The old woman, true to her vocation, and fearful lest her share in these events should be discovered, counsels her to forget Romeo and marry Paris; and the moment which unveils to Juliet the weakness and baseness of her confidante, is the moment which reveals her to herself. She does not break into upbraidings; it is no moment for anger; it is incredulous amazement, succeeded by the extremity of scorn and abhorrence, which take possession of her mind. She assumes at once and asserts all her own superiority, and rises to majesty in the strength of her despair.
JULIET.
Speakest thou from thy heart?
NURSE.
Aye, and from my soul too;—or else
Beshrew them both!
JULIET.
Amen!
This final severing of all the old familiar ties of her childhood—
Go, counsellor!
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain!
and the calm, concentrated force of her resolve,