Chapter Mayeux to Measure for Measure of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Measure Strength (To). To wrestle together; to fight, to contest.

Measure Swords (To). To fight a duel with swords. In such cases the seconds measure the swords to see that both are of one length.

“So we measured swords and parted.”- Shakespeare: As You Like It, v. 4.

Measure for Measure (Shakespeare). The story is taken from a tale in G. Whetstone's Heptameron, entitled Promos and Cassandra (1578). Promos is called by Shakespeare, “Lord Angelo;” and Cassandra is “Isabella.” Her brother, called by Shakespeare “Claudio,” is named Andrugio in the story. A similar story is given in Giovanni Giraldi Cinthio's third decade of stories.