Friar Laurence wanted to make sure that Juliet would not hesitate, “Have you got courage enough to do this?… and to lie in the ancient vault¹⁰ where all the Capulets are buried, side by side with Tybalt?”
The girl was ready. “I will not tremble, I will do it without fear.
I want to remain the faithful¹¹ wife of my sweet love,… Romeo.”
Friar Laurence immediately wrote to Romeo in Mantua, to inform him of the plan: when Juliet returned to life, the two lovers would be re-united for ever.

Back from the monastery Juliet begged her father’s pardon.
Lord Capulet was happy, “Oh! This is well, it is as it should be.
A daughter must obey her father. Send for¹² Count Paris, I wish the marriage to be celebrated tomorrow morning.”
At this everybody rushed¹³ about the house to make preparations.
Juliet retired to her room and asked to be left alone. After saying her prayers she took the vial¹⁴ in her hands, ready to drink the potion. Yet she still had many fears, “What if this mixture does not work at all? Or if it is a poison? What happens if I wake up before Romeo comes to the tomb? Won’t I go mad in the night surrounded by all those dead relatives?”
The next morning the nurse found Juliet apparently dead. All of a sudden a day meant for joy became a day for grieving¹⁵ and confusion.
“Accursed¹⁶, unhappy day! My child is dead, and with my child all my joys are buried¹⁷! Ah, let me see her!” cried Lord Capulet,
“Death lies¹⁸ on her, like an untimely frost19 upon the sweetest flower of all the field!”