Romeo and Juliet

Act 4, Scene 2

Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, NURSE, and two or three SERVINGMEN

CAPULET enters with LADY CAPULET, the NURSE, and two or three SERVINGMEN.

CAPULET

(gives paper to FIRST SERVINGMAN) So many guests invite as here are writ.

CAPULET

(giving the FIRST SERVINGMAN a piece of paper) Invite all the guests on this list.

Exit FIRST SERVINGMAN

The FIRST SERVINGMAN exits.

(to SECOND SERVINGMAN) Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.

(to SECOND SERVINGMAN) Boy, go hire twenty skilled cooks.

SECOND SERVINGMAN

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

SECOND SERVINGMAN

You won’t get any bad cooks from me. I’ll test them by making them lick their fingers.

CAPULET

How canst thou try them so?

CAPULET

How can you test them like that?

SECOND SERVINGMAN

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

SECOND SERVINGMAN

Easy, sir. It’s a bad cook who can’t lick his own fingers. So the cooks who can’t lick their fingers aren’t hired.

CAPULET

Go, be gone.

We shall be much unfurnished for this time.

CAPULET

Go, get out of here.

Exit SECOND SERVINGMAN

The SECOND SERVINGMAN exits.

What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?

We’re unprepared for this wedding celebration. (to the NURSE) What, has my daughter gone to see Friar Lawrence?

NURSE

Ay, forsooth.

NURSE

Yes, that’s true.

CAPULET

Well, he may chance to do some good on her.

A peevish self-willed harlotry it is.

CAPULET

Well, there’s a chance he may do her some good. She’s a stubborn little brat.

Enter JULIET

JULIET enters.

NURSE

See where she comes from shrift with merry look.

NURSE

Look, she’s come home from confession with a happy look on her face.

CAPULET

How now, my headstrong? Where have you been gadding?

CAPULET

So, my headstrong daughter, where have you been?

JULIET

Where I have learned me to repent the sin

Of disobedient opposition

To you and your behests, and am enjoined

By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here

To beg your pardon. (falls to her knees)

Pardon, I beseech you!

Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.

JULIET

I went somewhere where I learned that being disobedient to my father is a sin. Holy Father Lawrence instructed me to fall on my knees and beg your forgiveness. (she kneels down) Forgive me, I beg you. From now on I’ll do whatever you say.

CAPULET

Send for the county. Go tell him of this.

I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.

CAPULET

Send for the Count. Go tell him about this. I’ll make this wedding happen tomorrow morning.

JULIET

I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell,

And gave him what becomèd love I might,

Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.

JULIET

I met the young man at Lawrence’s cell. I treated him with the proper love, as well as I could, while still being modest.

CAPULET

Why, I am glad on ’t. This is well. Stand up.

CAPULET

Well, I’m glad about this. This is good. Stand up.

JULIET stands up

JULIET stands 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!

Our whole city is much bound to him.

This is the way is should be. I want to see the count. Yes, alright, go, I say, and bring him here. Now, before God, our whole city owes this friar a great debt.

JULIET

Nurse, will you go with me into my closet

To help me sort such needful ornaments

As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?

JULIET

Nurse, will you come with me to my closet and help me pick out the clothes and the jewelry I’ll need to wear tomorrow?

LADY CAPULET

No, not till Thursday. There is time enough.

LADY CAPULET

No, not until Thursday. There’s plenty of time.

CAPULET

Go, Nurse. Go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow.

CAPULET

Go, Nurse, go with her. We’ll have the wedding at the church tomorrow.

Exeunt JULIET and NURSE

JULIET and the NURSE exit.

LADY CAPULET

We shall be short in our provision.

’Tis now near night.

LADY CAPULET

Our supplies will be short for the party. It’s already almost 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 tonight. Let me alone.

I’ll play the housewife for this once.

CAPULET

Don’t worry, I will set things in motion. And everything will be alright, I promise you, wife. You should go to Juliet and dress her up. I’m not going to bed tonight. Leave me alone. I’ll pretend to be the housewife for once.

LADY CAPULET exits.

LADY CAPULET exits.

—What, ho?

They are all forth?—Well, I will walk myself

To County Paris, to prepare him up

Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light

Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.

Hey! What? They’re all gone? Well, I will walk by myself to Count Paris to get him ready for tomorrow. My heart is wonderfully happy because this troubled girl has been taken back and now will be married.

Exit

CAPULET exits.