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Take, oh 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.

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.

assuming the likeness or semblance of virtue, while they are in fact guilty of the grossest crimes, impose with this counterfeit sanctity upon the world, in order to draw to themselves by the flimsiest pretensions the most solid advantages; i. e. pleasure, honour, reputation, &c. MALONE.

Enter Duke.

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.
Duke. "'Tis good: though musick 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 promis’d
here to meet.

Mari. You have not been inquired after: I have sat here all day.

Enter ISABella.

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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.

Mari. I am always bound to you.

Duke. Very well met, and welcome. What is the news from this good deputy?

[Exit.

Isab. He hath a garden circummur'd with brick,

Whose western side is with a vineyard back'd;
And to that vineyard is a planched3 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 to call on him,
Upon the heavy middle of the night.

3

Duke. But shall you on your knowledge find this way?

Isab. I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't;

constantly] Certainly; without fluctuation of mind. a planched gate,] i. e. a gate made of boards.

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?
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,
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!

Re-enter MARIANA.

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 have found it.

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.

Duke. O place and greatness, millions of false

eyes

Are stuck upon thee! volumes of report

* In action all of precept,] i. e. in direction given not by words, but by mute signs.

I have possess'd him,] I have informed him.

VOL. II.

Run with these false and most contrarious quests
Upon thy doings! thousand 'scapes of wit
Make thee the father of their idle dream,

And rack thee in their fancies!-Welcome! How agreed?

Re-enter MARIANA and ISABELLA.

Isab. She'll take the enterprize upon her, father,

you advise it.

If

Duke.

It is not my consent,

Little have you to say,

But my intreaty too.

Isab.

When you depart from him, but, soft and low,
Remember now my brother.

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 Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;

Our corn's to reap, for yet our tithe's to sow.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Prison.

Enter Provost and Clown.

[Exeunt.

Prov. Come hither, sirrah: Can you cut off a man's head?

Clo. If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can: but if he be a married man, he is his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.

.6

contrarious quests-] Different reports, running counter to each other.

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'scapes of wit-] i. e. sallies, irregularities.

8 Doth flourish the deceit.] i. e. ornament.

Prov. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer. To-morrow morning are to die Claudio and Barnardine: Here is in our prison a common executioner, who in his office lacks a helper: if you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves; if not, you shall have your full time of imprisonment, and your deliverance with an unpitied whipping; for you have been a notorious bawd.

Clo. Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd, time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman. I would be glad to receive some instruction from my fellow partner.

Prov. What ho, Abhorson! Where's Abhorson, there?

Enter ABHORSON.

Abhor. Do you call, sir?

Prov. Sirrah, here's a fellow will help you tomorrow in your execution: If you think it meet, compound with him by the year, and let him abide here with you; if not, use him for the present, and dismiss him: He cannot plead his estimation with you; he hath been a bawd.

Abhor. A bawd, sir? Fye upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Prov. Go to, sir; you weigh equally; a feather will turn the scale.

[Exit.

Clo. Pray, sir, by your good favour, (for, surely, sir, a good favour you have, but that you have a hanging look,) do you call, sir, your occupation a mystery?

Abhor. Ay, sir; a mystery.

Clo. Painting, sir, I have heard say, is a mystery; and your whores, sir, being members of my occu

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a good favour -] Favour is countenance.

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