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Romeo and JulietModern English

Romeo and Juliet, Act 4, Scene 2

Hall in Capulet’s House.

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  1. Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse and Servants.

    Capulet, Lady Capulet, the Nurse and Servants come in.

  2. Capulet1

    So many guests invite as here are writ.

    Invite as many guests as are written down here.

  3. Exit first Servant.

    The first Servant leaves.

  4. Capulet2

    Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.

    You there, go and hire me twenty skilful cooks.

  5. Second Servant3

    You shall have none ill, sir; for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.

    You won't get any bad ones, sir, because I'll test whether they can lick their fingers.

  6. Capulet5

    How canst thou try them so?

    How can you test them that way?

  7. Second Servant6

    Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers; therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me.

    Well, sir, it's a bad cook who can't lick his own fingers; so any man who can't lick his fingers doesn't come with me.

  8. Capulet8

    Go, begone.

    Go on, get going.

  9. Exit second Servant.

    The second Servant leaves.

  10. Capulet9

    We shall be much unfurnish’d for this time. What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?

    We'll be very badly prepared for this occasion. Well, has my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?

  11. Nurse11

    Ay, forsooth.

    Yes, truly.

  12. Capulet12

    Well, he may chance to do some good on her. A peevish self-will’d harlotry it is.

    Well, he may happen to do her some good. She's a bad-tempered, stubborn little hussy.

  13. Enter Juliet.

    Juliet comes in.

  14. Nurse14

    See where she comes from shrift with merry look.

    Look, here she comes from confession with a cheerful face.

  15. Capulet15

    How now, my headstrong. Where have you been gadding?

    Well now, my stubborn girl. Where have you been wandering off to?

  16. Juliet16

    Where I have learnt me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you and your behests; and am enjoin’d By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here, To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you. Henceforward I am ever rul’d by you.

    Somewhere I've been taught to repent the sin of disobediently setting myself against you and your orders; and holy Lawrence has instructed me to kneel down flat here and beg your forgiveness. Forgive me, I beg you. From now on I will always be ruled by you.

  17. Capulet22

    Send for the County, go tell him of this. I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.

    Send for the Count, go and tell him about this. I'll have this marriage tied up tomorrow morning.

  18. Juliet24

    I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell, And gave him what becomed love I might, Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.

    I met the young lord at Lawrence's cell, and showed him all the fitting affection I could, without going beyond the limits of modesty.

  19. Capulet27

    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, All our whole city is much bound to him.

    Why, I'm glad of it. This is good. Stand up. This is how it should be. Let me see the Count. Yes, indeed. Go, I tell you, and bring him here. Now, before God, this respected holy Friar — our whole city owes him a great deal.

  20. Juliet32

    Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, To help me sort such needful ornaments As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?

    Nurse, will you come with me into my private room, to help me pick out the clothes and jewels I'll need, whatever you think right to dress me in tomorrow?

  21. Lady Capulet35

    No, not till Thursday. There is time enough.

    No, not until Thursday. There's plenty of time.

  22. Capulet36

    Go, Nurse, go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow.

    Go, Nurse, go with her. We're going to church tomorrow.

  23. Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.

    Juliet and the Nurse leave.

  24. Lady Capulet37

    We shall be short in our provision, ’Tis now near night.

    We'll be short of supplies. It's nearly night now.

  25. Capulet39

    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.—What, ho!— They are all forth: well, I will walk myself To County Paris, to prepare him up Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d.

    Nonsense, I'll get busy, and everything will turn out fine, I promise you, wife. You go to Juliet, help to dress her up. I won't go to bed tonight — leave me alone. I'll play the housekeeper this once. — Hello there! — They've all gone out. Well, I'll walk over to Count Paris myself, to get him ready for tomorrow. My heart is marvellously light now that this headstrong girl has been brought back to obedience.

  26. Exeunt.

    They all leave.

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Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1513 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.