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Act 1, Scene 4
Measure for Measure Translation Act 2, Scene 1
Enter ANGELO, ESCALUS, and a Justice, Provost, Officers, and other Attendants, behind
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.
ANGELO
We can't let the law become like a scarecrow. When a scarecrow is set up to scare away scavenger birds, it becomes such a familiar presence that the birds perch on it instead of being afraid.
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, 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.
ESCALUS
Yes, but let's be smart, and improve it little by little so that the whole thing doesn't fall out from under us. But this man who I want to save has a powerful, aristocratic father! I know you are incredibly virtuous, your Honor. But please just ask yourself about your own experiences with love. If you've ever been in the right place at the right time when the desire hit you, have you gotten carried away with feeling and fulfilled that desire? Haven't you ever made a mistake like the one for which you're now punishing Claudio? Imagine if the law had come down on you then.
ANGELO
'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny, The jury, passing on the prisoner's life, 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, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.
ANGELO
Escalus, it's one thing to be tempted, but another thing entirely to fall. I cannot deny that, among a jury of twelve people trying a prisoner, there might be a thief or two more guilty than the man on trial. What justice sees, justice grabs. Who knows what the code of law is among thieves? It's like how we bend down and pick up a jewel because we see it. But we walk right over the things we don't see and are never the wiser. You can't excuse his crime on the grounds that I have similar faults. Instead, you should tell me when I, who judge him, commit that offense. My judgment on him will be the model for my own death, so nothing is done partially. Sir, he has to die.
ESCALUS
Be it as your wisdom will.
ESCALUS
If you say so, sir.
ANGELO
Where is the provost?
ANGELO
Where is the provost?
PROVOST
Here, if it like your honour.
PROVOST
I'm here, sir.
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.
ANGELO
Make sure that Claudio is executed by nine tomorrow morning. Bring the priest to him for confession and last rites, since his pilgrimage ends here.
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: And some condemned for a fault alone.
ESCALUS
[To himself] Well, heaven forgive him! And forgive us all! Some people get ahead by sinning, and others fall on hard times for doing good. Some who commit a whole heap of crimes never have to answer for them, while others are condemned for a single mistake.
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.
ELBOW
Come on, bring them away. If these people—who do nothing but raise hell in brothels—are good people, then I don't know the law. Bring them away!
ANGELO
How now, sir! What's your name? and what's the matter?
ANGELO
What's going on, sir? What's your name? 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 honour two notorious benefactors.
ELBOW
Begging your pardon, your Honor. I'm the poor Duke's constable, and my name is Elbow. Sir, I depend upon justice, and bring in two notorious benefactors here before you.
ANGELO
Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? arethey not malefactors?
ANGELO
Benefactors? Well, they're benefactors, are they? Aren't they 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.
ELBOW
Begging your pardon, your Honor, I don't know exactly who they are. But they are downright crooks, I'm sure of that. And they lack the profanation that all good Christians should have.
ESCALUS
This comes off well; here's a wise officer.
ESCALUS
That makes plenty of sense. This is a smart officer!
ANGELO
Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is yourname? why dost thou not speak, Elbow?
ANGELO
Oh, enough. What are these men like? Elbow is your name, yes? Why don't you speak up, Elbow?
POMPEY
He cannot, sir; he's out at elbow.
POMPEY
He can't sir, he's out at the elbow.
ANGELO
What are you, sir?
ANGELO
[To POMPEY] What's your profession, 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.
ELBOW
Him, sir? He's a bartender, sir, and the servant of a brothel-keeper. He serves a bad woman whose house, sir, was, as they say, "torn down" in the outskirts of the town. And now she claims she runs a sauna which is, I think, a very dirty place, too.
ESCALUS
How know you that?
ESCALUS
How do you know that?
ELBOW
My wife, sir, whom I detest before heaven and your honour,—
ELBOW
My wife, sir, whom I detest in the eyes of God and yourself.
ESCALUS
How? thy wife?
ESCALUS
What? Your wife?
ELBOW
Ay, sir; whom, I thank heaven, is an honest woman,—
ELBOW
Yes, sir, who is, thank God, an honest woman—
ESCALUS
Dost thou detest her therefore?
ESCALUS
And you "detest" her for that?
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.
ELBOW
Yes, sir, and I'll detest myself, too, along with my wife, that that house is a brothel. If it's not a brothel, then I swear on her life that it's at least a very naughty place.
ESCALUS
How dost thou know that, constable?
ESCALUS
How do you know that, constable?
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.
ELBOW
Indeed, sir, from my wife. If she had been more virtuous, she might have been guilty of fornication, adultery, and all sorts of trouble there.
ESCALUS
By the woman's means?
ESCALUS
As a prostitute?
ELBOW
Ay, sir, by Mistress Overdone's means: but as shespit in his face, so she defied him.
ELBOW
Yes, sir, under Mistress Overdone. But because she spit in his face, she got away.
POMPEY
Sir, if it please your honour, this is not so.
POMPEY
Sir, begging your pardon: it's not true.
ELBOW
Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourableman; prove it.
ELBOW
Prove it before these lowly servants here, you honorable man, prove it.
ESCALUS
Do you hear how he misplaces?
ESCALUS
Do you hear how he misuses his words?
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,—
POMPEY
Sir, she came in very pregnant, with a craving—begging your pardon, your Honor—for stewed prunes. Sir, we only had two in the house, which way back then were sitting in a fruit bowl, a bowl worth three pence—you've all seen the kind of dish, they're not cheap dishes, they're very good dishes—
ESCALUS
Go to, go to: no matter for the dish, sir.
ESCALUS
Enough, enough! The dish isn't important, sir.
POMPEY
No, indeed, sir, not of a pin; you are therein in 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.
POMPEY
Of course, sir, not at all. You're completely right there. To the point. Like I said, this Mrs. Elbow, who (like I said) was very pregnant and craving, like I said, prunes, and only two being in the bowl (like I said) because Mr. Froth here, this very man, had eaten the rest (like I said), and (as I say) had paid for them up front. For, as you know, Mr. Froth, I couldn't give you three pence again.
FROTH
No, indeed.
FROTH
No, of course not.
POMPEY
Very well: you being then, if you be remembered,cracking the stones of the foresaid prunes,—
POMPEY
All right. So you were, if you remember, breaking the pits of the aforementioned prunes—
FROTH
Ay, so I did indeed.
FROTH
Yes, I was doing that.
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,—
POMPEY
Well then, there you go. And I was telling you then, if you remember, that someone or other was past the help of medicine with the same disease you had, unless they kept a very good diet, as I told you—
FROTH
All this is true.
FROTH
All this is true.
POMPEY
Why, very well, then,—
POMPEY
Well, there you have it—
ESCALUS
Come, you are a tedious fool: to the purpose. What was done to Elbow's wife, that he hath cause to complain of? Come me to what was done to her.
ESCALUS
Enough, you're dragging on; get to the point. What happened to Elbow's wife that's made him so upset? Tell me what happened to her.
POMPEY
Sir, your honour cannot come to that yet.
POMPEY
Sir, you can't jump ahead to that yet, your Honor.
ESCALUS
No, sir, nor I mean it not.
ESCALUS
No, sir, I'm serious.
POMPEY
Sir, but you shall come to it, by your honour's leave. And, I beseech you, look into Master Froth here, sir; a man of four-score pound a year; whose father died at Hallowmas: was't not at Hallowmas, Master Froth?
POMPEY
Sir, we'll get to that, begging your Honor's pardon. And, please: look at Mr. Froth here, a man who earns eighty pounds per year, and father Dad died on November 1. Wasn't it November 1, Mr. Froth?
FROTH
All-hallond eve.
FROTH
October 31.
POMPEY
Why, very well; I hope here be truths. He, sir, sitting, as I say, in a lower chair, sir; 'twas in the Bunch of Grapes, where indeed you have a delight to sit, have you not?
POMPEY
Well, that's all right. I hope that's true. Sir, he was sitting (as I said) in a small chair, sir. It was in living room, wasn't it, where you usually like to sit, right?
FROTH
I have so; because it is an open room and good for winter.
FROTH
That's right, because it's an open room and good for winter.
POMPEY
Why, very well, then; I hope here be truths.
POMPEY
Well, that's all right, then. I hope that's true.
ANGELO
This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there: I'll take my leave. And leave you to the hearing of the cause; Hoping you'll find good cause to whip them all.
ANGELO
This story is longer than a winter night in Russia. I'm leaving now.
[To ESCALUS] I'll leave you to hear the testimony, and hope you'll find a reason to whip them all.
ESCALUS
I think no less. Good morrow to your lordship.
ESCALUS
I suspect I will. Goodbye, your Lordship.
Exit ANGELO
Now, sir, come on: what was done to Elbow's wife, once more?
Now come on, sir. What happened to Elbow's wife? Once more.
POMPEY
Once, sir? there was nothing done to her once.
POMPEY
Once, sir? There was nothing done to her "once."
ELBOW
I beseech you, sir, ask him what this man did to my wife.
ELBOW
Sir, I'm begging you: ask him what this man did to my wife.
POMPEY
I beseech your honour, ask me.
POMPEY
I'm begging you, sir: ask me.
ESCALUS
Well, sir; what did this gentleman to her?
ESCALUS
Well, sir, what did this gentleman do to her?
POMPEY
I beseech you, sir, look in this gentleman's face. Good Master Froth, look upon his honour; 'tis for a good purpose. Doth your honour mark his face?
POMPEY
I'll ask you, sir, to look in this man's face. Mr. Froth, look into his eyes. It's for a good reason. Sir, can you see his face?
ESCALUS
Ay, sir, very well.
ESCALUS
Yes, sir, very well.
POMPEY
Nay; I beseech you, mark it well.
POMPEY
No, I beg you—look really hard.
ESCALUS
Well, I do so.
ESCALUS
All right, I'm doing it.
POMPEY
Doth your honour see any harm in his face?
POMPEY
Do you see any harm in his face?
ESCALUS
Why, no.
ESCALUS
Well, no.
POMPEY
I'll be supposed upon a book, his face is the worst thing about him. Good, then; if his face be the worst thing about him, how could Master Froth do the constable's wife any harm? I would know that of your honour.
POMPEY
I'll swear on the Bible that his face is the worst thing about him. So, then, if his face is the worst thing about him, how could Mr. Froth hurt the constable's wife? I'm asking you, your Honor.
ESCALUS
He's in the right. Constable, what say you to it?
ESCALUS
He's making sense. Constable, what do you say to that?
ELBOW
First, an it like you, the house is a respectedhouse; next, this is a respected fellow; and hismistress is a respected woman.
ELBOW
First of all (begging your pardon, sir): that house is a respected house. Second of all, this is a respected man. Finally, his wife is a respected woman.
POMPEY
By this hand, sir, his wife is a more respectedperson than any of us all.
POMPEY
I swear by my right hand, sir, that his wife is a more "respected" person than any of us all.
ELBOW
Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! thetime has yet to come that she was ever respectedwith man, woman, or child.
ELBOW
Crook, you lie, you lie, you crooked criminal! She has yet to ever be respected with man, woman, or child.
POMPEY
Sir, she was respected with him before he married with her.
POMPEY
Sir, she was "respected" with him before he married her.
ESCALUS
Which is the wiser here? Justice or Iniquity? Isthis true?
ESCALUS
Who's coming out on top here? Justice, or crime? Is this true?
ELBOW
O thou caitiff! O thou varlet! O thou wicked Hannibal! I respected with her before I was married to her! If ever I was respected with her, or she with me, let not your worship think me the poor duke's officer. Prove this, thou wicked Hannibal, or I'll have mine action of battery on thee.
ELBOW
Oh, you piece of trash! You crook! Oh, you evil Hannibal! Me, respected with her before I married her? If I was ever respected with her, or she with me, don't think for one second, sir, that I'm an officer of the Duke. Prove it, you evil Hannibal, or I'll have the right to beat you up.
ESCALUS
If he took you a box o' the ear, you might have youraction of slander too.
ESCALUS
If he hit you in the head, you might have the right to call him some names, too.
ELBOW
Marry, I thank your good worship for it. What is'tyour worship's pleasure I shall do with this wicked caitiff?
ELBOW
Of course, and thank your Worship for that. What should I do, sir, with this evil piece of trash?
ESCALUS
Truly, officer, because he hath some offences in him that thou wouldst discover if thou couldst, let him continue in his courses till thou knowest what they are.
ESCALUS
Really, officer, since he's guilty of some crimes that you could find out if you questioned him, let him keep talking until you see what they are.
ELBOW
Marry, I thank your worship for it. Thou seest, thou wicked varlet, now, what's come upon thee: thou art to continue now, thou varlet; thou art to continue.
ELBOW
Of course, and thank you, sir, for that. You see what you've gotten into now, you evil crook: keep talking, you crook, keep talking.
ESCALUS
Where were you born, friend?
ESCALUS
Where were you born, friend?
FROTH
Here in Vienna, sir.
FROTH
Here in Vienna, sir.
ESCALUS
Are you of fourscore pounds a year?
ESCALUS
Do you make at least eighty pounds a year?
FROTH
Yes, an't please you, sir.
FROTH
Yes, of course, sir.
ESCALUS
So. What trade are you of, sir?
ESCALUS
So, what's your occupation, sir?
POMPEY
Tapster; a poor widow's tapster.
POMPEY
Bartender. A poor widow's bartender.
ESCALUS
Your mistress' name?
ESCALUS
What's your employer's name?
POMPEY
Mistress Overdone.
POMPEY
Mistress Overdone.
ESCALUS
Hath she had any more than one husband?
ESCALUS
Has she had more than one husband?
POMPEY
Nine, sir; Overdone by the last.
POMPEY
Nine, sir. "Overdone" was the last one.
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.
ESCALUS
Nine! Come over here, Mr. Froth. Mr. Froth, I recommend you don't make friends with any bartenders. They'll draw you, Mr. Froth, and you'll get into trouble. Get out of here, and make sure I don't hear about you again.
FROTH
I thank your worship. For mine own part, I nevercome into any room in a tap-house, but I am drawnin.
FROTH
Thank you, your Worship. As far as I'm concerned, I never go into any room in a pub; I'm just drawn in.
ESCALUS
Well, no more of it, Master Froth: farewell.
ESCALUS
Well, that's it, then, Mr. Froth. Goodbye.
Exit FROTH
Come you hither to me, Master tapster. What's yourname, Master tapster?
Come over here, Mr. Bartender. What's your name, Mr. Bartender?
POMPEY
Pompey.
POMPEY
Pompey.
ESCALUS
What else?
ESCALUS
What else?
POMPEY
Bum, sir.
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.
ESCALUS
Indeed, and your bum is the greatest thing about you, so that in the most physical sense you are "Pompey the Great." Pompey: you're also a pimp, Pompey, no matter how much you spin it as being a "bartender." Aren't you? Come on, tell me the truth. It'll be easier for you.
POMPEY
Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live.
POMPEY
Really, sir, I'm just a poor man who wants to make a living.
ESCALUS
How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? Whatdo you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?
ESCALUS
How do you make your living, Pompey? By being a pimp? What do you think of the business, Pompey? Is it a legal business?
POMPEY
If the law would allow it, sir.
POMPEY
If the law would allow it, sir.
ESCALUS
But the law will not allow it, Pompey; nor it shallnot be allowed in Vienna.
ESCALUS
But the law won't allow it, Pompey. And it won't be allowed in Vienna.
POMPEY
Does your worship mean to geld and splay all theyouth of the city?
POMPEY
Sir, do you intend to castrate and neuter all the young people in the city?
ESCALUS
No, Pompey.
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.
POMPEY
Really, sir, in my humble opinion, then they'll get on with it. If you, sir, will punish the sluts and the hooligans, then you won't need to worry about the pimps.
ESCALUS
There are pretty orders beginning, I can tell you:it is but heading and hanging.
ESCALUS
The punishments are beginning, I can tell you: both beheading 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.
POMPEY
If you behead and hang everyone who has sex—even for just ten years straight—you'll hardly have any heads left to chop off. If this law stands in Vienna for ten years, I'll rent the nicest house in the city for three pence a month. If you live to see this happen, say that 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.
ESCALUS
Thank you, Pompey. And in return for your prophecy, listen: I'll advise you not to let me find you in front of me again for any crime whatsoever--not even for living where you do. If I do, Pompey, I'll beat you into a retreat, Pompey. And I'll turn out to be a savvy Caesar to you. To be honest, Pompey, I'll have you whipped. So, for now, Pompey, goodbye.
POMPEY
I thank your worship for your good counsel. [aside] butI shall follow it as the flesh and fortune shall better determine. Whip me? No, no; let carman whip his jade: The valiant heart is not whipt out of his trade.
POMPEY
Thank you, sir, for your good advice.
[To himself] ...but as to how much I'll follow it, I'll leave it all up to luck. Whip me? No, no. A man can whip his old horse, but a brave heart won't be whipped out of its business.
Exit
ESCALUS
Come hither to me, Master Elbow; come hither, Masterconstable. How long have you been in this place of constable?
ESCALUS
Come over here, Mr. Elbow. Come here, Mr. Constable. How long have you had the position of constable?
ELBOW
Seven year and a half, sir.
ELBOW
Seven and a half years, sir.
ESCALUS
I thought, by your readiness in the office, you hadcontinued in it some time. You say, seven years together?
ESCALUS
I thought you've done the job for a while, because of your obvious expertise. You said seven years all together?
ELBOW
And a half, sir.
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?
ESCALUS
It's a shame; it must have been such a strain on you. They're doing you wrong by making you work for so long. Aren't there other men in your district who'd be capable of serving?
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.
ELBOW
Indeed, sir, not many with a sharp enough mind for such things. Whenever they're nominated, they're glad to nominate me in their place. I take it for a little money, and go through with it all.
ESCALUS
Look you bring me in the names of some six or seven,the most sufficient of your parish.
ESCALUS
Look: bring in the names of six or seven of the most capable men in your district.
ELBOW
To your worship's house, sir?
ELBOW
To your Worship's house, sir?
ESCALUS
To my house. Fare you well.
ESCALUS
To my house. Take care.
Exit ELBOW
What's o'clock, think you?
What time is it, do you think?
JUSTICE
Eleven, sir.
JUSTICE
Eleven, sir.
ESCALUS
I pray you home to dinner with me.
ESCALUS
Please, come to my house and have lunch with me.
JUSTICE
I humbly thank you.
JUSTICE
I'm humbled; thank you.
ESCALUS
It grieves me for the death of Claudio;But there's no remedy.
ESCALUS
I'm sad for Claudio's death, but there's nothing to be done.
JUSTICE
Lord Angelo is severe.
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.
ESCALUS
It's only necessary. What often seems to be mercy isn't mercy at all. Pardoning someone can just lead to more harm. But still—poor Claudio! There's no help for it. Come on, sir.
Exeunt
