#
Result number
|
Work
The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets
are treated as single work with 154 parts.
|
Character
Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet,
the character name is "Poet."
|
Line
Shows where the line falls within the work.
The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of
collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not
restart for each scene.
|
Text
The line's full text, with keywords highlighted
within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.
|
1 |
Measure for Measure
[I, 1] |
Vincentio |
33 |
Angelo,
There is a kind of character in thy life,
That to the observer doth thy history
Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings
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
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,
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
Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,
Though first in question, is thy secondary.
Take thy commission.
|
2 |
Measure for Measure
[I, 2] |
Lucio |
132 |
I think thou dost; and, indeed, with most painful
feeling of thy speech: I will, out of thine own
confession, learn to begin thy health; but, whilst I
live, forget to drink after thee.
|
3 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 1] |
Pompey |
667 |
Truly, sir, I am a poor fellow that would live.
|
4 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 1] |
Escalus |
668 |
How would you live, Pompey? by being a bawd? What
do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?
|
5 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 1] |
Pompey |
681 |
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.
|
6 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 2] |
Angelo |
853 |
The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept:
Those many had not dared to do that evil,
If the first that did the edict infringe
Had answer'd for his deed: now 'tis awake
Takes note of what is done; and, like a prophet,
Looks in a glass, that shows what future evils,
Either new, or by remissness new-conceived,
And so in progress to be hatch'd and born,
Are now to have no successive degrees,
But, ere they live, to end.
|
7 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 2] |
Angelo |
935 |
From thee, even from thy virtue!
What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine?
The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?
Ha!
Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I
That, lying by the violet in the sun,
Do as the carrion does, not as the flower,
Corrupt with virtuous season. Can it be
That modesty may more betray our sense
Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough,
Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary
And pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie!
What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?
Dost thou desire her foully for those things
That make her good? O, let her brother live!
Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her,
That I desire to hear her speak again,
And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on?
O cunning enemy, that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook! Most dangerous
Is that temptation that doth goad us on
To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet,
With all her double vigour, art and nature,
Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid
Subdues me quite. Even till now,
When men were fond, I smiled and wonder'd how.
|
8 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 4] |
Angelo |
1054 |
That you might know it, would much better please me
Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live.
|
9 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 4] |
Angelo |
1057 |
Yet may he live awhile; and, it may be,
As long as you or I. yet he must die.
|
10 |
Measure for Measure
[II, 4] |
Isabella |
1203 |
To whom should I complain? Did I tell this,
Who would believe me? O perilous mouths,
That bear in them one and the self-same tongue,
Either of condemnation or approof;
Bidding the law make court'sy to their will:
Hooking both right and wrong to the appetite,
To follow as it draws! I'll to my brother:
Though he hath fallen by prompture of the blood,
Yet hath he in him such a mind of honour.
That, had he twenty heads to tender down
On twenty bloody blocks, he'ld yield them up,
Before his sister should her body stoop
To such abhorr'd pollution.
Then, Isabel, live chaste, and, brother, die:
More than our brother is our chastity.
I'll tell him yet of Angelo's request,
And fit his mind to death, for his soul's rest.
|
11 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 1] |
Claudio |
1224 |
The miserable have no other medicine
But only hope:
I've hope to live, and am prepared to die.
|
12 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 1] |
Claudio |
1264 |
I humbly thank you.
To sue to live, I find I seek to die;
And, seeking death, find life: let it come on.
|
13 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 1] |
Isabella |
1290 |
Yes, brother, you may live:
There is a devilish mercy in the judge,
If you'll implore it, that will free your life,
But fetter you till death.
|
14 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 1] |
Claudio |
1369 |
Sweet sister, let me live:
What sin you do to save a brother's life,
Nature dispenses with the deed so far
That it becomes a virtue.
|
15 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 1] |
Isabella |
1473 |
What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid
from the world! What corruption in this life, that
it will let this man live! But how out of this can she avail?
|
16 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 2] |
Vincentio |
1530 |
Fie, sirrah! a bawd, a wicked bawd!
The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live. Do thou but think
What 'tis to cram a maw or clothe a back
From such a filthy vice: say to thyself,
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending? Go mend, go mend.
|
17 |
Measure for Measure
[III, 2] |
Vincentio |
1669 |
He shall know you better, sir, if I may live to
report you.
|
18 |
Measure for Measure
[IV, 3] |
Vincentio |
2180 |
Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart!
After him, fellows; bring him to the block.
|