The Complete Tragedies of William Shakespeare - All 12 Books in One Edition. William Shakespeare

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

       Against tomorrow: my heart is wondrous light

       Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d.

       [Exeunt.]

       SCENE III. Juliet’s Chamber.

       [Enter Juliet and Nurse.]

       Juliet.

       Ay, those attires are best:—but, gentle nurse,

       I pray thee, leave me to myself tonight;

       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.

       [Enter Lady Capulet.]

       Lady Capulet.

       What, are you busy, ho? need you my help?

       Juliet.

       No, madam; we have cull’d such necessaries

       As are behoveful for our state tomorrow:

       So please you, let me now be left alone,

       And let the nurse this night sit up with you;

       For I am sure you have your hands full all

       In this so sudden business.

       Lady Capulet.

       Good night:

       Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need.

       [Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.]

       Juliet.

       Farewell!—God knows when we shall meet again.

       I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins

       That almost freezes up the heat of life:

       I’ll call them back again to comfort me;—

       Nurse!—What should she do here?

       My dismal scene I needs must act alone.—

       Come, vial.—

       What if this mixture do not work at all?

       Shall I be married, then, tomorrow morning?—

       No, No!—this shall forbid it:—lie thou there.—

       [Laying down her dagger.]

       What if it be a poison, which the friar

       Subtly hath minister’d to have me dead,

       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