Measure for Measure/ Maass fur Maass E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Deutsch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 239

Beschreibung

Bilingual, English and German. Shakespeare comedy in English with line numbers and translated to German. According to Wikipedia: "Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604. It was (and continues to be) classified as comedy, but its mood defies those expectations. As a result and for a variety of reasons, some critics have labelled it as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. Originally published in the First Folio of 1623 (where it was first labelled as a comedy), the play's first recorded performance was in 1604. The play deals with the issues of mercy, justice, and truth and their relationship to pride and humility: "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall".

Zweisprachig, Englisch und Deutsch. Shakespeare-Komödie in Englisch mit Zeilennummern und ins Deutsche übersetzt. Laut Wikipedia ist "Measure for Measure" ein Stück von William Shakespeare, das 1603 oder 1604 geschrieben wurde. Es wurde (und wird weiterhin) als Komödie klassifiziert, aber seine Stimmung widersetzt sich diesen Erwartungen Eine Vielzahl von Gründen wurde von einigen Kritikern als eines von Shakespeares Problemspielen bezeichnet.Erst im First Folio von 1623 veröffentlicht (wo es zuerst als Komödie bezeichnet wurde), war die erste Aufnahme des Stücks 1604. Das Stück handelt von den Themen von Barmherzigkeit, Gerechtigkeit und Wahrheit und ihrer Beziehung zu Stolz und Demut: "Einige erheben sich aus Sünde, und manche fallen durch Tugend".

Leseprobe

MEASURE FOR MEASURE/ MAASS FÜR MAASS, BILINGUAL EDITION (IN ENGLISH WITH LINE NUMBERS AND IN GERMAN)

published by Samizdat Express, Orange, CT, USA

established in 1974, offering over 14,000 books

Other Shakespeare plays in German translation:

Wie Es Euch Gefaellt (Schlegel)

Die Irrunngen (Wieland)

Maas fuer Maas (Wieland)

Der Kaufman von Venedig (Schlegel)

Ein Sommernachtstraum (Schlegel)

Ein St. Johannis Nachts-Traum (Wieland)

Johann (Wieland)

Richard II (Wieland)

Heinrich IV erste theil (Wieland)

Heinrich IV zweyte theil (Wieland)

Der Sturm (Wieland)

feedback welcome: [email protected]

visit us at samizdat.com

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

MAAß FÜR MAAß, ODER: WIE EINER MIßT, SO WIRD IHM WIEDER GEMESSEN, EIN LUSTSPIEL, VON WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, ÜBERSETZT VON CHRISTOPH MARTIN WIELAND

_______________

MEASURE FOR MEASURE BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I

SCENE I An apartment in the DUKE'S palace.

SCENE II A street.

SCENE III A monastery.

SCENE IV A nunnery.

ACT II

SCENE I A hall in ANGELO's house.

SCENE II Another room in the same.

SCENE III A room in a prison.

SCENE IV A room in ANGELO's house.

ACT III

SCENE I A room in the prison.

SCENE II The street before the prison.

ACT IV

SCENE I The moated grange at ST. LUKE's.

SCENE II A room in the prison.

SCENE III Another room in the same.

SCENE IV A room in ANGELO's house.

SCENE V Fields without the town.

SCENE VI Street near the city gate.

ACT V

SCENE I The city gate.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Vincentio, The Duke. (Duke Vincentio)

Angelo, Deputy

Escalus, An Ancient Lord

Claudio, A Young Gentleman

Lucio, A Fantastic.

Two other gentlemen.

(First Gentleman:)

(Second Gentleman:)

Provost

Two Friars

Peter(Friar Peter:)

Thomas(Friar Thomas:)

A Justice

Varrius

Elbow, A Simple Constable

Froth, A Foolish Gentleman

Pompey, Servant To Mistress Overdone

Abhorson, An Executioner

Barnardine, A Dissolute Prisoner

Isabella, Sister To Claudio

Marian, A Betrothed To Angelo

Juliet, Beloved Of Claudio

Francisca, A Nun

Mistress Overdone, A Bawd

Lords, Officers, Citizens, Boy, and Attendant

(Servant:)

(Messenger:)

SCENE Vienna

________________________

ACT I

SCENE I An apartment in the DUKE'S palace.

[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO, ESCALUS, LORDS and ATTENDANTS]

(1) DUKE VINCENTIO Escalus.

ESCALUS My lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO Of government the properties to unfold,

Would seem in me to 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,

(10) And let them work. The nature of our people,

Our city's institutions, and the terms

For common justice, you're as pregnant in

As art and practise hath enriched any

That we remember. There is our commission,

From which we would 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,

(20) 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?

ESCALUS If any in Vienna be of worth

To undergo such ample grace and honour,

It is Lord Angelo.

DUKE VINCENTIO      Look where he comes.

[Enter ANGELO]

ANGELO Always obedient to your grace's will,

I come to know your pleasure.

DUKE VINCENTIO Angelo,

There is a kind of character in thy life,

That to the observer doth thy history

(30) 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, 'twere 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

(40) 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:--

In our remove be thou at full ourself;

Mortality and mercy in Vienna

Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,

Though first in question, is thy secondary.

Take thy commission.

ANGELO Now, good my lord,

Let there be some more test made of my metal,

(50) Before so noble and so great a figure

Be stamp'd upon it.

DUKE VINCENTIO No more evasion:

We have with a leaven'd and prepared 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 importune,

How it goes with us, and do look to know

What doth befall you here. So, fare you well;

(60) To the hopeful execution do I leave you

Of your commissions.

ANGELO Yet give leave, my lord,

That we may bring you something on the way.

DUKE VINCENTIO 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'll privily away. I love the people,

But do not like to stage me to their eyes:

(70) Though it do well, I do not relish well

Their loud applause and Aves vehement;

Nor do I think the man of safe discretion

That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

ANGELO The heavens give safety to your purposes!

ESCALUS Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!

DUKE I thank you. Fare you well.

[Exit]

ESCALUS 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:

(80) A power I have, but of what strength and nature

I am not yet instructed.

ANGELO 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,

And we may soon our satisfaction have

Touching that point.

ESCALUS I'll wait upon your honour.

[Exeunt]

SCENE II A street.

[Enter LUCIO and TWO GENTLEMEN]

(1) 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.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Heaven grant us its peace, but not the King of

Hungary's!

SECOND GENTLEMAN Amen.

LUCIO Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that

went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped

one out of the table.

(10) SECOND GENTLEMAN 'Thou shalt not steal'?

LUCIO Ay, that he razed.

FIRST GENTLEMAN 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, do relish the petition

well that prays for peace.

SECOND GENTLEMAN I never heard any soldier dislike it.

LUCIO I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where

(20) grace was said.

SECOND GENTLEMAN No? a dozen times at least.

FIRST GENTLEMAN What, in metre?

LUCIO In any proportion or in any language.

FIRST GENTLEMAN I think, or in any religion.

LUCIO Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all

controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a

wicked villain, despite of all grace.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Well, there went but a pair of shears between us.

(30) LUCIO I grant; as there may between the lists and the

velvet. Thou art the list.

FIRST GENTLEMAN And 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?

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

(40) live, forget to drink after thee.

FIRST GENTLEMAN I think I have done myself wrong, have I not?

SECOND GENTLEMAN Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.

LUCIO Behold, behold. where Madam Mitigation comes! I

have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to--

SECOND GENTLEMAN To what, I pray?

LUCIO Judge.

(50) SECOND GENTLEMAN To three thousand dolours a year.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Ay, and more.

LUCIO A French crown more.

FIRST GENTLEMAN 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.

[Enter MISTRESS OVERDONE]

(60) FIRST GENTLEMAN How now! which of your hips has the most profound sciatica?

MISTRESS OVERDONE Well, well; there's one yonder arrested and carried

to prison was worth five thousand of you all.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Who's that, I pray thee?

MISTRESS OVERDONE Marry, sir, that's Claudio, Signior Claudio.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Claudio to prison? 'tis not so.

MISTRESS OVERDONE Nay, but I know 'tis so: I saw him arrested, saw

him carried away; and, which is more, within these

(70) three days his head to be chopped off.

LUCIO But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.

Art thou sure of this?

MISTRESS OVERDONE I am too sure of it: and it is for getting Madam

Julietta with child.

LUCIO Believe me, this may be: he promised to meet me two

hours since, and he was ever precise in

promise-keeping.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Besides, you know, it draws something near to the

speech we had to such a purpose.

(80) FIRST GENTLEMAN But, most of all, agreeing with the proclamation.

LUCIO Away! let's go learn the truth of it.

[Exeunt LUCIO and GENTLEMEN]

MISTRESS OVERDONE Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what

with the gallows and what with poverty, I am

custom-shrunk.

[Enter POMPEY]

How now! what's the news with you?

POMPEY Yonder man is carried to prison.

MISTRESS OVERDONE Well; what has he done?

POMPEY A woman.

(90) MISTRESS OVERDONE But what's his offence?

POMPEY Groping for trouts in a peculiar river.

MISTRESS OVERDONE What, is there a maid with child by him?

POMPEY No, but there's a woman with maid by him. You have

not heard of the proclamation, have you?

MISTRESS OVERDONE What proclamation, man?

POMPEY All houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.

MISTRESS OVERDONE And what shall become of those in the city?

(100) POMPEY They shall stand for seed: they had gone down too,

but that a wise burgher put in for them.

MISTRESS OVERDONE But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be

pulled down?

POMPEY To the ground, mistress.

MISTRESS OVERDONE Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!

What shall become of me?

(110) POMPEY Come; 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 OVERDONE What's to do here, Thomas tapster? let's withdraw.

POMPEY Here comes Signior Claudio, led by the provost to

prison; and there's Madam Juliet.

[Exeunt]

[Enter PROVOST, CLAUDIO, JULIET, and OFFICERS]

(120) CLAUDIO Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?

Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

PROVOST I do it not in evil disposition,

But from Lord Angelo by special charge.

CLAUDIO Thus 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 GENTLEMEN]

LUCIO Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?

CLAUDIO From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:

(130) 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.

LUCIO If 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?

(140) CLAUDIO What but to speak of would offend again.

LUCIO What, is't murder?

CLAUDIO No.

LUCIO Lechery?

CLAUDIO Call it so.

PROVOST Away, sir! you must go.

CLAUDIO One word, good friend. Lucio, a word with you.

LUCIO A hundred, if they'll do you any good.

Is lechery so look'd after?

CLAUDIO Thus stands it with me: upon a true contract

(150) 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.

LUCIO With child, perhaps?

(160) CLAUDIO 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 emmence that fills it up,

I stagger in:--but this new governor

(170) 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.

LUCIO 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.

CLAUDIO I have done so, but he's not to be found.

(180) 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

(190) When she will play with reason and discourse,

And well she can persuade.

LUCIO I 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.

CLAUDIO I thank you, good friend Lucio.

LUCIO Within two hours.

CLAUDIO      Come, officer, away!

[Exeunt]

SCENE III A monastery.

[Enter DUKE VINCENTIO and FRIAR THOMAS]

(1) DUKE VINCENTIO No, holy father; throw away that thought;

Believe not that the dribbling dart of love

Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee

To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose

More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends

Of burning youth.

FRIAR THOMAS     May your grace speak of it?

DUKE VINCENTIO My holy sir, none better knows than you

How I have ever loved the life removed

And held in idle price to haunt assemblies

(10) Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.

I have deliver'd to Lord Angelo,

A man of stricture and firm abstinence,

My absolute power and place here in Vienna,

And he supposes me travell'd to Poland;

For so I have strew'd it in the common ear,

And so it is received. Now, pious sir,

You will demand of me why I do this?

FRIAR THOMAS Gladly, my lord.

DUKE VINCENTIO We have strict statutes and most biting laws.

(20) The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds,

Which for this nineteen years we have let slip;

Even like an o'ergrown lion in a cave,

That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,

Having bound up the threatening 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;

(30) The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart

Goes all decorum.

FRIAR THOMAS      It rested in your grace

To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased:

And it in you more dreadful would have seem'd

Than in Lord Angelo.

DUKE VINCENTIO I do fear, too dreadful:

Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,

'Twould 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,

(40) I have on Angelo imposed the office;

Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,

And yet my nature never in the fight

To do in slander. And to behold his sway,

I will, as 'twere 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;

(50) 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 shall we see,

If power change purpose, what our seemers be.

[Exeunt]

SCENE IV A nunnery.

[Enter ISABELLA and FRANCISCA]

(1) ISABELLA And have you nuns no farther privileges?

FRANCISCA Are not these large enough?

ISABELLA Yes, truly; I speak not as desiring more;

But rather wishing a more strict restraint

Upon the sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.

LUCIO [Within] Ho! Peace be in this place!

ISABELLA Who's that which calls?

FRANCISCA It is a man's voice. Gentle Isabella,

Turn you the key, and know his business of him;

You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.

(10) When you have vow'd, you must not speak with men

But in the presence of the prioress:

Then, if you speak, you must not show your face,

Or, if you show your face, you must not speak.

He calls again; I pray you, answer him.

[Exit]

ISABELLA Peace and prosperity! Who is't that calls

[Enter LUCIO]

LUCIO Hail, virgin, if you 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 place and the fair sister

(20) To her unhappy brother Claudio?

ISABELLA Why 'her unhappy brother'? let me ask,

The rather for I now must make you know

I am that Isabella and his sister.

LUCIO Gentle and fair, your brother kindly greets you:

Not to be weary with you, he's in prison.

ISABELLA Woe me! 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.

ISABELLA Sir, make me not your story.

(30) LUCIO      It is true.

I would not--though 'tis 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 ensky'd and sainted.

By your renouncement an immortal spirit,

And to be talk'd with in sincerity,

As with a saint.

ISABELLA You do blaspheme the good in mocking me.

LUCIO Do not believe it. Fewness and truth, 'tis thus:

(40) Your brother and his lover have embraced:

As those that feed grow full, as blossoming time

That from the seedness the bare fallow brings

To teeming foison, even so her plenteous womb

Expresseth his full tilth and husbandry.

ISABELLA Some one with child by him? My cousin Juliet?

LUCIO Is she your cousin?

ISABELLA Adoptedly; as school-maids change their names

By vain though apt affection.

LUCIO She it is.

ISABELLA O, let him marry her.

LUCIO This is the point.

(50) 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,

(60) 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

(70) To soften Angelo: and that's my pith of business

'Twixt you and your poor brother.

ISABELLA Doth he so seek his life?

LUCIO Has censured him

Already; and, as I hear, the provost hath

A warrant for his execution.

ISABELLA Alas! what poor ability's in me

To do him good?

LUCIO      Assay the power you have.

ISABELLA My power? Alas, I doubt--

LUCIO Our doubts are traitors

And make us lose the good we oft might win

By fearing to attempt. Go to Lord Angelo,

(80) And let him learn to know, when maidens sue,

Men give like gods; but when they weep and kneel,

All their petitions are as freely theirs

As they themselves would owe them.

ISABELLA I'll see what I can do.

LUCIO But speedily.

ISABELLA I will about it straight;

No longer staying but to give the mother

Notice of my affair. I humbly thank you:

Commend me to my brother: soon at night

I'll send him certain word of my success.

LUCIO I take my leave of you.

(90) ISABELLA Good sir, adieu.

[Exeunt]

ACT II

SCENE I A hall in ANGELO's house.

[Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a JUSTICE, PROVOST, OFFICERS, and OTHER ATTENDANTS, behind]

(1) ANGELO 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.

ESCALUS 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 strait in virtue,

(10) That, in the working of your own affections,

Had time cohered with place or place with wishing,

Or that the resolute acting of your blood

Could have attain'd the 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.

ANGELO 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,

Another thing to fall. I not deny,

The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,

(20) May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two

Guiltier than him they try. What's open made to justice,

That justice seizes: what know the laws

That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,

The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't

Because we see it; but 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; but rather tell me,

When I, that censure him, do so offend,

(30) Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,

And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.

ESCALUS Be it as your wisdom will.

ANGELO Where is the provost?

PROVOST Here, if it like your honour.

ANGELO See that Claudio

Be executed by nine to-morrow morning:

Bring him his confessor, let him be prepared;

For that's the utmost of his pilgrimage.

[Exit PROVOST]

ESCALUS [Aside]  Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all!

Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall:

Some run from brakes of ice, and answer none:

(40) And some condemned for a fault alone.

[Enter ELBOW, and OFFICERS with FROTH and POMPEY]

ELBOW 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.

ANGELO How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?

ELBOW 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

(50) honour two notorious benefactors.

ANGELO Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are

they not malefactors?

ELBOW 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.

ESCALUS This comes off well; here's a wise officer.

ANGELO Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your

(60) name? why dost thou not speak, Elbow?

POMPEY He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.

ANGELO What are you, sir?

ELBOW He, sir! a tapster, sir; parcel-bawd; one that

serves a bad woman; whose house, sir, was, as they

say, plucked down in the suburbs; and now she

professes a hot-house, which, I think, is a very ill house too.

ESCALUS How know you that?

(70) ELBOW My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,--

ESCALUS How? thy wife?

ELBOW Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,--

ESCALUS Dost thou detest her therefore?

ELBOW I say, sir, I will detest myself also, as well as

she, that this house, if it be not a bawd's house,

it is pity of her life, for it is a naughty house.

ESCALUS How dost thou know that, constable?

(80) ELBOW Marry, sir, by my wife; who, if she had been a woman

cardinally given, might have been accused in

fornication, adultery, and all uncleanliness there.

ESCALUS By the woman's means?

ELBOW Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone's means: but as she

spit in his face, so she defied him.

POMPEY Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.

ELBOW Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable

man; prove it.

(90) ESCALUS Do you hear how he misplaces?

POMPEY Sir, she came in great with child; and longing,

saving your honour's reverence, for stewed 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,--

ESCALUS Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir.

POMPEY No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in

(100) 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.

POMPEY Very well: you being then, if you be remembered,

cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,--

FROTH Ay, so I did indeed.

(110) POMPEY Why, very well; I telling you then, if you be

remembered, 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,--