The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 613
Second Servant
How can I be in here and in there, too? Happy boys, the one who lives the longest can have it all.
We cannot be here and there too.--Cheerly, boys; be brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.
(They retire behind.)
(Enter Capulet with his cousin, guests, and dancers.)
Capulet
Welcome ladies and gentleman. Prepare to dance if you do not have corns on your feet. Which of you ladies will dance with me? Whoever denies me, I’ll swear you have corns. Here I come. Welcome, gentleman. (To the dancers.) I remember the day when I wore a mask and whispered tales in the ladies’ ears. But, that time is gone. Come, let us dance! Musicians play!
Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes Unplagu'd with corns will have a bout with you.-- Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty, she, I'll swear hath corns; am I come near you now? Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day That I have worn a visard; and could tell A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, Such as would please;--'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone: You are welcome, gentlemen!--Come, musicians, play. A hall--a hall! give room! and foot it, girls.--
(Music plays and they dance.)
We need more light and remove the tables. Put the fire out, because it is too hot in here. Come cousin, let us sit. Our dancing days are behind us. How long has it been since we danced at a party like this?
More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up, And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.-- Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well. Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet; For you and I are past our dancing days; How long is't now since last yourself and I Were in a mask?
Cousin
I swear it’s been thirty years.
By'r Lady, thirty years.
Capulet
It can’t be that long ago. It was at the wedding of Lucentio. That has been twenty-five years ago.
What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much: 'Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio, Come Pentecost as quickly as it will, Some five-and-twenty years; and then we mask'd.
Cousin
It’s been longer than that. His son is at least thirty.
'Tis more, 'tis more: his son is elder, sir; His son is thirty.
Capulet
No way; his son was a minor just two years ago.
Will you tell me that? His son was but a ward two years ago.
Romeo
(To a servant.) Who is that lady with the knight?
What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand Of yonder knight?
Servant
I don’t know, sir.
I know not, sir.
Romeo
Like the light of the torch, she brings light to my eyes. She is as beautiful as a jewel in the ear of an Ethiopian. She stands out like a dove among crows. I will watch her and hope to touch her hand. Have I ever been in love before? My eyes have lied to me, because I have never seen anyone so beautiful.
O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
Tybalt
I know that voice. You are a Montague. (To a page.) Fetch me my sword. How dare he come to the house of Capulet? For that grievance, I will kill him.
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.-- Fetch me my rapier, boy:--what, dares the slave Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
Capulet
What’s going on, Tybalt? Why are you so angry?
Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?
Tybalt
Uncle, a Montague, our enemy is here. He has crashed our party to destroy our fun.
Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; A villain, that is hither come in spite, To scorn at our solemnity this night.
Capulet
Is it young Romeo?
Young Romeo, is it?
Tybalt
It is, that little villain.
'Tis he, that villain, Romeo.
Capulet
Calm down then. He is not bothering anyone. He is favored in the city of Verona. It would not look well if we insulted him. Be patient and leave him alone, if you have any respect for me. This is no way to behave at a party. Have a good time.
Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone, He bears him like a portly gentleman; And, to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth: I would not for the wealth of all the town Here in my house do him disparagement: Therefore be patient, take no note of him,-- It is my will; the which if thou respect, Show a fair presence and put off these frowns, An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
TybaltI am behaving exactly the way I should with a villain in my presence. I will not have him crashing our party.It fits, when such a villain is a guest: I'll not endure him.
Capulet
You will have it, if I say you will. Who is the master here, you? You’ll not have it, and make a scene at my party among my guests. I don’t think so, you trouble-maker.
He shall be endur'd: What, goodman boy!--I say he shall;--go to; Am I the master here, or you? go to. You'll not endure him!--God shall mend my soul, You'll make a mutiny among my guests! You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!
Tybalt
Why? That is a shame!
Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.
Capulet
Get out of my face, you rude boy before your actions bring harm to you. How dare you contradict me? It is time for you to grow up. (To the guests) Having a good time? Wonderful. (To Tybalt) Be quiet or I’ll make you shut up. (To the guests) Have a good time.
Go to, go to! You are a saucy boy. Is't so, indeed?-- This trick may chance to scathe you,--I know what: You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time.-- Well said, my hearts!--You are a princox; go: Be quiet, or--More light, more light!--For shame! I'll make you quiet. What!--cheerly, my hearts.
Tybalt
I will abide by my uncle this time, although my anger makes me tremble, but I will not forget what Romeo has done. What he thinks is a fun trick now, will not be so funny when I get through with him.
Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall, Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall.
(Exit.)
Romeo
(To Juliet.) If you find my rough hand offensive, let me offer you two smooth lips to kiss.
[To Juliet.] If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this,-- My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
Juliet
Boy, I do not find your hand rough offensive. Doesn’t everyone have hands? Holding hands is the nearest thing to kissing. Palm to palm, instead of lip to lip.
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.
Romeo
Doesn’t everyone have lips, too?
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
Juliet
Yes, but lips have many uses, like praying.
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
Romeo
Then, let lips do what hands do. I pray you grant me a kiss or I will lose my faith.
O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Juliet
That will not make you lose your faith.
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.
Romeo
Then don’t move. Stay still while I kiss you, and my sin will be purged.
Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purg'd.
(They kiss.)
Juliet
Am I a sinner now? Have you passed on your sin to me?
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
Romeo
Because you kissed me? Well, let me take my sin back.
Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg'd! Give me my sin again.
(They kiss again.)
Juliet
You kiss perfectly!
You kiss by the book.
Nurse
Madam, your mother wants to talk with you.
Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Romeo
(To Nurse.) Who is her mother?
What is her mother?
Nurse
Young man, her mother is the lady who lives in this house. She is a good lady, wise and virtuous. I am her daughter’s nurse, the girl you were talking to. He, who wins her heart, will have it made.
Marry, bachelor, Her mother is the lady of the house. And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous: I nurs'd her daughter that you talk'd withal; I tell you, he that can lay hold of her Shall have the chinks.
Romeo
Is she a Capulet? Oh my God! I have just fallen for the daughter of my enemy.
Is she a Capulet? O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.
Benvolio
Come on; let’s go before it is too late.
Away, be gone; the sport is at the best.
Romeo
I’m afraid it is already too late.
Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.
Capulet
Don’t go yet, gentlemen. We still have more food coming. Is that so? Well, thank you all. Thank you for coming. We need more light over here. Let’s go to bed. (To Cousin.) I did not know it was so late. I’m going to bed.
Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone; We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.-- Is it e'en so? why then, I thank you all; I thank you, honest gentlemen; good-night.-- More torches here!--Come on then, let's to bed. Ah, sirrah [to 2 Capulet], by my fay, it waxes late; I'll to my rest.
(Exit all but Juliet and Nurse.)
Juliet
Come here, Nurse. Who was that young gentleman?
Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?
Nurse
He is the son and heir of old Tiberio.
The son and heir of old Tiberio.
Juliet
Not him; the one who is going out the door.
What's he that now is going out of door?
Nurse
I think his name is Petruchio.
Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.
Juliet
No, not him either. Who was the one that would not dance?
What's he that follows there, that would not dance?
Nurse
I don’t know his name.
I know not.
Juliet
Well go find out, and ask if he is married. I’m likely to die if I don’t marry him.
Go ask his name: if he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding-bed.
Nurse
His name is Romeo, and he is a Montague. He is the only son of your worst enemy.
His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy.
Juliet
Oh no! The only man I love is the son of the only man I hate. Why couldn’t I have known this before? Unfair love, why must I love someone I hate?
My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy.
Nurse
What are you talking about?
What's this? What's this?
Juliet
Oh nothing.
A rhyme I learn'd even now Of one I danc'd withal.
(Someone calls for Juliet.)
Nurse
Here we are. Come on let’s go. The guests are all gone.
Anon, anon! Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone.
(Exit all.)
(Enter Chorus.)
Chorus
Old desire dies,
And young affection takes its place;
Rosaline, whom Romeo groaned for,
Has been replaced by Juliet.
Now Romeo’s love is returned;
Both falling for looks alone.
But he loves the enemy;
And she has fallen for her foe.
Thus, he is forbidden to pursue her;
And she cannot sneak away to meet him.
But passion makes them powerful;
And chance favors them to meet.
They test extreme danger,
For extreme pleasure.
Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for,
and would die,
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is belov'd, and loves again,
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks;
But to his foe suppos'd he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers us'd to swear;
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved anywhere:
But passion lends them power,
time means, to meet,
Tempering extremities
with extreme sweet.
Scene I: An open place adjoining Capulet’s garden.
Romeo
My heart is here. Where else can I be?
(He climbs the wall and leaps down within it.)
(Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.)
Benvolio
Romeo! Where are you?
Romeo! my cousin Romeo!
Mercutio
He is too smart to be here. He must have gone home and is in bed by now.
He is wise; And, on my life, hath stol'n him home to bed.
Benvolio
I saw him run this way and leap over this orchard wall. Call him, Mercutio.
He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: Call, good Mercutio.
Mercutio
I will conjure him up with my magic powers. Romeo! Oh, Passionate Lover! If you are there let us hear a sigh or some rhyme and I will be satisfied. If you are in a compromising situation, just cry out, “Ah me! Or, say love and dove. Cry out to Venus, the goddess of love or to her red-headed son, Cupid, who shoots so well. Romeo does not hear me. He does not move. He must be dead, and I must bring him magically forth. I call you by the name of the bright-eyed Rosaline with the high forehead and red lips, the fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, and the area between those thighs. Appear before us now!
Nay, I'll conjure too.-- Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but 'Ah me!' pronounce but Love and dove; Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, One nickname for her purblind son and heir, Young auburn Cupid, he that shot so trim When King Cophetua lov'd the beggar-maid!-- He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not; The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.-- I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us!
Benvolio
If he hears you, he will be mad.
An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
Mercutio
He shouldn’t be. I am speaking truthfully when I conjure him in the name of his beloved. Now, if I were conjuring a man for her, then he should be angry.
This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him To raise a spirit in his m
istress' circle, Of some strange nature, letting it there stand Till she had laid it, and conjur'd it down; That were some spite: my invocation Is fair and honest, and, in his mistress' name, I conjure only but to raise up him.
Benvolio
Come on. He has hidden himself among these trees. He is blinded by love so he longs for the dark.
Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, To be consorted with the humorous night: Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.
Mercutio
If love were blind, it would never find someone. He sits under a tree and wishes his love were its fruit that looks like a woman’s private parts. Good night, Romeo. I’m going to my house, to my bed. This field is too cold for me to sleep upon. Come on. Are you ready to go?
If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. Now will he sit under a medlar tree, And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.-- Romeo, good night.--I'll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep: Come, shall we go?
Benvolio
I’m ready. It’s pointless to try and find him, if he does not want to be found.
Go then; for 'tis in vain To seek him here that means not to be found.
(Exit all.)
Scene II: Capulet’s garden.
(Enter Romeo)
Romeo
He laughs at me, but he has never been scarred by love.
He jests at scars that never felt a wound
(Juliet appears above at a window.)
Whose soft light in the window do I see? Is it the rising sun of the east or my Juliet? Arise fair sun, and kill the jealous moon. The moon is jealous of your beauty, so do not be a maid of the moon. Her virginity is intact and this makes her green with envy. So do not be a fool, cast off your love—It is my lady; Oh, my love! I wish she knew how I love her! She is talking, but I can’t hear her words. Her eyes are weary, so I will comfort her. But, maybe she would be offended if I try. Her eyes twinkle like two of the fairest stars in all the heavens. How I long to be reflected in those spheres. It appears the stars have traded places with her eyes, but the brightness of her cheek would outshine the stars. Like daylight, brighter than a lamp, she brightens the night so that the birds think it is day. Now, she leans her cheek upon her hand, and I wish I were a glove upon that hand, touching her cheek.