Measure for Measure

Act 4, Scene IV

Enter ANGELO and ESCALUS

ESCALUS

Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.

ANGELO

In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions

show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be

not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and

redeliver our authorities there

ESCALUS

I guess not.

ANGELO

And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his

entering, that if any crave redress of injustice,

they should exhibit their petitions in the street?

ESCALUS

He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of

complaints, and to deliver us from devices

hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand

against us.

ANGELO

Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes

i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give

notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet

him.

ESCALUS

I shall, sir. Fare you well.

ANGELO

Good night.

Exit ESCALUS

This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant

And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!

And by an eminent body that enforced

The law against it! But that her tender shame

Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,

How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;

For my authority bears of a credent bulk,

That no particular scandal once can touch

But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,

Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense,

Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,

By so receiving a dishonour'd life

With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived!

A lack, when once our grace we have forgot,

Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.