDINE, Bart., F.R.S.E., F.L.S.
SIR FITZROY KELLY, M.P., The Chauntry, Suffolk.
THE HON. EDWARD CECIL CURZON, Whitehall.
RICH.^RD MONCKTON MILNES, Esa., M.P.
A. S.MOLLETT, Esa , M.P., Cameron House, Dunbartonshire
JAMES PILKINGTON, Esa., M.P., Park Pl.\ce, Blackburn.
WILLIAM ATKINSON, Esa., Ashton Hayes, Cheshire.
THE LIBRARY OF THE ATIIEN.EUM CLUB, London.
THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES of London.
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DisTK I nr riox oi' copiks.
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r.EOIU;E (ill.l. MOUNSEY, Esq., Castletown, near Carlisle. DAVID \VH.EI.\MS WIRE, Esu., Aldkrman, M.R.S.L. AEFHED (iEOKGE, Esa., lo, Arlington Street, Piccadilly. TIIO.MAS SIIEDDEN, Esa., Glasgow. I)U. liELE FLETCHER, Birmingham.
J.VMES P.VRKER, Esa-, Great Baddow Hovse, near Chelmseoru. JAMES .MACKENZIE. Esa., '.V.S., Edindirgh. WILLIAM HENRY BROWN, Esa., Chester.
JOSEPH BARNARD DAVIS, Esq, M.R.C.S., Shei.ton, Staffordshirk THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY', St. Andrews, N.B.
PLOWDEN C. J. WESTON, Esa., II/glev Hoise, Soith Carolina, U.S.
JOHN LINGARD ROSS, Esa., Manchester.
THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, Liverpool.
THE REV. C. P. CRAWFORD, D.D., Woodmansterne. Si rrev.
W. P. lU NT, Esa., Ipswich.
JOHN WESTON, Esq., Birmingham.
ROBERT M CONNELL, Esq., Aigbirth, near Liverpool. LLEWELLYN JEWITT, Esq., F.S.A.. Derby. JOHN KELSO REID, Esq., New Orleans.
MESSRS. RICH, BROTHERS, Tavistock Row, Covent Garden. A. HEATH, Esq., Sheffield.
F. W. FAIRHOLT, Esq, F.S.A., 11, Montpelier Sqi are, Brompion.
THE OWNER OF GETLEY'S HOUSE (Shakespeare's copyhold), Stratfordon-Avon.
BENJAMIN lUCKLlN, Esq., Wolverhampton.
THE ROYAL LIBRARY, Stockholm.
ROBERT P. RAYNE, Esq, New Orleans, U.S.
THE NEWARK STOCK LIBRARY, Newark-on-Trent.
THE LIBRARY OF THE HON. SOC. OF LINCOLN'S INN.
PROFESSOR PYPER, LL.D., University of St. Andrews.
CHARLES GIBBS, Esq., 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment.
BENJAMIN GODFREY WINDUS, Esa., Tottenham Green.
JOHN M.VTIIER, Esa., Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER PARK, Esa., Lever Street, Manchester.
MRS. BAILEY', Easton Court, Tenbury".
WILLIAM M. MACDONALD, Esa., Rossie Castlf, .Montrose. SAMUEL A. PIIILBRICK, Esa., Colchester. WILLIAM ALLEN, Esa., Shiffnal.
THOMAS TOBIN, Esa., F.S.A., F.R.S.N.A., Ballincollig, near Cork. HENRY WILLIAM PEEK, Esa., Clapham Park. ZELOTES HOSMER, Esa., Boston, U.S.
JOHN STAUNTON, Esa., Longbridge House, near Warwick. WILLTAM EUING, Esa., Glasgoyv.
WILLIAM HARRISON, Esq., Galligreaves House, Blackburn.
THOMAS COO.MBS, Esq., South Street, Dorchester.
THE LIBRARY OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
HARMAN GRISEWOOD, Esq., Wandsworth Common.
THE CITY OF LONDON LIBRARY, Guildhall.
THE LIBRARY OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY, Dublin.
MRS. ALLSOPP, Willington, near Burtos-on-Trent.
JOHN B. JELL, Esq., Bank of England, Liverpool.
SAMUEL TIM.MINS, Esa., Birmingham.
WILLI.\.M LE.\F, Esq., Park Hill, Streatham, Surrey.
DR. RALPH FLETCHER, Gloucester.
THOMAS BYRON, Esq., Coulsdon, near Croydon.
T. S. GODFREY, Junior, Esq., Balderton Hall, Notts.
THE I.MPERIAL LIBRARY, Paris.
list of IJlates.
1. The Curfew-Bell formerly at Dover Castle, and a Couvre-fcii of the time of Shakespeare, from the originals preserved in tlie Museum at Canterbury ..... froulisjiicn'
2. Extracts from Measure for Measure, selected from a manuscript of the seventeenth century, exhibiting examples of the unauthorized alterations
of the text which were common at that period . . .51
3. Facsimile of an early Engraving in the Shepherd's Calendar, from Pynson's edition of 1506, illustrating the ancient idea of one of tlie torments
of the condemned, residins; "in thrillino- region of thick-ribbed ice" . 110
4. Passages from Measure for Measure and the Comedy of Errors, selected from the manuscript above named, exhibiting similar examples of unauthorised alterations of the text .... 133
5. Dr. AVilson's music to the Song, " Take, Oh, take those lips away," from the original Manuscript in the Bodleian Library . .172
6. Facsimile of the last page of Measure for Measure, as it appears in
the first folio edition of 1623 ..... 213
7. Extracts from the Palladis Tamia of Meres, 1598, containing the earliest list of Shakespeare's plays known to exist . . .297
8. The first page of the Comedy of Errors, as it ajipears in the first folio edition published in 1623 ..... 325
9. The first page of the Comedy of Errors, as it appears in the second
folio edition, published in 1632 . . . .379
10. The first page of the Comedy of Errors, as it appears in the third folio edition, published in 1663 . . . .415
*** The three last-named plates atford very good examples of the diff'erences between the first three folio editions, and will enable possessors of imperfect copies to ascertain the edition to which they belong.
mt for Mtasiirt
EARLY EDITIONS.
(1) . In the folio edition of 1623 ; in the division of Comedies, pp. 01-84, sig-s. ri— G6v°
(2) . In the folio edition of 1632. Tlie pagination and signatures arc the same as in the above.
(3) . In the folio edition of 1664. Tlie pagination and signatures are tlic same as in the above.
(4) . In the folio edition of 1684 ; in the division of Comedies, pp. 55-76, sigs. E4— G2 V-
INTRODUCTION.
The principal incident in this play, the infamous conduct of Angelo, has been related of a variety of persons in different ages ; hut the primary source of the plot adopted by Shakespeare is found in the novels of Giraldi Cinthio, Ecatommithi, 1565. In the novel of that writer, Juriste, governor of Inspruck, a man renowned for wisdom and justice, sentenced a youth named Lodovico to death for violation. Epitia, sister of Lodovico, a virgin of exquisite beauty and highly accomplished, deeply loved her brother, and determined to attempt his deliverance. Kneel- ing in tears before the feet of Juriste, and pleading her brother's cause with pathetic eloquence, her graceful beauty, rendered still more attractive by her position, enraptured the stern judge who had previously laughed to scorn the power of love. In the excess of tumultuous passion, he makes the same proposal to her which Angelo does to Isabella. It is rejected with indigna- tion, but Epitia is not proof against the tears and entreaty of her brother, and reluctantly yields to the wishes of Juriste under the solemn promise of marriage. What was her agony, then, to find that his vows were forgotten, and that Lodovico was executed, notwithstanding the sacrifice she had made. She appeals to the emperor of the Romans, before whom Juriste is convicted, compelled to marry her, and then sentenced to death. Epitia now sues for her husband's life ; forgets her wrongs in the character of a wife ; and, having obtained her prayer, continues the faithful partner of Juriste, who, on his part, is presumed to be reformed by her unexampled virtue and generosity.
It may readily be imagined that a tale like the preceding, although unsuitable for the audience of a very refined age, would be likely to attract the attention of our early dramatists, as con- taining the material for nuich effective situation. The Italian
4
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
[iNTROD.
novelist, indeed, had mjidc the story the suhject of «i drama as well as of a romance, under the title of Epltut, whieh Avas puh- lished, Avith his other tragedies, at Veniee, in the year 1583. Five years hefore the appearanee of this work, George ^yhetstone, an English poet of some note, had ])uhlished his ' Promos juid Cassandra,' a play founded on Cinthio's novel, hut comprising several variations adopted hy Shakespeare. This production, Avhieh is in two parts, had not heen performed hefore the year 1582, as aj)pears from a marginal note in the lie pf a me ran, printed in that year; nor is there any reason for supposing that it was ever puhliely acted. The prose history of i^romos and Cassandra, in Whetstone's Heptameron of Civill Discourses, 1582, merely condenses the circumstances of the play hy the same author into a hrief narrative, the following curious note occurring at the eonunencement : — "This historic, for rarenes therof, is lively set out in a connnedie hy the reporter of the whole worke, but yet never presented upon stage." The name of Isabella, the reporter of the tale, is conjectured to have sug- gested the appellation of the character in the following play ; but the reader may be cautioned not to draw too rapid conclu- sions from trivial coincidences of this kind, it being a matter of doubt AAhether either of the prose stories was known to Shakespeare. Both the latter, however, are exceedingly interest- ing in connexion Avitli the present enquiry into the source of the plot, and are essential to our collection of materials. 1 reprint, therefore, the original novel of Giraldi Cinthio, precisely as it stands in the early edition of the Ecatommithi ; addini>*, in the second place, Whetstone's prose history from the Heptameron. The first tale bears the following title, — " Juriste e mandato da ^lassimiano, Imperadore, in Ispruchi, ove fa prendere un giov^ane violatore di una vergine, e condannalo a morte : la Sorella cerca di libcrarlo: Juriste da speranza alia donna di pigliarla per moglie, e di darle libero il fratello : ella eon lui si giace, e la notte istessa Juriste fa tagliar al giovane la testa, e la manda alia Sorella : Ella ne fa querela all' Imperadore, il quale fa sposare ad Juriste la donna ; poscia lo fa dare ad essere uceiso : la donna lo libera, e con lui si vive amorevolissimamente." It is worthy of remark that, in the original edition of the second tale here re- printed, the English one from the Heptameron, numerous marginal notes occur ; but as these, with the exception of the one above quoted, merely refer to the subject of the narrative, it was not considered necessary to retain them.
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(I). Ancliora die Matea paresse alle Donne degna di ogni gran pena, e per la ingratitudine vsata verso quella Reina, e per lo dislionesto congiungimento col Eratello, Nondimeno a granfatica tennero le lagrime, quando sentirono le parole, ch'ella, poco auanti la morte, hauea dette, e le pregarono tutte requie. Ma di Acolasto, e di Eritto non ne hebbe ne huomo ne Donna compassione, e alcuno di loro si marauiglio, che Iddio tanto sostenuti gli hauesse. Ma dissero gli Imomini maturi, che Iddio lascia gli rei viui tra buoni, perclie quelli siano a questi come vno essercitio continuo, e quasi speroni a ricorrere a lui. Oltre, che gli tolera an CO la sua Maesta, per vedere se volessero volgere la mente a miglior uita. Ma, quando gli uede ostinati nel male operare, tale da loro finalmente, il gastigo, quale costoro I'haueano hauuto. Et, tacendo gia ognuno, disse Euluia, Deurieno i Signori, che sono posti da Iddio a gouerno del Mondo, non meno pun ire la ingratitudine, quall'liora uiene loro a notitia, die puniscano gli Homicidi, gli Adiilteri, i Ladronecci, i quali quantunque siano delitti graui, sono forse di minor pena degni, che la Ingratitudine. Dalla qual cosa spinto Massimiano il Grande dignissimo Imperadore, nolle ad un tratto punire la Ingratitudine, e la Ingiustitia di vn suo ministro, e ne sarebbe seguito 1' effetto, se la bonta deUa Donna, contra la quale lo ingrato si era mostrato ingiustissimo, non 1' hauesse, con la sua cortesia, dalla pena liberato, come mi apparecchio di dimostrarui. Mentre questo gran Signore, che fii raro essempio di Cortesia, di Magnanimita, e di singolare Giustitia, reggeua felicissimamente lo Imperio Romano, mandaua suoi ministri, a gouernare gli stati, che fioriuano sotto il suo Imperio. Et, fra gli altri, mando al Gouerno d' Ispruchi vn suo famigliare, che molto caro gli era, chiamato luriste. Et prima, che la il mandasse, gli disse. luriste, la buona opinione, che io ho conceputa di te, mentre al mio seruigio sei stato, mi fa mandarti Gouernatore di cosi nobile Citta, quale e Ispruchi, sul quale reggimento, molte cose ti potrei commandare. Ma tutte in vna le voglio ristringere, laquale e, che serui inuiolabilmente la Giustitia : Se bene hauessi a giudicare contra me medesimo, che tuo Signor sono, e ti auiso, che tutti gli altri mancamenti, 6 siano per ignoranza, 6 pur per negligenza commessi (anchora die da questi, voglio, che quanto piu ti fie possibile ti guardi) ti potrei perdonare, ma cosa fatta contra la Giustitia appresso me non ritrouerebbe perdono, Et, se forse tu non ti senti di deuere essere tale, quale io ti desidero (perche ogni huomo, non e buono ad ogni cosa) rimanti di pigliare questo maneggio, e restati piii tosto qui in Corte, one caro ti ho, a tuoi usati vSici, che coU'essere Gouernatore di questa Citta, mi inducesti a far queUo contra te, che, non senza mio gran dispiacere, miconuerebbe di fare per debito di Giustitia, quando tu la Giustitia non seruasti. Et qui si tacque. luriste, uie piii lieto deU'ufficio, a che il chiamaua lo Imperadore, che buon conoseitore di se stesso. Ringratio il suo Signore dell'amoreuole ricordo, et gli disse, ch'egli era da se animato aUa conser- uation della Giustitia, Ma che tanto piu la conseruerebbe hora, quanto le parole sue gli erano state come vna facella, die uie piii a cio fare I'haueua acceso. Et die gli daua I'animo di riuscir tale in questo gouerno, che sua Maesta non haurebbe se non cagion di lodarlo. Piacquero alio Imperatore le parole di luriste. e gli disse veramente non hauro se non cagion di lodarti, se cosi buoni saranno i fatti, come son buone le parole. Et fattegli dare le lettere patenti, che gia erano espedite, la il mando. Comincio luriste a reggere la Citta assai prudentemente, e con molta diligenza, usando gran cura, e molto studio in fare, che giusta si stesse I'una, e r altra bilance, non meno ne giudicii, che nelle dispensationi de gli Yffici, e nel premiare le Yirtii, e punire i Vitii. Et duro gran tempo, che, con tale tempera- mento, si acquisto maggior gratia appresso il suo Signore, e si guadagno la beniuolenza di tutto quel popolo. Et si poteua riputare felice fra gli altri, se con tal maniera fosse continuato in quel gouerno. Auenne, che un Giouane deUa terra Yieo chiamato, fe forza ad vna Giouane Cittadina di Ispruchi, onde ne fii fatta
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querela al luristc. Et culi di subito il fece prendcre, e confcssata, cli'egli liebbe la violenza fatta alia vcrfrinc, il condanno, secondo la loui^c di (|uclla Citta, clie vok'na, clu' tali ("osscro condaniiati alia ])cna dcUa testa, se bene ancosi dispoiiessero a })ii;liarla per ^Loglie. JLaueua questi vna Sorella, clic Yeriiine era, e non ])assa- ua diciotto anni. La ([iiale, oltre cli'era ornata di estreiiia bellezza, liaiicua vna dolcissiina nianiera di fauellarc, e ])ortaua scco vna prcsenza aniabile, acc()nq)agnata da donncsca lionesta. Costei, eh'Epitia liaiiea nonie, sentendo cssere condannato a mortc il Fratello, fu so})ra})resa da graiiissinio dolore. e delibcrossi di volere uedere, s'ella i)otesse, se non libcrsirc il Eratello, almeno ammollirgli la pena, e, cssendo ella stata sotto la dipei))lina, insicme col Eratello, di iino linoiiio antico, c'liauca tenuto in casa il Eadre suo, ad insegnare ad anibidue loro JMiilos()})liia, ancliora che il rratello male vsata I'hauesse, se n'ando ad luriste. e il prego ad liaucrc conq)assi()ne a suo Eratello : e per la poca eta, pero cli'egli non passaua sedici anni, la quale, il faccua degno di scusa, e per la jioca esperienza, e per lo stimolo, cli'Amore gli liaucua al fianco, Mostrandogli, cli'era opinione dc' pin saui, che I'Adulterio, connnesso per forza d'Amore, e non per fare ingiuria al ]\rarito della Donna, nieritaua minor pena, che chi ])er ingiuria il faccua : et die il me desiino si deueua dire, nel easo del suo Eratello, il quale non per ingiuria, ma spinto d'ardente amore, quelle fatto haueua, per cui condannato egli era : e die, in amenda ddl'errore conimcsso, egli era ])er pigliare la Giouane per ^logliere, Et, (|uantunque la leggc disponesse, die cio non giouasse a chi le Yergini violasse, Poteua egli nondimeno, come prudente, ch'egli era, niitigare quella seuerita, la ([uale ])ortaua seco piii tosto ofiesa, die Giustitia, esscndo egli in quel luogo, per I'auttorita haunt a dallo Tm])eratore, la Icgge viua, la quale auttorita ella voleua cre- dere, die gli hauesse data sua ]\laesta, perclie egli coll' Equita si mostrasse piu tosto clemente, che asjiro. Et, che se questo temperamento si deueua vsare in caso alcuno, si deueua egli vsare ne casi d'Amore, ([uando spetialmcntc rimaneua saluo I'honore della Donna violata, come era egli per rinianere nel caso di suo Fratello, il quale, era prontissimo a prenderla per j\loglie, e ch'ella credea, che tale fosse stata constituita la Icgge piu per ])orre terrore, che, perclie ella fosse seruata, die le parca vna cruddta, il volere colla morte punire ([uello peccato, che con sodisfattione deU'oU'eso potcua esscre lionoreuoliuente, e santaiiiente emendato, Et, aggiuugendo a queste, altre ragioni, cerco d'indurre luriste a perdonare a (|uel jMesehino, luriste, cui non meno dilettaua gli oreedii il dolce modo di faucllare di Epitia, che gli delettasse la sua gran bellezza gli occhi, fatto insienie vago di vederla, e di vdirla. La indusse a replicargli il medesimo vn'altra volta, La Donna, ])igliando da cio buono augurio, quello istesso gli disse, con vie maggiore elfieacia, die prima. Ondc se ne rimase, e dalla gratia del faucllare di Epitia, e dalla rara bellezza, come vinto, e, tocco da libidinoso appetito, volto la inente a commettere in lei (piello errore, per lo (juale haueua condannato Vieo alia morte. Et, le disse, Epitia, di tanto lianno giouato le ragioni a tuo Fratello, che one diinan gli deueua essere tagliata la testa, si diU'erira la essecutione insino a tanto, die liabbia consi- derate le ragioni, che addotte mi hai, e, se tali le ritrouero, che ti possano dare libero il tuo Fratello, lo ti daro tanto piii volentieri, quanto mc incresce hauerlo veduto condotto a morte, per lo rigorc della dura legge, che cosi ha disposto. Prese da queste parole Epitia buona speranza, e lo ringratio molto, ch'egli cosi cortese le si fosse mostrato. e gli disse, di dcuergli cssere eternamente obligata, Pensandosi di non ritrouarlo meno cortese in liberarlc il Fratello, che cortese I'hauesse ritrouato in prolungargli il termine della vita : e gli soggiunse, die dla fermamente spcraua, che, s'egli consideraua le cose dette, con liberarle il Fratello, la farebbe pienamente contenta : c egli le disse, che le considcrerebbe, e die (([U.'indo senza offendere la Giustitia il potesse fare) non mancherebbe di adempirc il suo desirio ; Tutta piena di speranza si parti Epitia, e se n'ando al Fratello, e tutto quello gli disse, die con
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luriste ella fatto hauea, e quanto di speranza ella ne liauea conceputa nel primo rag-ion amento : Eu cio, in quello estremo caso, molto grato a Vieo. e la prego a nou mancare di sollecitare la sua liberatione, e la Sorella gli promise ogni suo ulRcio. luriste, clie la forma della Donna liauea nell'animo impressa, volto ogni suo pensiero, come lasciuo, cli'egli era, a potersi godere di Epitia. e percio attendeua, cli'ella un'altra volta gli ritornasse a parlare. Ella, passati tre giorni, vi ritorno, e tutta cortese gli dimando quello, che gli liauesse deliberato. luriste, si tosto, che la vide, si senti venir tutto fuoco, e le disse. Ti sii bella Giouane, ben venuta : lo non son mancato di uedere diligentemente cio, che potessero operare le tue ragioni, a fauore di tuo Eratello, e ne ho cercate delle altre anchora, perche tu ri manesti contenta : Ma ritrouo, che ogni cosa conchiude la morte sua : Perclie vi e una legge uniuersale, che quando un pecca non per ignoranza, ma ignorantemente, non puo hauere alcuna scusa il suo peccato, perclie deuea sapere quello, che deono sapere tutti gli huomini vniuersalmente a uiuer bene, e chi con questa ignoranza pecca, non merita ne scusa, ne compassione. Et, essendo in questo caso tuo Eratello, il quale deuea molto ben sapere, che la legge iiolea, che chi uiolaua la Vergine meritasse morte, se ne dee morire, ne io gli posso di ragione usar misericordia. Egli e uero, che quanto a te, alia quale desidero di far cosa grata, quando tu (poi che tanto ami tuo Eratello) uogli essere contenta di com- piacermi di te, Io son disposto di fargli gratia della uita, e mutare la morte in pena men graue. Diuenne tutta fuoco nel uiso a queste parole Epitia, e gli disse, la uita di mio Eratello mi e molto cara, ma uie piii caro mi e I'honor mio, e piii tosto con perdita della uita cercherei di saluarlo, die con perdita dell'lionore, Pero lasciate questo uostro dishonesto pensiero. Ma, se per altra uia posso ricuperare il mio Eratello, che compiacerui, il faro molto uolentieri. Altra uia, disse luriste, non ui e, che quella, che detta ti ho, ne ti deureste mostrartene cosi scliifa, perclie potrebbe ageuolmente auenire, che tali sariano i nostri primi congiunginienti, che mia moglie diueresti. Non uoglio, disse Epitia, porre in pericolo I'honor mio, e perche in pericolo ? disse luriste, forse che tal sei tu, che non ti puoi pensare, che cosi debba essere. Pensaui ben sopra, e ne aspettero per tutto domane la risposta. La risposta ui do io insino ad hora, disse ella, che non mi pigiiando uoi per moglie, quando pure uogliate, che la liberation di mio Eratello da cio dependa, gittate al uento le parole. Peplicolle luriste, ch'ella ui pensasse, e gli ri])ortasse la risposta, considerando diligentemente chi egli era, quello, ch'egli poteua in quella Terra, e quanto potesse essere utile non pure a lei, ma a qualunque altro essergli amico, hauendo egli, in quel luogo, in mano la Ragione, e la Eorza. Si parti Epitia da lui tutta turbata, e se n'ando al Eratello, e gli disse cio, che fra lei, e luriste era auenuto, conchiudendogli, ch'ella non uoleua ])erdere I'honore suo, per saluare a lui la uita. Et, piangendo, il prego a disporsi a tolerare patientemente quella Sorte, che, 0 la necessita de' Eati, o la sua mala Eortuna gli apportaua. Qui si diede a piangere, e a pregare la Sorella Yieo, ch'ella non uolcsse consentire alia sua morte, potendo nella guisa, che proposta le haueua luriste, liberarla. Vorrai tu forse disse Epitia, uedermi la manaia sul collo, e troncato quel capo, che teco e di un mede- simo ventre, e da un medesimo Padre generato, e teco insino a questa eta cresciuto, et nelle discipline teco nutrito, gittato a terra dal Ma nigoldo : Alii Sorella, possa tanto in te, le ragioni della Natura, del sangue, e I'amoreuolezza, che e sempre stata fra noi, che tu potendo, come puoi, mi liberi da cosi uituperoso, e miserabile fine, ho errato, il confesso, Tu Sorella mia, che puoi correggere Terror mio, non mi essere auara del tuo aiuto, hatti detto luriste, che ti potrebbe pigliare per moglie, et perche non dei tu pensare, che cosi debba essere ? Tu bellissima sei, ornata di tutte quelle gratie, che a Gentildonna puo dar la Natura, sei gentilesca, e auenente, liai una rairabile maniera di fauellare, il che fa, che non pure tutte queste cose insieme, ma ciascuna per se, ti puo far cara, non diro ad luriste, ma alio Imperadore
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del Mondo : Pero non liai da dubitar jiunto, che luriste per moglie no sia per prenderti, e cosi, saluo il tuo honore, fie salua insieme del tuo Eratello la uita. riangeua Vieo queste parole dicendo, e insieme seco piangeua Epitia, la quale, hauendo abbracciata al collo Vieo, non prima la lascio, che fii costretta (uinta da pianti del Eratello) di promettergli, che ad luriste si darebbe, poi che cosi a lui pareua, quando gli uolesse saluare la uita, ela mantenesse nella speranza di pigliarla per moglie. Conchiuso questo fra loro: il giorno appresso se n'ando la Giouane ad luriste, e gli disse, che la speranza, ch'egli le hauea da ta di pigliarla per moglie, dopo i primi congiungimenti, e il desiderio di liberare il Eratello non pur dalla morte, ma da qualunque altra pena, ch'egli, per I'errore da lui commesso, meritasse, riiaueua indotta a porsi tutta in suo arbitrio, e che per I'uno, e per I'altro ella era contenta di darglisi, ma soura tutto ella uoleua, ch'egli le promettessi la salute, e la liberta del Eratello, luriste uie piii di ogn'altro huomo si tenne felice, poiche di si bella, e leggiadra Giouane deueua godere, e le disse, che quella medesima speranza egli le daua, che prima le hauea data, e che il fratello libero dalle carcere le darrebbe, la mattina appresso, ch'egli con lei stato si fosse, cosi hauendo cenato insieme luriste, e Epitia se n'andarono poscia a letto, et si prese il Maluagio dell a Donna compiuto piacere. Ma, prima ch'egli andasse a giacersi coUa Vergine, in uecce di liberare Vieo, commise, che subito gli fosse tagliata la testa. La Donna bramosa di veder il Eratello libero, non uide I'hora, che apparisse il giorno, et le parue, che mai tanto non tardasse il Sole a menare il giorno, quanto quella notte. Venuta la mattina, Epitia scioltasi dalle braccia di luriste, il prego, con dolcissmia maniera, che gli piacesse di adempire la speranza, ch'egli data I'haueua di pigliarlasi per Moglie, e che fra tanto, le mandasse libero il Eratello. Et egli le rispose, che gli era stato carissimo I'essere stato con esso lei, e che le piaceua, ch'ella hauesse conceputa la speranza, ch'egli I'hauea data, et che a casa il Eratello le manderebbe. Et cosi detto, fe chiamare il Prigioniere, e gli disse. Vanne alia Prigione, e tranne fuori il Eratello di questa Donna, e condugiie le a casa. Epitia, cio udito, piena di molta allegrezza a casa se n'ando, aspettando libero il fratello, II Prigioniere fatto porre il corpo di Vieo sopra la barra, gli mise il capo a piedi, e coperto lo di panno negro, andando egli auanti, il fe portare ad Epitia. Et entrato in casa, fatta chiamare la Giouane, questo e disse, il Eratel uostro, che ui manda il Sig. Gouernatore libero dalla prigione, et, cosi detto, fe scoprir la barra, Et le offerse il Eratello in quella guisa, c'hauete vdito. lo non credo, che lingua potesse dire, ne comprendere huraana mente quale, e quanto fosse I'affanno, e ilcordoglio di Epitia, veduto offerirsi quel Eratello in quella guisa morto, ch'ella aspettaua con somma allegrezza di uedere uiuo. e assoluto da ogni pena. Mi credo ben Donne, che uoi crediate, che tale, e tanto fii il dolore della misera Donna, che auanzo ogni spetie di ambascia. Ma ella lo chiuse entro il core, Et, oue qualunque altra Donna si saria messa a piangere, e a gridare, ella, cui la Philosophia hauea insegnato qual debbia essere I'animo humano in ogni fortuna, mostro di rimanersi conenta, Et disse al Prigioniere, Tii dirai al tuo Signore, e mio, che quale gli e piacciuto di mandarmi il Eratello mio, tale io I'accetto, et che, poi ch'egli non ha voluto adempire il voler mio, lo mi rimango contenta, ch'egli habbia adempito il suo, et cosi il suo uolere faccia mio pensandomi, ch'esso giustamente fatto habbia quello, che fatto egli ha, e gli mi raccomanderai, ofFerendoglimi prestissima a sempre piacerle. Riferi ad luriste il Prigioniere cio, che Epitia detto gli haueua, dicendogli, ch'ella segno alcuno di discontentezza, non hauea dato, a cosi horribile spettacolo. Resto fra se contento luriste cio udendo, e venne in pensiero di potere hauere non altrimente la Giouane a voglia sua, che s'ella fosse sua moglie, e le hauesse egli viuo offerto Vieo. Epitia, partito il Prigioniere, fe sopra il morto fratello, dirottissimamente piangendo, lunga, e dolente querela. Maledicendo la crudelta di luriste, e la simplicita sua, che prima gli si fosse data, ch'hauesse hauuto libero
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il siio Eratello. Et, dopo molte lagrime, fe dare sepoltura al morto corpo. Et, ridottasi poscia sola nella sua stanza, spinta da giustissirao sdegno comincio a dir seco. Dunque tolererai tu Epitia, che questo Eibaldo ti habbia tolto il tuo lionore, e per cio ti habbia promesso di darti libero, e viuo il Eratel tuo, e poscia lo ti habbia in si miserabile forma olferto morto ? Tolererai tii, ch'egli di due tali inganni, fatti alia tua simplicita, si possa uantare, senza hauerne da te medesima il debito gastigo ? Et accendendo con tali parole se alia vendetta, Disse. Lamia semplicita ha aperta la uia a questo scelerato di arrecare a fine il suo dishonesto desiderio, uoglio io, che la sua lasciuia mi dia il modo di uendicarmi, e se bene il far uendetta, non mi dara il mio Eratello uiuo, mi sara ella nondimeno un passa- mento di noia, e, in tanta turbatione di animo, quasi sii questo pensiero si fermo. Aspettando, che luriste di nuouo la mandasse a dimandare, per giacersi con lei ; one andando, haueua deliberato portar seco celatamente il coltello, e, ueggiando, 6 dormendo, come prima tempo se ne uedesse suenarlo. Et se il destro se ne uedesse leuargli la testa, e portarla al Sepolchro del Eratello, e all'ombra sua sacrarla. Ma pensando poi sopra cio piii maturamente, uide, che, anchora che le uenisse fatto di uccidere il Erodolente, si potrebbe ageuolmente presumere, che ella, come dishonesta Donna, e per cio ardita ad ogni male, cio hauesse fatto per ira, e per sdegno piii tosto, die perche egli le fosse mancato di fede. Onde essendole noto quanta fosse la Giustitia dell' Imperadore, il quale allhora era a Yillaco, deliberossi di andaiio a ritrouare, e dolersi appresso sua Maesta della ingratitudine, e della ingiustitia usatale da luriste. Portando ferma opinione, che quell'Ottimo, e Giustissimo Imperadore farebbe portare giustissima pena a quel ]\Ialuagio e della ingiustitia, e della ingratitudine sua. Et uestitasi di liabito lugubre, messasi tutta sola segretamente in camino, se n'ando a Massimiano, e, fattagli chiedere udienza, e ottenutala, gli si gitto a piedi, e accompagnando col dolente liabito la mesta uoce, gli disse. Sacratissimo Im- peradore, mi ha spinta auanti la ]\Iaesta Vostra, La fiera ingratitudine, e la incredibile ingiustitia, che mi ha luriste usata, Gouernatore in Ispruchi di Vostra Cesarea Maesta. Sperando, ch'ella adoperera in guisa la sua Giustitia, che a niun misero uenne mai meno, che come mi ho da dolere infinitamente di luriste, per lo torto, ch'egli mi ha fatto, di cui non fii mai udito il maggiore, non si andera altiero di hauermi, come mi ha, mi seramente assassinata, siami lecito usare questa parola inanzi a vostra Maesta, laquale anchora, che paia aspera, non agguaglia nondimeno la crudele, e non mai piii udita onta, che mi ha fatto questo mai' huomo. facendomisi ad un trato conoscere, e ingiustissimo, e ingratissimo. Et qui, dirottamente piangendo, e sospirando narro a sua Maesta, e come luriste sotto speranza di pigliarla per moglie, e de liberarle il Eratello, le liauea leuata la Virginita, e poscia le hauea maudato il Eratello suso vna barra morto coUa testa a piedi. E qui si mise gran grido, e allargo si gli occlii al pianto, che com- mosse in guisa, e I'lmperatore, e gli altri Signori, che a torno sua Maesta erano, clie se ne stauano, per la pieta, come huomini adombrati. Ma, anchora che Massimiano molta compassione le hauesse. Nondimeno hauendo data una delle orecchie ad Epitia (la quale alfin delle parole egli fe leuare in piedi) serbo raltra,per luriste, et man data la Donna a risposarsi, Mando subito a chiamare luriste, commettendo, e al Messo, e a tutti gli altri, che iui erano, che, per quanto era lor cara la gratia sua, di cio non dicessero ad luriste parola. luriste, che ogn'altra cosa si haurebbe piii tosto pensata, che Epitia fosse andata alio Imperadore, ui uenne tutto lieto, et, giunto alia presenza di sua Maesta, fatta che gli liebbe riuerenza, le chiese cio, ch'ella da lui uolesse, Hora, Hora il saprei, disse Massimiano. Et di subito fe chiamare Epitia. luriste veduta iui colci, cui sapeua egli di hauere grauemente offesa, uinto dalla conscienza, in guisa si smarri, che abbandonato da gli spiriti vitali, comincio tutto a tremare. La qual cosa veggendo Massimiano, tenne certo, che la
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Donna nulla meno del vero detto le hauesse. Et riuoltosi verso lui, con quella seuerita, clie a cosi atroce caso si conueniua, odi, disse, di che si duol di te questa Giouane. Et commise ad Epitia, che quello dicesse, di che ella si lamentaua. La quale per ordine tutta la historia gli narro, e al fine, come prima dolente, all' Imperadore cliiese Giustitia : luriste sentita I'accusa, voile lusingare la Donna, dicendo, lo non haurei mai creduto, die voi, che tanto amo, foste venuta a cosi accusarmi auanti sua Maesta, Non consent! JMassimiano, che luriste lusingasse la Giouane, et disse non e tempo di fare qui I'appassionato, rispondi pure alia accusa, cli'ella ti ha data. luriste allliora lasciato quello, che gli potea far danno. Egli e vero disse, che ho fatta tagliare la testa al Eratello di costei, per hauere egli rapita, e fatto forza ad una Vergine, e cio ho io fatto, per non uiolare la Santita delle leggi, e per seruare quella Giustitia, che tanto raccomandata mi haueua la Maesta nostra, senza ofFesa delta quale egli uiuo non potea rimanere. Qui Epitia, e se cos! ti parea, che uolesse la Giustitia, per che mi pronietesti tii di darlomi uiuo, e sotto questa promessa, dandomi speranza di pigliarmi per moglie, mi priuasti della Yirginita mia, se merito mio Eratello sentire per vn peccato solo la seuerita della Giustitia, tu per due uie piii di lui tel meriti. Kimase qui come muto luriste. Onde lo Imperadore, Parti disse luriste, che questo sia stato serbare la Giustitia, 6 pure hauerla ofFesa talmente, che Thai poco meno, che uccisa ? con I'hauere vsata la maggiore ingratitudine verso questa gentil Giouane, cli'usasse mai Scelerato alcuno ? ma non te n'andrai lieto, credilo a me, Comincio qui luriste a domandar mercede, et Epitia, alio incontro, adiniandar Giustitia : Conosciuta da Massimiano la Simplicita della Giouane Donna, e la maluagita d'luriste. Penso subito, come potesse serbare I'honore alia Donna, e Seruare parimente la Giustitia, e tra se resolutosi di quanto uoleua fare, voile, ch'Iuriste sposasse Epitia. Non voleua consentiiio la Donna, dicendo, ch'ella non potea pensare di deuer mai hauer da lui se non sceleragini, e tradimenti. Ma voile jMassimiano, che di quello ella fosse contenta, ch'egli hauea deliberato, Sposata la Donna, si credete luriste, che fosse messo fine a suoi mali. Ma altrimente auenne. Imperoche, data licenza Massimiano alia Donna, che all'albergo si riducesse, voltatossi verso luriste, che iui era rimaso : e gli disse. Due, sono stati i tuoi delitti, e ambidue molto graui, L'uno, I'hauer uituperata questa Giouane, con tale inganno, che si dee dire, che le habbi fatta, forza, I'altro I'hauerle ucciso, contra la fede datale, il suo Eratello, il quale, anchora che meritasse la morte, era nondimen degno (poi che a uiolar la Giustitia ti eri disposto) che piii tosto tu mantenessi la fede alia sua Sorella, poi che la tua dissoluta lasciuia a promettergliele, sulla fede, te haueua ridotto, che, fatta a lei vergogna, mandargliele, come mandato glie le hai, morto. Pero, poi die al primo peccato ho proueduto, con I'hauer ti fatta sposare la uiolata Donna, in emenda del secondo uoglio, che cosi sia a te tagliata la testa, come al suo fratello la facesti tagliare. Quanto graue fosse il dolore di luriste, vdita la sentenza dello Imperadore si puo piii tosto imaginare, che pienamente narrarlo, Eii adunque dato luriste a Sergenti, perche, la mattina appresso, egli fosse, secondo il tenore deUa setenza, vcciso. La onde luriste, del tutto a morir disposto, non attendeua altro senone, che il Manigoldo a guastarlo andasse. Era questo temj)0 Epitia, die cosi ardente era stata contra lui, vdita la sentenza dello Imperadore, Mossa dalla sua naturale bcnignita, guidico, che non fusse cosa degna di lei, che dapoi che I'lmperadore hauea voluto, die luriste suo Marito fosse, e ella per tale I'hauea acceltato, consentisse, che gli fosse per sua cagione data morte. Parendole, che cio le potesse essere piu tosto attribuito ad appetito di vendetta, e a crudeltri, die a desiderio di Giustitia. Per la qual cosa piegando tutto il pensiero alia salute del Cattiuello, se n'ando alio Imperadore, e hauuta licenza di parlare, cosi disse. Sacratissimo Imperatore, la ingiustitia, e la ingratitudine, che vsata mi haueua luriste, me indussero a chiedere Giustitia contra lui da nostra Maesta. La quale.
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come Giustissima, a due delitti commessi da lui ha giustissimamente proueduto, all'uno, che fu il tormi con inganno la Virginita mia, col far, ch'egli per moglie mi prenda, all'altro, che fu Thauermi ucciso il Eratello, contra la fede datami, col condannarlo a morte. Ma, come, prima, che sua moglie fiissi, deuea desiderare, che vostra Maesta a quella morte il condannasse, alia quale ella giustissimamente condannato I'ha, cosi hora, poi che a lei piacciuto e, che, col Santo vincolo del matrimonio, io sia ad luriste legata, mi terrei se alia sua morte consentissi, meritar nome di spietata, e crudel donna, con perpetua infamia, II che sarebbe effetto contrario alia intention di Vostra Maesta, la quale, colla sua Giustitia, ha cercato I'honor mio, Pero, Sacratissimo Imperadore, accioche la buona intention di vostra Maesta il suo fine conseguisca, e I'honor mio senza macchia se ne rimagna. Pregoui, humilissimamente, e con ogni riuerenza, a non volere, che per la sentenza di nostra Maesta, la spada della Giustitia scioglia miseramente quel nodo, col quale ha piacciuto a lei con luriste legarmi, Et, one la sentenza di nostra Maesta, ha dato chiaro segno della sua Giustitia, in condannarlo alia morte, cosi hora le piaccia, come di nuouo alfettuosamente la prego, fare manifesta la sua Clemenza col donarlomi uiuo, Non e, Sacratissimo Imperatore, punto minor lo'la, a chi tiene il gouerno del Mondo, come hora, vostra Maesta dignissimamente il tiene, I'usare la clemenza, che la Giustitia: che one questa mostra, che i vitii gli sono in odio, e percio dan loro gastigo, Quella lo fa simgliantissimo a gli Iddii Immortali. Et io, se questa singolar gratia otterro dalla benignita vostra, per lo benigno atto, vsato verso me, humilissima Serua di vostra Maesta, preghero, sempre con diuota mente Iddio, che degni conseruare a lunghi, e a felici anni la Maesta vostra, accioch'ella possa lungamente vsare la Giustitia, e la Clemenza sua a beneficio de mortali, e ad honore, e immortal gloria sua. Et qui pose fine Epitia al suo parlare. Parue cosa marauigliosa a Massimiano, ch'ella, posta in Oblio la graue ingiuria riceuuta da luriste, per lui si caldamente pregasse. Et gli parue, che tanta bonta, ch'egli vide in quella Donna, meritasse ch'egli, per gratia le con- cedesse colui vino, che era stato a morte, per Giustitia condannato. Onde fatto chiamare luriste dinanzi a se, in quell'hora, ch'egli attendeua di essere condotto a morte, gli disse. Ha potuto, reo huomo, tanto nel cospetto mio la bonta di Epitia, che, one la tua sceleragine meritaua, di essere punita, con doppia morte, non, che con vna, ella mi ha mosso a farti gratia della vita. La qual vita, Io voglio, che tu conoschi da lei. Et poscia, ch'ella si contenta di viuer teco, con quel legame congiunta, col quale io con lei voUi, che ti legasti, son contento, che tu, con lei ti viua, Et se sentiro mai, che tu meno, che da amoreuolissima, e cortesissima moglie la tratti, io ti faro prouare quanto sara il dispiacere, che mi farai. Et, conqueste parole presa lo Imperatore, Epitia per mano, ad luriste la diede, Ella, e luriste insieme, rese gratie a sua Maesta, della gratia loro concessa, e del fauor fatto, et luriste, considerata quanta verso lui fosse stata la cortesia de Epitia, I'hebbe sempre carissima. onde ella con lui felicissimamente visse il rimanente de gli anni suoi. (The above is taken verbatim from ed. 15G5, ii. pp. 415-Ii30.)
(2). The rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra, reportedhy Madam Isabella. — At what time Corvinus, the scourge of the Turkes, rayned as kinge of Pohemia, for to well governe the free cities of hisrealme, hee sent divers worthy majestrates. Among the rest, he gave the Lorde Promos the lieutennauntship of Julio ; who in the beginning of his government, purged the cittie of many ancient vices, and severely punished new offenders. In this cittie, there was an olde custome (by the suffering of some majestrates, growne out of use) that what man so ever committed adulterie, should lose his head; and the woman offender should ever after be infa- mously noted by the wearing of some disguised apparrell : for the man was helde to bee the greatest offender, and therefore had the severest punishment. Lorde
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rromos, with a rough execution, revived this statute, and in the hyest degree of injuric brake it hymselfe, as shall appeare by the sequell of Andrugfoes adventures. This Andrugio, by the yeelding favour of fayre Polina, trespassed against this ordinaunce, who through envie was accused, and by Lorde Promos condemned to suffer execution. The wofull Cassandra, Andrugioes sister, prostrates her selfe at Lorde Promos feete, and with more teares then wordes thus pleaded for her brothers lyfe. Most noble Lorde, and worthy judge,voutchsafe mee the favour to speake,whose case is so desperate, as unlesse you beholde mee with the eyes of mercie, the frayle trespasse of condemned Andrugio, my brother, will bee the death of sorrowfull Cassandra, his innocent sister. I wil not presume to excuse his offence, or reproche the lawe of rigor ; for in the generall construction, hee hath done most evill, and the law hath judged but what is right: but, reverent judge, pardon the necessitie maketh mee here tel that your wisdome already knoweth. The most soveraigne justice is crowned with laurell, although shee bee gyrt vnth a sword, and this priveledge shee giveth unto her administrators ; that they shall mitigate the severetie of the law, according to the quallyty of the offence. Then, that Justice bee not robbed of her gratious pitty, listen, good Lorde Promos, to the nature of my brothers offence, and his able meanes to repap-e the injurie. Hee hath defyled no nuptiall bed, the stayne wherof dishonoureth the guyltlesse husband : hee hath committed no violent rape, in which act the injuried mayde can have no amends. But with yeelding consent of his mistresse, Andrugio hath onlye sinned through love, and never ment but with marriage to make amendes. I humbly bcseeche you to accept his satisfaction, and by this example you shall be as much beloved for your clemencye, as feared for your severitie. Andrugio shalbe well warned, and hee with his sister, wofull Cassandra, shall ever remayne your Lordships true servantes. Promos eares were not so attentive to heare Cassandras ruethful tale, as his eyes were settled to regarde her excellent beautie. And Love, that was the appoincted headsman of Andrugio, became now the soveraigne of his judges thought. But ])ecause he would seeme to bridle his passions, he aunswered : fayre damsell, have patience, you importune me with an impossybylytie : he is condempned by lawe, then without injurie to lawe, he can not be saved. Princes and their deputies prerogatives (quoth she) are above the lawe. Besides, lawe, truelie construed, is but the amends of injurie ; and where the faulte may bee valued, and amendes had, the breache of lawe is sufficiently repayred. Quoth Lorde Promos : your passions mooveth more then your proofes, and for your sake I wyll reprive Andrugio, and studie how to do you ease without apparent breache of lawe. Cassandra, recom- forted, with humble thankes recep-ed his favoure, and in great haste goeth too , participate this hope with her dying brother : but oh, that aucthorytie should have power to make the vertuous to doo amisse, as well as throughe correction to enforce the vicious to fall unto goodnesse. Promos is a witnes of this priviledge, who not able to subdue his incontinent love, and (withal) resolved that Cassandra would never be overcome with fayre words, large ])romises, or riche rewardes, demaunded the spoyle of her virginitie for raunsome of her brothers lybertie. Cassandra ymagyned at tlie first, that Lorde Promos used this speache but to trie her behaviour, aunswered hym so wisely, as, if he had not ben the ryvall of vertue, he coidd not but have suppressed his lewve {sic) affection, and have subscribed to her just petition : but to leave circurnstaunces, Promos was fiered with a vicious desyre, which must be quenched witli Cassandraes yeldyng love, or Andrugio must dye. Cassandra, mooved with a chaste disdayne, departed with the resolution, rather to dye her selfe, then to stayne her honour ; and with this heavie newes, greeted her condemned brother. Poore man, alas, what should he do ! Life was sweete ; but to be re- deemed with his sisters infamie could not but be alwayes unsaverie. To perswade her to consente was unnaturall : too yealde to death was more g.reevous. To choose
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the leaste of these evylles was difhcult : to stiidie long was daungerous. Eayne would he lyve, but shame cloased his mouth when he attempted to perswade his sister. But necessytie, that maistereth both shame and feare, brake a passadge for his imprysoned intent. Sweete Cassandra (quoth he), that men love is usuall, but to subdue affection is impossyble ; and so thornie are the motions of incontinent desire, as to finde ease the tongue is only occupied to perswade. The purse is ever open to entice, and wheare neither words nor giftes can corrupt (with the mightie) force shall constrayne, or dispight avenge. That Promos do love is but just : thy beautie commaundes hym : that Promos be refused is more just, because consent is thy shame. Thou maiste refuse and lyve ; but he beynge rejected, I die : for, wantyng his wyll in thee, he wyll wreake his teene on mee. This is my hard estate : my lyfe lieth in thy infamie, and thy honour in my death. Which of these evylles be leaste I leave for thee to judge. The wofull Cassandra answered, that death was the leaste ; whose darte we can not shunne, when honour, in deathes dispight, outlyveth tyme. It is true, (quoth Andrugio), but thy trespasse wyll be in the leaste degree of blame ; for in forced faultes justice sayth, there is no intent of evyll. Oh Andrugio, (quoth she), intent is now adayes lytic considred: thou art not condemned by the intent, but by the strickt worde of the law : so shall my crime bee reproched, and the forced cause passe unexcused ; and such is the venome of envye, one evill deede shall disgrace ten good turnes, and in this yeelding, so shall I be valued : envye, disdaine, spight, mallice, sclaunder, and many moe furies will endevour to shame mee, and the meanest vertue wyll blush to help to support my honour ; so that I see no lybertie for thee but death, nor no ease for mee but to hasten my ende. O yes (quoth Andrugio), for if this offence be known thy fame will bee enlarged, because it will lykewise bee knowne that thou receavedst dishonor to give thy brother lyfe ; if it be secreat, thy conscience wyl be without scruple of guiltinesse. Thus, knowne, or unknowne, thou shalt be deflowred, but not dishonested, and for amends wee both shall lyve. This further hope remaineth ; that as the gilliflower both pleaseth the eye and feedetli the sence, even so the vertue of thy chast behaviour may so grace thy bewty, as Promos filthie lust may bee turned into faithfull love, and so move him to salve thy honour in making thee hys wife, or for conscience forbeare to doe so heynous an injurie. Soveraigne maddame, and you, faire gentlewomen (quoth Isabella), I intreate you in Cassandras behalfe, these reasons well wayed, to judge her yeelding a constrainte, and no consent ; who, werie of her owne life, and tender over her brothers, with the teares of her lovely eyes bathed his cheekes, with this comfortable sentence. Lyve, Andrugio, and make much of this kisse, which breatheth my honour into thy bowels, and draweth the infamie of thy first trespasse into my bosome. The sharpe incounters betweene life and death so occupied Andrugios sences, that his tongue had not the vertue to bid her fare well. To greeve you with the hearing of Cassandras secreate plaints were an injurie, vertuous ladies, for they concluded with their good fortune, and everlasting fame ; but for that her offence grew neyther of frayltie, free wyl, or any motion of a woman, but by the meere inforcement of a man, because she would not staine the modest weedes of her kynde, shee attired her selfe in the habit of a page, and with the bashful! grace of a pure virgin, shee presented wicked Promos Andrugioes precious ran some. This devill in huraaine shape, more vicious then Hyliogabalus of Home, and withaU, as cruell as Denis of Sicyll, receaved this juell with a thousande protestations of favour. But what should I say? in the beginnyng of his love Promos was metamorphosed into Priapus : and of a feende what may we expect but vengeaunce heaped upon villany ? And therefore, let it not seeme straunge, that after this helhound had dishonoured Cassandra, hee sent his warrant to the gayler pryvely to execute Andrugio, and, with his head crowned with these two breefes, in Promos name to present Cassandra:
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Eayre Cassandra, as Promos promist tbee, From pryson, loe, he sendes thy brother free.
Tliis was his charge, whose cursed wyll had ben executed, had not God, by an especiall providence, at the liowre of his death, possessed An drugio with the vertues of the two brave Eomanes, IMarcus Crassus and ]\Iarius, the one of whiche by the force of his tongue, and the other by the motions of his eyes, caused the axe to fall out of the headsmans hand, and moUyfyed his cruell mynde. With lyke compas- sion, the gayler (in hearinge Andrugios hard adventure) left his resolution ; and uppon a solenipne othe to live unknowne, yea, to his deare sister, he gave him life, and in the dead of the night, betooke him to God, and to good fortune : which done, this good gayler tooke the head of a yonge man newe executed, who some- what resembled Andrugio, and, according to lewde Promos commaundement, made a present thereof to Cassandra. How unwelcome this present was, the testimonie of her former sorowes somewhat discover ; but to give her present passion a true grace were the taske of Prometheus, or such a one as hath had experience of the anguishes of hell. 0 ! quoth shee, sweete Andrugio, whether shall I firste lament thy death, exclaime of I'romos injurie, or bemone my owne estate, deprived of honour ? and which is worse, cannot die but by the violence of my owne hands. Alas ! the least of these greefes are to heavie a burden for a man, then all, joyned in one poore womans hearte, can not be eased but by death ; and to be avenged of inju- rious fortune, I wil fortliwitli cut my fillet of life. But so shall Promos lewdnesse escape unpunished : what remedie ? I am not of power to revenge ; to complayne, I expresse my owne infamie, but Avithal proclaime his vilanie : and to heare his lewdnes reproved woulde take away the bitternesse of my death. I will goe unto the king, who is just and merciful! : hee shall heare the ruthfuU events of Promos tyrrannie ; and to give him example of vengeaunce, I will seale my complaintes witli my dearest bloode. Continuing this determination, Cassandra buried her imagined brothers heade, and with speed jornyed unto king Corvinus court ; before whose presence M'hen shee arrived, her mourninge attyre, but especially her modest countenaunce, moved him to beholde her with an especiall regarde. Cassandra (uppon the graunt of audience) with her eyes overcharged with teares, reported the alreadie discoursed accidentes with suche an apparaunce of greefe, as the king and his attendants were astonied to heare her ; and sure had shee not been happily prevented, shee had concluded her determination witli chast Lucretias destiny. The king comforted her Avith many gratious words, and promised to take such order, that (although he could not be revived) her brotliers death should fidly be revenged, and her erased honour repayred withoute blemysh of her former reputation. Cassandra, upon these comfortable wordes, a lytell succoured her afflicted liart, and with patience attended the justice of the king ; wdio with a chosen companie made a ]):'ogresse to Julio, and cntred the town with a semblaunce of great favour towardes Promos, by that colour to learne what other corru])te majestrates ruled in the cittie : for well he knewe that byrdes of a feather would flie together, and wicked men would joyne in affection to boulster each others evil. After this gratious king had by heedfull intelligence understoode the factions of the people, unlooked for of the magistrates, he caused a proclamation to be published, in which was a clause, that if anie person coulde charge anie magistrate or officer with anie notable or ha}Tious offence, treason, murder, rape, sedition, or with any such notorious crime, where they were the judges of the multitude, hee woulde himselfe bee the judge of them, and doe justice unto the meanest. Uppon this proclamation it was a hell to lieare the exclamations of the poore, and the festered consciences of the rich appeared as lotlisomc as the river of Stix. Among manie that complayned, and received judgement of comfort, Cassandras processe was
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presented, who, lead betweene sorrow and shame, accused Promos to his face. The evidence was so playne, as the horrour of a guiltie conscience reaved Promos of all motions of excuse ; so that holding up his hande among the worst degree of theeves, the litle hope that was leaft moved him to confesse the crime, and with repentance to sue for mercy. 0! (quoth the king) such espetial mercy were tyrannic to a common wealth. No, Promos, no : Hoc facias alteri, quod tibi vis fieri : you shall be measured with the grace you betowed on Andrugio. 0 God ! (quoth hee) if men durst bark as dogges, manie a judge in the world would be bcAVTayed for a theefe. It behove th a prince to know to whom hee committeth authoritie, least the sword of justice, appointed to chasten the lewde, wound the good; and where good subjects are wronged, evill officers receave the benefit, and their soveraignes beareth the blame. Well, wicked Promos, to scourge thy impious offences, I heere give sentence, that thou foorthwith marry Cassandra, to repayre her honour by thee violated, and that the next day thou lose thy head, to make satisfaction for her brothers death. This just judgement of the good kinge in the first point was foorthwith executed ; but sacred is the authoritie, that the vertues of the good are a sheelde unto the lewde : so sweete Cassandra, who (simply) by vertue overcame the spiglit of fortune, in this marriadge was charged with a new assault of sorrow, and preferring the dutie of a wife before the naturall zeale of a sister, where she before prosecuted the revenge of her brothers deatli, shee now was an humble suter to the kinge for her husbands lyfe. The gracious kinge sought to appease her with good words, but hee could not do her this private favour without injurie unto the publyke weale ; for thougli (quoth he) your sute be just, and the bounden dutie of a wife, yet I in fulfillyng the same should do injustly, and (generally) injure my subjects : and therfore, good gentle- woman, have patience, and no doubt vertue in the ende wiU give you power over all your afflictions. There was no remedie : Cassandra must departe out of hope to obtayne her sute ; but as the experience is in dayly use, the dooinges of princes post through the world on Pegasus backe, and as theyr actions are good or badde, so is their fame. With the lyke speede the kynges justice, and Promos execution was spred abroad, and by the tonge of a clowne was blowen into Andrugioes eares, who tyll then lyved lyke an outlawe in the desart wooddes. But upon these newes, covertly in the habyt of an hermyt, by the divine motion of the sowle who directes us in thinges that be good, and the flesshe in actions of evyll, Andrugio goes to see the death of his capitall enemie ; but, on the other parte, regardyng the sorrow of his sister, he wisshed him lyfe as a friende. To conclude, as well to geve terrour to the lewde, as comfort to his good subjectes, the kyng (personallie) came to see the execution of Promos ; avIio, garded with officers, and strengthened with the comfortable perswasions of his gliostly fathers, among whom Andrugio was, meekely offered his lyfe as a satisfaction for his offences, which were many more then the lawe tooke knowledge of : and yet, to say the trueth, suche was his repentance, as the multitude did both forgeve and pittie him ; yea, the king wondred that his lyfe was governed with no more vertue, consideryng the grace he showed at his death. Andrugio, behouldyng this ruethful spectackle,was so overcome with love towardes his sister, as, to give her comfort, he franckly consented anew to emperill his own life ; and followinge this resolution, in his hermyts weede, ii])on his knees he humblye desired the kinge too give hym leave to speake. The kj ng (gratiously) graunted hym audience. Wherupon (quoth he), regarded soveraigne, if lawe may possibly be satisfied, Promos true repentance meritteth pardon. Good father (quoth the king) he can not live, and the lawe satisfied, unlesse (by miracle) Andrugio be revived. Then (quoth the hermyt) if Andrugio lyve, the law is satisfied, and Promos discharged. I (quoth the king), if your praier can revive the one, my mercie shall acquite the other. I humbly thanke your Majestic
IG
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
[iNTROD.
(quoth Andrui^io) ; and discovcryng liimselfe, shewed the providence of God and the meane of liis escape : and tcndrvnge his sisters, comfort a])ove his owne safetie, liee prostrated him selfe at his Majesties fcete, humblye to obay the sentence of his pleasm-e. The kinge uppon the reporte of this straunge adventure, after good dehberation, pardoned Promos, to keepe his worde, and withall, houldyng an oi)inyon that it was more benefitiall for the citezens to be ruled by their ohle evell governour, new refourmed, then to adventure u})pon an newc, whose behaviours ^vere unknowne ; and to perfect Cassandras joye, he pardoned her brother Andrugio, witli condition that he should marrie Polina, Thus, from betweene the teethe of daunger every partie was preserved, and in the ende establyslied in their hartes desire.
It is by no means improbable tbat tlie first of tbese tales was known to Sliakespeare, even altliougli be bas adopted alterations introduced by AYbetstone into bis Promos and Cassandra ; and tbere appear to be a few minor indications wbicli lead to tbe conclusion tbat tbe Italian drama on tbe subject, as well as tbe novel, bad been perused by tbe great dramatist. Cintbio's tragedy of Epitia, as previously observed, was not publisbed, bowever, till some years after tbe appearance of Wbetstone's drama. In tbe latter, tbe youtb is sentenced for tbe lesser crime of seduction, and be is saved, as in Measure for Measm'c, by tbe substitution of anotber bead ; but tbe great improvement, by wbicb tbe tale is so mucb purified, is tbe introduction of ]Mariana, an incident for wbicb w e are indebted to Sliakespeare bimself. Tbe substitution of IMariana in tbe garden-bouse not only reconciles tbe reader to tbe development of tbe story, but softens bis indignation at tbe infamy of Angelo, and removes wliat would otberwise be considered tbe glaring inconsistency of Isabella's intercession. Tbe sojourn of tbe Duke in tbe city in disguise is also one of Sliakespeare's introductions.
As tbe play of Promos and Cassandra is reprinted at tbe end of tbe notes, carefully re-collated witb a copy of tbe original edition preserved in tbe Britisb ^Museum, it is scarcely necessary to enter at lengtli into tbe question of tbe extent of Sliakespeare's obli<>'ations to Wbetstone. Tbe cliief aim of tbe editor of tbe present work is directed to tbe accumulation of autbentic ma- terials, ratlicr tban to offer to tbe reader discussions on points of tliis description, especially in cases wliere an attentive perusal of tbose materials will convey a better knowledge of tbe subject tban could be obtained from any critical analysis, bowever elabo- rate. Tbere is sufficient evidence tbat tbe great dramatist was acquainted witb tbe elder play, but tbe similarities to be traced between tbat drama and jNIeasure for jMeasure are not of striking inq)ortance. A few of tbe most curious are mentioned in tbe notes ; and it is wortliy of remark tbat Sliakespeare appears to
INTEOD.]
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
17
have taken the idea of the title of his comedy from a couplet in the first part of Whetstone's play, in which a person who deceives others is said to deserve himselfe lyke measure to receyve," a passage which would naturally suggest the adoption of the old proverb of Measure for Measure, which occurs in A Warning for Faire Women, 1599, and is alluded to by Shakespeare in the Third Part of Henry VI.
Malone is of opinion that in the speech of the Duke in the first act, commencing, "I love the people," &c., there is an aUusion to the great dislike of James I. to popular applause; and as the play Avas acted before that sovereign soon after his acces- sion to the throne, it certainly is not impossible that an apology of this kind for a reserve which does not appear to have well pleased the English public, would have been highly relished by the king. James had exhibited early in life a fondness for the " life removed." As early as the year 1586, he is thus de- scribed by a contemporary, — "Generally, he seemeth desirous of peace, as appeareth by his disposition and exercis; viz., his great delight in hunting, his private delight in enditing poesies, and in one or both of these commonly he spendeth the day, when he hath no public thing to do; his desire to withdraw himself from places of most access and company, to places of more solitude and repose, with very small retinue." A similar taste pervaded his movements after he had ascended the throne of these realms; and in his progress from Edinburgh to London, "he w^as faine," observes the writer of A True Narration of the Entertainment of his Royall Majestic, 1603, "to publish an in- hibition against the inordinate and dayly accesse of peoples comming." In his "publick appearance," observes Wilson, "especially in his sports, the accesses of the people made him so impatient, that he often dispersed them with frowns, that we may not say with curses." There is something still more definite in the account which Sir Simonds d'Ewes gives of the king's conduct in his progress to Parliament in the year I62I, — "In the King's short progress from Whitehall to Westminster, these passages following were accounted somewhat remarkable; First, that he spake often and lovingly to the people, standing thick and three-fold on all sides to behold him, 'God bless ye! God bless ye!' contrary to his former hasty and passionate custom, wldch often in his sudden distemper ivould bid a plague on such as foched to see him: Secondly, that though the windows were filled v(\t\\ m. 3
18
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
[iNTKOD.
many great ladies as he rode along, yet that he spake to none of them hut to the Marqviis of Buckingham's mother and wife, Avho Avas the sole dauo-hter and heiress of the Earl of Rutland : Thirdly, that he spake particularly and howed to the Count of Gondomar, the Spanish amhassador; and fourthly, that look- ing up to one window as he passed, full of gentle- women or ladies in yellow hands, he cried out
aloud, 'A take ye, are ye there?' at which
heing much ashamed, they all withdrew tliem- selyes suddenly from the window." This graphic account certainly confirms the possihility of ^lalone's conjecture, which, howeyer, it is scarcely necessary to ohserye, is not founded on eyidence. If it he admitted, another passage may he pro- duced which also tends to the same conclusion, — " and eyen so the general," &.c. The other argu- ments adduced hy ^lalone respecting the chro- nology do not appear to he of any importance ; and, indeed, the principal one, an imitation of a passage in Pleasure for Pleasure hy Barksted, in 1607, is rendered of little yalue hy the recent discoyery that the play was performed at White- hall, before the Court, on December 26th, 1604, the following entry occurring in the original account-book preserved at the Audit Office, Somerset House, — " On St. Stiyens night in the ^ hall a play caled Mesur for ^lesur." The author's name is recorded as Shaxherd, a curious eyidence of the scribe's ignorance of the poet's real appella- tion. The discovery of this curious entry AA as made by ^Ir. P. Cunningham, and it was pub- lished in his Extracts from the Accounts of the Reyels at Court, 8yo. Lond. 1842, p. 204. A facsimile of this important notice, the earliest mention of the comedy known to exist, is here v.^'^ given from the original manuscript; and the pro- ^■^-^^ bability is that the play itself was written not long previously to the date of this performance. The entry occurs in the book of accounts that extend from October, 1604, to October, 1605, the title in the MS. being, "The Accompte of the Office of the
'I
INTROD.]
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
19
Revelles of this whole yeres Charge in anno 1604, untell the last of Octohar, 1605." It is clear, therefore, that Measure for Measure was performed before the Court a few days previously to the close of the year 1604; but it was not printed before its appearance in the collective edition of 1623. The allusions to "these black masks," in the second act, is a strong testimony in favour of the opinion that the comedy was written with a view to its performance at Court ; for if, as is very probable, the masks alluded to are those of the audience, Shakespeare would scarcely have been likely so to have flattered an ordinary assem- blage at a public theatre.
In Measure for Measure, Shakespeare has infinitely purified a barbarous tale, which the taste of the age authorised as a legi- timate subject for dramatic representation; and he has converted it into a generic history of the ever-continuing struggle between chastity and incontinence. As far as a narrative of the kind coidd possibly be made subservient to the purposes of a moral, that end has been in an extraordinary degree accomplished by this singular composition, which exhibits, in an outline of wonderful power, how frequently is the impulse of temptation irresistible to a mind that relies upon its own strength for protection. The prayers of Angelo came from his lips, not from his heart, and he fell a victim to a passion which he would otherwise either have stifled in its conception, or sought to gratify by lawful means. There are indications which appear to suggest that the Duke himself, notwithstanding his openly expressed commenda- tions of the Deputy's qualities, has some secret misgivings that "power may change purpose," and that Lord Angelo may not surrender his trust with an unscathed conscience. It is not, indeed, impossible that the Duke is throughout intending to make trial of Angelo, and that he Avas induced to this by his knowledge of the history of Mariana, his acquaintance with her melancholy story appearing to be incompatible with a sincerely high estimation of him. At all events, whether this be the case or not, there can scarcely be a doubt but that the main action of the drama depends on the temptation and fall of Angelo, and that these are the incidents selected by the poet for the develop- ment of his intention, to Avhich the other transactions of the comedy, including the noble advocacy of the sagacious and eloquent Isabella for her brother, are merely accessories. The author has rendered the story subservient to the inculcation of
20
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
[iNTROU.
mercy towards offenders of the class to which Claudio heloiiged, on the ground that, were the secrets of all hearts known, the severe interpreter of the laws of chastity would not infrequently he involved in the penalties of the judgment that he passes on the errors of others ; and he has accomplished this object, without leaving on the mind the slightest trace of sympathy with the offence that is pardoned.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
ViNCENTio, Duhe of Vienna.
Angelo, Lord Deputy in the Duke's absence.
EscALUS, an ancient Lord, joined with Angelo in the Deputation.
Claudio, a young Gentleman.
Lucio, a Fantastic.
Two other like Gentlemen.
Varrius, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duhe.
Provost.
Peter, j A Justice.
Elbow, a simple Constable. Eroth, a foolish Gentleman. Clown, Servant to Mrs. Over- done. Abhorson, an Executioner. Barnardine, a dissolute Prisoner. Isabella, Sister to Claudio. Mariana, betrothed to Angelo. Juliet, beloved by Claudio. Eranctsca, a Nun. Mistress Over-Done, a Bawd.
Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Gaoler, OJficers, and Attendants.
SCENE, Vienna.
SCENE I. — An apartment in the Duke's Palace.
Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords, and Attendants.
Duke. Escalus, — Escal. My lord.
Duke. Of government the properties to unfold. Would seem in me t' affect speech and discourse; Since I am put to know^ that your own science Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice My strength can give you. Then no more remains. But that to your sufficiency, as your worth is able. You let it work." The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms^ For common justice, y' are as pregnant in. As art and practice hath enriched any That we remember: There is our commission, From which we wovdd not have you warp. — Call hither, I say, bid come before us Angelo. \_Exit an Attendant.
What figure of us think you he will bear? For you must know, we have with special soul* Elected him our absence to supply; Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love ; And given his deputation all the organs Of our own power; What think you of it?
24
MEASUEE FOR MEASURE.
[act I. sc. I.
Escal. If any in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample graee and honour, It is lord Angelo.
Enter Angelo.
Duke. Look, where he comes.
Aug. Always obedient to your grace's will, I come to know" your pleasure.^
Duke. Angelo, There is a kind of character in thy life," That, to th' observer, doth thy history Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper,' as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee.^ Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do; Not light them for themselves :^ for if our virtues Did not go forth of us,^° 't were all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch d, But to fine issues nor Nature never lends The smallest scruple of her excellence, But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines Herself the glory of a creditor. Both thanks and use.^^ But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advertise
Hold, therefore, Angelo [Ilanding hhn the Cot/n/ilsslon.
In our remove, be thou at full ourself :
Mortality and mercy^' in Vienna
Live in thy tono-ue and heart. Old Escalus,
Though first in qucstion,^*^ is thy secondary:
Take thy commission.
Aii(/. Now, good my lord.
Let there be some more test made of my metal, Before so noble and so o-reat a fio-ure Be stamped upon it.
DiiJi'e. No more evasion:
We have with a leaven'd and prejiared 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 im})ortune. How it goes with us; and do look to know^''
ACT I. SC. II.] MEASUEE EOE MEASURE.
25
What doth befall you here. So, fare you well : To th' hopeful execution do I leave you Of your eommissions.
Jng. 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 '11 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, Tliat does affect it. Once more, fare you well.
AiKj. The heavens give safety to your purposes!
Escal. Lead forth, and bring you back in happiness.
Duke. I thank you : Fare you well. \_Exit.
Escal. 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 power I have; but of what strength and nature I am not yet instructed.
An (J. 'T is so with me: — Let us withdraw together, And we may soon our satisfaction have Touching that point.
Escal. 1 '11 wait upon your honour. [Exeunt.
SCENE IL— J Street in Vienna.
Enter Lucio"^ a^id two Gentlemen.
Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to com- position with the king of Hungary, why, then all the dukes fall upon the king.
1 Gent. Heaven grant us its peace,"^ but not the king of Hungary's !
2 Gent, Amen.
Lucio. Thou conclud'st like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scrap'd one out of the table.
in. 4
2G
MEASURE FOU MEASURE.
[act I. sc. II.
2 Gent. Thou slialt not steal? Luc'to. Ay, that he raz d.
1 Gent. Why, 't was a eommaiuhiient''' to command the ea})tain, and all the rest, from their funetions; they put forth to steal. There's not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiying ])efore meat, doth relish the petition well that prays for peaee.""
2 Gent. 1 neyer heard any soldier dislike it.
Lffcio. I helieye thee; for, I think, thou neyer wast where grace was said.
2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre?
Ltfclo. In any proportion,'' or in any language. 1 Gent. I think, or in any religion.
LiK'io. Ay! why not? Grace is grace,'^ despite of all con- troyersy: As for example: Thou thyself art a wicked yillain, despite of all grace.
1 Gent. Well, there went hut a pair of shears hetween us.'^
Lifcio. I grant; as there may hetween the lists and the yelyet. Thou art the list.
1 Gent. And thou the yelyet: thou art good yelyet; thou 'rt a three-pil'd piece, I warrant thee : I had as lief be a list of an English kersey, as be pil'd, as thou art pil'd, for a French yelyet.^" 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 liye, forget to drink after thee.
1 Gent. I think I haye done myself wrong, haye I not?
2 Gent. Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.
Lucio. Behold, behold, where madam Mitigation^^ comes! He has purchas'd as many diseases under her roof as come to — 2 Gent. To what, I pray? Lucio. Judge.
2 Gent. To three thousand dollars^" a year.
1 Gent. Ay, and more.
Lucio. A French crown more.^^
1 Gent. 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.
ACT I. SC. II.]
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
27
Enter Mistress Overdone.
1 Gent. How now? Which of your hips has the most pro- found sciatica
Over. Well, well ; there's one yonder arrested, and carried to prison, was w orth five thousand of you all. 1 Gent. Who 's that, I pray thee ? Over. Marry, sir, that 's Claudio, signior Claudio.
1 Gent. Claudio to prison! 't is not so.
Over. Nay, hut I know 't is so ; I saw him arrested ; saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopp'd ofF.^*^
Lncio. But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?
Over. I am too sure of it ; and it is for getting madam Julietta with child.
Lucio. Believe me, this maybe: he promis'd to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.
2 Gent. Besides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.
1 Gent. But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.
Lucio. Away; let 's go learn the truth of it.
[Exeunt Lucio and Gentlemen.
Over. Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat," what with the gallows, and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk. How now? what 's the news with you?
Enter Clown.
Clo. Yonder man is carried to prison. Over. Well; what has he done? CJo. A woman.^^ Over. But what 's his offence? Clo. Groping for trouts in a peculiar river. Over. What, is there a maid with child by him? Clo. No; but there 's a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation,^^ have you? Over. What proclamation, man?
Clo. All houses in the suburbs^^ of Vienna must be pluck'd down.
Over. And what shall become of those in the city? Clo. They shall stand for seed:*' they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.
28
MEASrilE YOn MEASURE.
[act I. sc. II.
Orcr. But shall all our houses of resort iu tlic suhurbs be pulld down?
r/r>. To the ground, mistress.
Orcr. Why, here's a change, indeed, in the commonwealth! What shall l)ccome of me?
r/o. Come; fear not you: good counsellors lack no clients: thoiigh you change your })lace, you need not change your trade : 1 "11 be your tapster still. Courage ; there ^yill he pity taken on you: you that liaye worn your eyes almost out in the seryice, you will be considered.
Orer. AVhat's to do here, Thomas Tapster ?^ Let 's withdraw\
Clo. Here comes signior Claudio, led by the Proyost to prison: and there 's madam Juliet. [Exeunt.
Enter PiioyosT, Claudio, Gaoler," and Officers ; Lucio, and two Gentlemen.
Claud. Fellows why dost thou show me thus to th' world ? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.
Pro. I do it not in eyil disposition. But from lord Angelo by special charge.
C/aifd. Thus can the dcmi-god. Authority, Make us pay down for our offence by weight.*' — The word of hcayen — on whom it will, it will ; On whom it will not, so ; yet still 't is just.
Lucio. Why, how now, Claudio? whence comes this restraint?
«
Claud. From too nmch liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of nuicli fast, So eyery scope, by the immoderate use,'^' Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, — Like rats that raycn down their proper bane,*' — A thirsty eyil ; and when we drink, w e die.
Lucio. If I could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors. And yet, to say the truth, 1 had as lief hayc the foppery of freedom, as the morality of imprisonment.^' — What's thy offence, Claudio?
Claud. What but to s])eak of would offend again
Lucio. What, is 't murder?
Claud. Xo.
Lucio. I^echery ?
Claud. Call it so.
Pro. Away, sir ; you must go.
ACT T. SC. II.]
MEASUUE EOH MEASURE.
29
Claud. One word, good friend : — Lucio, a word with you.
[He takes him aside.
Lucio. A hundred, if they 11 do you any good. — Is lechery so look'd after?
Claud. Thus stands it with me : — Upon a true contract,*^ I got possession of Julietta's hed ; You know the lady; she is fast my wife, Save that we do the denunciation lack®° Of outward order : this we came not to, Only for propagation of a dow er" Remaining in the coffer of her friends ; F^rom whom we thought it meet to hide our love, Till time had made them for us. But it chances, The stealth of our most mutual entertainment,'^ With character too gross, is writ on Juliet.
Lucio. With child, perhaps?
Claud. Unhappily, even so.
And the new deputy now for the duke, — Whether it be the fault and glimpse of newness Or whether that the body public be A horse whereon the governor doth ride. Who, newly in the seat, that it may know He can command, lets it straight feel the spur ; Whether the tyranny be in his place. Or in his eminence that fills it up, I stao-o-er in : — But this new siovernor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties. Which have, like unscoar'd armour,^* hung by th' wall So long, that nineteen zodiacs have gone round, And none of them been worn ; and, for a name,^^ Now puts the drowsy and neglected act Freshly on me : — 'tis surely for a name.
Jjucio. 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.
Claud. I have done so, but he 's not to be found. I prithee, 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 ;
30
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
[act I. sc. III.
1 liavc grcjit hope in that: for in her youth
'I'here is a prone and speechless dialect,'''
Such as moves men ; hesidc, she hath prosperous art
When she will jday with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.
Ltu'io. 1 pray, she may: as well for the encourao;cment of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would he sorry shoidd be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack."' I '11 to her.
Cloud. I thank you, "ood friend Lucio.
Lucio. Within two hours, —
Claud. Come, officer, away. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.— ^ Monaster!/.
Enter Duke and Friar Thomas.
DuJxC. No, holy father ; throw^ away that thought ; Believe not that the dribblino; dart of love''^ Can ])icree a complete bosom : why I desire thee To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose ^lore grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends Of burniii"' youth.
Friar. ^Ifiy your grace speak of it ?
JJuIiC. ^ly holy sir, none better kno^^ s than you
» ft ft
llow' I have ever lov'd the life reniov'd And held in idle ])rice to haunt assemblies,''" Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keep.''" I have delivered to lord Angelo (A man of stricture," and firm abstinence) ^ly absolute power and })laee here in Vienna, And he supposes me travelFd to Poland : For so I have strew'd it in the common ear, And so it is reeeiv'd. Now^ pious sir, A^ou will demand of me why I do this. Friar, (iladly, my lord.
Duke. We have strict statutes, and most biting laws, (The needful bits and curbs to headstrong steeds,''') W Inch for these fourteen years we have let sleep Even like an overgrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey."'' Now% as fond fathers,
ACT I. SC. IV.]
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
31
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.
Fri. It rested in your grace
To imloose this tied-up justice, when you pleased : And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd. Than in lord Angelo.
Duke. I do fear, too dreadful :
Sith 't was my fault to give the people scope, 'T would 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 th' ambush of my name, strike home,^' And yet my nature never in the fight. To do me slander. And to behold his sway, I will, as 't were a brother of your order, Visit both prince and people : therefore, I prithee, Supply me with the habit, and instruct me How I may formally in person bear me^'' Like a true friar. More 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 shaU we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. [^E^rennt.
SCENE lY.-^The Numiery of St. Clare.
Enter Isabella and Francisca.
Isah. And have you nuns no further privileges?
Fran. Are not these large enough ?
Isab. Yes, truly: I speak not as desiring more.
32
MEASURE EOrt MEASURE.
[act I. sc. IV.
Biit rather wishiiio- a more strict restraint Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of St. Clare.
Lucio. llo I Peace be m this place ! [If ^if/fin.
Isab. Who 's that which calls ?
Fran. It is a man's voice : Gentle Isabella, Turn yon the key, and know his business of him ; Yon may ; I may not ; you are yet unsworn :
• • «
AVhen yon have yow'd, you nuist not speak with men, But in the presence of the prioress : Then, if you speak, yon must not show your face ; Or, if you show your face, you nmst not speak. He calls again ; I pray you, answer him. \^Ex'd Fkancisca. Isab. Peace and prosperity! AA ho is t that calls?
Enter Lucio.
Lncio. Ilail, virgin, if yon be; as those cheek-roses Proclaim you are no less ! Can you so stead me, As bring me to the sight of Isabella, A novice of this ])lace, and the fair sister To her india})py brother Claudio?
Is(fb. AVhy her unhappy brother ? let me ask ; The rather, for I now^ must make you know I am that Isabella, and his sister.
Luck). Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you : Not to be weary w itli you, he 's in prison.
Isdb. Woe me I For what ?
Lucio. For that, which, if myself might be his judge, He should receive his punishment in thanks : He hath got his friend with child.
Js((b. Sir, make me not your story.
L^ucio. *T is true. I would not. Thou":h *t is my familiar sin With maids to seem the lapwing,'^ and to jest. Tongue far from heart, — play with all virgins so : I hold you as a thing enskied, and sainted ; By your renouncement, an immortal spirit ; And to be talk'd with in sincerity. As with a saint.
Lsab. You do blaspheme the good, in mocking me.
Lucio. Do not believe it. Fewness and truth,^* 't is thus : Your brother and his lover'" have cmbrac'd : As those that feed grow full ; as blossoming time,''' That from the seedness" the bare fallow brings
ACT I. SC. IV.]
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
To teeming foison ; even so her plenteous womb Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.^^
Isah. Some one with child by him? — My cousin Juliet
Lucio. Is she your cousin ?
Isab. Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names, By vain though apt affection.
Lucio. She it is.
Isah. O, let him marry her !
Lucio. This is the point.
The duke is very strangely gone from hence ; Bore many gentlemen, myself being one, In hand," and hope of action : but we do learn By those that know the very nerves of state. His givings-out were of an infinite distance From his true-meant design. Upon his place, And with full line of his authority, "° Governs lord Angelo: a man, whose blood Is very snow-broth ; one who never feels The wanton stings and motions of the sense ; But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge'^^ With profits of the mind, study and fast. He (to give fear to use^^ and liberty. Which have, for long, run by the hideous law, As mice by lions), hath pick'd out an act,'^ Under whose heavy sense your brother's life Falls into forfeit : he arrests him on it ; And follows close the rigour of the statute. To make him an example : all hope is gone. Unless you have the grace"* by your fair prayer To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business 'Twixt you and your poor brother.
Isah. Doth he so
Seek his life ?
Lucio. Has censur'd him already,"''
And, as I hear, the provost hath a warrant For 's execution.
Isah. Alas ! what poor
Ability 's in me to do him good ?
Lucio. Assay the pow'r you have.
Isah. My power! Alas! I doubt —
Lucio. Our doubts are traitors.
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
III. 5
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
[act I. sc. IV.
By fearinjr to attempt. Go to lord Angelo, And let him learn to know, when maidens sue, ^len give like gods ; but when they weep and kneel, All their petitions are as freely theirs As they themselves would owe them.
Isab. I '11 see what I ean do.
Lucio. But, speedily.
hah. I will about it straight ; No longer staying but to give the IMother"^ Notiee of my affair. I humbly thank you : Conmiend me to my brother : soon at night I '11 send him eertain word of my sueeess.
Lucio. I take my leave of you.
Isab. Good sir, adieu. [Exeunt.
^ Since I am put to hiow.
Eor put, Mr. Wheler's annotated third folio, and Pope, read not, and the Perkins manuscript, apt. Several instances of put, in the sense of ollujed or constrained, occur in Shakespeare ; in Cymbeline, Coriolanus, and 2 Henry VI. " My limbs were put to travel day and night," Drayton's Legend of Pierce Gaveston, ap. Steevens. " ^op)ut gently into one's mind, instillare aliquid alicui," Baret's Alvearie, 1580.
^ You let it worh.
The original reads, — Atid let them iDorh, the pronoun them undoubtedly refer- ring to science, by that interchange of the singular and plural which has been elsewhere noticed. Even the conjunction and may possibly be justified, but in the absence of direct evidence on the point, and in deference to the universal opinion that the text is corrupt, the alteration above given has been made, involving only in reality the conjectural emendation of one monosyllable, it and them being so frequently interchangeable, the substitution of the former may be adopted as merely one example of an acknowledged system of minor grammatical modernization. The meaning of the speech is clearly this, — To unravel the mysteries of govern- ment to you would be simply affectation, since I know, or am given to understand, that your o^vn knowledge of the subject surpasses any advice it is in my power to offer ; it then only remains for me to enjoin that you employ it (your knowledge) according to your ability and your moral worth. It may be observed that instances of and, used very licentiously, occur in Cymbeline and Coriolanus ; so that it is by no means impossible that the first folio correctly represents Shakespeare's own language. So, again, in the present act, — " bore many gentlemen, myself being- one, in hand, and hope of action," where we should now read with.
Some of the conjectural emendations of this passage may be worth preserving. " Put that to your sufiiciency," Rowe and Pope. " Then no more remains. To your sufficiency, as your worth is able. But that you let them work," AVheler MS. " But tasJv to your sujficience," Dent MS. " But that to your sufficiency ijou add Due diligence, as your worth is able," Theobald. " But that to your sufficiency ^jou join A idll to serve us, as your worth is able," Hanmer. " But that sufficiency, as your worth is able," Steevens, who justifies the omission of the two words by his system of metrical construction. " But that to your sufficiency i/ou put A zeal as u'illiiif/ as your worth is able," Tyrwhitt ; a reading, observes Steevens, supported by the following passage, — " enough will is not put to thy abilitie," Chapman's Homer. " But that your sufiiciency, as your worth, be able," Monck Mason.
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
" Then no more remains, To your sufRciency your worth is able, And let tlicm work," T. IIuU's ]\IS. comments. " But to your sullicicncy your worth be added " Seymour. Tiiis is similar to the suggestion of Mr. Collier's annotator. " ]Uit
to your sufficiency your worth, And let them work," Perkins MS. "But (hereto your sulliciency, as your worth is able," S.AV. Singer. M alone was strongly of opinion that a line, or rather two half lines, have been omitted l)y tlie printer, several instances of a similar negligence occurring in the early folios. Clialiuers in his Su})plemental Apology, p. -105, suggests, " / let them work," reading it thus, — " Then no more remains (for me), but that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able, I let them (your science, sulHciency, worth,) work ;" Becket, "but that your sulliciency be, as your worth is stable ;" and Jackson, " but state to your sufficiency."
" I cannot understand that by the word, suffic'ienci/, in this i)lace is meant, as "Warburton interprets it, ' authority or delegated power ;' nor do I believe that it is ever used in that signification. It means in general abilities of every kind, and I take it to comprehend on this occasion all tlie moral virtues of an able governor ; integrity, courage, steadiness, resolution, vigilance, diligence, &c. To all these taken togetlier the Duke bids Escalus add his own science, tliat is, his skill in the arts of government, as that by wliich they were all to be directed, and, as opportunities should arise, called forth into action. 'As your worth is able,' means, As your good understanding and disposition will enable you to do." — Heath.
" That the passage is more or less corrupt, I believe every reader will agree with the editors. I am not convinced that a line is lost, as Theobald conjectures, nor that the change of Jjut to jutt, which Dr. AVarburton has admitted after some other editor (Bowe), Mill amend the ftiult. There was probably some original obscurity in the expression, which gave occasion to mistake in repetition or tran- scription. I therefore suspect that the author wrote thus :
Then no more remains.
But that to your siijficiencies your worth is atjled, xVnd let them work.
" Tlien nothing remains more than to tell you, that your virtue is now in- vested with power ecpud to your knowledge and wisdom. Let therefore your knowledge and your virtue now work together. It may easily be conceived how ftiijlicieiicies was, by an inarticulate speaker, or inattentive hearer, confounded with safjiciency as, and how afjled, a word very unusual, was changed into afjle. For atjled, liowever, an authority is not wanting. Lear uses it in tlic same sense, or nearly the same, with the Duke. As for siiffieiowies, D. Hamilton, in his dying speech, prays that Charles II. may exceed both the virtues and sujjiciencies of his fatlier." — Johnson. Tiie best support of Dr. Johnson's reading is perhaps found in the use of atAe as a verb in King Tjcar. " The following passage, in King Henry IV. Part I., mIiicIi is constructed in a manner somcMhat similar to tlie present when corrected, api)cars to me to strengthen the supposition that two lialf lines have been lost :
Send danger from the east unto the west. So honour cross it from the north to south, And let them grapple.
'■'Sufficiency is skill in government ; ability to execute his office. And let them work, — a figurative expression ; — Let them ferment." — Malone.
The terms for coinnion justice you are as pregnant in. Tenns mean the technical language of the courts. An old book called Les Termes de la Ley, written in Henry tlie Eighth's time, was in Shakespeare's days, and is now, the accidence of young students in the law. — Blaclcstone. Terms of
NOTES TO THE EIRST ACT.
37
the law are explained by Jacob to be, " artificial or technical words, and terms of art particularly used in and adapted to the profession of the law."
The later editions all give it, witliout authority — " the terms of
justice, — " and Dr. Warburton makes terms signify hounds or limits. I rather think that the Duke meant to say that Escalus was preynaiit, that is, ready and knowing in all the forms of the law, and, among other things, in tlie teruis or times set apart for its administration. — Johnson.
* We have with special soul elected him.
By the words toith special soul elected him, I believe, the poet meant no more than that he was the immediate choice of his heart. A similar expression occurs in Troilus and Cressida : " — with private soul, did in great Ilion thus translate him to me." Again, more appositely, in the Tempest : " — for several virtues have I lik'd several women, never any with so full soul, but some defect," &c. — Steevens.
Steevens has hit upon the true explanation of the passage ; and might have found a furtlier confirmation of it in Troilus and Cressida, where, speaking of himself, Troilus says : " ne'er did young man. fancy icith so eternal, and so fixd a soul.''' To do a thing with all one's soul, is a common expression. — M. Mason.
This seems to be only a translation of the usual formal words inserted in all royal grants : — " De gratia nostra speciali, et ex mero motu — — Malone.
The common reading is, 'with special soul ; where the soul is put for one of its principal faculties, the judgment ; or, at least for one of its principal operations, deliberation. — Heath. Warburton suggested to read, special roll, and Dr. Johnson, special seal.
^ I come to hiotD your pleasure. " I come to know your Grace's pleasure," ed. 1 632.
There is a kind of character in thy life.
Either this introduction has more solemnity than meaning, or it has a meaning which I cannot discover. What is there peculiar in this, that a man's life informs the observer of his history? Might it be supposed that Shakespeare wrote this? — " There is a kind of character in thy look.'" History may be taken in a more diffuse and licentious meaning, for future occurrences, or the part of life yet to come. If this sense be received, tlie passage is clear and proper. — Johnson.
Shakespeare must, I believe, be answerable for the unnecessary pomp of this introduction. He has the same thought in Henry IV. Part II., which affords some comment on this passage before us :
There is a history in all men's lives, Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd ; The which observ'd, a man may prophecy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life, &c. — Steevens.
Monck Mason considers that the words character and history, in the text, should be transposed; and that such a transposition is justified by the passage in Henry IV. — " The progress of thy life has marked upon thy countenance and exterior, a character, which clearly denotes what thou art." — Seymour.
^ Are not thine own so proper. One of Shakespeare's Latinisms. [Proprius, Lat.)
^ Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee. Hanmer reads, them on thee. The meaning of the original text appears to be this, — Thyself and thy endowments are not so exclusively your own, belonging to
38
NOTES TO THE EIEST ACT.
yourself, that either you are to waste your exertions upon your own virtues, or that they are to be solely exercised for your own advantage. Or, as the pronoun was frequently used somewhat capriciously, — you are not to employ your own gifts for selfish purposes. There is a slight ambiguity, wliich is either to be explained philoso])liically or grammatically.
^ Not light them for themselves.
Part of this speech seems to have been suggested by the Scriptural passages, — " Neither do men liglit a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Also, again, — " The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
For if our virtzies did not go forth of us.
Every one perceives that the poet here alludes to the narrative in the Gospel, where Jesus is conscious "that virtue had gone out of him'' when the woman was cured of an issue of blood by touching his garment. Would the reader believe that these latter words, issue — touch, are used in the preceding lines, though they are applied by the poet to the operations of intellect ? — Whiter.
Paulum sepultae distat inertife
Celata virtus. — Ilorat. iv. 9, ap. Theobald.
So in Pastor Fido, our virtues are said to be derived from, and given us by heaven.
Questa parte di noi, chi intende, e vede, Non e nostra virtu, ma vien dal cielo : Esso la da come a lui piace, e toglie.
And Persius says the same of knowledge, in that well-known quaint line. Scire tumn nihil est, nisi te scire hoc sciat alter. The above two extracts are taken from Dodd.
Spirits are not finely touched, hut to fine issues.
That is, elevated minds are not endowed with superior qualities, but, as Johnson observes, to "great consequences," and "for high purposes." — Whiter.
^~ Both tlianl'S and use. The passage ending with these words is one of the finest in the play, expressing man's responsibility in unequalled language. Use is, interest of money. " Use or commoditie of a thiiin- in the raeane time, or usurie that riseth in the meane time," Caret's Alvearie, 1580. Tlie term continued in use till a late period, for it occurs in some verses in Poor Eobin's Almanac for 1732,— Nature expects both gratitude for her favours, and rdurns for them from the persons on whom they are bestowed.
To one that can my port in him advertise. " Spoken after a string of fine apothegms, all tending to set forth and advance this one truth — that man is not exclusive proprietor of his own belongings or gifts, is not born for himself only: but 1 am telling this truth, says the speaker, to one who can well discern that I have a j^art in him, a claim to be partaker with general nature in the benefit of his endowments ; and, upon saying these words, tenders him a commission that is to put them in exercise," Capell. Or, perhaps.
NOTES TO THE FIEST ACT.
39
as Eann observes, is well apprised of the part I have in him, of my claim to his services ; or, of all that I could wish to impart to him.
This is obscure. The meaning is, I direct my speech to one who is able to teach me how to govern ; my part in him signifying my office, which I have delegated to him. My part in him advertise; i. e., who knows what appertains to the character of a deputy or viceroy. Can advertise my part in Mm; that is, his representation of my person. But all these quaintnesses of expression the Oxford editor seems sworn to extirpate ; that is, to take away one of Sliakespeare's characteristic marks ; which, if not one of the comeliest, is yet one of the strongest. So he alters this to — " To one that can, in my part me advertise." A better expression, indeed, but, for all that, none of Shakespeare's. — Warhurton.
I know not whether we may not better read — " One that can, my part to him advertise." One that can «?^om /^ms^Z/^ of that which it would be otliervvise part to tell him. — Johnson.
To advertise is used in this sense, and with Shakespeare's accentuation, by Chapman, in his version of the eleventh book of the Odyssey :
Or, of my father, if thy royal ear Hath been advertised — . — Steevens.
I believe the meaning is — I am talking to one who is himself already sufficiently conversant with the nature and duties of my office ; — of that office, which I have now delegated to him. So, in Timon of Athens :
It is our part, and promise to the Athenians, To speak with Timon. — Malone.
To one that can already declare or make known all those precepts which I would impart to him : in this sense advertisement seems to be used in Much ado about Nothing : — " My griefs cry louder than advertisement." — Seymour.
Hold, therefore, Angelo.
Hold is here, as elsewhere, equivalent to, take it, take this, &c. The duke is offering the commission to Angelo. EalstaflF says, " Hold, sirrah," when he gives the letters to Robin. This expression is very common in old plays. The stage- direction is correctly given in Hanmer's edition.
Mortality and mercy in Vienna.
That is, I delegate to thy tongue the power of pronouncing sentence of death, and to thy heart the privilege of exercising mercy. These are words of great import, and ought to be made clear, as on them depends the chief incident of the play. — Bouce.
Though first in question.
That is, says Dr. Johnson, first called for, first appointed. Capell explains it differently, — the years of Escalus, or the offices he had held, or both, entitled him to have been first considered.
We have tcith a leaven d and prepared choice.
Eor leaven d, Warburton reads levelled, and Heath suggests that the true reading is, " with a prepar'd unleavend choice," using the term unleavend in the sense of, unbiassed, uninfluenced. Pope transposes the words leaven'd and prepared. " Leaven d choice^' says Johnson, " is one of Shakespeare's harsh metaphors. His train of ideas seems to be this : / have proceeded to you with choice, mature, concocted, fermented, leavened. When bread is leavened, it is left to ferment : a leavened choice is, therefore, a choice not hasty, but considerate ;
40
NOTES TO THE EIKST ACT.
not declared as soon as it fell into the imagination, but suffered to work long in the mind. Thus explained, it suits better with pi-epared than levelled.''''
That it prefers itself. The haste prefers itself, takes the preference even of the matters of needful value. Rapidity is of more importance to me than anything else.
And do look to hwic.
1 looke
AVithin this weeke, to bee but halfe the thing You see me now ; the rest lopt off.
Maine's Amorous Havre, 16^8.
*° Your scope is as mine own. Scope, that is, your amplitude of power. — Br. Johnson.
But do not Uhe to stage me to their eyes.
So, in one of Queen Elizabeth's speeches to Parliament, 1586 : " We princes, I tel you, are set on stages, in the sight and viewe of all the world," &c. See the Copie of a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earle of Leycester, &c. 4to. Lond. 1586, p. 16. — Steevens.
" Though it do icell.
"By this I understand, — Tho' it may be politically usefuU in a Regent, to shew himself to his subjects occasionally." — MS. Kotes by T. Hull.
Enter Lucio.
" One Luzio, a roysting roague in favour with the king," is mentioned in Turbervile's Tragical Tales, f. 103. Malone thinks this may have suggested the name to Shakespeare.
Heaven grant us its peace.
Malone thinks that this passage helps to show the play was written in 1603, when there was some prospect of peace, but the war not ended, the bawd lament- ing afterwards that what with the tear, what with the sweat, she was custom- shrunk. The peace with Spain was proclaimed in August, 1601. The sweat, unless the venereal disorder so termed was meant, may possibly allude to the great plague of 1603.
~^ IJliy, 'twas a commandment.
In the first folio, there is a mark of interrogation after the word why, but, as ]\[r. Dyce observes, this is very common in early books, even when it is merely used emphaticallv. Instances occur in Beaumont and Eletcher's Comedies and Tragedies, ful. Lond. 1617, p. 102, &c.
Both relish the petition well that prays for peace.
Amongst the very numerous graces to be found in the religious works of Shakespeare's time, it is rare to discover any that exactly bear out the description of the one alluded to in the text. The following, however, from the Erench Schoole-Maister, 12mo. 1612, fol. 101, may be selected, the rather as it also affords an illustration of a grace " in metre ;" —
Almightie God, that men and all dost guide, Blesse these our meates and gifts thou dost provide. That thy good grace that all the world doth fill. May us thy servants keepe and succour still.
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
41
Preserve thy Church, and James our king; Grant perfect peace in England still be scene.
" What grace before meat is known which contains a petition for peace ? Our correspondent has searched in vain for one which satisfactorily answers to Lucio's description. The only one that he has found which contains the word 'peace,' and he is not at all clear that that is the one referred to, is as follows : ' Good Lord, blesse us, blesse all thy creatures, send down thy holy spirit into our hearts, so to direct us, that we may looke for the spirituall food of our soules, and finally ever- lasting peace, through thy sonne Jesus Christ. Amen.' This occurs in a very scarce little book, entitled, ' Short questions and answeares concerning the summe of Christian Religion.' The edition of this book which has fallen under his notice is dated, London, printed by John Dawson, 1623, 8vo ; but it is clear, from the prefatory admonition addressed ' To Christian Parents and godly householders,' that the work was originally written 'under the rule and government of our mercifull Queene' Elizabeth." — Notice to Corresp. in Gent. Mag.
Mr. Wheler's annotated copy of the third folio reads, — " in the thanksgiving after meat." The Dent folio makes the same alteration, but, most probably, without necessity. It is, however, worthy of remark that in the graces at the end of Robert Hill's Pathway to Prayer and Pietie, 12mo. Lond. 1609, the only one in which there is a petition for peace is the following " Grace after meate :"
" We beseech thy Majestic, eternall God and gracious Eather, to make us truly and unfainedly thankfull unto thee, for aU those mercies that we have received, and for all those judgements that wee have escaped, both temporall, con- cerning this life, and eternal, concerning that life to come : for thy gracious providence this day past, for our comfortable, and peaceable, and cheerefull meeting- together in thy feare at this time, and for all thy good creatures bestowed upon us, for the comforting and refreshing of these feeble and weake bodies of ours. Now wee humblie intreate thee, that, as thou hast fed them with that food, which is convenient and necessarie for the same, so it would please thee to feede our soules with that food which perisheth not, but endureth to eternall and everlasting salvation ; so as we may seek to passe through these things temporall, that finally we lose not things eternall. Blesse with us thine universall Church, our Kings and Queenes Majestic, the Prince, and their Realmes. 0 Lord, continue thy truth and peace amongst us, with the pardon and forgivenes of all our sinnes, this day, at this time, and heretofore committed against thee, through Christ our Lord and blessed Saviour. Amen."
Another metrical grace, from the Erencli Schoole-Maister, may also be added, as showing that a prayer for peace existed in both graces :
Our bodies. Lord, with foode that wontest to fill. Our hearts do feede with thy word and sacred wiU, That when we come into thy heavenly place, Among thy saints we may behold thy face : Defend our Church and King with thy right hand, And aye preserve thy peace within this land.
In any proportion.
Proportion, says W arburton, is measure, referring to the previous question. This speech is assigned, in the first folio, to Lucio, but Heath and Ritson consider that it should be spoken by the second gentleman. There does not appear to be an absolute necessity for any alteration.
Grace is grace.
The discussion is whether the second gentleman has ever heard grace. He III. 6
42
NOTES TO THE EIEST ACT.
replies, a dozen times at least. The first then asks, if he heard it in metre. Lucio gives him a wider scope, and says, in any proportion (measm-e), or in any language ; and the first gentleman, still more liberal, adds, " in any religion." Lucio approves of this, and says, Grace is grace in all religions, notwithstanding religious controversy.
There went hut a pair of sheers between us.
A common proverbial phrase, signifying, says Johnson, we are both of the same piece.
The same expression is likewise found in Marston's Malcontent, 1601<: ''There goes but a pair of sheers betwixt an emperor and the son of a bagpiper; only the dying, dressing, pressing, and glossing, makes the difference." — Malone. So, in the Maid of the Mill, by Beaumont and Eletcher : " There went but a pair of sheers and a bodkin between \\\^mr Steepens.
His brother. Ingratitude, though there loent but a pane of sheares betweene them, was as ugly in shape, and as blacke in soule. — DeJckers Strange Horse Bace, 1613.
He consists of shreds and remnants, yet oftentimes there goes but a paire of sheeres betwixt him and a gentleman : for many gentlemen consist of outside, in which the taylor's man takes part. — Stephens' Essayes, 1615.
Must but abare^;«yr^ of sheeres passe heticeene noble and ignoble, betweene the generous spirit and the base mechannick? shaU Ave be al co-heires of one honor, one estate and one habit? — Hie Midier, or the Man Woman, 1620.
There went but a paire of sheeres betweene him and the pursivant of hell, for they both delight in sinne, grow richer by it, and are by justice appointed to punish it : onely the divell is more cunning, for hee pickes a living out of others gaines. — The Overbury Characters, 1626.
He gives himselfe an honest good re])ort, And to himselfe he is beholden for 't : Yet 'twixt the greatest knave and him, I weene, Tiler's thus much ods, A pair of sheers between. ^ Taylor's Worhes, fol. Lond. 1630.
And some report that both these fowles have scene Their like, that's but a pay re of sheeres betweene. — Ibid.
As thou art piVd,for a French velvet.
The jest about the pile of a Erench velvet alludes to the loss of hair in the Erench disease, a very frequent topick of our author's jocularity. Lucio finding that the gentleman understands the distemper so weU, and mentions it so feelingly, ])romises to remember to drink his health, but to forget to drinh after him. It Avas the opinion of Shakespeare's time, that the cup of an infected person Avas contagious. — Johnson.
The jest lies betAveen the similar sound of the words piWd and piVd. Thus in Henry Vl. Part 1. Act 1 : ''PilVd priest, thou liest." — Steevens.
Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes.
There is the greatest difficulty in arranging this dialogue satisfactorily. If the first folio be foUoAved, the second speech of the Eirst Gentleman does not agree Avith the context. Theobald divides the speech in the text into two, giving the above line to Lucio, and the remainder, commencing, " 1 have purchas'd," to the Eirst Gentleman. This arrangement destroys the point of Lucio in calling the baAvd Madam Mitigation, the antithesis betAveen that appellation and the purchase
NOTES TO THE EIUST ACT.
43
of the diseases being evidently intentional. Pope gives the two first speeches of Lucio to the Eirst Gentleman, but the first of them is clearly in the lively style of Lucio, and cannot judiciously be taken from him. As, therefore, no substitution of speakers removes the difficulty, I have ventured to substitute he has for / have, in the first speech, in allusion to the Eirst Gentleman, whom Lucio is evidently bantering. The dialogue is arranged exactly as follows in the folio of 1623 : —
Luc. Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. I haue purchas'd as many diseases vnder her Roofe, As come to
2. Gent. To what, I pray?
Luc. ludge.
2. Gent. To three thousand DoUours a yeare.
1. Gent. I, and more.
Luc. A Erench crowne more.
1. Gent. Thou art alwayes figuring diseases in me ; but thou art full of error, I am sound.
It is worthy of remark that the address of Madam was formerly applied to persons of doubtful reputation. Thus in the Witt's Eecreations, 1654, —
Together as we walk'd, a friend of mine Mistook a painted Madam for a signe. That in a window stood ; but 1 acquainted, Told him it was no wooden sign was painted, But Madam Meretrix : yea, true, said he. Yet 'tis a little sign of modesty.
To three thotisand dollars a year.
A quibble between dollars and dolours. See other instances of the same play upon words in vol. i, pp. 397, 412. In the first folio, the word in the text is printed dollours, as above.
A French crown more.
Lucio means here not the piece of money so called, but that scab which among the surgeons is styled corona Veneris. To this our author likewise makes Quince allude in A Midsummer-Night's Dream : " Some of your French croions have no hair at all ; and then you will play bare-faced." Eor where these eruptions are, the skull is carious, and the party becomes bald. — Theobald. So, in the Beturne from Pernassus, 1606 : — " I may chance indeed to give the world a bloody nose; but it shall hardly give me a crack'd crown, though it gives other poets French croicns." Again, in the dedication to Gabriel Harvey's Hunt Is tip, 1598 : — " never metst with any requital, except it were some few French crownes, pil'd friers crownes." — Steevens.
" More seeming friendship is to be had in an house of transgression for a French crown, though it be a bald one, than at Belinsgate for a boxe o' tli'eare." — Vox graculi, or Jack Laices Prognostication, 4to, 1623, p. 60, ap. Douce.
Thy bones are holloio.
After all this, there buddeth out and appere smalle holies and sores, whiche tourne themselfe into cankers and phistuls, or continual sores ; and the more they putrifie, the more they diminishe the bone. And whan the bones be putrified and corrupte, the pacient, throughe long continuance of sicknes, waxeth leane, for the fieslie consumeth awaye, and there remayneth but on'ythe skyn to cover the bones wythall. — Of the Wood called Guaiacum, that healeth the Frenche PocJces, 12mo. Lond. 1539.
44
NOTES TO THE EIEST ACT.
Which of your hips has the most profound sciatica ? " The author of the facetious Latin comedy of Cornelianum Boliuni has named one of Cornelius's strumpets Sciatica. She thus speaks of herself; — In lectulo meo aegre me vertere potui ; podagram, chiragram, et A//;-agram (si ita dicere liceat) nocte quotidie sensi." — Bouce. This comedy was published at London, 1038, 12mo.
His head to he chopped off.
Thus the four early folios read, and they are no doubt right, the omission of the auxiliary" verb being of common occurrence. Another instance occurs in the first act of All's Well that Ends Well. Rowe, in 1709, reads, his head is to he, &c.
What with the sweat.
This may either allude to the plague, or sweating-sickness, or to the "hollow" disease above mentioned. The context, however, would imply that the former complaint is meant, and although people were cured of the latter by sweating, I do not recollect any instance of that disease being called the sweat. Steevens refers to the comedy of Doctor Dodypoll, 1600 :
You are very moist, sir : did you sweat all this, I pray? You have not the disease, I hope.
Compare also Maine's Citye Match, 1639, p. 54 :
Why, sir, I thought it duty to informe you. That you were better match a ruind bawd. One ten times cm'ed by sweating and the tub.
WJiat has he done? — Clo. A woman.
The clown here plays on the double meaning of the verb to do. See a similar quibble in Titus Andronicus. Hence the name of Over-done in the present drama. Mistress Overdo is the name of a character in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Eair, produced in the year 1614.
And never love thy wife a whit the worse.
For which, I wis, thou art beholding to her ;
Nor seeme for this to frown, brawle, sweare, and cursse.
Because she hath a little beene a doer. — Fasquils Night- Cap, 1612.
Yet Kate is kno'^ne, and Erancis too. Wenches that wiU not sticke to doe.
Freeman s Ruhhe and a Great Cast, 1614.
I urged him to speak ; But he (as mute
As an old courtier worn to his last suit)
Beplies with only yeas and nayes ; At last
(To fit his element) my theam I cast
On tradesmens gains ; that set his tongue a going ;
Alas, good sir (quoth he) There is no doing
In Court nor City now: she smil'd and 1,
And (in my conscience) both gave him the lie.
Bonne's Foems, p. 91.
Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.
Feculiar river, that is, says Malone, a river belonging to an individual, not public property. The metaphor in the text is again used in the Winter's Tale, and a grosser example occurs in Locrine. " Peculiar, privatus,''' Huloet's Abcedarium, 1552.
NOTES TO THE FIUST ACT.
45
*° You have not heard of the proclamation. There may possibly here be an allusion to one of the proclamations, which were issued in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, against the rapid increase of buildings in the metropolis. " During the whole reign of Elizabeth," observes Chalmers, " it was a policy, which her councils continually enforced, to prevent the increase of London. In the 35th of Elizabeth, a bill was passed for restraint of buildings in London. On the 7th of July, 1580, a proclamation was issued com- manding all persons to desist from new buildings : On the 22d of June, 1602, this proclamation was renewed, and enforced. After the accession of King James, the same policy was pursued. A proclamation, against inmates, and for the pulling down oi neto ^r^c^<?^^ buildings, was issued on the 16th of September, 1603; but it had as little eflPect upon interest, and fashion, as any former edict. On the 1st of March, 1604-5, a similar proclamation was issued, but with as little effect. A fresh proclamation was issued on the 12th of October, 1607, which was enforced by prosecutions in the Star Chamber : yet the building spirit of the town was not to be repressed, even by the Star Chamber, In 1614, more proclamations were, therefore, issued : and from this year, is said to have begun a reformation in the buildings." The jDroclamation of 1603 is here added, for as it is likely the play was produced soon after that date, it is possible there may be some allusion to the subject in the passage in the text : —
A Proclamatiou against Inmates and nmltitudes of dioellers in strait roomes and places in and ahout the City of London-. And for the rasing and pulling doicne of certaine neio erected huildings : — Whereas it faUeth out by wofull experiance, that the great confluence and accesse of excessive numbers of idle, indigent, dis- solute and dangerous persons, and the pestering of many of them in small and strait roomes and habitations in the City of London, and in and about the suburbs of the same, have bene one of the chiefest occasions of the great plague and mor- tality, which hath not onely most extremely abounded in and about the said City, and suburbs thereof, and especially in such strait roomes and places, and amongst persons of such qualitie, but also from thence hath most dangerously overspread, and infected very many principall, and other parts of this realme, (which Almighty God cease at his good pleasure), his Majesty, tendering the safety of his loving subjects, and minding, as much as in him lyeth, to avoyd the continuance or renewing of such mortalitie, doeth, by the advice of his Privy Councell, not onely straitly require and command that his Majesties good and profitable orders and directions already published for the staying (if God so please) of the same infection be carefully, speedily, and duely executed, but also doeth straitly prohibit and forbid that no new tenant or inmate, or other person or persons, be admitted to inhabite or reside in any such house or place in the said City, suburbs, or within foure miles of the same, which have bene so infected, during the continuance of this plague and mortalitie, in or about the sayd City, nor after, untill such time and as it shal be thought safe and expedient by the principall officers there for the time being. That is to say, if it be within the said city, by the Alderman of the Ward, or his deputie ; if without, then by the next justice of the peace. AYherein his Majesty straitly doeth charge and require every of the said Aldermen, and their deputies, and every justice of the peace to whom it shall appertaine, that they take especiall care that none of the foresaid roomes, houses, or places be hereafter pestered with multitudes of dwellers, or with any inmates. And that such of the said roomes, houses, or places as by proclamation heretofore published, are ordered or appointed to be rased or pulled downe, shall forthwith, the same being now voyd, or as the same shall hereafter become voyde, be raised and pulled downe accordingly, and being once pulled downe, that they or any of them at any
46
NOTES TO THE EIEST ACT.
time afterwards, suffer not any of the same to be newly erected, as tliey will answere the contrary at their uttermost perill. Given at his Majesties Manner of AVood- stocke, the 16 day of September, in the first yeare of our Eeigne of England, Erance, and Ireland, and of Scotland, the seven and thirtieth. Anno Dom., 1603.
All houses in the suburbs of Vienna.
The Clo'UTi means by houses, houses of resort, which were perhaps emphatically termed the houses. The following notes are from the commentators.
This will be understood from the Scotch law of James's time concern ing7«Mm: " that comoun women be put at the utmost endes of toicues, queire least perril of fire is." Hence Ursula the pig-woman, in Bartholomew-Eair : " I, I, gamesters, mock a plain, plump, soft wench of the suburbs, do I" — Farmer.
So, in the Malcontent, 160:i, when Altofront dismisses the various characters at the end of the play to different destinations, he says to Macquerelle the bawd : " thou unto the suburbs.'''' Again in Eam- Alley, or Merry Tricks, 1611 : — " Some fourteen bawds ; he kept her in the suburbs.'" See Martial, where summan'iana and subnrbana are applied to jDrostitutes. — Steevens. The licensed houses of resort at Vienna are at this time all in the suburbs, under the permission of the Committee of Chastity. [Anon.)
Tyrwhitt proposes that we should read bawdy-houses ; but in this colloquy between the bawd and her tapster, the distinction seems superfluous ; and there is, perhaps, more humour and character in its omission : no other kind of houses was in tlie clown's thoughts. — Seymour.
They shall stand for seed.
In Sir Giles Goose-cappe, 1606, there is a thought not much unlike this. ""Goose-cap, I am sure it was some years ago, ten miles tliither, and I hope it is more now. Slidd. Do not miles grow, think you, as well as other animals?" — Grey.
IFhafs to do here, Thomas Tapster?
Thomas, or Tom, was the vulgar generic name applied to any tapster. Some- times, Tom Toss-pot, as in Like Will to Like, 1568. " You, Tom Tapster, that tap your small cans of beere to the poore," Greene's Quip for an Upstart Courtier, ed. 1620, ap. Dvce. "As well as Tom Tapster can tell a penny is the price of a pot of ale," Taylor's Workes, 1630.
Enter Provost, Claudio, Gaoler, and Officers.
A critic named White, in some ]\IS. notes lately printed, observes on the original stage-direction, Avhere Juliet is in the place of Gaoler, as here printed : " Eor what purpose Juliet is introduced does not appear. She makes her entrance and her exit without uttering a word. It has been observed that what Claudio says is too indelicate to be spoken of her when present : — ' Upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta's bed,' it is not only indelicate, but what follows is
absurd : — You hww the lady I have little doubt that by a mistake, Juliet Avas
printed for Jailor. Claudio, on entering, says —
" Eellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world ? Bear me to priso)i, where I am committed."
It is very unlikely that Juliet should be present when her lover is being taken to prison, and not utter a single exclamation of any kind. Claudio's speech to Lucio seems decisive as to this, even although it may be considered as spoken to him aside, liowe very properly does not commence a new scene here.
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
47
Pay down for our offence hy weight. That is, pay the full penalty, a metaphor taken from bartering by weight, which is or ought to be exact. In the next line, I have ventured to change the plural words to the singular, thus clearing up a most obscure passage. Compare Eomans, ix. 15, 18. The decree of Heaven is always just, though it may appear to faU capriciously, severely on some, whilst others escape ; and the meaning is the same, even if it ivill means, it will have mercy. The text here is a paraphrase of Scriptural language, so that a proposed correction, the sword of heaven, is wholly unnecessary.
So every scope hy the hnmoderate use.
Mr. Wheler's annotated copy of the third folio reads, " So liberty by the immoderate use." It is scarcely necessary to observe that this is a capricious alteration.
*^ Like rats that raven down their proper bane.
" I ravyne, I eate hastely or gredyly,ye briffe" Palsgrave. " To ravine, devour, eat greedily," Cotgrave in v. Bauffrer. lieed cites for this use of the word, Wilson's Epistle to the Earl of Leicester, prefixed to his Discourse upon Usurye, 1572, "Eor these bee the greedie cormoraunte wolfes indeede that raoyn up both beaste and man." Steevens refers to Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy, ed. 1632, — " ravenest like a beare." Compare also the Psalms, — " as a ravening and a roaring lion." The same critic also quotes the following passage in Chapman's Eevenge for Honour, —
Like poison'd rats, which, when they've swallowed The pleasing bane, rest not until they drink. And can rest then much less until they burst.
Topsell, in his Historic of Eoure-Eooted Beastes, fol. Lond. 1607, says, — " The roots of the bramble tree, mingled with butter, breade, or honey, elecampaine, and sea onions, scamoney, wild sparradge, arsenicke, mugwort, otherwise cald mouse-wort, mingled with lard in smaU peeces, with auri-pigment, killeth wolves and mice ; and in some countries, for the better dispersing of the poyson, set drinke beside the same, whereof as soone as they tast, they swel and die, but I have seen them die without drinking at aU. Elesh cut into little peeces, and fryed with butter in a frying pan, and afterwards, when it is colde, adde halfe so much soft pitch thereto, and mingle it together, rowling up the flesh in the pitch ; then distribute it upon little boords, and set it in the place and places whereunto the mice do much resort, and water beside it, and when that they have tasted of it a little, they are so eagerly athirst, that they drinke and dye." He says afterwards, speaking of rats, — " they are killed by the same poysons and meates that tlie common mice are killed, except wolfe-baine, for if they eate thereof, they vomit it up againe, and are safe."
No : here He lurke,
And in a dove-like shape raven upon doves.
Becker s Whore of Babylon, 4to. 1607.
As the morality of imprisonment.
The old copy reads mortality. The error is corrected by Davenant, and in Mr. Wheler's annotated folio.
Upon a true contract.
In a Werke for Housholders, by a professed Brother of Syon, Richarde Whitforde, 1537, is the following caution. " The ghostely enemy doth deceyve
48
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
many pcrsones by the pretence and coloure of matrimony in priyate and secrete contractcs. For many men, Aylien they can nat obteyne tlieyr unclene desyre of the \yoman, ^yyll promyse mavyage, and ther upon make a contracte promyse, and gyye fay the and trouth eche unto other, saying, ' Here, I take the, Margery, unto my >yyfe, and therto I plyg^it the my troth.' And she agayne unto him in lyke maner. And after that done, they suppose they maye La\yfully use theyr unclene behavyoure, and sometyme the acte and dede dothe folo^ye, unto the greate offence of God and their owne souls. It is a great jeopardy therefore to make any suche contractes, specially amonge them selfe secretcly alone \yitliout recordes, which muste be two at the lest." In Strype's Annals of the Eeformatiou, i. App. p. 57, among the Interrogatories for the doctrine and manners of mynisters, early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, is the following, which clearly implies the then use and abuse of betrothing: " 28. AYhetlier they haye exhorted yong folke to absteyne from priyy contracts, and not to marry without the consent of such their parents and fryends as haye auctority oyer them, or no." In the Cliristen State of Matrimony, 1 51-3, p. 43, Aye read: "Yet in thys thynge also must I warne everye reasonable and honest parson to beware that in contractyng of maryage they dyssemble not, nor set forthe any lye. Eyery man lykewyse must esteme the parson to whom he is hand-fasted none otherwyse than for his owne spouse, though as yet it be not done in the church ner in the streate. After the hand- fastynge and makyng of the contracte, the churchgoying and weddyng shuld not be difFerred to longe, lest tlie wickedde sowe liys ungracious sede in the meane season. Into this dysh halli the dyyeU ])ut his foote, and mengled it wythe many wycked uses and coustumes. For in some places ther is such a maner, wel worthy to be rebuked, that at the handefasting ther is made a greate feaste and superfluous bancket, and eyen the same night are the two handfasted personnes brought and layed together, yea certan wekes afore they go to the chyrch." The above note is entirely extracted from Brand. There cannot be a doubt but that, in Shakespeare's time, the ceremony of betrothment was usually supposed to confer the privilege of matrimonial union. Claudio obtained possession of Julietta on "a true contract;" and provided marriage was celebrated within a reasonable time afterwards, no criminality could 1)e alleged after the contract had been formally made. So, likewise, the Duke tells Mariana it was no sin to meet Angelo, for he was her " husband on a pre-contract." The story would be more properly analysed by representing Claudio's error as venial, and Angelo's strictness so much the inore severe, thus involving a greater antithesis in his faU.
°° Save that we do the deminciation lack.
One of Shakespeare's Latinisras. Denunciation is here used in the sense of publication or declaration. So in Bishop Hall's Cases of Conscience, cited in Todd's Johnson, mention is made of " this publick and reiterated denunciation of banns before matrimony."
But Gracchus's soldiers, which were all, in a manner, the late armed slaves, had received from their general a peremptory denunciation that this day, or never, they must purchase their liberty, bringing every man, for price thereof, an enemy's head. — liuteiyJis History of the IJ orld.
Only for propagation of a doicer.
Propagation, literally, increase. AYe delayed to celebrate our marriage, merely because we desired to add to our means from a portion in the hands of friends, M hose favour we were first anxious to secure. Perhaps a better meaning is found in the other ordinary sense of propagate, to promote. Malone suggests proroga- tion, and Jackson, procuration, which last reading does not quite suit the context,
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
49
the marriage being postponed solely because the dower was not at the time pro- curable. Davenant alters the line to, — " Only for the assurance of a dowry."
This singular mode of expression certainly demands some elucidation. The sense appears to be this : " We did not think it proper publickly to celebrate our marriage ; for this reason, that there might be no hindrance to the payment of Julietta's portion, which was then in the hands of her friends ; from whom, there- fore, we judged it expedient to conceal our love till we had gained their favour." Propagation being here used to signify payment, must have its root in the Italian viOY^L pagare. — Edinburgh Magazine for November, 1786.
I sujjpose, says Steevens, the s])eaker means — for the sake of getting such a dower as her friends might hereafter bestow on her, when time had reconciled them to her clandestine marriage. The verb — to propagate, is, however, as obscurely employed by Chapman, in his version of the sixteenth book of Homer's Odyssey:
to try if we,
Alone, may propagate to victory Our bold encounters — .
Again, in the fourth Iliad, by the same translator, 4to. 1598 :
1 doubt not but, this night.
Even to the fleete \q> propagate the Greeks' unturned flight. — Steevens.
This singular mode of expression has not been satisfactorily explained. The old sense of the word is ' promoting, inlarging, increasing, spreading.' It appears that Claudio would say: 'for the sake <di promoting such a dower as her friends might hereafter bestow on her, when time had reconciled them to her clandestine marriage.' Shakespeare uses ' to propagate their states,' for to improve or promote their conditions, in Timon of Athens. — Singer.
The stealth of our most mutual entertainment.
'Mutual, a word scarce susceptible of comparison, is put superlatively; and with good effect, as it exculpates Claudio from being a corrupter or ravisher," — Capell.
The fault and glimpse of newness.
The fault and glimpse, that is, in the phraseology of the time, the faulty glimpse. See vol. i. p. 282. Whether it be the faulty glimmer oT novelty, iu other words, a fault accompanying the outburst of new authority. Dr. Johnson suggested to read either flash iox fault, or, " Whether it be the fault or glimpse." Another suggestion is foil iox fault, and guise for glimpse.
" In one of yours, you are of opinion it should be limpse. Yow will give me leave to object, that I am afraid the word cannot be defended by any authority; and then to observe, that I believe the text, as it is, may be explained into sense. A glimpse, you know, is a short, obscure, glimmering light. And Claudio seems to think that the Deputy's severity against him is from the fault of newness ; and the little insight he has in his duty, from being so fresh in the office. Thus I understand the glimpse of newness. Glimpse, you know, is a word of our author's, both in the genuine and metaphorical acceptation." — Theobald's Letters.
Which have, liJce unscourd armour, hung by the v'all.
"Xe proces est accroche, hangs by the waU," Cotgrave. Lord StrafiPord, observes Malone, in the conclusion of his Defence in the House of Lords, had, perhaps, these lines in his thoughts: — "It is now full two hundred and forty years since any man was touched for this alledged crime, to this height, before III. 7
50 NOTES TO THE EIRST ACT.
myself. — Let us rest contented with that which our fathers have left us ; and not av-ahe those sleeping lions, to our omu destruction, by raking up a feic mudij records that have lain so many ages ly the walls, quite forgotten and neglected."
And, for a name.
That is, to establish his reputation as a strict judge. A critic lately construed this as a phrase meaning, as we say, for the name of the thing. This shows that two opinions may be given on even the simplest passages.
^'^ Thy head stands so ticMe on thy shoulders.
Ticl'le, tottering, easily overturned. " Tyckyll, nat stedy," Palsgrave, 1530. "Considering it stoode then but in very ticMe termes," North's Plutarch, 1579. " Lords of Asia have stood on ticMe terms," Marius and Scilla, 1594, ap. Steevens. "I'pon as ticl'le a pin as the needle of a dial," AYidowes Teares, 4to. Lond. 1G12, ap. Steevens.
And lyke the swanne he soong before his deathe, "Whiche male suffise to prove the tyclcell trust That can be buylt upon our fading breathe.
Gascoignes Grief of Joy, 1576.
And there receive her approhation.
That is, enter on her probation, or noviciate. So again, in this play: — " 1, in probation of a sisterhood." Again, in the Merry Devil of Edmonton, 1608 :
]\Iadam, for a twelvemonth's approbation,
We mean to make the trial of our child. — Malone.
Implore her, in my voice. " Implore her, in my name'' Mr. Wheler's annotated third folio.
There is a prone and speechless dialect.
Prone is sometimes used for, prompt, ready; and Malone's interpretation of the present passage seems the best, — significant, expressive, ^ov proiie. Dr. Johnson suggested pov'r, and prompt; and Davenant changes the word to sweet. A metaphorical use oi prone, inclining, supplicating, may possibly be intended.
Prone, I believe, is used here for prompt, significant, expressive, (though speechless,) as in our author's Rape of Lucrece it means ardent, head-strong, rushing forward to its object: — " O that prone lust should stain so pure a bed!" Again, in Cymbeline : "L^nless a man would marry a gaUows, and beget young- gibbets, I never saw any one so prone.'" — Malone.
''Prone, prone, readie, nimble, quicke, wheeme, easily moving," Cotgrave. "Eor use of war so prone and fit," Gorges' Lucan, vi. "Prone or apt," Howell's Lex. Tet. 1660. "A prone and speechless dialect," is equivalent to, a ready dumb-moving style or manner. " There lurks a still and dunib-discom'sive devil," Troilus and Cressida.
Which else icoiild stand nnder grierons imposition.
Imposition, that is, an imposed penalty. Dr. Johnson once proposed to sub- stitute the Avord inquisition.
Who I ivoidd be sorry.
So the original copy, in consonance with the grammatical usages of the time. AVe should now read, " which I should be sorrv."
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Z^;^ J^4' ^C^^^ -f?c.>i^^a ^-^KT^f^^^
— ^ o-^t^i^'o-rT. 4^a^„^,
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J.NeiJiartlift,h&; 100. S^Martmslanc .
NOTES TO THE EIRST ACT.
51
'^'■^ Thus foolishhj lost at a game of ticJc-tach.
Tick-tack, touch and take. A similar playful use of this phrase occurs, as Steevens observes, in the interlude of Lusty Juventus, —
What a hurly burly is here ! Smicke smacke, and all this gere ! You will to tiche tacke I fere, If you had time.
and another instance may be seen in a catch in Lilly's Mother Bombie, ed. 1633, sig. Dd. 3,—
1. At laugh-and-he-downe if they play,
2. What asse against the sport can bray?
3. Such tick-tacke has held many a day.
Ce mot est forme par Onomatopee, du bruit que font les dez quand on les pousse sur le tablier. M. de Saumaise sur I'histoire Auguste, pag. 468. Quod ad hunc vero tabulse lusum attinet, duodecim scriptorum, sciendum est omnino eundem esse, paucis mutatis, cum eo quem vulgo tric-tracum appellamus. On pronongoit anciennement tic tac ; les Allemans prononcent encore de la sorte. — Menage Etymol. in voc.
I am perswaded he is one of my fellow horn-makers, and now he must go to the tavern to play a game at tick-tack; I dare not speak out. But it is no matter, for while she is playing one game, he can take two pipes of tobacco in the kitchen. — Hey for Horn Fair, 1674.
Tick-tack itself is a game at the tables, a kind of variation of back-gammon. It is thus fully described in the Compleat Gamester, 8vo. Lond. 1721, pp. 53 — 55 : — " All your men must stand on the ace point, and from thence play forward ; but have a care of being too forward, or so, at leastwise, that doublets reach you not. Secure your sice and cinque- point, whatever you do, and break them not, unless it be when you have the advan- tage of going in, which is the great- est advantage you can have next to
a hit ; for your adversary's eleventh point standing open, you have, it may be, the opportunity of going in with two of your men, and then you win a double game. A hit is but one, and that is, when you throw such a cast, that some one of your men will reach your adversary's unbound ; but sometimes, though it hits, it will not pass by reason of a stop in the way, and then it is nothing. Sometimes it is good going over into your adversary's tables ; but it is best for an After-Game. Playing close at home is the securest way ; playing at length is both rash and
52
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
unsafe ; and be careful of binding your men when you lie in danger of the enemy. Moreover, if you see you are in danger of losing a double game, give your adver- sary one ; if you can, it is better doing so, than losing two. Here note, if you fill up all the points of your second table with your own men, you win two, and that you may prevent your adversary from doing so (if you are in danger thereof) if you can, make a vacant point in his tables, and it is impossible for him to do it. This is the plain game of Tick-Tach, which is so called from Touch and Tal-e; for if you touch a man, you must play him, though to your loss ; and if you hit your adversary, and neglect the advantage, you are taken with a wlaj-not, which is the loss of one : likewise if you are in, and your cast is such that you may also go into your adversary's eleventh point, by two other men, and you see it not, either l)y carelesness or eager prosecution of a hit, which is apparent before your eyes, you lose two irrecoverably. Besides, it is a very great oversight, as your men may stand, not to take a point when you may do it. Now some play this game with toots, boveries and flyers : Toots is, when you fill up your table at home, and then there are required small throws ; for if you get over with a sice, you have no benefit of toots. Boveries is, when you have a man in the eleventh point of your own tables, and another in the same point of your adversary's directly answering. Flijcrs is, when you bring a man round tlie tables, before your adversary hath got over his first table, to the effecting of which there is required very high throwing on your side, and very low throwing on his."
xVUusions to the game are exceedingly numerous, but seldom of much import- ance. See Ben Jonson's Every Man in his Humour, fol. ed., p. 30 ; Taylor's Motto, 12mo. Lond. 1G22, sig. D. 4; Apollo Shroving, 12mo. Lond. 1627, p. 49; Poems on State Affairs, ed. 1705, p. 53. Tick-tack is the subject of several ])ictures by Teniers, one of which, partially copied in the engraving in the pre- ceding page, represents the interior of a village hostelry, where a gallant cavalier and a shrewd old bourgeois are playing a species of backgammon. Two other figures of both the ranks described, form the spectators ; and in the back-ground is seen a clever military group, standing in conversation, and drinking by the fire. Hey wood, in his Philocothonista, 1635, makes mention of, " certaine gentle- men using much to our tavernes, some of them affect ng tables; their custome was still, when they met, to play at Irish or tictack." Irish Mas another game at the tables. " In this lande I did see an ape plaie at ticJce-tache, and after at Irishe on the tables, with one of that lande," Bullein's Dialogue, 1573.
Both ticl'tacTce and the Irish game are sportes but made to spende ; I wote not, I, to what availe these trifling games do tende.
Verses hi/ G. Tarherrile, pref. to the Boohe of Faleonrie.
NoM", readers, your assistance I must crave, To play at noddy ; to turne up a knave. My foe at ticlc-tack playes exceeding well : Eor bearing, (sirs,) beleeve't, he bears the bell.
Iluttons Follies Aiiatomie, 1619.
The rip-rap-riffe-raffe, thwick thwack stout baboon Gripes in his downy clutch the spungy oake, And vouno- Andromeda at niolit rino-s noone. Whilst Asdrubal at tick-tack lost his cloake, Prometheus covering the umbranocs head, And Typhon tumbles through the solid ape.
Taylor s Jforhes, fol. Lond. 1630.
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
53
You woud have me be an informer of unlawfull games, as tick-tach, whipper- ginny, and in-and-in. — AlVs Lost hj Ltist, 1633.
In Hall's Horse VacivfB, 1646, p. 149, are the following observations on the game of tick-tack. Tick-tach sets a man's intentions on their guard. Errors in this and war can be but once amended." — Brand.
Who askt the banes 'twixt these discolour'd mates ? A strange grottesco this, the Church and States (Most divine tick-tach) in a pje-bald crew. To serve as table-men of divers hew.
Cleavelancfs London Diurnall, 1647.
Mill. — Sir Walter! What a fright ami in? are you sm-e he did not see me? • — Townly. — No, nor me neither ; he was very busie playing at tick-tack with one of the drawers. — Sir Barnaby Whigg, 1681.
Cun. I did rot throw one main in two hours ; I lost three sets at back-gammon, and a tout at tricktrack, all ready mony ; the rude fellows have frighted the roses from your cheeks. — Sedleys Bellamira, 1687.
Now men at dice and cards do play
Their mony and their time away.
At Irish, Tick-tack, most at Thrice,
At Passage, Hazard, Plays at Dice,
At Trey-trip, Doublets, Draughts or Chess,
Their Mony runs with carelesness,
A Noddy, Novum, Mumchance, Mischance,
Thus they their mony make to dance.
Poor Bobin's Jlmanack, 1694.
I hope, from this hasty caution I have given you, you'll have enough of these kind of ordinaries ; however, for your better satisfaction, we'll step thither again, and see what the rest of 'em are doing in the other parts of the house : Why, there are some playing at Back- Gammon, some at Trick Track, some at Picket, some at Cribidge, and, perhaps, at a by-table in a corner, four or five harmless fellows at Put. — The Country Gentleman 8 Vade Mecum, or Ms Companion for the Town, 8vo. Lond. 1699.
It is worthy of remark that the game was formerly a fashionable one, and it is recorded of Catharine of Arragon, the first wife of Henry YIIL, that when she was young (MS. Bodl., in Bernard. Cat. 8590),—
With stoole and needyl she was not to seeke, And other practiseingis for ladyes meete ; To pastyme at tables, ticktacke, or gleeke.
In this game all your men are set on the ace-point, and so plaid forward to fill your tables, but with this care, that an unbound man be not hit in the way by one of the adversaries men : which if he doe not, but that you fill all the points of your second table with your owne men, you have won two, Much more might be said as to the craft of tlie play, which cannot be discovered but from observation. — Holme's Acad. Arm., MS. Addns.
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love.
Think not that a breast completely armed can be pierced by the dart of love, that comes fiutterins: without ioYCQ.—Johnso7i.
"A dribber, in archery, was a term of contempt which perhaps cannot be satis- factorily explained. Ascham, in his Toxophilus, edit. 1589, p. 32, observes : " — if
NOTES TO THE EIRST xVCT.
lie give it over, and not use to slioote truly, &c., he sliall hecome of a fayre archer a Starke squirter and dribher." In the second sonnet of Sir Philip Sidney's Astro- phel and Stella, the same term is applied to the dart of Cupid :
" Not at the first sight, nor yet with a dribled shot, Love gave the wound, &c." — Steevens. In the edition of 1591, it is printed drilling shot, the folio editions reading as above. Another instance of the technical term is found in the early MS. poem on the Stanley family —
Arrowes were wont to have xij. inches of feather,
Nowe but six, and flyes but in fayre wether ;
Then arrowes were wont to pricke theyre enemies bloud.
Now are they gladd to pricke xxij. roode ;
Arrowes were wont to flee to your enemies payne.
And nowe, God wotte, they flee for lucre and gaine ;
Then not gybcrabes nor such crafty invention.
Nor false shooting booty to make dyssention.
They drewe to the haixl head, not there shutt lybbing,
Shoote at long outmarkes ; now fall we to drybinge.
The term in the text seems to be used in the metaphorical sense oiinsignificant, as in the following passage. " One besought a Avorshipfull gentleman to be a meanes for him to a Bishop to forgive him a certaine drihliug debt : The gentleman answered : His power is to binde not to loose," Copley's Wits, Eits, and Eancies, 4to. Lond. 1614.
How I have ever lov'd the life removed.
That is, a life of retirement, a life remote, or removed, from the bustle of the world. So, in the Prologue to Milton's Masque at Ludlow Castle, in the MS. copy in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge :
1 was not sent to court your wonder
AVitli distant worlds, and strange removed climes. — Steevens.
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies.
"When neither of these vertues are hi price. Then thou didst boldly shew tliem, ^v\mt a vice It was for subjects to provoke their King, By their rebellion their owne deaths to bring.
Ta?/lo)-'s JForhes, fol. Lond. 1C30.
jLnd icitless bravery Iceep.
Bravery, fine dress. The particle and, omitted in the first folio, is supplied in the edition of 1632. " To furnish them against Christmas for feasting, gaming, and bravery," AVilson's History of Great Britain, 1653. In tlie comedy of East- ward Hoe by Jonson, Chapman, and Marston, the word is again met with : — " "Well said, sweete Syn, bring forth my bravery." In Holinshed's Chronicles, 1574, " To see the costlinesse, and the curiositie ; the excesse and the vanitie ; the pomp and the braverie.'" The term continued in use to a very recent period. In Poor Bobin's Almanack for 1740, mention is made of a gallant, who " wiU go to show his bravery in Hydc-Park."
Eormer editors read keeps, but the use of the plural substantive with the sin- gular verb is so common in the early editions of Shakespeare, it could not be retained without off'ending the taste of modern readers. Keep, i.e. reside. AVe again have, "this habitation where thou keep'st.'' It is still in provincial use, and in America. Where do you keep now ? i.e. where is your place of business ? — Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms, p. 193.
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
55
'^'^ A man of stricture, and firm abstinence. Stricture is here licentiously used for strictness, the latter word being substitu- ted by Davenant. Warburton makes two words of it, strict iire, or, strict use or practice, but the metre clearly shows the first explanation is correct.
The needful ttits and curbs to head-strong steeds. For steeds the old copy has iveeds, which clearly seems to be a misprint. The correction was first publicly made by Theobald, but it is also found, in an earlier hand, in Mr. Wheler's annotated copy of the third folio. The second folio reads, "/or headstrong," which seems to be merely a modernization.
Which for these fourteen years ice have let sleep.
The last word is printed sUji in the early folios, the same error also occurring in a passage in the Midsummer Night's Dream, as printed in ed. 1623, and in the other early editions. In the latter instance, no question can arise as to the word being a misprint. The emendation in the text is fully supported by the passages adduced by the commentators, and a similar image occurs in tlie Qildipus Tyrannus. Gildon reads sleep in his alteration of this play, 1700 ; and also nineteen for four- teen; and both emendations had been previously made by Davenant.
" YoY fourteen I have made no scruple to replace nineteen. The reason will be obvious to him who recollects what Claudio has said in a foregoing scene. I have altered the odd phrase of " letting the laws slip ;" for how does it sort with the comparison that follows, of a lion in his cave that went not out to prey ? But let- ting the laws sleep, adds a particular propriety to the thing represented, and ac- cords exactly too with the simile. It is the metaphor too, that our author seems fond of using upon this occasion, in several other passages of this play : — ' The law hath not been dead, though it hatli slept; — 'Tis now awahe^ And, so again : — 'but this new governor awahes me all the enrolled penalties' — ' and for a name, now puts the drowsy and neglected act freshly on me.' " — Theobald.
" The latter emendation may derive its support from a passage in Hamlet :
" How stand 1 then.
That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd. Excitements of my reason and my blood, And let aU sleep?
" If slip be the true reading, (which, however, I do not believe,) the sense may be, — wliich for these fourteen years we have suffered to pass unnoticed, unobserved ; for so the same phrase is used in Twelfth-Night : — ' Let him let this matter slip, and I'll give him my horse, grey Capulet.' Theobald altered /o?^r/m^ to nineteen, to make the Duke's account correspond with a speech of Claudio's in a former scene, but without necessity. Claudio would naturally represent the period during which the law had not been put in practice greater than it really was." — Malone.
Theobald's correction is misplaced. If any correction is really necessary, it should have been made where Claudio, in a foregoing scene, says nineteen years. I am disposed to take the Duke's words. — Whalley.
™ That goes not out to prey.
The passage in the Book of Job, iv. 11, probably suggested this image, — "the old lion perisheth for lack of prey." — Knight.
For terror, not to use.
The second folio reads error, instead of terror. In the previous line, the Dent annotated copy has, — " only do stick it."
56
NOTES TO THE EIEST ACT.
Becomes more mocked than feard.
Becomes is not in the old copy. It was added by Pope, the word being pro- bably suggested by Davenant's alteration. " Till it in time become more markt than fear'd," Law against Lovers, Works, 1073, p. 279. If the old reading be substantially correct, we may perhaps rather print, — " in time the rod's more mock'd than fear'd," provided the next reading, " our most just decrees," of the Perkins MS., be not also adopted.
And liberty pluchs justice hy tlie nose.
That is, th' Antipodes of England. The people there are contrary to us : As thus ; — here. Heaven be prais'd !, the magistrates governe the people : there the people rule the magistrates. — Bromes Antijjodes, 1G40.
The hahy heats the nurse.
" This allusion," says Steevens, " was borrowed from an ancient print entitled the World turn'd Upside Down, where an infant is thus employed." Such a print, of comparatively modern date, is well known ; but is there one of the kind, as early as the time of Shakespeare ? There is an old chap-book, and also a tract published in the seventeenth century, each bearing the same title. Mr. Eairholt suggests to me that Brome may have been thinking of the passage in the text when he writes, in his whimsical play of the Antipodes, 1640, speaking of the inhabitants of the lower world : — " But there the women overrule the men : If some men faile here in their power, some women slip their holds there : As parents here, and masters, command, there they obey the childe and servant."
We hid this he done, when evil deeds, Sfc. Qui non proliibet cum proliibere potest, jubet.
"'^ JFho may, in the amhush of my name, strike home.
"After rising up, the executioner knelt down, and desired him to forgive him : which, with an embrace, he protested he did, but entreated him not to strike till he gave a token, by lifting up his hand ; and then fear not, said he, but strike home." —Letter dated 1G18.
Xever in the fght, to do me slander.
Me is printed in in the first folio, these two words being frequently misprinted in early English works. " Do me no slander, Douglas," Henry IV. If the first folio can possibly be right, the meaning may be this, — and yet my nature never in the contest, to work in slander, to carry out the decree with the certainty of being- censured on all sides. That jight is the correct word seems evident from the con- text, in apposition to amhush, and strike home; but several critics have suggested sight, and in the next line Hanmer reads, " to do it slander," that is, so that any one may be able to fix the slander upon it. Dr. Johnson suggests sight, and. So doing slandered, and yet my nature never suffer slander, by doing any open acts of severity. The Perkins MS. has, — "And yet my nature never in the sight, to draio on slander ;" and the Dent annotated copy has the same reading, with the excep- tion that in is retained as in the original.
TIoic I may formally in person hear me.
The last word is omitted in the first edition. Pope reads, — " my person bear." Perhaps the word which I have inserted in the text, had dropped out while tlie sheet was at press. A similar phrase occurs in the Tempest : — " some good in- struction give, how I may hear me liere." Sir W. Davenant reads, in his alteration of the play : — " I may in person a true fryar seem." The sense of the passages as
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
57
Henley observes, is — " How I may demean myself, so as to support the character I have assumed." — Steevens.
''^ More reasons for this action.
" Moe reasons," ed. 1623, and no doubt rightly ; but the older word is too discordant to modern ears to be retained.
At our more leisure shall I render you.
More is here used for greater^ as it frequently is by the writers of Shakespeare's time. Thus Spenser, Shep. Cal. June, ver. 29, — " Doe make them musick for their more delight."
though she's a treasure
Might be dispos'd of to a more advantage
Of Carthage strength. — Nahhes' Hannibal and Scipio, 1637.
Stands at a guard toith envy.
That is, stands on his defence against the assaults of envy. Dr. Johnson says, " stands on terms of defiance."
MaJce me not your story.
In other words, make or invent not your story, do not deceive me. Lucio answers her, — What I tell you is true ; I would not deceive you. The redundant pronoun is of constant occurrence. Davenant reads scorn instead of story (omitting the two first words of the next speech), and Malone, — " Sir, mock me not — your story." Taylor, the Water-Poet, uses an idiom similar to that in the text, when he says of Coriat, — ^" Thou art the theme I write my story at."
Perhaps only, " Do not divert yourself with me, as you would with a story do not make me the subject of your drama. Benedick talks of becoming — the argument of his own scorn. So, in A Midsummer Night's Dream : — " You would not maTce me such an arguments After all, the irregular phrase {ine) that, perhaps, obscures this passage, occurs frequently in our author, and particularly in the next scene, where Escalus says : " Come me to what was done to her." — Make me not your story, may therefore signify — ^" invent not your story on purpose to deceive me." " It is true," in Lucio's reply, means — " What I have already told you is true." — Steevens.
I have no doubt that we ought to read, — " Sir, moch me not : — your story." So, in Macbeth : — " Thou com'st to use thy tongue : — thy story quickly," In King Lear, we have — " Pray, do not mocli me." I beseech you, sir, says Isabel, do not play upon my fears ; reserve this idle talk for some other occasion ; — proceed at once to your tale. Lucio's subsequent words, — " Tis true," — i. e. you are right ;" I thank you for remembering me : — which, as the text has been hitherto printed, had no meaning, are then pertinent and clear. Pope was so sensible of the im- possibility of reconciling them to what preceded in the old copy, that he fairly omitted them. What Isabella says afterwards fully supports this emendation ; — " You do blaspheme the good, in rnocMug me." — Malone.
The phrase, to mahe a lie, meaning, to tell a lie, was of constant occurrence. It occurs in Bevelations, xxi. 27, and xxii. 15. So, likewise, Latimer, in his ser- mon on the epistle read in the church the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity : " Ye parentes, when ye heare one of your children to mahe a lye, take him up and give him three or four good stripes, and tell him that it is naught : and when he maheth an other lye, give him sLx or eight stripes, and I am sure, when you serve him so, he wiU leave it : for it is a common saying : Vexatis dat intellectum, correction geveth understandyng. But we see now a dayes that parentes rejoyce when their ni. 8 .
58
NOTES TO THE FIEST ACT.
children can make a p'cty lye: they say he will be a prety witty felow, he can make a lyrety lye."
With ?naids to seem the lapicing, and to jest.
The lapwing was considered emblematic of deceit. " The false lapwing, alle full of trechirie," Chaucer, ed. Urr)% p. 416. "And lapwinges that wel conith lie," ibid. p. 188. The farther from her nest, the louder her ])laintive cry. " Far from her nest the lapwing cries away," Comedy of Errors. The next line in the latter comedy is decisive as to the meaning of, " tongue far from heart." The intention of Lucio is simply this, — though it is my customary evil habit to be deceitfid to maidens, to jest with them, my language being farthest from expressing my real feelings ; though I sport with all other virgins so, I hold you, &c ; you are one of the few exceptions to my ordinary practice.
Feicness and truth. That is, in few words and in truth.
Your brother and his lover have emhrac'd.
Lover was formerly applied as a term to a woman, as well as to a man, Tlius, as CapeU observes, one of his poems, containing the lamentation of a deserted maiden, is entitled, "A Lover s Com2)laint." So, in Tarlton's Newes out of Pur- gatory, ap. Malone, " — he spide the fetch, and perceived that aU this while this was his lover s husband, to whom he had revealed these escapes." " He chanced to put his twining arme about his lover," Pasquil's Night Cap, 1612.
The term was applied to the female sex, not only in Shakespeare's time, but even to a very late period. Lady Wortley jMontague, in a letter to her husband, speaking of a young girl who forbade the banns of marriage at Huntingdon, calls her lover. See her Works, vol. i. p. 238. — Loiice.
And thou were the curtiest knight that ever bare shield ; and thou were the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrod horse ; and thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever loved woman : and thou were the kindest man that ever stroke with sword. — History of Prince Arthur, 1634.
^® As hlossoming time. Mason's comment on this is ver}- clear, but in deference to the names of the critics who have suggested difficulties in the original text, the following notes are here reprinted.
As the sentence now stands, it is apparently ungrammatical. I read — "At blossoming time," that is. As they that feed grow full, so her womb now at hlos- soming time, at that time through which the seed time proceeds to the harvest, her womb shows what has been doing. Lucio ludicrously calls pregnancy hlossoming time, the time when fruit is promised, though not yet ripe. — Johnson.
Instead of that, we may read — doth; and, instead of brings, bring. Foizon is
plenty. So, in the Tempest : " nature should bring forth, of its own kind, all
foizon.'" Teeming foizon is abundant produce. — Steevens.
This sentence, as Dr. Johnson has observed, is apparently ungrammatical. I suspect two half lines have been lost. Perhaps, however, an imperfect sentence was intended, of which there are many instances in these plays : — or, as might have been used in the sense of like. Tilth is tillage. So, in our author's third Sonnet :
For where is she so fair, whose unear'd womb Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry ? — Malone.
This passage seems to me to require no amendment ; and the meaning of it is this : "As blossoming time proves the good tillage of the farmer, so the fertility of
NOTES TO THE EIRST ACT.
59
her womb expresses Claudio's full tilth and husbandry." Bj blossoming time is meant, the time when the ears of corn are formed. — M. Mason.
That from the seedness the hare fallow brings. Seedness, seed-time, is a word of unusual occurrence. It is, however, still in use in some parts of Yorkshire, and, in Herefordshire, the time of sowing the land is called seedny.
Now in the middle space of the bow (which, as I said before, carieth a large round bent, and which is fifteene dales journey of a nymble and light appointed footman) are seated the Alani of Europe, and the Costobocfe, and infinit nations of the Scythians, which in length reach out as farre as the lands that stretch forth without an end : of which some few feed upon corne and fruits of the earth, all the rest wandering in scattering wise over the vast wildernesse (which never felt the plough, nor know what seednesse is, but lye desert, and subject to many frosts) feed after the filthy manner of wild beasts. — The Roman Historie of Ammianus Marcellinus, tr. hy P. Holland, 1609.
Expresseth his f ull tilth and husbandry.
Tilth, tillage, cultivation. " Tilthe and tillage, idem; Tylthe of lande called sommer fallow, vernactum," Huloet's Abcedarium, 1553. " Land full of tilth, and in hearty good plight," Tusser. " Tilt, or tilth, in husbandry, as land kept in tilt," Kennett, MS. Lansd. 1033.
Bore many gentlemen in hand.
To bear in hand, that is, to make to believe, to persuade. " I beare in hande, I threp upon a man that he hath done a dede, or make hym byleve so, Je fais accroyre," Palsgrave, 1530. " He that wyll kyll his neyghbours dogge beareth folkes in hande he is madde," ibid. Dr. Johnson proposes to read, " ivith hope of action," but see p. 35.
With full line of his authority. With fuU extent ; with the whole length. — Br. Johnson.
But doth rebate and blunt his natural edge.
Rebate, to blunt metal, to make blunt or obtuse. Erom the Erench rebatre. " Their swords were bent and rebated," Ammianus Marcellinus, tr. Holland, 1609. " No forceable intent but by a face so faire is soone rebated," Heywood's Troia Britanica, 1009. " Might our love rebate this sharpe edge of your bitter wrath," Weakest Goeth to the Wall, 1618. " They shaU fight at barryers with rebated swords," History of Palmerin, n. d. " The continual poring whereon doth serve but to dull and rebate their apprehensions," History of Erancion, 1655. "A formall and premeditated duell with a wooden dagger and rebated rapier," Osborne's Advice to a Son, 1658. " Our laws of Sicilie are so well rebated with clemencie and mercie," Brome's Queen and Concubine, 1659.
To give fear to use.
Dr. Johnson explains this, — to intimidate use, that is, practices long counte- nanced by custom.
Hath pic¥d out an act. In a copy of the Gesta Romanorum in MS. Harl. 2270, a volume of the fif- teenth century written on paper, there is a tale the story of which is connected with a law of the Emperor Lampadius that whoever violated a virgin, without making atonement to her father within a certain time, should suffer death. Shakespeare intrenches somewhat on probability in representing Claudio as sentenced to death
60
NOTES TO THE FIRST ACT.
for a mere case of cohabitation before marriage, and after contract. In the old English law, 13 Edw. I., if a man ravish a woman, married, maid, or other, where she did not consent either before or after, he shall have judgment of life and mem- ber ; and if a man ravish a woman, married or other, albeit she consent after, yet he, being attainted thereof, shall have like judgment as before : Wingate's Abridge- ment, ed. 1666, p. 458.
^ Unless you have the grace.
That is, the acceptableness, the power of gaining favour. So, when she makes her suit, the. Provost says, — Heaven give thee moving graces ! — Br. Johnson.
^° Has censured him.
Censure, to judge, is the ordinary use of the word by Shakespeare and his con- temporaries. Has, for he has, the personal pronoun being frequently omitted. Malone suggests that we may read h'as, the contracted form of he has, which occurs in several other plays. The Dent annotated copy reads, — " has censure in him."
All their petitions are as freely theirs.
"AU their requests are as freely granted to them, are granted in as full and beneficial a manner, as they themselves could wish," Malone. The second folio reads truly for freely. The verb owe, to possess, is of exceedingly common occurrence.
^' But to give the Mother. The Mother is, of course, the superior of the nunnery.
SCENE l.—A Hall in Angelo's House.
Etiter Angelo, Escalus, a Justice, Officers, and other Attendants, the Provost^ at the back 0/ the Stage.
Any. We must not make a scarecrow of the law. Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape, till custom make it Their perch, and not their terror.
Escal. : Ay, but yet
Let us be keen, and rather cut a little. Than fall, and bruise to death. ^ Alas! this gentleman, Whom I would save, had a most noble father: Let but your honour know, (Whom I believe to be most straight in virtue,) That, in the working of your own affections, Had time coher'd with place, or place with wishing. Or that the resolute acting of your blood^ Could have attain'd th' effect of your own purpose, Whether you had not sometime in your life Err'd in this point which now you censure him,* And pull'd the law upon you.
Any. 'T is one thing to be tempted, Escalus, — Another thing to fall. I not deny. The jury, passing on the prisoner's life. May, in the sworn twelve,^ have a tliief or two
62
MEASUEE EOE MEASURE.
[act II. sc. I.
(luiltier than him they try. \Miat 's open made
To justice, that justice seizes. AYhat know the laws,
That thieves do pass on thieves?*^ 'T is very pregnant,^
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take it,
Because we see it; hut what we do not see,
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence,
For I have had such faults f but rather tell me.
When I, that censure him, do so offend.
Let mine own judgment pattern out my deatli,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he nmst die.
Escal. Be it as your wisdom will.
Any. Where is the provost?
Prov. Here, if it like your honour.
An(j. See that Claudio
Be executed by nine to-morrow morning: Bring him his confessor, let him be prepar'd ; For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage. [Exit Provost.
Escal. Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all; Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:° Some run from brakes of vice,^° and answer none: And some condemned for a fault alone.
Enter Elbow, Froth, Clown, Officers, S^c.
Elh. Come, bring them away: if these be good people in a commonweal, that do nothing but use their abuses in common houses, I know no law; bring them away.
An (J. How now, sir! What 's your name? and what "s the matter?
Elh. If it please your honour, I am the poor duke's constable, and my name is Elbow; I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.
Ang. Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are they not malefactors?
Elh. If it please your honour, I know not well what they are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure of; and void of all profanation in the world, that good Christians ought to have.
Escal. This comes off well;" here's a wise officer. Ang. Go to : What quality are they of? Elbow is your name? Why dost thou not speak. Elbow?
Clo. He cannot, sir; he "s out at elbow.^^
ACT II. SC. I.]
MEASURE FOE MEASURE.
63
Ang. What are you, sir?
Elb. He, sir? a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd;^^ one that serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they say, pluck'd down in the suburbs; and now she professes a hot-house, ^Nvhich, I think, is a very ill-house too.
Escal. How know you that?
Elh. My wife, sir, whom I detest^' before heaven and your honour, —
Escal. How! thy wife?
Elh. Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman, — Escal. Dost thou detest her therefore?
Elh. I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as she, that this liouse, if it be not a bawd's house, it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.
Escal. How dost thou know that, constable?
Elb. Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman cardinally given, might have been accus'd in fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.
Escal. By the woman's means?
Elh. Ay, sir, by mistress Overdone's means but as she spit in his face, so she defied him.
Clo. Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
Elb. Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable man; prove it.
Escal. Do you hear how he misplaces? [To Angelo.
Clo. Sir, she came in great with child; and longing (saving your honour's reverence) for stew'd prunes ;^^ sir, we had but two in the house, which at that very distant time^^ stood, as it were, in a fruit-dish, a dish of some three-pence ;^° your honours have seen such dishes; they are not China dishes,'^ but very good dishes.
Escal. Go to, go to; no matter for the dish, sir.
Clo. No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in the right : but, to the point: as I say, this mistress Elbow, being, as I say, with child, and being great-bellied, and longing, as I said, for prunes; and having but two in the dish, as I said, master Froth here, this very man, having eaten the rest, as I said, and, as I say, paying for them very honestly; — for, as you know, master Froth, I could not give you three-pence again.
Froth. No, indeed.
Clo. Very well: you being then, if you be remember'd, crack- ing the stones of the 'foresaid prunes.
64
MEASUEE FOE MEASUEE.
[act u. sc. I.
Froth. Ay, so I did, indeed.
Clo. Why, very well: I telling you then, if you be remember'd, that such a one, and such a one, were past cure of the thing you wot of, unless they kept very good diet, as I told you.
Froth. All this is true.
Clo. AA^iy, very well then.
Escal. Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. — What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to con) plain of? Come me to what was done to her.
Clo. Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
Escal. No, sir, nor I mean it not.
Clo. Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave: and, I beseech you, look into master Froth here, sir; a man of fourscore pound a-year; whose father died at Hallowmas: — Was 't not at Hallowmas, master Froth?
Froth. All-liallond eve.
Clo. Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair," sir; — 't was in the Bunch of Grapes,^^ where, indeed, you have a delight to sit: Have you not?
Froth. I have so; because it is an open room,"* and good for winter.
Clo. Why, very well then; — I hope here be truths.
Anrj. This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: Fll take my leave, And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping you '11 find good cause to whip them all.
Escal. I think no less: Good morrow to your lordship.
[Exit Angelo.
Now, sir, come on: What was done to Elbow's wife, once more.
Clo. Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once.
Ell). I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.
Clo. I beseech your honour, ask me.
Escal. AYell, sir: What did this gentleman to her?
Clo. I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face : — Good master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose: Doth vour honour mark his face?
Escal. Ay, sir, very well.
Clo. Nay, I beseech you, mark it well.
Escal. Well, I do so.
Clo. Doth your honour see any harm in his face? Escal. Whv, no.
ACT II. SC. I.]
MEASURE EOE MEASURE.
65
Clo. I '11 be suppos'd upon a book/' his face is the worst thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.
Escal. He 's in the right: Constable, what say you to it?
Elb. First, an 't like you, the house is a respected house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his mistress is a respected woman.
Clo. By this liand, sir, his wife is a more respected person than any of us all.
Elh. Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet: the time is yet to come that she was ever respected with man, woman, or child.
Clo. Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.
Escal. Which is the wiser here. Justice or Iniquity?"" — Is this true?
Elh. O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal!'^ I respected with her, before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer: — Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I '11 have mine action of battery on thee.
Escal. If he took you a box o' th' ear, you might have your action of slander too.
Elh. Marry, I thank your good worship for it: What is 't your worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff?
Escal. Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him that thou would st discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses till thou know'st what they are.
Elh. Marry, I thank your worship for it: — Thou seest, thou w icked varlet now, what's come upon thee ; thou art to continue now, thou varlet! thou art to continue.
Escal. Where were you born, friend? [To Froth.
Froth. Here in Vienna, sir.
Escal. Are you of fourscore pounds a-year?
Froth. Yes, an 't please you, sir.
Escal. So. — What trade are you of, sir? [To the Cloavn. Clo. A tapster; a poor widow's tapster. Escal. Your mistress's name? Clo. Mistress Overdone."^
Escal. Hath she had any more than one husband? Clo. Nine, sir; Overdone by the last.
Escal. Nine! — Come hither to me, master Froth. Master m. 9
CG
MEASURE EOR MEASURE.
[act II. sc. I.
Froth, I would not have you acquainted ith tapsters ; they will draw you, master Froth, and you will hano; thern.^^ Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you.
Froth. I thank your Avorship: For mine own part, I neyer come into any room in a taphouse, hut I am drawn in.
Escal. Well ; no more of it, master Froth : farewell. [EjcH Froth.] — Come you hither to me, master Tapster ; what's your name, master Tapster?
Clo. Poinpey.
Escal. What else?
Clo. Bum, sir.
Escal. 'Troth, and your hum is the greatest thing- ahout you;^^ so that, in the heastliest sense, you are Pompey the Great. Pompey, you are partly a hawd, Pompey, howsoeyer you colour it in heing a tapster. Are you not? Come, tell me true; it shall he the hetter for you.
Clo. Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would liye.
Escal. How would you liye, Pompey? hy being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade ?
Clo. If the law would allow it, sir.
Escal. But the law will not allow it, Pompey: nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna.
Clo. Does your worship mean to geld and spay all the youth of the city?
Escal. No, Pompey.
Clo. Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to 't then. If your worship will take order for the drabs and the knayes, you need not to fear the bawds.
Escal. There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you. It is but heading and hanging.
Clo. If you head and hano- all that offend that way but for ten year together, you 'U be glad to giye out a commission for more heads. If this law hold in Vienna ten year, I '11 rent the fairest house in it after three-pence a bay.^^ If you liye to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so.
Escal. Thank you, good Pompey: and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you, — I adyise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoeyer, no, not for dwelling where you do; if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and proye a shrewd Caesar to you ; in plain dealing, Pom2)ey, I shall haye you whipp'd : so for this time, Pompey, fare you well.
ACT ir. sc. II.]
MEASURE EOE MEASURE.
67
Clo. I thank your Avorship for your good counsel ; but I shall follow it, as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. \A^iip me? No, no; let Carman whip his jade ; The valiant heart 's not whipp'd out of his trade. [Exit Escal. Come hither to me, master Elbow; come hither, mas- ter Constable. How long have you been in this place of con- stable?
Elh. Seven year and a half, sir.
Escal. I thought, by your readiness^^ in the office, you had continued in it some time: You say, seven years together t Elh. And a half, sir.
Escal. Alas! it hath been great pains to you! They do you wrong to put you so oft upon 't: Are there not men in your ward sufficient to serve it ?
Elh. 'Faith, sir, few of any wit in such matters: as they are chosen, they are glad to choose me for them; I do it for some piece of money, and go through with all.
Escal. Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish.
Elh. To your worship's house, sir?
Escal. To my house: Fare you well. — [Exit Elbow.
What's o'clock, think you? Just. Eleven, sir.
Escal. I ])ray you home to dinner with me.^"
Just. I humbly thank you.
Escal. It grieves me for the death of Claudio ; But there 's no remedy.
Just. Lord Angelo is severe.
Escal. It is but needful :
Mercy is not itself, that oft looks so ; Pardon is still the nurse of second woe •^'^ But yet, — Poor Claudio! — ^There is no remedy. Come, sir. [Exeunt.
SCENE II. — Another Room in the same.
Enter Proyost and a Servant.
Serv. He 's hearing of a cause; he will come straight. I '11 tell him of you.
Prov. Pray you do. [Exit Servant.] I '11 know His pleasure ; may be, he will relent. Alas,
68
MEASURE EOE MEASURE. [act ii. sc. ii.
He hath but as offended in a dream !
All sects, all ages, smack of this vice ; and he
To die for 't —
Enter Angelo.
An(/. Now, what 's the matter, provost?
Prov, Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow?
Ang. Did not I tell thee, yea? hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask ag-ain?
Prov. Lest I might be too rash:
Under your good correction, I have seen, When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o'er his doom.
Ang. Go to; let that be mine:
Do you your office, or give up your place, And you shall well be spar'd.
Prov. I crave your honour's pardon. —
What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet ? She 's very near her hour.
Ang. Disj^ose of her
To some more fitter place; and that with speed.
Re-enter Servant.
Serv. Here is the sister of the man condemn'd. Desires access to you.
Ang. Hath he a sister?
Prov. Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid. And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already.
Ang. Well, let her be admitted. \_Fa:it Servant.
See you, the fornicatress be remov'd ; Let her have needful, but not lavish, means; There shall be order for 't.
Enter Lucio and Isabella.
Pror. 'Save your honourl^^ [^Offering to retire.
Ang. Stay a little while.^" — [To Isab.] You are welcome: What 's your will?
Isab. I am a woeful suitor to your honour. Please but your honour hear me.
Ang. Well ; what 's your suit?
Isab. There is a vice that most I do abhor. And most desire should meet the blow of justice ;
ACT II. SC. II.]
MEASURE FOR MEASURE.
69
For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war 'twixt SvilF and 'will not.'^°
Amj. Well; the matter?
Isah. I have a brother is condemn'd to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother
Frov. Heaven give thee moving graces!
Ang. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it? Why, every fault 's condemn'd, ere it be done: Mine were the very cipher of a function. To fine the faults,*^ whose fine stands in record. And let go by the actor.
Isab, O just but severe law!
I had a brother then. — Heaven keep your honour! [Betiring.
Lucio. [To Isab.] Give 't not o'er so: to liim again, entreat him;
Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; You are too cold: if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it: To him, I say.
Isah. Must he needs die?
Ang. Maiden, no remedy.
Isab. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven, nor man, grieve at the mercy. Ang. I will not do 't.
Isab. But can you, if you would?
Ang. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.*^
Isab. But might you do 't, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch'd with that remorse As mine is to him?
Ang. He 's sentenced ; 't is too late.
Lucio. You are too cold. [To Isabella.
Isab. Too late? why, no; 1, that do speak a word. May call it back again. *^ Well, believe this,^ No ceremony that to great ones 'longs. Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword. The marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, Becomes them with one half so good a grace As mercy does. If he had been as you. And you as he, you would have slipp'd like him ; But he, like you, would not have been so stern.
70
MEASURE EOK MEASURE.
[act II. sc. IT.
Anfj. Pray you, begone.
Jsab. I would to lieaycn I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what 't were to be a judge. And what a prisoner.
Lncio. Ay, touch him; there 's the vein. [^/iside.
Ang. Your brother is a forfeit of the la^y, And you but waste your words.
hub. Alas! alas!
AYliy, all the souls that were, were forfeit once;*' And He, that might the vantage best have took. Found out the remedy. How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgment,^'^ should But judge you as you are?*' O, think on that; And mercy then will breathe within your lips. Like man new made.*^
Arc/. Be you content, fair maid;
It is the law, not I, condemns your brother: Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son. It should be thus with him : — he must die to-morrow .
Isah. To-morrow? O, that 's sudden! Spare him, spare him: He 's not prepar'd for death! Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season;*" shall we serve heaven With less respect than we do minister To our gross selves? Good, good my lord, bethink you: Who is it that hath died for this offence? There 's many have committed it.
Liicio. Ay, well said.
Aug. The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept :^' Those many had not dar'd to do that evil. If the first that did th' edict infringe,^^ H ad answer'd for his deed : now 't is awake ; Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet, Looks in a glass,^' that shows what future evils (Either now, or by remissness new conceiv'd. And so in progress to be hatch'd and born) Arc now to have no successive degrees. But where they live, to end.'^
Isah. Yet show some pity.
Aitg. I show it most of all, when I show justice; For then I pity those I do not know,'* Which a dismiss'd offence would after gall;
ACT II. SC. II.]
MEASURE EOE MEASURE.
71
And do him right, that, answering one foul wrong, Lives not to act another. Be satisfied; Your hrother dies to-morrow; he content.
Isah. So you must be the first that gives this sentence, And he that suffers. O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; hut it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.
Lucio. That 's well said.
Isah. Could great men thunder As Jove himself does,^'' Jove would ne'er be quiet, For every pelting, petty officer,"
Would use his heaven for thunder: nothing but thunder. Merciful heaven !
Thou rather, with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt,
Splitt'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak,^^
Than the soft myrtle: But man, proud man,^^
Dress'd in a little brief authority.
Most ignorant of what he 's most assur'd,
His glassy essence,*"^ — ^like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven,
As make the angels weep:" who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal."^
Lucio. O, to him, to him, wench; he will relent ; He 's coming,"^ I perceive 't.
Prov. Pray heaven, she win him!
Isah. We cannot weigh our brother with ourself:^* Great men may jest with saints i'^ 't is wit in them ; But, in the less, foul profanation.
Lucio. Thou 'rt in the right, girl; more o' that.
Isah. That in the captain 's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
Lucio. Art avis'd o' that? more on't.
Ancj. Why do you put these sayings upon me?
Isah. Because authority, though it err like others. Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself. That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom; Knock there; and ask your heart, what it doth know That 's like my brother's fault: if it confess A natural guiltiness, such as is his. Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life.
Ang. [Aside.'] She speaks, and 't is
72
MEASITEE rOE MEASUEE.
[act II. sc. II.
Such sense, that my sense breeds with it.*'*' — Fare you welh
Isah. Gentle my lord, turn haek.
Ang. I will bethink me: — Come again to-morrow.
Isah. Hark, how 1 *U bribe you': Good my lord, turn back.
Ang. How ! bribe me?
Isah. Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you.
Lucio. You had marr'd all else.
Isah. Not with fond shekels of the tested gold," Or stones, whose rates are either rich, or poor. As fancy values them; but with true prayers. That shall be up at heaven, and enter there. Ere sunrise: prayers from preserved souls,^^ From fasting maids, w hose minds are dedicate To nothing temporal.
Ang. Well: come to me to-morrow.
Lucio. Goto: 't is well ; away. \ Aside to Isabel..
Isah. Heaven keep your honour safe !
Ang. Amen: For I am that way going to temptation, [Aside. \Yhere prayers cross. ''^
Isah. At what hour to-morrow
Shall I attend your lordship?
Ang. At any time Tore noon.
Isah. 'Save your honour! [Exeunt Lucio, Isab., and Prov.
Ang. From thee ; even from thy virtue ! —
^Yhat 's this? what 's this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter, or the tempted, who sins most? Ha! Not she; nor doth she tempt; but it is I, That, lying by the violet in the sun. Do, as the carrion does, not as the flower, '° Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be. That modesty may more betray our sense'^ Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary. And pitch our evils there?" O, fie, fie, fie! \Miat dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? Dost tliou desire her foully, for those things That make her good ? O, let her brother live : Thieves for their robbery have authority, When judges steal themselves. What? do I love her. That I desire to hear her speak again.
ACT II. SC. III.]
MEASUEE FOE MEASUEE.
73
And feast upon her eyes? What is 't I dream on?
O cunning enemy that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook ! Most dangerous
Is that temptation, that