To be to thee this night a torchbearer, Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.- How is 't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day. Jul. It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away: It is the lark that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. Some say, the lark makes sweet division; This doth not so, for she divideth us: Some say, the lark and loathéd toad change eyes; O, now I would they had changed voices too Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, Jul. Then, window, let day in, and let life out. Rom. Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend. [ROMEO descends. Jul. Art thou gone so? love! lord! ay, husband, friend! I must hear from thee every day i' the hour, Rom. Farewell! I will omit no opportunity That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. Jul. O, think'st thou we shall ever meet again? Rom. I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in our time to come. Jul. O God, I have an ill-divining soul! Rom. And trust me, love, in my eye so do you: Lady C. [within]. Ho, daughter! are you up? Jul. Who is 't that calls? is it my lady mother? Is she not down so late, or up so early? What unaccustomed cause procures her hither? - Jul. Indeed, I never shall be satisfied With Romeo, till I behold him-deadIs my poor heart, so for a kinsman vexed:Madam, if you could but find out a man To bear a poison, I would temper it, That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors To hear him named,--and cannot come to him,-To wreak the love I bore my cousin Upon his body that hath slaughtered him! Lady C. Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man. But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl. Lady C. Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, day morn, The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at St. Peter's church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. Jul. Now by Saint Peter's church, and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride. I wonder at this haste; that I must wed Ere he that should be husband comes to woo. I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris.-These are news indeed! Lady C. Here comes your father: tell him so yourself, And see how he will take it at your hands. Enter CAPULET and Nurse. Cap. When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; How now! a conduit, girl? what, still in tears? Do ebb and flow with tears: the bark thy body is, I would the fool were married to her grave! How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks? Proud can I never be of what I hate : But thankful even for hate that is meant love. Cap. How now, how now; chop-logic! What is this? Proud, and, I thank you, and, I thank you not- You tallow-face! Lady C. Fie, fie! what, are you mad? Jul. Good father, I beseech you on my knees, Hear me with patience but to speak a word. Cap. Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! I tell thee what,-get thee to church o'Thursday, Or never after look me in the face. Speak not, reply not, do not answer me : That God hath lent us but this only child; And that we have a curse in having her: Cap. God's bread! it makes me mad. Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly trained, Jul. Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you: Romeo 's a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, Or else beshrew them both. And therefore have I little talked of love; Look, sir, here comes the lady towards my cell. Par. Thou wrong'st it, more than tears, with that report. Jul. That is no slander, sir, that is a truth; And what I spake, I spake it to my face. Par. Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it. Jul. It may be so, for it is not mine own.Are you at leisure, holy father, now; Or shall I come to you at evening mass? Fri. My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now. My lord, we must entreat the time alone. Par. God shield I should disturb devotion !--Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse you: Till then, adieu! and keep this holy kiss. [Exit. Jul. O, shut the door! and when thou hast done so, Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help! Fri. Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief; It strains me past the compass of my wits. I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, 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, Do thou but call my resolution wise, And with this knife I'll help it presently. God joined my heart and Romeo's; thou our hands; And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo sealed, Shall be the label to another deed, Or my true heart with treacherous revolt Turn to another, this shall slay them both: Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time, Give me some present counsel; or, behold, 'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife Shall play the umpire; arbitrating that Which the commission of thy years and art Could to no issue of true honour bring.Be not so long to speak: I long to die, If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy. Fri. Hold, daughter: I do spy a kind of hope, Which craves as desperate an execution |