Measure for Measure

sir; Overdone by the last. Escalus Nine! Come hither to me, Master Froth. Master Froth, I would not have you acquainted with tapsters: they will draw you, Master Froth, and you will hang them. Get you gone, and let me hear no more of you. Froth I thank your worship. For mine own part, I never come into any room in a taphouse, but I am drawn in. Escalus Well, no more of it, Master Froth: farewell. Exit Froth. Come you hither to me, Master tapster. What’s your name, Master tapster? Pompey Pompey. Escalus What else? Pompey Bum, sir. Escalus Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about you; so that in the beastliest sense you are Pompey the Great. Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster, are you not? come, tell me true: it shall be the better for you. Pompey Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live. Escalus How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade? Pompey If the law would allow it, sir. Escalus But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shall not be allowed in Vienna. Pompey Does your worship mean to geld and splay all the youth of the city? Escalus No, Pompey. Pompey Truly, sir, in my poor opinion, they will to’t then. If your worship will take order for the drabs and the knaves, you need not to fear the bawds. Escalus There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you: it is but heading and hanging. Pompey If you head and hang all that offend that way but for ten year together, you’ll be glad to give out a commission for more heads: if this law hold in Vienna ten year, I’ll rent the fairest house in it after three-pence a bay: if you live to see this come to pass, say Pompey told you so. Escalus Thank you, good Pompey; and, in requital of your prophecy, hark you: I advise you, let me not find you before me again upon any complaint whatsoever; no, not for dwelling where you do: if I do, Pompey, I shall beat you to your tent, and prove a shrewd Caesar to you; in plain dealing, Pompey, I shall have you whipt: so, for this time, Pompey, fare you well. Pompey

I thank your worship for your good counsel: aside but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine.

Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade:
The valiant heart’s not whipt out of his trade. Exit.

Escalus Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither, Master constable. How long have you been in this place of constable? Elbow Seven year and a half, sir. Escalus I thought, by your readiness in the office, you had continued in it some time. You say, seven years together? Elbow And a half, sir. Escalus 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? Elbow 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. Escalus Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven, the most sufficient of your parish. Elbow To your worship’s house, sir? Escalus To my house. Fare you well. Exit Elbow. What’s o’clock, think you? Justice Eleven, sir. Escalus I pray you home to dinner with me. Justice I humbly thank you. Escalus

It grieves me for the death of Claudio;
But there’s no remedy.

Justice Lord Angelo is severe. Escalus

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 Provost and a Servant.
Servant	He’s hearing of a cause; he will come straight: I’ll tell him of you.
Provost	Pray you, do. Exit Servant. I’ll know His pleasure; may be he will relent. Alas, He hath but as offended in a dream! All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he To die for’t!
	Enter Angelo.
Angelo	Now, what’s the matter, provost?
Provost	Is it your will Claudio shall die to-morrow?
Angelo	Did not I tell thee yea? hadst thou not order? Why dost thou ask again?
Provost	Lest I might be too rash: Under your good correction, I have seen, When, after execution, judgment hath Repented o’er his doom.
Angelo	Go to; let that be mine: Do you your office, or give up your place, And you shall well be spared.
Provost	I crave your honour’s pardon. What shall be done, sir, with the groaning Juliet? She’s very near her hour.
Angelo	Dispose of her To some more fitter place, and that with speed.
	Re-enter Servant.
Servant	Here is the sister of the man condemn’d Desires access to you.
Angelo	Hath he a sister?
Provost	Ay, my good lord; a very virtuous maid, And to be shortly of a sisterhood, If not already.
Angelo	Well, let her be admitted. Exit Servant. See you the fornicatress be removed: Let have needful, but not lavish, means; There shall be order for’t.
	Enter Isabella and Lucio.
Provost	God save your honour!
Angelo	Stay a little while. To Isabella. You’re welcome: what’s your will?
Isabella	I am a woeful suitor to your honour, Please but your honour hear me.
Angelo	Well; what’s your suit?
Isabella	There is a vice that most I do abhor, And most desire should meet the blow of justice; For which I would not plead, but that I must; For which I must not plead, but that I am At war ’twixt will and will not.
Angelo	Well; the matter?
Isabella	I have a brother is condemn’d to die: I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother.
Provost	Aside. Heaven give thee moving graces!
Angelo	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