# 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

5

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 practise 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?

2

Measure for Measure
[I, 1]

Vincentio

59

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
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
Of your commissions.

3

Measure for Measure
[I, 1]

Escalus

87

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
I am not yet instructed.

4

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

First Gentleman

118

What, in metre?

5

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Second Gentleman

140

To what, I pray?

6

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

172

Thus, what with the war, what with the sweat, what
with the gallows and what with poverty, I am
custom-shrunk.
[Enter POMPEY]
How now! what's the news with you?

7

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

178

Well; what has he done?

8

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

182

What, is there a maid with child by him?

9

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

185

What proclamation, man?

10

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

187

And what shall become of those in the city?

11

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Mistress Overdone

193

Why, here's a change indeed in the commonwealth!
What shall become of me?

12

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Claudio

227

What but to speak of would offend again.

13

Measure for Measure
[I, 2]

Lucio

228

What, is't murder?

14

Measure for Measure
[I, 3]

Vincentio

326

I do fear, too dreadful:
Sith 'twas my fault to give the people scope,
'Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them
For what I bid them do: for we bid this be done,
When evil deeds have their permissive pass
And not the punishment. Therefore indeed, my father,
I have on Angelo imposed the office;
Who may, in the ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the fight
To do in slander. And to behold his sway,
I will, as 'twere a brother of your order,
Visit both prince and people: therefore, I prithee,
Supply me with the habit and instruct me
How I may formally in person bear me
Like a true friar. More reasons for this action
At our more leisure shall I render you;
Only, this one: Lord Angelo is precise;
Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses
That his blood flows, or that his appetite
Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see,
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.

15

Measure for Measure
[I, 4]

Isabella

377

Woe me! for what?

16

Measure for Measure
[I, 4]

Isabella

430

Alas! what poor ability's in me
To do him good?

17

Measure for Measure
[I, 4]

Isabella

441

I'll see what I can do.

18

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Angelo

470

'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. I not deny,
The jury, passing on the prisoner's life,
May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two
Guiltier than him they try. What's open made to justice,
That justice seizes: what know the laws
That thieves do pass on thieves? 'Tis very pregnant,
The jewel that we find, we stoop and take't
Because we see it; but what we do not see
We tread upon, and never think of it.
You may not so extenuate his offence
For I have had such faults; but rather tell me,
When I, that censure him, do so offend,
Let mine own judgment pattern out my death,
And nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die.

19

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Angelo

506

Benefactors? Well; what benefactors are they? are
they not malefactors?

20

Measure for Measure
[II, 1]

Elbow

508

If it? please your honour, I know not well what they
are: but precise villains they are, that I am sure
of; and void of all profanation in the world that
good Christians ought to have.