Act IV, Scene III and IV: Crusades
JULIET
Yes, those are the best clothes. But, gentle Nurse, please leave me alone tonight. I have to say a lot of prayers to make the heavens bless me. You know that my life is troubled and full of sin.
LADY CAPULET
What, are you busy? Do you need my help?
JULIET
No mother, we’ve figured out the best things for me to wear tomorrow at the ceremony. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be left alone now and to sleep. I do not need you or the nurse this night, I’m sure you have your hands full preparing for the sudden festivities with father.
LADY CAPULET
Good night Juliet. The demon comes out at night. But i'm sure you will be safe. I promise. Just go to bed and get some rest. I’m sure you’ll need it for your wedding tomorrow..
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
JULIET
Good-bye beloved family, Only God knows when we’ll meet again. There is a slight cold fear cutting through my veins. It almost freezes the heat of my life! I’ll call them back here to comfort me. Nurse!—Oh, what good would she do here?
In my desperate situation, I have to act alone.
Alright, here’s the vial. What if this mixture doesn’t work at all? Will I be married tomorrow morning? No, no, this knife will stop it. Lie down right there.
(she lays down the knife) What if the Friar mixed the potion to kill me? Is he worried that he will be disgraced if I marry Paris after he married me to Romeo? I’m afraid that it’s poison. And yet, it shouldn’t be poison because he is a trustworthy holy man. What if, when I am put in the tomb, I wake up before Romeo comes to save me? That’s a frightening idea. Won’t I suffocate in the tomb? There’s no healthy air to breathe in there. Will I die of suffocation before Romeo comes? Or if I live, I’ll be surrounded by death and darkness. It will be terrible. God will not be able to find me. There will be bones hundreds of years old bones in that tomb, my ancestors' bones. Tybalt’s body will be in there, freshly entombed, and his corpse will be rotting. They say that during the night the spirits are in tombs. Oh no, oh no. I’ll wake up and smell awful odors. I’ll hear screams that would drive people crazy.
if I wake up too early, won’t I go insane with all these horrible, frightening things around me, start playing with my ancestors' bones, and pull Tybalt’s corpse out of his death shroud? Will I grab one of my dead ancestor’s bones and bash in my own skull? Oh, look! I think I see my cousin Tybalt’s ghost. He’s looking for Romeo because Romeo killed him with his sword. Wait, Tybalt, wait! Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s a drink. I drink to you.
She drinks from the vial and falls on her bed, hidden by her bed curtains.
LADY CAPULET
Wait. Take these keys and get more spices from the market, Nurse
NURSE
They’re calling for dates and quinces in the pastry kitchen.
CAPULET enters.
CAPULET
Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up! The second cock crowed. The curfew-bell rang. It’s three o'clock. Go get the baked meats, good Angelica. Don’t worry about the cost.
NURSE
Go, you old housewife, go. Go to bed, dear. You’ll be sick tomorrow because you’ve stayed up all night.
CAPULET
No, not at all. What? I’ve stayed up all night many times before for less important matters, and I’ve never gotten sick, I’ve stayed up late during the night making plans for the crusades!
LADY CAPULET
Yes, you’ve been a ladies' man in your time. But I’ll make sure you don’t stay up any later now.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
CAPULET
Your a jealous woman!
Three or four SERVINGMEN enter with spits, logs, and baskets
Now, fellow, what have you got there?
JULIET
Yes, those are the best clothes. But, gentle Nurse, please leave me alone tonight. I have to say a lot of prayers to make the heavens bless me. You know that my life is troubled and full of sin.
LADY CAPULET
What, are you busy? Do you need my help?
JULIET
No mother, we’ve figured out the best things for me to wear tomorrow at the ceremony. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be left alone now and to sleep. I do not need you or the nurse this night, I’m sure you have your hands full preparing for the sudden festivities with father.
LADY CAPULET
Good night Juliet. Go to bed and get some rest. I’m sure you’ll need it for tomorrow.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
JULIET
Good-bye. Only God knows when we’ll meet again. There is a slight cold fear cutting through my veins. It almost freezes the heat of life. I’ll call them back here to comfort me. Nurse!—Oh, what good would she do here?
In my desperate situation, I have to act alone.
Alright, here’s the vial. What if this mixture doesn’t work at all? Will I be married tomorrow morning? No, no, this knife will stop it. Lie down right there.
(she lays down the knife) What if the Friar mixed the potion to kill me? Is he worried that he will be disgraced if I marry Paris after he married me to Romeo? I’m afraid that it’s poison. And yet, it shouldn’t be poison because he is a trustworthy holy man. What if, when I am put in the tomb, I wake up before Romeo comes to save me? That’s a frightening idea. Won’t I suffocate in the tomb? There’s no healthy air to breathe in there. Will I die of suffocation before Romeo comes? Or if I live, I’ll be surrounded by death and darkness. It will be terrible. There will be bones hundreds of years old in that tomb, my ancestors' bones. Tybalt’s body will be in there, freshly entombed, and his corpse will be rotting. They say that during the night the spirits are in tombs. Oh no, oh no. I’ll wake up and smell awful odors. I’ll hear screams that would drive people crazy.
if I wake up too early, won’t I go insane with all these horrible, frightening things around me, start playing with my ancestors' bones, and pull Tybalt’s corpse out of his death shroud? Will I grab one of my dead ancestor’s bones and bash in my own skull? Oh, look! I think I see my cousin Tybalt’s ghost. He’s looking for Romeo because Romeo killed him with his sword. Wait, Tybalt, wait! Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s a drink. I drink to you.
She drinks from the vial and falls on her bed, hidden by her bed curtains.
LADY CAPULET
Wait. Take these keys and get more spices, Nurse
NURSE
They’re calling for dates and quinces in the pastry kitchen.
CAPULET enters.
CAPULET
Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up! The second cock crowed. The curfew-bell rang. It’s three o'clock. Go get the baked meats, good Angelica. Don’t worry about the cost.
NURSE
Go, you old housewife, go. Go to bed, dear. You’ll be sick tomorrow because you’ve stayed up all night.
CAPULET
No, not at all. What? I’ve stayed up all night many times before for less important matters, and I’ve never gotten sick.
LADY CAPULET
Yes, you’ve been a ladies' man in your time. But I’ll make sure you don’t stay up any later now.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
CAPULET
A jealous woman, a jealous woman!
Three or four SERVINGMEN enter with spits, logs, and baskets
Now, fellow, what have you got there?
Yes, those are the best clothes. But, gentle Nurse, please leave me alone tonight. I have to say a lot of prayers to make the heavens bless me. You know that my life is troubled and full of sin.
LADY CAPULET
What, are you busy? Do you need my help?
JULIET
No mother, we’ve figured out the best things for me to wear tomorrow at the ceremony. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be left alone now and to sleep. I do not need you or the nurse this night, I’m sure you have your hands full preparing for the sudden festivities with father.
LADY CAPULET
Good night Juliet. The demon comes out at night. But i'm sure you will be safe. I promise. Just go to bed and get some rest. I’m sure you’ll need it for your wedding tomorrow..
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
JULIET
Good-bye beloved family, Only God knows when we’ll meet again. There is a slight cold fear cutting through my veins. It almost freezes the heat of my life! I’ll call them back here to comfort me. Nurse!—Oh, what good would she do here?
In my desperate situation, I have to act alone.
Alright, here’s the vial. What if this mixture doesn’t work at all? Will I be married tomorrow morning? No, no, this knife will stop it. Lie down right there.
(she lays down the knife) What if the Friar mixed the potion to kill me? Is he worried that he will be disgraced if I marry Paris after he married me to Romeo? I’m afraid that it’s poison. And yet, it shouldn’t be poison because he is a trustworthy holy man. What if, when I am put in the tomb, I wake up before Romeo comes to save me? That’s a frightening idea. Won’t I suffocate in the tomb? There’s no healthy air to breathe in there. Will I die of suffocation before Romeo comes? Or if I live, I’ll be surrounded by death and darkness. It will be terrible. God will not be able to find me. There will be bones hundreds of years old bones in that tomb, my ancestors' bones. Tybalt’s body will be in there, freshly entombed, and his corpse will be rotting. They say that during the night the spirits are in tombs. Oh no, oh no. I’ll wake up and smell awful odors. I’ll hear screams that would drive people crazy.
if I wake up too early, won’t I go insane with all these horrible, frightening things around me, start playing with my ancestors' bones, and pull Tybalt’s corpse out of his death shroud? Will I grab one of my dead ancestor’s bones and bash in my own skull? Oh, look! I think I see my cousin Tybalt’s ghost. He’s looking for Romeo because Romeo killed him with his sword. Wait, Tybalt, wait! Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s a drink. I drink to you.
She drinks from the vial and falls on her bed, hidden by her bed curtains.
LADY CAPULET
Wait. Take these keys and get more spices from the market, Nurse
NURSE
They’re calling for dates and quinces in the pastry kitchen.
CAPULET enters.
CAPULET
Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up! The second cock crowed. The curfew-bell rang. It’s three o'clock. Go get the baked meats, good Angelica. Don’t worry about the cost.
NURSE
Go, you old housewife, go. Go to bed, dear. You’ll be sick tomorrow because you’ve stayed up all night.
CAPULET
No, not at all. What? I’ve stayed up all night many times before for less important matters, and I’ve never gotten sick, I’ve stayed up late during the night making plans for the crusades!
LADY CAPULET
Yes, you’ve been a ladies' man in your time. But I’ll make sure you don’t stay up any later now.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
CAPULET
Your a jealous woman!
Three or four SERVINGMEN enter with spits, logs, and baskets
Now, fellow, what have you got there?
JULIET
Yes, those are the best clothes. But, gentle Nurse, please leave me alone tonight. I have to say a lot of prayers to make the heavens bless me. You know that my life is troubled and full of sin.
LADY CAPULET
What, are you busy? Do you need my help?
JULIET
No mother, we’ve figured out the best things for me to wear tomorrow at the ceremony. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be left alone now and to sleep. I do not need you or the nurse this night, I’m sure you have your hands full preparing for the sudden festivities with father.
LADY CAPULET
Good night Juliet. Go to bed and get some rest. I’m sure you’ll need it for tomorrow.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
JULIET
Good-bye. Only God knows when we’ll meet again. There is a slight cold fear cutting through my veins. It almost freezes the heat of life. I’ll call them back here to comfort me. Nurse!—Oh, what good would she do here?
In my desperate situation, I have to act alone.
Alright, here’s the vial. What if this mixture doesn’t work at all? Will I be married tomorrow morning? No, no, this knife will stop it. Lie down right there.
(she lays down the knife) What if the Friar mixed the potion to kill me? Is he worried that he will be disgraced if I marry Paris after he married me to Romeo? I’m afraid that it’s poison. And yet, it shouldn’t be poison because he is a trustworthy holy man. What if, when I am put in the tomb, I wake up before Romeo comes to save me? That’s a frightening idea. Won’t I suffocate in the tomb? There’s no healthy air to breathe in there. Will I die of suffocation before Romeo comes? Or if I live, I’ll be surrounded by death and darkness. It will be terrible. There will be bones hundreds of years old in that tomb, my ancestors' bones. Tybalt’s body will be in there, freshly entombed, and his corpse will be rotting. They say that during the night the spirits are in tombs. Oh no, oh no. I’ll wake up and smell awful odors. I’ll hear screams that would drive people crazy.
if I wake up too early, won’t I go insane with all these horrible, frightening things around me, start playing with my ancestors' bones, and pull Tybalt’s corpse out of his death shroud? Will I grab one of my dead ancestor’s bones and bash in my own skull? Oh, look! I think I see my cousin Tybalt’s ghost. He’s looking for Romeo because Romeo killed him with his sword. Wait, Tybalt, wait! Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s a drink. I drink to you.
She drinks from the vial and falls on her bed, hidden by her bed curtains.
LADY CAPULET
Wait. Take these keys and get more spices, Nurse
NURSE
They’re calling for dates and quinces in the pastry kitchen.
CAPULET enters.
CAPULET
Come on, wake up, wake up, wake up! The second cock crowed. The curfew-bell rang. It’s three o'clock. Go get the baked meats, good Angelica. Don’t worry about the cost.
NURSE
Go, you old housewife, go. Go to bed, dear. You’ll be sick tomorrow because you’ve stayed up all night.
CAPULET
No, not at all. What? I’ve stayed up all night many times before for less important matters, and I’ve never gotten sick.
LADY CAPULET
Yes, you’ve been a ladies' man in your time. But I’ll make sure you don’t stay up any later now.
LADY CAPULET and the NURSE exit.
CAPULET
A jealous woman, a jealous woman!
Three or four SERVINGMEN enter with spits, logs, and baskets
Now, fellow, what have you got there?