Shakespeare comedy in English with line numbers and translated to German. According to Wikipedia: Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604. It was (and continues to be) classified as comedy, but its mood defies those expectations. As a result and for a variety of reasons, some critics have labelled it as one of Shakespeares problem plays. Originally published in the First Folio of 1623 (where it was first labelled as a comedy), the plays first recorded performance was in 1604. The play deals with the issues of mercy, justice, and truth and their relationship to pride and humility: Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.