Scene 2
A hall in Capulet’s house.
(Capulet; Lady Capulet; Nurse; First Servingman; Second Servingman; Juliet)
Capulet is giving orders to arrange for the wedding feast. Juliet comes in, and agrees to marry Paris, begging her father for forgiveness. Capulet is delighted — so delighted, in fact, that he changes the marriage date to the next morning. Lady Capulet complains that this gives her no time to get everything ready, but Capulet announces he’ll take charge of all the domestic arrangements. (46 lines)
Enter Capulet, Mother Lady Capulet, Nurse, and Servingmen, two or three.
So many guests invite as here are writ.
Exit First Servant.
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
You shall have none ill, sir, for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.
How canst thou try them so?
Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers; therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me.
Go, be gone.
Exit Second Servant.
We shall be much unfurnish’d for this time.
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?
Ay forsooth.
Well, he may chance to do some good on her.
A peevish self-will’d harlotry it is.
Enter Juliet.
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.
How now, my headstrong, where have you been gadding?
Where I have learnt 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.
She kneels down.
Pardon, I beseech you!
Henceforward I am ever rul’d by you.
Send for the County, go tell him of this.
I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.
I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell,
And gave him what becomed love I might,
Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.
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.
Nurse, will you go with me into my closet
To help me sort such needful ornaments
As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?
No, not till Thursday, there is time enough.
Go, nurse, go with her, we’ll to church tomorrow.
Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.
We shall be short in our provision,
’Tis now near night.
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 huswife for this once. What ho!
They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself
To County Paris, to prepare up him
Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light,
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d.
Exeunt.