Measure for Measure
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Mariana, and Boy singing.Enter Mariana, and Boy singing MM IV.i.1
Song. BOY 
Take, oh take those lips away,Take, O take those lips away MM IV.i.1
that so sweetly were forsworne,That so sweetly were forsworn;forswear (v), past forms forsworn, forswore

old form: forsworne
swear falsely, perjure [oneself], break one's word		MM IV.i.2
And those eyes: the breake of dayAnd those eyes, the break of day, MM IV.i.3
lights that doe mislead the Morne;Lights that do mislead the morn:morn (n.)

old form: Morne
morning, dawn		MM IV.i.4
But my kisses bring againe, bring againe,But my kisses bring again, bring again; MM IV.i.5
Seales of loue, but seal'd in vaine, seal'd in vaine.Seals of love, but sealed in vain, sealed in vain.seal (n.)

old form: seal'd
pledge, promise, token, sign		MM IV.i.6
Enter Duke.Enter Duke as a friar MM IV.i.7
Mar. MARIANA 
Breake off thy song, and haste thee quick away,Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away. MM IV.i.7
Here comes a man of comfort, whose aduiceHere comes a man of comfort, whose advice MM IV.i.8
Hath often still'd my brawling discontent.Hath often stilled my brawling discontent.brawling (adj.)
clamorous, noisy, tumultuous		MM IV.i.9
Exit Boy MM IV.i.9
I cry you mercie, Sir, and well could wishI cry you mercy, sir, and well could wish MM IV.i.10
You had not found me here so musicall.You had not found me here so musical. MM IV.i.11
Let me excuse me, and beleeue me so,Let me excuse me, and believe me so, MM IV.i.12
My mirth it much displeas'd, but pleas'd my woe.My mirth it much displeased, but pleased my woe. MM IV.i.13
Duk. DUKE 
'Tis good; though Musick oft hath such a charme'Tis good, though music oft hath such a charmoft (adv.)
often		MM IV.i.14
To make bad, good; and good prouoake to harme.To make bad good, and good provoke to harm. MM IV.i.15
I pray you tell me, hath any body enquir'd for mee hereI pray you tell me, hath anybody inquired for me here MM IV.i.16
to day; much vpon this time haue I promis'd here totoday? Much upon this time have I promised here to MM IV.i.17
meete.meet. MM IV.i.18
Mar. MARIANA 
You haue not bin enquir'd after: I haue satYou have not been inquired after. I have sat MM IV.i.19
here all day.here all day. MM IV.i.20
Enter Isabell.Enter Isabella MM IV.i.21.1
Duk. DUKE 
I doe constantly beleeue you: the time is come euenI do constantly believe you. The time is come evenconstantly (adv.)
assuredly, firmly, certainly, confidently		MM IV.i.21
now. I shall craue your forbearance a little, may be Inow. I shall crave your forbearance a little. May be Iforbearance (n.)
patience, restraint, moderation		MM IV.i.22
crave (v.)

old form: craue
beg, entreat, request
will call vpon you anone for some aduantage to your selfe.will call upon you anon for some advantage to yourself.anon (adv.)

old form: anone
soon, shortly, presently		MM IV.i.23
Mar. MARIANA 
I am alwayes bound to you.I am always bound to you. MM IV.i.24
Exit.Exit MM IV.i.24
Duk. DUKE 
Very well met, and well come:Very well met, and welcome. MM IV.i.25
What is the newes from this good Deputie?What is the news from this good deputy? MM IV.i.26
Isab. ISABELLA 
He hath a Garden circummur'd with Bricke,He hath a garden circummured with brick,circummured (adj.)

old form: circummur'd
walled around		MM IV.i.27
Whose westerne side is with a Vineyard back't;Whose western side is with a vineyard backed; MM IV.i.28
And to that Vineyard is a planched gate,And to that vineyard is a planched gate,planched (adj.)
boarded, wooden, made of planks		MM IV.i.29
That makes his opening with this bigger Key:That makes his opening with this bigger key. MM IV.i.30
This other doth command a little doore,This other doth command a little door MM IV.i.31
Which from the Vineyard to the Garden leades,Which from the vineyard to the garden leads. MM IV.i.32
There haue I made my promise,There have I made my promise, MM IV.i.33
vpon the / Heauy midle of the night,Upon the heavy middle of the night,heavy (adj.)

old form: Heauy
gloomy, dark, overcast		MM IV.i.34
to call vpon him.To call upon him. MM IV.i.35
Duk. DUKE 
But shall you on your knowledge find this way?But shall you on your knowledge find this way? MM IV.i.36
Isab. ISABELLA 
I haue t'ane a due, and wary note vpon't,I have ta'en a due and wary note upon't. MM IV.i.37
With whispering, and most guiltie diligence,With whispering and most guilty diligence, MM IV.i.38
In action all of precept, he did show meIn action all of precept, he did show meprecept (n.)
detailed direction, precise instruction		MM IV.i.39
The way twice ore.The way twice o'er. MM IV.i.40.1
Duk. DUKE 
Are there no other tokensAre there no other tokens MM IV.i.40.2
Betweene you 'greed, concerning her obseruance?Between you 'greed concerning her observance?observance (n.)

old form: obseruance
compliance, carrying out what has to be done		MM IV.i.41
Isab. ISABELLA 
No: none but onely a repaire ith' darke,No, none, but only a repair i'th' dark,repair (n.)

old form: repaire
coming, arrival, approach		MM IV.i.42
And that I haue possest him, my most stayAnd that I have possessed him my most staymost (adj.)
utmost, maximum		MM IV.i.43
possess (v.)

old form: possest
notify, inform, acquaint
Can be but briefe: for I haue made him know,Can be but brief. For I have made him know MM IV.i.44
I haue a Seruant comes with me alongI have a servant comes with me along, MM IV.i.45
That staies vpon me; whose perswasion is,That stays upon me, whose persuasion ispersuasion (n.)

old form: perswasion
belief, impression, understanding		MM IV.i.46
stay on / upon (v.)

old form: staies vpon
wait for, await
I come about my Brother.I come about my brother. MM IV.i.47.1
Duk. DUKE 
'Tis well borne vp.'Tis well borne up.bear up (v.)

old form: borne vp
sustain, support, uphold		MM IV.i.47.2
I haue not yet made knowne to MarianaI have not yet made known to Mariana MM IV.i.48
A word of this: what hoa, within; come forth,A word of this. What ho, within. Come forth. MM IV.i.49
Enter Mariana MM IV.i.50
I pray you be acquainted with this Maid,I pray you, be acquainted with this maid; MM IV.i.50
She comes to doe you good.She comes to do you good. MM IV.i.51.1
Isab. ISABELLA 
I doe desire the like.I do desire the like.like, the
the same		MM IV.i.51.2
Duk. DUKE 
Do you perswade your selfe that I respect you?Do you persuade yourself that I respect you?respect (v.)
bear in mind, consider		MM IV.i.52
Mar. MARIANA 
Good Frier, I know you do, and haue found it.Good friar, I know you do, and so have found it. MM IV.i.53
Duke. DUKE 
Take then this your companion by the handTake then this your companion by the hand, MM IV.i.54
Who hath a storie readie for your eare:Who hath a story ready for your ear. MM IV.i.55
I shall attend your leisure, but make hasteI shall attend your leisure, but make haste.attend (v.)
serve, follow, wait [on/upon]		MM IV.i.56
The vaporous night approaches.The vaporous night approaches.vaporous (adj.)
misty, damp-filled, foggy		MM IV.i.57
Mar. MARIANA 
Wilt please you walke aside.Will't please you walk aside? MM IV.i.58
Exit.Exeunt Mariana and Isabella MM IV.i.58
Duke. DUKE 
Oh Place, and greatnes: millions of false eiesO place and greatness, millions of false eyesplace (n.)
position, post, office, rank		MM IV.i.59
false (adj.)
treacherous, traitorous, perfidious
Are stucke vpon thee: volumes of reportAre stuck upon thee. Volumes of reportstick (v.)

old form: stucke
be placed, be fixed		MM IV.i.60
Run with these false, and most contrarious QuestRun with these false and most contrarious questsquest (n.)
inquiry, pursuit, investigation		MM IV.i.61
contrarious (adj.)
conflicting, contrary, contradictory
Vpon thy doings: thousand escapes of witUpon thy doings; thousand escapes of witescape (n.)
outburst, outbreak, sally		MM IV.i.62
wit (n.)
reasoning, thinking, deliberation
wit (n.)
mind, brain, thoughts
Make thee the father of their idle dreame,Make thee the father of their idle dream, MM IV.i.63
And racke thee in their fancies.And rack thee in their fancies.rack (v.)

old form: racke
torment, torture, scourge		MM IV.i.64.1
fancy (n.)
imagining, flight of fancy, fanciful thought
Enter Mariana and Isabella.Enter Mariana and Isabella MM IV.i.64
Welcome, how agreed?Welcome, how agreed? MM IV.i.64.2
Isab. ISABELLA 
Shee'll take the enterprize vpon her father,She'll take the enterprise upon her, father, MM IV.i.65
If you aduise it.If you advise it. MM IV.i.66.1
Duke. DUKE 
It is not my consent,It is not my consent, MM IV.i.66.2
But my entreaty too.But my entreaty too. MM IV.i.67.1
Isa. ISABELLA 
Little haue you to sayLittle have you to say MM IV.i.67.2
When you depart from him, but soft and low,When you depart from him but, soft and low, MM IV.i.68
Remember now my brother.‘ Remember now my brother.’ MM IV.i.69.1
Mar. MARIANA 
Feare me not.Fear me not. MM IV.i.69.2
Duk. DUKE 
Nor gentle daughter, feare you not at all:Nor, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.gentle (adj.)
courteous, friendly, kind		MM IV.i.70
He is your husband on a pre-contract:He is your husband on a pre-contract.pre-contract (n.)
pre-nuptial agreement		MM IV.i.71
To bring you thus together 'tis no sinne,To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin, MM IV.i.72
Sith that the Iustice of your title to himSith that the justice of your title to himtitle (n.)
[legal] right, claim, entitlement		MM IV.i.73
Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let vs goe,Doth flourish the deceit. Come, let us go;flourish (v.)
embellish, adorn, add lustre to		MM IV.i.74
Our Corne's to reape, for yet our Tithes to sow. Our corn's to reap, for yet our tilth's to sow.tilth (n.)
crop, harvest		MM IV.i.75
Exeunt.Exeunt MM IV.i.75
 Previous Act IV, Scene I Next  
x

Jump directly to