This shows you are above, you justicers, that these our nether crimes so speedily can avenge

This shows you are above, you justicers, that these our nether crimes so speedily can avenge

The line "This shows you are above, you justicers, that these our nether crimes so speedily can avenge" is spoken by the character Duke Vincentio in William Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure. In this scene, the Duke is addressing the two deputy rulers of Vienna, Angelo and Escalus, who have been tasked with enforcing the city's strict laws against immorality and vice.

The Duke's words can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible reading is that he is criticizing the deputies for their swift and harsh enforcement of the law. By calling them "justicers," he is acknowledging their role as dispensers of justice, but he is also suggesting that they are acting in a way that is above and beyond what is necessary or appropriate.

The phrase "nether crimes" refers to the lower or baser offenses that the deputies are focusing on, such as prostitution and fornication. The Duke seems to be suggesting that these crimes are not as serious or urgent as the deputies are making them out to be, and that their eagerness to punish them is a sign of their own moral superiority.

The word "avenge" implies a sense of retribution or punishment, suggesting that the deputies are acting out of a desire for revenge rather than a sense of justice. The Duke's use of the word "speedily" suggests that the deputies are acting hastily and without due consideration for the consequences of their actions.

Overall, the Duke's words can be seen as a critique of the deputies' approach to law enforcement, suggesting that they are more concerned with appearing righteous and powerful than with actually upholding justice. By questioning their motives and methods, the Duke is challenging them to consider whether their actions truly serve the greater good or simply their own egos.