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MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2010

William Shakespeare
Edited by
Howard Staunton
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Summary

This play was first printed in the folio of 1623, and is supposed, upon the slight foundation of two or three doubtful allusions to contemporary events, to have been written in 1603. The fact of its having been played before the Court on St. Stephen's night, December 26, 1604, which is gathered from Tylney's account of the expenses of The Revels from the end of October, 1604, to the end of the same month, 1605 :—

“By his Mates, plaiers. On St. Stivens Night in the Hall, A Play called Mesur for Mesur”—

proves it to have been written before that date, and this really is all that is known with certainty respecting the period of its production. The plot appears to have been taken from Whetstone's drama, in two parts, called “The right excellent and famous Historye of Promos and Cassandra,” &c. 1578, of which the “Argument” is as follows :—

“In the cyttie of Julio (sometimes vnder the dominion of Coruinus Kinge of Hungarie and Boemia) there was a law, that what man so euer committed adultery should lose his head, and the woman offender should weare some disguised apparel during her life, to make her infamouslye noted. This seuere lawe, by the fauour of some mercifull magistrate, became little regarded vntill the time of Lord Promos auctority; who conuicting a yong gentleman named Andrugio of incontinency, condemned both him and his minion to the execution of this statute. […]

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The Staunton Shakespeare , pp. 587 - 640
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009
First published in: 1859

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