Shame to him, whose cruel striking Duke, Act III. ii. 269–274. ANGELO. In "measure for measure" the predominant idea of the "universe of law" is more clearly marked. Shakspere preaches here his doctrine of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," "an Angelo for a Claudio, death for death.” Weakness yielding to temptation must be punished to the utmost. The play is full of genius, and wise and deep sayings, but it is a very repulsive one; we cannot take a deep interest in it, nor feel pleased, the subject is so unattractive. As W. Watkiss Lloyd says, "We never throughout the play get into the free, open, joyous atmosphere, so invigorating in other works of Shakspere; the oppressive gloom of the prison, the foul breath of the brothel, are only exchanged for the chilly damp of conventual walls, or the oppressive retirement of the monastery." Its pictures are disgusting and contemptible, not only for its sin, but for its hypocrisy ; we have dissoluteness on one side, with religious austerity on the other; pride and unblushing vice contrasted with a great show of ostentatious virtue. The scene is Vienna, which is represented as the very centre of sensual defilement and moral corruption; here it "boils and bubbles till it o'er-runs." All virtue and decorum has been lost; in the streets we meet only wayward and dissolute men and women, with a desire for nothing but wickedness and self-indulgence. Debauchery is the common custom, it has become the talk and daily business of life. This miserable state of things is the result of neglect in carrying out the laws; they have been for fourteen years entirely suspended. They are severe enough and sufficient to check the crime, but the reigning Duke has been too kind-hearted, too full of the "milk of human kindness" to apply them. They have been laid aside and allowed to slumber; things have come to such a pitch that something must be done. But the Duke cannot do it himself; it is too much for his "innate mildness," so he resolves to withdraw from the scene and appoint a deputy. Angelo is the man chosen for this office, for, as Escalus say— "If any man in Vienna be of worth To undergo such ample grace and honour, He is a man of strict and firm abstinence; he is precise, stands on his guard with envy-scarcely confesses that his blood flows, or that "his appetite is more to bread than to stone." Lucio says that his blood is very "snow-broth"- -a "man who never felt the wanton stings and motions of the senses. This is the man whom the Duke selects as his deputy, and at first sight he seems to be most suitable for the office just the man to bring the city back to a state of happiness, purity, and virtue-to put down a sin which seems to be so much at variance with the character of the deputy. He is a man of ability, well versed in politics and law, and in the study of these weighty subjects, he seems to have suppressed all feelings of affection; he has formed or himself severe principles of moral conduct, and has aughed at the foolish devotion of love in others. He is SHAKSPERE'S HYPOCRITES. 53 ambitious too, as most hypocrites are, and he makes his seeming virtue an instrument to his ambition; he aspires to be powerful, to outward rank and dignity, and to attain his object, he must never for a moment forget his hitherto reputation of virtue. But Angelo's meanness is revealed at the very outset. The Duke knew that the Deputy had been betrothed to Marianna, sister to Frederick, a famous naval hero. But the brother had perished, and her dowry had gone to the bottom of the sea with him: so Angelo forsakes her. Without money she is of no use to him, and he seeks to cover his heartlessness by pretended discoveries against her virtue and honour; to colour his proceedings by the basest insinuations against her chastity. The Duke has, therefore, determined to test Angelo's strength of character-how he will be affected in a wider sphere of action-how this precise and severely moral man will conduct himself when brought in contact with evil and temptation. He disguises himself as a friar, pretending that he is going on a journey, and retires to watch the course of events as it developes around him. The official career of Angelo now begins. He hunts up all the corrupt houses, and orders them to be plucked down. He fills his prisons with offensive criminals of all sorts; all the lower mischiefs and abuses are rooted out; the constabulary, hitherto appointed indifferently, is corrected once for all. Angelo has no mercy, his character is most inflexible; whatever else is left undone, these wrong doers must be severely punished, the dignity of the law must be upheld. This man, who prides himself on his virtue, takes a delight in intimidating others; he is ambitious, and his great desire is to make himself a name, to have power, and to govern. This trait in his character leads him to treat all classes alike to deal out justice impartially, without respect of persons; so he is not content with bringing up the loose vagabonds of the street, he flies at higher game, and must needs arrest a young nobleman, Claudio, whom he publicly leads to prison, to the scandal of the whole town, for the sake of one single offence. He and Julietta have been guilty of this severely denounced frailty, but surely in its most venial form, for the lovers are still faithful to each other, they are united by all the bonds except the outward ceremony. Yet Claudio is adjudged by Angelo to die. Escalus intercedes with the Deputy for the young nobleman; he is conscious of the recent laxness of the law, and of man's proneness to evil. He suggests to Angelo the possibility that even he may fall a victim to the same crime. Angelo replies almost with a sneer, and with implicit confidence in his own virtue When I that censure him do so offend, Let my own judgment pattern out my death, He little knew how soon he was to have this very judgment very But this feeling of |