The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1541 Tuesday, 17 August 2004
From: Peter Bridgman <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Monday, 16 Aug 2004 14:58:26 +0100
Subject: 15.1536 Question Concerning Measure for Measure
Comment: Re: SHK 15.1536 Question Concerning Measure for Measure
Bill Arnold writes ...
>Shaheen further argues that the "play's title...is based on Jesus'
>words in Matthew 7.2...[and]..."was proverbial in in Shakespeare's
>day...
It seems Shaheen is right: If WS was quoting scripture, he was quoting
Matthew rather than Luke.
While the KJV has the phrase "For with what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you again" for both Matthew 7:2 and Luke 6:38, the KJV
didn't appear until 7 years after the play.
While the Bishops Bible and Geneva Bible have the same wording as the
KJV for Matthew 7:2, they both differ from the KJV for Luke 6:38. The
Bishops Bible has "For with the same measure that ye mete withall, shall
other men mete to you again" while the Geneva has "For with what measure
ye mete, with the same shall men mete to you again".
In other words, WS and his contemporaries would've only seen and heard
the word "measure" repeated in Matthew.
Peter Bridgman
_______________________________________________________________
S H A K S P E R: The Global Shakespeare Discussion List
Hardy M. Cook, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The S H A K S P E R Web Site <http://www.shaksper.net>
DISCLAIMER: Although SHAKSPER is a moderated discussion list, the
opinions expressed on it are the sole property of the poster, and the
editor assumes no responsibility for them.
