5 The magic potion
Friar Laurence was planting herbs in is garden when Juliet arrived. “ Oh friar ,please help me” she begged. “ My father says I have to marry Count Paris on Thursday!”
“ But you can’t,” said the friar. “ you have to help.” Julit was desperate. “I’d rather die than marry Paris. Is there anything you can do?”
The friar thought for a while. “ Well,” he said finally, “ there is one thing that might work.”
I’ll give you a magic herbal potion,” the friar said. “ when you drink it, you’ll go into a coma. Look as if you’re dead. But really, you’ll just be in a very deep sleep, which will last for two days.”
“Drink the potion tonight. In the morning, your parents will find you and think you’re dead. They’ll put your body in the Capulet family tomb while they arrange your funeral.”
“ Then what?” asked Juliet. “ I’ll send a messenger to Mantua to tell Romeo the plan,” the friar went on. “ two nights from now , you’ll wake up. Romeo can come to Verona to rescue you – and you can run away together!”
“ I’ll do it,” Juliet, bravely .she held the bottle in a trembling hand. “ Thank you, Friar Laurence.”
Clutching the potion tightly, she turned and ran home.
Back at the Capulet mansion, Juliet went to talk to her parents.
“ I’m sorry I was rude to you ,” she said sweetly. “ I was upset about
Tybalt. Of course I’ll marry Count Paris on Thursday.”
“Good girl.” Said her mother.
That night, Juliet set on her bed. Carefully, she uncorked the bottle Friar Laurence had given her and drank every last drop of the bitter potion.