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Act 4, Scene 1
Romeo and Juliet Translation Act 4, Scene 2
CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, and the NURSE enter, along with two or three SERVINGMEN
CAPULET
[Gives paper to FIRST SERVINGMAN] So many guests inviteas here are writ.
CAPULET
[Giving a paper to the FIRST SERVINGMAN] Invite all the guests written on this list.
The FIRST SERVINGMAN exits.
[To SECOND SERVINGMAN] Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
[To SECOND SERVINGMAN] Go hire twenty skilled cooks.
SECOND SERVINGMAN
You shall have none ill, sir, for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.
SECOND SERVINGMAN
I won’t hire any bad cooks. I’ll test them by making them lick their fingers.
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CAPULET
How canst thou try them so?
CAPULET
How does that work?
SECOND SERVINGMAN
Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me.
SECOND SERVINGMAN
Well, sir, it’s a bad cook who refuses to lick his own fingers. So I won’t hire any cooks who won’t lick their own fingers.
CAPULET
Go, be gone.
CAPULET
Get going.
The SECOND SERVINGMAN exits.
We shall be much unfurnished for this time.What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?
We are not going to be prepared for this wedding celebration.
[To the NURSE] Has my daughter gone to see Friar Lawrence?
NURSE
Ay, forsooth.
NURSE
Yes, that’s the truth.
CAPULET
Well, he may chance to do some good on her.A peevish self-willed harlotry it is.
CAPULET
Well, there’s a chance he may do her some good. She’s a stubborn good-for-nothing little whore.
JULIET enters.
NURSE
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.
NURSE
Look, she’s back from confession looking happier.
CAPULET
How now, my headstrong? Where have you been gadding?
CAPULET
How are you, my headstrong daughter? Where have you been?
JULIET
Where I have learned me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you and your behests, and am enjoined By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here To beg your pardon. [Falls to her knees] Pardon, I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
JULIET
I have been to a place where I learned to repent for the sin of being disobedient to my father and his commands. I am instructed by holy Friar Lawrence to kneel down and beg your forgiveness. [She kneels] Forgive me, I beg you. From now on I’ll do what you tell me to.
CAPULET
Send for the county. Go tell him of this.I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.
CAPULET
Send for the Count. Tell him about this. We’ll move the wedding to tomorrow morning.
JULIET
I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell,And gave him what becomèd love I might, Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.
JULIET
I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’s cell. I treated him with all the love I could give without breaking the proper rules of modesty.
CAPULET
Why, I am glad on ’t. This is well. Stand up.
CAPULET
I’m glad! This is good. Stand up.
JULIET rises.
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! Our whole city is much bound to him.
This is how it should be. I want to see the count. Yes, all right, go, I say, and bring him here. Now, I swear before God, our whole city owes a great deal to this friar.
JULIET
Nurse, will you go with me into my closetTo help me sort such needful ornamentsAs you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?
JULIET
Nurse, will you come with me to my room and help me pick out the clothes and jewelry that I should wear tomorrow?
LADY CAPULET
No, not till Thursday. There is time enough.
LADY CAPULET
No, not until Thursday. There’s enough time.
CAPULET
Go, Nurse. Go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow.
CAPULET
Go, Nurse. Go with her. We’ll go to the church and have the wedding tomorrow.
LADY CAPULET
We shall be short in our provision.‘Tis now near night.
LADY CAPULET
We won’t have enough food or drink for the party. It’s almost night already.
JULIET and the NURSE exit.
CAPULET exits.
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.
CAPULET
Oh hush. I'll make sure that the preparations are underway, and everything will be all right. I promise you that, wife. Go to Juliet, to help get her all dolled up. I won't go to bed tonight. Leave me alone. I'll pretend to be the housewife just this once.
LADY CAPULET exits
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 reclaimed.
What is it? Hey! They're all gone? Well, I myself will walk to Count Paris to get him ready for tomorrow. My heart feels wonderfully light, now that this formerly disobedient girl has been taken back.
