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- $Unique_ID{SSP01211}
- $Title{Measure for Measure: ACT IV, Scene I}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*01200.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- MEASURE FOR MEASURE
-
-
- ACT IV
- ...............................................................................
-
-
- SCENE I: The moated grange at ST. LUKE's.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-
- {Enter MARIANA and a Boy.}
-
- {Boy sings.}
-
- Take, O, take those lips away,
- That so sweetly were forsworn;
- And those eyes, the break of day,
- Lights that do mislead the morn:
- But my kisses bring again, bring again;
- Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed
- in vain.
-
- MARIANA: Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:
- Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
- Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.
-
- [Exit Boy.]
-
- {Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as before.}
-
- I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish 10
- You had not found me here so musical:
- Let me excuse me, and believe me so,
- My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: 'Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm
- To make bad good, and good provoke to harm.
- I pray, you, tell me, hath any body inquired
- for me here to-day? much upon this time have
- I promised here to meet.
-
- MARIANA: You have not been inquired after:
- I have sat here all day. 20
-
- {Enter ISABELLA.}
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: I do constantly believe you. The time is come even
- now. I shall crave your forbearance a little: may
- be I will call upon you anon, for some advantage to
- yourself.
-
- MARIANA: I am always bound to you.
-
- [Exit.]
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: Very well met, and well come.
- What is the news from this good deputy?
-
- ISABELLA: He hath a garden circummured with brick,
- Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;
- And to that vineyard is a planched gate, 30
- That makes his opening with this bigger key:
- This other doth command a little door
- Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
- There have I made my promise
- Upon the heavy middle of the night
- To call upon him.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
-
- ISABELLA: I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't:
- With whispering and most guilty diligence,
- In action all of precept, he did show me 40
- The way twice o'er.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: Are there no other tokens
- Between you 'greed concerning her observance?
-
- ISABELLA: No, none, but only a repair i' the dark;
- And that I have possess'd him my most stay
- Can be but brief; for I have made him know
- I have a servant comes with me along,
- That stays upon me, whose persuasion is
- I come about my brother.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: 'Tis well borne up.
- I have not yet made known to Mariana
- A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth! 50
-
- {Re-enter MARIANA.}
-
- I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;
- She comes to do you good.
-
- ISABELLA: I do desire the like.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
-
- MARIANA: Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
- Who hath a story ready for your ear.
- I shall attend your leisure: but make haste;
- The vaporous night approaches.
-
- MARIANA: Will't please you walk aside?
-
- [Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA.]
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: O place and greatness! millions of false eyes 60
- Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report
- Run with these false and most contrarious quests
- Upon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit
- Make thee the father of their idle dreams
- And rack thee in their fancies.
-
- {Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA.}
-
- Welcome, how agreed?
-
- ISABELLA: She'll take the enterprise upon her, father,
- If you advise it.
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: It is not my consent,
- But my entreaty too.
-
- ISABELLA: Little have you to say
- When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
- 'Remember now my brother.'
-
- MARIANA: Fear me not. 70
-
- DUKE VINCENTIO: Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
- He is your husband on a pre-contract:
- To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin,
- Sith that the justice of your title to him
- Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go:
- Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.
-
- [Exeunt.]
-