Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Not Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Folio 1, 1623)

Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and
Seruing men, two or three.
2425Cap. So many guests inuite as here are writ,
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning Cookes.
Ser. You shall haue none ill sir, for Ile trie if they can
licke their fingers.
Cap. How canst thou trie them so?
2430Ser. Marrie sir, 'tis an ill Cooke that cannot licke his
owne fingers: therefore he that cannot licke his fingers
goes not with me.
Cap. Go be gone, we shall be much vnfurnisht for this
time: what is my Daughter gone to Frier Lawrence?
2435Nur. I forsooth.
Cap. Well he may chance to do some good on her,
A peeuish selfe-wild harlotry it is.
Enter Iuliet.
Nur. See where she comes from shrift
2440With merrie looke.
Cap. How now my headstrong,
Where haue you bin gadding?
Iul. Where I haue learnt me to repent the sin
Of disobedient opposition:
2445To you and your behests, and am enioyn'd
By holy Lawrence, to fall prostrate here,
To beg your pardon: pardon I beseech you,
Henceforward I am euer rul'd by you.
Cap. Send for the Countie, goe tell him of this,
2450Ile haue this knot knit vp to morrow morning.
Iul. I met the youthfull Lord at Lawrence Cell,
And gaue him what becomed Loue I might,
Not stepping ore the bounds of modestie.
Cap. Why I am glad on't, this is well, stand vp,
This
72 The Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet.
2455This is as't should be, let me see the County:
I marrie go I say, and fetch him hither.
Now afore God, this reueren'd holy Frier,
All our whole Cittie is much bound to him.
Iul. Nurse will you goe with me into my Closet,
2460To helpe me sort such needfull ornaments,
As you thinke fit to furnish me to morrow?
Mo. No not till Thursday, there's time inough.
Fa. Go Nurse, go with her,
Weele to Church to morrow.
2465 Exeunt Iuliet and Nurse.
Mo. We shall be short in our prouision,
'Tis now neere night.
Fa. Tush, I will stirre about,
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee wife:
2470Go thou to Iuliet, helpe to decke vp her,
Ile not to bed to night, let me alone:
Ile play the huswife for this once. What ho?
They are all forth, well I will walke my selfe
To Countie Paris, to prepare him vp
2475Against to morrow, my heart is wondrous light,
Since this same way-ward Gyrle is so reclaim'd.
Exeunt Father and Mother.