To paly ashes; thy eyes’ windows fall,Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;
Each part, depriv’d of supple government,
Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:
And in this borrow’d likeness of shrunk death
Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours,
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:
Then,—as the manner of our country is,—
In thy best robes, uncover’d, on the bier,
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault
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
Will watch thy waking, and that very night
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear
Abate thy valour in the acting it.
Juliet.
Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!
Friar.
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.
Juliet.
Love give me strength! and strength shall help afford.
Farewell, dear father.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. 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 tomorrow 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 tomorrow?
Lady Capulet.
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.
Capulet.
Go, nurse, go with her.—We’ll to church tomorrow.
[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 tonight;—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
