Act 4, Scene 1: The moated grange at ST. LUKE's

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:
    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
    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
    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:
    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

    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,
    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.

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
    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
    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.
    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

    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;
    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
    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,
    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,
    '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,
    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