MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Vincentio, Duke of Vienna, announces his intention to leave his dominions and travel in Poland. Taking leave of his friends, he deputes Angelo, assisted by Escalus (both of them lords of his court), to govern in his absence. Instead, however, of taking his departure, the Duke disguises himself as a friar, and remains in Vienna, being desirous of ascertaining how justice is administered when he is an absentee. No sooner has he disappeared from the court than Angelo, reviving an obsolete law, commits Claudio, a young gentleman in love with Juliet, to prison, and inhumanly condemns him to death. Isabella, Claudio's sister, a lady of exalted character, who is about to enter a nunnery, becomes a suppliant to Angelo for her brother's life; she, however, sues in vain, and Claudio is left for execution. An interview between the brother and sister takes place in the prison, and their conversation is overheard by the Duke, who thus is made aware of the harsh manner in which Angelo is overstraining the laws. At length the Duke throws off his disguise, and condemns Angelo to death, whom he, however, subsequently pardons at the intercession of Isabella. Claudio is released and marries Juliet, and the Duke himself, charmed with the nobility of character and piety of Isabella, offers her his hand. Dr. Johnson, speaking of " Measure for Measure,” says: "The light or comic part is very natural and pleasing; but the grave scenes (a few passages excepted), have more labour than elegance; the plot is rather intricate than artful.” Аст І. Virtue given to be Exerted. HEAVEN doth with us as we with torches do; As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, But to fine issues: nor nature never lends Both thanks and use. In her youth Eloquence and Beauty. There is a pronet and speechless dialect, Such as moves men; beside, she hath prosperous art Angelo's Character as a Governor described. Lord Angelo is precise ; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, Resolution. Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win, Аст II. Mercy• No ceremony that to great ones 'longs, As * Interest of money. † Facile, ready. M Alas! alas! The Duty of Forgiveness. Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once, The Abuse of Power. O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength: but it is tyrannous The Abuse of Authority. 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: O, but man, proud man! Drest in a little brief authority: Most ignorant of what he's most assured, - Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven, As make the angels weep. The Privilege of Authority. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. * Mean, despicable. ACT III. Hope. The miserable have no other medicine, But only hope. The Vanity of Life. Reason thus with life, If I do lose thee, I do lose a thing That none but fools would keep; a breath thou art That dost this habitation, where thou keep'st, And yet runs't toward him still: thou art not noble ; For all the accommodations that thou bear'st Are nursed by baseness: thou art by no means valiant ; Of a poor worm: thy best of rest is sleep, Thy death, which is no more: thou art not thyself; Do curse the gout, serpigo,† and the rheum, * Affections. † A Leprous disease. ; For ending thee no sooner: thou hast nor youth nor age: But, as it were, an after-dinner's sleep, Dreaming on both for all thy blessed youth : Becomes as aged, and doth beg the arms Of palsied eld ;* and when thou art old and rich, That bears the name of life. What's yet in this Lie hid more thousand deaths: yet death we fear, The Terrors of Death chiefly in Apprehension. O, I do fear thee, Claudio; and I quake The Fear of Death. Ay, but to die, and go we know not where ; * Old age. † Invisible. |