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  • Title: Measure for Measure (Folio, 1623)
  • Editor: Kristin Lucas

    • Copyright Kristin Lucas. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Kristin Lucas
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Measure for Measure (Folio, 1623)

    Measure for Measure. 75

    Actus Quartus. Scoena Prima.


    Enter Mariana, and Boy singing.

    1770 Song. Take, oh take those lips away,
    that so sweetly were forsworne,
    And those eyes: the breake of day
    lights that doe mislead the Morne;
    But my kisses bring againe, bring againe,
    1775 Seales of loue, but seal'd in vaine, seal'd in vaine.

    Enter Duke.
    Mar. Breake off thy song, and haste thee quick away,
    Here comes a man of comfort, whose aduice
    Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.
    1780I cry you mercie, Sir, and well could wish
    You had not found me here so musicall.
    Let me excuse me, and beleeue me so,
    My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe.
    Duk. 'Tis good; though Musick oft hath such a charme
    1785To make bad, good; and good prouoake to harme.
    I pray you tell me, hath any body enquir'd for mee here
    to day; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here to
    meete.
    Mar. You haue not bin enquir'd after: I haue sat
    1790here all day.
    Enter Isabell.
    Duk. I doe constantly beleeue you: the time is come
    euen now. I shall craue your forbearance a little, may be
    I will call vpon you anone for some aduantage to your
    1795selfe.
    Mar. I am alwayes bound to you. Exit.
    Duk. Very well met, and well come:
    What is the newes from this good Deputie?
    Isab. He hath a Garden circummur'd with Bricke,
    1800Whose westerne side is with a Vineyard back't;
    And to that Vineyard is a planched gate,
    That makes his opening with this bigger Key:
    This other doth command a little doore,
    Which from the Vineyard to the Garden leades,
    1805There haue I made my promise, vpon the
    Heauy midle of the night, to call vpon him.
    Duk. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?
    Isab. I haue t'ane a due, and wary note vpon't,
    With whispering, and most guiltie diligence,
    1810In action all of precept, he did show me
    The way twice ore.
    Duk. Are there no other tokens
    Betweene you 'greed, concerning her obseruance?
    Isab. No: none but onely a repaire ith' darke,
    1815And that I haue possest him, my most stay
    Can be but briefe: for I haue made him know,
    I haue a Seruant comes with me along
    That staies vpon me; whose perswasion is,
    I come about my Brother.
    1820Duk. 'Tis well borne vp.
    I haue not yet made knowne to Mariana
    Enter Mariana.
    A word of this: what hoa, within; come forth,
    I pray you be acquainted with this Maid,
    1825She comes to doe you good.
    Isab. I doe desire the like.
    Duk. Do you perswade your selfe that I respect you?
    Mar. Good Frier, I know you do, and haue found it.
    Duke. Take then this your companion by the hand
    1830Who hath a storie readie for your eare:
    I shall attend your leisure, but make haste
    The vaporous night approaches.
    Mar. Wilt please you walke aside. Exit.
    Duke. Oh Place, and greatnes: millions of false eies
    1835Are stucke vpon thee: volumes of report
    Run with these false, and most contrarious Quest
    Vpon thy doings: thousand escapes of wit
    Make thee the father of their idle dreame,
    And racke thee in their fancies. Welcome, how agreed?
    1840Enter Mariana and Isabella.
    Isab. Shee'll take the enterprize vpon her father,
    If you aduise it.
    Duke. It is not my consent,
    But my entreaty too.
    1845Isa. Little haue you to say
    When you depart from him, but soft and low,
    Remember now my brother.
    Mar. Feare me not.
    Duk. Nor gentle daughter, feare you not at all:
    1850He is your husband on a pre-contract:
    To bring you thus together 'tis no sinne,
    Sith that the Iustice of your title to him
    Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let vs goe,
    Our Corne's to reape, for yet our Tithes to sow. Exeunt.


    1855Scena Secunda.


    Enter Prouost and Clowne.

    Pro. Come hither sirha; can you cut off a mans head?
    Clo. If the man be a Bachelor Sir, I can:
    But if he be a married man, he's his wiues head,
    1860And I can neuer cut off a womans head.
    Pro. Come sir, leaue me your snatches, and yeeld mee
    a direct answere. To morrow morning are to die Clau-
    dio and Barnardine: heere is in our prison a common exe-
    cutioner, who in his office lacks a helper, if you will take
    1865it on you to assist him, it shall redeeme you from your
    Gyues: if not, you shall haue your full time of imprison-
    ment, and your deliuerance with an vnpittied whipping;
    for you haue beene a notorious bawd.
    Clo. Sir, I haue beene an vnlawfull bawd, time out of
    1870minde, but yet I will bee content to be a lawfull hang-
    man: I would bee glad to receiue some instruction from
    my fellow partner.
    Pro. What hoa, Abhorson: where's Abhorson there?
    Enter Abhorson.
    1875Abh. Doe you call sir?
    Pro. Sirha, here's a fellow will helpe you to morrow
    in your execution: if you thinke it meet, compound with
    him by the yeere, and let him abide here with you, if not,
    vse him for the present, and dismisse him, hee cannot
    1880plead his estimation with you: he hath beene a Bawd.
    Abh. A Bawd Sir? fie vpon him, he will discredit our
    mysterie.
    Pro. Goe too Sir, you waigh equallie: a feather will
    turne the Scale. Exit.
    1885Clo. Pray sir, by your good fauor: for surely sir, a
    good fauor you haue, but that you haue a hanging look:
    Doe you call sir, your occupation a Mysterie?
    G2 Abh. I
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