Measure For Measure

1 Enter Mariana and a Boy singing.
2 SONG
3 _ Take, O take those lips away,
4 That so sweetly were forsworn,
5 And those eyes, the break of day,
6 Lights that do mislead the morn.
7 But my kisses bring again,
8 Bring again;
9 Seals of love, but sealed in vain,
10 Sealed in vain._
11 Enter Duke as a Friar.
12 MARIANA.
13 Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away;
14 Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
15 Hath often stilled my brawling discontent.
16 [_Exit Boy._]
17 I cry you mercy, sir, and well could wish
18 You had not found me here so musical.
19 Let me excuse me, and believe me so,
20 My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.
21 DUKE.
22 ’Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm
23 To make bad good and good provoke to harm.
24 I pray you tell me, hath anybody inquired for me here today? Much upon
25 this time have I promised here to meet.
26 MARIANA.
27 You have not been inquired after. I have sat here all day.
28 Enter Isabella.
29 DUKE.
30 I do constantly believe you. The time is come even now. I shall crave
31 your forbearance a little. Maybe I will call upon you anon for some
32 advantage to yourself.
33 MARIANA.
34 I am always bound to you.
35 [_Exit._]
36 DUKE.
37 Very well met, and welcome.
38 What is the news from this good deputy?
39 ISABELLA.
40 He hath a garden circummured with brick,
41 Whose western side is with a vineyard backed;
42 And to that vineyard is a planched gate
43 That makes his opening with this bigger key.
44 This other doth command a little door
45 Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
46 There have I made my promise, upon the
47 Heavy middle of the night to call on him.
48 DUKE.
49 But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
50 ISABELLA.
51 I have ta’en a due and wary note upon’t;
52 With whispering and most guilty diligence,
53 In action all of precept, he did show me
54 The way twice o’er.
55 DUKE.
56 Are there no other tokens
57 Between you ’greed concerning her observance?
58 ISABELLA.
59 No, none, but only a repair i’ th’ dark,
60 And that I have possessed him my most stay
61 Can be but brief, for I have made him know
62 I have a servant comes with me along,
63 That stays upon me; whose persuasion is
64 I come about my brother.
65 DUKE.
66 ’Tis well borne up.
67 I have not yet made known to Mariana
68 A word of this.—What ho, within! Come forth.
69 Enter Mariana.
70 I pray you be acquainted with this maid;
71 She comes to do you good.
72 ISABELLA.
73 I do desire the like.
74 DUKE.
75 Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
76 MARIANA.
77 Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
78 DUKE.
79 Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
80 Who hath a story ready for your ear.
81 I shall attend your leisure; but make haste.
82 The vaporous night approaches.
83 MARIANA.
84 Will’t please you walk aside?
85 [_Exeunt Mariana and Isabella._]
86 DUKE.
87 O place and greatness, millions of false eyes
88 Are stuck upon thee; volumes of report
89 Run with these false, and most contrarious quest
90 Upon thy doings; thousand escapes of wit
91 Make thee the father of their idle dream
92 And rack thee in their fancies.
93 Enter Mariana and Isabella.
94 Welcome; how agreed?
95 ISABELLA.
96 She’ll take the enterprise upon her, father,
97 If you advise it.
98 DUKE.
99 It is not my consent,
100 But my entreaty too.
101 ISABELLA.
102 Little have you to say
103 When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
104 “Remember now my brother.”
105 MARIANA.
106 Fear me not.
107 DUKE.
108 Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
109 He is your husband on a pre-contract.
110 To bring you thus together ’tis no sin,
111 Sith that the justice of your title to him
112 Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;
113 Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow.
114 [_Exeunt._]