Jul. Oh, think'st thou we shall ever meet again? Jul. O God! I have an ill-divining soul: Jul. O Fortune, Fortune! all men call thee fickle: 7.-TRIALS AND HEROISM OF JULIET. ROMEO, in his exile, has only to sigh for their reunion. But upon Juliet a severer trial comes immediately. We have traced already that fearless outpouring of her heart to her lover-simply forgetful of parental authority--which contrasts so effectively with the sentiment of habitually quiet deference— But no more deep will I endart mine eye We Than your consent gives strength to make it flywhich falls from the gentle girl, a stranger yet to passion, on her first appearance in the piece. have now to mark the new-born spirit of the youthful wife taking full possession of Juliet's bosom, and finding new strength with each accumulation of external pressure, to resist the unfeeling imposition upon her, persevered in by her parents, of a husband whom her heart had rejected from the first. In the scene with her mother upon this subject, which instantly follows Romeo's departure-the first in which Lady Capulet and her daughter come together after Juliet's GG first meeting with Romeo-we feel the no longer passive daughter, but the conscious wife, in the tone of the very first words that fall from Juliet's lips : Lady Cap. (within). Ho, daughter! are you up? Still, the demand, in the first place, is only upon her power of dissembling her grief for Romeo's departure under the guise of lamentation for Tybalt's death-ending in her securing from her lady mother the permission, so very important to Romeo's safety, of tempering with her own hands the poison which Lady Capulet assures her, she will procure to be administered to "that same banish'd runagate," so that "he shall soon keep Tybalt company." But her mother's immediate announcement of the "sudden day of joy" which her father has appointed for her, arouses for the first time all the indignant wife within her bosom, though masked, in her words, under the show of simply maiden disinclination to the proposed suitor : Lady Cap. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn, The county Paris, at Saint Peter's church, Lady Cap. Here comes your father-tell him so yourself, The following scene with her father demands the most careful attention, in order to judge with perfect justice of Juliet's conduct throughout. We shall see that his arbitrary violence of language is not called forth by any open flying in the face of paternal authority on the part of his daughter. She simply and respectfully alleges her dislike to the man who is so peremptorily proposed to her for a husband. Her father had said to Paris at the outset : Let two more summers wither in their pride, But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; And on the evening of the following day, after Tybalt's death, he tells the count: Things have fallen out, sir, so unluckily, That we have had no time to move our daughter: I would have been a-bed an hour ago. - The county replies, addressing Lady Capulet― These times of woe afford no time to woo: And her ladyship rejoins— I will, and know her mind early to-morrow; Up to this point, then, it appears that Juliet was to have had a mind of her own in the business. But all at once, old Capulet, finding, it should seem, this mourning matter very uncomfortable, resolves to have a wedding at all events, to make him cheerful; and so, at the very moment that the count is taking his leave, he declares to him, without further ceremony: Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child's love: I think, she will be rul'd Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love; And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next- Par. Monday, my lord. Therefore we'll have some half-a-dozen friends, Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day.- May call it early by-and-by.--Good night. Instead of going quietly to bed, however, this considerate father, we see, takes it into his head to follow his lady into Juliet's chamber, in order to aid in that preparation of his daughter's mind, of which we have already quoted the unceremonious commencement. His own description of the weeping state in which he finds her How now? a conduit, girl? what, still in tears? &c.— brings out in stronger relief the selfish, wilful, and tyrannical cold-heartedness of his following speeches: How now, wife? Have you deliver❜d to her our decree? Lady Cap. Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave! Cap. Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife: Jul. Not proud, you have; but thankful, that you have: Cap. How now! how now, chop-logick! What is this?— Proud,-and, I thank you,-and, I thank you not;— And yet not proud.- -Mistress minion, you, Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, But settle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, To go with Paris to Saint Peter's church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage! Lady Cap. (to Juliet). Fye, fye!-what, are you mad? Cap. Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! I tell thee what,-get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look me in the face: Speak not, reply not, do not answer me My fingers itch.- -Wife, we scarce thought us bless'd, Nurse. God in heaven bless her! You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so. Cap. And why, my lady wisdom?-hold your tongue, Good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go. Nurse. I speak no treason. Cap. Nurse. May not one speak? Cap. Oh, Gud ye good den. Peace, you mumbling fool! Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl, For here we need it not. Lady Cap. You are too hot. Cap. God's bread! it makes me mad! Day, night, late, early, At home, abroad, alone, in company, Waking, or sleeping, still my care hath been To have her match'd: and having now provided A gentleman of princely parentage, Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly train'd, |