Chapter: ACT I. SCENE I. _An apartment in the DUKE'S palace._





  _Enter DUKE, ESCALUS, _Lords_ and _Attendants_._

_Duke._ Escalus.

_Escal._ My lord.

_Duke._ 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                         5
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,
And let them work. The nature of our people,                        10
Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you're as pregnant in
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commission,
From which we would not have you warp. Call hither,                 15
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;
Lent him our terror, dress'd him with our love,                     20
And given his deputation all the organs
Of our own power: what think you of it?

_Escal._ If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.

_Duke._          Look where he comes.                               25

  _Enter ANGELO._

_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 th' observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings                            30
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                            35
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
Herself the glory of a creditor,                                    40
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                                       45
Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.

_Ang._             Now, good my lord,
Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure                               50
Be stamp'd upon it.

_Duke._           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                     55
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:
To the hopeful execution do I leave you                             60
Of your commissions.

_Ang._             Yet, give leave, my lord,
That we may bring you something on the way.

_Duke._ My haste may not admit it;
Nor need you, on mine honour, have to do
With any scruple; your scope is as mine own,                        65
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:
Though it do well, I do not relish well                             70
Their loud applause and Aves vehement;
Nor do I think the man of safe discretion
That does affect it. Once more, fare you well.

_Ang._ The heavens give safety to your purposes!

_Escal._ Lead forth and bring you back in happiness!                75

_Duke._ I thank you. Fare you well.    [_Exit._

_Escal._ 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:
A power I have, but of what strength and nature                     80
I am not yet instructed.

_Ang._ 'Tis so with me. Let us withdraw together,
And we may soon our satisfaction have
Touching that point.

_Escal._           I'll wait upon your honour.    [_Exeunt._


  NOTES: I, 1.

  SCENE I. Lords and Attendants.] Singer. Lords. Ff. and Attendants.
    Capell.
  5: _put_] _not_ Pope. _apt_ Collier MS.
  7, 8: _remains, But that_] _remains; Put that_ Rowe.
  8, 9: _But that to your sufficiency ..._]
    _But that to your sufficiency you add Due diligency ..._
      Theobald conj.
    _But that to your sufficiency you joyn A will to serve us ..._
      Hanmer.
    _But that to your sufficiency you put A zeal as willing ..._
      Tyrwhitt conj.
    _But that to your sufficiencies your worth is abled_ Johnson conj.
    _But your sufficiency as worth is able_ Farmer conj.
    _Your sufficiency ... able_ Steevens conj.
    _But that your sufficiency be as your worth is stable_ Becket conj.
    _But state to your sufficiency ..._ Jackson conj.
    _But thereto your sufficiency ..._ Singer.
    _But add to your sufficiency your worth_ Collier MS.
    _But that_ [tendering his commission] _to your sufficiency. And, as
      your worth is able, let them work_ Staunton conj.
    _But that to your sufficiency I add Commission ample_ Spedding conj.
    See note (I).
  11: _city's_] _cities_ Ff.
  16: [Exit an Attendant.] Capell.
  18: _soul_] _roll_ Warburton. _seal_ Johnson conj.
  22: _what_] _say, what_ Pope.
  25: SCENE II. Pope.
  27: _your pleasure_] F1. _your Graces pleasure_ F2 F3 F4.
  28: _life_] _look_ Johnson conj.
  28, 29: _character ... history_] _history ... character_
    Monck Mason conj.
  32: _they_] _them_ Hanmer.
  35, 36: _all alike As if we_] _all as if We_ Hanmer.
  37: _nor_] om. Pope.
  42: _my part in him_] _in my part me_ Hanmer. _my part to him_
    Johnson conj. _in him, my part_ Becket conj.
  43: _Hold therefore, Angelo:--_] _Hold therefore, Angelo:_ [Giving
    him his commission] Hanmer. _Hold therefore. Angelo,_ Tyrwhitt conj.
    _Hold therefore, Angelo, our place and power:_ Grant White.
  45: _Mortality_] _Morality_ Pope.
  51: _upon it_] _upon 't_ Capell.
  _No more_] _Come, no more_ Pope.
  52: _leaven'd and prepared_] Ff. _leven'd and prepar'd_ Rowe.
    _prepar'd and leaven'd_ Pope. _prepar'd and level'd_ Warburton.
    _prepar'd unleaven'd_ Heath conj.
  56: _to you_] om. Hanmer.
  61: _your commissions_] F1. _your commission_ F2 F3 F4.
    _our commission_ Pope.
  66: _laws_] _law_ Pope.
  76: [Exit.] F2. [Exit. (after line 75) F1.
  84: _your_] _you_ F2.

 At his palace in Vienna, Duke Vincentio makes a big speech about how a lord in his court, Escalus, is the wisest and most knowledgeable guy in Vienna--he knows more about Vienna's laws and people than anybody else. The Duke tells Escalus that he's going out of town. While he's away, Angelo will be in charge. Escalus thinks if anyone is up for representing the Duke in his absence, it's Angelo. When Angelo comes in, the Duke gives him the news. He also says that while he is gone, Angelo should make sure the people of Vienna don't step out of line. If they do, he has full authority to punish them according to the law . Escalus, an old lord, will be second in command because he's so wise and knows so much about Vienna's laws and its people. Angelo goes through an "aw, shucks" routine and says he hasn't demonstrated that he's worthy enough to fill in for the Duke. "Nonsense," says the Duke, who announces rather cryptically that he has to go somewhere immediately and that he'll be in touch soon. Before he leaves, the Duke reminds Angelo that while he is away, Angelo is his substitute and has full authority to enforce the laws or to bend the rules of justice as he sees fit. Yeah, yeah. We heard you the first time. He also adds that, even though he loves his people, he's not big on public appearances, especially since people are always cheering for him like he's a rock star. History Snack: Some literary critics think the Duke's whole "I really don't like the limelight" speech is a reference to King James I, who, unlike his predecessor Queen Elizabeth I, wasn't a huge fan of being in the public spotlight all the time. The Duke exits and Escalus and Angelo make plans to talk so they can work out the details of their new jobs.

