Romeo and Juliet: Act VIII

During Act XII of the performance

Wataru: “O Lord, I do repent my sins. Nay, nay:
Allow this woeful lamb a sole complaint
Of Thee: Lord, dost Thou mock me that I am
A foolish girl? For since the day I gazed
On Romeo beneath the moon... and when
The wondrous fairy spun curious tales...
Nay, since the day when I succumb’d to love—
I’ve naught but toil’d. I lov’d who I must not:
I could wed not with her—I knew, I knew.
That she be mine odious enemy!
That she be heir to the house Montague!
And more: that she be woman, that which Thou
Forbid’st to join in holy union! Nay!
A priest there naught is to give his blessing,
And thus we cannot vow eternal love
Before Thee: ne’er willt Thou permit such thing.
However—I at least have put up fight.
Without a care I would have sought this love,
Distasteful though it be; for I am but
A reckless, thoughtless girl. I would have made
Nigh ev’ry effort that I may to wed
Her. Yet to do so would to trouble her.
The Capulets and Montagues are lock’d
In ancient grudge... By chance that we would tryst
And Romeo would love me too—e’en then,
The world will not approve, nor Thou, O Lord.
Pursuit of marriage undesir’d would be
But sin. It would be met with punishment,
Our honor stain’d. And if that be our fate...
I’d rather try to hide this love of mine.
I did so labor that she would loathe me.
Each time I saw her face did I her curse:
And so too did I crass and violent act,
That I would shut mine ears to her sweet love.
I did it all in hope she would believe
I’d love her not so long as she may live.
And maybe Romeo would leave me be,
Forget me so to find a fitting groom...
Think’st Thou, O God, that should it come to pass,
The ending will be not a tragedy?
Then I and she can wed with Thy blessing,
So that with husband we may children bear:
And later, in our agéd lives so worn
May we succumb to sleep eternally.
Mayhap that is the path to happiness...
My parents say; the world says; e’en Thou say’st:
This is the righteous, happy path to life—
It must be so. I tried to do just that.
I did abuse the most beloved girl
Who walks the Earth, did insincere sling hate
Such that would grieve her sore.
All to be hated, for I ought not love.
But obstinate Romeo will yield not,
And she returns each day to face abuse.
Ne’er do I spit or crack the whip or look
Upon her as filth doth she turn away...
Nay, looketh she ‘pon these as pleasures great,
For all the love she giveth me, I trust.
No other in this world could e’er compare...
There is but one alike this—it is she.
Yet Fate forbids our holiest union.
With but one single word of love from her...
And all that I built will come crashing down.
It is a straight line to a tragic end...
Would only that I could avoid that fate,
Dear that she is to me. To bring her joy,
Be it that mere content of common men...
Was that not the very design that Thou,
The playwright of this story, took up th’pen?”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “Juliet! Send’st thou futile prayers to God?”

Wataru: “Peace, madam, for God always heareth you.”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “Then let Him hear! Senseless despot He be!"
Lo, child, the blood of our good kin hath spill’d
By the blade of Romeo!”

Wataru: “Romeo...?”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “The wretched villain hath become a storm
Which tears apart all in its path at but
The slightest provocation. ‘Tis the truth,
And such tempest raged in our belov’d town.”

Wataru: “That gentle heart as she moved to violence?
Pray tell, was my Romeo left unharm’d?”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “That, ay, ‘tis most revolting of it all:
She walked away with not a scratch on her.
Montague bitch, she must have run to hide
Behind the men who came with her to serve.”

Wataru: “Nay, madam. Girl though Romeo may be,
But resolute and daring nonetheless...
That sure she toppl’d what adversary
She faced by her own hand—there is no doubt.
Would that these eyes saw her engaged in it!”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “A puzzle of a girl; and yet always
I hear you speak contempt of Romeo.”

Wataru: “Ah... Ay, a shame the lady Romeo
Has suffered not a wound! Ufufufu ♪”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “Rejoice, Juliet, for she will not long
Be safe. This crime ends not like any of
The countless battles waged by our servants.
The town is lost to war, and blood has spilt.
The shroud of death has fallen o’er that man
Your cousin, and my beloved nephew.
Anon, the prince will set to intervene,^[1]
Obliged to end our war with our dear foe,
House Montague. This evening come, the girl
Ought to be put to trial to account
For her central role in all this mayhem.
At best she will see banishment forthwith;
At worst, her head put out for to display.
It seems my nephew’s murderer is she...
So lo, Juliet! the stars have align’d;
Rejoice, dear girl! for now we sleep in peace.
The blood she shed cannot return, but now
This tragedy will ne’er repeat a... oh?
Dear Juliet, do you hear me?”

Wataru: “...O me.
I am to blame. If Romeo suffer’d
A tempestuous rage, then sure I am
There at the eye of the storm. O, pray I,
That I may utter but a word to her
In sore apology. Make haste, madam!
And draw up a carriage! I must be off!”

Wataru (in the voice of a middle-aged woman): “How now! where to? Though the sun has long set?”