←

Romeo and Juliet, Act 4, Scene 2

The wedding is hastened · William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

Previously, in Act 4, Scene 1

After an uneasy encounter with Paris, Juliet tells Friar Laurence she will kill herself rather than marry him. Friar Laurence proposes that Juliet drink a potion that will make her appear dead for forty-two hours. Juliet takes the vial and agrees to follow the friar’s plan for reuniting her with Romeo.

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.
CAPULET
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
SECOND SERVANT
You shall have none ill, sir; for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.
CAPULET
How canst thou try them so?
SECOND 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.
CAPULET
We shall be much unfurnish’d for this time.What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?
NURSE
Ay, forsooth.
CAPULET
Well, he may chance to do some good on her.A peevish self-will’d harlotry it is.
Enter Juliet.
NURSE
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.
CAPULET
How now, my headstrong. Where have you been gadding?
JULIET
Where I have learnt me to repent the sinOf disobedient oppositionTo you and your behests; and am enjoin’dBy 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 ornamentsAs 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 myselfTo County Paris, to prepare him upAgainst tomorrow. My heart is wondrous lightSince this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d.
Exeunt.