Measure for Measure 2

Some Shake-Speare / Bacon parallels in Measure for Measure (2)

Shake-Speare:

Duke. “The nature of our people, Our city's institutions, and the terms for common justice, y'are as pregnant in as art and practice hath enriched any that we remember”.

Measure for Measure, 1.1.9

(Here, Escalus is chosen as commissioner because he knows the nature of the people—as Bacon prescribed).

Bacon:

“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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  -

Shake-Speare:

Duke. “Thyself and thy belongings are not thine own so proper as to waste thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee”.

Measure for Measure,1.1.29

“Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, not light them for themselves. For if our virtues did not go forth of us, ‘twere all alike as if we had them not”.

Measure for Measure, 1.1.32

(The Duke tells Angelo that his virtues should not be wasted, but should serve society.)

See also King John 5.1.45  "Be great in act, as you have been in thought"

See also Hamlet, 4.4.36-39  "Sure He that made us ... gave us not that capability and godlike reason to fust in us unused."

See also Merchant of Venice, 5.1.90  "How far that little candel throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

Bacon:

“The king’s most excellent majesty …hath thought fit not to leave you these talents to be employed upon yourself only, but to call you to serve himself and his people.”

(Life and Letters, Spedding et al., 6. p. 201)

“I do think every man in his particular bound to help the commonwealth the best he may.”

Life and Letters, Spedding et al., 3. P.19

“For what is your virtue if you show it not”? Life and Letters, 1. P. 333

Also, the Bibilical verse: Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house.” (Matthew 5.15)