Julia's father (Old Capelete) proposes a marriage between Julia and her cousin Andrés.
Oh! aching heart!
This day my father doth desire that I
Should wed Andrés.
To wed brave Romeo is beyond my hope.
He is my father's foe, and I, his child,
Forgive him not the slaughter of our kin;
And yet I wish, although I dare not hope,
To wed where I do love so madly true.
Oblivion, hopeless hope! to wed Andrés
Can never be; to obey my father
Is to be faithless to mine auguries;
To feign death is impossible; to despair,
The action of a coward; to forget, alas!
A potent poison, but no cure.
Romeo having despatched his servant (Julia's father being from
home) to announce an intended visit, the servant is detained on the
way, so that Romeo and his cousin Carlos surprise Julia and
Elena by entering unexpectedly and unannounced. Julia, with
maidenly reserve, remarks—
Surely, Sir, it is not honest love that prompts
Thy sudden presence, an unbidden guest.
