OBSERVATIONS. SHAKSPEARE took the fable of this play from the Promos and Cassandra of George Whetstone, published in 1598. A hint, like a seed, is more or less prolific, according to the qualities of the soil on which it is thrown. This story, which in the hands of Whetstone produced little more than barren insipidity, under the culture of Shakspeare became fertile of entertainment. The curious reader will find that the old play of Promos and Cassandra exhibits an almost complete embryo of Measure for Measure; yet the hints on which it is formed are so slight, that it is nearly as impossible to detect them, as it is to point out in the acorn the future ramifications of the oak. STEEVENS. There is perhaps not one of Shakspeare's plays more darkened than this by the peculiarities of its author, and the unskilfulness of its editors, by distortions of phrase, or negligence of transcription. The light or comic part is very natural and pleasing, but the grave scenes, if a few passages be excepted, have more labour than elegance. The plot is rather intricate than artful. The time of the action is indefinite some time, we know not how much, must have elapsed between the recess of the duke and the imprisonment of Claudio; for he must have learned the story of Mariana in his disguise, or he delegated his power to a man already known to be corrupted. The unities of action and place are sufficiently preserved. JOHNSON. 37 VOL. I. PERSONS REPRESENTED. VINCENTIO, duke 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 duke. Lords, Gentlemen, Guards, Officers, and other Atten dants. SCENE-Vienna. * Varrius might be omitted, for he is only once spoken to, and says nothing. JOHNSON. MEASURE FOR MEASURE. ACT I. SCENE I-An apartment in the Duke's palace. Enter Duke, EsCALUS, Lords, and Attendants. ESCALUS, Escal. My lord. Duke. Dnke. Of government the properties to unfold, My strength can give you: Then no more remains For common justice, you are as pregnant in, That we remember: There is our commission, From which we would not have you warp.-Call hither, For you must know, we have with special soul Lent him our terror, drest him with our love; To undergo such ample grace and honour, Enter ANGELO. Duke. Look, where he comes. Ang. 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 the observer, doth thy history Fully unfold Thyself and thy belongings Are not thine own so proper, as to waste Thyself upon thy virtues, them on thee. Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do ; Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd, Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech To one that can my part in him advértise ; In our remove, be thou at full ourself; Live in thy tongue and heart: Old Escalus, Ang. Now, good my lord, Let there be some more test made of my metal, Be stamp'd upon it. Duke, No more evasion : We have with a leaven'd2 and prepared choice your commissions. Ang. Yet, give leave, my lord, That we may bring you something on the way. Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do As to your soul seems good. Give me your hand; [1] To great consequences; for high purposes. JOHNSON. When bread is leavened it is left to ferment; a leavened choice is therefore a choice not hasty, but considerate, not declared as soon as it fell into the imagination, but suffered to work long in the mind. JOHNSON. But do not like to stage me to their eyes: [Exit. Escal. I shall desire you, sir, to give me leave A power I have; but of what strength and nature Ang. 'Tis so with me: Let us withdraw together, Touching that point. Escal. I'll wait upon your honour. A Street. SCENE II. [Exeunt. Enter LUCI0 and two Gentlemen. Lucio. If the duke, with the other dukes, come not to composition 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 concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table. 2 Gent. Thou shalt not steal? Lucio. Ay, that he razed. 1 Gent. Why, '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, doth relish the petition well that prays for peace. 2 Gent. I never heard any soldier dislike it. Lucio. I believe thee; for, I think, thou never wast where grace was said. 2 Gent. No? a dozen times at least. 1 Gent. What? in metre ?2 [3] In the primers, there are metrical graces, such as, I suppose, were used in Shakspeare's time. JOHNSON. |