# Los Bandos de Verona/Act 2

​ THE second act opens with one of those confidences (usual on the Spanish stage at that period) between master and servant. Romeo discusses with the Gracioso his plan for elopement with Julia, and secures the aid and good offices of the servant, who thus moralizes aside:—
How much requital do all masters make For that good help a servant can assure them? I dare not play him false. This colt is skittish. Keep your eyes open: to-day I see his heel, To-morrow I the kicks may chance to feel.
The Gracioso, addressing his master, advises caution, and Romeo replies—
So much precaution Shows but the faintness of your heart, methinks.
To which the Gracioso replies—
What gains a man by meddling in the strife? A water-bearer's daughter for a wife. Those blustering fellows who from morn to night Would make you think they only live to fight. I stabbed him to the heart, I stopp'd his breath, I fought all three til every one found death.
A fellow hurled a brickbat at my head: I turned to fight!—no, upon my heel instead. In a whole skin 'tis better far to sleep, Than in a skin with holes six inches deep.
Romeo hands a note to the servant, and desires him to convey it with all speed to Elena: the servant then departs, leaving Romeo alone, who thus soliloquizes—
Oh night, dark mourner to the day now dead, Thou elder daughter to base treachery, The ray of sunlight dancing on the stream Thou slayest with thy coldest, blackest shadows! Accomplice in the cause of love or hate, Lend your dark aid to me, alas! a sinner! Let shadows fall and quickly blot the light, Thou, the sun's slave, impatient lovers' night.
The Gracioso re-enters laden with roof tiles, his clothes remaining as at first, covered with lime and mortar; in this plight he gains admission to the house of Old Capelete, and, not finding Julia, delivers the note to Elena, Romeo's sister, observing—
Heaven help us all! how many would be brave If fear were out of fashion!
Elena reads the note: "So soon as sunset shadows fall, you must proceed to the chief door of San Carlos Church, and there await my coming. Bring Julia with you; should she hesitate, come ​alone, for I have all in readiness for our flight." Meantime, as Old Capelete enters, the Gracioso secretes himself under the convenient table. Count Paris urges to the old man his suit for Julia's hand: he retires and Julia enters, her father, Old Capelete, having summoned her to his presence.
Julia (without).
You, my lord and father?
Old Capelete.
Yes, I have called you, Julia, my dear child. Close the room door! now we're alone.
Julia (aside).
Can he suspect?
Old Capelete (aside).
Can he suspect? She knows not my resolve.
Julia (aside).
I feel the faintness of a coward churl; And yet to-day my anxious sorrows cease.
Old Capelete.
Julia, sweet girl, thou art my darling child!
Gracioso (from beneath the table).
Heaven and her mother only that can know.
Julia.
Oh, father, trembling here I stand alone, Thy flesh and blood expressed. My love and duty both thou know'st are thine.
Old Capelete.
Will you obey me, then, when I command?
Julia.
All duty that a daughter owes I yield.
Old Capelete.
Redeem this debt by wedding with Count Paris.
Julia.
The Count's Elena's lord, and cannot wed another.
Old Capelete.
Divorced he's free. He's gallant, brave, and comely.
Julia.
These virtues, sir, concern me not.
Old Capelete.
The Count is of our closest kin.
Julia.
This moves me not. Am I not free to choose Where'er my heart may guide? I hate the Count!
Gracioso (from under the table).
Ha! ha! sweet daughter of the ugly knave, What a neat answer then she gave!
Old Capelete.
Choose now the Count, or wed thee with Andrés.
Julia.
You are my father, Sir, 'tis true, And hold a father's claim to love and duty; To you pertains the right to speak; to me The choice to act. You wish me wedded; Sir. Smile on your spoilt child, and I will listen, Patient and duteous, to your lightest word. Love loves not force, but would be free as air. I must have time to think. To wed's a deed Done for all life, and sudden haste bad speed.
Old Capelete.
Having your promise then to wed my choice, I've named the two 'twixt whom your choice must fall.
Julia.
Then, Sir, my choice on neither rests.
Old Capelete.
Come, child, tell me truth.
Thy blood is mine, but yet 'tis somewhat hotter. In me the stream is coolèd down by age; The soul's enchantments sped. Love you in sooth This Romeo? this traitor of Montesco's kin?
Julia.
No, my father! (hesitating). Should I say Yes: (aside) His death will the stern forfeit be. Henceforth, Sir, I am silent as the grave.
Old Capelete.
If thou would'st wed this Romeo, child, My curse should follow such a mad-brain'd choice. Come, say. 'Tis Andrés or the Count?
Julia.
Since you will have it so, my choice is made.
Old Capelete.
Good! Good! Well, the Count Paris or Andrés?
Julia.
For good or ill I love alone young Romeo.
Old Capelete.
Traitress! What! love our house's bitter foe, Whose sword hath slain our kin? Prepare to die!
Choose either this most subtle poison here, Or this sharp glistering dagger for your heart.
He places a phial upon the table and a poignard beside it.
Julia.
My father, why so cruel and so heartless? Oh, call you this a father's love?
Old Capelete.
Impatient still I wait thy choice.
Julia.
If choice be mine, then, neither, Sir. Yet I would not die, but live for Romeo.
Old Capelete.
Traitress! Since prayers and threats are vain, I tell thee I would rather see thee dead Than Romeo's wife—that vile Montesco boy! Choose, then, 'twixt steel and poison'd draught. Thine eyes and glowing cheek confess thy shame, And heap dishonour on our noble name.
Julia.
If to love Romeo be a crime, oh, Sir, Then living let me sin; but seek my love,
My faithful and most honour'd lord. I suffer for my crime of loving much; So let my love prove expiated crime.
Old Capelete.
My hatred is too deep, too fixed, too keen, To pass into oblivion. Though forsooth A daughter's love may trim the beam, A father's duty shall the balance hold.
Julia.
If all these speechless words, which through My tearful eyes distil and fall to earth, Be voiceless still To soften anger and revenge in thee, Then let me die— Not by thy dagger, lest the gossips say A cruel father slew his only child, Because she dared to love brave Romeo. Now, now, great heaven, be witness I obey; And you, oh chaste and beauteous moon! Hide thy sweet tranquil face for ever. Bright hope, that did so smile upon my love! Fate, thou art my liege, and I obey. See, Sir, I'm ready here to die; but let These words be sculptured o'er my tomb— Thus Julia died for loving Romeo!
​She rushes to the table suddenly, seizes the phial and empties it, Old Capelete attempting, but too late, to stay her hand.
Old Capelete.
Hold, hold, my child, my Julia! Touch not the poisoned draught.
Julia.
Too late! too late! I feel the poison coldly course.each vein. Ah! my poor heart!
Old Capelete.
I did but mean to threaten.
Julia.
Too late you seek to charm mine ear with sounds Of gentleness and love. My senses reel. Romeo! my lord, my loving lord! Andrés! Oh poison! dagger! death! Oh cruel pains! revenge! cold, cold!
Count Paris enters hurriedly, and rushes forward to raise the prostrate Julia. Old Capelete bids him close the door.
Old Capelete.
Alas! alas! she's dead, And I, her wretched, foolish father, killed her.
Count.
How! Killed her?
Old Capelete.
How! Killed her? The poisoned draught—the draught!
Count.
Oh! savage, impious act, to slay my life, Verona's sun, sweet Julia Capelete!
Old Capelete fearing that Romeo will avenge Julia's death on him, the Count and he remove Julia's body to a vault in the church of San Carlos, to which there is private access from the house. The "Gracioso" watches them out, and steals into the street, where he meets his master, Romeo, who questions him with reference to the letter: the "Gracioso" replies by relating, in a very comic style, the facts of the interview between Julia, her father, and the Count Paris; how she drank the poisoned draught, and, calling on the name of Romeo, swooned and died.
Romeo.
Thou liest, knave; for if thy tale be true, And Julia dead, how live I now to hear it? By her sweet light alone I shine. That light Once paled, how doth the light still dare to shine? Saw you this, sirrah?
Gracioso.
With these two eyes (I am not blind of either, Knowing not love, the blinder of all eyes) I saw her father and the Count remove Along the passage to "San Carlos'" vault, Where all her noble ancestors do sleep, The body of fair Julia Capelete.
Romeo.
Julia dead! the planet argent Venus May pale before the sun, yet still she dies not. Julia! what! Julia dead and I yet breathe? Her sweet voice silent, while mine echo shouts? "Can Julia die and Romeo yet survive?" Ahl! no; if she be dead then Romeo dies. Come, let us seek her in yon icy vault. If she be dead indeed, then Romeo May die and lie beside his sweetest love. Come, let's away.
Andrés and his servant Otavio now appear upon the scene: the latter explains that he purchased the draught at old Capelete's instigation; but believing it was intended for Esperanza, Julia's waiting woman, the beloved of Otavio, and who is supposed to have assisted Romeo to sundry interviews, Otavio has had it prepared as a simple sleeping draught. By means of Esperanza, Otavio secures the key of the church, where he and Andrés ​propose to hide until Julia's swoon has passed, when, under the cover of the darkness, they intend to force her into a carriage and carry her off. Old Capelete and the Count enter the church while Andrés and Otavio retire. The key having been conveniently left, and found in the lock by Romeo and the "Gracioso," they enter the church. Romeo is, of course, full of courage; the "Gracioso" as much a coward: they remove the stone from the entrance to the vault, and by "the dim taper's light discover" where Julia lies. They raise the body, placing it on a chair, the "Gracioso" remarking—
How heavy Julias are when silent and at rest! How light when chattering and afoot!
Romeo.
He loves not who loves not e'en beyond the grave; My saddened heart beats slowly and alone. My queenly Julia, cold, icy death himself Dares not to rob thee of a single charm. The garish sun dies daily; and in his cold And briny urn Shadows with night his course until the morrow. Oh beauteous, oh divinely fashioned flame, Which dies not! If love's chaste fire cannot woo thee to life,
Death here effaces nought; and that sweet face So gentle and so pale! The parted lips, So moist and life-like, smile! Oh! ope for me Those ruby portals! Bless thy Romeo's ear With music, words of happy love and hope!
He raises her head gently and places his hand upon her heart.
Ha! what is this? Surely I dream! Yes! yes! 'Tis but a flutter, as a bird's light wing, When rising slowly through the morning air.— She breathes! she breathes! great heavens, my Julia lives! Her heart beats, struggling, as it were, with pain.
The "Gracioso" observes—
I have seen some lovers madmen in my day, But never such a madman, by my fay!
The "Gracioso" sprinkles some holy water over Julia's face.
Julia.
Who calls? who speaks? oh, aching heart! Poison! daggers! death! dear Romeo!
Romeo.
Julia!
Julia (recovering slowly).
Where am I—where? Romeo, my lord! My love! my more than lord! Alas! alas! How came I hither in this chill cold vault? Oh, happy, happy greeting! Dare I trust Mine eyes, or do I dream?
Romeo.
Oh, my sweet love—my Julia!
Julia.
Sweet star of fate! I breathe, I breathe again! My life! my love! my Romeo!
Romeo.
Sweet love, time presses; I have here hard by A carriage: let us fly, and ere to-morrow's dawn Shall gild Verona's towers Thou wilt be mine, and safe beyond her walls.
Julia.
Now do I know where truest bliss is found— 'Tis only through the heavy gates of grief.
Romeo and the "Gracioso" assist Julia to rise, and support her as they go out of the church, their light being extinguished. ​Elena moves forward in the darkness—"'Tis here, my brother said, we'd meet." She moves cautiously in the darkness; Andrés enters stealthily. Romeo moves onward, Julia holding his cloak. Romeo passes close to Elena, and whispers to Julia to hold his cloak tightly. Julia stumbles, but immediately regains her footing, and by mistake seizes Andrés' cloak, Elena seizing Romeo's. Julia whispers, “Where waits the carriage, love?" Andrés recognizes her voice, and thus the scene closes, with exeunt through one door Romeo and Elena, and through another Andrés and Julia.
So ends the second act.
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