FRIAR THOMAS
FRIAR PETER
Mistress Overdone, a BAWD
POMPEY, Servant to Mistress Overdone
FROTH, a foolish gentleman
BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner
Lords, Officers, Servants, Citizens and Attendants
SCENE: Vienna
ACT I
SCENE I. An apartment in the Duke’s palace.
Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords and Attendants.
DUKE.
Escalus.
ESCALUS.
My lord.
DUKE.
Of government the properties to unfold
Would seem in me t’ affect speech and discourse,
Since I am put to know that your own science
Exceeds, in that, the lists of all advice
My strength can give you. Then no more remains
But that, to your sufficiency, as your worth is able,
And let them work. The nature of our people,
Our city’s institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you’re as pregnant in
As art and practice hath enriched any
That we remember. There is our commission,
From which we would not have you warp.—Call hither,
I say, bid come before us, Angelo.