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The moated Grange at St. Luke’s. | |
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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 seal’d in vain, |
| seal’d in vain. |
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| Mari. 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. | 5 |
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Enter DUKE, 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 displeas’d, but pleas’d my woe. | 10 |
| Duke. ’Tis good; though music oft hath such a charm | |
| To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. | |
| I pray you tell me, hath anybody inquired for me here to-day? much upon this time have I promised here to meet. | |
| Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day. | |
| Duke. 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. | 15 |
| Mari. I am always bound to you. [Exit. | |
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Enter ISABELLA. | |
| Duke. Very well met, and well come. | |
| What is the news from this good deputy? | |
| Isab. He hath a garden circummur’d with brick, | 20 |
| 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; | 25 |
| There have I made my promise | |
| Upon the heavy middle of the night | |
| To call upon him. | |
| Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way? | |
| Isab. I have ta’en a due and wary note upon ’t: | 30 |
| With whispering and most guilty diligence, | |
| In action all of precept, he did show me | |
| The way twice o’er. | |
| Duke. Are there no other tokens | |
| Between you ’greed concerning her observance? | 35 |
| Isab. 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 | 40 |
| I come about my brother. | |
| Duke. ’Tis well borne up. | |
| I have not yet made known to Mariana | |
| A word of this. What ho! within! come forth. | |
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Re-enter MARIANA. | 45 |
| I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; | |
| She comes to do you good. | |
| Isab. I do desire the like. | |
| Duke. Do you persuade yourself that I respect you? | |
| Mari. Good friar, I know you do, and oft have found it. | 50 |
| Duke. 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. | |
| Mari. Will ’t please you walk aside? [Exeunt MARIANA and ISABELLA. | 55 |
| Duke. 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 dream, | 60 |
| And rack thee in their fancies! | |
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Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA. | |
| Welcome! How agreed? | |
| Isab. She’ll take the enterprise upon her, father, | |
| If you advise it. | 65 |
| Duke. It is not my consent, | |
| But my entreaty too. | |
| Isab. Little have you to say | |
| When you depart from him, but, soft and low, | |
| ‘Remember now my brother.’ | 70 |
| Mari. Fear me not. | |
| Duke. 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 | 75 |
| Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go: | |
| Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithe’s to sow. [Exeunt. | |
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