William Shakespeare’s
ROMEO & JULIET Adapted by Marieka Peterson Greene CAST OF CHARACTERS Romeo Montague Old Montague Lady Montague MercuBo Benvolio Abram Balthasar
In love with Juliet Romeo’s Father Romeo’s Mother Friend of Romeo Romeo’s Cousin Montague’s Servant Romeo’s Servant
Juliet Capulet Old Capulet Lady Capulet Tybalt Nurse Peter Gregory Sampson Anthony (CiBzen 1) Potpan (CiBzen 2)
In love with Romeo Juliet’s Father Juliet’s Mother Juliet’s Cousin Juliet’s Nurse Servant of the Capulets Servant of the Capulets Servant of the Capulets Servant of the Capulets Servant of the Capulets
Prince Escalus Count Paris Friar Lawrence Friar John (CiBzen 3) Apothecary (CiBzen 4) Lucinda/Watchman 1 Zita/Watchman 2 Marta/Watchman 3
Prince of Verona Juliet’s Suitor Marries Romeo and Juliet Friend of Friar Lawrence Sells poison to Romeo A Young Lady/Prince’s Guard A Young Lady/Prince’s Guard A Young Lady/Prince’s Guard
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SCENE 1 Before the curtains open, PRINCE ESCALUS steps out onto the stage. He is in spotlight. PRINCE Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new violence, Where brothers’ blood makes brothers’ hands unclean. As PRINCE speaks, ROMEO and JULIET step out on opposite sides of PRINCE. Come forth from deadly homes of these two foes, ROMEO and JULIET A pair of star-‐crossed lovers take their life; PRINCE Whose misadventure sadness overthrows ROMEO and JULIET And with their death, bury their parents’ strife. PRINCE And now, if you with paBent ears a\end, What’s gone unsaid, our play shall strive to mend. ALL exit. SCENE 2 Curtain opens. The Streets of Verona. GREGORY and SAMPSON enter stage right. GREGORY Ay, but the quarrel is between our masters! SAMPSON And us their men! ‘Tis all the same!
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GREGORY But the prince hath warned our household. Don’t strike so quickly. SAMPSON I’ll strike quickly, if I am moved to strike. GREGORY If you move, then you’ll run away! If you are valiant, then you should be sBll. SAMPSON Any dog of Montague will move me to stand. I will show myself a tyrant! GREGORY Draw thy blade, here come two of the house of Montegue! SAMPSON My weapon is out! I will back thee! GREGORY How? By turning your back to run? SAMPSON and GREGORY draw their swords. ABRAM and BLATHASAR enter stage leJ. They walk slowly toward SAMPSON and GREGORY. SAMPSON Fear me not. I’ll stand close! GREGROY I will frown as I pass by and let them see it. SAMPSON Nay, I will bite my thumb at them. Such a disgrace if they noBce it without speaking. SAMPSON bites his thumb. ABRAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON I do bite my thumb, sir. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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ABRAM Do you bit your thumb at us, sir? SAMPSON No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. GREGORY (to ABRAM) Do you quarrel with us, sir? ABRAM Quarrel, sir? BALTHASAR No, sir! SAMPSON We serve as good a man as you, sir. BENVIOLIO enters on ABRAM’s side. ABRAM No be\er? TYBALT enters behind GREGORY and SAMPSON. GREGORY (to GREGORY) Say “be\er,” Here comes Tybalt. He shall back us. SAMPSON Yes, be\er, sir! ABRAM You lie! SAMPSON Draw your swords, if you be men! They fight. BENVOLIO tries to stop them. BENVOLIO Part, fools! Put up your swords! They stop, briefly.
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TYBALT What, Benvolio? Are you all heartless in your household? Draw thy sword, and face thy death! BENVOLIO I do but keep the peace! Put away thy sword, Tybalt. Or use it to part these men with me. TYBALT Talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee! Coward! TYBALT charges at BENVOLIO with his sword drawn. All fight. CITIZENS of Verona enter. CITIZEN 1 Strike! CITIZEN 2 Beat them down! CITIZEN 3 Down with their house! ALL CAPULETS Down with Montague dogs! CITIZEN 4 and 1 Down with the Capulets! BENVOLIO Ay, strike again! CITIZEN 2 and CITIZEN 3 Strike again! TYBALT Coward dogs! MONTAGUE AND LADY MONTAGUE enter stage leJ. CAPULET and LADY CAPULET enter stage right. CAPULET What noise is this? Give me my sword! M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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LADY CAPULET Husband, you are too old to fight. MONTAGUE You are a villain Capulet! Hold me not, let me go! LADY MONTAGUE holds MONTAGUE back. LADY MONTAGUE You shall not sBr one foot to meet a foe! PRINCE enters followed by WATCHMEN PRINCE Villainous Rebels! Enemies of the peace! All fighVng stops. PRINCE stands center stage. What? Could you be men? Nay, you are but beasts who turn your blades on your neighbors! Throw your bloody weapons to the ground and hear the warning of your prince. ALL drop their weapons to the ground. Three Bmes, now, your heated brawls have disturbed the peace of our city’s streets. If ever you disturb our streets again, you shall repay your fellow ciBzens with your lives. He looks at CAPULET and MONTAGUE. You, Capulet, come along with me And you, Montague, will come this aiernoon. We shall discuss the hap’nings of this place. And to the rest of you: Once more, on pain of death, you must depart! PRINCE exits followed by CAPULET and all Capulets. All exit but MONTAGUE, LADY MONTAGUE, and BENVOLIO.
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SCENE 3 MONTAGUE Nephew, what has happened here? Who did start this ancient quarrel up again? BENVOLIO I was not here when it began. ‘Twas servants from both houses to first draw their swords. MONTAGUE And when you came upon the scene? BENVOLIO I drew my sword to part them, Uncle. But in that instant Tybalt came. His sword was drawn and ready. He did taunt me with his culng words, and I could not hold back. MONTAGUE And ‘twas then I came upon the brawl. LADY MONTAGUE Nephew, saw you Romeo today? Glad am I he was not at this scene. BENVOLIO Ay, my lady. Just before the golden sun arose, I saw him. He walked beneath the grove of sycamore trees. Toward him I moved. But he, aware of me, took a different path through the wood. His mind is troubled. LADY MONTAGUE Many a morning he has been seen there. With tears as fresh as the morning’s dew. BENVOLIO Do you know the cause? MONTAGUE I neither know it, nor can learn of it. He will not speak to me. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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BENVOLIO Look now, he comes this way! If it please you, step aside. I’ll seek his sorrow. LADY MONTAGUE Oh, that he’ll share it with you. MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE exit stage right. SCENE 4 ROMEO enters stage leJ. BENVOLIO Good morrow, cousin. ROMEO Is the day so young? BENVOLIO The clock just struck nine. ROMEO Ay me! Sad hours seem long! BENVOLIO And what sadness makes Romeo’s hours so long? ROMEO I don’t have what makes them short. BENVOLIO Are you in love? ROMEO Out. BENVOLIO Of love? ROMEO Out of favor with the one I love.
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BENVOLIO Alas, love! Love should be kind, not so full of sorrow. ROMEO Have you experienced it? BENVOLIO No, cousin. I’d rather weep. ROMEO Weep at what? BENVOLIO At your piBful state! ROMEO Oh, Rosaline! BENVOLIO I trust she will not return your affecBon? ROMEO She refuses to be hit by cupids arrow. She swears she’ll die a maid. Enter MERCUTIO. MERCUTIO Gentleman! Why the serious face? BENVOLIO Romeo has lost his heart. MERCUTIO Then get him to the surgeon! ROMEO Nay, MercuBo. ‘Tis not a joking ma\er. MERCUTIO Then be\er reason to joke! BENVOLIO Listen to your cousin, and forget to think of her. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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MERCUTIO? Her? Has thou let a maid steal your heart? Enter PETER, holding a scroll in confusion. PETER Pardon, good ciBzens. Might you help a fellow? BENVOLIO Good servant, what is the problem? PETER My master hath sent me with this message. I am to deliver it to several households of Verona. Alas, I cannot read it. MERCUTIO Give it here. PETER hands the scroll to MERCUTIO. MERCUTIO looks it over, pauses to look at BENVOLIO and ROMEO, then hands it back. MERCUTIO Come you from the house of Capulet? PETER I do. MERCUTIO Your master wishes to serve as host to the fair families of Verona. This evening there shall be costume, music and dancing. Go now. You have your message. PETER Thank you, kind sir! You must come, the three of you, and enjoy the revelry! PETER exVst quickly. MERCUTIO Hear that? We have an invitaBon!
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BENVOLIO The poor lad doesn’t know we are from the wrong house.
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MERCUTIO And that fact be your luck! MALVOLIO puts his arm around ROMEO. MERCUTIO We must go, Romeo! You must feast your eyes on other beauBes! ROMEO pulls away from MERCUTIO. ROMEO Nay, I won’t seek trouble in the house of Capulet! BENVOLIO Your sorrow has soiened you. Come, cousin. Let us find our costumes! BENVOLIO puts his arm around ROMEO. They exit quickly. Curtain closes. SCENE 5 Curtain opens. JULIET’s chambers. NURSE Vdies the room. LADY CAPULET enters. LADY CAPULET Nurse, where is my daughter? Call her forth to me! NURSE Juliet? Juliet? Juliet! I bade you come! JULIET enters. JULIET How now, who calls? NURSE Your mother. JULIET Madam, I am here. What is your will?
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LADY CAPULET I’ll tell you of the ma\er. Nurse, leave us a while. We must speak in secret. NURSE goes to leave. LADY CAPULET No! Nurse, come back again. I have remembered. You should hear of what we speak! You know my daughter’s of a pre\y age. NURSE returns. NURSE Ay! I’ve cared for her so long I know her age down to the hour. LADY CAPULET She’s not yet fourteen. NURSE How the years have passed. You were the prelest babe that ever I nursed. And I might live to see you married! LADY CAPULET Marry, that “marry” is the very ma\er I came to speak of. Tell me, daughter, how stands your opinion to be married? JULIET It is an honor that I dream not of. LADY CAPULET Well, think of it! There are ladies here in Verona, younger than you, who are made already mothers! Thus, then, in brief: The valiant Paris seeks your hand. NURSE A man, young lady, such a man! Perfect as any in the world! LADY CAPULET What say you? Can you love the gentleman? Tonight you shall behold him at our feast. Look to his young face, and find delight in how ‘Bs sculpted.
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JULIET I’ll look to like, if looking liking move. Enter POTPAN. POTPAN Madam, the guests are come and supper is served. I beseech you, follow straight. LADY CAPULET We follow you. Juliet! The count awaits! JULIET looks at NURSE. NURSE Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days! ALL exit. Curtain closes. SCENE 6 Curtain opens. Outside the house of CAPULET. Music can be heard. MERCUTIO enters and stands downstage. BENVOLIO and ROMEO follow. ABRAM and BALTHASAR carry torches behind. ALL wear masks and simple costumes. MERCUTIO ‘Tis a lively night! Oh happy music! ROMEO And what shall we say if we are asked our reason for entering? BENVOLIO Do not fear, cousin. You do not wear worried well. We’ll have a look, dance a dance, and then be gone. ROMEO Give me a torch, I am not for dancing. MERCUTIO Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance!
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ROMEO Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles. I have a soul of lead. It stakes me to the ground. MERCUTIO You are a lover! Borrow cupid’s wings and soar! BENVOLIO Come! Knock and enter! And no sooner that we’re in than every man take to his feet! All cross upstage. All party guests, wearing masks, enter the stage. ANTHONY, POTPAN, and PETER enter stage right with LUCINDA, ZITA and MARTA CAPULET enters stage leJ with LADY CAPULET JULIET and PARIS follow, arm and arm. TYBALT follows. CAPULET Welcome, gentleman! Was once a day when I did wear a mask and whisper into a fair lady’s ear. ‘Tis gone for me. Come, musicians, play! A new song starts. ANTHONY, POTPAN and PETER start to dance with LUCINDA, ZITA and MARTA. MONTAGUES stand upstage right. TYBALT stands upstage leJ. GREGORY and SAMPSON enter and join him. Music fades. CAPULET Well, daughter, how suits you this fine knight? JULIET For a dance, he suits me fine. PARIS ‘Tis you who are truly fine, Juliet. As fine as the morning dew. Come, shall we have a dance? PARIS takes JULIET’s hand and they join the dancers.
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ROMEO steps forward with BALTHASAR. ROMEO What lady is that who graces the hand of the Count Paris? BALTHASAR I know not, sir. ROMEO Oh, how she teaches the torches to burn! How brightly she shines! Did my heart love Bll now? I never saw true beauty Bll this night! Go, Balthasar, and find her name. BALTHASAR roams the room. ROMEO steps back to watch JULIET. TYBALT steps forward with GREGORY and SAMPSON TYBALT He, by his voice, must be a Montague. What dares him to enter this house? Sampson, fetch me my sword. Now, by the honor of my kin, I’ll strike him dead! SAMPSON exits. CAPULET steps forward. CAPULET Why, how now, nephew? What angers you? TYBALT Uncle, that is a Montague! GREGORY Perhaps young Romeo! SAMPSON returns with a small sword. He hands it to TYBALT. TYBALT ‘Tis he, the villain! CAPULET Calm yourself and let him alone.
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TYBALT Let him alone? As a guest? CAPULET I’ll not have you shed blood on this happy night. Therefore be paBent. Take no note of him. TYBALT I shall not endure him! CAPULET He shall be endured! What, good boy! I say he shall! Am I the master here, or you? Let him alone! CAPULET walks away from TYBALT. The music stops, and the dancers rest. All guests quietly visit and exit. SCENE 7 JULIET leaves the dancers and steps downstage. ROMEO follows, they are alone. ROMEO suddenly takes JULIET’s hand. ROMEO Your hand, so smooth and holy, deserves be\er than my rough touch. But my lips, like blushing pilgrims, stand ready to smooth it with a tender kiss. ROMEO bends to kiss her hand. JULIET takes it quickly away. JULIET Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hands too much. For saints have hands, that pilgrims’ hands do touch. And palm to palm does make a holy kiss. JULIET puts her hands up and ROMEO places his palms against hers. ROMEO Have not saints lips? And holy pilgrims too? JULIET Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
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ROMEO Oh then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do, and answer this pilgrim’s prayer. JULIET Yet saints do not move, though they listen. ROMEO Then do not move. ROMEO leans in and kisses JULIET. JULIET You kiss by the book! NURSE enters. NURSE Madam, your mother craves a word with you. JULET slowly lets go of ROMEO’s hands. She exits. ROMEO Who is her mother? NURSE Silly, boy. Her mother is the lady of the house. I nursed her daughter with whom your were talking. I tell you, he that takes her hand will be the wealthiest man alive. NURSE exits. ROMEO She is a Capulet! My heart is in the hands of my enemy! BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO enter. ABRAM and BALTHASAR follow. BENVOLIO Come, cousin. Let us be gone. Our game is done. MERCUTIO We best depart before trouble finds us. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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ROMEO I fear I’ve already found trouble. MERCUTIO Then hear me, and depart! ROMEO I cannot leave when my heart lives here. ROMEO backs away and turns to exit, running. BENVOLIO Romeo! Cousin! BALTHASAR (to BENVOLIO) He hath run that way and leapt the orchard wall. BENVOLIO Call, good MercuBo. MERCUTIO Come, he hath hid himself among these trees. ‘Tis silly to seek a man that cares not to be found. MERCUTIO exits. All others follow. Curtain closes. SCENE 8 Curtain opens. JULIET’s chambers. NURSE and JULIET enter. JULIET wears a nightgown. JULIET Good nurse, who was he that would not dance? NURSE The gentle one? On whose lips I did find you? JULIET Ay, he! NURSE I dare not say.
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JULIET Gentle nurse, pray tell me! NURSE His name is Romeo, and a Montague. The only son of your greatest enemy. JULIET (quietly to herself) My only love sprung from my only hate! NURSE What’s this? JULIET (quickly) A rhyme I learned from one I danced with. NURSE Well, ‘Bs Bme to put your rhyming head to bed. Get thee to thy rest. JULIET Aier some air from this bright night. Good night, dear Nurse. NURSE kisses JULIET on the forehead and exits. JULIET brushes her hair. ROMEO enters in front and below the stage. ROMEO How I am doomed to love those I cannot. The daughter of Capulet! JULIET moves to her balcony on the stage. ROMEO speaks to himself. ROMEO But soi! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick with grief, for thou art far more fair than she. JULIET Ay, me!
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ROMEO She speaks! Oh, speak again, bright angel! Thou art as glorious as a winged messenger of heaven! JULIET Oh Romeo! Romeo! Where art thou Romeo? Deny your father and refuse your name! Or, if you’ll not, swear your love and I’ll no longer be a Capulet. ROMEO (to himself) Shall I hear more, or shall I speak? JULIET ‘Tis only your name that is my enemy! What is a Montague? ‘Tis not a hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. What is in a name? A rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet! Romeo, refuse your name and take all of me! ROMEO Just call me your love and I’ll never more be Romeo. JULIET (startled) Who is there? What man are you who hath stumbled on my dreaming? ROMEO A man with a name I cannot speak. ‘Tis the name of your enemy. JULIET Are you Romeo? Are you Montague? ROMEO Neither, fair maid, if either you dislike. JULIET Romeo! If they find you they will murder you! ROMEO starts to climb the stage to be closer to JULIET.
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ROMEO If you do not love me, let them find me! I’d rather my life be ended by their hate than by your denial. Sweet lady, I swear by yonder blessed moon -‐
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JULIET Swear not by the moon! She is not constant, changing shape by the night. ROMEO What shall I swear by? JULIET Do not swear at all, or if you must, swear by thy gracious self. ROMEO Well, then I swear -‐ JULIET No, do not swear. Although I take joy in thee, this is not the night for contracts. This is too rash, too sudden. JULIET turns to look inside. JULIET Sweet Romeo, goodnight! Let us think of our love as a rose bud, fresh and new. And this bud, ripened by the summer’s breeze, may be a beauBful flower when next we meet. ROMEO reaches out for her hand. ROMEO Oh, will you leave me so unsaBsfied? JULIET What more saBsfacBon can you have tonight? ROMEO Your vow of love in return of mine. JULIET I gave you my vow before you requested it. And yet, I would give it again. My love is as deep and boundless as the sea. The more I give to you, the more I have! NURSE (from off stage) Juliet? M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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JULIET (to ROMEO) I hear some noise within. Dear love, goodbye. (to NURSE) I come, good Nurse! (to ROMEO) Stay but a li\le, I will come again. JULIET leaves the balcony and quickly exits. ROMEO Oh blessed, blessed night! I am afraid I am but dreaming! JULIET enters and runs to the balcony again. JULIET Dear Romeo, I must now to bed. But know, if your purpose is marriage I will have thee! Send word tomorrow by my nurse, whom I’ll send your way. And all my fortunes at your foot I’ll lay, and follow you throughout the world. NURSE (from off stage) Juliet! JULIET (to NURSE) I come! I come! (to ROMEO) But if you won’t marry, I ask you... NURSE (from off stage) Juliet, Juliet! JULIET (to ROMEO) Leave me alone to grieve. ROMEO Sweet lady, if you’ll have me, I am yours. JULIET ‘Till tomorrow then. A thousand Bmes good night! JULIET starts to exit, then turns back. ROMEO A thousand Bmes worse is to miss your light. Good night.
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JULIET ParBng is such sweet sorrow, I might say goodnight ‘Bll night be tomorrow. JULIET runs back inside and exits. ROMEO climbs down to the front of the stage. ROMEO Now I’ll to the friar, to whose good heart I’ll trust my intenBons. ROMEO exits. Curtain closes. SCENE 9 Curtain opens. Streets of Verona. MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO enter. MERCUTIO Where the devil should our Romeo be? Came he not home last night? BENVOLIO Not to his father’s house. But Tybalt, kinsman to old Capulet, hath sent a le\er to our house. MERCUTIO A challenge? BENVOLIO Ay, and Romeo will answer it. MERCUTIO Alas, poor Romeo! He is already dead! He’s been shot through the ear with a love song. He is not the man to fight Tybalt. ROMEO enters. BENVOLIO Here comes Romeo! MERCUTIO (to ROMEO) There he is! He that made fools of us! M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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ROMEO Good morrow to you both. Fools only make fools of themselves. MERCUTIO You slipped away from us, sir. NURSE and PETER enter. ROMEO Pardon, good MercuBo. My business was great. And here comes even greater business. MERCUTIO Greater indeed. What business have you with this boat? NURSE (to PETER) My fan, Peter! MERCUTIO Good, Peter, to quickly hide her face, for I find the fan more lovely. NURSE Good morrow, gentleman. Can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo? ROMEO I am the youngest by that name. NURSE If you be he, sir, I desire conference with you. MERCUTIO (to ROMEO) She will eat you for supper! BENVOLIO Romeo, will you to your father’s? We’ll to dinner soon. ROMEO I will follow you.
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MERCUTIO Fare thee well, ancient lady. Though fair we find you not! BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO exit. NURSE I pray you, sir, what saucy man was that? ROMEO A man, good lady, who loves to hear himself talk. NURSE Pray you, sir, a word. NURSE pulls ROMEO away from PETER. NURSE My young lady bid me ask you out. What she asked me to say, I’ll not say unBl you promise not to lead her to fools paradise. ROMEO (sincerely) Good nurse, I protest unto thee -‐ NURSE You’ve a good heart and, in faith, I’ll tell her that. Lord, she will be a joyful woman. ROMEO Tell her to meet me at the cell of Friar Lawrence. This aiernoon she’ll be married. NURSE This very aiernoon, sir? She will be there. NURSE goes to leave. ROMEO Commend me to thy lady!
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NURSE Ay, a thousand Bmes. Peter? PETER Anon! NURSE Away with us! NURSE exits and PETER follows. ROMEO exits opposite side. SCENE 10 The church. FRAIR LAWRENCE and ROMEO enter. FRIAR LAWRENCE So smile the heavens upon this holy act! And may this marriage end the violence between two houses. ROMEO Amen, amen. FRAIR LAWRENCE I only pray that sorrow find us not aier ‘Bs done. ROMEO No sorrow can ruin the joy I find in her. Love, all powerful, will devour death. It is enough I may but call her mine. FRIAR LAWRENCE Here comes the lady. JULIET enters and runs to ROMEO. They embrace. JULIET Good evening, Friar.
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FRIAR LAWRENCE Romeo is happy you are here! JULIET As I am, Friar. ROMEO Ah, Juliet, your happiness is as great as mine, but your words are more beauBful. Tell of the imagined happiness we shall both receive in this marriage. JULIET My imaginaBon is too full for words. And anyone who can tell of their happiness is but a beggar. My true love is so great that I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth! FRIAR LAWRENCE Come, come with me and we will make short of this ceremony. You shall not stay alone Bll holy church bind two in one. FRIAR exits. ROMEO and JULIET quickly follow, holding hands. SCENE 11 Streets of Verona. BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO enter. ABRAM and BALTHASAR follow. BENVOLIO I beg of you, good MercuBo, let us reBre! This day is hot and, for sure, the Capulets are out. And if we meet we shall not ‘scape a brawl. For now, in these hot days, the mad blood is sBrring! MERCUTIO Ah, Benvolio! You say you’ll ‘scape a brawl, but when one comes you, with much happiness, draw. TYBALT enters. GREGORY, SAMPSON and ANTHONY follow.
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BENVOLIO (to MERCUTIO) By my head, here come the Capulets. MERCUTIO By my heel, I care not! TYBALT (to GREGORY) Follow me close, for I will speak to them. (to BENVOLIO) Good evening, Gentlemen. A word with one of you? MERCUTIO Just one word and nothing else? Or will you make it a word and a strike? TYBALT You shall find me ready to strike if you give me reason. MERCUTIO But you, Tybalt, could find reason without giving. TYBALT MercuBo, wander you with Romeo? MERCUTIO Wander? What do you make us? Minstrels? If I am a minstrel, then here is my fiddlesBck. (draws his sword) I’ll swing it to make you dance! BENVOLIO steps between MERCUTIO and TYBALT. BENVOLIO Good men, this here is a public place. Either withdraw to a private place, or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us. MERCUTIO Men’s eyes were made to look. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure. ROMEO enters. TYBALT Well, peace be with you. Here comes my man. (to ROMEO) Romeo, thou art a villain!
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ROMEO Tybalt, I have reason to love thee. I will not argue over such a greeBng. Therefore, farewell. ROMEO goes to leave. TYBALT Boy, this shall not excuse the wrong you have done to me. Turn and draw! ROMEO turns to TYBALT. ROMEO I’ve never wronged you, Tybalt. Rather, I love thee for reason I cannot explain. And so, good Capulet, a name I love as much as my own, be saBsfied with my withdrawal. MERCUTIO (to ROMEO) Oh dishonorable submission! Romeo! What do you say? MERCUTIO draws his sword and points it at TYBALT. MERCUTIO Tybalt, you ratcatcher, you Prince of Cats, I challenge you! ROMEO Gentle MercuBo, put away your sword! TYBALT (drawing his sword) Nay, draw it forth! MERCUTIO and TYBALT start to duel. ROMEO draws his sword. ROMEO Draw your sword, Benvolio. Beat down their weapons! Gentlemen, for shame! Stop this outrage! The Prince has forbidden brawling in the streets. Hold, Tybalt! Good MercuBo! The fight conVnues. ROMEO tries to stop it. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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TYBALT stabs MERCUTIO, then steps away. ANTHONY Tybalt, away! SAMPSON You must flee this bloody site! All Capulets exit. MERCUTIO puts his hand to his wound. MERCUTIO I am hurt. I am finished! Is he gone without a cut? A plague on both your houses! BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt? MERCUTIO Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. BALTHASAR I shall fetch a surgeon! BALTHASAR exits running. ROMEO Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much. MERCUTIO No, ‘Bs not so deep, but ‘Bs enough. Look for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. My Bme here is done. A plague on both your houses! (to ROMEO) Why came you between us? I was hurt under your arm! ROMEO I thought ‘twas all for the best. MERCUTIO Help me into some house, Benvolio. They have made worms’ meat of me. A plague on both your houses!
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BENVOLIO helps MERCUTIO. They exit, ABRAM follows.
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ROMEO My reputaBon was stained by Tybalt’s slander! This gentleman, my very friend, received his mortal blow on my behalf. BENVOLIO enters. BENVOLIO Oh Romeo, Romeo, brave MercuBo is dead! That gallant spirit has risen to the clouds! TYBALT enters. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again! ROMEO Alive in triumph, and MercuBo slain! My fire-‐eyes are filled with fury. ROMEO draws his sword. ROMEO Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again. MercuBo’s soul is but a li\le way above our heads waiBng for you to keep him company. Either you or I, or both, must go with him! TYBALT Wretched boy, you wandered with him on earth, you shall wander with him hence! ROMEO and TYBALT duel. ROMEO strikes, TYBALT falls down dead. ROMEO drops his sword and covers his eyes. BENVOLIO Romeo, away, be gone! The ciBzens see all, and Tybalt is slain. Stand not amazed! The Prince will doom thee to death if you are taken. Hence, be gone, away! ROMEO falls to his knees.
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ROMEO Oh, I am fortune’s fool! BENVOLIO Why do you stay? Away! ROMEO stands, takes his sword, and exits running. SCENE 12 WATCHMEN enter running. WATCHMAN 1 Which way ran the man that killed MercuBo? WATCHMAN 2 Tybalt, the murder, where did he run? BENVOLIO (poinVng to TYBALT) There lies Tybalt, sir. WATCHMAN 3 (to TYBALT) Up, sir, come with us! TYBALT lies moVonless. WATCHMAN 1 We charge thee in the Prince’s name! BENVOLIO You waste your breath for he is dead. PRINCE, CAPULET, LADY CAPULET MONTAGUE, and LADY MONTAGUE enter. PRINCE Where are the vile beginners of this brawl? BENVOLIO There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, that killed your friend MercuBo. LADY CAPULET runs to TYBALT
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LADY CAPULET Tybalt, my nephew! My brother’s son! Oh, the blood is spilled of our dear kinsman! CAPULET Prince, as thou art true, for the blood of ours, make blood of a Montague. PRINCE Romeo killed Tybalt and Tybalt killed MercuBo. Now who shall pay the price? LADY MONTAGUE Not Romeo, Prince! MONTAGUE He was MercuBo’s friend. He only did the job of JusBce by taking the life of Tybalt. PRINCE And for that offense, I immediately exile him hence! Let Romeo go in in haste, or, the hour that he is found, shall be his last. PRINCE exits. Curtain closes. SCENE 13 Curtain opens. JULIET’s chambers. JULIET Oh, let the night come! Let Romeo leap into my arms, untalked of and unseen. NURSE enters. JULIET Ay, me, what news? Why do you wring your hands? NURSE We are undone, lady! We are undone! Alas, the day! He’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead! M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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JULIET Can heaven be so hateful? NURSE Romeo can, though heaven is not. Oh, Romeo! Who ever would have thought? JULIET How can you torment me so? Has Romeo killed himself? If he is killed, say “ay,” or if not, “no.” NURSE I saw the wound! I saw it with my eyes! JULIET Oh, break my heart! I resign to the vile earth. Let us be buried together! NURSE Oh, Tybalt! Tybalt! Honest gentleman! I never thought I’d see you dead. JULIET What is this? Romeo slaughtered and Tybalt dead? NURSE Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished. Romeo has killed him. JULIET No! ‘Tis not so! NURSE There’s no trust, no faith, no honesty in men. Shame come to Romeo! JULIET May your tongue burn for such a wish! NURSE Will you defend he who killed your cousin?
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JULIET Shall I not defend he who is my husband? Where are my father and mother? NURSE Weeping and wailing over Tybalt’s body. JULIET They wash his wounds with their tears. I shall save mine for Romeo. NURSE Stay in your chambers. I’ll find Romeo to comfort you. NURSE exits. JULIET sits quietly to wait. SCENE 14 COUNT PARIS, CAPULET and LADY CAPULET enter on the opposite side of the stage. PARIS These Bmes of woe are not a Bme for wooing. CAPULET Juliet loved her kinsman Tybalt. She cries for him and shall not come down tonight. LADY CAPULET I will speak to her soon and move her to marry. CAPULET Sir Paris, we shall make an argument for our child’s love. And she shall follow our bidding. Wife, go to her before you go to bed. Tell her she shall be married on Thursday to this noble man. PARIS My lord, I wish that Thursday were tomorrow! ROMEO enters on JULIET’s side of the stage. They hug and sit next to each other. They appear to be talking. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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CAPULET Thursday, be it then. Goodnight. PARIS Goodnight, sir. PARIS exits. CAPULET Go to Juliet. Prepare her, wife, for this wedding day. They exit. SCENE 15 JULIET’s chambers. ROMEO stands to leave. JULIET Will you be gone? ‘Tis not yet near day! ROMEO I hear the lark. It welcomes the morning. JULIET It was the nighBngale, and not the lark, that pierced your fearful ear. ROMEO No nighBngale. Look, love: rosy streaks that paint the clouds in the eastern sky. I must be gone and live, or stay and die. JULIET ‘Tis not daylight. ‘Tis but a meteor! Therefore stay, you need not be gone. JULIET kisses him. ROMEO Oh, let me be taken! Let me be put to death! It shall be as you say, so let it be night. I have more care to stay than will to go.
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NURSE enters.
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NURSE Madam! Your lady mother is coming to your chamber! The day has broken. Be wary, look about! NURSE exits. JULIET and ROMEO run to the window. ROMEO Farewell, farewell. One kiss, and I’ll be gone. They kiss. ROMEO starts to climb down the stage. JULIET And so you go? Oh, my husband, friend! I must hear from you everyday! Oh the days shall be long! ROMEO Farewell! I will send greeBngs, my love! JULIET Oh, shall we ever meet again? ROMEO I have not a doubt. And all these woes will serve as memories in our Bme to come. JULIET Oh lord! Methinks I see you now, as pale as a corpse in a tomb. ROMEO Trust me, love, in my eyes so are you. This sorrow takes our color. Adieu! Adieu! ROMEO exits running. SCENE 16 LADY CAPULET (from offstage) Daughter, are you up? LADY capulet enters JULIET’s chambers. JULIET leaves the window.
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LADY CAPULET Why, how now, Juliet? JULIET Madam, I am not well. LADY CAPULET Weeping for your cousin’s death? JULIET Let me weep for such a loss. LADY CAPULET Well weep no more. We will have vengeance. And now I’ll tell you joyful Bdings, girl! JULIET And what joy comes in such sad Bmes? LADY CAPULET Give thanks to your father, Juliet! He has done well for you! JULIET I thank him for my life. What more? LADY CAPULET My child, early next Thursday morn, the gallant, young and noble gentleman, the Count Paris, shall happily make you his joyful bride! JULIET He shall not make me a joyful bride! I pray you, tell my lord and father, I will not marry yet! JULIET begins to cry. LADY CAPULET (angry) Here comes your father, tell him so yourself. CAPULET and NURSE enter. CAPULET Why Juliet? How now? What, sBll in tears? How now, wife? Have you you not delivered the news?
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LADY CAPULET Ay, sir, but she will have none of it. CAPULET (to JULIET) What, does she not give us thanks? We have found a worthy gentleman to be her husband! JULIET gets down on her knees before her father. JULIET Good Father, I beseech you on my knees! Here me speak! CAPULET Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! JULIET stands before her father. JULIET But Father! CAPULET Get thee to church on Thursday or never look me in the face! To have such a daughter is but a curse! NURSE God in heaven! My lord, you should not say so! CAPULET And why not, you mumbling fool? LADY CAPULET Husband, you are too hot. You must rest. CAPULET Well, Thursday is near. If you be my daughter, you’ll wed. If not, then beg, starve, and die in the streets! CAPULET exits. LADY CAPULET follows. JULIET Oh God! Oh Nurse! How shall this be prevented? What say you? Have you not a word of joy? Some comfort? M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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NURSE In faith, here is my comfort. Romeo is banished. He shall not return to you. As this situaBon stands, I think it best you marry with the count. I think you will be happier in this second match. JULIET Do you speak from the heart? NURSE And from my soul. JULIET pauses to think. JULIET Nurse, go to my father. Tell him I am sorry for angering him and that I’ve gone to Friar Lawrence to confess. NURSE I will! And this is wisely done! NURSE exits. JULIET Does my sweet nurse abandon me? There is no comfort, no wise advice in her. I shall go to the friar for council. JULIET exits. Curtain closes. SCENE 17 Curtain opens. The church. FRIAR LAWRENCE opens the door for JULIET. JULIET Oh, shut the door! And aier you do, come weep with me! I am past hope, past cure, past help! FRIAR LAWRENCE Oh Juliet, I know of your situaBon. You are to be married next Thursday.
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JULIET Tell me not of this, Friar. Unless you can tell me how I may prevent it. I wish to die if you speak not of a remedy! FRIAR LAWRENCE pauses to think. FRIAR LAWRENCE Wait, my daughter. I do spy some kind of hope. If, rather than marry Paris, you have the strength to take your life, then it is likely you’ll try what I suggest. JULIET Oh bid me leap, rather than to marry Paris! Hide me with a dead man! There is nothing I will not do to be a wife to my sweet love. FRIAR LAWRENCE Listen, then. Go home, be merry, and agree to marry Paris. Tomorrow night let not the nurse sleep with you in your chamber. (shows her a vial) Take this vial in your hands. When you are in bed, drink all of it. It will bring a cold and drowsy sleep. No pulse shall be detected. No warmth, no breath shall prove you live. Thinking you are dead, your parents will leave you in your family’s tomb, and there I shall send Romeo to find you. JULIET Give it to me quickly! I shall gladly drink of it! FRIAR LAWRENCE gives JULIET the vial. FRIAR LAWRENCE Get you gone. Be strong and prosperous. I shall send a friar, with great speed, to give word of this to Romeo. JULIET Love give me strength. Farewell, dear Friar. They both exit separately. Curtain closes.
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SCENE 18 Curtain opens. JULIET’s chamber on one side of the stage. CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, ANTHONY and POTPAN stand on the opposite side of the stage. CAPULET Potpan? POTPAN Yes, my lord. CAPULET The invited guests are wri\en here. CAPULET hands a paper to POTPAN. CAPULET Make sure they receive word of my daughter’s marriage. POTPAN With speed, my lord. POTPAN exits. CAPULET And Anthony? ANTHONY Yes, my lord. CAPULET Go and hire twenty able cooks. ANTHONY I shall find the best, my lord. ANTHONY exits. JULIET enters. CAPULET How now, my headstrong daughter? I hear you’ve gone to repent your sin of disobedience.
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JULIET I beg your pardon, Father. I am ever ruled by you. CAPULET Word has been sent to the count. Your willingness gives us joy. We’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning! JULIET Tomorrow is but Wednesday. CAPULET Ay! Your husband is eager. JULIET Then I’ll to bed. LADY CAPULET Need you my help? JULIET No madam. So please you, let me now be lei alone. And let the nurse stay with you this night. With such preparaBons, you have need of her. LADY CAPULET Very well. Get thee to bed and rest. JULIET Good night. JULIET exits, then enters in her chamber on the opposite side of the stage. LADY CAPULET It is late and there’s is much to be done. CAPULET Quiet, my lady. All things shall be done. And with great happiness! JULIET goes to her window to watch her parents. CAPULET and LADY CAPULET exit.
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JULIET Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. There is a faint cold that creeps through my veins. I wish to call them back for comfort. But my dismal act must act alone. (holding the vial) Come, vial. I’ll bring you to my lips. (she stops) But what if this mixture does not work? Shall I be married tomorrow? And what if my Romeo does not come? Shall I die alone in the tomb with li\le air? Enough of this. I must drink. (bringing the vial to her lips) Romeo, Romeo! Here’s a drink. I drink to thee! JULIET drinks from the vial and falls to the floor. Curtain closes. SCENE 19 Streets of Mantua. ROMEO walks as BALTHASAR enters running. ROMEO News from Verona! How now, Balthasar? Do you bring me le\ers from the friar? How fares my Juliet? Nothing can be wrong if she be well. BALTHASAR Oh, pardon me for bringing such sad news! ROMEO What is it Balthasar? BALTHASAR Your love sleeps in Capulet’s tomb. Her spirits with the angels live. ROMEO Can this be true? BALTHASAR I saw her laid low in the vault, and presently came to tell you. ROMEO falls to the ground.
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ROMEO Then I defy you, stars! (to BALTHASAR) Have you no le\er from the friar? BALTHASAR No, my good lord. ROMEO stands. ROMEO Hire horses, I will go to Verona tonight. BALTHASAR Your looks are pale, sir. Your wild eyes suggest some misadventure. ROMEO Leave me and do the thing I bid you do! BALTHASAR Yes, my good lord. BALTHASAR exits. ROMEO Well, Juliet, I will lay with you tonight. I remember an apothecary in Verona. He shall give me medicine for this misfortune. And with one sip I’ll join my love in a holier place. ROMEO exits. Curtain closes. SCENE 20 Curtain opens. The church. FRIAR LAWRENCE paces. FRIAR JOHN enters, holding a le\er. FRIAR LAWRENCE Brother John! Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo? Or, if he has wri\en, give me the le\er. FRIAR JOHN Brother Lawrence, I am sorry to report: Never in Mantua did I arrive. The way was blocked. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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FRIAR LAWRENCE Who brought my le\er, then to Romeo? FRIAR JOHN I could not send it. Here it is again. FRIAR JOHN gives the le\er back to FRIAR LAWRENCE. FRIAR LAWRENCE What misfortune! Brother John, the le\er was full of importance! NeglecBng it could do much danger! Go again and this Bme find a way! FRIAR LAWRENCE gives the le\er back to FRIAR JOHN. FRIAR JOHN exits. Now I must to the tomb alone. Within three hours fair Juliet will awake. I will bring her to my cell where Romeo may find her. FRIAR LAWRENCE exits. Curtain closes. SCENE 21 Curtain opens. JULIET lays in a tomb on one side of the stage. ROMEO stands on the other side, in the streets of Verona. ROMEO What, ho! Apothecary! APOTHECARY enters. APOTHECARY Who calls so loud? ROMEO Come here, man. There is forty ducats. ROMEO give APOTHECARY coins.
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ROMEO Give me a vial of poison that will make its weary taker fall down dead.
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APOTHECARY Such mortal drugs I have. But the law brings death to any that should sell them. ROMEO Here’s more coin, then. ROMEO hands him more money. APOTHECARY gives ROMEO a vial of poison. APOTHECARY Anyone who drinks of this will die no sooner than it reaches lips. ROMEO Much thanks, Apothecary. APOTHECARY exits. ROMEO Come, poison, go with me to Juliet’s grave, for there I must taste of you. ROMEO crosses the stage towards the tomb. SCENE 22 ROMEO enters the tomb. ROMEO A grave? Oh no! For here lies Juliet, and her beauty fills this dark place with light. Oh, my love, my wife! Why are you sBll so fair? Shall I believe you only sleep? No, ‘Bs not so. So here I shall lay with you forevermore. ROMEO kisses JULIET and takes the vial in his hands. Here’s to my love! ROMEO drinks the poison. Oh, apothecary, your drugs are quick! Thus, with a kiss, I die. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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ROMEO kisses JULIET and dies beside her. JULIET wakes up. JULIET Oh dark tomb! Where is my lord? I do remember where I should be, and here I am. Where is my Romeo? JULIET looks down to see ROMEO What is this? A cup, closed in my true love’s hand? Poison? No! Did you drink all and leave no drop for me? I will kiss your lips. Some poison may hang on them. JULIET kisses ROMEO. JULIET Your lips are sBll warm. What misfortune has happened here? WATCHMEN 1 and 2 enter on the opposite side of the stage. BALTHASAR follows them. WATCHMAN 2 Lead, boy. Which way? JULIET What, who comes? I best be quick. (taking ROMEO’s dagger) Oh, happy dagger, my heart is your sheath. There rust and let me die! JULIET stabs herself and dies. WATCHMAN 1 and BALTHASAR enter the tomb. BALTHASAR A piBful sight! Juliet, bleeding, warm and newly dead! She lays atop of a cold Romeo! WATCHMAN 1 (to Watchman 2) Run to the Capulets! Rise up the Montagues! WATCHMAN 2 quickly exits. FRIAR LAWRENCE enters the stage running.
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FRAIR LAWRENCE I fear I have come too late! Dear God, let it be not so! WATCHMAN 3 enters with PRINCE ESCALUS PRINCE What has happened here? What misadventure calls me form my morning rest? WATCHMAN 1 My prince, here lies Romeo and Juliet, warm and newly dead. PRINCE Who knows the murderer? WATCHMAN 2 enters with CAPULET, LADY CAPULET, MONTAGUE, and LADY MONTAGUE. CAPULET Why do the people cry in the streets? Why do they come running towards our family monument? PRINCE Look, and you will see. The parents enter the tomb. LADY CAPULET Our daughter bleeds! But she is newly buried! MONTAGUE Oh, my son! Where are your manners? You beat your father to the grave! Mothers lay by their children. Fathers exit the tomb. CAPULET Who can explain this sad and strange scene? FRIAR LAWRENCE Here I stand. You may quesBon me. M. Greene © 2014 May only be copied for single classroom use.
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PRINCE Then say at once what you do know of this. FRIAR LAWRENCE. Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet. And she, there dead, was Romeo’s faithful wife. I married them in secret. But aier Tybalt’s death, Romeo was banished. For him, not Tybalt, Juliet cried. And then there was to be a marriage. Juliet did come to me to rid her of it. I gave her a sleeping poBon which gave her the look of death. MeanBme I wrote to Romeo, to come and rescue her from her false grave. But, alas, the le\er never was delivered. BALTHASAR I brought my master news of Juliet’s death. He, nor I, knew not of such a plot. He, giving me this le\er for his father, then returned to Verona. PRINCE Give me the le\er. I will look on it. BALTHASAR hands PRINCE the le\er. PRINCE This le\er makes good of the friar’s words. And here he writes that he would buy poison, and come to die and lie with Juliet. PRINCE hands the le\er to MONTAGUE. Oh you enemies! Capulet! Montague! See what comes of your hate? Heaven found a way to kill your joys with love! MONTAGUE and CAPULET look at each other. CAPULET Oh, brother Montague, give me your hand. On my daughter’s life, I am sorry. Accept it, and I’ll ask nothing more.
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MONTAGUE shakes his hand.
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MONTAGUE But I can give you more. I will raise a statue pure in gold to honor that of faithful Juliet. MONTAGUE and CAPULET embrace. PRINCE steps forward to speak to all. PRINCE A gloomy kind of peace this morning brings, The sun, full of sorrow, shows not his head. Go hence, and talk more of these sad things. Some shall be pardoned, and some punishéd. For never was a story more full of woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo. Curtain closes. CURTAIN CALL THE END
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