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Modern English
Hail to you, provost! so I think you are.
Hello, provost! I think you are the one.
I am the provost. What’s your will, good friar?
I am the provost. What’s your business, good friar?
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.
Bound by my charity and my holy order, I come to visit the troubled souls Here in the prison. Please do me the courtesy Of letting me see them and telling me What crimes they’ve committed, so I can help them Accordingly.
I would do more than that, if more were needful.
I’d do more than that, if more was needed.
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.
Look, here comes one: a woman of mine, Who, due to the flaws of her youth, Has damaged her reputation: she’s pregnant; And the man who got her pregnant has been sentenced; a young man Who is more likely to repeat the offense Than to die for this one.
When must he die?
When is he supposed to die?
As I do think, to-morrow. I have provided for you: stay awhile,
I think it will be tomorrow. I’ve made arrangements for you: wait a moment,
And you shall be conducted.
And you will be escorted.
Repent you, fair one, of the sin you carry?
Do you regret the sin you’re carrying, beautiful one?
I do; and bear the shame most patiently.
I do; and I bear the shame with patience.
I’ll teach you how you shall arraign your conscience, And try your penitence, if it be sound, Or hollowly put on.
I’ll teach you how to examine your conscience, And test your remorse, to see if it’s genuine, Or if it’s just something you’re pretending.
I’ll gladly learn.
I’ll gladly learn.
Love you the man that wrong’d you?
Do you love the man who wronged you?
Yes, as I love the woman that wrong’d him.
Yes, as much as I love the woman who wronged him.
So then it seems your most offenceful act Was mutually committed?
So it seems your most sinful act Was something both of you did together?
Mutually.
Yes, together.
Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.
Then your sin is worse than his.
I do confess it, and repent it, father.
I admit it, and I regret it, father.
’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,--
That’s good, daughter: but be careful that your repentance Isn’t just because the sin led to this shame, Which sorrow usually focuses on ourselves, not heaven, Showing that we wouldn’t spare heaven if we truly loved it, But only fear it,--
I do repent me, as it is an evil, And take the shame with joy.
I truly repent, because it was wrong, And I accept the shame with joy.
There rest. Your partner, as I hear, must die to-morrow, And I am going with instruction to him. Grace go with you, Benedicite!
That’s enough. I hear your partner must die tomorrow, And I’m going to give him some instructions. May grace be with you, bless you!
Must die to-morrow! O injurious love, That respites me a life, whose very comfort Is still a dying horror!
She must die tomorrow! Oh cruel love, That gives me a life, whose only comfort Is a constant fear of dying!
’Tis pity of him.
It’s a shame for him.