-Look, sir, here comes the lady towards my cell. Par. Happily met, my lady, and my wife! Jul. That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. Par. That may be, must be, love, on Thursday next. Jul. What must be shall be. Fri. That's a certain text. Par. Come you to make confession to this father? Being spoke behind your back, than to your face. Par. Thou wrong'st it, more than tears, with that report. And what I spake, I spake it to my face. Par. Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it. Are you at leisure, holy father, now; Or shall I come to you at evening mass ?9 Fri. My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now : My lord, we must entreat the time alone. Par. God shield, I should disturb devotion !— Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse you: Till then, adieu! and keep this holy kiss. [Exit. Jul. O, shut the door! and when thou hast done so, Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help! It strains me past the compass of my wits: [9] Juliet means vespers. There is no such thing as evening mass. only sung in the morning, and when the priests are fasting." "Masses, are RITSON. Shall be the label to another deed,' A thing like death to chide away this shame, Jul. O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones, And hide me with a dead man in his shroud; Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble; And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love. Fri. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow; To-morrow night look that thou lie alone, Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber : [1] The seals of deeds in our author's time were not impressed on the parchment itself on which the deed was written, but were appended on distinct slips or labels affixed to the deed. Hence in K. Richard II. the duke of York discovers a covenant which his son Aumerle had entered into by the depending seal: "What seal is that which hangs without thy bosom?" MALONE. [2] Commission is for authority or power. JOHNSON. Each vital spirit; for no pulse shall keep In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier, Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault, Abate thy valour in the acting it. Jul. Give me, O give me! tell me not of fear. Fri. 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. [afford [Exeunt Jul. Love, give me strength! and strength shall help Farewell, dear father! SCENE II. A Room in CAPULET'S House. Enter CAPULET, Lady CA- PULET, Nurse, and Servants. Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ.- Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.' [Exit Servant. 2 Serv. You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they can lick their fingers. Cap. How canst thou try them so ? [4] If no fickle freak no light caprice, no change of fancy, hinder the performance. JOHNSON. [1] Twenty cooks for half a dozen guests! Either Capulet has altered his mind strangely, or our author forgot what he had just made him tell us. P. 363. 2 Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers; therefore he, that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me. Cap. Go, begone.- [Exit Servant. We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time.- Cap. Well, he may chance to do some good on her : A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. Enter JULIET. Nur, See where she comes from shrift with merry look. Cap. How now, my head-strong? where have you beer. gadding? Jul. Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition Το you, and your behests; and am enjoin'd Cap. Send for the county; go tell him of this Cap. Why, I am glad on't; this is well,-stand up: All our whole city is much bound to him. Jul. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, To help me sort such needful ornaments As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? La. Cap. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. Cap. Go, nurse, go with her :-we'll to church to[Exeunt JULIET and Nurse morrow. La. Cap. We shall be short in our provision ;3 'Tis now near night. Cap. Tush! I will stir about, And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife : I'll not to bed to-night ;-let me alone; I'll play the housewife for this once.—What, ho !— They are all forth :-Well, I will walk myself SCENE III. [Exeunt. JULIET'S Chamber: Enter JULIET and Nurse. Jul. Ay, those attires are best :-But, gentle nurse, I pray thee, leave me to myself to-night; For I have need of many orisons To move the heavens to smile upon my state, La. Cap. What, are you busy? do you need my helr So please you, let me now be left alone, And let the nurse this night sit up with you; La. Cap. Good night! Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need. [Exeunt Lady CAP. and Nurse. Jul. Farewell!-God knows, when we shall meet again. I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, - My dismal scene I needs must act alone.- What if this mixture do not work at all? What if it be a poison, which the friar : I fear, it is and yet, methinks, it should not, I will not entertain so bad a thought.- |