Reading Measure, for Measure — William Shakespeare

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Section 444

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Duke.

Be absolute for death: either death or life

Shall thereby be the sweeter. Reason thus with life:

If I do loose thee, I do loose a thing

That none but fooles would keepe: a breath thou art,

Seruile to all the skyie‑influences

That dost this habitation where thou keepst

Hourely afflict: Meerely, thou art deaths foole,

For him thou labourst by thy flight to shun,

And yet runst toward him still. Thou art not

noble,

For all th' accommodations that thou bearst,

Are nurst by basenesse: Thou'rt by no meanes

valiant,

For thou dost feare the soft and tender forke

Of a poore worme: thy best of rest is sleepe,

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