The Meeting in the Friar's Cell

Scene summary

In the cell, Friar Laurence asks heaven that the act of marrying the two not bring sorrow afterward, and Romeo answers that no pain cancels the joy of a single minute with her: let death do its worst, so long as he can call Juliet his. The friar tells him that violent pleasures have violent ends and die in their own triumph, like fire and gunpowder that consume themselves in kissing, and advises him to love with moderation, because what comes too quickly comes as late as what comes too slowly. On seeing Juliet arrive with a light step, the friar says that a foot so light will not wear out the eternal stone of the road. Juliet and Romeo greet each other with courtesy, and Romeo asks her to say the joy she feels. Juliet answers that the feeling is richer in matter than in words and that only beggars can count their wealth: her love has grown so much that she would not know how to add up half of it. The friar cuts the conversation short and leads them to the church to marry them, saying he will not leave them alone until the Church joins the two into one.