Modern English · Web view'Banished'! 46 O friar, the damned use that word in hell; 47 Howling...

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Mrs. Manning’s English 9 Suggested Activities for May 4 through May 15, 2020

Activities are optional and ungraded and do NOT need to be turned in; they are suggested for students to stay focused on education during these unprecedented times.

Feel free to email me (or Mr. Roehrig) if you have any questions or concerns or need any help. We will be checking email periodically, and we are here to help you in any way we can.

I. VocabularyA. If you have your vocabulary book:

1. Preview the vocabulary words in the passage at the start of vocabulary unit 13 “From Trash to Tabletop”

2. Read the passage and mark it up according to the who, what, where, and when of the story

3. Look at each of the twenty unit 13 vocabulary words, focusing on their part of speech, definition, synonyms, and antonyms. Look at the sample sentence to help you understand how the words are used.

4. Complete each of the following activities in your vocabulary book to practice the words:

a. Choosing the Right Wordb. Synonyms and Antonymsc. Completing the Sentencesd. Vocabulary in Contexte. If you have internet, play review games for the unit at

www.vocabularyworkshop.com (Be sure to select Level D)B. If you don’t have your vocabulary book but have internet access:

1. Go to www.vocabularyworkshop.com (Be sure to select Level D, then select unit 13)

2. Under iWords, listen to the passage “From Trash to Tabletop”3. Then click on each of the twenty unit 13 vocabulary words to hear their

pronunciation, definitions, and sample sentences4. Then play review games for unit 13 on the website, including the following:

a. Flashcardsb. Hangmanc. Test Your Vocabularyd. Word Search

II. Literature: DramaA. Notes and General Information

1. *If you have received a packet, all materials for these activities are included in the upcoming pages packet, including acts 3-5 of the play itself (Romeo and Juliet) and all related activities. (Disclaimer: most lines have been condensed to conserve space for the sake of printing for remote learning, and therefore it may not appear

http://www.vocabularyworkshop.com/

http://www.vocabularyworkshop.com/

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to have the poetic or metrical structure (rhyme and rhythm) of Shakespeare’s language that you would expect to see.)

2. **If you have internet access, the play itself, including the original Shakespearean version and a modern English version, as well as all related activities will be clickable here. The online resources do not seem to work in Explorer, but they work very well in Google Chrome. If you are using the online links, there are some useful features on the pages that the link will direct you to:

a. Glossed Words shows meanings of difficult vocabularyb. Scene Summary at the top shows you the characters in the scene and

allows you to click on them for character descriptions. It also provides a brief overview of the events of the scene.

c. The audio icon to the left reads the selection for youd. The speech bubble icon to the left of the script shows you a modern

English version of the play.e. The videos at the top offer language clarification, interviews, and

performances of select scenes. 3. ***Whichever method you are using for access to the materials, your instructions

are as follows:B. Task 1: Act III of Romeo and Juliet – This act has five scenes.

1. Act III is attached in your packet or clickable here if you have internet: https://myshakespeare.com/romeo-and-juliet/act-3-scene-1

2. For those with internet, use the glossed words and the audio to help you understand the scenes as you go.

3. The suggested approach is to read the original version of the five scenes of Act III and try to answer the questions for the act. A series of questions is below these instructions. Some of the questions will ask you about literary terms, which are listed below in “E”

4. Once you have attempted to answer the questions, look at the modern version to see how close you came to an accurate understanding.

5. For those with internet, this is a good opportunity to click around to the other features of the site.

C. Task 2: Act IV of Romeo and Juliet – This act has five scenes. (This is a much shorter act than the previous three.)

1. Act IV is attached in your packet or clickable using the tabs across the top of the webpage if you have internet. For those with internet, use the glossed words and the audio to help you understand the scenes as you go.

2. The suggested approach is to read the original version of the five scenes of Act IV and try to answer the questions for the act. A series of questions is below these instructions. Some of the questions will ask you about literary terms, which are listed below in “E”



https://myshakespeare.com/romeo-and-juliet/act-3-scene-1

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D. Task 4: Act V of Romeo and Juliet – This act has three scenes. (This is a much shorter act than Acts 1-3.)

1. Act V is attached in your packet or clickable using the tabs across the top of the webpage if you have internet. For those with internet, use the glossed words and the audio to help you understand the scenes as you go.

2. The suggested approach is to read the original version of the three scenes of Act V and try to answer the questions for the act. A series of questions is included below these instructions. Some of the questions will ask you about literary terms, which are listed below in “E”



E. Task 5: Terms and Elements1. Review the following terms and definitions:

a. Aside- a remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play (Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse…)

b. Dialogue-conversation between charactersc. Dramatic irony- a situation in which the audience knows more about a

situation than a character does (You know the bad guys is behind the door in a scary movie, but the character going into the house doesn’t know)

d. Imagery—descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses (The sweet smell of chocolate wafted through the air in the Hershey Chocolate Factory.) (The loud, shrill scream of the sirens jarred me awake.)

e. Monologue- a long, uninterrupted speech by one character who is in the presence of other characters on stage

f. Pun- a humorous play on words, in which a word or phrase can be interpreted in more than one way (Turtles talk to each other on shell phones)

g. Soliloquy- a long, uninterrupted speech by one character who is alone on stage

h. Situational Irony—when the outcome of a situation is different than what is expected (This is the kind of irony we see in real life, when someone says, “That’s ironic.” Think of the whole situation in The Gift of the Magi when Della and Jim each sell their prized possessions to purchase a gift for the other’s prized possession.)

i. Tragedy—a play in which the main character suffers a downfallj. Tragic Flaw—the fatal weakness of the tragic herok. Tragic Hero—the main character in a tragedy who is normally respected but

possesses a weakness that leads to his/her downfall

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l. Theme—a dominant idea or universal message about life (You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Don’t judge a book by its cover.)

m. Verbal Irony—when a person says one thing but means another (very similar to sarcasm. After a day of hard work and drudgery, a worker says, “well that was a fantastic day.”

F. Task 6: Video version1. For those who have internet, finish viewing the video of the play using these links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=079_iKX9VVI&t=65s. If you watched the first two acts already, you were instructed to stop at 1:18-ish, which is the end of Act II. Start wherever you left off to finish viewing part 1, and then watch Part II at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqX2HawwxzI&t=2505s

2. While watching, mentally compare and contrast the video version with the original.

Romeo and Juliet Act III Questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqX2HawwxzI&t=2505s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=079_iKX9VVI&t=65s

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Choose the answer that best completes each statement.

1. Romeo doesn’t want to fight Tybalt becausea) Tybalt has a reputation for never losing a fightb) he is so happy about Juliet that he bears no ill will towards anyonec) his marriage to Juliet makes Tybalt his relatived) he is afraid that the Prince will find out and kill both of them

2. Juliet is terribly distressed becausea) Tybalt is deadb) Romeo is banishedc) Romeo killed Tybaltd) all of the above

3. After the dual with Tybalt, Romeo hidesa) At Friar Laurence’s cellb) in the Capulet orchardc) in his own homed) in a dark tavern

4. Romeo feels comforted when Nurse bringsa) news that Tybalt did not suffer longb) Juliet’s ringc) Juliet’s letterd) both a) and c)

5. Because of Juliet’s grief, her wedding date with Paris has beena) cancelledb) delayedc) hastenedd) forgotten

6. The Capulets believe Juliet is crying fora) Romeob) Tybaltc) Benvoliod) Mercutio

7. Romeo is warned that dawn is approaching when the _______________ calls.a) larkb) nightingalec) nursed) owl

8. Capulet tells Juliet if she does not obey him, he willa) put her in a convent

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b) disown herc) kill herd) beat her

Identify the character that speaks the following quotes. Then, in your own words describe what is being said.

9. “. . . for Mercutio’s soul,Is but a little way above our heads,Staying for thine to keep him company.Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.”

Speaker:

Meaning:

10. “ . . . Tybalt, the reason that I have to love theeDoth much excuse the appertaining rageTo such a greeting: villain I am none,Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.”

Speaker:

Meaning:

Romeo and Juliet Act III

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Types of Speaking in Drama and PunsAnswer each of the following questions relating to the four main types of speaking in drama.

Dialogue—conversation between characters. Plays are composed mostly of this type of speaking.Monologue—A long, uninterrupted speech by one character in the presence of other characters intended to reveal thoughts and feelings of the character to others on stage and the audience.Soliloquy— A long, uninterrupted speech by one character who is alone on stage intended to reveal thoughts and feelings of the character to the audience.Aside— A brief comment made directly to the audience, which is not heard by others on stage.Pun—A humorous play on words, usually involving similar sounding words or words with more than one meaning

1. Most of the act is written in dialogue, but not all. Why must there be other types of speaking and not all just dialogue?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Identify a soliloquy in Act III. Why is it done as a soliloquy and not a monologue?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Identify a monologue in Act III. What thoughts or feelings does it reveal about that character?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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4. Identify an aside in Act III. Why is this line not spoken to another character?____________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. Identify a pun in Act III. What does it mean? What makes it a pun?

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Romeo and Juliet Act IV Questions

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True or False______ 1. Friar Laurence is pleased with the Capulet’s plans for Juliet’s wedding.

______ 2. Juliet would rather kill herself than marry Paris.

______ 3. Friar Laurence gives Juliet a potion to take.

______ 4. Friar Laurence decides not to tell Romeo of his plans.

______ 5. Juliet tells her parents that she will marry Paris.

______ 6. The Nurse spends the night with Juliet.

______ 7. Juliet has misgivings before she takes the Friar’s potion.

______ 8. On the morning of the wedding, Juliet seems to have died.

______ 9. Paris is the first to discover Juliet’s apparent death.

______ 10. Friar Laurence scolds the Capulet’s heartless treatment of Juliet when she was alive.

Multiple Choice______ 1. Juliet says that she is “past hope, past care, past help” because

a. Romeo refuses to see her.b. she cannot overcome her grief for Tybalt.c. her parents are forcing her to marry Paris.d. her parents have driven her from their home.

______ 2. In Scene 1 lines 77-88, Juliet tells Friar Laurence all the a. frightening things she would do to avoid marrying Paris.b. things she is most afraid of.c. frightening things she has done in her lifetime.d. frightening things she would do to Paris after their marriage.

______ 3. Juliet’s apologies to her parents in Scene 2 area. completely sincere.b. completely false.c. meant to be humorous.d. not taken seriously.

______ 4. In Juliet’s speech in lines 14-58 of scene 3, Juliet is alone in her room contemplating taking the vial of potion. This extended speech by one actor when no other characters are on stage is an example of

a. a monologue.b. a soliloquy.c. rhymed blank verse.d. rhyming couplets.

______ 5. In this speech, Juliet expresses her fears about the Friar’s plan, including the fear

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a. that the ghost of Tybalt, her cousin, will dash out her brains because she has married his enemy.b. that Romeo will never come for her.c. that Romeo will strangle her in the tomb.d. that she will suffocate in the tomb.

______ 6. Scene 4 heightens the play’s irony because while the actors on stage bustle about preparing for the wedding, the audience knows that

a. Juliet will tell her parents about her marriage to Romeo.b. Juliet’s parents do not really love her.c. Paris does not really love Juliet.d. the wedding will not take place.

______ 7. When they find her apparently dead, Juliet’s parents are a. angry at her for disobeying them.b. embarrassed that she has married Romeo.c. sincerely grief-stricken.d. consoled by their other children.

______ 8. Which adjectives best describe Paris, as he is portrayed in this act and throughout the play a. passionate and courageous.b. honorable, yet controlling.c. tragic and heroic.d. loving, yet impulsive.

______ 9. When the audience knows something that the characters do not know it is called a. simile.b. dramatic irony.c. personification.d. iambic pentameter.

______ 10. Friar Laurence’s reaction to Juliet’s “death” involvesa. explaining that this is God’s punishment for her marriage to Romeo.b. saying she is in a better place.c. offering his handkerchief for their tears.d. explaining that this sort of thing happens often because of the plague.

Romeo and Juliet Act IV

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Types of Irony in Dramaand Imagery

Answer each of the following questions relating to irony and imagery in drama.

Dramatic Irony—when the audience know information that the characters do not Situational Irony—when the outcome of a situation is different than what is expectedVerbal Irony—when a person says one thing but means another

Imagery—descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses

1. Identify one example of dramatic irony in Act IV.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Identify one example of situational irony in Act IV.

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3. Identify one example of verbal irony in Act IV.

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4. Identify two examples of imagery in this act and tell what senses they appeal to.

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Romeo and Juliet Act V Questions

For questions 1-5, write an appropriate answer to the question. For questions 6-10, write who said the quote.

1. Who tells Romeo that Juliet is dead?

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2. What does Romeo decide to do as a result of Juliet’s death?

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3. What happened to Friar Laurence’s message to Romeo? Explain.

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4. Explain how bad timing contributed to the tragic outcome at the end of the story. (Romeo and Juliet’s deaths)__________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. Other than Romeo and Juliet, what other characters died or are reported dead in Act V?

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6. "Unhappy fortune! The letter was not nice, but full of charge, Of dear import..."

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7. "Thus with a kiss I die."

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8. "O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;”

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9. "O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die."

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10. "See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. And I for winking at your discords too Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd."

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Romeo and Juliet Act VTragedy, Tragic Hero, Tragic Flaw, and Theme

Answer each of the following questions relating to this act’s terminology.

Tragedy—a play in which the main character suffers a downfallTragic Hero—the main character in a tragedy who is normally respected but possesses a weakness that leads to his/her downfallTragic Flaw—the fatal weakness of the tragic heroTheme—a dominant idea or universal message about life

1. Why is this play considered a tragedy?__________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. What characteristics make Romeo a tragic hero?

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3. What is Romeo’s tragic flaw?

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4. Make inferences about theme: Which of the following best states a theme of Romeo and Juliet?a. Tragedy is always a result of secrecy.b. There can be no meaningful communication between different generations.c. Love is a powerful force that can make people act without reason or fear.d. Violence is the only consequence of rash decision-making.e. In a struggle of wills, the family always prevails over the individual.

Now explain your answer choice. __________________________________________________________________________________________

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Romeo and JulietOriginal Shakespearean

VersionEdited and reproduced with permission from myShakespeare.com

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Act 3, Scene 1

[Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Servants]

Benvolio I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire. 1 The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, 2 And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; 3 For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. 4

Mercutio Thou art like one of those fellows that when he 5 enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword 6 upon the table and says 'God send me no need of 7 thee!'; and by the operation of the second cup, draws 8 him on the drawer, when indeed there is no need. 9

Benvolio Am I like such a fellow? 10

Mercutio Come, come, thou art as hot a jack in thy mood as 11 any in Italy; and as soon moved to be moody, and as 12 soon moody to be moved. 13

Benvolio And what to? 14

Mercutio Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, 15 for one would kill the other. Thou! Why, thou wilt quarrel 16 with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his 17 beard, than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for 18 cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou 19 hast hazel eyes. What eye, but such an eye would spy out 20 such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an 21 egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten 22 as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast 23 quarreled with a man for coughing in the street, 24 because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain 25 asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a 26 tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? 27 With another, for tying his new shoes with old 28 riband? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling! 29

Benvolio An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man 30 should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a 31 quarter. 32

Mercutio The fee-simple! O simple! 33

Benvolio By my head, here come the Capulets. 34

Mercutio By my heel, I care not. 35

[Enter Tybalt and others]

Tybalt

[To his companions]

Follow me close, for I will speak to them. 36

[To Benvolio and Mercutio]

Gentlemen, good e’en. A word with one of you. 37

Mercutio And but one word, with one of us? Couple it with 38 something; make it a word and a blow. 39

Tybalt You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you 40 will give me occasion. 41

Mercutio Could you not take some occasion without 42 giving? 43

Tybalt Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo, — 44

Mercutio Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? An 45 thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but 46

discords. [Pointing to his sword] Here's my fiddlestick; 47 here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! 48

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Benvolio We talk here in the public haunt of men. 49 Either withdraw unto some private place, 50 And reason coldly of your grievances, 51 Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us. 52

Mercutio Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; 53 I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I. 54

[Enter Romeo]

Tybalt Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man. 55

Mercutio But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery. 56 Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; 57 Your worship, in that sense, may call him 'man.' 58

Tybalt Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford 59 No better term than this: thou art a villain. 60

Romeo Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee 61 Doth much excuse the appertaining rage 62 To such a greeting. Villain am I none. 63 Therefore farewell; I see thou knowest me not. 64

Tybalt Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries 65 That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw. 66

Romeo I do protest, I never injured thee, 67 But love thee better than thou canst devise 68 Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. 69 And so, good Capulet — which name I tender 70 As dearly as my own — be satisfied. 71

Mercutio O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! 72 Alla stoccata carries it away. 73

[Draws]

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? 74

Tybalt What wouldst thou have with me? 75

Mercutio Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives 76 that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use 77 me hereafter, dry beat the rest of the eight. Will you 78 pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make 79 haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. 80

Tybalt I am for you. 81

[Drawing]

Romeo Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. 82

Mercutio Come, sir, your “passado”. 83

[They fight]

Romeo Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons. 84 Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! 85 Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath 86 Forbidden bandying in Verona streets. 87 Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio! 88

[Tybalt under Romeo's arm stabs Mercutio, and flies with his followers]

Mercutio I am hurt. 89 A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. 90 Is he gone, and hath nothing?

Benvolio What, art thou hurt? 91

Mercutio Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. 92 Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. 93

[Exit Page]

Romeo Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. 94

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Mercutio No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church 95 door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, 96 and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, 97 I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! 98 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man 99 to death. A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by 100 the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between 101 us? I was hurt under your arm. 102

Romeo I thought all for the best. 103

Mercutio Help me into some house, Benvolio, 104 Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! 105 They have made worms' meat of me. I have it, 106 And soundly too. Your houses! 107

[Exit Mercutio and Benvolio]

Romeo This gentleman, the prince's near ally, 108 My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt 109 In my behalf; my reputation stained 110 With Tybalt's slander, — Tybalt, that an hour 111 Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, 112 Thy beauty hath made me effeminate 113 And, in my temper, softened valor's steel! 114

[Re-Enter Benvolio]

Benvolio O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead! 115 That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, 116 Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. 117

Romeo This day's black fate on more days doth depend; 118 This but begins the woe, others must end. 119

Benvolio Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. 120

Romeo Alive in triumph and Mercutio slain! 121 Away to heaven respective lenity, 122 And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. 123

[Re-Enter Tybalt]

Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again, 124 That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul 125 Is but a little way above our heads, 126 Staying for thine to keep him company. 127 Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. 128

Tybalt Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, 129 Shalt with him hence.

Romeo This shall determine that. 130

[They fight; Tybalt falls]

Benvolio Romeo, away, be gone! 131 The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. 132

Stand not amazed. The prince will doom thee death 133 If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away! 134

Romeo O, I am fortune's fool!

Benvolio Why dost thou stay? 135

[Exit Romeo, Enter Citizens]

First Citizen Which way ran he that killed Mercutio? 136 Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? 137

Benvolio There lies that Tybalt.

First Citizen Up, sir, go with me; 138 I charge thee in the princes name, obey. 139

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[Enter Prince, attended; Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and others]

Prince Where are the vile beginners of this fray? 140

Benvolio O noble prince, I can discover all 141 The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. 142 There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, 143 That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. 144

Lady Capulet Tybalt, my cousin, O my brother's child! 145 O prince, O cousin, husband, O, the blood is spilt 146 Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, 147 For blood of ours shed blood of Montague. 148 O cousin, cousin! 149

Prince Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? 150

Benvolio Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay — 151 Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink 152 How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal 153 Your high displeasure. All this uttered 154 With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed, 155 Could not take truce with the unruly spleen 156 Of Tybalt, deaf to peace, but that he tilts 157 With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast, 158 Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point, 159 And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats 160 Cold death aside, and with the other sends 161 It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, 162 Retorts it. Romeo, he cries aloud, 163 'Hold, friends. Friends, part!' and swifter than his tongue, 164 His agile arm beats down their fatal points, 165 And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm 166 An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life 167 Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled. 168 But by and by comes back to Romeo, 169 Who had but newly entertained revenge, 170 And to 't they go like lightning; for, ere I 171 Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain, 172 And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. 173 This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. 174

Lady Capulet He is a kinsman to the Montague; 175 Affection makes him false, he speaks not true. 176 Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, 177 And all those twenty could but kill one life. 178 I beg for justice which thou, prince, must give. 179 Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live. 180

Prince Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio. 181 Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? 182

Montague Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; 183 His fault concludes but what the law should end, 184 The life of Tybalt.

Prince And for that offense 185 Immediately we do exile him hence. 186 I have an interest in your hate's

proceeding, 187 My blood, for your rude brawls, doth lie a-bleeding. 188 But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine 189 That you shall all repent the loss of mine. 190 I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; 191 Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses. 192 Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, 193 Else, when he's found, that hour is his last. 194 Bear hence this body and attend our will. 195 Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. 196

[Exit]

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Act 3, Scene 2

[Enter Juliet]

Juliet Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, 1 Towards Phoebus' lodging. Such a wagoner 2 As Phaethon would whip you to the west, 3 And bring in cloudy night immediately. 4 Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, 5 That runaways’ eyes may wink and Romeo 6 Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen. 7 Lovers can see to do their amorous rites 8 By their own beauties; or, if love be blind, 9 It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, 10 Thou sober-suited matron, all in black, 11 And learn me how to lose a winning match, 12 Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. 13 Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks, 14 With thy black mantle, till strange love grows bold, 15 Think true love acted simple modesty. 16 Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night; 17 For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night 18 Whiter than new snow on a raven's back. 19 Come gentle night, come loving black-browed night, 20 Give me my Romeo; and when he shall die, 21 Take him and cut him out in little stars, 22 And he will make the face of heaven so fine 23 That all the world will be in love with night, 24 And pay no worship to the garish sun. 25 O, I have bought the mansion of a love, 26 But not possessed it, and though I am sold, 27 Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day 28 As is the night before some festival 29 To an impatient child that hath new robes 30 And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse 31 And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks 32 But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence. 33

[Enter Nurse, with rope ladder]

Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there, the cords 34 That Romeo bid thee fetch?

Nurse Ay, ay, the cords. 35

[Throws them down]

Juliet Ay me! What news? Why dost thou wring thy hands? 36

Nurse Ah, well-a-day, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! 37 We are undone, lady, we are undone! 38 Alack the day, he's gone, he's killed, he's dead! 39

Juliet Can heaven be so envious?

Nurse Romeo can, 40 Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo, 41 Whoever would have

thought it Romeo! 42

Juliet What devil art thou that dost torment me thus? 43 This torture should be roared in dismal hell. 44 Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but 'Ay,' 45 And that bare vowel 'I' shall poison more 46 Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. 47 I am not I, if there be such an ‘Ay’, 48 Or those ‘eyes’ shut that make thee answer 'Ay'. 49 If he be slain, say 'Ay', or if not, ' No '. 50 Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe. 51

Nurse I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes, — 52 God save the mark! — here on his manly breast. 53 A piteous corpse, a bloody piteous corpse, 54 Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood, 55 All in gore-blood. I swounded at the sight. 56

Juliet O, break, my heart, poor bankrupt, break at once! 57 To prison, eyes, ne'er look on liberty. 58 Vile earth, to earth resign, end motion here; 59 And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier! 60

Nurse O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! 61 O courteous Tybalt, honest gentleman, 62 That ever I should live to see thee dead! 63

Name: Date: Period:

Juliet What storm is this that blows so contrary? 64 Is Romeo slaughtered, and is Tybalt dead, 65 My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer lord? 66 Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom, 67 For who is living, if those two are gone? 68

Nurse Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished; 69 Romeo that killed him, he is banished. 70

Juliet O God, did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? 71

Nurse It did, it did, alas the day, it did! 72

Juliet O serpent heart hid with a flowering face! 73 Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? 74 Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical, 75 Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb, 76 Despised substance of divinest show, 77 Just opposite to what thou justly seemest, 78 A damned saint, an honourable villain. 79 O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell 80 When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend 81 In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh? 82 Was ever book containing such vile matter 83 So fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell 84 In such a gorgeous palace!

Nurse There's no trust, 85 No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured, 86 All forsworn, all

naught, all dissemblers. 87 Ah, where's my man? Give me some aqua vitae. 88 These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old. 89 Shame come to Romeo!

Juliet Blistered be thy tongue 90 For such a wish! He was not born to shame. 91 Upon his brow

shame is ashamed to sit; 92 For 'tis a throne where honour may be crowned 93 Sole monarch of the universal earth. 94 O, what a beast was I to chide at him! 95

Nurse Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? 96

Juliet Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? 97 Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, 98 When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? 99 But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? 100 That villain cousin would have killed my husband. 101 Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring; 102 Your tributary drops belong to woe, 103 Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. 104 My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; 105 And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. 106 All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then? 107 Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, 108 That murdered me. I would forget it fain, 109 But O, it presses to my memory, 110 Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds: 111 'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished;' 112 That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,' 113 Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death 114 Was woe enough if it had ended there; 115 Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship, 116 And needly will be ranked with other griefs, 117 Why followed not, when she said 'Tybalt's dead,' 118 ‘Thy father’, or ‘thy mother’, nay, or both, 119 Which modern lamentations might have moved? 120 But with a rearward following Tybalt's death: 121 Romeo is ‘banished,' — to speak that word, 122 Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet, 123 All slain, all dead — Romeo is “banished”. 124 There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, 125 In that word's death; no words can that woe sound. 126 Where is my father, and my mother, nurse? 127

Nurse Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse. 128 Will you go to them? I will bring you thither. 129

Juliet Wash they his wounds with tears? Mine shall be spent, 130 When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment. 131 Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguiled, 132 Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. 133 He made you for a highway to my bed, 134 But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed. 135 Come, cords, come, nurse, I'll to my wedding-bed, 136 And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! 137

Nurse Hie to your chamber. I'll find Romeo 138 To comfort you. I wot well where he is. 139 Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night. 140 I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell. 141

Juliet O find him. Give this ring to my true knight, 142 And bid him come to take his last farewell. 143

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 3, Scene 3

[Enter Friar Laurence]

Friar Laurence Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man. 1 Affliction is enamoured of thy parts, 2 And thou art wedded to calamity. 3

[Enter Romeo]

Romeo Father, what news? What is the prince's doom? 4 What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand 5 That I yet know not?

Friar Laurence Too familiar 6 Is my dear son with such sour company. 7 I bring thee tidings of the prince's

doom. 8

Romeo What less than doomsday is the prince's doom? 9

Friar Laurence A gentler judgment vanished from his lips: 10 Not body's death, but body's banishment. 11

Romeo Ha, banishment. Be merciful, say ‘death', 12 For exile hath more terror in his look, 13 Much more than death. Do not say 'banishment.' 14

Friar Laurence Hence from Verona art thou banished. 15 Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. 16

Romeo There is no world without Verona walls, 17 But purgatory, torture, hell itself. 18 Hence banished is banished from the world, 19 And world's exile is death. Then banished 20 Is death mistermed. Calling death banishment, 21 Thou cuttest my head off with a golden axe, 22 And smilest upon the stroke that murders me. 23

Friar Laurence O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness! 24 Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince, 25 Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law, 26 And turned that black word ‘death’ to ‘banishment’. 27 This is dear mercy and thou seest it not. 28

Romeo 'Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here 29 Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog 30 And little mouse, every unworthy thing, 31 Live here in heaven and may look on her, 32 But Romeo may not. More validity, 33 More honourable state, more courtship lives 34 In carrion-flies than Romeo. They may seize 35 On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand 36 And steal immortal blessing from her lips, 37 Who even in pure and vestal modesty 38 Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin. 39 But Romeo may not; he is banished. 40 Flies may do this, but I from this must fly. 41 They are free men, but I am banished. 42 And sayest thou yet that exile is not death? 43 Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, 44 No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean 45 But 'banished' to kill me? 'Banished'! 46 O friar, the damned use that word in hell; 47 Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart, 48 Being a divine, a ghostly confessor, 49 A sin-absolver, and my friend professed, 50 To mangle me with that word 'banished'? 51

Friar Laurence Thou fond mad man, hear me but speak a word. 52

Romeo O, thou wilt speak again of banishment. 53

Friar Laurence I'll give thee armor to keep off that word, 54 Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy, 55 To comfort thee though thou art banished. 56

Romeo Yet 'banished'. Hang up philosophy. 57 Unless philosophy can make a Juliet, 58 Displant a town, reverse a prince's doom, 59 It helps not, it prevails not. Talk no more. 60

Friar Laurence O, then I see that madmen have no ears. 61

Romeo How should they, when that wise men have no eyes? 62

Name: Date: Period:

Friar Laurence Let me dispute with thee of thy estate. 63

Romeo Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel. 64 Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, 65 An hour but married, Tybalt murdered, 66 Doting like me, and like me banished, 67 Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair, 68 And fall upon the ground as I do now, 69 Taking the measure of an unmade grave. 70

[Romeo falls to the ground; knocking within]

Friar Laurence Arise, one knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself. 71

Romeo Not I, unless the breath of heartsick groans, 72 Mist-like, infold me from the search of eyes. 73

[Knocking]

Friar Laurence Hark, how they knock! — Who's there? — Romeo, arise, 74 Thou wilt be taken. — Stay awhile! — Stand up, 75

[Knocking]

Run to my study. — By and by! — God's will, 76 What simpleness is this! — I come, I come! 77

[Knocking]

Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What's your will? 78

Nurse Let me come in and you shall know my errand. 79 I come from Lady Juliet.

Friar Laurence Welcome, then. 80

[Enter Nurse]

Nurse O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar, 81 Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo? 82

Friar Laurence There on the ground with his own tears made drunk. 83

Nurse O he is even in my mistress' case, 84 Just in her case! O woeful sympathy, 85 Piteous predicament! Even so lies she, 86 Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering. 87 Stand up, stand up, stand and you be a man. 88 For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand. 89 Why should you fall into so deep an O? 90

Romeo

[Rising Nurse!

Nurse Ah sir! Ah sir! Well, death's the end of all. 91

Romeo Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her? 92 Doth she not think me an old murderer, 93 Now I have stained the childhood of our joy 94 With blood removed but little from her own? 95 Where is she, and how doth she, and what says 96 My concealed lady to our cancelled love? 97

Nurse O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps; 98 And now falls on her bed; and then starts up, 99 And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries, 100 And then down falls again.

Romeo As if that name, 101 Shot from the deadly level of a gun, 102 Did murder her, as that

name's cursed hand 103 Murdered her kinsman. O tell me, friar, tell me, 104 In what vile part of this anatomy 105 Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack 106 The hateful mansion.

[Drawing his sword]

Name: Date: Period:

Friar Laurence Hold thy desperate hand. 107 Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art. 108 Thy tears are

womanish; thy wild acts denote 109 The unreasonable fury of a beast. 110 Unseemly woman in a seeming man, 111 And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both. 112 Thou hast amazed me. By my holy order, 113 I thought thy disposition better tempered. 114 Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself, 115 And slay thy lady that in thy life lives, 116 By doing damned hate upon thyself? 117 Why railest thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth? 118 Since birth and heaven and earth, all three do meet 119 In thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose. 120 Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit, 121 Which, like a usurer, aboundest in all, 122 And usest none in that true use indeed 123 Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit. 124 Thy noble shape is but a form of wax, 125 Digressing from the valor of a man; 126 Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, 127 Killing that love which thou hast vowed to cherish. 128 Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love, 129 Misshapen in the conduct of them both, 130 Like powder in a skilless soldier's flask, 131 Is set afire by thine own ignorance, 132 And thou dismembered with thine own defence. 133 What, rouse thee, man! Thy Juliet is alive, 134 For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead: 135 There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee, 136 But thou slewest Tybalt: there art thou happy too. 137 The law that threatened death becomes thy friend 138 And turns it to exile: there art thou happy. 139 A pack of blessings lights up upon thy back, 140 Happiness courts thee in her best array; 141 But, like a misbehaved and sullen wench, 142 Thou pouts upon thy fortune and thy love. 143 Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable. 144 Go, get thee to thy love as was decreed, 145 Ascend her chamber, hence and comfort her. 146 But look thou stay not till the watch be set, 147 For then thou canst not pass to Mantua, 148 Where thou shalt live, till we can find a time 149 To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, 150 Beg pardon of the prince, and call thee back 151 With twenty hundred thousand times more joy 152 Than thou wentest forth in lamentation. 153 Go before, Nurse, commend me to thy lady 154 And bid her hasten all the house to bed, 155 Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto. 156 Romeo is coming. 157

Nurse O Lord, I could have stayed here all the night 158 To hear good counsel. O, what learning is! 159 My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come. 160

Romeo Do so and bid my sweet prepare to chide. 161

Nurse Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir. 162 Hie you, make haste for it grows very late. 163

[Exit]

Romeo How well my comfort is revived by this. 164

Friar Laurence Go hence. Good night; and here stands all your state: 165 Either be gone before the watch be set, 166 Or by the break of day, disguised, from hence. 167 Sojourn in Mantua. I'll find out your man, 168 And he shall signify from time to time 169 Every good hap, to you, that chances here. 170 Give me thy hand, 'tis late. Farewell, good night. 171

Romeo But that a joy past joy calls out on me, 172 It were a grief so brief to part with thee. 173 Farewell. 174

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 3, Scene 4

[Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris]

Capulet Things have fall'n out, sir, so unluckily, 1 That we have had no time to move our daughter. 2 Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly, 3 And so did I. Well, we were born to die. 4 'Tis very late; she'll not come down tonight. 5 I promise you, but for your company, 6 I would have been abed an hour ago. 7

Paris These times of woe afford no time to woo. 8 Madam, good night; commend me to your daughter. 9

Lady Capulet I will, and know her mind early tomorrow; 10 Tonight she is mewed up to her heaviness. 11

Capulet Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender 12 Of my child's love. I think she will be ruled 13 In all respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not. 14 Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed. 15 Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love, 16 And bid her — mark you me — on Wednesday next — 17 But, soft, what day is this?

ParisMonday, my lord. 18

Capulet Monday! Ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon. 19 A Thursday let it be. A Thursday, tell her, 20 She shall be married to this noble earl. 21

[To Paris]

Will you be ready? Do you like this haste? 22 We'll keep no great ado, a friend or two; 23 For, hark you, Tybalt being slain so late, 24 It may be thought we held him carelessly, 25

Being our kinsman, if we revel much. 26 Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends, 27 And there an end. But what say you to Thursday? 28

Paris My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow. 29

Capulet Well get you gone. A Thursday be it, then. 30

[To Lady Capulet]

Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed; 31 Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day. 32 Farewell, my lord. — Light to my chamber, ho! 33 Afore me. — It is so very very late 34 That we may call it early by and by. 35 Good night. 36

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 3, Scene 5

[Enter Romeo and Juliet above, at the window]

Juliet Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. 1 It was the nightingale, and not the lark, 2 That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. 3 Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree. 4 Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. 5

Romeo It was the lark, the herald of the morn, 6 No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks 7 Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. 8 Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day 9 Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. 10 I must be gone and live, or stay and die. 11

Juliet Yon light is not daylight; I know it, I. 12 It is some meteor that the sun exhaled, 13 To be to thee this night a torch-bearer, 14 And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 15 Therefore stay yet; thou needst not to be gone. 16

Romeo Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death; 17 I am content, so thou wilt have it so. 18 I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye, 19 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow; 20 Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat 21 The vaulty heaven so high above our heads. 22 I have more care to stay, than will to go. 23 Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so. 24 How is't, my soul? Let's talk; it is not day. 25

Juliet It is, it is. Hie hence, be gone, away! 26 It is the lark that sings so out of tune, 27 Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. 28 Some say the lark makes sweet division; 29

This doth not so, for she divideth us. 30 Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes. 31 O, now I would they had changed voices too, 32 Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, 33 Hunting thee hence with hunt's-up to the day. 34 O, now be gone! More light and light it grows. 35

Romeo More light and light, more dark and dark our woes! 36

[Enter Nurse, to the chamber]

Nurse Madam! 37

Juliet Nurse? 38

Nurse Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. 39 The day is broke; be wary, look about. 40

[Exit]

Juliet Then, window, let day in, and let life out. 41

Romeo Farewell, farewell, one kiss, and I'll descend. 42

[He goes down]

Juliet Art thou gone so, love, lord, ay husband, friend? 43 I must hear from thee every day in the hour, 44 For in a minute there are many days. 45 O, by this count I shall be much in years 46 Ere I again behold my Romeo! 47

Romeo Farewell. 48 I will omit no opportunity 49 That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. 50

Juliet O thinkest thou we shall ever meet again? 51

Romeo I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve 52 For sweet discourses in our time to come. 53

Juliet O God, I have an ill-divining soul! 54 Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, 55 As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. 56 Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale. 57

Romeo And trust me, love, in my eye so do you. 58 Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu! 59

Name: Date: Period:

[Exit]

Juliet O fortune, fortune, all men call thee fickle. 60 If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him 61 That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, fortune, 62 For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, 63 But send him back.

[Enter Lady Capulet below Juliet’s window]

Lady Capulet Ho, daughter! Are you up? 64

Juliet Who is't that calls? Is it my lady mother? 65 Is she not down so late, or up so early? 66 What unaccustomed cause procures her hither? 67

[Juliet descends to where her mother is]

Lady Capulet Why, how now, Juliet!

Juliet Madam, I am not well. 68

Lady Capulet Evermore weeping for your cousin's death? 69 What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears? 70 An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live; 71 Therefore, have done. Some grief shows much of love, 72 But much of grief shows still some want of wit. 73

Juliet Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss. 74

Lady Capulet So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend 75 Which you weep for.

Juliet Feeling so the loss, 76 Cannot choose but ever weep the friend. 77

Lady Capulet Well, girl, thou weepest not so much for his death, 78 As that the villain lives which slaughtered him. 79

Juliet What villain, madam?

Lady Capulet That same villain Romeo. 80

Juliet Villain and he be many miles asunder. 81 God pardon him; I do, with all my heart; 82 And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart. 83

Lady Capulet That is, because the traitor murderer lives. 84

Juliet Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands. 85 Would none but I might venge my cousin's death. 86

Lady Capulet We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not. 87 Then weep no more. I'll send to one in Mantua, 88 Where that same banished runagate doth live, 89 Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram, 90 That he shall soon keep Tybalt company; 91 And then I hope thou wilt be satisfied. 92

Juliet Indeed, I never shall be satisfied 93 With Romeo till I behold him — dead — 94 Is my poor heart for a kinsman vexed. 95 Madam, if you could find out but a man 96 To bear a poison, I would temper it; 97 That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, 98 Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors 99 To hear him named, and cannot come to him 100 To wreak the love I bore my cousin 101 Upon his body that slaughtered him! 102

Lady Capulet Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man. 103 But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl. 104

Juliet And joy comes well in such a needy time. 105 What are they, I beseech your ladyship? 106

Name: Date: Period:

Lady Capulet Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; 107 One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, 108 Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy, 109 That thou expectest not, nor I looked not for. 110

Juliet Madam, in happy time. What day is that? 111

Lady Capulet Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn 112 The gallant, young and noble gentleman, 113 The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church, 114 Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. 115

Juliet Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, 116 He shall not make me there a joyful bride. 117 I wonder at this haste, that I must wed 118 Ere he that should be husband comes to woo. 119 I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, 120 I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear 121 It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, 122 Rather than Paris. These are news indeed! 123

Lady Capulet Here comes your father; tell him so yourself, 124 And see how he will take it at your hands. 125

[Enter Capulet and Nurse]

Capulet When the sun sets, the earth doth drizzle dew; 126 But for the sunset of my brother's son 127 It rains downright. 128 How now! A conduit, girl? What, still in tears? 129 Evermore showering? In one little body 130 Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind; 131 For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, 132 Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, 133 Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs, 134 Who, raging with thy tears, and they with them, 135 Without a sudden calm, will overset 136 Thy tempest-tossed body. How now, wife, 137 Have you delivered to her our decree? 138

Lady Capulet Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks. 139 I would the fool were married to her grave! 140

Capulet Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife. 141 How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? 142 Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, 143 Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought 144 So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom? 145

Juliet Not proud you have, but thankful that you have. 146 Proud can I never be of what I hate; 147 But thankful even for hate that is meant love. 148

Capulet How, how, how, how, chopped-logic! What is this? 149 'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not', 150

And yet 'not proud', mistress minion, you? 151 Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds; 152 But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next, 153 To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church, 154 Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. 155 Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage, 156 You tallow-face!

Lady Capulet Fie, fie! What, are you mad? 157

Juliet Good father, I beseech you on my knees, 158 Hear me with patience but to speak a word. 159

Capulet Hang thee, young baggage. Disobedient wretch! 160 I tell thee what. Get thee to church a Thursday, 161 Or never after look me in the face. 162 Speak not, reply not, do not answer me. 163 My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blessed 164 That God had lent us but this only child; 165 But now I see this one is one too much, 166 And that we have a curse in having her. 167 Out on her, hilding!

Nurse God in heaven bless her! 168 You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so. 169

Capulet And why, my lady wisdom? Hold your tongue, 170 Good Prudence, smatter with your gossips, go. 171

Nurse I speak no treason.

Capulet O, God ye good e’en. 172

Name: Date: Period:

Nurse May not one speak?

Capulet Peace, you mumbling fool! 173 Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl, 174 For here we need it

not.

Lady Capulet You are too hot. 175

Capulet God's bread, it makes me mad. 176 Day, night, hour; tide, time; work, play; 177 Alone, in company — still my care hath been 178 To have her matched. And having now provided 179 A gentleman of noble parentage, 180 Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly ligned, 181 Stuffed, as they say, with honourable parts, 182 Proportioned as one's thought would wish a man; 183 And then to have a wretched puling fool, 184 A whining mammet, in her fortune's tender, 185 To answer 'I'll not wed, I cannot love, 186 I am too young, I pray you pardon me'. 187 But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you. 188 Graze where you will, you shall not house with me. 189 Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. 190 Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise. 191 An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; 192 An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, 193 For by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, 194 Nor what is mine shall never do thee good. 195 Trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn. 196

[Exit]

Juliet Is there no pity sitting in the clouds 197 That sees into the bottom of my grief? 198 O sweet my mother, cast me not away! 199 Delay this marriage for a month, a week; 200 Or if you do not, make the bridal bed 201 In that dim monument where Tybalt lies. 202

Lady Capulet Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word. 203 Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. 204

[Exit]

Juliet O God! O nurse, how shall this be prevented? 205 My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven. 206 How shall that faith return again to earth, 207 Unless that husband send it me from heaven 208 By leaving earth? Comfort me, counsel me. 209 Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems 210 Upon so soft a subject as myself! 211 What sayest thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? 212 Some comfort, nurse.

Nurse Faith, here it is. 213 Romeo is banished; and all the world to nothing 214 That he dares ne'er

come back to challenge you; 215 Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth. 216 Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, 217 I think it best you married with the County. 218 O, he's a lovely gentleman! 219 Romeo's a dish-clout to him. An eagle, madam, 220 Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye 221 As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, 222 I think you are happy in this second match, 223 For it excels your first. Or if it did not, 224 Your first is dead; or 'twere as good he were, 225 As living here, and you no use of him. 226

Juliet Speakest thou from thy heart? 227

Nurse And from my soul too; 228 Or else beshrew them both. 229

Juliet Amen! 230

Nurse What? 231

Juliet Well, thou hast comforted me marvelous much. 232 Go in. And tell my lady I am gone, 233 Having displeased my father, to Laurence' cell 234 To make confession and to be absolved. 235

Nurse Marry, I will, and this is wisely done. 236

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Juliet Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! 237 Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, 238 Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue 239 Which she hath praised him with above compare 240 So many thousand times? Go, counsellor; 241 Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. 242 I'll to the friar, to know his remedy. 243 If all else fail, myself have power to die. 244

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 4, Scene 1

[Enter Friar Laurence and Paris]

Friar Laurence On Thursday, sir? The time is very short. 1

Paris My father Capulet will have it so; 2 And I am nothing slow to slack his haste. 3

Friar Laurence You say you do not know the lady's mind. 4 Uneven is the course, I like it not. 5

Paris Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death, 6 And therefore have I little talked of love, 7 For Venus smiles not in a house of tears. 8 Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous 9 That she doth give her sorrow so much sway, 10 And in his wisdom hastes our marriage 11 To stop the inundation of her tears 12 Which, too much minded by herself alone, 13 May be put from her by society. 14 Now do you know the reason of this haste. 15

Friar Laurence

[Aside]

I would I knew not why it should be slowed. 16

[Aloud]

Look, sir, here comes the lady towards my cell. 17

[Enter Juliet]

Paris Happily met, my lady and my wife. 18

Juliet That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. 19

Paris That ‘may be’ must be, love, on Thursday next. 20

Juliet What must be, shall be.

Friar Laurence That's a certain text. 21

Paris Come you to make confession to this father? 22

Juliet To answer that, I should confess to you. 23

Paris Do not deny to him that you love me. 24

Juliet I will confess to you that I love him. 25

Paris So will ye, I am sure, that you love me. 26

Juliet If I do so, it will be of more price, 27 Being spoke behind your back, than to your face. 28

Paris Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears. 29

Juliet The tears have got small victory by that, 30 For it was bad enough before their spite. 31

Paris Thou wrongest it, more than tears, with that report. 32

Juliet That is no slander, sir, which is a truth; 33 And what I spake, I spake it to my face. 34

Paris Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it. 35

Name: Date: Period:

Juliet It may be so, for it is not mine own. 36

[To Friar Laurence]

Are you at leisure, holy father, now; 37 Or shall I come to you at evening mass? 38

Friar Laurence My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now. 39 My lord, we must entreat the time alone. 40

Paris God shield I should disturb devotion! 41 Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye. 42 Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss. 43

[Exit]

Juliet O shut the door, and when thou hast done so, 44 Come weep with me, past hope, past cure, past help!. 45

Friar Laurence Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief; 46 It strains me past the compass of my wits. 47 I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, 48 On Thursday next be married to this County. 49

Juliet Tell me not, friar, that thou hearest of this, 50 Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. 51 If, in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, 52 Do thou but call my resolution wise, 53 And with this knife I'll help it presently. 54 God joined my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; 55 And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo sealed, 56 Shall be the label to another deed, 57 Or my true heart with treacherous revolt 58 Turn to another, this shall slay them both. 59 Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time, 60 Give me some present counsel; or behold, 61 'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife 62 Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that 63 Which the commission of thy years and art 64 Could to no issue of true honour bring. 65 Be not so long to speak; I long to die 66 If what thou speakest speak not of remedy. 67

Friar Laurence Hold, daughter, I do spy a kind of hope, 68 Which craves as desperate an execution 69 As that is desperate which we would prevent. 70 If rather than to marry County Paris 71 Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, 72 Then is it likely thou wilt undertake 73 A thing like death to chide away this shame, 74 That copest with death himself to scape from it; 75 And if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy. 76

Juliet O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, 77 From off the battlements of yonder tower; 78 Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk 79 Where serpents are. Chain me with roaring bears; 80 Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house, 81 O'er-covered quite with dead men's rattling bones, 82 With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls; 83 Or bid me go into a new-made grave, 84 And hide me with a dead man in his tomb — 85 Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble — 86 And I will do it without fear or doubt, 87 To live an unstained wife to my sweet love. 88

Friar Laurence Hold then; go home, be merry, give consent 89 To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow. 90 Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone; 91 Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. 92 Take thou this vial, being then in bed, 93 And this distilled liquor drink thou off. 94 When presently through all thy veins shall run 95 A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse 96 Shall keep his native progress, but surcease. 97 No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest. 98 The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade 99 To paly ashes; thy eyes' windows fall 100 Like death when he shuts up the day of life. 101 Each part, deprived of supple government, 102 Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death. 103 And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death 104 Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, 105 And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. 106 Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes 107 To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead. 108 Then, as the manner of our country is, 109 In thy best robes, uncovered on the bier, 110 Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault 111 Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. 112 In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, 113 Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, 114 And hither shall he come. And he and I 115 Will watch thy waking, and that very night 116 Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. 117 And this shall free thee from this present shame, 118 If no inconstant toy, nor womanish fear, 119 Abate thy valor in the acting it. 120

Juliet Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! 121

Friar Laurence Hold, get you gone, be strong and prosperous 122 In this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed 123 To Mantua with my letters to thy lord. 124

Juliet Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford. 125 Farewell, dear father! 126 [Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 4, Scene 2

[Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, and two Servingmen]

Capulet

[To First Servant]

So many guests invite as here are writ. 1

[Exit First Servant]

Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. 2

Second Servant You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they 3 can lick their fingers. 4

Capulet How canst thou try them so? 5

Second Servant Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his 6 own fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his 7

fingers goes not with me. 8

Capulet Go, be gone. 9

[Exit Servant]

We shall be much unfurnished for this time. 10

[To Nurse]

What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence? 11

Nurse Ay, forsooth. 12

Capulet Well, he may chance to do some good on her. 13 A peevish self-willed harlotry it is. 14

Nurse See where she comes from shrift with merry look. 15

[Enter Juliet]

Capulet How now, my headstrong! Where have you been gadding? 16

Juliet Where I have learned me to repent the sin 17 Of disobedient opposition 18 To you and your behests, and am enjoined 19 By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, 20 And beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you! 21 Henceforward I am ever ruled by you. 22

Capulet Send for the County; go tell him of this. 23 I'll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning. 24

Juliet I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell, 25 And gave him what becomed love I might, 26 Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty. 27

Capulet Why, I am glad on't, this is well. Stand up. 28 This is as't should be. Let me see the County. 29 Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither. 30 Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, 31 Our whole city is much bound to him. 32

Juliet Nurse, will you go with me into my closet, 33 To help me sort such needful ornaments 34 As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow? 35

Lady Capulet No, not till Thursday; there is time enough. 36

Name: Date: Period:

Capulet Go, nurse, go with her; we'll to church tomorrow. 37

[Exit Juliet and Nurse]

Lady Capulet We shall be short in our provision. 38 'Tis now near night.

Capulet Tush, I will stir about, 39 And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife. 40 Go thou to Juliet,

help to deck up her. 41 I'll not to bed tonight; let me alone; 42 I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho! 43 They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself 44 To County Paris, to prepare him up 45 Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light, 46 Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed. 47

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 4, Scene 3

[Enter Juliet and Nurse]

Juliet Ay, those attires are best. But, gentle nurse, 1 I pray thee, leave me to my self tonight, 2 For I have need of many orisons 3 To move the heavens to smile upon my state, 4 Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin. 5

[Enter Lady Capulet]

Lady Capulet What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help? 6

Juliet No, madam, we have culled such necessaries 7 As are behoveful for our state tomorrow. 8 So please you, let me now be left alone, 9 And let the nurse this night sit up with you, 10 For I am sure you have your hands full all 11 In this so sudden business.

Lady Capulet Good night. 12 Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need. 13

Juliet Farewell.

[Exit Lady Capulet and Nurse]

God knows when we shall meet again. 14 I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, 15 That almost freezes up the heat of life. 16 I'll call them back again to comfort me. — 17 Nurse! — What should she do here? 18 My dismal scene I needs must act alone. 19 Come, vial. What if this mixture do not work at all? 20 Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? 21

[Laying down her dagger]

No, no. This shall forbid it. Lie thou there. 22 What if it be a poison which the friar 23 Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, 24 Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored, 25 Because he married me before to Romeo? 26 I fear it is, and yet methinks it should not, 27 For he hath still been tried a holy man. 28 How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 29 I wake before the time that Romeo 30 Come to redeem me? There's a fearful point. 31 Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, 32 To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, 33 And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? 34 Or if I live, is it not very like 35 The horrible conceit of death and night, 36 Together with the terror of the place, — 37 As in a vault, an ancient receptacle, 38 Where, for these many hundred years, the bones 39 Of all my buried ancestors are packed; 40 Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, 41 Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say, 42 At some hours in the night spirits resort — 43 Alack, alack, is it not like that I, 44 So early waking, what with loathsome smells, 45 And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth, 46 That living mortals, hearing them, run mad — 47 O if I wake, shall I not be distraught, 48 Environed with all these hideous fears, 49 And madly play with my forefather's joints, 50 And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud, 51 And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone 52 As with a club, dash out my desperate brains? 53 O look! Methinks I see my cousin's ghost 54 Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body 55 Upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay! 56 Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink — I drink to thee. 57

[She falls upon her bed, within the curtains]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 4, Scene 4

[Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse]

Lady Capulet Hold, take these keys and fetch more spices, nurse. 1

Nurse They call for dates and quinces in the pastry. 2

[Enter Capulet]

Capulet Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed, 3 The curfew-bell hath rung; 'tis three o'clock. 4 Look to the baked meats, good Angelica. 5 Spare not for the cost.

Nurse Go, you cotquean, go, 6 Get you to bed. Faith, you'll be sick tomorrow 7 For this night's

watching. 8

Capulet No, not a whit. What, I have watched ere now 9 All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick. 10

Lady Capulet Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time; 11 But I will watch you from such watching now. 12

[Exit Lady Capulet and Nurse]

Capulet A jealous hood, a jealous hood! 13

[Enter three or four Servingmen, with spits, logs, and baskets]

Now, fellow, what's there? 14

First Servant Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what. 15

Capulet Make haste, make haste.

[Exit First Servant]

Sirrah, fetch drier logs. 16 Call Peter, he will show thee where they are. 17

Second Servant I have a head, sir, that will find out logs, 18 And never trouble Peter for the matter. 19

[Exit]

Capulet Mass, and well said! A merry whoreson, ha! 20 Thou shalt be ‘loggerhead’. Good faith, 'tis day. 21 The County will be here with music straight, 22 For so he said he would. I hear him near. 23

[Music within]

Nurse! Wife! What, ho! What, nurse, I say! 24

[Re-Enter Nurse]

Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up; 25 I'll go and chat with Paris. Hie, make haste, 26 Make haste; the bridegroom he is come already. 27 Make haste, I say. 28

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 4, Scene 5

[Enter Nurse]

Nurse Mistress! What, mistress! Juliet — Fast, I warrant her, she — 1 Why, lamb! Why, lady. Fie, you slug-a-bed! 2 Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweet-heart! Why, bride! 3 What, not a word? You take your pennyworths now. 4 Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant, 5 The County Paris hath set up his rest, 6 That you shall rest but little. God forgive me, 7 Marry, and amen! — How sound is she asleep! 8 I must needs wake her. — Madam, madam, madam! 9 Ay, let the County take you in your bed; 10 He'll fright you up, i' faith. Will it not be? 11

[Draws back the bed curtains]

What, dressed and in your clothes, and down again? 12 I must needs wake you. Lady! Lady! Lady! — 13 Alas, alas! Help, help! My lady's dead! 14 O, weraday, that ever I was born! 15 Some aqua vitae, ho! My lord! My lady! 16

[Enter Lady Capulet]

Lady Capulet What noise is here?

Nurse O lamentable day! 17

Lady Capulet What is the matter?

Nurse Look, look! O heavy day! 18

Lady Capulet O me, O me! My child, my only life, 19 Revive, look up, or I will die with thee! 20 Help, help! Call help. 21

[Enter Capulet]

Capulet For shame, bring Juliet forth; her lord is come. 22

Nurse She's dead, deceased, she's dead, alack the day! 23

Lady Capulet Alack the day, she's dead, she's dead, she's dead! 24

Capulet Ha! Let me see her. Out, alas! She's cold. 25 Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff. 26 Life and these lips have long been separated. 27 Death lies on her like an untimely frost 28 Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. 29

Nurse O lamentable day!

Lady Capulet O woeful time! 30

Capulet Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail, 31 Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak. 32

[Enter Friar Laurence and Paris, with Musicians]

Friar Laurence Come, is the bride ready to go to church? 33

Capulet Ready to go, but never to return. 34 O son, the night before thy wedding-day 35 Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies, 36 Flower as she was, deflowered by him. 37 Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; 38 My daughter he hath wedded. I will die 39 And leave him all. Life, living, all is Death's. 40

Name: Date: Period:

Paris Have I thought long to see this morning's face, 41 And doth it give me such a sight as this? 42

Lady Capulet Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! 43 Most miserable hour that e'er time saw 44 In lasting labor of his pilgrimage! 45 But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, 46 But one thing to rejoice and solace in, 47 And cruel death hath catched it from my sight! 48

Nurse O woe! O woeful, woeful, woeful day! 49 Most lamentable day, most woeful day 50 That ever, ever, I did yet behold! 51 O day! O day! O day! O hateful day! 52 Never was seen so black a day as this. 53 O woeful day, O woeful day! 54

Paris Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! 55 Most detestable Death, by thee beguiled; 56 By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown! 57 O love! O life! Not life, but love in death! 58

Capulet Despised, distressed, hated, martyred, killed! 59 Uncomfortable Time, why camest thou now 60 To murder, murder our solemnity? 61 O child! O child! My soul, and not my child! 62 Dead art thou! Alack! My child is dead; 63 And with my child my joys are buried. 64

Friar Laurence Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion's cure lives not 65 In these confusions. Heaven and yourself 66 Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all, 67 And all the better is it for the maid. 68 Your part in her you could not keep from death, 69 But heaven keeps his part in eternal life. 70 The most you sought was her promotion, 71 For 'twas your heaven she should be advanced; 72 And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced 73 Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? 74 O, in this love, you love your child so ill 75 That you run mad, seeing that she is well. 76 She's not well married that lives married long; 77 But she's best married that dies married young. 78 Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary 79 On this fair corpse; and, as the custom is, 80 In all her best array bear her to church. 81 For though some nature bids us all lament, 82 Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment. 83

Capulet All things that we ordained festival, 84 Turn from their office to black funeral; 85 Our instruments to melancholy bells, 86 Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, 87 Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change, 88 Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse, 89 And all things, change them to the contrary. 90

Friar Laurence Sir, go you in; and, madam, go with him; 91 And go, Sir Paris; every one prepare 92 To follow this fair corpse unto her grave. 93 The heavens do lour upon you for some ill; 94 Move them no more by crossing their high will. 95

[Exit Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence]

First Musician Faith, we may put up our pipes, and be gone. 96

Nurse Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up, 97 For well you know, this is a pitiful case. 98

[Exit]

First Musician Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended. 99

[Enter Peter]

Peter Musicians, O musicians, 'Heart's Ease, Heart's 100 Ease:' O, an you will have me live, play 'Heart's Ease.' 101

First Musician Why 'Heart's Ease?' 102

Peter O musicians, because my heart itself plays 'My heart is 103 full of woe.' O, play me some merry dump to comfort me. 104

First Musician Not a dump, we. 'Tis no time to play now. 105

Peter You will not then? 106

First Musician No. 107

Name: Date: Period:

Peter I will then give it you soundly. 108

First Musician What will you give us? 109

Peter No money, on my faith, but the gleek. 110 I will give you the minstrel. 111

First Musician Then will I give you the serving-creature. 112

Peter Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on 113 your pate. I will carry no crotchets; I'll re you, 114 I'll fa you. Do you note me? 115

First Musician An you re us and fa us, you note us. 116

Second Musician Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out your wit. 117

Peter Then have at you with my wit. I will dry-beat you with an iron wit, and put up 118 my iron dagger. Answer me like men. 119

[sings]

When griping grief the heart doth wound, 120 Then music with her silver sound' — 121 why 'silver sound'? Why 'music with her silver 122 sound'? What say you, Simon Catling? 123

Musician Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound. 124

Peter Prates. What say you, Hugh Rebec? 125

Second Musician I say 'silver sound' because musicians sound for silver. 126

Peter Pretty too! What say you, James Soundpost? 127

Third Musician Faith, I know not what to say. 128

Peter O, I cry you mercy, you are the singer. I will say 129 for you. It is 'music with her silver sound' 130 because musicians have no gold for sounding. 131

[sings]

Then music with her silver sound 132 With speedy help doth lend redress. 133

[Exit]

First Musician What a pestilent knave is this same! 134

Second Musician Hang him, Jack! Come, we'll in here, tarry for the 135 mourners, and stay dinner. 136

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 5, Scene 1

[Enter Romeo]

Romeo If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep, 1 My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. 2 My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne; 3 And all this day an unaccustomed spirit 4 Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. 5 I dreamt my lady came and found me dead — 6 Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to think! — 7 And breathed such life with kisses in my lips, 8 That I revived, and was an emperor. 9 Ah me, how sweet is love itself possessed 10 When but love's shadows are so rich in joy! 11

[Enter Romeo’s servant, Balthasar]

News from Verona! How now, Balthasar! 12 Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? 13 How doth my lady? Is my father well? 14 How fares my Juliet? That I ask again, 15 For nothing can be ill if she be well. 16

Balthasar Then she is well, and nothing can be ill. 17 Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, 18 And her immortal part with angels lives. 19 I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, 20 And presently took post to tell it you. 21 O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, 22 Since you did leave it for my office, sir. 23

Romeo Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars! 24 Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper, 25 And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight. 26

Balthasar I do beseech you, sir, have patience. 27 Your looks are pale and wild, and do import 28 Some misadventure.

Romeo Tush, thou art deceived. 29 Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. 30 Hast thou no letters

to me from the friar? 31

Balthasar No, my good lord.

Romeo No matter. Get thee gone, 32 And hire those horses. I'll be with thee straight. 33

[Exit Balthasar]

Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. 34 Let's see for means. O mischief, thou art swift 35 To enter in the thoughts of desperate men. 36 I do remember an apothecary, 37 And hereabouts he dwells, which late I noted 38 In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows, 39 Culling of simples. Meagre were his looks, 40 Sharp misery had worn him to the bones; 41 And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, 42 An alligator stuffed, and other skins 43 Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves 44 A beggarly account of empty boxes, 45 Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, 46 Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, 47 Were thinly scattered to make up a show. 48 Noting this penury, to myself I said, 49 'An if a man did need a poison now, 50 Whose sale is present death in Mantua, 51 Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.' 52 O, this same thought did but forerun my need, 53 And this same needy man must sell it me. 54 As I remember, this should be the house. 55 Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut. 56 What ho! Apothecary!

[Enter Apothecary]

Apothecary Who calls so loud? 57

Romeo Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor. 58 Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have 59 A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear 60 As will disperse itself through all the veins 61 That the life-weary taker may fall dead, 62 And that the trunk may be discharged of breath 63 As violently as hasty powder fired 64 Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb. 65

Name: Date: Period:

Apothecary Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua's law 66 Is death to any he that utters them. 67

Romeo Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, 68 And fearest to die? Famine is in thy cheeks, 69 Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes, 70 Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back. 71 The world is not thy friend, nor the world's law; 72 The world affords no law to make thee rich. 73 Then be not poor, but break it and take this. 74

Apothecary My poverty, but not my will, consents. 75

Romeo I pay thy poverty, and not thy will. 76

Apothecary Put this in any liquid thing you will 77 And drink it off; and if you had the strength 78 Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight. 79

Romeo There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, 80 Doing more murders in this loathsome world, 81 Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. 82 I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. 83 Farewell, buy food, and get thyself in flesh. 84 Come, cordial and not poison, go with me 85 To Juliet's grave, for there must I use thee. 86

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 5, Scene 2

[Enter Friar John]

Friar John Holy Franciscan friar. Brother, ho! 1

[Enter Friar Laurence]

Friar Laurence This same should be the voice of Friar John. 2 Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo? 3 Or if his mind be writ, give me his letter. 4

Friar John Going to find a barefoot brother out, 5 One of our order, to associate me, 6 Here in this city visiting the sick, 7 And finding him, the searchers of the town, 8 Suspecting that we both were in a house 9 Where the infectious pestilence did reign, 10 Sealed up the doors and would not let us forth, 11 So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed. 12

Friar Laurence Who bare my letter then to Romeo? 13

Friar John I could not send it, — here it is again, — 14 Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, 15 So fearful were they of infection. 16

Friar Laurence Unhappy fortune. By my brotherhood, 17 The letter was not nice but full of charge 18 Of dear import, and the neglecting it 19 May do much danger. Friar John, go hence; 20 Get me an iron crow and bring it straight 21 Unto my cell.

Friar John Brother, I'll go and bring it thee. 22

[Exit]

Friar Laurence Now must I to the monument alone; 23 Within three hours will fair Juliet wake. 24 She will beshrew me much that Romeo 25 Hath had no notice of these accidents; 26 But I will write again to Mantua, 27 And keep her at my cell till Romeo come — 28 Poor living corpse, closed in a dead man's tomb! 29

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Act 5, Scene 3

[A churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the Capulets. Enter Paris, and his Page bearing flowers and a torch.]

Paris Give me thy torch, boy. Hence, and stand aloof. 1 Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. 2 Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along 3 Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground, 4 So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread — 5 Being loose, un-firm with digging up of graves — 6 But thou shalt hear it. Whistle then to me 7 As signal that thou hearest something approach. 8 Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go. 9

Page [Aside] I am almost afraid to stand alone 10 Here in the churchyard, yet I will adventure. 11

[Retires]

Paris Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew, — 12 O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones! — 13 Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, 14 Or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans. 15 The obsequies that I for thee will keep 16 Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep. 17

[The Page whistles]

The boy gives warning something doth approach. 18 What cursed foot wanders this way tonight, 19 To cross my obsequies and true love's rite? 20 What, with a torch! Muffle me, night, a while. 21

[Retires. Enter Romeo and Balthasar, with a torch]

Romeo Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron. 22 Hold, take this letter. Early in the morning 23 See thou deliver it to my lord and father. 24 Give me the light. Upon thy life I charge thee, 25 Whate'er thou hearest or seest, stand all aloof 26 And do not interrupt me in my course. 27 Why I descend into this bed of death 28 Is partly to behold my lady's face, 29 But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger 30 A precious ring, a ring that I must use 31 In dear employment. Therefore hence, be gone. 32 But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry 33 In what I further shall intend to do, 34 By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint, 35 And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs. 36 The time and my intents are savage-wild, 37 More fierce and more inexorable far 38 Than empty tigers or the roaring sea. 39

Balthasar I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 40

Romeo So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that. 41

[Gives him some money]

Live, and be prosperous. and farewell, good fellow. 42

Balthasar [Aside] For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout. 43 His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt. 44

[Retires]

Romeo Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, 45 Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, 46 Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, 47 And in despite I'll cram thee with more food! 48

[Opens the tomb]

Name: Date: Period:

Paris This is that banished haughty Montague, 49 That murdered my love's cousin, with which grief 50 It is supposed the fair creature died; 51 And here is come to do some villainous shame 52 To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him. 53

[Comes forward]

Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague! 54 Can vengeance be pursued further than death? 55 Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee. 56 Obey and go with me, for thou must die. 57

Romeo I must indeed, and therefore came I hither. 58 Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man. 59 Fly hence and leave me. Think upon these gone; 60 Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth, 61 Put not another sin upon my head 62 By urging me to fury. O, be gone! 63 By heaven, I love thee better than myself, 64 For I come hither armed against myself. 65 Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say 66 A madman's mercy bid thee run away. 67

Paris I do defy thy conjurations, 68 And apprehend thee for a felon here. 69

Romeo Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy! 70

[They fight]

Page O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch. 71

[Exit]

Paris O, I am slain! If thou be merciful, 72 Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. 73

[Dies]

Romeo In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face — 74 Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! 75 What said my man when my betossed soul 76 Did not attend him as we rode? I think 77 He told me Paris should have married Juliet. 78 Said he not so, or did I dream it so? 79 Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, 80 To think it was so? O, give me thy hand, 81 One writ with me in sour misfortune's book! 82 I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave. 83 A grave — O no, a lantern, slaughtered youth; 84 For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes 85 This vault a feasting presence full of light. 86 Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred. 87

[Laying Paris in the tomb]

How oft when men are at the point of death 88 Have they been merry, which their keepers call 89 A lightning before death. O, how may I 90 Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife, 91 Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, 92 Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. 93 Thou art not conquered; beauty's ensign yet 94 Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, 95 And death's pale flag is not advanced there. 96 Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? 97 O, what more favour can I do to thee 98 Than, with that hand that cut thy youth in twain, 99 To sunder his, that was thine enemy? 100 Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet, 101 Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe 102 That unsubstantial Death is amorous, 103 And that the lean abhorred monster keeps 104 Thee here in dark to be his paramour? 105 For fear of that I still will stay with thee, 106 And never from this palace of dim night 107 Depart again. Here, here will I remain 108 With worms that are thy chamber-maids. O, here 109 Will I set up my everlasting rest, 110 And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars 111 From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! 112 Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, O you 113 The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss 114 A dateless bargain to engrossing death! 115 Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide, 116 Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on 117 The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark! 118 Here's to my love!

[Drinks]

O true apothecary, 119 Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [Dies.] 120

[Enter, at the other end of the churchyard, Friar Laurence, with a lantern, crow, and spade]

Name: Date: Period:

Friar Laurence Saint Francis, be my speed! How oft tonight 121 Have my old feet stumbled at graves. Who's there? 122

Balthasar Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well. 123

Friar Laurence Bliss be upon you. Tell me, good my friend, 124 What torch is yond, that vainly lends his light 125 To grubs and eyeless skulls? As I discern, 126 It burneth in the Capel's monument. 127

Balthasar It doth so, holy sir, and there's my master, 128 One that you love.

Friar Laurence Who is it?

Balthasar Romeo. 129

Friar Laurence How long hath he been there?

Balthasar Full half an hour. 130

Friar Laurence Go with me to the vault.

Balthasar I dare not, sir 131 My master knows not but I am gone hence, 132 And fearfully did menace

me with death, 133 If I did stay to look on his intents. 134

Friar Laurence Stay, then, I'll go alone. Fear comes upon me. 135 O, much I fear some ill unlucky thing. 136

Balthasar As I did sleep under this yew-tree here, 137 I dreamt my master and another fought, 138 And that my master slew him.

Friar Laurence Romeo! 139

[Advances]

Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains 140 The stony entrance of this sepulchre? 141 What mean these masterless and gory swords 142 To lie discolored by this place of peace? 143

[Enters the tomb]

Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too? 144 And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour 145 Is guilty of this lamentable chance! 146 The lady stirs. 147

[Juliet wakes]

Juliet O comfortable friar, Where is my lord? 148 I do remember well where I should be, 149 And there I am. Where is my Romeo? 150

[Noise within]

Friar Laurence I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest 151 Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. 152 A greater power than we can contradict 153 Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away. 154 Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead, 155 And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee 156 Among a sisterhood of holy nuns. 157 Stay not to question, for the watch is coming. 158 Come, go, good Juliet,

Name: Date: Period:

[Noise again]

I dare no longer stay. 159

Juliet Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. 160

[Exit Friar Laurence]

What's here? A cup closed in my true love's hand? 161 Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end. 162 O churl, drunk all and left no friendly drop 163 To help me after. I will kiss thy lips. 164 Haply some poison yet doth hang on them 165 To make me die with a restorative. 166

[Kisses him]

Thy lips are warm. 167

[Enter watchmen and Paris’ page]

First Watchman Lead, boy. Which way? 168

Juliet Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger, 169

[Picking up Romeo's dagger]

This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. 170

[Stabs herself and falls on Romeo's body]

Page This is the place, there where the torch doth burn. 171

First Watchman The ground is bloody. Search about the churchyard. 172 Go, some of you, whoe'er you find, attach. 173 Pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain, 174 And Juliet bleeding, warm and newly dead, 175 Who here hath lain these two days buried. 176 Go tell the prince. Run to the Capulets. 177 Raise up the Montagues. Some others search. 178 We see the ground whereon these woes do lie; 179 But the true ground of all these piteous woes 180 We cannot without circumstance descry. 181

[Re-enter some of the Watch, with Balthasar]

Second Watchman Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard. 182

First Watchman Hold him in safety till the prince come hither. 183

[Re-Enter others of the Watch with Friar Laurence]

Third Watchman Here is a friar that trembles, sighs, and weeps. 184 We took this mattock and this spade from him 185 As he was coming from this churchyard’s side. 186

First Watchman A great suspicion. Stay the friar too. 187

[Enter the Prince and Attendants]

Prince What misadventure is so early up, 188 That calls our person from our morning's rest? 189

[Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and others]

Capulet What should it be that they so shriek abroad? 190

Lady Capulet The people in the street cry Romeo, 191 Some Juliet, and some Paris; and all run 192 With open outcry toward our monument. 193

Prince What fear is this which startles in our ears? 194

Name: Date: Period:

First Watchman Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain, 195 And Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before, 196 Warm and new killed. 197

Prince Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes. 198

First Watchman Here is a friar, and slaughtered Romeo's man, 199 With instruments upon them fit to open 200

These dead men's tombs. 201

Capulet O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds! 202 This dagger hath mista'en — for lo, his house 203 Is empty on the back of Montague, — 204 And it mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom. 205

Lady Capulet O me, this sight of death is as a bell 206 That warns my old age to a sepulchre. 207

[Enter Montague and others]

Prince Come, Montague, for thou art early up 208 To see thy son and heir now early down. 209

Montague Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight. 210 Grief of my son's exile hath stopped her breath. 211 What further woe conspires against mine age? 212

Prince Look, and thou shalt see. 213

Montague O thou untaught! What manners is in this, 214 To press before thy father to a grave? 215

Prince Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while, 216 Till we can clear these ambiguities, 217 And know their spring, their head, their true descent; 218 And then will I be general of your woes, 219 And lead you even to death. Meantime forbear, 220 And let mischance be slave to patience. 221 Bring forth the parties of suspicion. 222

Friar Laurence I am the greatest, able to do least; 223 Yet most suspected as the time and place 224 Doth make against me of this direful murder; 225 And here I stand both to impeach and purge, 226 Myself condemned, and myself excused. 227

Prince Then say at once what thou dost know in this. 228

Friar Laurence I will be brief, for my short date of breath 229 Is not so long as is a tedious tale. 230 Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; 231 And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife. 232 I married them, and their stol'n marriage-day 233 Was Tybalt's doomsday, whose untimely death 234 Banished the new-made bridegroom from the city, 235 For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. 236 You, to remove that siege of grief from her, 237 Betrothed and would have married her perforce 238 To County Paris. Then comes she to me, 239 And with wild looks bid me devise some mean 240 To rid her from this second marriage, 241 Or in my cell there would she kill herself. 242 Then gave I her — so tutored by my art — 243 A sleeping potion, which so took effect 244 As I intended, for it wrought on her 245 The form of death. Meantime I writ to Romeo, 246 That he should hither come as this dire night 247 To help to take her from her borrowed grave, 248 Being the time the potion's force should cease. 249 But he which bore my letter, Friar John, 250 Was stayed by accident, and yesternight 251 Returned my letter back. Then all alone, 252 At the prefixed hour of her waking, 253 Came I to take her from her kindred's vault, 254 Meaning to keep her closely at my cell, 255 Till I conveniently could send to Romeo. 256 But when I came, some minute ere the time 257 Of her awaking, here untimely lay 258 The noble Paris and true Romeo dead. 259 She wakes, and I entreated her come forth 260 And bear this work of heaven with patience. 261 But then a noise did scare me from the tomb, 262 And she, too desperate, would not go with me, 263 But, as it seems, did violence on herself. 264 All this I know, and to the marriage 265 Her nurse is privy. And, if aught in this 266 Miscarried by my fault, let my old life 267 Be sacrificed, some hour before his time, 268 Unto the rigor of severest law. 269

Prince We still have known thee for a holy man. 270 Where's Romeo's man? What can he say to this? 271

Balthasar I brought my master news of Juliet's death, 272 And then in post he came from Mantua 273 To this same place, to this same monument. 274 This letter he early bid me give his father, 275 And threatened me with death, going in the vault, 276 If I departed not and left him there. 277

Name: Date: Period:

Prince Give me the letter; I will look on it. 278 Where is the County's page that raised the watch? 279 Sirrah, what made your master in this place? 280

Page He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave, 281 And bid me stand aloof, and so I did. 282 Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb, 283 And by and by my master drew on him, 284 And then I ran away to call the watch. 285

Prince This letter doth make good the friar's words — 286 Their course of love, the tidings of her death. 287 And here he writes that he did buy a poison 288 Of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal 289 Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. 290 Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! 291 See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, 292 That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love; 293 And I, for winking at your discords too, 294 Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished. 295

Capulet O brother Montague, give me thy hand. 296 This is my daughter's jointure, for no more 297 Can I demand.

Montague But I can give thee more. 298 For I will ray her statue in pure gold; 299 That while Verona by that

name is known, 300 There shall no figure at such rate be set 301 As that of true and faithful Juliet. 302

Capulet As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie; 303 Poor sacrifices of our enmity. 304

Prince A glooming peace this morning with it brings; 305 The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head. 306 Go hence to have more talk of these sad things; 307 Some shall be pardoned, and some punished. 308 For never was a story of more woe 309 Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. 310

[Exit]

Name: Date: Period:

Romeo and JulietSummaries and

Modern English VersionEdited and reproduced with permission from myShakespeare.com

Name: Date: Period:

Act 3, Scene 1 Summary and Modern Version

Tybalt, still looking to punish Romeo for his appearance at the Capulets’ party, runs into Mercutio and Benvolio. He provokes Mercutio into a duel, while Benvolio tries to stop the fighting. Romeo enters, and Tybalt calls him a villain. Romeo, having just married Juliet (who is Tybalt’s cousin), swears he’s not, but Tybalt challenges him to draw. Mercutio draws first, then Tybalt, and they eventually fall to fighting. Romeo tries to break it up, but Tybalt reaches under Romeo’s arm and fatally stabs Mercutio, who curses the Montagues and the Capulets for their continuing feud. A grieving Romeo fights Tybalt and kills him. Knowing that he’ll face death if he stays in Verona, Romeo flees. The Prince, the Capulets, and the Montagues arrive. Benvolio explains what happened, and Lady Capulet calls for Romeo’s death. The Montagues argue their son was merely defending himself against an instigating Tybalt. The Prince strikes a compromise, saying that he’ll spare Romeo’s life, but that he must leave Verona forever.

Modern English

BenvolioI think it would be a good idea to get out of the streets, Mercutio. When it’s as hot as this, people get easily provoked. There’s lots of Capulets about. I’m afraid that if we run into any of them, we’ll wind up in a fight.

MercutioYou’re one of those guys who goes into a pub and takes his sword off saying, “I won’t be needing you.” But by the time your second drink is having an effect, you’ve drawn your sword on the bartender for no good reason.

BenvolioAm I really like that?

MercutioYou’re as hot-headed as any Italian. You get angry at the smallest provocation, or when you’re feeling angry already, you just look around for something to provoke you.

BenvolioProvoked to what?

Mercutio“Provoked two”? No, if there were two of you, there would quickly be none, since they would kill each other. You! Why you would quarrel with a man who has one more or one less hair in his beard than you do. You would quarrel with a man for cracking hazelnuts just because you have hazel eyes. You ask, “Am I really like that?” You are the “I” with an eye for finding quarrels.

Mercutio

Name: Date: Period:

Your brain is as full with quarrels as an egg is full of yolk, even after your brain’s been scrambled like an egg when you’ve been beaten up for fighting. You fought a guy because he coughed and woke up your dog when it was asleep in the sun. Didn’t you fight with the tailor for wearing his new jacket before Easter, and with another man for putting old laces in his new shoes? And yet you would lecture me about quarreling!

BenvolioIf I were as quick to get into a fight as you, any man should bet that my life will be short.

MercutioA bet! That’s silly.

BenvolioI swear on my head, here come the Capulets.

MercutioI swear on my heel, I don’t give a damn.

Tybalt[To his companions] Back me up, I’m going to talk to them. [To Benvolio and Mercutio] Gentlemen, good afternoon. I’d like a word with one of you.

MercutioJust one word with one of us? Why not add something to it? Make it a word and a blow.

TybaltYou’ll find me ready enough for that, sir, if you will give me an excuse.

MercutioCan’t you take some excuse, instead of me giving you one?

TybaltMercutio, you hang out with Romeo.

MercutioHang out with him? Do you think we’re a musical group? If so, you’re only going to hear harsh notes from us.

Mercutio[Pointing to his sword] Here’s the bow for my fiddle, it’ll make you dance. By God, “consort” you say!

BenvolioWe’re arguing out in public. Remember the Prince’s threat. Either let’s go to some private place where we can discuss your grievances calmly and rationally, or else go our separate ways. Here everyone's looking at us.

MercutioMen's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. I will not budge for any man's preference.[Enter Romeo]

TybaltWell, goodbye, sir. Here comes my man.

MercutioYour man! I’d be hanged before he would put on the uniform of your manservants. You call him your servant, your follower. Go to the dueling field; he’ll be your “follower” then. He’ll follow you onto the field to give you a proper fight. In that sense, your worship may call him your “follower.”

TybaltRomeo, the nicest thing I can say about you is this: you’re a villain.

Romeo

Name: Date: Period:

Tybalt, I have reason to love you, and that reason prevents the anger such a remark should provoke. I’m no villain. So goodbye, I see that you don’t really know me.

TybaltBoy, what you said won’t excuse the insults that you have given me. So turn around and draw your sword.

RomeoI insist, I have never insulted you, and actually have more love for you than you can guess until you understand the reason why. And so, good Capulet--a name I now must value as much as my own--be content with this.

MercutioOh Romeo, what a dishonorable, cowardly surrender! Are you going to let his fancy-named fencing moves win the day? [Draws his sword] Tybalt, you rat catcher, will you have a go with me?

TybaltWhat do you want with me?

MercutioGood king of cats, I just want one of your nine lives, which I intend to abuse, and, depending on how you treat me, I may want to bash the other eight, too. Pluck your frightened sword out of its sack by the ears, and be quick about it or my sword will already be hitting you around the ears.

TybaltI’m ready for you.

RomeoGentle Mercutio, lower your sword.

MercutioCome, sir, show me one of your fancy moves. Show me your passado.

RomeoDraw your sword, Benvolio, and beat down their weapons so they don’t strike each other. Gentlemen, for shame, stop this outrage! Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly forbade fighting in Verona streets. Stop, Tybalt! Stop good Mercutio![Tybalt under Romeo's arm stabs Mercutio, and runs away with his followers]

MercutioI’ve been hurt. A curse on both your families! I’m done for. Has Tybalt taken off with no injury?

BenvolioWhat, are you hurt?

MercutioIt’s just a scratch, a little scratch, but it’s enough to do me in. Where’s my page? Go, fool, fetch a doctor.

RomeoHave courage, man, it can’t be a serious wound.

MercutioNo, the wound’s not as deep as a well, nor as wide as a church-door, but it’s enough. It’ll do the job. Ask for me tomorrow, and you will find me a grave man. I am finished for this world. A plague on both your houses! My God, a mere dog, a rat, a mouse, or a cat can scratch a man to death! Some braggart, some rogue, some villain that fights by the book as if he’s solving arithmetic problems! Romeo, why the devil did you come between us? He stabbed me underneath your arm.

RomeoI was trying my best to help.

Mercutio

Name: Date: Period:

Help me into some house, Benvolio, or I’ll pass out. A plague on both your houses! They’ve made worms' meat of me. I’ve had it, for sure. A plague on your houses!

RomeoThis gentleman, the prince's close relation, my true friend, has been mortally wounded on my behalf. My reputation has been tarnished by Tybalt's slander--Tybalt, who has been my relative by marriage for only an hour! O sweet Juliet, your beauty has made me feminine, and has softened the hard steel of my nature.

BenvolioO Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead! His gallant spirit has climbed up to the clouds, having left the earth too soon.

RomeoWe haven’t seen the end of the fallout from this awful, fateful day. This is just the beginning of a sorrow that future days will end.

BenvolioHere comes angry Tybalt back again.

RomeoHow can he be alive and triumphant and Mercutio’s killed? I’ve had enough of my considerate mercy, and now I will act with fiery fury! Now, Tybalt, take back what you said about me being a villain or else, for Mercutio’s soul has not yet flown far away, and it’s waiting for yours to keep him company. Either you or me, or both of us, must go with him.

TybaltYou, you wretched boy that hung out with him here, you’ll go with him in the afterlife.

RomeoWe’ll see about that.

BenvolioRomeo, you have to get away, hurry! There are people around and Tybalt’s lying here dead. Don’t stand there stupefied. The prince will condemn you to death if you’re arrested. Go, get out, get away!

RomeoOh, I’m fate’s toy!

BenvolioWhat are you waiting for?

First CitizenWhich we did Mercutio’s killer run? Which way did Tybalt run, that murderer?

BenvolioThere lies that Tybalt.

First CitizenGet up, sir, go with me. I charge you in the prince’s name to obey.

PrinceWhere are the vile men who started this fight?

BenvolioOh noble prince, I can explain it all, everything that happened as a result of this fateful brawl. There’s the man Romeo killed, the one who slew Mercutio.

Lady CapuletTybalt, my nephew! Oh, my brother’s child! Oh Prince! Oh nephew! Oh husband! Oh the blood has been spilled! Oh my dear relative! Oh Prince, if you’re an honorable man, you must shed blood of the Montagues since they have shed ours. Oh nephew, nephew!

Prince

Name: Date: Period:

Benvolio, who started this bloody fight?Benvolio

It was Tybalt, who lies here dead after Romeo killed him. Romeo spoke kindly to him, urged him to stop and think about how silly the fight was, and mentioned your official disapproval. Everything he said, with his calm expression, even voice, and humble posture, could not ease Tybalt’s anger, for Tybalt was deaf to talk of peace. Tybalt struck at Mercutio with his sword, and Mercutio, who was just as angry, met him in that fight. They fought with warlike pride. Tybalt held death at bay with one hand and Mercutio threatened him with death again in turn, but Tybalt nimbly pushed back.

BenvolioRomeo cried out “Stop, friends!” and tried to bat down their swords faster than his own cry. He rushed between them, and underneath his arm, Tybalt fatally stabbed brave Mercutio, and then Tybalt ran off. He came back not much later for Romeo, who had just begun to think of revenge, and they went at it as quick as lightning. Before I could even draw my sword to break up the fight, stout-hearted Tybalt was killed, and as he fell to the ground Romeo turned and fled. This is the truth. I stake my life on it.

Lady CapuletHe’s a relative of the Montagues. Affection for them twists his words, he’s not telling the truth. There were twenty or so fighting in this dreadful quarrel, and Romeo was the only one who killed. I beg for justice, Prince. You must give us justice. Romeo killed Tybalt, so Romeo cannot live.

PrinceRomeo killed Tybalt, and Tybalt killed Mercutio. Who now will pay for Mercutio’s life?

MontagueNot Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend. His transgression was killing Tybalt, but the law would have condemned Tybalt to death anyway.

PrinceAnd for the offense let him be immediately exiled. I am not indifferent to the outcome of your feud. My family lies bleeding because of your uncivilized brawls. I will punish you with such a heavy fine that you will all regret the loss of my kinsman, Mercutio. I will not hear any pleading or excuses. Neither tears nor prayers will lighten the punishment, so don’t try either. Let Romeo depart quickly, or else, if he’s found here, he’ll be put to death immediately. Bring in Mercutio’s body and obey me. Mercy only does harm when it pardons those who kill.

Name: Date: Period:


Unaware of the deadly fight between Mercutio, Romeo, and Tybalt, Juliet waits for her husband to return to her room to spend the night. Her nurse arrives, bringing bad news. When Juliet hears of Tybalt’s death, she’s horrified. But she then realizes that, if faced with the choice between her cousin Tybalt and her husband Romeo, she would choose Romeo. She forgives her husband and grieves over his exile. The Nurse agrees to find Romeo and to send him to Juliet’s chamber for the night as planned.

Modern English Juliet

Come on, sun, hurry up and set. I wish some god would whip you forward so the cloudy night would come immediately. Let night wanderers blink and miss us and let Romeo leap into my arms unseen. Lovers can see well enough to make love by the light of beauty, and if they can’t, it won’t matter in the dark of night anyway. If only night would come like a proper widow dressed in black and teach me how to gain something by losing my virginity. Cover the virginal blush in my cheeks with your dark cloak until the strangeness of sex goes away and this act of true love seems natural and modest. Come on, night. Come on, Romeo, the bright part of my night. Through the dark you’ll seem like white snow on a raven’s back. Come dark and loving night, give me my Romeo. When I die, take him and cut out little stars from him and he will make the night sky so beautiful that the whole world will fall in love with night and forget the garish sun.I have a love, but haven’t possessed it, like an empty house I don’t yet live in. I belong to Romeo but he hasn’t taken possession of me. This day of waiting is as tedious as the night before a big festival is to an impatient child who has a new dress and hasn’t had an occasion to wear it yet. Oh, here comes my nurse, and she’s bringing some news. Everyone who reports something about Romeo sounds like they’re speaking in beautiful poetry. Nurse, what is the news? What do you have there? Is that the rope-ladder that Romeo asked you to get?

NurseYes, yes, the ropes.

JulietOh no--what is this news? Why are you wringing our hands?

NurseOh, what a day! He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead! We’re ruined, lady, we’re ruined! Alas! He’s gone, he’s been killed, he’s dead!

Name: Date: Period:

JulietCan heaven be so jealous of me?

NurseRomeo can, if heaven can’t. Oh Romeo, Romeo! Who would have thought it? Romeo!

JulietWhat kind of devil are you to torment me like this? This is torture to my ears and fit only to be screamed in a dismal hell. Did Romeo kill himself? Just say “aye”, and that short sound “aye” will kill more surely than the eye of a basilisk that turns its onlookers to stone. I don’t even want to be an “I” if there is such an awful “aye” in the world, or if Romeo’s eyes are shut and thus make you answer “aye”. If he was killed, say “aye”, and if not, say “no”. The brief sounds in these answers will decide whether I will be happy or sad.

NurseI saw the wound, I saw it with my own eyes--forgive my explicitness!--right here on his breast. A pitiful corpse, a bloody pitiful corpse. He was pale, as white as ashes, all splattered with blood, gory blood. I fainted at the sight.

JulietOh let my heart break! Poor devastated heart, break now! Let my eyes be imprisoned and never look freely! Let this vile body I have die and return to the earth, stop living now, and let my casket join Romeo’s in a double burial!

NurseOh Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! Oh courteous Tybalt! Honest gentleman! I can’t believed I’ve lived to see you dead!

JulietWhat’s this outburst that sounds so different? Romeo’s been killed and Tybalt’s dead? My beloved cousin and my husband whom I love even more? If so, then let a trumpet announce that Judgment Day has come! Who’s alive if these two are gone?

NurseTybalt is gone, and Romeo’s banished. Romeo killed Tybalt, and he has been banished.

JulietOh God! Was Tybalt’s blood shed by Romeo’s hand?

NurseIt was, it was, alas the day, it was!

JulietOh Romeo has the heart of a serpent masked by the face of spring flowers! Was there ever an evil dragon that lived in such a beautiful cave? What a beautiful tyrant! What an angelic devil! A raven with the feathers of a dove, a lamb that devours wolves! What cursed substance hidden in divine appearance! You are the exact opposite of what you truly seemed to be, like a damned saint or an honorable villain! Nature, what were you doing in hell when you put the spirit of a devil in such an angelic form as Romeo? Was there ever such a vile book with such a beautiful cover? Oh how could deceit be found in such a gorgeous place?

NurseThere’s no trust, faith or honesty in men. They all lie under oath or deny the oaths they took. They are nothing but fakes. Ah, where’s my servant? Bring me a strong drink. All these sorrows make me feel old. Shame on Romeo!

JulietYour tongue should have blisters for wishing such a thing! Romeo is not shameful. Shame could never sit on his forehead because his face is a throne where only honor can reign, and shame itself would be ashamed to be on his face. What an ass I was to criticize him like that!

Name: Date: Period:

NurseWill you speak well of the one who killed your cousin?

JulietWill I speak ill of my husband? My poor lord, who’s going to clear your name after I, your wife of three hours, spoke like that? But why, poor fool, did you kill my cousin? That poor foolish cousin would have killed my husband. No, go back to where you came from, tears. You should flow at sadness and I’ve mistakenly cried at joy. My husband lives though Tybalt wanted to kill him, and Tybalt cannot kill him now that he’s dead. This is a relief, so why am I crying? The nurse uttered a word worse than “death”--a word that killed me. I would love to forget that I heard it, but it sticks in my memory like a crime a guilty person cannot forget: “Tybalt is dead and Romeo is banished.” That one word “banished” is worse than ten thousand times Tybalt’s death. Tybalt’s death was painful enough on its own. If the news of his death needed to have the company of other miseries, why couldn’t it have been followed by news of my mother’s or my father’s death, which would have caused just the ordinary level of grieving. But to finish with “Romeo is banished” is as horrible as to say they’re all dead--mother, father, Tybalt, Romeo, and me. There’s no end or limit or boundary to the destruction in that word “banished.” No words can express or measure that sorrow. Nurse, where’s my mother and father?

NurseThey’re weeping and wailing over Tybalt’s corpse. Will you go to them? I’ll bring you over there.

JulietThey can wash Tybalt’s wounds with their tears. Mine will flow for Romeo’s banishment when their tears for Tybalt have dried up. Let me have these ropes—poor rope ladder, it has been deceived, like me, now that Romeo has been exiled. Romeo made you to be a pathway to my bed. But now I’ll die a widowed virgin. Come kill me, ropes, and nurse, this will be my wedding-bed. Let death, not Romeo, take my virginity!

NurseHurry to your room. I’ll find Romeo to comfort you. I know exactly where he is. Look, your Romeo will be here at night. I’ll go to him. He’s hiding at Friar Laurence’s cell.

JulietOh you must find him! Give this ring to my true knight, and tell him to come and say a last goodbye.


Name: Date: Period:

A frantic Romeo pays Friar Lawrence a visit. The Friar tells Romeo the somewhat good news: he won’t face death, but because he killed Tybalt, Romeo can never return to Verona. Romeo doesn’t think that’s such good news: he’d rather be dead than separated from Juliet. The Nurse arrives, bringing news of a miserable Juliet. Romeo’s miserable, too, and threatens suicide. Friar Lawrence and the Nurse agree to let Romeo have one last night with Juliet, and then face exile in the morning. Then they’ll try to figure out a way to get him pardoned so that he can return to his new wife and Verona for good.

Modern English

Friar LaurenceCome here, Romeo. Come here my frightened young man. Trouble must be in love with you because you seem to be married to disaster.

RomeoWhat’s the news, father? How did the Prince rule in my case? What other misfortune is waiting to meet me that I’m not already acquainted with?

Friar LaurenceUnfortunately trouble and disaster are your closest friends, my dear son. I have news of the Prince’s verdict.

RomeoCould the Prince’s sentence be anything less than the end of the world for me?

Friar LaurenceA more lenient ruling: not death, just banishment from Verona.

RomeoHa, banishment! You might as well take mercy on me and say “death” because exile is much more horrible than death. Don’t say “banishment.”

Friar LaurenceFrom this time on, you are banished from Verona. But be patient, the world is wide.

RomeoThere is no world for me outside Verona’s walls, except for the worlds of purgatory, torture, and hell itself. So to be banished from Verona is to be banished from the world. And what is being banished from the world if not death? Banishment is death by another name. Calling death banishment is just cutting off my head with a golden axe while giving me a nice smile.

Friar LaurenceIt’s a sin for you to be so rude and ungrateful! The crime you committed calls for the death penalty, but the kind prince has set aside the law and changed your dark sentence of death into banishment. This is kind mercy, and you don’t see it.

RomeoBanishment is torture, not mercy. Heaven is here where Juliet lives. How can every cat, dog, mouse, and unworthy beast live in heaven and look at her, but I cannot? Flies in Verona live with more worth and more dignity than I do. Flies can touch her wonderful pale hands or hear blessings from her lips, but I can’t. Those lips still blush with pure virginal modesty, as though the kisses they bring are sinful! Flies can see all this but I must flee Verona. Flies live freely and I’m banished. And you still insist that exile isn’t death to me? Do you have no other way to kill me but the word “banished”? No poison, no sharpened knife, no other sudden, less cruel means of dying? Just “banished”? Oh Friar, that’s a word for the damned souls in hell to howl. How do you, my priest, my confessor, and my sworn friend, have the heart to torture me with that word “banished”?

Friar Laurence

Name: Date: Period:

You mad lovestruck man, just listen to me briefly.Romeo

Oh, you’re just going to talk about banishment again.Friar Laurence

I’ll give you the armor to fend off the effects of banishment. I’ll give you a soothing balm for your struggle, a rational word to comfort you, despite your banishment.

RomeoStill talking about banishment? Go hang up your “rational” armor on the wall! Unless it can make another Juliet to go with me, or uproot Verona to where I’ll be, or reverse the Prince’s decision--if if your rationality can’t do any of these things, then it’s useless. Say no more.

Friar LaurenceThen I see that madmen have no ears to listen.

RomeoWhy should they, when wise men have no eyes to see things as they are?

Friar LaurenceLet me explain to you how your situation doesn’t have to be so terrible.

RomeoYou can’t talk about what you don’t feel. If you were this young, you were in love with Juliet, you were just married hours ago, you were the murderer of Tybalt, and you were as hopelessly in love as I am and banished like me, then you could talk about it. Then you could tear your hair out in despair and fall over like I am now, on the ground stretched out as if for a new grave.

Friar LaurenceGet up. Someone’s knocking at the door. Good Romeo, hide yourself.

RomeoI can’t hide, unless perhaps I’m shrouded from sight in the mist of my own heartsick groans.

Friar LaurenceListen, they’re knocking urgently! [To outside] Who’s there? [To Romeo] Romeo, you have to get up, you’ll be arrested. [To outside] Wait one moment! [To Romeo] Stand up. Run to my office.[To outside] Just a minute! [To Romeo] By God, how can you act so stupid! I’m coming, I’m coming! Who is it that’s knocking so hard? Where are you coming from? What do you want?

NurseLet me come in, and I’ll tell you what I’m doing. I’ve come from Lady Juliet.

Friar LaurenceWelcome, then.

NurseOh holy friar, oh, tell me holy friar, where is my lady’s husband, where’s Romeo?

Friar LaurenceHe’s lying there on the ground, drunk on his own tears.

NurseOh, he’s just like Juliet is now, just like her! Oh what similar misery! What a pitiful predicament! She’s lying down just like that, blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering. Stand up, stand up! Be a man for Juliet’s sake, for her sake get up and stand! Why are you falling into such a deep groan?

RomeoNurse!

NurseAh sir! Ah sir! Well, death is everyone’s end.

Romeo

Name: Date: Period:

Were you talking about Juliet? How is she? Does she think I’m a murderer now that I’ve stained the innocent infancy of our love with her own family’s blood? Where is she? And how is she doing? And what does my hidden wife say about our ruined love?

NurseOh, she doesn’t say anything, sir, she just weeps and weeps. She’ll fall on her bed, and then bolt up and cry “Tybalt”, then cry about Romeo, and finally fall back down again.

RomeoOh, it’s as if my name was shot from a gun and murdered her, just like the hand that belongs to my name murdered her family. Oh friar, tell me which part of my body contains my name? Tell me so that I may hack off the place where that name dwells.

Friar LaurenceStop, don’t give in to desperation. Are you a man? You look like one, but your tears are more fit for a woman and your wild actions are only fit for the irrational fury of some beast.

Friar LaurenceHow shameful to have these womanly qualities in someone who appears to be a man. Or even worse, how shameful to seem like you’re half man and half wild animal. You’ve astonished me. I swear by my holy order of friars, I didn’t think you were this unstable. Did you kill Tybalt? Are you going to kill yourself? And would you kill your wife--who’s living for you--by committing sinful suicide? Why are you trying to shame your family and heaven and the earth? They had to come together to create your life, and you would throw that all away in a second!You are bringing shame to your body, your love, and your intellect. You have so much potential in all these things, but you want to get rid of them rather than use them correctly, like a rich man who would rather lend money than work an honest trade. You’re abusing your body, your love, and your wit. Your body is just like the wax form of a man without the virtue of a real person. Your marriage vows are like lies under sworn oath since you’re trying to kill yourself and the love you vowed to uphold. Your intelligence, which should enhance your body and your love, has been warped by the way it’s managed both of them. Now your intellect is like powder in the loaded gun of an unskilled soldier, going off due to its owner’s ignorance and maiming what it should protect.Come on, take heart, man! Your Juliet, for whom you were just now about to kill yourself, is alive. For that you are fortunate. Tybalt wanted to kill you, but you slew Tybalt, and you’re fortunate there as well. The law that would have condemned you to death has been much friendlier to you, and that punishment was turned into exile, which is fortunate, too. You’ve got a whole pack of blessings resting on you, and happiness woos you, but you’re behaving like a sullen girl by pouting about your bad luck and your love. Watch out, for people like you will be miserable all their lives. Go, get yourself to your love, like you agreed, and climb into her room and comfort her.But make sure you leave before the town watchmen go to their posts, for then you won’t be able to flee Verona for Mantua. You can live in Mantua until we can find a time to make your marriage public, reconcile your friends with each other, beg the Prince’s pardon, and call you back with twenty thousand times more joy than you had sorrow when you left. Lead the way, nurse. Pay my respects to Juliet, and tell her to go quickly home to bed, which I’m sure her intense sorrow will lead her to do anyway. Tell her Romeo is coming.

NurseOh Lord, I could have stayed here all night long hearing such good advice. What a smart man. My lord, I’ll tell my lady Juliet that you will come to her.

RomeoDo so, and tell my dear to prepare to criticize me for what I’ve done.

NurseHere, sir, I have a ring that she told me to give you, sir. Hurry, be quick, as it’s getting really late.

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RomeoOh I’m so relieved by all of this!

Friar LaurenceBe off and good night. Romeo, here’s your situation: either be gone before they set the watch tonight, or sneak out in disguise at daybreak. Stay in Mantua. I’ll find your servant, and from time to time, I’ll have him bring news to you of anything that bodes well for you here in Verona. Let me shake your hand, it’s late. Farewell and goodnight.

RomeoIf I weren’t called to a joy beyond all other joys, I would be sad to leave you after such a brief visit. Farewell.


Paris is anxious to marry Juliet, not realizing, of course, that she’s already taken. He goes to Capulet, who promised that his daughter will do whatever he commands. He makes plans with Paris for the two to marry that week and tells his wife to go prepare Juliet for the wedding.

Modern English

CapuletSir, things have turned out so unluckily that we haven’t had the time to persuade Juliet to marry you. Understand that she loved her cousin Tybalt dearly, as did I...well, we all must die. It’s very late, she won’t come down tonight. I can tell you that if it weren’t for your company I would have gone to bed an hour ago.

ParisThese sad times don’t give much opportunity for wooing. Madam, good night. Give my respects to your daughter.

Lady CapuletI will, and I’ll ask her what she thinks tomorrow. Tonight she’s shut up in her sorrow.

CapuletCount Paris, I will venture so far as to offer you my daughter’s love. I think that she will be governed in this respect by me. No, I have no doubt that she will be. Dear wife, before you go to bed, inform her of the love of Paris, my future son-in-law, and ask her--note this--on next Wednesday--wait, what day is it?

ParisMonday, my lord.

Capulet

Name: Date: Period:

Monday, ha ha! Well, in that case Wednesday is too soon. Let’s have it on Thursday. Tell her that on Thursday she’ll be married to this noble earl. [To Paris] Will you be ready by then? Do you approve of this speed? We won’t have a big affair, just a friend or two. With Tybalt being so recently killed, a big ceremony and party might make it look like we aren’t properly mourning his death. So we’ll have a half dozen friends or so and that’s it. But what do you say to Thursday?

ParisMy lord, I wish that Thursday was tomorrow.

CapuletWell you should get home. Let’s say it’s definitely on Thursday, then. [To Lady Capulet] Go see Juliet before you go to bed and prepare her for this wedding day. Farewell, my lord. Bring some light to my chamber! Bring it in ahead of me. It is so very, very late that in a short time we could say it’s early morning. Good night!


Having spent the night together, Romeo and Juliet must part ways in the morning. They hem and haw for a while, until the Nurse enters and tells Juliet that her mother is on the way. As Romeo leaves, the two wonder if they’ll see each other again. Lady Capulet enters and assumes Juliet’s visible grief is a result of Tybalt’s death. But she comes bearing good news: Capulet has arranged for Juliet to marry Paris, and soon. Juliet refuses, and continues to do so even when her father enters and threatens to throw her out if she doesn’t. After Capulet and Lady Capulet leave, Juliet begs her Nurse for help. When she refuses, Juliet decides to seek help from Friar Lawrence instead.

Modern English

JulietAre you going to leave? It’s not yet that close to daytime. That was the nightingale--not the morning lark--that just made that loud, piercing cry. The nightingale sings every night on that pomegranate tree over there. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.

RomeoIt was the lark--always a sign of morning--and not the nightingale. Look, love, see the sun streaks lacing through the severe clouds there in the east? The stars have disappeared, and the cheerful day is reaching up over the eastern mountaintops. I have to go and live, or stay here and be killed.

JulietThat light over there isn’t daylight, I know that for sure. It must be some meteor the sun breathed this way to light a lamp for you tonight so you can see your way to Mantua. So stay a little longer, you don’t need to leave.

RomeoLet me be taken, and let me be put to death--I’m happy as long as you wish it. I’ll say that gray light is not the morning, just the smallest reflection of the moon goddess’ face. Nor is that sound the lark with its notes echoing in the heavens above us. I have more impulse to stay here than will to leave.

RomeoCome, Death, and welcome! Juliet wills it to be this way. How are you, my love? Let’s talk, it’s not yet day.

Juliet

Name: Date: Period:

It is, it is. Go, get away from here, away! I admit it is the lark singing, sounding so out of tune and sharp in this moment. Some say that the lark has an excellent sense of rhythm and time. It’s not true, since she’s dividing us as well. Some say that the lark and the toad switched eyes. Now I wish they’d switched voices as well, since that voice is ripping us from each other’s arms, and people will be hunting you. Oh, you must go away, it’s getting more and more light!

RomeoThe lighter it gets, the darker our sadness becomes.

NurseMadam!

JulietNurse?

NurseYour mother is coming to your room. It’s past daybreak, so be wary, keep watch.

JulietMay the window let daylight in and you, my life, out.

RomeoFarewell, farewell! One kiss, then I’ll descend.

JulietAre you gone just like that, my love, my lord, my husband, my friend? I must hear from you every hour of every day. Every minute without Romeo will seem like a day, and I shall be very old before I see you again, my Romeo.

RomeoGoodbye. I won’t miss any opportunity to send you my greetings, love.

JulietOh, do you think we will ever meet again?

RomeoI have no doubt that we will, and all these sorrows we’re feeling now will be nostalgic memories we’ll look back on in the future.

JulietO God, I can’t stop imagining bad things happening! I feel like I can see you in a miserable state, as if dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyes are failing, or you look very pale.

RomeoTrust me, love, you look pale to me too--sorrow drains away our blood. Adieu, adieu!

JulietOh Fortune, they all say that you are fickle. If you are so fickle, what are you doing with my Romeo, who is well-known for his faithfulness? Be fickle, Fortune. If you are, I have some hope that you might change your mind and not keep Romeo away so long, but bring him back instead.

Lady CapuletHello, daughter! Are you up?

JulietWho’s calling? Is it my mother? Has she stayed up late, or is she up early? What has happened to make her come to my room at such a strange hour?

Lady CapuletHow are you, Juliet?

JulietI’m not well, Mother.

Lady Capulet

Name: Date: Period:

Still weeping for your cousin’s death? Would you try to wash him from the grave with tears? Even if you could, you couldn’t bring him back to life, so stop crying. A certain amount of grief shows a large amount of love, but too much grief makes you seem stupid.

JulietStill, let me weep for such a heavy loss.

Lady CapuletIn that case you will feel the loss, but the friend you weep for will not.

JulietIf I feel the loss so much, I can’t help but keep crying for my friend.

Lady CapuletWell, girl, I suppose you’re weeping not so much for Tybalt’s death as you are for the fact that his killer still lives.

JulietWhat killer, madam?

Lady CapuletThat villain, Romeo.

JulietMay Romeo and all villainy always be miles away. God pardon him! I do, with all my heart, even though no other man could make me grieve so much.

Lady CapuletThat’s because the traitorous murderer is still alive.

JulietYes, madam, away from the reach of my hands. I wish no one but me could avenge my cousin’s death!

Lady CapuletWe will have revenge for it, fear not.

JulietMay Romeo and all villainy always be miles away. God pardon him! I do, with all my heart, even though no other man could make me grieve so much.

Lady CapuletThat’s because the traitorous murderer is still alive.

JulietYes, madam, away from the reach of my hands. I wish no one but me could avenge my cousin’s death!

Lady CapuletWe will have revenge for it, fear not. And then stop weeping. I’ll send someone to Mantua where that banished criminal now lives, and they’ll give him such a powerful poison that he’ll soon keep Tybalt company. And then, I hope, you’ll be satisfied.

JulietIndeed, I’ll never be satisfied with Romeo until I see him dead...dead is what my heart is like now on behalf of my cousin. Mother, if you could just find a servant to carry the poison, I’d fix it so that Romeo would be killed right away after drinking it. Oh, my heart hates hearing his name, and I cannot go to him to throw the love that I had for my cousin upon the body that killed him!

Lady CapuletYou find a suitable poison, and I’ll find a suitable servant. But now I have to tell you good news, girl.

JulietJoy is badly needed in this time. Please, mother, what is the good news?

Lady Capulet

Name: Date: Period:

Well, you have a thoughtful father, child. Your father, to alleviate your grief, has arranged a joyful day for you, which neither you nor I anticipated.

JulietWhat day is that, mother?

Lady CapuletIndeed, my child, it’s next Thursday in the early morning, when Count Paris, the gallant, young, and noble gentleman, will make you a happy bride at Saint Peter’s Church.

JulietI swear on the Church of Saint Peter and Peter himself, too, he will not make me a happy bride there. I’m amazed at this haste, that I have to get married before he’s even come to woo me, the man who wants to be my husband. Please, mother, tell my lord and father that I won’t marry yet, and when I do I’d rather marry Romeo, whom you know I hate, than marry Paris. What incredible news indeed!

Lady CapuletHere comes your father, tell him so yourself and see how he takes it from you.

CapuletWhen the sun sets there’s a drizzle of dew, but my nephew’s death, the sunset of his life, has caused a downpour. What is it now, are you some kind of water pipe, girl? What, are you still crying? In your little body there’s a storm with a boat, a sea, and a wind. Your eyes are like the sea ebbing and flowing with tears, your body is like a boat sailing through the tears, and your violent sighing is like stormwinds that threaten to overpower your body as if it were a ship in a tempest. What about it, wife? Have you told her about my decision?

Lady CapuletYes, sir, but she won’t have any of it, she just thanks you. I wish the silly girl were married to her own grave!

CapuletWhat! Hold on, wife, hold on. What is this? She refuses? Isn’t she grateful for us? Isn’t she proud of her family? Doesn’t she count herself blessed, unworthy as she is, that we found such a worthy gentlemen to be her husband?

JulietI’m not proud that you’ve done this, but I’m thankful. I can’t be proud of something I can’t stand, but I can be thankful for anything if it was done with good intentions.

CapuletWhat is this twisted logic! What is this? You’re proud and you thank us and yet you’re ungrateful and you can’t be proud? You spoiled brat, don’t give me any more of these thanks or this pride. Just get yourself ready for next Thursday to go marry Paris at Saint Peter’s Church, or I’ll drag you there, tied to a wooden frame. Curse you, you weak wretch, you piece of dead weight, you pale faced girl!

Lady CapuletShame on you! Are you crazy?

JulietGood father, I’m begging you on my knees. Please just listen to me for a few words.

CapuletDamn you, useless girl! Disobedient wretch! I’ll tell you what. Get yourself to the church on Thursday or never look me in the face again. Don’t speak to me, don’t reply, don’t answer. I feel like I could hit you. My wife, we thought we had been meagerly blessed having just this one child, but now I see that this one alone is too much, and we’re cursed to have her. Curse you, you beast!

NurseGod in heaven bless her! You’re wrong, my lord, to yell at her like that.

Name: Date: Period:

CapuletWhy, are you the Lady of Wisdom? Hold your tongue. Go talk to your fellow gossips somewhere, go.

NurseI said nothing wrong.

CapuletOh God, good afternoon already!

NurseAm I not allowed to speak?

CapuletQuiet, you mumbling fool! Go spread your wise advice to some gossip, we don’t need that here.

Lady CapuletYou’re too angry.

CapuletI swear on the Holy Communion, this makes me mad. All day and night, in work and play, time after time, alone and in company, my goal has always been to have her married. And now I’ve provided a gentleman from a good family, with a lovely estate, who is young and well brought up, full to bursting with honor and as good-looking as you could imagine. And then after all of that to have a wretched, blubbering fool, like a whiny baby, look at her good luck and say “I won’t get married, I’m not in love, I’m too young, sorry, forgive me.”Well, if you won’t get married, I’ll pardon you. Go make your way as you wish, but you won’t live under my roof. Think about it. Consider it carefully. I’m not a joking man. Thursday is coming soon--put your hand on your heart and take my advice. If you want to be my child, I’ll give you away to Paris in marriage. If you won’t marry him, get hanged, beg, starve, go die in the streets, for I swear on my soul I’ll never acknowledge you again, nor will I permit any family to help you. Trust that I will keep my word. I won’t go back on this promise.

JulietIs there no pity in heaven that can see the depths of my grief?Oh my sweet mother, don’t cast me away! Delay this marriage for a month, even a week. If you don’t you should make my bridal bed in the crypt where Tybalt lies.

Lady CapuletDon’t talk to me, you won’t get a word in return. Do what you want, for I’m done with you.

JulietOh God! Nurse, how can we prevent this? My husband is alive and I’m married to him in the eyes of God. The only way not to be married is if he were dead in heaven instead of here on the earth. Help me, advise me. How can heaven inflict such a horrible situation on a young girl like me! What do you think? Do you have any words of comfort? I need some comforting, sweet nurse.

NurseWell this is it. Romeo’s been banished, and it’s almost positive that he’ll never dare to come back and challenge this marriage. Or, if he does, he’ll have to do it by stealth. Now, given the situation, I think it would be best if you married the count. Oh, but he’s a lovely gentleman! Romeo’s just a dishcloth compared to him! An eagle doesn’t have as good an eye as Paris does. By my heart I think you’ll be happier with this second match because it’s better than your first. Or, if it’s not, your first love is dead, or it’s as if he were, since you’re no use to him living here.

JulietAre you speaking from your heart?

NurseYes, and from my soul, too, or else a curse on them both!

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JulietAmen!

NurseWhat did you say?

JulietWell, you’ve been marvellously comforting. Go inside and tell my mother that I’ve gone to Friar Laurence’s cell to make confession and be forgiven for my sins after displeasing my father like that.

NurseI will indeed, and I think that’s a smart idea.

JulietDamn old woman! Oh what a wicked devil! Is it more sinful to tell me to break my marriage vows or to speak ill of Romeo like that when she’s praised him beyond comparison so many thousands of times? Go, my former advisor, you and my inner thoughts will be separated from now on. I’ll go to the friar to see if he has a solution. If all else fails, I still have the power to end my own life.


Paris is busy making plans with Friar Lawrence for his upcoming wedding with Juliet. Juliet enters, and, sensing she’s there for confession, Paris makes his exit. A despairing Juliet begs Friar Lawrence’s help in averting a marriage to Paris. If he can’t help her, she has resolved to commit suicide. Friar Lawrence has a solution: she should go along with her father’s plan, but when it’s time to marry Paris, Juliet will take a potion that mimics death. She’ll be placed in the Capulet tomb, where the Friar will bring Romeo to wait for her to wake up. Juliet consents to the plan, takes the vial, and leaves.

Modern English

Friar LaurenceOn Thursday, sir? That’s very very soon.

ParisLord Capulet, my future father-in-law, wants it to be that way, and I’m not anxious to slow him down.

Friar LaurenceYou said that you don’t know what the lady thinks. This path to marriage seems unstable. I don’t like this.

ParisShe’s wallowing in tears over Tybalt’s death, and because of that I’ve barely talked about love, since love so rarely begins in a place of such sadness. Her father thinks it’s dangerous for her to be so affected by grief, and he’s wisely tried to hasten our marriage to stop this overwhelming grief of hers. It’s possible that company can help her while loneliness only encourages it. Now you can see the reason for this haste.

Friar Laurence[Aside] I wish I didn’t know why it should be delayed. Look, sir, here comes Juliet towards my cell.

ParisHow fortunate to see you, my lady and my wife!

JulietIt may be good to see you, sir, when I actually am a wife.

ParisYou must be next Thursday, love.

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JulietWhat must be, shall be.

Friar LaurenceThat’s a true statement.

ParisHave you come to make confession to the friar?

JulietIf I answered that, I would be confessing to you why I’ve come.

ParisDo not deny to him that you love me.

JulietI will confess to you that I love him.

ParisYes, I’m sure that you’ll confess that you love me.

JulietIf I do, a confession will be more valuable spoken behind your back instead of to your face.

ParisPoor soul, your face has been so stained with tears.

JulietGood for the tears. It was bad enough before they stained it.

ParisNo, you’re giving your face more of an insult than the tears did with that remark.

JulietIt’s not slander when it’s the truth. What I said, I said to my own face.

ParisYour face belongs to me, and you spoke ill of it!

JulietPerhaps it does belong to you, because it doesn’t feel like my own. Is this a good time now, holy father, or should I come back at evening mass?

Friar LaurenceThoughtful daughter, this is a convenient time. My lord, I’ll have to ask you to leave us in private.

ParisGod forbid I should get in the way of devout practice! Juliet, I’ll see you early on Thursday. Until then, goodbye, and have this holy kiss.

JulietOh shut the door, and when you have, come weep with me! I am past hope, past cure, past help!

Friar LaurenceAh Juliet, I already know about what is causing you such grief. It breaks my heart. I heard that you must be married to that count next Thursday, and that nothing can delay it.

JulietDon’t tell me that you know about this planned wedding to Paris, unless you know how to stop it. If, in all your wisdom you can’t help me, then you must acknowledge the wisdom of my resolving my problems with this knife. God joined my heart and Romeo’s, and you joined our hands. But before this hand shall be joined to another in holy matrimony, or my heart be unfaithful by turning to another, this knife shall kill both my hand and heart. Therefore, based on the experiences of your long life, give me some advice. Watch while this bloody knife plays the role of umpire, resolving the conflict between

Name: Date: Period:

my problems and myself, conflicts which your years of experience and knowledge could not solve in an honorable manner.

Friar LaurenceHold on, daughter. I can see a small hope, which needs action as desperate as this whole situation. If you have the strength to kill yourself rather than marry Count Paris, then I presume you would fake your death--undergo a state like death--to escape this sin. And if you’ll dare that, I can give you a solution.

JulietOh, rather than ask me to marry Paris, you could tell me to leap from the castle walls, walk among highway robbers, dwell with snakes, chain myself to a post and let bears attack me. I would sleep in a morgue every night covered in bones, with reeking limbs and yellowing jawless skulls, or go into a fresh grave and hide myself with a dead man inside his shroud, all these things that would have once made me shudder just to hear about. I would do it all without any fear or doubt to live as a virtuous wife to my sweet love.

Friar LaurenceWait, then. Go home, be cheerful, tell your family you consent to marry Paris. Tomorrow is Wednesday, and tomorrow night make sure you’re sleeping alone in your room without your nurse nearby. Take this vial of potion when you’re in bed and drink all of the liquid inside it. Immediately after you do you will feel cold and drowsy because your pulse will stop. Nothing will indicate that you’re still alive: no warmth, no breath, no color in your face. Your eyes will shut like death shutting windows on a day of life. Deprived of circulation, every part of your body will appear to be dead, stiff, and cold.You will continue to inhabit this borrowed appearance of death for forty-two hours, after which you will wake up, as if from a pleasant sleep. Now, when your groom-to-be comes in the morning to wake you on your wedding day, there you’ll be, dead. According to the traditional funeral rites in our country, you’ll be dressed in your finest robes and laid uncovered on a funeral bier to be carried to the ancient family crypt where all your Capulet ancestors are buried. So that you don’t have to wake up there alone, I will send word to Romeo about this plan, and he’ll come here. He and I will watch over your waking up, and that same night Romeo will take you away to Mantua. All this will free you from the present shameful state, if no womanish fear prevents you from going through with it.

JulietGive me the potion, give it to me! Oh, don’t talk to me about fear!

Friar LaurenceBe patient. Go back home, be strong and hold firm in your resolve. I’ll send a friar on a fast horse to Mantua with letters to your husband.

JulietLove give me strength! And strength shall help me endure. Farewell, dear father!


Preparations for the upcoming Juliet-Paris wedding are well underway at the Capulet household. Juliet arrives and tells her father that she’s decided to marry Paris after all. Capulet is so thrilled he decides to move the wedding up—to the next day.

Modern English

Name: Date: Period:

CapuletInvite exactly as many guests as are written down here.[Exit First Servant]You, boy, go hire me twenty skilled cooks.

Second ServantYou won’t have any bad cooks, sir. I’ll test them to see if they can lick their fingers.

CapuletHow is that test supposed to work?

Second ServantSir, it’s a bad cook who can’t lick his own fingers. Therefore anyone who can’t lick his fingers won’t be hired by me.

CapuletGo, do your errand.[Exit Second Servant]We won’t be very prepared for this wedding. Has my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?

NurseYes, indeed.

CapuletWell perhaps seeing him will do her some good. She acted like such a disobedient brat.

NurseLook, here she comes from confession and she looks cheerful.

CapuletHello, my headstrong daughter! Where have you been wandering around?

JulietI went where I learned to regret my sin of opposing you and your will. Friar Laurence instructed me to fall on my knees and beg your pardon. Pardon me, Father, I beg you! From now on I will always obey your rules.

CapuletSend for Paris, go tell him of this change of mind. We’ll have this marriage knot tied up tomorrow morning.

JulietI met young Paris and Laurence’s cell, and I showed him what proper love I could without overstepping the bounds of modesty.

CapuletWhy, I’m glad to hear this, this is good. Stand up. All this is as it should be. Let me meet with the count. Yes, I say, go fetch him here. Before God, I tell you, our whole city owes our reverend holy friar.

JulietNurse, will you come with me to help me look through my closet and sort out which clothes I should wear for tomorrow?

Lady CapuletNo, you can wait until Thursday, there’s enough time.

CapuletNo, nurse, go with her. We can go to church tomorrow.

Lady CapuletWe don’t have enough supplies for the wedding. It’s already almost night.

Capulet

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Oh it’s fine, I can get preparations started outside, and everything is going to turn out well, I tell you. You go to Juliet and help her dress. I’m not going to bed tonight. Leave me alone and I’ll handle your housewife’s chores for once.What! Everyone’s left. Well, I’ll go alone to Count Paris to prepare him for tomorrow. My heart feels amazingly light now that our disobedient daughter has seen sense.


Deciding that it’s now or never, Juliet sends the nurse away and takes the potion, knowing how terrifying it will be to wake up in her family’s tomb. If the mixture doesn’t work, she has a plan B: her dagger. She’s also worried that the potion might actually be poison, but decides to trust Friar Lawrence. She drinks the potion and falls upon her bed.

Modern English

JulietYes, those clothes would be best. But my gentle nurse, please, leave me by myself tonight. I have many prayers to make in order to get heaven to smile on my coming marriage, for as you well know I’ve been contrary and sinful.

Lady CapuletHey, are you busy now? Do you need my help?

JulietNo, Mother, we’ve collected the clothes I’ll need for the wedding tomorrow.

JulietIf it’s okay with you, I’d prefer to be left alone tonight and let the nurse stay with you, for I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with this business and could use some extra help.

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Lady CapuletGood night. Get to bed, and sleep--you’ll need rest.

JulietFarewell! God knows when we’ll meet again. I feel a thrill of fear in my veins that almost seems like it could freeze up my life’s warmth.Maybe I’ll call them back to comfort me. Oh but why should the nurse be here? I must go through this grim process alone. Potion, let’s do this. But what if this mixture doesn’t work at all? Will I have to be married tomorrow morning? No, no. This knife will prevent that in case the potion fails. Lie there.[Laying down her dagger]What if it’s real poison, which the friar made to kill me so he wouldn’t be dishonored by this false marriage, knowing he married me to Romeo already? I’m afraid that’s what it is. And yet, still, I can’t believe that, because he’s proved himself to be a true holy man.What if, after I’m laid to rest in the tomb, I wake up before Romeo comes to save me? That’s a fearful thought. Wouldn’t I be suffocated in the vault with the foul air and die before my Romeo arrives? Or, if I live through that, isn’t it likely that the terrors of death and night, combined with the creepiness of the place, will distress me? I’ll be in the ancient vault where for hundreds of years my ancestors have been buried.I will be packed with their bones, Tybalt will be there newly dead and festering in his shroud, and they say foul spirits gather below the shrouds of the dead sometimes. Oh no, isn’t it most likely that if I wake up too early I’ll be faced with loathsome smells and shrieks of dead souls like magical beings whose cries make people go mad. Oh, won’t I be terribly distraught and surrounded by hideous frightful things? Will I go insane and play with my ancestor’s dead joints? Will I rip Tybalt’s mangled body from his shroud? What if I pick up a bone from some great ancestor in a mad rage and dash out my own brains?Oh, look! I think I see my cousin’s ghost hunting Romeo, who ran him through with a rapier. Stop, Tybalt, stop! Romeo, I’m coming! I drink this to you.

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Capulet, Lady Capulet, and the Nurse are rushing through wedding preparations. Capulet stays up all night with his servingmen to finish everything. Seeing Paris approach, he sends the Nurse to wake up his daughter.

Modern English Lady Capulet

Hang on, take these keys and go get more spices, nurse.Nurse

They’re telling me they need some dates and quinces for the pastry.Capulet

Come on, up, everyone get going! The rooster’s crowed, the curfew bell has been rung, and it’s 3am. Go get the baked meats, good Angela. Don’t spare any cost.

NurseGo on, you old girl of a man, go get some sleep. I swear you’ll feel sick tomorrow after staying up all night tonight.

CapuletNot, not at all. What? I’ve stayed up all night before for less important things and I’ve never gotten sick from it.

Lady CapuletYes, you’ve been a regular skirt-chaser in your time. But now I’ll keep an eye on you so you don’t stay up so late anymore.

CapuletA jealous woman, a jealous woman! Now, fellow, what’s this here?

First Servant

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Things for the cook, sir, but I don’t know what.Capulet

Hurry up, hurry up. Boy, go get some drier firewood. Call Peter, he’ll show you where it is.Second Servant

Sir, I can figure out where the logs are by just using my head, so I won’t bother Peter about it.Capulet

By God, well said, ha! You’ll be a loggerhead. By my faith, it’s daytime. The Count will be here soon with the musicians, since he said he was going to. I hear him close by.Nurse! Wife! Hey! Hey, nurse, I’m calling![Re-Enter Nurse]Go wake up Juliet and freshen her up. I’ll go and chat with Paris. Hurry, be quick. Hurry up, the groom is already here. Hurry up, I say.


The Nurse finds Juliet, apparently dead. Hearing the commotion the Nurse makes, Capulet and Lady Capulet enter, horrified to find their daughter in such a state. Then Friar Lawrence and Paris arrive to fetch the bride for the wedding, and everyone grieves her loss. The wedding arrangements give way to funeral arrangements, as Friar Lawrence takes charge of the situation.

Modern English

NurseMistress! Hello, mistress! I bet she’s fast asleep. Juliet! Hello my lamb! My lady! Darn it, you sleepyhead! Love! Madam! Sweetheart! Why don’t you answer, bride! Not even one word? Well get your rest now, sleep for a week. I bet you that the next night you won’t get much sleep with Count Paris. God forgive me, she’s sound asleep! I have to wake her up. Madam, madam, madam! Oh, let the count take you in your bed, I’m sure he’ll wake you up. Will you not wake up?[Undraws the curtains] What, you got dressed and all your clothes are ready and you fell back to sleep again! I’ve got to wake you up. Lady! Lady! Lady! Oh no! Help, help! My lady’s dead! Oh curse the day that I was born! Someone get me a strong drink! My Lord! My Lady!

Lady CapuletWhat’s all this noise?

NurseOh what a terrible day!

Lady CapuletWhat’s the matter?

NurseLook, look! Oh horrible day!

Lady CapuletOh me, oh no! My child, my only child! Please revive, look up, or I’ll die with you! Help, help! Call for help.

CapuletFor shame, will you bring Juliet already? Her groom is here.

NurseShe’s dead, deceased, she’s dead. Curse the day!

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Lady CapuletAlas for this day, she’s dead, she’s dead, she’s dead!

CapuletWhat? Let me see her. Oh, alas! She’s cold, her blood has settled, and her joints are stiff. I can tell from her face she’s been dead for hours. This death is like an unexpected frost on the sweetest flower in all of the field.

NurseOh what a terrible day!

Lady CapuletOh what a tragic time!

CapuletThis death, that’s taken her away to make me weep in grief, has stopped me from speaking.

Friar LaurenceCome now, is the bride ready to go to church?

CapuletReady to go to the church, but she will never return. Oh my son! The night before your wedding day Death has slept in your wife’s bed. There she lies, a beautiful flower deflowered by death. It is only death that I can have for a son-in-law, death will be my heir. It’s as though my daughter is married to death, and now when I die only death will inherit everything I have. All I have belongs to Death.

ParisOh, I’ve anticipated seeing this morning for so long, how can it show me such an awful sight?

Lady CapuletAccursed, sorrowful, wretched, hateful day! This is the most miserable hour time himself has ever seen in his eternal journey! I had only one, poor one! One poor, loving child, only one thing to rejoice in and find solace in, and cruel death has taken her from my sight!

NurseOh woe! Oh terrible, terrible, terrible day! This is the saddest, most terrible day that I’ve ever seen! Oh day! What a day, what a day! What a hateful day! There was never another day as dark as this one! Oh woeful day, oh woeful day!

ParisI’ve been deceived, divorced against my wish, hurt, insulted, and nearly killed by this death! Death, you detestable cruel thing, I’ve been tricked by you, almost completely defeated! Oh my love! Oh my life! Not life, my love is dead!

CapuletI’ve been spited, distressed, nearly martyred and killed by this death! Terrible time, why did you have to come now and ruin this solemn ceremony? Oh child, oh child! You were my soul, more than my child! You’re dead! Alas! My child is dead, and with her all my happiness is buried.

Friar LaurenceQuiet, everyone, for shame! The best course of action in this devastation won’t be found in this kind of uproar. You shared this lovely girl with Heaven, and now Heaven has her entirely, which is all the better for the girl. You could not keep Juliet’s body from death, but Heaven will keep her soul alive forever. You always sought to give her a better life, for your own heaven was the idea of her moving up in life. Are you going to weep now that she has moved up all the way to the clouds in Heaven? Showing the kind of love you are, it seems like you love your child poorly, going mad when she is in the best state possible. It’s best not to be married for too long, so it’s better to be married and die young. Dry your tears, and give some rosemary to this lovely corpse. Dress her in her finest clothes and carry her to the church according to custom. It’s in our nature to mourn, but our reason laughs at us for our excessive lamenting.

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CapuletAll the festive things we prepared must now be repurposed for a solemn funeral. The wedding band must now sound like a funeral bell, the food is converted into a burial feast, and the wedding marches must be changed to heavy dirges. Juliet’s wedding bouquet will lie with her buried corpse, and everything seems to be turned into the opposite of what it was for.

Friar LaurenceSir, you should go inside, and madam, you go with him. And you too, Sir Paris. Let everyone prepare to bury this lovely young lady. The heavens have frowned upon you for some kind of sin. Take care that you don’t bring down more misfortune by disobeying God’s will.

First MusicianLook, I think we can pack up our instruments and go home.

NurseHonest fellow, yes, put them away, put them away. For as you well now we’re in a pitiful case.

First MusicianShe’s right, you know, this case should really be fixed.

PeterMusicians! Oh, musicians, “Heart’s Ease”, play “Heart’s Ease”. Oh, for my life, play “Heart’s Ease”.

First MusicianWhy “Heart's Ease?”

PeterOh, musicians, play it because my own heart is singing about how it’s full of woe. Oh please play some happy song to comfort me.

First MusicianThere’s no time to play now.

PeterYou won’t do it, then?

First MusicianNo.

PeterWell then I’m going to give to you good.

First MusicianWhat are you giving us?

PeterNot money, but a joke on you. I’ll give you the title of minstrel.

First MusicianThen I’ll give you the title of serving-creature.

PeterIf you do you may find this serving-creature’s dagger on your head. I will make you sing, re, fa la, all that, you hear me? You got that?

First MusicianIf you’re going to carry on saying re, fa, I suppose you have “noted” us, so to speak.

Second MusicianPlease, lower your dagger, and calm down this wit you have that makes you want to argue.

PeterOh you don’t like my wittiness, do you? I’ll beat your over the head with my wit, even if I lower my dagger. Answer a question for me:

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Peter“Then grief wounds the heartAnd the mind is down in the dumpsThe music with a silver sound”Why do they call it a silver sound? Why should music have a silver sound? What do you say, Simon Catling?

MusicianWell, sir, because silver sounds sweet.

PeterVery clever! What do you say, Hugh Rebeck?

Second MusicianI think it’s “silver sound” because musicians play for silver coins.

PeterAlso clever! What do you say, James Soundpost?

Third MusicianHonestly, I don’t know what to say.

PeterOh, I beg your pardon, you’re the singer. I’ll come up with something for you. It’s “music with her silver sound” because musicians couldn’t make a sound rubbing two gold coins together!“Then music with her silver soundHelps fix things with quick help”

First MusicianWhat an annoying guy he is!

Second MusicianForget about him, Jack! Come on, let’s go inside, wait for the mourners, and stay for dinner.


In exile, Romeo wakes up after having a dream in which he dies and is kissed back to life by Juliet. His confidante, Bathalsar, arrives to tell him the sad news: Juliet is dead (Balthasar is not in on Juliet’s plan). Devastated, he decides to head back to Verona immediately. He plans to commit suicide at Juliet’s grave. He’ll procure a deadly poison from an apothecary and drink it in Juliet’s tomb. After buying the potion, Romeo leaves for Verona.

Modern English Romeo

Dreams often make things seem better than they are, but if I believe the dreams I’ve had, I’ll be getting good news shortly. I feel lighthearted, and I’ve been in an unusually good mood all day. I dreamed that I was dead--isn’t it strange how in dreams you can think when you’re dead? I dreamed I was dead, and then Juliet found me and kissed me, bringing me back to life. I became an emperor. Love is so wonderful that even dreams of love can bring so much joy. [Enter Romeo’s servant, Balthasar] What’s the news from Verona, Balthasar?You have letters for me from the friar, don’t you? How’s my lady, Juliet? How’s my father? How’s Juliet? I ask again because if she is well then nothing else matters.

BalthasarWell, she is well in the sense that no more misfortune can touch her. Her body lies in the Capulet family mausoleum, and her soul is with the angels above. I attended her burial, and then I immediately

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came to bring you the message. Oh, forgive me for bringing you this horrible news, but that was the duty you assigned me, sir.

RomeoIs it really true, she’s dead? Then I defy you, Fate! You know where I’m staying. Get me some pen and paper, and hire some fast horses. I’m leaving here tonight.

BalthasarI beg you sir, have patience. You look pale and a bit crazy, and I’m afraid you’re going to do something desperate.

RomeoNo, no, you’re wrong. Leave me alone, and do what I asked you. You don’t have any letters to me from the friar?

BalthasarNo, sir.

RomeoWell never mind. Go and hire those horses, I’ll catch up to you very soon.[Exit Balthasar]Well, Juliet, I’ll sleep with you tonight, in the crypt. Let’s see how I can end my life. How quickly desperate men find ways to kill themselves! I remember an apothecary who lives around here. I saw him recently walking around with tattered clothes and wild eyebrows, gathering medicinal plants.He looked very humble, and poverty had made him mere skin and bones. There was a tortoise hanging in his shop, and a stuffed alligator, and odd fish skins. There was a meager supply of empty boxes on his shelves, and some clay drinking pots, leather, musty old seeds, and threads. Old roses packed for making perfume that had lost much of their scent were scattered thinly around for decoration. When I noted the extreme poverty in that shop, I thought to myself “If a man needed a deadly poison, no questions asked, the miserable wretch who lives here would sell it to him.”This exact thought came before my need to act on it, and this very needy man will have to sell the poison to me. If I remember correctly, this is the house. It’s a holiday, so the beggar’s shop is closed. Hey, hello, apothecary!

ApothecaryWho’s yelling so loudly?

RomeoCome here, man. I see you are clearly very poor. Look, here’s forty ducats. Let me have an ounce of poison, the kind that will work speedily to bring an end to the life of a world-weary man. Give me a poison that will stop a man’s breathing as suddenly as if he’d been shot by a cannon.

ApothecaryI have those types of fatal drugs, but it is a capital crime in Mantua to sell them.

RomeoCan you be this poor and close to starvation and worried about the death penalty of all things? I can tell that you’re starving from your gaunt cheeks, and your eyes tell me that you are desperate and in need. The tattered rags on your back clearly indicate that you’re extremely poor. The world has not been a friend to you, nor have its laws. You haven’t been able to become richer by following the law, so break it, take the money, and don’t be poor.

ApothecaryMy desperate poverty, and not my will, agrees.

RomeoWell then I’ll pay your poverty and not your will.

Apothecary

Name: Date: Period:

Put this in any liquid and drink it. It would kill you right away even if you had the strength of twenty men.

RomeoThere’s your payment. Gold is a worse poison to the souls of men and causes more murders than any of these poisons you aren’t allowed to sell. Really, I’m the one who has sold a poison here, not you. Farewell. Buy food, and nourish your body. Come on, powder, you’ll be like an antidote to me, not a poison. Come with me to Juliet’s grave--that’s where I’ll need to use you.


Friar Lawrence has sent word of the plan to Romeo, but his messenger, Friar John, is waylaid and the message never makes it to poor Romeo. Hearing this, Friar Lawrence hurries to the tomb so that he can intercept Romeo’s arrival and tell him what’s really going on.

Modern English

Friar JohnWhy hello my Franciscan friar! Hello brother!

Friar LaurenceThat’s the voice of Friar John. Welcome from Mantua! What did Romeo say? Or if he wrote a letter, show it to me.

Friar JohnI went to find a brother of our order to accompany me. He was visiting the sick, and when I met him the coroner suspected that we were both in a house where someone with a contagious plague had died. They sealed the doors, established quarantine, and kept us there for awhile, so I was very late going to Mantua.

Friar LaurenceThen who took my letter to Romeo?

Friar JohnI have it here. I couldn’t send it--or even get a messenger to bring it back to you--because the city authorities were so concerned about exposure to infection.

Friar LaurenceOh what misfortune! By our order, this wasn’t just a pleasant letter, but crucial one with an important message. Romeo not receiving it may cause a disaster. Friar John, go quickly to get an iron crowbar and bring it to my cell right away.

Friar JohnBrother, I’ll go and bring it to you.

Friar Laurence

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Now I have to get to the mausoleum alone. Juliet will wake up in three hours. She will be very angry with me that Romeo hasn’t been informed about all that’s happened. I’ll send a letter to Mantua again, and shelter Juliet in my cell until Romeo comes. Poor living body shut in a dead man’s tomb!


A mourning Paris visits Juliet’s tomb. Romeo arrives, and the two begin a duel outside the vault, which ends in Paris’s death. When Romeo enters the tomb, he sees Juliet in a corpse-like state and launches into a long, sad speech, kisses her, and drinks his poison. Friar Lawrence enters, just a moment too late, and sees Romeo’s corpse lying beside not-dead Juliet. She wakes up, and Friar Lawrence attempts to convince her to flee the scene. But she won’t leave Romeo. She grabs the vial of poison, but there’s none left. Instead, she reaches for her dagger and then stabs herself. She dies by Romeo’s side. Not long after, the Prince, the Montagues, the Capulets, and several others arrive, horrified to see what has become of Romeo and Juliet. The Friar tells them the whole story. The Prince points out to the Montagues and the Capulets that this tragedy stemmed from their feud, and the two families agree to end their ancient grudge.

Modern English

ParisGive me your torch, boy. Go stand away from me. No, put out the torch. I’d rather not been seen. Lie there under those yew trees with your ears close to the ground. That way you’ll hear if anyone comes into the churchyard or tries to dig up a grave. If you hear someone, signal me by whistling. Give me those flowers. Do as I asked you to. Go.

PageI’m almost afraid to wait here in the churchyard, but I’ll try to be brave.

ParisJuliet, sweet flower, I’ll spread flowers on your bridal bed. Oh woe! Your bed’s canopy is made of dust and stones. I’ll sprinkle it with perfume every night, or in lieu of scent, I’ll sprinkle it with my own tears distilled from my sadness. I’ll keep an observance for you every night, sprinkling your grave with perfume and weeping here.[The Page whistles]The boy gave the signal that something’s coming. Who could possibly be wandering here tonight, interfering with the rituals of my true love? Oh, they’ve got a torch! Night, hide me for awhile.

RomeoGive me the ax and the crowbar. Hang on, take this letter. Make sure you deliver it to my father early in the morning. Give me the torch. On my life, I order you to stay here. Don’t follow me no matter what your hear or see. Don’t interrupt me in my business. I’m going into this tomb partly to see her face, but mostly because I have to take a precious ring that I need for a very costly business. So get out of here, go away.

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If you come back to pry into what I’m doing, I swear by heaven that I’ll rip you apart and spread your limbs around this churchyard. This is a desperate time and I’m a desperate man, and these things make me more savage, fiercer, and harder to stop than a tiger or a stormy sea. Both of those will roar but not do anything.

BalthasarI’ll go and not bother you, sir.

RomeoIn doing so you’re being a good friend. Take this. Live on and be prosperous. And farewell, good fellow.

Balthasar[Aside] All the same, I’ll hide here. I’m afraid for him and I doubt he’ll do what he threatened.

RomeoYou, entrance to the tomb, are like the hated mouth of an animal. You’ve eaten the sweetest thing in the world, my Juliet, and she’s made you sick with her sweetness. Now I’m going to force your rotten jaws open to cram your mouth full with another victim.

ParisWhy that’s the exiled Montague, who murdered my love’s cousin. Everyone supposes that the murder caused her to die of grief. And here he comes to desecrate the dead bodies! I’ll apprehend him. Stop this unholy work, you vile Montague! Are you trying to get vengeance on these people beyond death? Damned villain, I will arrest you. Obey and go with me, for you must die.

RomeoI must indeed, and that’s what I came here for. Gentle young man, don’t tempt someone as desperate as me to violence.Get out of here and leave me. Let your fear of these dead bodies spur you to go. I beg you, young man, don’t make me commit more sins by provoking me to fight you. Oh, go away! I swear to heaven, I have more love for you than for myself. After all, I came here intending to hurt myself. Don’t stay here, go away, live, and tell people later that a merciful madman urged you to run away.

ParisI challenge your disgusting behaviour, and I’m arresting you as a criminal here.

RomeoYou’re going to provoke me? Well then have at it, boy!

PageOh Lord, they’re fighting! I’ll go call the night’s watch.

ParisOh, I’ve been killed! If you are truly merciful, open up the tomb and lay me down beside Juliet.

RomeoIndeed I will. Let me look at this face. It’s Mercutio’s cousin, Count Paris! What did my servant say, when my mind was too troubled to pay attention as we were riding here? I think he told me Paris was supposed to marry Juliet. Didn’t he say that? Or did I dream it?Or have I gone mad, hearing him talking about Juliet, and that’s why I think that’s true? Oh give me your hand. You, like me, seem to be written down on fate’s list of the unlucky! I’ll bury you in a glorious grave. A grave? Oh no! I’ll bury you where there is light, poor slaughtered youth. For here lies Juliet, and her radiant beauty makes this dark crypt full of light. Dead soul, lie there, buried by one soon to be dead himself. Isn’t it strange how often people are described as happy when they’re at the point of death? Their caretakers call it lightning before death.Oh how can I call my own a lightning? Oh my love! My wife! Death, which has taken away your sweet breath, has not yet taken away your beauty. You haven’t yet been truly conquered, and Beauty still carries its red coat-of arms in your cheeks and lips like a proud army that has not yet submitted to

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Death and its pale flags. Tybalt, are you lying there in your bloody shroud? Oh what more can I do for you than to kill myself, your enemy, with the very hand that cut off your youth?Forgive me, cousin! Ah dear Juliet, why are you still so beautiful? Is invisible death in love with you? Is that hated monster keeping you in this tomb to be his lover? I’m afraid he might be, so I’ll stay here with you, and I’ll never leave this palace of dim night again. Here, right here, I’ll remain with the worms that are your chambermaids now. Oh, here I’ll set up my everlasting rest, and I’ll shake off the burden of my unlucky fate from my weary body. Eyes, look for the last time!Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, with this virtuous kiss seal a contract with death that has no end or limit! Let’s go, bitter action. Let’s go, guiding hand! Rush on like a pilot driven mad with sea-sickness, crashing a ship on the rocks. Here’s to my love! [Drinks] Oh you were a true apothecary! Your drugs work quickly. I’ll die with a kiss.

Friar LaurenceSaint Francis lead me on! How frequently tonight I’ve stumbled over graves! Who’s there?

BalthasarI’m here, I know you well.

Friar LaurenceHappiness be yours! Tell me, my good friend, what’s that torch over there that casts a light over the skulls? It seems as though it’s burning from inside the Capulet’s mausoleum.

BalthasarYes it is, holy father, and my master’s in there--someone you’re very fond of.

Friar LaurenceWho is it?

BalthasarRomeo.

Friar LaurenceHow long has he been in there?

BalthasarA whole half an hour.

Friar LaurenceGo with me to the crypt.

BalthasarI dare not, sir. My master thinks I left him alone, and he threatened to kill me if I watched what he was doing.

Friar LaurenceStay, then. I’ll go alone. I’m beginning to be very afraid. Oh I fear some disaster.

BalthasarI fell asleep under this yew tree here, and I had a dream my master fought another man and killed him.

Friar LaurenceRomeo! Oh no, oh no, who’s blood is this that’s all over the entrance to the crypt? Why are there bloody swords without owners lying here in this place of peace?Romeo! Oh, you are pale! Who else? What, Paris too? And Paris is all bloodied? Ah, what an evil time made this tragic accident occur! Juliet is waking up.

JulietOh my comforting friar! Where is my husband? I remembered where I was going to wake up, and here I am. Where is my Romeo?

Friar LaurenceI hear a noise. Lady, come out of this place of death, disease, and unnatural sleep.

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Some greater power than we can know has thwarted our plans. Come on, come away. Your husband next to you lies dead, and Paris is lying here as well. Come on, I’ll hide you in a convent of holy nuns. Don’t stay here to question me, for the night’s watch is coming. Come on, good Juliet, let’s go. I don’t dare stay here any longer.

JulietGo, get away from here, I won’t move. What’s this? A cup my in my true love’s hand?I see that poison has been his untimely end. Oh you’re so selfish! You drank it all, and didn’t leave any to help me follow you? I’ll kiss your lips. Perhaps there’s still some poison that remains on them which will cure me by killing me. Your lips are warm.

First WatchmanLead us, boy. Which way did they go?

JulietSomeone’s coming? Then I’ll be quick. Oh, how lucky to have this dagger!Let my body be your sheath. Rust there forever, and let me die.

PageThis is the place. There, where the torch is burning.

First WatchmanThere’s blood on the ground, search the churchyard. Go, arrest whomever you find. What a pitiful sight! The count lies here, killed. And Juliet, is warm, bleeding, and must be newly dead, although she has been buried here for two days. Go, tell the Prince. Run to the Capulets. Go get the Montagues. We need some others to search.We can see the ground on which all these tragedies occurred, but without motives or context, they seem groundless. Without more information, we can’t figure out what really happened.

Second WatchmanHere’s Romeo’s servant. We found him in the churchyard.

First WatchmanHold him in custody until the Prince gets here.

Third WatchmanHere’s a friar we found trembling, sighing, and weeping. We took this ax and this spade away from him as he was coming from this side of the churchyard.

First WatchmanVery suspicious. Keep the friar here, too.

PrinceWhat calamity happened so early that we were forced to get up so soon in the morning?

CapuletWhat’s going on that’s making everyone so distraught?

Lady CapuletSome people in the street cried Romeo’s name, some cried Juliet’s, some cried Paris’, and all of them were running in the direction of our mausoleum.

PrinceWhat’s this fearful thing we’ve been hearing?

First WatchmanYour highness, here lies Count Paris, killed, and Romeo, dead. And Juliet, who we thought had died before, is warm and seems to have been newly killed.

PrinceSearch around, seek out the culprits, and find out how these foul murders happened.

First Watchman

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There’s a friar here, and Romeo’s dead servant, who had tools with them that could have opened this tomb.

CapuletOh heavens! Oh, wife, look how our daughter is bleeding! This dagger has the Montague crest on it, and yet it rests in our daughter’s heart!

Lady CapuletOh no! This terrible sight of death is like a bell summoning me to my own grave.

PrinceCome forward, Montague, you’ve woken up to see your son brought down.

MontagueAlas, my lord, my wife died tonight. She was overcome with grief after his exile. What further sorrow threatens me in my old age?

PrinceLook, and you will see.

MontagueOh you boy! What kind of thanks is this, to go to your grave before your father?

PrinceQuiet your outrage for awhile, until we can clear up the confusion and figure out how all this started and how it occurred. Then I will be understanding of your grief and lead you to death if you wish. In the meantime, hold on, and let patience rule over this misfortune. Bring forth the suspects.

Friar LaurenceI am the most suspected, although I was able to do the least. The timing and the place where I was found make it seem like I was responsible for this terrible murder. And here I stand ready for your accusations and punishments, as I have already accused and punished myself.

PrinceThen tell us immediately what you know about this.

Friar LaurenceI will be brief. I fear I may not have long to live, so I won’t tell a tedious story. Romeo, who lies dead there, was Juliet’s husband, and she was his faithful wife. I married them, and their wedding day, which was cut so short, was the day Tybalt was killed. That caused Romeo, the new groom, to flee the city. It was for him, and not for Tybalt, that Juliet was grieving.You tried to alleviate her grief by forcing her to marry Count Paris. She came to me totally desperate, asking me for some way to get her out of this second marriage or else she would try to kill herself right there in my cell. I gave her a sleeping potion, which had the intended effect of making her seem like she had died. In the meantime, I wrote to Romeo, and told him he should return on this night to help take her from her borrowed grave, as by that time, the potion would no longer be in effect.But the person who carried my letter, Friar John, was held up accidentally and gave that letter back to me tonight. I came all alone to take her out of her family’s crypt. I was going to watch over her at my cell until I could get Romeo to come back. But when I got here barely a minute before Juliet was to wake up, I saw that the noble Paris and the true Romeo were dead. Juliet woke up, and I begged her to come out of the tomb and handle her grief with patience.But then a noise startled me out of the tomb, and she, who was in despair, wouldn’t come with me. It seems she killed herself. That’s all I know, and her nurse knows about their marriage, too. If any of this turned out so badly because of me, let my old life be sacrificed within this hour according to the law.

PrinceWe have always known you to be a holy man. Where’s Romeo’s servant? What can he add to this?

Balthasar

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I brought Romeo news of Juliet’s death. And then he came right away from Mantua to this exact place and this exact mausoleum. He told me to give this letter to his father, and he threatened to kill me if I followed him into the crypt. I didn’t follow him, but I didn’t leave, either.

PrinceGive me the letter. I will look at it. Where is the count’s page, who called the night’s watch? You there, what was your master doing here?

PageHe came to put flowers on Juliet’s grave, and told me not to approach, so I didn’t.Someone came soon after with a light, intending to open the time, and then my master drew his sword to fight him. That’s when I ran away to call the watch.

PrinceThis letter reinforces the friar’s story, and tells of the course of their love and that he had received the news of her death. And here he writes that he bought posion from an impoverished apothecary, and brought it with him to this crypt to die and lie beside Juliet. Where are those enemies? Lord Capulet! Lord Montague! Look what a terrible punishment has come from your shared hate, that Heaven found a way to kill your children with love. And for not dealing with your feud I, too, have lost two family members. Everyone has been punished.

CapuletOh brother Montague, give me your hand. This gesture of reconciliation all I can ask of you.

MontagueBut I can give you more. I’ll erect a statue for her from pure gold, and as long as Verona exists there will be no figure more admired than true and faithful Juliet.

CapuletI’ll make one of equal richness for Romeo, to place beside his lady’s. Oh these poor children sacrificed to our hatred!

PrinceThis is a sad peace that the morning has brought. Indeed, even the sun won’t show his face today. Let’s go from here to talk more about these tragic events. Some people will be pardoned, others punished. For their was never a sadder story than this one of Juliet and Romeo.

Modern English · Web view'Banished'! 46 O friar, the damned use that word in hell; 47 Howling...

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Transcript of Modern English · Web view'Banished'! 46 O friar, the damned use that word in hell; 47 Howling...