Than woman's lightness? Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary, And feast upon her eyes? What is't I dream on? To sin in loving virtue: never could the strumpet, When men were fond, I smil'd, and wonder'd how. [Exit. SCENE III. A Room in a Prison. Enter DUKE, habited like a Friar, and Provost. 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 bless'd order, I come to visit the afflicted spirits Here in the prison do me the common right The nature of their crimes, that I may minister Prov. I would do more than that, if more were needful. Enter JULIET, Look, here comes one; a gentlewoman of mine, Duke. When must he die? Prov. As I do think, to-morrow. I have provided for you; stay a while, [To JULIET. And you shall be conducted. Duke. Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry? Juliet. 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. Juliet. I'll gladly learn. Duke. Love you the man that wrong'd you? Juliet. Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him. Duke. So then, it seems, your most offenceful act Was mutually committed? Juliet. Mutually., Duke. Then was your sin of heavier kind than his. Juliet. I do confess it, and repent it, father. Duke. 'Tis meet so daughter: But lest you do repent, As that the sin has brought you to this shame, Which sorrow is always toward ourselves, not heaven; Showing, we'd 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. There rest. Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, Grace go with you! Benedicite! Juliet. Must die to-morrow! O, injurious, love, That respites me a life, whose very comfort Is still a dying horror! Prov. "Tis pity of him. [Exeunt. Ang. When I would pray and think, I think and pray To several subjects: heaven hath my empty words; Enter Servant. How now, who's there? Serv. One Isabel, a sister, Desires access to you. Ang. Teach her the way. O heavens! [Exit Serv. Why does my blood thus muster to my heart; And dispossessing all my other parts Of necessary fitness? So play the foolish throngs with one that swoons; By which he should revive: and even so Enter ISABELLA. How now, fair maid? Isab. I am come to know your pleasure. Ang. That you might know it, would much better please me, Than to demand what 'tis. Your brother cannot live. Isab. Even so? - Heaven keep your Honour! [Retiring. Ang. Yet may he live a while; and, it may be, As long as you, or 1: Yet he must die. Isab. Under your sentence? Ang. Yea. Isab. When, I beseech you? that in his re prieve, Longer, or shorter, he may be so fitted, That his soul sicken not. Ang. Ha! Fie these filthy vices! It were as good Their sawcy sweetness, that do coin heaven's image, As to put mettle in restrained means, To make a false one. Isab. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Ang. Say you so? then I shall poze you quickly. Which had you rather, That the most just law Now took your brother's life; or, to redeem him, Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness, As she that he hath stain'd? Isab. Sir, believe this, I had rather give my body than my soul. Ang. I talk not of your soul; Our compell'd sins Stand more for number than accompt. Isab. How say you? Ang. Nay, I'll not warrant that; for I can speak Against the thing I say. Answer to this; I, now the voice of the recorded law, - Pronounce a sentence on your brother's life: Isab. Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, Ang. Pleas'd you to do't, at peril of your soul, Were equal poize of sin and charity. Isab. That I do beg his life, if it be sin, Heaven, let me bear it! you granting of my suit, |