Romeo and Juliet

Act IV

Scene II

William Shakespeare


Hall in Capulet’s House.

[Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, NURSE, and SERVANTS.]

    CAPULET
So many guests invite as here are writ.—

[Exit first Servant.

Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.

    2 SERVANT
You shall have none ill, sir; for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.

    CAPULET
How canst thou try them so?

    2 SERVANT
Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me.

    CAPULET
Go, begone.—

[Exit second Servant.

We shall be much unfurnish’d for this time.—
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?

    NURSE
Ay, forsooth.

    CAPULET
Well, be may chance to do some good on her:
A peevish self-will’d harlotry it is.

    NURSE
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.

[Enter JULIET.]

    CAPULET
How now, my headstrong! where have you been gadding?

    JULIET
Where I have learn’d me to repent the sin
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests; and am enjoin’d
By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here,
To beg your pardon:—pardon, I beseech you!
Henceforward I am ever rul’d by you.

    CAPULET
Send for the county; go tell him of this:
I’ll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.

    JULIET
I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell;
And gave him what becomed love I might,
Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.

    CAPULET
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.

    JULIET
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?

    LADY CAPULET
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.

    CAPULET
Go, nurse, go with her.—We’ll to church to-morrow.

[Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.

    LADY CAPULET
We shall be short in our provision:
’Tis now near night.

    CAPULET
                        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 wondrous light
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d.

[Exeunt.


Romeo and Juliet - Contents    |     Act IV - Scene III


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