Juliet is eager for her nurse to return because she awaits news of Romeo's next visit. However, the Nurse comes back with doubly distressing news in Act 3.2. Aware of the Nurse's frantic appearance, Juliet pleads (line 36): "Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?" The nurse wails, "Ay weraday, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead!"

Juliet fears that it is her Romeo that has been slain, but then learns of her cousin Tybault's death. She experiences simultaneous grief and relief, but soon after learns the devestating news: it is Romeo who has taken Tybault's life. The Prince has ordered Romeo banished.

Juliet takes the news badly, to say the least. In lines 124-126 she mourns, "Romeo is banihsed./There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,/In that word's death."

Quickly she decides all is lost: "Come, cords, Nurse, I'll to my wedding bed,/And death, not Romeo take my maidenhead."

Romeo hardly does better: "Banished?/O Friar, the damned use that word in hell." (Act 3.3.46-48)