Measure for Measure: Act 2, Scene 3

    comedy

    A room in a prison.

    Scene Summary

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    The Duke, disguised as a friar, visits the prison and ministers to the prisoners. He speaks with Juliet, who is repentant about her relationship with Claudio.

    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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,
    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
    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,
    That respites me a life, whose very comfort
    Is still a dying horror!
    Provost
    'Tis pity of him.
    Exeunt