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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 4Scene 5
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"In lasting labor"
Personification
Act 4,
Scene 5
Lines 43-48

An explanation of the phrase “lasting labor” in Act 4, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Lady Capulet

Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day!
Most miserable hour that e'er time saw
In lasting labor of his pilgrimage!
But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,
But one thing to rejoice and solace in,
And cruel death hath catched it from my sight!

Time is personified here. Time's job, or time's labor, is to march relentlessly on — to pilgrimage. Upon learning of Juliet's death, lady Capulet believes that this is the worst moment time has ever seen in all its marching.