Friar Lawrence
Go everyone. Let’s get prepared for her funeral. Let’s not stand in the way of God’s will.
Sir, go you in,--and, madam, go with him;-- And go, Sir Paris;--every one prepare To follow this fair corse unto her grave: The heavens do lower upon you for some ill; Move them no more by crossing their high will.
(Exit Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar.)
First Musician
Well, we may put up our instruments and leave.
Faith, we may put up our pipes and be gone.
Nurse
Yes, good men. Go ahead and pack up. This is a pitiful day.
Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up; For well you know this is a pitiful case.
(Exit Nurse.)
First Musician
I think things could get better.
Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended.
(Enter Peter.)
Peter
Musicians, play “Heart’s Ease.” If you want me to live, play “Heart’s Ease.”
Musicians, O, musicians, 'Heart's ease,' 'Heart's ease': O, an you will have me live, play 'Heart's ease.'
First Musician
Why “Heart’s Ease?”
Why 'Heart's ease'?
Peter
Because, my heart is filled with sadness. Oh, play me some comforting song.
O, musicians, because my heart itself plays 'My heart is full of woe': O, play me some merry dump to comfort me.
First Musician
This is not the right time to play music.
Not a dump we: 'tis no time to play now.
Peter
You will not play?
You will not then?
First Musician
No.
No.
Peter
Then, you’re gonna get it.
I will then give it you soundly.
First Musician
Get what?
What will you give us?
Peter
You’ll get no money, I swear! You minstrel!
No money, on my faith; but the gleek,--I will give you the minstrel.
First Musician
You are nothing but a servant.
Then will I give you the serving-creature.
Peter
Then, I will serve up a dagger for you. I will make you sing do-re-mi. Do you hear me?
Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on your pate. I will carry no crotchets: I'll re you, I'll fa you: do you note me?
First Musician
You can’t make us sing!
An you re us and fa us, you note us.
Second Musician
Please, put away your dagger and stop messing around.
Pray you put up your dagger, and put out your wit.
Peter
You don’t like my joking around? I will beat you with my jokes. Answer me this: Doesn’t music soothe the soul like the song says, “When grief wounds your heart and sadness grips your mind, listen to the silver sound of music.” What do you say to that?
Then have at you with my wit! I will dry-beat you with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger.--Answer me like men: 'When griping grief the heart doth wound, And doleful dumps the mind oppress, Then music with her silver sound'-- why 'silver sound'? why 'music with her silver sound'?-- What say you, Simon Catling?
First Musician
Because the sound of silver is a happy sound.
Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound.
Peter
(To the second Musician.) What do you say, sir?
Pretty!--What say you, Hugh Rebeck?
Second Musician
I think it’s because musicians will play for silver.
I say 'silver sound' because musicians sound for silver.
Peter
That’s a good answer. (To the third Musician.) What do you think?
Pretty too!--What say you, James Soundpost?
Third Musician
I have no idea.
Faith, I know not what to say.
Peter
Well, I’ll tell you. You’re the singer, for heaven’s sake. If it were not for music, you would have no songs to sing. “Music with her silver sound makes you feel fine.”
O, I cry you mercy; you are the singer: I will say for you. It is 'music with her silver sound' because musicians have no gold for sounding:-- 'Then music with her silver sound With speedy help doth lend redress.'
(Exit Peter.)
First Musician
What a crazy man!
What a pestilent knave is this same!
Second Musician
Don’t worry about him. Come on. We’ll wait for the mourners and stay for dinner.
Hang him, Jack!--Come, we'll in here; tarry for the mourners, and stay dinner.
(Exit all.)
Scene I: A street in Mantua.
(Enter Romeo.)
Romeo
If my dreams are correct, I am going to hear some good news today. My heart is light, and I feel cheerful today. I dreamed my lady came and found me dead. She revived me with her kisses. Then, I became an emperor. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have my love with me, when just thinking about her fills me with joy.
If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep, My dreams presage some joyful news at hand; My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne; And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. I dreamt my lady came and found me dead,-- Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!-- And breath'd such life with kisses in my lips, That I reviv'd, and was an emperor. Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd, When but love's shadows are so rich in joy!
(Enter Balthasar.)
Hey Balthasar! How are you? Any news from Verona? Did you bring me letters from the friar? How is my lady? Is my father okay? How is Juliet? Nothing can be wrong, if she is well.
News from Verona!--How now, Balthasar? Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? How doth my lady? Is my father well? How fares my Juliet? that I ask again; For nothing can be ill if she be well.
Balthasar
She is well and nothing is wrong, except her body is in Capulet’s tomb. She is with the angels. I saw her laid to rest in her family’s vault. So, I came to tell you. I’m sorry to have to tell you such bad news, but I thought you’d want to know.
Then she is well, and nothing can be ill: Her body sleeps in Capel's monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, And presently took post to tell it you: O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
Romeo
Are you sure? Then, I curse the stars. Get me some ink and paper, and hire some horses. I will leave here tonight.
Is it even so? then I defy you, stars!-- Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper, And hire post-horses. I will hence to-night.
Balthasar
Please, sir, think it through. You are not thinking clearly. You are going to get into trouble.
I do beseech you, sir, have patience: Your looks are pale and wild, and do import Some misadventure.
Romeo
Don’t worry about me. Just go get the things I need. Do you have any letters from the friar?
Tush, thou art deceiv'd: Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?
Balthasar
No, my lord.
No, my good lord.
Romeo
It doesn’t matter, anyway. Go on and get the horses. I’ll be with you in a minute.
No matter: get thee gone, And hire those horses; I'll be with thee straight.
(Exit Balthasar.)
Well, Juliet. I will be with you tonight. Now, how will I do it? I remember an apothecary who lives around here who could give me a poisonous tonic. He looked worn out with his shabby clothes and thin body. I remember the crazy things in his shop, and thinking if ever I needed a poison to take my li
fe, this is where I would come. I need him now. This is his house, but he is closed. Hello, pharmacist!
Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night. Let's see for means;--O mischief, thou art swift To enter in the thoughts of desperate men! I do remember an apothecary,-- And hereabouts he dwells,--which late I noted In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows, Culling of simples; meagre were his looks, Sharp misery had worn him to the bones; And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, An alligator stuff'd, and other skins Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves A beggarly account of empty boxes, Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses, Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. Noting this penury, to myself I said, An if a man did need a poison now, Whose sale is present death in Mantua, Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him. O, this same thought did but forerun my need; And this same needy man must sell it me. As I remember, this should be the house: Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut.-- What, ho! apothecary!
(Enter apothecary.)
Apothecary
Who is calling me so loudly?
Who calls so loud?
Romeo
Come here, man. I see that you are poor, and I have money for a bit of poison that will work quickly and is strong enough to kill a man.
Come hither, man.--I see that thou art poor; Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have A dram of poison; such soon-speeding gear As will disperse itself through all the veins That the life-weary taker mall fall dead; And that the trunk may be discharg'd of breath As violently as hasty powder fir'd Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.
Apothecary
I have some, but Mantuan laws forbid the selling of it.
Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law Is death to any he that utters them.
Romeo
How do you fear death when you are already poor and wretched? Your cheeks are sunken in with famine and your eyes show signs of starvation. You look like a beggar. The world is not your friend, nor the law. The world will not help you become rich. It aims to keep you poor. But, if you break the law, you may have this money.
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness And fear'st to die? famine is in thy cheeks, Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes, Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back, The world is not thy friend, nor the world's law: The world affords no law to make thee rich; Then be not poor, but break it and take this.
Apothecary
Not I, but my poverty, consents.
My poverty, but not my will consents.
Romeo
Then, I pay your poverty.
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.
Apothecary
Here, put this in any liquid and drink it. When you drink it all, even if you had the strength of twenty men, you will die.
Put this in any liquid thing you will, And drink it off; and, if you had the strength Of twenty men, it would despatch you straight.
Romeo
Here is your gold, the killer of more men than this poison. It is more poisonous than what you have given me. Farewell, and buy some food to put some meat on your bones. Come on sweet drink, go with me to Juliet’s grave, where I will use you.
There is thy gold; worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murders in this loathsome world Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell: I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. Farewell: buy food and get thyself in flesh.-- Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.
(Exit all.)
Scene II: Friar Lawrence’s cell.
(Enter Friar John.)
Friar John
Holy Franciscan Friar! Hello, brother!
Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho!
(Enter Friar Lawrence.)
Friar Lawrence
Is that the voice of Friar John of Mantua? Welcome. How is Romeo? Do you have a letter from him?
This same should be the voice of Friar John. Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo? Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
Friar John
I don’t know. I have been here visiting the sick. We were all put into isolation because of the fear of contagion. So, I haven’t been to Mantua.
Going to find a barefoot brother out, One of our order, to associate me, Here in this city visiting the sick, And finding him, the searchers of the town, Suspecting that we both were in a house Where the infectious pestilence did reign, Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.
Friar Lawrence
Who took my letters, then?
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
Friar John
No one. I still have it. I could not even get a messenger because of the fear of infection.
I could not send it,--here it is again,-- Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection.
Friar Lawrence
Oh, no! If Romeo did not get the letter, then I fear he is in danger. Friar John, go now and get me a crowbar. Bring it back here, quickly.
Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood, The letter was not nice, but full of charge Of dear import; and the neglecting it May do much danger. Friar John, go hence; Get me an iron crow and bring it straight Unto my cell.
Friar John
Okay, I’ll go as fast as I can.
I'll go and bring it thee.
(Exit Friar John.)
Friar Lawrence
Now, I must go to the tomb alone. Juliet will be awake in three hours. She will hate me if Romeo is not there. But, I will write to Romeo again and keep her in my cell until he gets here. Poor living soul, closed up in a dead man’s tomb!
Now must I to the monument alone; Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake: She will beshrew me much that Romeo Hath had no notice of these accidents; But I will write again to Mantua, And keep her at my cell till Romeo come;-- Poor living corse, clos'd in a dead man's tomb!
(Exit.)
Scene III: A churchyard with the tomb of the Capulets.
(Enter Paris and his Page, bearing flowers and a torch.)
Paris
Give me the torch, boy, and stand back. Better yet, put it out. I don’t want to be seen out here. Go over by that tree and put your ear to the ground. If you hear someone coming, whistle a warning. Give me those flowers and do as I say.
Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof;-- Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. Under yond yew tree lay thee all along, Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground; So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread,-- Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves,-- But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me, As signal that thou hear'st something approach. Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.
Page
(To himself.) Okay, but I am afraid to stand alone in the graveyard.
[Aside.] I am almost afraid to stand alone Here in the churchyard; yet I will adventure.
(Retires.)
Paris
Oh, my sweet flower. I bring you flowers for thy bridal bed. Your canopy is dust and stones. I will water them with my tears. I promise to come every night and bring flowers and weep.
Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew: O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones! Which with sweet water nightly I will dew; Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans: The obsequies that I for thee will keep, Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.
(The Page whistles.)
I hear the boy’s warning. Someone is coming and keeping me from mourning my love. Someone with a torch! I must hide in the darkness.
The boy gives warning something doth approach. What cursed foot wanders this way to-night, To cross my obsequies and true love's rite? What, with a torch! muffle me, night, awhile.
(Retires.)
(Enter Romeo and Balthasar with a torch and tools.)
Romeo
Give me the axe and the crowbar. Here, take this letter, and deliver it to my father in the morning. Give me the torch, and p
romise me that no matter what you hear or see, you will not interfere. I am going in there partly to see my love’s face one more time, and to get a ring from her finger that I must use. So, go on, but if you come back I will tear you limb from limb and spread you about this graveyard. I am as wild and fierce as a tiger!
Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron. Hold, take this letter; early in the morning See thou deliver it to my lord and father. Give me the light; upon thy life I charge thee, Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof And do not interrupt me in my course. Why I descend into this bed of death Is partly to behold my lady's face, But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger A precious ring,--a ring that I must use In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone:-- But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry In what I further shall intend to do, By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint, And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs: The time and my intents are savage-wild; More fierce and more inexorable far Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.
Balthasar
I’ll go, sir, and not bother you.
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
Romeo
Good friend, take this and live prosperously. Farewell, good fellow.
So shalt thou show me friendship.--Take thou that: Live, and be prosperous: and farewell, good fellow.
Balthasar
(To himself.) I’ll hide here, because I am afraid he is up to no good.
For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout: His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
(Retires.)
Romeo
Damned tomb, house of death, filled with the dearest that ever tread the earth, I will open your rotten jaws…
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth, Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
(Opens the door.)
…and fill you with more food.
And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food!
Paris
That is the Montague who murdered my love’s cousin and caused my bride to die from grief. He has come to do something awful to the dead bodies. I will capture him.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 622