VICENTIO – Duke of Vienna
ANGELO – Lord Deputy of the Duke’s absence
ESCALUS – an ancient lord, joined with ANGELO in the deputation
CLAUDIO – a young gentleman
LUCIO – a fantastic
TWO OTHER LIKE GENTLEMEN
VARRIUS – a gentleman, servant to the Duke
PROVOST
THOMAS, PETER – two friars
A JUSTICE
ELBOW – a simple constable
PLAY
Vienna.
ACT I
Scene i: An apartment in the Duke’s palace.
Scene ii: A street.
Scene iii: The same.
Scene iv: A monastery.
Scene v: A nunnery.
ACT II
Scene i: A hall in Angelo’s house.
Scene ii: Another room in the same.
Scene iii: A room in a prison.
Scene iv: A room in Angelo’s house.
ACT III
Scene i: A room in the prison.
Scene iii: The street before the prison.
ACT IV
Scene i: A room in Mariana’s house.
Scene ii: A room in the prison.
Scene iii: Another room in the same.
Scene iv: A room in Angelo’s house.
ACT V
Scene i: A public place near the city gate.
Act II: Scene iv
ANGELO: When I would pray and think, I think and pray
To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty words;
Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,
Anchors on Isabel: Heaven in my mouth,
As if I did but only chew his name;
And in my heart the strong and swelling evil
Of my conception. The state whereon I studied
Is like a good thing, being often read,
Grown sear’d and tedious; yea, my gravity,
Wherein – let no man hear me – I take pride,
Could I with boot change for an idle plume,
Which the air beats for vain. O place! O form!
How often dost thou with thy case, thy habit,
Wrench awe from fools, and tie the wiser souls
To thy false seeming? Blood thou still art blood:
Let’s write good angel on the devil’s horn,
‘Tis not the devil’s crest.
