Romeo and Juliet: Act 4, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen, two or three. CAPULET So many guests invite as here are writ. One or two of the Servingmen exit with Capulet’s list. Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. SERVINGMAN You shall have none ill, sir, for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers. CAPULET How canst thou try them so? 5 SERVINGMAN Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me. CAPULET Go, begone. Servingman exits. We shall be much unfurnished for this time.— 10 What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence? NURSE Ay, forsooth. CAPULET Well, he may chance to do some good on her. A peevish self-willed harlotry it is.	Once again, just like at the beginning of the play, Capulet is planning a big party. Looks like he's pretty confident Juliet will come around. He sends one of his servingmen off with a list of people to invite. Let's hope this one can read.
Enter Juliet. NURSE See where she comes from shrift with merry look. 15 CAPULET How now, my headstrong, where have you been gadding? JULIET Where I have learned me to repent the sin Of disobedient opposition To you and your behests, and am enjoined 20 By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here Kneeling. To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you. Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.	Juliet comes home, all fake-humble and repentant. She apologizes for being a bratty teenager and says she'll do whatever her dad tells her to.
CAPULET Send for the County. Go tell him of this. I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning. 25 JULIET I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell And gave him what becomèd love I might, Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty. CAPULET Why, I am glad on ’t. This is well. Stand up. Juliet rises. This is as ’t should be.—Let me see the County. 30 Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.— Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, All our whole city is much bound to him.	Lord Capulet is overjoyed and decides the marriage will take place the next morning. Why wait till Thursday?
JULIET Nurse, will you go with me into my closet To help me sort such needful ornaments 35 As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow? LADY CAPULET No, not till Thursday. There is time enough. CAPULET Go, nurse. Go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow. Juliet and the Nurse exit.	When Juliet asks the Nurse to come help her get ready, Lady Capulet says the wedding won't be tomorrow—it'll be Thursday. But Lord Capulet doesn't want to wait. He tells them Thursday it is.
LADY CAPULET We shall be short in our provision. ’Tis now near night. 40 CAPULET Tush, I will stir about, And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife. Go thou to Juliet. Help to deck up her. I’ll not to bed tonight. Let me alone. I’ll play the housewife for this once.—What ho!— 45 They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself To County Paris, to prepare up him Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed. They exit.	Lady Capulet is worried they won't have enough time to make all the food they need, but Lord Capulet says he'll stay up all night making preparations if he has to. Juliet's sudden turnaround has put him in a chipper mood.