The Friar's initial reaction is to chide Romeo for being so wishy-washy and impetuous in love. Romeo has been weeping and moaning over his unrequited love for Rosaline, and so when the Friar hears of his new love for Juliet, he assumes that this will be another childish fling. Remembering "what a deal of brine [i.e., tears]" Romeo has spilled for Rosaline, he is reluctant to take his new love seriously. Even though he is skeptical, however, the Friar agrees to marry the two lovers because he hopes that the marriage may reconcile the two feuding houses of Capulet and Montague, which are, as we have already seen by this point in the play, tearing Verona apart. There is more than a little irony in the Friar's rapid change of heart--he is, in many ways, acting as impetuously as Romeo himself, and with disastrous consequences. He urges Romeo to be careful and proceed slowly, but he supports the "young waverer" in his new love despite his reservations.
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