Romeo and Juliet - Act 4, scene 1 | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

⌜Scene1⌝

EnterJuliet.

p. 179

PARIS
2329Happilymet,myladyandmywife.
JULIET
2330Thatmaybe,sir,whenImaybeawife.
PARIS
233120That“maybe”mustbe,love,onThursdaynext.
JULIET
2332Whatmustbeshallbe.
FRIARLAWRENCE2333That’sacertaintext.
PARIS
2334Comeyoutomakeconfessiontothisfather?
JULIET
2335Toanswerthat,Ishouldconfesstoyou.
PARIS
233625Donotdenytohimthatyouloveme.
JULIET
2337IwillconfesstoyouthatIlovehim.
PARIS
2338Sowillyou,Iamsure,thatyouloveme.
JULIET
2339IfIdoso,itwillbeofmoreprice
2340Beingspokebehindyourbackthantoyourface.
PARIS
234130Poorsoul,thyfaceismuchabusedwithtears.
JULIET
2342Thetearshavegotsmallvictorybythat,
2343Foritwasbadenoughbeforetheirspite.
PARIS
2344Thouwrong’stitmorethantearswiththatreport.
JULIET
2345Thatisnoslander,sir,whichisatruth,
234635AndwhatIspake,Ispakeittomyface.
PARIS
2347Thyfaceismine,andthouhastslanderedit.
JULIET
2348Itmaybeso,foritisnotmineown.—

p. 181

2349Areyouatleisure,holyfather,now,
2350OrshallIcometoyouateveningMass?
FRIARLAWRENCE
235140Myleisureservesme,pensivedaughter,now.—
2352Mylord,wemustentreatthetimealone.
PARIS
2353GodshieldIshoulddisturbdevotion!—
2354Juliet,onThursdayearlywillIrouseyou.
2355Tillthen,adieu,andkeepthisholykiss.Heexits.
JULIET
235645O,shutthedoor,andwhenthouhastdoneso,
2357Comeweepwithme,pasthope,pastcare,pasthelp.
FRIARLAWRENCE
2358OJuliet,Ialreadyknowthygrief.
2359Itstrainsmepastthecompassofmywits.
2360Ihearthoumust,andnothingmayprorogueit,
236150OnThursdaynextbemarriedtothisCounty.
JULIET
2362Tellmenot,friar,thatthouhearestofthis,
2363UnlessthoutellmehowImaypreventit.
2364Ifinthywisdomthoucanstgivenohelp,
2365Dothoubutcallmyresolutionwise,
236655AndwiththisknifeI’llhelpitpresently.
⌜Sheshowshimherknife.⌝
2367GodjoinedmyheartandRomeo’s,thouourhands;
2368Anderethishand,bytheetoRomeo’ssealed,
2369Shallbethelabeltoanotherdeed,
2370Ormytrueheartwithtreacherousrevolt
237160Turntoanother,thisshallslaythemboth.
2372Thereforeoutofthylong-experiencedtime
2373Givemesomepresentcounsel,or,behold,
2374’Twixtmyextremesandmethisbloodyknife
2375Shallplaytheumpire,arbitratingthat
237665Whichthecommissionofthyyearsandart
2377Couldtonoissueoftruehonorbring.
2378Benotsolongtospeak.Ilongtodie
2379Ifwhatthouspeak’stspeaknotofremedy.

p. 183

FRIARLAWRENCE
2380Hold,daughter,Idospyakindofhope,
238170Whichcravesasdesperateanexecution
2382Asthatisdesperatewhichwewouldprevent.
2383If,ratherthantomarryCountyParis,
2384Thouhastthestrengthofwillto⌜slay⌝thyself,
2385Thenisitlikelythouwiltundertake
238675Athinglikedeathtochideawaythisshame,
2387Thatcop’stwithdeathhimselfto’scapefromit;
2388Andifthoudarest,I’llgivetheeremedy.
JULIET
2389O,bidmeleap,ratherthanmarryParis,
2390Fromoffthebattlementsofanytower,
239180Orwalkinthievishways,orbidmelurk
2392Whereserpentsare.Chainmewithroaringbears,
2393Orhidemenightlyinacharnelhouse,
2394O’ercoveredquitewithdeadmen’srattlingbones,
2395Withreekyshanksandyellow⌜chapless⌝skulls.
239685Orbidmegointoanew-madegrave
2397Andhidemewithadeadmaninhis⌜shroud⌝
2398(Thingsthattohearthemtoldhavemademe
2399tremble),
2400AndIwilldoitwithoutfearordoubt,
240190Toliveanunstainedwifetomysweetlove.
FRIARLAWRENCE
2402Hold,then.Gohome;bemerry;giveconsent
2403TomarryParis.Wednesdayistomorrow.
2404Tomorrownightlookthatthouliealone;
2405LetnottheNurseliewiththeeinthychamber.
⌜Holdingoutavial.⌝
240695Takethouthisvial,beingtheninbed,
2407Andthisdistillingliquordrinkthouoff;
2408Whenpresentlythroughallthyveinsshallrun
2409Acoldanddrowsyhumor;fornopulse
2410Shallkeephisnativeprogress,butsurcease.
2411100Nowarmth,no⌜breath⌝shalltestifythoulivest.

p. 185

2412Therosesinthylipsandcheeksshallfade
2413To⌜paly⌝ashes,thyeyes’windowsfall
2414Likedeathwhenheshutsupthedayoflife.
2415Eachpart,deprivedofsupplegovernment,
2416105Shall,stiffandstarkandcold,appearlikedeath,
2417Andinthisborrowedlikenessofshrunkdeath
2418Thoushaltcontinuetwoandfortyhours
2419Andthenawakeasfromapleasantsleep.
2420Now,whenthebridegroominthemorningcomes
2421110Torousetheefromthybed,thereartthoudead.
2422Then,asthemannerofourcountryis,
2423⌜In⌝thybestrobesuncoveredonthebier
2424Thou⌜shalt⌝bebornetothatsameancientvault
2425WhereallthekindredoftheCapuletslie.
2426115Inthemeantime,againstthoushaltawake,
2427ShallRomeobymylettersknowourdrift,
2428Andhithershallhecome,andheandI
2429Willwatchthy⌜waking,⌝andthatverynight
2430ShallRomeobeartheehencetoMantua.
2431120Andthisshallfreetheefromthispresentshame,
2432Ifnoinconstanttoynorwomanishfear
2433Abatethyvalorintheactingit.
JULIET
2434Giveme,giveme!O,tellnotmeoffear!
FRIARLAWRENCE,⌜givingJulietthevial⌝
2435Hold,getyougone.Bestrongandprosperous
2436125Inthisresolve.I’llsendafriarwithspeed
2437ToMantuawithmyletterstothylord.
JULIET
2438Lovegivemestrength,andstrengthshallhelp
2439afford.
2440Farewell,dearfather.
⌜They⌝exit⌜indifferentdirections.⌝

Romeo and Juliet - Act 4, scene 1 | Folger Shakespeare Library (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Act 4 Scene 1 in Romeo and Juliet? ›

This scene emphasizes the degree to which Juliet's obligations to her family push her to violent means. Juliet's parents think she is consumed by grief for Tybalt, when in reality she is grieving her inability to openly express and act on her love for Romeo.

What happens in Scene 4 Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet? ›

Act 1, scene 4 Romeo and Benvolio approach the Capulets' party with their friend Mercutio and others, wearing the disguises customarily donned by “maskers.” Romeo is anxious because of an ominous dream. Mercutio mocks him with a speech about a dream-giving queen of fairies.

When they meet at Friar Laurence's Paris, believes Juliet is sad because of? ›

In his cell, Friar Lawrence speaks with Paris about the latter's impending marriage to Juliet. Paris says that Juliet's grief about Tybalt's death has made her unbalanced, and that Capulet, in his wisdom, has determined they should marry soon so that Juliet can stop crying and put an end to her period of mourning.

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What did Juliet say she would rather do than marry Paris? ›

Juliet. Oh, rather than ask me to marry Paris, you could tell me to leap from the castle walls, walk among highway robbers, dwell with snakes, chain myself to a post and let bears attack me.

Find Out More ›

Why is Act 4 Scene 1 important? ›

Macbeth seeks out the witches to discover any obstacles that he may encounter as king. He sees three apparitions that give him the impression that he will remain safely on the throne. Macbeth later learns that Macduff has fled to England, so he crafts a plan to kill Macduff's wife, children, and other heirs.

Learn More Now ›

Did Paris really love Juliet? ›

Paris's feelings for Juliet are also a subject of some ambiguity, since the audience is never allowed access to his thoughts. Later textual evidence does indicate that Paris harbors a legitimate love for Juliet, and though he arrogantly assumes Juliet will want to marry him, Paris never treats her unkindly.

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What is Romeo's mood at the end of scene 4 act 1? ›

What is Romeo's mood at the end of scene 4? He foreshadows his own death. He doesn't care what happens yet he is afraid/nervous that he will die.

Tell Me More ›

What does Romeo think of love in Act 1 Scene 4? ›

His friend Mercutio encourages him to dance and be joyful by "borrow[ing] Cupid's wings" and soaring to new heights. Romeo claims he's "too sore enpiercèd with [Cupid's] shaft to soar with his light feathers." He feels weighed down by love's heavy burden, which he describes as rough and harsh.

What literary devices are used in Act 4 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet? ›

One of the literary devices that Shakespeare uses throughout Romeo & Juliet is hyperbole. A hyperbole is when you exaggerate something. A hyperbole that was used in Act 4, Scene 1 of Romeo & Juliet is; "The tears have got small victory by that, for it was bad enough before their spite." (4. 1.

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What is Friar's plan in Act 4 Scene 1? ›

Friar Lawrence has a solution: she should go along with her father's plan, but when it's time to marry Paris, Juliet will take a potion that mimics death. She'll be placed in the Capulet tomb, where the Friar will bring Romeo to wait for her to wake up. Juliet consents to the plan, takes the vial, and leaves.

What is the foreshadowing in Act 4 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet? ›

Juliet's Conflict and the Friar's Plan

Likewise, Friar Laurence is reluctant to marry Paris to Juliet, having already officiated her wedding to Romeo. She expresses that she would prefer to die rather than go through with the marriage, foreshadowing her eventual fate.