5. MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Date Written Date Range First Published

Shakespeare’s plays

(conjectures of the best editors) (composition / performance)

All's Well That Ends Well 1603 1598 - ? 1623

Measure For Measure 1604 1598 - 1604 1623

Othello 1604 1598 - 1604 1622

King Lear 1605 1598 - 1606 1608

Macbeth 1606 1603 - 1611 1623

Drammi dialettici?

Comedies?

Dark Comedies?

Problem Plays?

The Duke VincentioVarrius, a friend of The DukeEscalus, a lordJustice, a friend of EscalusAngelo, rules in the Duke's absenceMariana, Angelo's former fianceClaudio, Isabella's brotherJuliet, Claudio's lover/unofficial bride, pregnant with his childIsabella, a novice nunLucio, a debauched lordFroth, a gentleman of fourscore pound a yearTwo gentlemen

Mistress Overdone, a prostitute who runs a brothelPompey, a bawd and "tapster" (pimp/bartender) who works for Mistress Overdone

Friar Lodowick (The Duke in disguise)Friar Thomas, a friarFriar Peter, another friarFrancisca, a nun

The Provost, runs the prison, and is responsible for carrying out all of Angelo's orders.Elbow, a simple constableAbhorson, an executionerBarnardine, a prisoner

King of HUNGARY

POLAND

VIENNA

Emperor of RUSSIA

ROME

BOHEMIA

First Gentleman (1.2,51-55; G13)

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

LUCIO Nay, not as one would say, healthy; but so sound as things that are hollow: thy bones are hollow; impiety has made a feast of thee.

Primo Gentiluomo

Non fai che contare le mie malattie; mati sbagli: io sono sano.

LUCIO Mica sano come un pesce, ma come unacampana, che è vuota dentro; come sono le tue ossa, spolpate dai tuoi bagordi.

The moated grange at ST. LUKE's. Enter MARIANA and a Boy (Boy sings)

Take, O, take those lips away,That so sweetly were forsworn;And those eyes, the break of day,Lights that do mislead the morn:But my kisses bring again, bring again;Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain.

MARIANA Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:Here comes a man of comfort, whose adviceHath often still'd my brawling discontent.

Exit Boy. Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before

I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wishYou had not found me here so musical:Let me excuse me, and believe me so,My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.

DUKE VINCENTIO 'Tis good; though music oft hath such a charmTo make bad good, and good provoke to harm.I pray, you, tell me, hath any body inquiredfor me here to-day? much upon this time haveI promised here to meet.

MARIANADUKE VINCENTIO

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