# 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

104

Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate, that
went to sea with the Ten Commandments, but scraped
one out of the table.

3

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Second Gentleman

107

'Thou shalt not steal'?

4

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Lucio

115

I believe thee; for I think thou never wast where
grace was said.

5

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Lucio

121

Ay, why not? Grace is grace, despite of all
controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a
wicked villain, despite of all grace.

6

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Lucio

125

I grant; as there may between the lists and the
velvet. Thou art the list.

7

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

First Gentleman

127

And thou the velvet: thou art good velvet; thou'rt
a three-piled piece, I warrant thee: I had as lief
be a list of an English kersey as be piled, as thou
art piled, for a French velvet. Do I speak
feelingly now?

8

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.

9

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Second Gentleman

137

Yes, that thou hast, whether thou art tainted or free.

10

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

First Gentleman

145

Thou art always figuring diseases in me; but thou
art full of error; I am sound.

11

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Lucio

160

But, after all this fooling, I would not have it so.
Art thou sure of this?

12

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Claudio

206

Fellow, why dost thou show me thus to the world?
Bear me to prison, where I am committed.

13

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Angelo

513

Go to: what quality are they of? Elbow is your
name? why dost thou not speak, Elbow?

14

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Escalus

525

Dost thou detest her therefore?

15

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Escalus

529

How dost thou know that, constable?

16

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Elbow

537

Prove it before these varlets here, thou honourable
man; prove it.

17

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Elbow

614

Varlet, thou liest; thou liest, wicked varlet! the
time has yet to come that she was ever respected
with man, woman, or child.

18

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Elbow

620

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.

19

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Escalus

630

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.

20

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Elbow

634

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.