Romeo and Juliet Act 4 Scene 2
Hall in Capulet's house.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, the Nurse, and two Servingmen.
Capulet
So many guests invite as here are writ.
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
Capulet
Invite as many guests as are written here.
You there — go hire me twenty skilled cooks.
Second Servant
You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they
can lick their fingers.
Second Servant
You won't get any bad ones, sir — I'll test whether they
can lick their own fingers.
Capulet
How canst thou try them so?
Capulet
How does that test them?
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.
Second Servant
Well, sir, it's a bad cook who can't lick his
own fingers. So anyone who can't lick his
fingers doesn't come with me.
Capulet
Go, be gone.
Capulet
Go on, off with you.
Capulet
We shall be much unfurnished for this time.
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?
Capulet
We're going to be badly underprepared.
Well — has my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?
Nurse
Ay, forsooth.
Nurse
Yes, indeed.
Capulet
Well, he may chance to do some good on her:
A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is.
Capulet
Well, he might manage to do her some good.
She's a stubborn, self-willed little baggage.
Nurse
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.
Nurse
Look, here she comes from confession, looking cheerful.
Enter Juliet.
Capulet
How now, my headstrong! where have you been gadding?
Capulet
Well, my stubborn girl — where have you been gallivanting?
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.
Juliet
Somewhere I learned to repent the sin
of disobediently opposing
you and your orders. Holy Laurence has instructed me
to kneel here before you
and beg your forgiveness. Forgive me, I beg you!
From now on I'll always be guided by you.
Capulet
Send for the county; go tell him of this:
I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.
Capulet
Send for the Count — go and tell him this.
I'll have this knot tied tomorrow morning. (He has just moved the wedding up a day. Nobody tells the Friar.)
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.
Juliet
I met the young lord at Laurence's cell
and showed him as much proper affection as I could
without overstepping 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,
Our whole city is much bound to him.
Capulet
I'm glad of it. This is good. Stand up.
This is how it should be. Let me see the Count.
Yes, go on — fetch him here.
By God, this reverend holy friar —
our whole city owes him a great deal.
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?
Juliet
Nurse, will you come to my room with me
to help me pick out the jewellery
you think suitable for tomorrow?
Lady Capulet
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.
Lady Capulet
No, not until Thursday — there's plenty of time.
Capulet
Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow.
Capulet
Go on, Nurse, go with her. We're going to church tomorrow.
Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.
Lady Capulet
We shall be short in our provision:
'Tis now near night.
Lady Capulet
We'll be short on supplies.
It's almost night already.
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 to-night; let me alone;
I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho!
They are all forth. 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.
Capulet
Nonsense — I'll get busy,
and everything will be fine, I promise you, wife.
You go to Juliet and help dress her up.
I won't go to bed tonight. Leave it to me —
I'll play housewife just this once. Hello?
They've all gone out. Well, I'll walk over myself
to Count Paris and get him ready
for tomorrow. My heart is wonderfully light
now that this wayward girl has come round.
Exeunt.