Measure for Measure, Act 4 Scene 4 runs 34 lines of dialogue, spoken by 2 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 167 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Measure for Measure.
Full Dialogue
Escalus ♂
Every letter he hath writ hath disvouched other.
Angelo ♂
In most uneven and distracted manner. His actions
show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be
not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and
redeliver our authorities there
show much like to madness: pray heaven his wisdom be
not tainted! And why meet him at the gates, and
redeliver our authorities there
Escalus ♂
I guess not.
Angelo ♂
And why should we proclaim it in an hour before his
entering, that if any crave redress of injustice,
they should exhibit their petitions in the street?
entering, that if any crave redress of injustice,
they should exhibit their petitions in the street?
Escalus ♂
He shows his reason for that: to have a dispatch of
complaints, and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
against us.
complaints, and to deliver us from devices
hereafter, which shall then have no power to stand
against us.
Angelo ♂
Well, I beseech you, let it be proclaimed betimes
i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give
notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet
him.
i' the morn; I'll call you at your house: give
notice to such men of sort and suit as are to meet
him.
Escalus ♂
I shall, sir. Fare you well.
Angelo ♂
Good night.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body that enforced
The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
For my authority bears of a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived!
A lack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.
This deed unshapes me quite, makes me unpregnant
And dull to all proceedings. A deflower'd maid!
And by an eminent body that enforced
The law against it! But that her tender shame
Will not proclaim against her maiden loss,
How might she tongue me! Yet reason dares her no;
For my authority bears of a credent bulk,
That no particular scandal once can touch
But it confounds the breather. He should have lived,
Save that riotous youth, with dangerous sense,
Might in the times to come have ta'en revenge,
By so receiving a dishonour'd life
With ransom of such shame. Would yet he had lived!
A lack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right: we would, and we would not.
34 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Angelo | 27 | 79.4% |
| Escalus | 7 | 20.6% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 27 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
2 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 4 of 6 in Act 4 of Measure for Measure.
Scene length vs. play average
At 34 lines, this scene is shorter than the Measure for Measure average scene in Measure for Measure (~167 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 3 · Next: Act 4 Scene 5