On Thursday next be married to this county. Jul. Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this, Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it: If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, And with this knife I'll help it presently. God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; Or my true heart with treacherous revolt Fri. Hold, daughter; I do spy a kind of hope, A thing like death to chide away this shame, Jul. O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones, And hide me with a dead man in his shroud; To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love. Fri. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent And this distilled liquor drink thou off: Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. Abate thy valour in the acting it. Jul. Give me, O give me! tell me not of fear. Fri. Hold; get you gone, be strong and prosperous In this resolve: I'll send a friar with speed To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord. Jul. Love, give me strength! and strength shall help afford. Farewell, dear father! [Exeunt. SCENE II.-A room in CAPULET's house. Enter CAPULET, Lady CAPULET, Nurse, and Servants. Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ. Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. [Exit Servant. 2 Serv. You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they can lick their fingers. Cap. How canst thou try them so? Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers: therefore he, that cannot lick his fingers, goes not with me. Cap. Go, begone.— [Exit Servant. We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time. What, is my daughter gone to friar Laurence? Nurse. Ay, forsooth. Cap. Well, he may chance to do some good on her: A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. Enter JULIET. Nurse. See, where she comes from shrift, with merry look. Cap. How now, my headstrong? where have you been gadding? Jul. Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin To you, and your behests; and am enjoin'd Cap. Send for the county; go tell him of this; Cap. Why, I am glad on't; this is well,-stand To help me sort such needful ornaments As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? up: La. Cap. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. Cap. Go, nurse, go with her:-we'll to church to[Exeunt JULIET and Nurse. morrow. La. Cap. We shall be short in our provision; 'Tis now near night. Cap. Tush! I will stir about, And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife: Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her; I'll not to bed to-night ;-let me alone; I'll play the housewife for this once.-What, ho!They are all forth: Well, I will walk myself To county Paris, to prepare him up Against to-morrow: my heart is wond'rous light, I SCENE III-JULIET'S Chamber. Enter JULIET and Nurse. Jul. Ay, those attires are best :-But, gentle nurse, pray thee, leave me to myself to-night; For I have need of many orisons To move the heavens to smile upon my state, Which, well thou know'st, is cross and full of sin. Enter Lady CAPulet. La. Cap. What, are you busy? do you need my help? Jul. No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries As are behoveful for our state to-morrow: So please you, let me now be left alone, And let the nurse this night sit up with you; La. Cap. Good night! |