Par. Come you to make confession to this father? Jul. If I do so, it will be of more price, 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 slander'd 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. Till then, adieu! and keep this holy kiss. [Exit Paris. 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 must 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, 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, Thou hadst the strength of will to slay thyself: A thing like death to chide away this shame, Jul. O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of yonder tower; Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears; Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones, With reeky shanks, and yellow chapless sculls; Or bid me go into a new-made grave, And hide me with a dead man in his shroud; Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble; And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love. Fri. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow; To-morrow night look that thou lie alone, Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber: Take thou this phial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off: * Decide the struggle between me and my distresses. When, presently, through all thy veins shall run Like death, when he shuts up the day of life; In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier, Jul. Give me, O give me! tell me not of fear. 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. 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? 2 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? 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 Of disobedient opposition To you, and your behests +; and am enjoin'd And beg your pardon :-Pardon, I beseech you! Cap. Send for the county; go tell him of this; I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. Jul. I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell; And gave him what becomed ‡ love I might, • Confession. + Commands. ↑ Becoming. Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty. Cap. Why, I am glad on't; this is well,-stand up: This is as't should be.-Let me see the county; Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.— Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, All our whole city is much bound to him. Jul. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, To help me sort such needful ornaments As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? La. Cap. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. Cap. Go, nurse, go with her :-we'll to church to-morrow. [Exeunt Juliet and Nurse. 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!- Against to-morrow: my heart is wond'rous light, [Exeunt. SCENE III. Juliet's chamber. Enter Juliet and Nurse. Jul. Ay, those attires are best :-But, gentle nurse, I 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. * Prayers. |