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

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

Duke.
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.

Prov.
I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter Juliet.
Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine,
Who falling in the flames of ^note her own youth,
Hath blister'd her report: She is with child;
And he that got it, sentenc'd: a young man,
More fit to do another such offence,
Than dye for this.

Duke.
When must he dye?

Prov.
As I do think, to-morrow.—
I have provided for you; [to Juli.] stay a while,
And you shall be conducted.

Duke.
Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?

Juli.
I do; and bear the shame most patiently.

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

Juli.
I'll gladly learn.

Duke.
Love you the man that wrong'd you?

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

Duke.
So then, it seems, your most offenceful act

Was mutually committed.

Juli.
Mutually.

Duke.
Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.

Juli.
I do confess it, and repent it, father.

Duke.
'Tis meet so, daughter: But lest you do repent
As that the sin hath brought you to this shame,—
Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven;
Showing we would not spare heaven,14Q0099 as we love it,
But as we stand in fear,—

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

Duke.
There rest.
Your partner, as I hear, must dye to-morrow,
And I am going with instruction to him:
So grace go with you! Benedicite! [Exit.

Juli.
Must dye to-morrow!—O injurious love,
That respites me a life whose very comfort
Is still a dying horror!

Prov.
'Tis pity of him. [Exeunt.

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