Measure for Measure: ACT II , SCENE III. A room in a prison.

Measure for Measure: ACT II


	Introduction

	ACT I

	ACT II

		SCENE I. A hall In ANGELO's house.

		SCENE II. Another room in the same.

		SCENE III. A room in a prison.

		SCENE IV. A room in ANGELO's house.

	ACT III

	ACT IV

	ACT V

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SCENE III. A room in a prison.

Enter, severally, DUKE VINCENTIO disguised as a friar, and Provost

DUKE VINCENTIO

Hail to you, provost! so I think you are.

Provost

I am the provost. What's your will, good friar?

DUKE VINCENTIO

      Bound by my charity and my blest order,
      I come to visit the afflicted spirits
5     Here in the prison. Do me the common right
      To let me see them and to make me know
      The nature of their crimes, that I may minister
      To them accordingly.

Provost

I would do more than that, if more were needful.

Enter JULIET

10    Look, here comes one: a gentlewoman of mine,
      Who, falling in the flaws of her own youth,
      Hath blister'd her report: she is with child;
      And he that got it, sentenced; a young man
      More fit to do another such offence
15    Than die for this.

DUKE VINCENTIO

When must he die?

Provost

As I do think, to-morrow.
I have provided for you: stay awhile,

To JULIET

And you shall be conducted.

DUKE VINCENTIO

20 Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?

JULIET

I do; and bear the shame most patiently.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      I'll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience,
      And try your penitence, if it be sound,
      Or hollowly put on.

JULIET

25 I'll gladly learn.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Love you the man that wrong'd you?

JULIET

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

DUKE VINCENTIO

So then it seems your most offenceful act
Was mutually committed?

JULIET

30 Mutually.

DUKE VINCENTIO

Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.

JULIET

I do confess it, and repent it, father.

DUKE VINCENTIO

      'Tis meet so, daughter: but lest you do repent,
      As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,
35    Which sorrow is always towards ourselves, not heaven,
      Showing we would not spare heaven as we love it,
      But as we stand in fear,--

JULIET

I do repent me, as it is an evil,
And take the shame with joy.

DUKE VINCENTIO

40    There rest.
      Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow,
      And I am going with instruction to him.
      Grace go with you, Benedicite!

Exit

JULIET

      Must die to-morrow! O injurious love,
45    That respites me a life, whose very comfort
      Is still a dying horror!

Provost

'Tis pity of him.

Exeunt

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