Romeo and Juliet: Act 3, Scene 4
Enter old CAPULET, his WIFE, and PARIS.
CAPULET
1 Things have fall'n out, sir, so unluckily,
2. move our daughter: i.e., encourage Juliet to consider Paris' marriage proposal.
2 That we have had no time to move our daughter.
3 Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly,
4 And so did I. Well, we were born to die.
5 'Tis very late, she'll not come down tonight:
6. promise: assure. but for your company: if it hadn't been for your company.
6 I promise you, but for your company,
7 I would have been a-bed an hour ago.
PARIS
8 These times of woe afford no time to woo.
9 Madam, good night: commend me to your daughter.
LADY CAPULET
10 I will, and know her mind early tomorrow;
11. mew'd up to her heaviness: i.e., wrapped up in sorrow.
11 Tonight she is mew'd up to her heaviness.
CAPULET
12. desperate tender: impulsive, bold offer.
12 Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender
13 Of my child's love: I think she will be ruled
14 In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.
15. ere: before.
16. son: i.e., son-in-law. Capulet is so sure that Juliet will do as he says that he already considers Paris to be his son-in-law.
18. soft: i.e., wait a minute.
16. son: i.e., son-in-law. Capulet is so sure that Juliet will do as he says that he already considers Paris to be his son-in-law.
18. soft: i.e., wait a minute.
15 Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed;
16 Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love,
17 And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next—
18 But, soft! what day is this?
PARIS
18 Monday, my lord.
CAPULET
19. ha, ha!: These are the noises Capulet makes as he thinks things over. 20. A': on.
19 Monday! ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon,
20 A' Thursday let it be. A' Thursday, tell her,
21 She shall be married to this noble earl.
22 Will you be ready? do you like this haste?
23 We'll keep no great ado,—a friend or two;
24 For, hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,
25. held: regarded.
25 It may be thought we held him carelessly,
26 Being our kinsman, if we revel much:
27 Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends,
28. And there an end: and no more. Later, however, when he's in the midst of preparing for the wedding feast, Capulet tells a servant to hire him "twenty cunning cooks."
28 And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?
PARIS
29 My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.
CAPULET
30 Well get you gone. A' Thursday be it, then.—
31 Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,
32. against: in anticipation of.
32 Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day.
33 Farewell, my lord. Light to my chamber, ho!
34. Afore me: This is a mild oath, comparable to "Whew."
34 Afore me! it is so very very late,
35 That we may call it early by and by. Good night.
Exeunt.