Romeo and Juliet - Act 1, scene 3 | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

⌜Scene3⌝

Synopsis:

JULIET03745Hownow,whocalls?
NURSE0375Yourmother.
JULIET
0376Madam,Iamhere.Whatisyourwill?
LADYCAPULET
0377Thisisthematter.—Nurse,giveleaveawhile.
0378Wemusttalkinsecret.—Nurse,comebackagain.
037910Ihaverememberedme,thou’shearourcounsel.
0380Thouknowestmydaughter’sofaprettyage.
NURSE
0381Faith,Icantellherageunto⌜an⌝hour.
LADYCAPULET0382She’snotfourteen.
NURSE0383I’lllayfourteenofmyteeth(andyet,tomyteen
038415beitspoken,Ihavebutfour)she’snotfourteen.
0385HowlongisitnowtoLammastide?
LADYCAPULET0386Afortnightandodddays.
NURSE
0387Evenorodd,ofalldaysintheyear,
0388ComeLammasEveatnightshallshebefourteen.
038920Susanandshe(GodrestallChristiansouls!)
0390Wereofanage.Well,SusaniswithGod;
0391Shewastoogoodforme.But,asIsaid,
0392OnLammasEveatnightshallshebefourteen.
0393Thatshallshe.Marry,Irememberitwell.
039425’Tissincetheearthquakenowelevenyears,
0395Andshewasweaned(Inevershallforgetit)
0396Ofallthedaysoftheyear,uponthatday.
0397ForIhadthenlaidwormwoodtomydug,
0398Sittinginthesununderthedovehousewall.
039930MylordandyouwerethenatMantua.
0400Nay,Idobearabrain.But,asIsaid,
0401Whenitdidtastethewormwoodonthenipple
0402Ofmydugandfeltitbitter,prettyfool,
0403Toseeittetchyandfalloutwith⌜the⌝dug.
040435“Shake,”quoththedovehouse.’Twasnoneed,I
0405trow,

p. 37

0406Tobidmetrudge.
0407Andsincethattimeitiselevenyears.
0408Forthenshecouldstandhigh-lone.Nay,byth’
040940rood,
0410Shecouldhaverunandwaddledallabout,
0411Foreventhedaybefore,shebrokeherbrow,
0412Andthenmyhusband(Godbewithhissoul,
0413Hewasamerryman)tookupthechild.
041445“Yea,”quothhe,“Dostthoufalluponthyface?
0415Thouwiltfallbackwardwhenthouhastmorewit,
0416Wiltthounot,Jule?”And,bymyholidam,
0417Theprettywretchleftcryingandsaid“Ay.”
0418Toseenowhowajestshallcomeabout!
041950Iwarrant,anIshouldliveathousandyears,
0420Inevershouldforgetit.“Wiltthounot,Jule?”
0421quothhe.
0422And,prettyfool,itstintedandsaid“Ay.”
LADYCAPULET
0423Enoughofthis.Ipraythee,holdthypeace.
NURSE
042455Yes,madam,yetIcannotchoosebutlaugh
0425Tothinkitshouldleavecryingandsay“Ay.”
0426Andyet,Iwarrant,ithaduponitsbrow
0427Abumpasbigasayoungco*ck’rel’sstone,
0428Aperilousknock,anditcriedbitterly.
042960“Yea,”quothmyhusband.“Fall’stuponthyface?
0430Thouwiltfallbackwardwhenthoucomesttoage,
0431Wiltthounot,Jule?”Itstintedandsaid“Ay.”
JULIET
0432Andstintthou,too,Ipraythee,nurse,sayI.
NURSE
0433Peace.Ihavedone.Godmarktheetohisgrace,
043465Thouwasttheprettiestbabethate’erInursed.
0435AnImightlivetoseetheemarriedonce,
0436Ihavemywish.

p. 39

LADYCAPULET
0437Marry,that“marry”istheverytheme
0438Icametotalkof.—Tellme,daughterJuliet,
043970Howstandsyour⌜disposition⌝tobemarried?
JULIET
0440Itisan⌜honor⌝thatIdreamnotof.
NURSE
0441An⌜honor?⌝WerenotIthineonlynurse,
0442Iwouldsaythouhadstsuckedwisdomfromthy
0443teat.
LADYCAPULET
044475Well,thinkofmarriagenow.Youngerthanyou
0445HereinVerona,ladiesofesteem,
0446Aremadealreadymothers.Bymycount
0447Iwasyourmothermuchupontheseyears
0448Thatyouarenowamaid.Thus,then,inbrief:
044980ThevaliantParisseeksyouforhislove.
NURSE
0450Aman,younglady—lady,suchaman
0451Asalltheworld—why,he’samanofwax.
LADYCAPULET
0452Verona’ssummerhathnotsuchaflower.
NURSE
0453Nay,he’saflower,infaith,averyflower.
LADYCAPULET
045485Whatsayyou?Canyoulovethegentleman?
0455Thisnightyoushallbeholdhimatourfeast.
0456Reado’erthevolumeofyoungParis’face,
0457Andfinddelightwrittherewithbeauty’spen.
0458Examineeverymarriedlineament
045990Andseehowoneanotherlendscontent,
0460Andwhatobscuredinthisfairvolumelies
0461Findwritteninthemargentofhiseyes.
0462Thispreciousbookoflove,thisunboundlover,
0463Tobeautifyhimonlylacksacover.
046495Thefishlivesinthesea,and’tismuchpride

p. 41

0465Forfairwithoutthefairwithintohide.
0466Thatbookinmany’seyesdothsharetheglory
0467Thatingoldclaspslocksinthegoldenstory.
0468Soshallyoushareallthathedothpossess
0469100Byhavinghim,makingyourselfnoless.
NURSE
0470Noless?Nay,bigger.Womengrowbymen.
LADYCAPULET
0471Speakbriefly.CanyoulikeofParis’love?
JULIET
0472I’lllooktolike,iflookinglikingmove.
0473ButnomoredeepwillIendartmineeye
0474105Thanyourconsentgivesstrengthtomake⌜it⌝fly.

Enter⌜Servingman.⌝

SERVINGMAN0475Madam,theguestsarecome,supper
0476servedup,youcalled,myyoungladyaskedfor,the
0477Nursecursedinthepantry,andeverythingin
0478extremity.Imusthencetowait.Ibeseechyou,
0479110followstraight.
LADYCAPULET
0480Wefollowthee.⌜Servingmanexits.⌝
0481Juliet,theCountystays.
NURSE
0482Go,girl,seekhappynightstohappydays.
Theyexit.

Romeo and Juliet - Act 1, scene 3 | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

FAQs

What was Act 1 Scene 3 about in Romeo and Juliet? ›

Act 1, scene 3 Lady Capulet informs Juliet of Paris's marriage proposal and praises him extravagantly. Juliet says that she has not even dreamed of marrying, but that she will consider Paris as a possible husband if her parents wish her to.

What is the context of Act 1 Scene 3 Romeo and Juliet? ›

Act 1 Scene 3

Lady Capulet is searching for her daughter who is getting ready for the ball. Together with the Nurse she tries to convince Juliet that Paris is a good match in marriage, praising him and saying 'Verona's summer hath not such a flower'.

What does the nurse say in Act 1 Scene 3? ›

The nurse adds one final comment—if she lives to see Juliet wed, she will die content. Lady Capulet reveals that marriage is the topic she wants to discuss with Juliet and asks her daughter for her thoughts on marrying.

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What is the main idea of Romeo and Juliet Act 3 Scene 1? ›

In this scene, the choice Romeo faces—between love for his family and friends versus love for Juliet and her family—results in an eruption of violence. When Romeo professes his love for Tybalt, he provokes Mercutio and Tybalt into violence.

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Why did Juliet not marry Paris? ›

However, at the party, Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight, but due to tragic circ*mstances, they cannot be together. Because she is in love with Romeo, and secretly marries him, she cannot marry Paris, nor does she want to.

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How old is Romeo in the play? ›

In Shakespeare's original story, Romeo is given the age of 16 years and Juliet is given the age of 13 years.

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What does Lady Capulet want in Act 1 Scene 3? ›

Act 1, Scene 3

Lady Capulet wants to talk to her daughter, Juliet, about the possibility of marriage. They discuss the fact that Juliet still has two weeks left before her fourteenth birthday, but, as Lady Capulet points out, plenty of girls her age are mothers already.

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Who wants to marry Juliet in Act 1? ›

Act 1, scene 2 In conversation with Capulet, Count Paris declares his wish to marry Juliet.

Why is Romeo so sad in Act 1? ›

Answer and Explanation: Romeo is sad because he is in love with Rosaline, but he cannot be with her. Rosaline has pledged to swear off romantic relationships and maintain her virginity her entire life.

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What does Juliet say about marriage in Act 1 Scene 3? ›

In Act 1, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet summons Juliet to ask her how she feels about marriage. Juliet responds, saying "it is an honour that I dream not of." Her mother informs her that the highly respected Paris wishes to marry her and she should take the time to consider marrying him.

What is the quote from Act 1 Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet? ›

Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, Wilt thou not, Jule?” (1.3.) It is an honour that I dream not of (1.3.) Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.