Act 4, Scene 1

[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;     [5]

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     [10]

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.     [15]

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.     [20]

[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.     [25]

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:     [30]

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.     [35]

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.     [40]

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     [45]

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     [50]

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?     [55]

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.     [60]

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     [65]

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.     [70]

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.     [75]

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.     [80]

[Exeunt]