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  • William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act I, Scene II

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Scene IIA StreetEnter Lucio and two GentlemenLucioIf the duke with the other dukes come not to composition with the King of Hungary, why then all the dukes fall upon the king.First GentlemanHeaven grant us its peace, but not the King of Hungary’s!Second GentlemanAmen.LucioThou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped one out of the table.Second Gentleman’Thou shalt not steal’?LucioAy, that he razed.First GentlemanWhy, ’twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their functions: they put forth to steal. There’s not a soldier of us all, that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.Second GentlemanI never heard any soldier dislike it.LucioI believe thee; for I think thou never wast where grace was said.Second GentlemanNo? a dozen times at least.First GentlemanWhat, in metre?LucioIn any proportion or in any language.First GentlemanI think, or in any religion.LucioAy, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace.First GentlemanWell, there went but a pair of shears between us.LucioI grant; as there may between the lists and the velvet. Thou art the list.First GentlemanAnd thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou’rt a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak feelingly now?LucioI think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I live, forget to drink after thee.First GentlemanI think I have done myself wrong, have I not?Second GentlemanYes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.LucioBehold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to—Second GentlemanTo what, I pray?LucioJudge.Second GentlemanTo three thousand dolours a year.First GentlemanAy, and more.LucioA French crown more.First GentlemanThou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou art full of error; I am sound.LucioNay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.Enter Mistress OverdoneFirst GentlemanHow now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?Mistress OverdoneWell, well; there’s one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.Second GentlemanWho’s that, I pray thee?Mistress OverdoneMarry, sir, that’s Claudio, Signior Claudio.First GentlemanClaudio to prison? ’tis not so.Mistress OverdoneNay, but I know ’tis so: I saw him arrested, saw him carried away; and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off.LucioBut, after all this fooling, I would not have it so. Art thou sure of this?Mistress OverdoneI am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.LucioBelieve me, this may be: he promised to meet me two hours since, and he was ever precise in promise-keeping.Second GentlemanBesides, you know, it draws something near to the speech we had to such a purpose.First GentlemanBut, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.LucioAway! let’s go learn the truth of it.Exeunt Lucio and GentlemenMistress OverdoneThus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what with the gallows and what with poverty, I am custom-shrunk.Enter PompeyHow now! what’s the news with you?PompeyYonder man is carried to prison.Mistress OverdoneWell; what has he done?PompeyA woman.Mistress OverdoneBut what’s his offence?PompeyGroping for trouts in a peculiar river.Mistress OverdoneWhat, is there a maid with child by him?PompeyNo, but there’s a woman with maid by him. You have not heard of the proclamation, have you?Mistress OverdoneWhat proclamation, man?PompeyAll houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.Mistress OverdoneAnd what shall become of those in the city?PompeyThey shall stand for seed: they had gone down too, but that a wise burgher put in for them.Mistress OverdoneBut shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down?PompeyTo the ground, mistress.Mistress OverdoneWhy, here’s a change indeed in the commonwealth! What shall become of me?PompeyCome; fear you not: good counsellors lack no clients: though you change your place, you need not change your trade; I’ll be your tapster still. Courage! there will be pity taken on you: you that have worn your eyes almost out in the service, you will be considered.Mistress OverdoneWhat’s to do here, Thomas tapster? let’s withdraw.PompeyHere comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to prison; and there’s Madam Juliet.ExeuntEnter Provost, Claudio, Juliet, and OfficersClaudioFellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world? Bear me to prison, where I am committed.ProvostI do it not in evil disposition, But from Lord Angelo by special charge.ClaudioThus can the demigod Authority Make us pay down for our offence by weight The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will; On whom it will not, so; yet still ’tis just.Re-enter Lucio and two GentlemenLucioWhy, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?ClaudioFrom too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty: As surfeit is the father of much fast, So every scope by the immoderate use Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue, Like rats that ravin down their proper bane, A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die.LucioIf could speak so wisely under an arrest, I would send for certain of my creditors: and yet, to say the truth, I had as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment. What’s thy offence, Claudio?ClaudioWhat but to speak of would offend again.LucioWhat, is’t murder?ClaudioNo.LucioLechery?ClaudioCall it so.ProvostAway, sir! you must go.ClaudioOne word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.LucioA hundred, if they’ll do you any good. Is lechery so look’d after?ClaudioThus stands it with me: upon a true contract I got possession of Julietta’s bed: 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 dower Remaining in the coffer of her friends, From 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.LucioWith child, perhaps?ClaudioUnhappily, 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 emmence that fills it up, I stagger in:—but this new governor Awakes me all the enrolled penalties Which have, like unscour’d armour, hung by the 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.LucioI 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.ClaudioI 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: I have great hope in that; for in her youth There is a prone and speechless dialect, Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art When she will play with reason and discourse, And well she can persuade.LucioI pray she may; as well for the encouragement of the like, which else would stand under grievous imposition, as for the enjoying of thy life, who I would be sorry should be thus foolishly lost at a game of tick-tack. I’ll to her.ClaudioI thank you, good friend Lucio.LucioWithin two hours.ClaudioCome, officer, away!Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act I

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William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act III, Scene II

  • William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, Act III, Scene II

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales