Measure for Measure
Act I Sc. 1
“Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds in that the lists of all advice
My strength can give you.”
I know of no meaning ‘put’ has in English that will make any sense here. We must, then, regard it as a misprint; and as a negative is plainly wanting, I read not yet, the negative being, as so frequently, omitted, and ‘put’ printed for yet. “Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn?” (3 H. VI. iv. 4.) Pope read not for ‘put.’
“But that to your sufficiency as
Your worth is able * * *”
It is quite evident that part of a line has been lost. The numerous corrections attempted here may be seen in the Cambridge Edition. I supply you add diligence.
“Hold therefore, Angelo, thy deputation.”
Something was surely lost here; and as Angelo is constantly called the Deputy, deputation (which occurs a few lines higher) seems to be the missing word.
Sc. 2
“I grant as there may between the list[s] and the velvet.”
“And which is more, within these three days his head’s to be chopped off.”
Sc. 3
“Only for propagation of a dower
Remaining in the coffer of her friends.”
For ‘propagation’ Malone would read prorogation; but the text seems to be right, as ‘propagation’ was used in the sense of extension, increase.
“All kinds of natures
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states.”—Timon, i. 1.
“Griefs of my own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate, to have it press’d,
With more of thine.”
—Rom. and Jul. i. 1.
“To give thanks to the gods of Rome,
That for the propagation of the empire
Vouchsafe us one to govern it like themselves.”
Massinger, Rom. Actor. i. 3.
And portions—as we learn by Sir Moth Interest in Jonson’s Magnetic Lady—used to double in seven years. The same play would also justify Malone’s reading, as guardians were not always willing to part with dowers in their hands. Perhaps for ‘of a dower’ we should read ‘of her dower,’ for the h in her not being pronounced, and the r but slightly, the printer might easily make the mistake; so also ‘coffer’ should probably be ‘coffers.’
Sc. 4
“For terror not to use, in time the rod
More mock’d than fear’d, so our decrees
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead.”
In the second line Becomes was added by Pope, or rather by Davenant, and it has been adopted by subsequent editors. Yet the poet may have written, and I think did write, ‘the rod is’ and ‘More mocked at.’
“And yet my nature never in the fight have
To do in slander.”
“How I may formally in person bear me.”
“Only this one now: Lord Angelo is precise.”
Sc. 5
“Sir, make me not your story.”
For ‘story’ Singer would read sport; but ‘me’ may be ‘to me,’ and her meaning be, seek not to impose on me.
“As those that feed grow full; as blossoming time
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings
To teeming foison... even so her plenteous womb,” etc.
“The Duke, who is very strangely gone from hence,
Bore many gentlemen, myself being one,
In hand and hope of action.”
As in and and are so frequently confounded (see on iii. 2 ad fin.) I would read in for ‘and’ in the last line.