ACT 2 SCENE 2
Juliet appears at her window, sometimes a balcony, and Romeo watches her from below saying, ’But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun’. Romeo listens as she talks about him and eventually speaks to her. They tell each other that they love each other with Juliet asking him for ‘The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine’. Whilst they are talking the Nurse calls Juliet from inside which hurries their decision to meet the next day and get married with Juliet saying ‘If that thy bent of love be honourable, / Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow’.
ACT 2 SCENE 3
Sister Laurenza is collecting herbs and plants that she uses for making medicines and potions saying ‘I must up-fill this osier cage of ours / With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers’. Romeo joins her and tells her he wants to marry Juliet. At first, Sister Laurenza is dismissive of Romeo’s request as it was only yesterday that he was talking about his love for Rosaline asking ‘Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear, / So soon forsaken?’. However, she agrees, believing the marriage might help end the feud between the two families.
ACT 2 SCENE 4
Mercutio and Benvolio are still looking for Romeo, who has not yet returned home. They reveal that Tybalt has challenged Romeo to a duel. Mercutio tells Benvolio that Tybalt is a very good swordsman claiming ‘O, he is the courageous captain of compliments’. Romeo arrives and is in a very good mood and the three friends tease each other saying to Romeo ‘Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo’. The Nurse enters and asks to speak to Romeo. He tells her his intentions are true, saying ‘Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress’, and that Juliet should visit Sister Laurenza that afternoon so they can marry.
ACT 2 SCENE 5
Juliet is waiting for the Nurse to return with news of Romeo’s proposal declaring ‘The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return’. She is even more irritated by the Nurse’s reluctance to tell her the news when she comes back from meeting with Romeo. The Nurse tells Juliet to visit Sister Laurenza where she’ll be married, remarking ‘Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks, / They'll be in scarlet straight at any news’
ACT 2 SCENE 6
Romeo and Juliet meet in secret at Sister Laurenza's cell with the Friar blessing them and saying ‘So smile the heavens upon this holy act’. They exit together to get married as the Sister tells them to ‘Come, come with me, and we will make short work; / For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till holy church incorporate two in one.’
ACT 3 SCENE 1
Benvolio tries to convince Mercutio to go indoors as the Capulets are on the look out for a fight. Sure enough, Tybalt arrives looking for Romeo. When Romeo does arrive he refuses to fight with Tybalt, who he is now related to by marriage. A fight breaks out between Mercutio and Tybalt which ends with Mercutio being stabbed after Romeo gets in the way. While dying Mercutio curses both houses of Capulet and Montague exclaiming ‘A plague o' both your houses! I am sped’. In revenge for his friend’s death, Romeo seeks out Tybalt and kills him. When the Princess arrives she announces ‘And for that offence / Immediately we do exile him hence.’
ACT 3 SCENE 2
Juliet waits for Romeo to join her after their marriage impatiently saying ‘Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, / Towards Phoebus' lodging’, but the Nurse arrives with news of Tybalt’s death. At first, Juliet curses Romeo’s name but when she discovers what happened she asks ‘Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?’ and realises she needs to stand beside her husband. The Nurse agrees to get a message to Romeo.
