Capulet

Sir, things have turned out so unluckily that we haven’t had the time to persuade Juliet to marry you. Understand that she loved her cousin Tybalt dearly, as did I...well, we all must die. It’s very late, she won’t come down tonight. I can tell you that if it weren’t for your company I would have gone to bed an hour ago.

Paris

These sad times don’t give much opportunity for wooing. Madam, good night. Give my respects to your daughter.

Lady Capulet

I will, and I’ll ask her what she thinks tomorrow. Tonight she’s shut up in her sorrow.

Capulet

Count Paris, I will venture so far as to offer you my daughter’s love. I think that she will be governed in this respect by me. No, I have no doubt that she will be. Dear wife, before you go to bed, inform her of the love of Paris, my future son-in-law, and ask her — note this — on next Wednesday — wait, what day is it?

Paris

Monday, my lord.

Capulet

Monday, ha ha! Well, in that case Wednesday is too soon. Let’s have it on Thursday. Tell her that on Thursday she’ll be married to this noble earl.

[To Paris] Will you be ready by then? Do you approve of this speed? We won’t have a big affair, just a friend or two. With Tybalt being so recently killed, a big ceremony and party might make it look like we aren’t properly mourning his death. So we’ll have a half dozen friends or so and that’s it. But what do you say to Thursday?

Paris

My lord, I wish that Thursday was tomorrow.

Capulet

Well you should get home. Let’s say it’s definitely on Thursday, then. [To Lady Capulet] Go see Juliet before you go to bed and prepare her for this wedding day.

Farewell, my lord. Bring some light to my chamber! Bring it in ahead of me. It is so very, very late that in a short time we could say it’s early morning. Good night!