ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 1
1The moated grange at St. Luke’s.
2Enter Mariana and a Boy.
3Boy sings.
4Take, 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.
5MarianaBreak 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.
6Enter Duke disguised as before.
7I 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.
8Duke’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.
9MarianaYou have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.
10Enter Isabella.
11DukeI 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.
12MarianaI am always bound to you. Exit.
13DukeVery well met, and well come.
What is the news from this good deputy?
14IsabellaHe 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.
15DukeBut shall you on your knowledge find this way?
16IsabellaI 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.
17DukeAre there no other tokens
Between you ’greed concerning her observance?
18IsabellaNo, 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.
19Duke’Tis well borne up.
I have not yet made known to Mariana
A word of this. What, ho! within! come forth!
20Reenter Mariana.
21I pray you, be acquainted with this maid;
She comes to do you good.
22IsabellaI do desire the like.
23DukeDo you persuade yourself that I respect you?
24MarianaGood friar, I know you do, and have found it.
25DukeTake, 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.
26MarianaWill’t please you walk aside? Exeunt Mariana and Isabella.
27DukeO 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.
28Reenter Mariana and Isabella.
29Welcome, how agreed?
30IsabellaShe’ll take the enterprise upon her, father,
If you advise it.
31DukeIt is not my consent,
But my entreaty too.
32IsabellaLittle have you to say
When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
“Remember now my brother.”
33MarianaFear me not.
34DukeNor, 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.