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ACT IV.
Scene I. Friar Laurence's cell.[1170]
Enter Friar Laurence and Paris.[1171]
Fri. L. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.
Par. My father Capulet will have it so;
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.[1172]
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.[1172]
Par. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,
And therefore have I little talk'd of love,[1174]
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.
Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous
That she doth give her sorrow so much sway,[1175] 10
And in his wisdom hastes our marriage,
To stop the inundation of her tears,
Which, too much minded by herself alone,
May be put from her by society:
Now do you know the reason of this haste.[1176] 15
And therefore have I little talk'd of love,[1174]
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.
Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous
That she doth give her sorrow so much sway,[1175] 10
And in his wisdom hastes our marriage,
To stop the inundation of her tears,
Which, too much minded by herself alone,
May be put from her by society:
Now do you know the reason of this haste.[1176] 15
Enter Juliet.
Par. Happily met, my lady and my wife![1179]
Jul. That may be, sir, when I may be a wife.
Par. That may be must be, love, on Thursday next. 20
Jul. What must be shall be.
Fri. L. That's a certain text.
Par. Come you to make confession to this father?
Jul. To answer that, I should confess to you.[1180]
Par. Do not deny to him that you love me.
Jul. I will confess to you that I love him. 25
Par. So will ye, I am sure, that you love me.[1181]
Jul. If I do so, it will be of more price,
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.[1182]
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.[1182]
Par. Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears.
Par. Thou wrong'st it more than tears with that report.
Jul. That is no slander, sir, which is a truth,[1183]
And what I spake, I spake it to my face.[1184]
And what I spake, I spake it to my face.[1184]
Par. Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it. 35
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?
Are you at leisure, holy father, now;
Or shall I come to you at evening mass?
Fri. L. My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.
My lord, we must entreat the time alone.[1185] 40
My lord, we must entreat the time alone.[1185] 40
Par. God shield I should disturb devotion![1186]
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye:[1187]
Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss.[1187][1188] [Exit.
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye:[1187]
Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss.[1187][1188] [Exit.
Jul. O, shut the door, and when thou hast done so,[1189]
Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help![1190] 45
Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help![1190] 45
Fri. L. Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief;[1191]
It strains me past the compass of my wits:[1192]
I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this county.[1193]
It strains me past the compass of my wits:[1192]
I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this county.[1193]
Jul. Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this,[1194] 50
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.[1195]
God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; 55
And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo's seal'd,[1196]
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,[1197] 60
Give me some present counsel; or, behold,
'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that[1198]
Which the commission of thy years and art[1199]
Could to no issue of true honour bring. 65
Be not so long to speak; I long to die,[1200]
If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy.
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.[1195]
God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; 55
And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo's seal'd,[1196]
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,[1197] 60
Give me some present counsel; or, behold,
'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that[1198]
Which the commission of thy years and art[1199]
Could to no issue of true honour bring. 65
Be not so long to speak; I long to die,[1200]
If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy.
Fr. L. Hold, daughter: I do spy a kind of hope,
Which craves as desperate an execution[1201]
As that is desperate which we would prevent. 70
If, rather than to marry County Paris,
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,[1202]
Then is it likely thou wilt undertake[1203]
A thing like death to chide away this shame,
That copest with death himself to 'scape from it;[1204] 75
And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.[1205]
Which craves as desperate an execution[1201]
As that is desperate which we would prevent. 70
If, rather than to marry County Paris,
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,[1202]
Then is it likely thou wilt undertake[1203]
A thing like death to chide away this shame,
That copest with death himself to 'scape from it;[1204] 75
And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.[1205]
Jul. O, bid me leap, rather than many Paris,
From off the battlements of yonder tower;[1206]
Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk[1207]
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;[1207] 80
Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,[1208]
O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones,[1209]
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;[1210]
Or bid me go into a new-made grave,
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;[1211] 85
Things that to hear them told, have made me tremble;[1212]
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.[1213]
From off the battlements of yonder tower;[1206]
Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk[1207]
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;[1207] 80
Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,[1208]
O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones,[1209]
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;[1210]
Or bid me go into a new-made grave,
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;[1211] 85
Things that to hear them told, have made me tremble;[1212]
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.[1213]
Fri. L. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent[1214]
To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow;[1214][1215] 90
To-morrow night look that thou lie alone,[1214]
Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:[1214][1216]
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,[1214]
And this distilled liquor drink thou off:[1217]
When presently through all thy veins shall run 95
A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse[1218]
Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:[1218]
No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;[1219]
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade[1220]
To paly ashes; thy eyes' windows fall,[1221] 100
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;[1222]
Each part, deprived of supple government,[1223]
Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:[1223]
And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death[1224]
Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, 105
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes
To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead:[1225]
Then, as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier[1226] 110
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault[1227]
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the mean time, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift;
And hither shall he come: and he and I[1228] 115
Will watch thy waking, and that very night[1228]
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,[1229]
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear[1230]
Abate thy valour in the acting it. 120
To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow;[1214][1215] 90
To-morrow night look that thou lie alone,[1214]
Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:[1214][1216]
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,[1214]
And this distilled liquor drink thou off:[1217]
When presently through all thy veins shall run 95
A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse[1218]
Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:[1218]
No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;[1219]
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade[1220]
To paly ashes; thy eyes' windows fall,[1221] 100
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;[1222]
Each part, deprived of supple government,[1223]
Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:[1223]
And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death[1224]
Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, 105
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes
To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead:[1225]
Then, as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier[1226] 110
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault[1227]
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the mean time, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift;
And hither shall he come: and he and I[1228] 115
Will watch thy waking, and that very night[1228]
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,[1229]
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear[1230]
Abate thy valour in the acting it. 120
Jul. Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear![1231]
Fri. L. 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.
In this resolve: I'll send a friar with speed
To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord.
Scene II. Hall in Capulet's house.[1234]
Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, and two Servingmen.[1235]
Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ.[1236]
[Exit First Servant.
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.[1237]
Sec. Serv. You shall have none ill, sir, for I'll try if[1238][1239]
they can lick their fingers.[1239]
they can lick their fingers.[1239]
Cap. How canst thou try them so?[1239] 5
Sec. Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick[1238][1239]
his own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers[1239]
goes not with me.[1239]
his own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers[1239]
goes not with me.[1239]
Cap. Go, be gone.[1239][1240][1241] [Exit Sec. Servant.
We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time.[1241] 10
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?[1241]
We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time.[1241] 10
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?[1241]
Nurse. Ay, forsooth.
Cap. Well, he may chance to do some good on her:
A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is.[1242]
A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is.[1242]
Enter Juliet.
Nurse. See where she comes from shrift with merry look.[1243]15
Cap. How now, my headstrong! where have you been gadding?[1244]
Jul. Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin[1245]
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd[1246]
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, 20
To beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you![1247]
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd[1246]
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, 20
To beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you![1247]
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
Jul. I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell, 25
And gave him what becomed love I might,[1249]
Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty.
And gave him what becomed love I might,[1249]
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;[1250]
Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.[1251] 30
Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,[1252]
All our whole city is much bound to him.[1253]
This is as't should be. Let me see the county;[1250]
Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.[1251] 30
Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,[1252]
All our whole city is much bound to him.[1253]
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? 35
To help me sort such needful ornaments
As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? 35
La. Cap. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.[1254]
Cap. Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow.[1255]
[Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.
La. Cap. We shall be short in our provision:[1256]
'Tis now near night.
'Tis now near night.
Cap. Tush, I will stir about,
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife: 40
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[1257] 45
Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light,[1258]
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.[1259] [Exeunt.
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife: 40
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[1257] 45
Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light,[1258]
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.[1259] [Exeunt.
Scene III. Juliet's chamber.[1260]
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.[1261] 5
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.[1261] 5
Enter Lady Capulet.[1262]
Jul. No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries
As are behoveful for our state to-morrow:[1265]
So please you, let me now be left alone,
And let the nurse this night sit up with you, 10
For I am sure you have your hands full all
In this so sudden business.
As are behoveful for our state to-morrow:[1265]
So please you, let me now be left alone,
And let the nurse this night sit up with you, 10
For I am sure you have your hands full all
In this so sudden business.
La. Cap. Good night:
Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.
Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.
[Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1266]
Jul. Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.[1267]
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, 15
That almost freezes up the heat of life:[1268]
I'll call them back again to comfort me.[1269]
Nurse!—What should she do here?[1270]
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.[1271][1272] 20
What if this mixture do not work at all?[1271]
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?[1273]
No, no: this shall forbid it. Lie thou there[1274]
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, 15
That almost freezes up the heat of life:[1268]
I'll call them back again to comfort me.[1269]
Nurse!—What should she do here?[1270]
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.[1271][1272] 20
What if this mixture do not work at all?[1271]
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?[1273]
No, no: this shall forbid it. Lie thou there[1274]
[Laying down a dagger.
What if it be a poison, which the friar
Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, 25
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.[1275]
How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 30
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point.[1276]
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,[1277]
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,[1278]
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?[1279] 35
Or, if I live, is it not very like,[1280]
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place,[1281]
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where for this many hundred years the bones[1282] 40
Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd;
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth,
Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say,
At some hours in the night spirits resort;
Alack, alack, is it not like that I[1283] 45
So early waking, what with loathsome smells
And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth,[1284]
That living mortals hearing them run mad:
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,[1285]
Environed with all these hideous fears?[1286] 50
And madly play with my forefathers' joints?[1287]
And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud?
And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone,[1288]
As with a club, dash out my desperate brains?
O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost 55
Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body[1289]
Upon a rapier's point: stay, Tybalt, stay![1289][1290]
Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee.[1291]
Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, 25
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.[1275]
How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 30
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point.[1276]
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,[1277]
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,[1278]
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?[1279] 35
Or, if I live, is it not very like,[1280]
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place,[1281]
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where for this many hundred years the bones[1282] 40
Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd;
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth,
Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say,
At some hours in the night spirits resort;
Alack, alack, is it not like that I[1283] 45
So early waking, what with loathsome smells
And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth,[1284]
That living mortals hearing them run mad:
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,[1285]
Environed with all these hideous fears?[1286] 50
And madly play with my forefathers' joints?[1287]
And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud?
And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone,[1288]
As with a club, dash out my desperate brains?
O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost 55
Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body[1289]
Upon a rapier's point: stay, Tybalt, stay![1289][1290]
Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee.[1291]
[She falls upon her bed, within the curtains.[1292]
Scene IV. Hall in Capulet's house.[1293]
Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1294]
La. Cap. Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.[1295]
Nurse. They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.[1296]
Enter Capulet.[1297]
Cap. Come, stir, stir, stir! the second cock hath crow'd,[1298]
The curfew-bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock:[1299]
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica: 5
Spare not for cost.[1300][1301]
The curfew-bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock:[1299]
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica: 5
Spare not for cost.[1300][1301]
Nurse. Go, you cot-quean, go,[1301]
Get you to bed; faith, you'll be sick to-morrow
For this night's watching.
Get you to bed; faith, you'll be sick to-morrow
For this night's watching.
Cap. No, not a whit: what! I have watch'd ere now[1302]
All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick.[1303] 10
All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick.[1303] 10
La. Cap. Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time;
But I will watch you from such watching now.
But I will watch you from such watching now.
[Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1304]