Opening of the book
Dramatis Personae
Vincentio, the Duke
Angelo, deputy
Escalus, an ancient lord
Claudio, a young gentleman
Lucio, a fantastic
Two other gentlemen
Provost
Thomas, a friar
Peter, a friar
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
Mariana, betrothed to Angelo
Juliet, beloved of Claudio
Francisca, a nun
Mistress Overdone, a bawd
Lords, officers, citizens, boy, and attendants
Scene: Vienna.
Act I
Scene I
An apartment in the DǼƫŧ’Ǫ palace.
(Enter DǼƫŧ, EǪŕĵƯǼǪ, Lords and Attendants.)
DǼƫŧ
Escalus.
ǪŕĵƯǼǪ
My lord.
DǼƫŧ
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,
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 practice 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,
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?
ǪŕĵƯǼǪ
If any in Vienna be of worth
To undergo such ample grace and honour,
It is Lord Angelo.
DǼƫŧ
Look where he comes.
(Enter AƿƄŧƯLj.)
AƿƄŧƯLj
Always obedient to your grace’s will,
I come to know your pleasure.
Keep listening free
Readnara
