Romeo and Juliet, Act IV, Scene 2

Romeo and Juliet
Act IV, Scene 2

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Hall in Capulet's house.
Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET,
Nurse, and two Servingmen
CAPULET
So many guests invite as here are writ.

Exit First Servant

Still later that same day, which is now day three.

Capulet is trying to make plans for this upcoming wedding. He hands an invitation list to a servant.

CAPULET
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.

Next, Capulet sends another servant to go and hire twenty cooks. This, for a wedding which was only supposed to have a "half dozen" guests, or so.

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, be gone.

Exit Second Servant

The second servant promises to hire only cooks who are willing to "lick" their fingers. Those, he claims, are the only good cooks.

CAPULET
We shall be much unfurnished for this time.
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?

NURSE
Ay, forsooth.

CAPULET
Well, he 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.

Capulet asks the Nurse where his daughter is.

The Nurse explains that Juliet has gone to Friar Lawrence's. Apparenly, Capulet has not been reading his copy of the script.

Enter JULIET
CAPULET
How now, my headstrong!
Where have you been gadding?

Juliet arrives back at home, with a vial in her pocket and a plan in her head.

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 Laurence to fall prostrate here,
And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you!
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
She pretends to apologize to Capulet.

Juliet says that Friar Lawrence "enjoined" her to kneel, and to beg his pardon.

Notice that she does not say "I am sorry." She merely says that the priest told her to say "I am sorry."

CAPULET
Send for the county; go tell him of this:
I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.

JULIET
I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell;
And gave him what becomed love I might,
Not step o'er the bounds of modesty.

Her father is so overjoyed at this change of heart, that he decides to move the wedding up one day — to tomorrow. Yet another “change of mind” (groan!), and the audience wonders—will this complicate things? Will this cause the plan to go awry? Will this prolong the play? Time’s a-wasting.

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,
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 to-morrow?

LADY CAPULET
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.
Lady Capulet thinks there is plenty of time for Juliet to prepare for the wedding.

CAPULET
Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow.
Exeunt JULIET and Nurse

Capulet corrects her, and explains that they are going to have the wedding tomorrow.

LADY CAPULET
We shall be short in our provision:
'Tis now near night.
Lady Capulet worries that they will not have time to prepare. Besides, she hasn't a thing to wear.

CAPULET
Tush, I will stir about,
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife:
"Tush," Capulet tells her. Perhaps the man is thinking in a rearward manner.

Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her;
I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone;
I'll play the housewife for this once.
What, ho!
They are all forth.

Capulet says he will stay up and help with the preparations.

Then, when he sees that the others are taking care of this, he changes his mind.

Well, I will walk myself
To County Paris, to prepare him up
Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light,
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.

Exeunt Capulet decides to go and explain the change to Paris. Besides, he does not want to miss a really good bachelor party.

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Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
Hall in Capulet's house. Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, Nurse, and two Servingmen CAPULET So many guests invite as here are writ. Exit First Servant	Still later that same day, which is now day three. Capulet is trying to make plans for this upcoming wedding. He hands an invitation list to a servant.
CAPULET Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.	Next, Capulet sends another servant to go and hire twenty cooks. This, for a wedding which was only supposed to have a "half dozen" guests, or so.
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, be gone. Exit Second Servant	The second servant promises to hire only cooks who are willing to "lick" their fingers. Those, he claims, are the only good cooks.
CAPULET We shall be much unfurnished for this time. What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence? NURSE Ay, forsooth. CAPULET Well, he 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.	Capulet asks the Nurse where his daughter is. The Nurse explains that Juliet has gone to Friar Lawrence's. Apparenly, Capulet has not been reading his copy of the script.
Enter JULIET CAPULET How now, my headstrong! Where have you been gadding?	Juliet arrives back at home, with a vial in her pocket and a plan in her head.
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 Laurence to fall prostrate here, And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you! Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.	She pretends to apologize to Capulet. Juliet says that Friar Lawrence "enjoined" her to kneel, and to beg his pardon. Notice that she does not say "I am sorry." She merely says that the priest told her to say "I am sorry."
CAPULET Send for the county; go tell him of this: I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. JULIET I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell; And gave him what becomed love I might, Not step o'er the bounds of modesty.	Her father is so overjoyed at this change of heart, that he decides to move the wedding up one day — to tomorrow. Yet another “change of mind” (groan!), and the audience wonders—will this complicate things? Will this cause the plan to go awry? Will this prolong the play? Time’s a-wasting.
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, 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 to-morrow?
LADY CAPULET No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.	Lady Capulet thinks there is plenty of time for Juliet to prepare for the wedding.
CAPULET Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow. Exeunt JULIET and Nurse	Capulet corrects her, and explains that they are going to have the wedding tomorrow.
LADY CAPULET We shall be short in our provision: 'Tis now near night.	Lady Capulet worries that they will not have time to prepare. Besides, she hasn't a thing to wear.
CAPULET Tush, I will stir about, And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife:	"Tush," Capulet tells her. Perhaps the man is thinking in a rearward manner.
Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her; I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone; I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho! They are all forth.	Capulet says he will stay up and help with the preparations. Then, when he sees that the others are taking care of this, he changes his mind.
Well, I will walk myself To County Paris, to prepare him up Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light, Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd. Exeunt	Capulet decides to go and explain the change to Paris. Besides, he does not want to miss a really good bachelor party.