TPTT Measure for Measure: ACT IV
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
SCENE I. The moated grange at ST. LUKE's.
SCENE II. A room in the prison.
SCENE III. Another room in the same.
SCENE IV. A room in ANGELO's house.
SCENE V. Fields without the town.
SCENE VI. Street near the city gate.
ACT V
About the Play
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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:
5     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

10    I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish
      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
15    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:
20    I have sat here all day.
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
25    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
35    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
45    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.
50    I have not yet made known to Mariana
      A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!

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
55    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;
60    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
      Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report
      Run with these false and most contrarious quests
65    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,
70    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,
75    'Remember now my brother.'
MARIANA
      Fear me not.
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,
80    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
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