Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 1

A Room in Mariana's House.

  1. [MARIANA discovered sitting; a Boy singing.]
  2. Boy
  3. 1641 Take, O, take those lips away,
  4. 1642 That so sweetly were forsworn;
  5. 1643 And those eyes, the break of day,
  6. 1644 Lights that do mislead the morn:
  7. 1645 But my kisses bring again
  8. 1646 Bring again;
  9. 1647 Seals of love, but seal'd in vain,
  10. 1648 Sealed in vain.
  11. Mariana
  12. 1649 Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away;
  13. 1650 Here comes a man of comfort, whose advice
  14. 1651 Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.—
  15. [Exit BOY.]
  16. [Enter DUKE.]
  17. Mariana
  18. 1652 I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish
  19. 1653 You had not found me here so musical:
  20. 1654 Let me excuse me, and believe me so,
  21. 1655 My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
  22. Duke Vincentio
  23. 1656 'Tis good: though music oft hath such a charm
  24. 1657 To make bad good and good provoke to harm.
  25. 1658 I pray you , tell me hath anybody inquired for me here to-day?
  26. 1659 much upon this time have I promised here to meet.
  27. Mariana
  28. 1660 You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.
  29. [Enter ISABELLA.]
  30. Duke Vincentio
  31. 1661 I do constantly believe you.—The time is come even now. I shall
  32. 1662 crave your forbearance a little: may be I will call upon you anon,
  33. 1663 for some advantage to yourself.
  34. Mariana
  35. 1664 I am always bound to you.
  36. [Exit.]
  37. Duke Vincentio
  38. 1665 Very well met, and welcome.
  39. 1666 What is the news from this good deputy?
  40. Isabella
  41. 1667 He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,
  42. 1668 Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;
  43. 1669 And to that vineyard is a planched gate
  44. 1670 That makes his opening with this bigger key:
  45. 1671 This other doth command a little door
  46. 1672 Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
  47. 1673 There have I made my promise to call on him
  48. 1674 Upon the heavy middle of the night.
  49. Duke Vincentio
  50. 1675 But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
  51. Isabella
  52. 1676 I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't;
  53. 1677 With whispering and most guilty diligence,
  54. 1678 In action all of precept, he did show me
  55. 1679 The way twice o'er.
  56. Duke Vincentio
  57. 1680 Are there no other tokens
  58. 1681 Between you 'greed concerning her observance?
  59. Isabella
  60. 1682 No, none, but only a repair i' the dark;
  61. 1683 And that I have possess'd him my most stay
  62. 1684 Can be but brief: for I have made him know
  63. 1685 I have a servant comes with me along,
  64. 1686 That stays upon me; whose persuasion is
  65. 1687 I come about my brother.
  66. Duke Vincentio
  67. 1688 'Tis well borne up.
  68. 1689 I have not yet made known to Mariana
  69. 1690 A word of this.—What ho, within! come forth.
  70. [Re-enter MARIANA.]
  71. Duke Vincentio
  72. 1691 I pray you be acquainted with this maid;
  73. 1692 She comes to do you good.
  74. Isabella
  75. 1693 I do desire the like.
  76. Duke Vincentio
  77. 1694 Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
  78. Mariana
  79. 1695 Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
  80. Duke Vincentio
  81. 1696 Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
  82. 1697 Who hath a story ready for your ear:
  83. 1698 I shall attend your leisure; but make haste;
  84. 1699 The vaporous night approaches.
  85. Mariana
  86. 1700 Will't please you walk aside?
  87. [Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA.]
  88. Duke Vincentio
  89. 1701 O place and greatness, millions of false eyes
  90. 1702 Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report
  91. 1703 Run with these false, and most contrarious quest
  92. 1704 Upon thy doings! Thousand 'scapes of wit
  93. 1705 Make thee the father of their idle dream,
  94. 1706 And rack thee in their fancies!—Welcome! how agreed?
  95. [Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA.]
  96. Isabella
  97. 1707 She'll take the enterprise upon her, father,
  98. 1708 If you advise it.
  99. Duke Vincentio
  100. 1709 It is not my consent,
  101. 1710 But my entreaty too.
  102. Isabella
  103. 1711 Little have you to say,
  104. 1712 When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
  105. 1713 'Remember now my brother.'
  106. Mariana
  107. 1714 Fear me not.
  108. Duke Vincentio
  109. 1715 Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all;
  110. 1716 He is your husband on a pre-contract:
  111. 1717 To bring you thus together 'tis no sin,
  112. 1718 Sith that the justice of your title to him
  113. 1719 Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;
  114. 1720 Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.
  115. [Exeunt.]