Measure for Measure
Act IV, Scene 1
The moated grange at St. Luke’s.
- Enter Mariana, and Boy singing.
- Song.
Boy
1 - 6- 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 seal’d in vain, seal’d in vain.
- Enter Duke disguised as a friar.
Mariana
7 - 13- 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.
- 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 displeas’d, but pleas’d my woe.
Duke
14 - 17- ’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 inquir’d for me here
- today? Much upon this time have I promis’d here to meet.
Mariana
18- You have not been inquir’d after. I have sat here all day.
- Enter Isabel.
Duke
19 - 21- 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
22- I am always bound to you.
- Exit.
Duke
23 - 24- Very well met, and well come.
- What is the news from this good deputy?
Isabella
25 - 32- He hath a garden circummur’d with brick,
- Whose western side is with a vineyard back’d;
- And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
- 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.
Take, O, take those lips away, that so sweetly were forsworn
1901
Duke
33- But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
Isabella
34 - 37- 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
- The way twice o’er.
Duke
38 - 39- Are there no other tokens
- Between you ’greed concerning her observance?
Isabella
40 - 45- No; none but only a repair i’ th’ 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
46 - 50- ’Tis well borne up.
- I have not yet made known to Mariana
- A word of this. What ho, within! Come forth!
- Enter Mariana.
- I pray you be acquainted with this maid,
- She comes to do you good.
Isabella
51- I do desire the like.
Duke
52- Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
Mariana
53- Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
Duke
54 - 57- 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
58- Will’t please you walk aside?
- Exit with Isabella.
Duke
59 - 65- O place and greatness! Millions of false eyes
- Are stuck upon thee. Volumes of report
- Run with these false, and most contrarious quest
- Upon thy doings; thousand escapes of wit
- Make thee the father of their idle dream,
- And rack thee in their fancies.
- Enter Mariana and Isabella.
- Welcome, how agreed?
Byam Shaw, 1901
Isabella
66 - 67- She’ll take the enterprise upon her, father,
- If you advise it.
Duke
68 - 69- It is not my consent,
- But my entreaty too.
Isabella
70 - 72- Little have you to say
- When you depart from him, but soft and low,
- “Remember now my brother.”
Mariana
73- Fear me not.
Duke
74 - 79- 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.
From: Songs of Shakespeare
H. C. Hoskyns Abrahall, 1865