Measure, for Measure — Act 2 Scene 3

Duke.Haile to you, Prouost, so I thinke you are.

Pro.I am the Prouost: whats your will, good Frier?

Duke.Bound by my charity, and my blest order,I come to visite the afflicted spiritsHere in the prison: doe me the common rightTo let me see them: and to make me knowThe nature of their crimes, that I may ministerTo them accordingly.

Pro.I would do more then that, if more were needfull.

Enter Iuliet.

Looke here comes one: a Gentlewoman of mine,Who falling in the flawes of her owne youth,Hath blisterd her report: She is with childe,And he that got it, sentenc'd: a yong man,More fit to doe another such offence,Then dye for this.

Duk.When must he dye?

Pro.As I do thinke to morrow.I haue prouided for you, stay a whileAnd you shall be conducted.

Duk.Repent you (faire one) of the sin you carry?

Iul.I doe; and beare the shame most patiently.

Du.Ile teach you how you shal araign your consciẽceAnd try your penitence, if it be sound,Or hollowly put on.

Iul.Ile gladly learne.

Duk.Loue you the man that wrong'd you?

Iul.Yes, as I loue the woman that wrong'd him.

Duk.So then it seemes your most offence full actWas mutually committed.

Iul.Mutually.

Duk.Then was your sin of heauier kinde then his.

Iul.I doe confesse it, and repent it (Father.)

Duk.'Tis meet so (daughter) but least you do repentAs that the sin hath brought you to this shame,Which sorrow is alwaies toward our selues, not heauen,Showing we would not spare heauen, as we loue it,But as we stand in feare.

Iul.I doe repent me, as it is an euill,And take the shame with ioy.

Duke.There rest:Your partner (as I heare) must die to morrow,And I am going with instruction to him:Grace goe with you, Benedicite. Exit.

Iul.Must die to morrow? oh iniurious LoueThat respits me a life, whose very comfortIs still a dying horror.

Pro.'Tis pitty of him. Exeunt.