Jackson conjectures that the to of all the editions should be too. But the meaning is obvious as it stands: "I am nothing slow, (so as) to slack his haste." PAR. Come you to make confession to this father? Being spoke behind your back, than to your face. For it was bad enough, before their spite. PAR. Thou wrong'st it, more than tears, with that report. And what I spake, I spake it to my face. PAR. Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it. Or shall I come to you at evening mass? FRI. My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now :— JUL. O, shut the door! and when thou hast done so, FRI. O Juliet, I already know thy grief; It strains me past the compass of my wits: I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, On Thursday next be married to this county. JUL. Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this, Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it: [Aside. [Exit PARIS. If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, And with this knife I'll help it presently. God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; Or my true heart with treacherous revolt As that is desperate which we would prevent. A thing like death to chide away this shame, And hide me with a dead man in his shroudc; Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble; And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love. FRI. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent Take thou this phial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off: Shall, stiff, and stark, and cold, appear like death: Now when the bridegroom in the morning comes Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. And this shall free thee from this present shame; Abate thy valour in the acting it. JUL. Give me, give me! O tell not me of fear. JUL. Love, give me strength! and strength shall help afford. We give the text of (C) and the folio. This speech of the Friar, in the author's "amended" edition (B), is elaborated from thirteen lines to thirty-three; and yet the modern editors have been bold enough, even here, to give us a text made up of Shakspere's first thoughts and his last. In (D), paly; in (C), many, • In all the ancient copies we have the passage thus: "In thy best robes, uncover'd, on the bier, Be borne to burial in thy kindred's grave, Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault." We omit the superfluous line, unwilling as we are to depart from the original. SCENE II.—A Room in Capulet's House. Enter CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, NURSE, and Servants. CAP. So many guests invite as here are writ.— Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks 47. [Exit Servant. 2 SERV. You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they can lick their fingers. CAP. How canst thou try them so? 2 SERV. Marry, sir, 't is an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me. CAP. Go, begone. We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time. What, is my daughter gone to friar Laurence? NURSE. Ay, forsooth. CAP. Well, he may chance to do some good on her: A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. Enter JULIET. NURSE. See, where she comes from shrift with merry look. CAP. How now, my headstrong? where have you been gadding? JUL. Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you, and your behests; and am enjoin'd CAP. Send for the county; go tell him of this; I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. JUL. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? LA CAP. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. LA. CAP. We shall be short in our provision; "Becomed-becoming. [Exit Servant. [Exeunt JULIET and NURSE. |