LADY CAPULET
Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.

• Explanation: Lady Capulet is instructing the Nurse to fetch more spices for the preparations for the wedding.
• Analysis: This shows the bustle and urgency in the Capulet household as they prepare for the wedding, which contrasts sharply with Juliet’s impending death.
• Language Device: Imperative mood (commands) is used to show Lady Capulet’s authority and urgency.

NURSE
They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.

• Explanation: The Nurse replies, mentioning that the cooks are asking for dates and quinces (fruits) to make pastries for the wedding.
• Analysis: This shows the domestic chores being attended to and highlights the ordinary, busy household preparations that contrast with the tragedy surrounding Juliet.
• Language Device: Colloquial language (everyday speech) makes this interaction feel realistic and relatable.

Enter old Capulet.

CAPULET
Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed. The curfew bell hath rung. ’Tis three o’clock.

• Explanation: Capulet enters, urging everyone to hurry, referencing the time — it’s three o’clock in the morning, and he’s emphasizing how late it is.
• Analysis: Capulet’s frantic tone shows the pressure he feels to get everything ready for the wedding. His references to time underline the urgency.
• Language Device: Repetition of “stir” emphasizes the rush and urgency. Metaphor (“The second cock hath crowed”) relates time to the natural world.

CAPULET
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica. Spare not for cost.

• Explanation: Capulet tells someone named Angelica to make sure the baked meats are prepared well and not to worry about the expense.
• Analysis: This highlights Capulet’s wealth and his desire to spare no expense for the wedding preparations, emphasizing his high status.
• Language Device: Direct address (“good Angelica”) and imperative mood show his control over the situation.

NURSE
Go, you cot-quean, go, Get you to bed. Faith, you’ll be sick tomorrow For this night’s watching.

• Explanation: The Nurse teases Capulet, calling him a “cot-quean” (a man who is overly involved in domestic matters) and tells him to go to bed, warning him that he’ll be sick from staying up all night.
• Analysis: This shows the playful relationship between the Nurse and Capulet, but also reflects their exhaustion from the wedding preparations.
• Language Device: Insult (“cot-quean”) used humorously here, making the scene lighter. Colloquial language in “Faith” adds a conversational tone.

CAPULET
No, not a whit. What, I have watched ere now All night for lesser cause, and ne’er been sick.

• Explanation: Capulet dismisses the Nurse’s concern, saying he has stayed up all night before for less important reasons without becoming ill.
• Analysis: This shows Capulet’s resilience and determination to finish the task at hand, but also his overconfidence in his ability to keep going.
• Language Device: Colloquial phrasing (“ere now” = before), hyperbole (exaggerating staying up all night for “lesser cause”).

LADY CAPULET
Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time, But I will watch you from such watching now.

• Explanation: Lady Capulet teases her husband, saying he used to be a “mouse-hunt” (someone who would chase after women), but now she will make sure he stays out of trouble.
• Analysis: This is a playful insult, showing their relationship dynamic. It also foreshadows the tension in Capulet’s marriage, as Lady Capulet now seems to control the household.
• Language Device: Metaphor (“mouse-hunt”) implies Capulet’s past romantic pursuits.

Lady Capulet and Nurse exit.

CAPULET
A jealous hood, a jealous hood!

• Explanation: Capulet mutters to himself, calling his jealousy a “jealous hood” (a term for a jealous or possessive nature).
• Analysis: This shows Capulet’s jealousy and possessiveness, likely referring to his suspicions about his wife’s control over him.
• Language Device: Alliteration (“jealous hood”), creating emphasis on his emotional state.

Enter three or four Servingmen with spits and logs and baskets.

CAPULET
Now fellow, What is there?

• Explanation: Capulet asks one of the serving men what has been brought.
• Analysis: This shows Capulet’s attention to the smallest details as he oversees the preparations, emphasizing his involvement.
• Language Device: Direct address (“fellow”) is casual and shows Capulet’s familiarity with his servants.

FIRST SERVINGMAN
Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what.

• Explanation: The first servant responds, saying the things are for the cook, but he doesn’t know what exactly they are.
• Analysis: This adds a humorous touch, showing the disorganization and chaos of the preparation process.
• Language Device: Colloquial language (“sir”) keeps the tone informal.

CAPULET
Make haste, make haste.

• Explanation: Capulet urges the servant to hurry.
• Analysis: This adds to the sense of urgency and chaos in the scene, showing Capulet’s frustration with the delay.
• Language Device: Repetition of “make haste” shows his impatience.

FIRST SERVINGMAN exits.

CAPULET
Sirrah, fetch drier logs. Call Peter. He will show thee where they are.

• Explanation: Capulet orders the next servant to get drier logs and call Peter to help him find them.
• Analysis: This further emphasizes Capulet’s role in managing every detail of the preparations, showing his authoritative personality.
• Language Device: Imperative mood (commands) emphasizes Capulet’s authority.

SECOND SERVINGMAN
I have a head, sir, that will find out logs And never trouble Peter for the matter.

• Explanation: The second servant tells Capulet that he knows where to find the logs and won’t need Peter’s help.
• Analysis: This shows the second servant’s resourcefulness and confidence, and it adds a bit of humor as he avoids involving Peter in the task.
• Language Device: Wordplay with “head” (implying cleverness or resourcefulness) and humor (suggesting that Peter’s help won’t be needed).

CAPULET
Mass, and well said. A merry whoreson, ha! Thou shalt be loggerhead.

• Explanation: Capulet laughs and praises the servant for being clever. “Whoreson” is a playful insult, and “loggerhead” here refers to someone who is a fool in a light-hearted way.
• Analysis: Capulet’s comment shows his approval of the servant’s wit but also his tendency to use humorous, sometimes insulting, language.
• Language Device: Colloquial language (“whoreson”) and humor in calling the servant a “merry whoreson” and a “loggerhead.”

Second Servingman exits.

CAPULET
Good faith, ’tis day. The County will be here with music straight, Play music. For so he said he would. I hear him near.

• Explanation: Capulet realizes that it’s daybreak, and Paris (referred to as “the County”) is arriving with musicians. He orders music to be played as he hears Paris approaching.
• Analysis: The shift from night to day and the arrival of Paris indicate that the wedding ceremony is about to begin. Capulet’s excitement contrasts with the tragedy brewing for Juliet.
• Language Device: Colloquial language (“good faith” expresses realization) and direct command (“Play music”).

CAPULET
—Nurse!—Wife! What ho!—What, nurse, I say!

• Explanation: Capulet calls out for Nurse and his wife urgently.
• Analysis: The urgency in Capulet’s call shows his impatience and the fast-paced action of the wedding preparations. It emphasizes his leadership in the household.
• Language Device: Exclamation (“What ho!”), creating a sense of urgency and impatience.

Enter Nurse.

CAPULET
Go waken Juliet. Go and trim her up. I’ll go and chat with Paris. Hie, make haste, Make haste. The bridegroom he is come already. Make haste, I say.

• Explanation: Capulet orders the Nurse to wake Juliet and prepare her for the wedding, as the bridegroom (Paris) has already arrived.
• Analysis: The repetition of “make haste” shows Capulet’s impatience and the growing tension as the wedding approaches. This contrasts with Juliet’s tragic situation, where she is about to take a drastic step to avoid the marriage.
• Language Device: Repetition of “make haste” emphasizes urgency. Direct command (imperative) highlights Capulet’s control over the situation.

He exits.