Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Measure for Measure (Folio, 1623)
  • Editor: Kristin Lucas

    • Copyright Kristin Lucas. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Kristin Lucas
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Measure for Measure (Folio, 1623)

    66Measure for Measure.
    Esc. I sir, very well.
    Clo. Nay, I beseech you marke it well.
    Esc. Well, I doe so.
    Clo. Doth your honor see any harme in his face?
    605Esc. Why no.
    Clo. Ile be supposd vpon a booke, his face is the worst
    thing about him: good then: if his face be the worst
    thing about him, how could Master Froth doe the Con-
    stables wife any harme? I would know that of your
    610honour.
    Esc. He's in the right (Constable) what say you to it?
    Elb. First, and it like you, the house is a respected
    house; next, this is a respected fellow; and his Mistris is
    a respected woman.
    615Clo. By this hand Sir, his wife is a more respected per-
    son then any of vs all.
    Elb. Varlet, thou lyest; thou lyest wicked varlet: the
    time is yet to come that shee was euer respected with
    man, woman, or childe.
    620Clo. Sir, she was respected with him, before he mar-
    ried with her.
    Esc. Which is the wiser here; Iustice or Iniquitie? Is
    this true?
    Elb. O thou caytiffe: O thou varlet: O thou wick-
    625ed Hanniball; I respected with her, before I was married
    to her? If euer I was respected with her, or she with me,
    let not your worship thinke mee the poore Dukes Offi-
    cer: proue this, thou wicked Hanniball, or ile haue
    mine action of battry on thee.
    630Esc. If he tooke you a box o'th' eare, you might haue
    your action of slander too.
    Elb. Marry I thanke your good worship for it: what
    is't your Worships pleasure I shall doe with this wick-
    ed Caitiffe?
    635Esc. Truly Officer, because he hath some offences in
    him, that thou wouldst discouer, if thou couldst, let him
    continue in his courses, till thou knowst what they are.
    Elb. Marry I thanke your worship for it: Thou seest
    thou wicked varlet now, what's come vpon thee. Thou
    640art to continue now thou Varlet, thou art to continue.
    Esc. Where were you borne, friend?
    Froth. Here in Vienna, Sir.
    Esc. Are you of fourescore pounds a yeere?
    Froth. Yes, and't please you sir.
    645Esc. So: what trade are you of, sir?
    Clo. A Tapster, a poore widdowes Tapster.
    Esc. Your Mistris name?
    Clo. Mistris Ouer- don.
    Esc. Hath she had any more then one husband?
    650Clo. Nine, sir: Ouer-don by the last.
    Esc. Nine? come hether to me, Master Froth; Master
    Froth, I would not haue you acquainted with Tapsters;
    they will draw you Master Froth, and you wil hang them:
    get you gon, and let me heare no more of you.
    655Fro. I thanke your worship: for mine owne part, I
    neuer come into any roome in a Tap-house, but I am
    drawne in.
    Esc. Well: no more of it Master Froth: farewell:
    Come you hether to me, M. Tapster: what's your name
    660Mr. Tapster?
    Clo. Pompey.
    Esc. What else?
    Clo. Bum, Sir.
    Esc. Troth, and your bum is the greatest thing about
    665you, so that in the beastliest sence, you are Pompey the
    great; Pompey, you are partly a bawd, Pompey; howso-
    euer you colour it in being a Tapster, are you not? come,
    tell me true, it shall be the better for you.
    Clo. Truly sir, I am a poore fellow that would liue.
    670Esc. How would you liue Pompey? by being a bawd?
    what doe you thinke of the trade Pompey? is it a lawfull
    trade?
    Clo. If the Law would allow it, sir.
    Esc. But the Law will not allow it Pompey; nor it
    675shall not be allowed in Vienna.
    Clo. Do's your Worship meane to geld and splay all
    the youth of the City?
    Esc. No, Pompey.
    Clo. Truely Sir, in my poore opinion they will too't
    680then: if your worship will take order for the drabs and
    the knaues, you need not to feare the bawds.
    Esc. There is pretty orders beginning I can tell you:
    It is but heading, and hanging.
    Clo. If you head, and hang all that offend that way
    685but for ten yeare together; you'll be glad to giue out a
    Commission for more heads: if this law hold in Vienna
    ten yeare, ile rent the fairest house in it after three pence
    a Bay: if you liue to see this come to passe, say Pompey
    told you so.
    690Esc. Thanke you good Pompey; and in requitall of
    your prophesie, harke you: I aduise you let me not finde
    you before me againe vpon any complaint whatsoeuer;
    no, not for dwelling where you doe: if I doe Pompey, I
    shall beat you to your Tent, and proue a shrewd Casar
    695to you: in plaine dealing Pompey, I shall haue you whipt;
    so for this time, Pompey, fare you well.
    Clo. I thanke your Worship for your good counsell;
    but I shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better
    determine. Whip me? no, no, let Carman whip his Iade,
    700The valiant heart's not whipt out of his trade. Exit.
    Esc. Come hether to me, Master Elbow: come hither
    Master Constable: how long haue you bin in this place
    of Constable?
    Elb. Seuen yeere, and a halfe sir.
    705Esc. I thought by the readinesse in the office, you had
    continued in it some time: you say seauen yeares toge-
    ther.
    Elb. And a halfe sir.
    Esc. Alas, it hath beene great paines to you: they do
    710you wrong to put you so oft vpon't. Are there not men
    in your Ward sufficient to serue it?
    Elb. '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 peece of money, and goe through with all.
    715Esc. Looke you bring mee in the names of some sixe
    or seuen, the most sufficient of your parish.
    Elb. To your Worships house sir?
    Esc. To my house: fare you well: what's a clocke,
    thinke you?
    720Iust. Eleuen, Sir.
    Esc. I pray you home to dinner with me.
    Iust. I humbly thanke you.
    Esc. It grieues me for the death of Claudio
    But there's no remedie:
    725Iust. Lord Angelo is seuere.
    Esc. It is but needfull.
    Mercy is not it selfe, that oft lookes so,
    Pardon is still the nurse of second woe:
    But yet, poore Claudio; there is no remedie.
    730Come Sir. Exeunt.
    Scoena
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC