Measure for Measure 16

Some Shake-Speare / Bacon parallels in Measure for Measure (16)

Shake-Speare:

Isabella: ” . . . Bidding the law make curtsy to their will; Hooking both right and wrong to th' appetite, ... ”

Measure for Measure, 2.4.175

(Complaining of Angelo’s use of his own discretion in interpreting laws.)

Also: “We must not rend our subjects from our laws and stick them in our will.” Henry VIII, 1.2.93

Bacon:

Bacon argues “no court of equity should have the right to decree contrary to a statute under any pretext of equity whatever, otherwise the judge would become a legislator,  and to have all things dependent upon his will.”

De Augmentis, 8.3.44

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Shake-Speare:

The Duke puts Angelo in power to test how this affects him and “to practise his judgment with the Disposition of Natures”. Measure for Measure, 3.1.165

(Thus to see if the judge’s robe changes Angelo’s purpose.)

Duke: “ . . . not changing heart with habit”. Measure for Measure, 5.1.381

Duke: “ . . .Hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be”. Measure for Measure, 1.3.54

Likewise - “Sure this robe of mine does change my disposition”. Winter’s Tale 4.4.134

Bacon:

Bacon: “The raising of the fortune seldom mendeth the disposition,” and “that Vespasian alone of the emperors changed for the better”.  (after coming to power).

Advancement of Learning 2.22.5

“Unto princes and states, and especially towards wise senates and councils, the Natures and Dispositions of the people . . . ought to be . . . in great part clear and transparent”.

Advancement of Learning 2.23.48