Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 1
The moated grange at ST. LUKE’s.
Mariana : Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:
[p]Here comes a man of
comfort, whose advice
[p]Hath often still'd my brawling
discontent.
[p][Exit Boy]
[p][Enter DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as
before]
[p]I cry you mercy, sir; and well could wish
[p]You had not
found me here so musical:
[p]Let me excuse me, and believe me
so,
[p]My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe.
Vincentio : 'Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm
[p]To make bad good, and
good provoke to harm.
[p]I pray, you, tell me, hath any body
inquired
[p]for me here to-day? much upon this time have
[p]I promised
here to meet.
Mariana : You have not been inquired after:
[p]I have sat here all day.
Vincentio : I do constantly believe you. The time is come even
[p]now. I shall
crave your forbearance a little: may
[p]be I will call upon you anon,
for some advantage to yourself.
Mariana : I am always bound to you.
Vincentio : Very well met, and well come.
[p]What is the news from this good
deputy?
Isabella : He hath a garden circummured with brick,
[p]Whose western side is with
a vineyard back'd;
[p]And to that vineyard is a planched gate,
[p]That
makes his opening with this bigger key:
[p]This other doth command a
little door
[p]Which from the vineyard to the garden leads;
[p]There
have I made my promise
[p]Upon the heavy middle of the night
[p]To
call upon him.
Vincentio : But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
Isabella : I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't:
[p]With whispering and most
guilty diligence,
[p]In action all of precept, he did show me
[p]The
way twice o'er.
Vincentio : Are there no other tokens
[p]Between you 'greed concerning her
observance?
Isabella : No, none, but only a repair i' the dark;
[p]And that I have possess'd
him my most stay
[p]Can be but brief; for I have made him know
[p]I
have a servant comes with me along,
[p]That stays upon me, whose
persuasion is
[p]I come about my brother.
Vincentio : 'Tis well borne up.
[p]I have not yet made known to Mariana
[p]A word
of this. What, ho! within! come forth!
[p][Re-enter MARIANA]
[p]I pray
you, be acquainted with this maid;
[p]She comes to do you good.
Isabella : I do desire the like.
Vincentio : Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?
Mariana : Good friar, I know you do, and have found it.
Vincentio : Take, then, this your companion by the hand,
[p]Who hath a story ready
for your ear.
[p]I shall attend your leisure: but make haste;
[p]The
vaporous night approaches.
Mariana : Will't please you walk aside?
Vincentio : O place and greatness! millions of false eyes
[p]Are stuck upon thee:
volumes of report
[p]Run with these false and most contrarious
quests
[p]Upon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit
[p]Make thee the
father of their idle dreams
[p]And rack thee in their
fancies.
[p][Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA]
[p]Welcome, how agreed?
Isabella : She'll take the enterprise upon her, father,
[p]If you advise it.
Vincentio : It is not my consent,
[p]But my entreaty too.
Isabella : Little have you to say
[p]When you depart from him, but, soft and
low,
[p]'Remember now my brother.'
Mariana : Fear me not.
Vincentio : Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
[p]He is your husband on a
pre-contract:
[p]To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin,
[p]Sith that
the justice of your title to him
[p]Doth flourish the deceit. Come,
let us go:
[p]Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.
Previous: Act 3 - Scene 2
Next: Act 4 - Scene 2
