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니다.
1
Chapter I
Rumble
It is a warm summer night in beautiful Verona.
quiet.
The streets are
The breeze blows gently over the rivers and tree-lined sidewalks,
making the water and leaves ripple.
Every house is sleeping peacefully.
The magnificent mansions of the Capulets and Montagues, the two
richest families in the city, sit facing each other under the stars.
Suddenly, footsteps in the street break the silence.
Two laughing
Capulet servants stumble down the street, pushing one another playfully.
They’ve been walking the streets of the city all night, discussing love
and hate—and the fight they almost got into earlier that day.
the disagreement was over a girl.
As usual,
And, as always, the argument was
with their rival court, the Montagues.
I’m telling you, Gregory, I’m not going to take this anymore, not
from those Montagues.
Who do they think they are?
I’m so sick of
this.
Yeah, Sampson, sick enough to run away,
laugh.
Gregory laughs a deep
Even though Sampson is the leading servant in their court,
Gregory knows his best friend is not as tough as he likes to believe.
You had that girl ready to go home with you, but you just couldn’t make
it happen, could you? Too scared to leave with her, weren’t you?
Make fun of me all you want, bro.
But trust me, I’m not putting up
with any more of their NONSENSE! They’ve officially taken it too far this
time.
Honestly, Sampson . . . maybe you should focus on not getting into
trouble for once.
You have to quit acting like a bad boy if you’re going
to keep your position.
Sampson smiles to himself.
They both know he’s not going anywhere
2
anytime soon.
court.
He’s one of the most popular servants in the Capulet
There will be plenty more girls in the future, no matter how
many fights he gets into.
Gregory’s always been jealous of his friend, but he loves him enough
to make up for it.
And he gets enough girls on his own that he doesn’t
have to be too envious.
Really, though, Sampson. You should . . .
Sampson laughs and points his finger into Gregory’s chest.
Well,
maybe you should . . .
Hey, look! They’re coming!
They watch as Abram, lead servant of the Montagues, walks toward
them. Another servant is with him.
Looks like they want some more, huh?
breath.
All right, man, let’s just stop here.
we’re running away.
I’m done with this.
Sampson takes in a deep
I don’t want to look like
We’re just going to give them a look, all right?
We both know we could take them, but I’m not in
the mood tonight.
Genius, my friend,
reputation anymore.
Gregory agrees.
I don’t want to taint our
Let them start the fight if they want to.
No
reason we should risk the blame.
Abram comes closer, staring hard at Gregory and Sampson.
They
both lean against the brick wall, arms crossed.
Bro, are you glaring at me?
Abram demands, stopping directly in
front of them and crossing his arms too.
It’s hard for Gregory and Sampson not to be just a little intimidated
by Abram. He’s tall and known for starting fights with other servants.
Not at you, man.
Just staring at the sidewalk.
Why would we be
3
looking at you? I got enough of you at the bar,
Yeah, brother.
Are you glaring at us?
Sampson answers.
Gregory challenges Abram.
He clenches his fists.
Listen, Abram, if you want to fight, just let us know.
you are,
We’re ready if
Sampson says in a threatening tone, joining Gregory and
rolling up his sleeves.
Abram doesn’t wait.
He jumps at them both, along with his fellow
Montague brother, who begins punching Sampson as hard as he can in
the stomach.
Fists fly and the noise wakes the houses.
Two more men come running from opposite directions.
You’ve got to be kidding me,
the taller one says to himself as his
feet pound the ground, racing toward the mess of servants.
It’s Benvolio, a noble Montague who’s often referred to as the
Peacemaker
in Verona.
The
He’s always done his best to keep the courts
from each other’s throats because he feels he owes it to his uncle, Mr.
Montague, the head of the Montague court.
Stop it!
C’mon boys!
He reaches them and yells,
forcing himself between them.
But they don’t
listen; rivalry has taken over.
The other running man, Tybalt, a Capulet, slows his steps and jumps
on Benvolio’s back.
Benvolio hits the ground hard.
What are you DOING?
him.
Benvolio screams, pushing Tybalt off of
I’m trying to break this up!
Tybalt ignores him and tries to pin him.
peace
almost as much as he hates
Tybalt hates
keeping the
The Peacemaker
and all
Montagues.
The noise of the fight has now woken the sleeping city.
More Capulet
4
and Montague men emerge from houses and street corners and rush
toward the fight, forming a circle around the tangled servants, cheering
and jeering.
All of a sudden, from above them, there is a deep yell from the
balcony of the mansion. The head of the Capulet court is awake and
incredibly angry.
What is all this NOISE?
shouts Mr. Capulet.
nightgown, his plump blond wife beside him.
He is in his
Give me my sword,
dear!
I think you mean crutch, honey, not sword.
You’re getting too old
for this.
No, I mean my SWORD, I said!
Look at this mess! And to make it
worse, Montague is over there, waving around HIS sword again to anger
me!
Mrs. Capulet looks across the street to see that their rivals, heads of
the Montague house, have opened the French doors to their mansion
balcony as well.
Capulet!
You devil!
Mr. Montague screams from across the street.
His wife, a rail-thin brunette, holds him back.
Don’t stop me, darling! Let me go!
You’re not taking one step toward him, dear,
whispers.
Get it out of your head.
gone and done.
The prince is coming.
Mrs. Montague
Look what you stupid men have
Look.
Her long finger points
to the street, her fingernail sparkling in the rising sun.
At that moment, the world stops in Verona.
As if in slow motion, the
Capulets, Montagues, and servants pause, fists and swords in the air.
They turn toward the coming procession, which is getting closer and
closer to them beneath the spreading sky.
5
Chapter I Questions
1. Why is Abram intimidating to Sampson and Gregory?
2. Who attacks Benvolio when he tries to break up the fight?
3. What does Tybalt hate?
4. What is Benvolio's nickname?
Ⓐ "The Peacekeeper"
Ⓑ "The Peacemaker"
Ⓒ "The Calmer"
Ⓓ "The Protector"
5. Who are the two "rivals," or enemies in Verona?
6. Why do Sampson and Gregory decide to give Abram a "look" instead
of fighting him?
7. List all the characters mentioned/you can remember in this chapter.
8. Choose one character from this first chapter and describe him or her
according to what you have read.
6
Answer:
1. “He’s tall and known for starting fights with other servants.”
2. Tybalt
3. “Tybalt hates keeping the peace almost as much as he hates “The
Peacemaker” and “all Montagues.”
4. Ⓑ
⇨ “It’s Benvolio, a noble Montague who’s often referred to as “The
Peacemaker” in Verona.”
5. The Capulets and the Montagues (2nd paragraph)
⇨ “Two laughing Capulet servants stumble down the street…As usual,
the disagreement was over a girl.
And, as always, the argument
was with their rival court, the Montagues.”
6. Because Sampson is tired of fighting with the Montagues/isn’t in the
mood and Gregory doesn’t want to taint their reputation anymore or
risk the blame by starting the fight.
7. (Possible Answers)
1) Two Capulet servants—Gregory and Sampson (the leading servant in
the court)
2) The girl over which they had a disagreement with the Montagues
3) Abram, lead servant of the Montagues
4) Benvolio, a noble Montague known as “The Peacemaker”
5) Tybalt, a Capulet
6) Mr. and Mrs. Capulet
7) Mr. and Mrs. Montague
8) The other Capulet and Montague men who come to watch the fight
9) The approaching procession and the arriving Prince
8. (Some Possible Answers (could vary or include more than these))
1) Gregory—Capulet servant, friend of Sampson, “knows Sampson is not
as tough as he believes,” jealous of Sampson, but “loves him enough
to make up for it,” gets a lot of girls too
2) Sampson—the leading servant in the Capulet court and one of the
most popular, sick of fighting with Montagues
3) Abram—lead servant of the Montagues, “tall and known for starting
fights with other servants”
4) Benvolio—a noble Montague known as “The Peacemaker,” “done his
best to keep the courts from each other’s throats,” tries to break up
the fight
7
5) Tybalt—a Capulet, attacks Benvolio, “hates keeping the peace
almost
as
much
as
he
hates
“The
Peacemaker”
and
all
Montagues”
6) Mr. Capulet—founder of the Capulet court, angry to see the fight
and Mr. Montague, wants his wife to get his sword
7) Mrs. Capulet—blond, big-breasted, makes fun of her husband for
being old by saying he wants his crutch, not his sword
8) Mr. Montague—calls Mr. Capulet a devil, angry to see him as well,
wants to fight with him too
9) Mrs. Montague—brunette, rail-thin, angry at her husband for
fighting so much and forcing the Prince to come
8
Chapter II
The Sad Streets of Verona
Prince Escalus sits atop his velvet-covered throne, carried on his
soldiers’ shoulders.
Everyone watches as the procession moves slowly
down the street, as if sliding across the cobblestones.
The people of
Verona come to their windows and doors, searching along the line of
horses and soldiers for the prince.
After what feels like forever, the line
slows even further and finally pulls to a stop.
Here,
Prince Escalus tells his men.
He straightens his long robe.
Every eye watches as the velvet curtain opens and the prince rises
from its dark interior.
He rises slowly.
powerful man in all of Verona.
and raises his hands.
Prince Escalus is the most
Everyone holds their breath as he stands
He waits.
He knows they are waiting.
He waits
some more.
Suddenly, he tears the curtain.
shouts.
WHAT HAVE WE HERE?!
Throw down your swords and listen to your angry prince!
have had ENOUGH of this VIOLENCE!
he
I
All you’re after is one another’s
blood.
Three times I have had to put up with these pointless, childish
riots.
THREE TIMES my beloved city has been disturbed by your
senseless fighting!
I will stand for your rumbles NO MORE. NEVER again will Verona’s
beautiful streets be polluted by your stupidity.
I’ll throw you in jail!
Leave this street now or
Back to your houses or be arrested!
NOW!!
*
*
*
Leave!
9
As Prince Escalus disappears once again behind the curtains and the
procession drifts away as slowly as it came, everyone watches silently.
The people of Verona take their children’s hands and walk them back
inside their houses.
The servants wipe their bloody mouths and fists
and start limping in opposite directions toward home.
spoken between them.
Not a word is
Gregory puts his arm around his best friend.
Tybalt shoves his hands in his pockets and ducks into the nearest
tavern.
The sun has almost fully risen over the city and, once again,
the only sound is of doors opening and shutting.
Benvolio watches Tybalt disappear and then crosses the street to his
aunt and uncle’s mansion.
He meets the watchman with a smile and
whispers the password in his ear.
the iron gates opening.
He stands before the familiar sight of
After taking the spiral staircase up to the top
floor, Benvolio calls out as he crosses the inner terrace.
His aunt greets him in her silk robe, pulling it tight around her chest.
Benvolio! Come, come! Can you even believe this?
Mr. Montague joins his nephew and wife beside a fountain.
Who started this fight, Benvolio? Were you here when it began?
Well, uh, I wish, Uncle M., but I was a little late.
already fighting when I got there.
You know me, though.
They were
I did my
best to break it up, but Tybalt—you know—that rogue from the Capulet
house—just had to show up and mess with me.
He is such a hothead,
always trying to start something.
Mrs. Montague interrupts.
is Romeo?
You know what I just thought of? Where
Have you seen him today, Benvolio?
wasn’t here for this fight.
I just thank God he
She folds her hands and presses them to
her mouth.
You know, Aunt M., I actually did see him this morning, walking in
10
the Sycamore forest on the west side of Verona.
and hid among the trees.
being alone today too.
I understood, though.
You know that.
He’s been doing that a
Taking long walks and crying.
Montague can’t look his wife in the eye.
son is unhappy.
I kind of felt like
So we just kept to ourselves. No big deal.
Mr. Montague puts his arm around his wife.
lot lately, honey.
He saw me coming
He feels guilty that his only
He even locks himself up in his room, Benvolio.
shuts his windows to block out the light.
He
If we don’t knock some sense
into him soon, something bad is going to happen. I can feel it.
But why, uncle?
Why is he acting this way?
Have you tried to talk
to him?
Oh, I’ve tried.
Of course I have.
We all have, haven’t we, hon?
He pulls his wife closer to him for a hug.
But he keeps his thoughts to
himself. He keeps all those secrets and tells no one.
poisoned.
It’s like he’s been
He’s not the sweet, happy, open son we used to know.
We
can’t get him to tell us anything.
Hmm.
Well, I’ll see what I can do.
Just let me talk to him.
Maybe I can get him to tell me what’s going on.
Ha!
Good luck!
I hope you’re lucky enough to get something out
of him.
Me too, Uncle M. Me too.
Montague takes his wife by the hand and leads her back into their
bedroom.
balcony.
Benvolio goes to the French doors and steps out onto the
He watches the doors along the street opening and shutting
once again as the people of Verona leave for work and school.
breathes in the morning air deeply and squints into the distance.
several blocks away, he recognizes his cousin’s walk.
He
From
It’s Romeo, with
his head down, looking depressed, avoiding the cracks in the sidewalk.
Cous!
Benvolio shouts as brightly as he can.
But Romeo only
11
looks up for a second.
ROMEO!
Romeo manages to wave weakly, still walking slowly toward the gate.
Benvolio rushes back from the veranda, through the terrace and down
the spiral staircase, taking the steps two at a time.
He passes through
the iron gate once again onto the street to meet Romeo.agaien the
doors slide open, he sees his cousin sitting on the cobblestones with his
head in his hands.
What is UP with you, cous!
Benvolio shakes Romeo by the
shoulders and tries to make him laugh.
I’m done, cousin. I’m DONE. Rosaline left me.
LEFT you? WHY??
Forget her, man.
She’s not a pretty maid
anyway.
Are you KIDDING, Benvolio?
She’s beautiful.
I’ll NEVER find
another girl like her. EVER.
Now that’s just crazy, Romeo.
You’re not thinking clearly.
If
there’s one place you can find a good girl, it’s in Verona.
No way. I found her and I lost her.
Look at it like this.
just wasn’t meant to be.
If Rosaline didn’t want to be with you, then it
Fate has a role in this, you know.
If the stars
don’t align properly, then you should be thankful you’re not stuck with
the wrong girl.
Don’t you ever trust fate?
I trust my heart, Benvolio. And now it’s broken.
Now I’ll never be
truly in love again.
But were you?
know what, cous?
Truly in love?
How do you really know?
And you
My guess is fate and the stars have something in
store for you—a more beautiful girl than you could ever imagine.
You
just have to trust fate; that’s all.
I’m done trusting, Benvolio.
That’s it.
That’s IT.
I’m not going to
12
look for any girl.
gods.
And I’m not going to wait for some sign from the
I don’t care what anyone says.
I’m done looking!
Romeo gets
up and storms off.
Romeo, wait!
But what if you don’t have to look?
What if you just
see her?! Come back! This isn’t going to last! Trust me! WAIT!
Benvolio watches his cousin disappear around the corner and shakes
his head in disbelief.
He’ll see, he’ll see,
he whispers to himself.
But Romeo is walking faster and faster down the street, growing more
heartbroken with every step.
13
Chapter II Questions
1. What does Mrs. Montague ask Benvolio?
2. Who has left Romeo?
Ⓐ Juliet
Ⓑ Veronica
Ⓒ Rosaline
Ⓓ Portia
3.About what does Mr. Montague feel guilty?
4. Please write T or F beside the following statements.
Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) ____Prince Escalus is the most powerful man in all of Verona.
2) ____Prince Escalus threatens to hang anyone who doesn’t leave
the street.
3) ____Prince Escalus is so angered by the rumble that he tears a
velvet curtain.
5. Which of the following best describes Romeo’s mood?
Ⓐ Angry
Ⓑ Frustrated
Ⓒ Heartbroken
Ⓓ Jealous
6. List a few signs of Romeo’s current state that Benvolio and his
parents have seen and discuss together:
7. What does Benvolio say when he tries to make Romeo feel better?
Check every possible answer.
1) ____That the girl he loves is not pretty.
2) ____That the girl he loves is crazy.
3) ____That Romeo should trust fate.
4) ____That the stars have a more beautiful girl in store for him.
5)　____That Romeo should tell the girl he loves that he has found
someone new.
6) ____That Verona has very few good girls, but that he will find
one.
14
Answer
1. If he has seen Romeo.
“Where’s Romeo?
Have you seen him today,
Benvolio?”
2. Ⓒ ⇨ “I’m done, cousin. I’m DONE. Rosaline left me.”
3. “He feels guilty that his only son is unhappy.”
4. (all in first section before section break)
1) T
2) F ⇨ “Leave this street now or I’ll throw you in jail!
Back to your
houses or be arrested!”
3) T
5. Ⓒ
6. (Possible answers (in order of reading))
‣ “Hiding among the Sycamore trees”
‣ “Taking long walks and crying”
‣ “He even locks himself up in his room…”
‣ “He shuts his windows to block out the light.”
‣ “. . . with his head down, looking depressed, avoiding the cracks in
the sidewalk.”
7. 1), 3), 4)
15
Chapter III
Proposals and Preparations
On another Verona street, two men are not so sad today.
Unlike
Romeo, their steps are slow with intention, with the making of plans.
Their stride is the same—the slow walk of important men discussing
important matters.
Mr. Capulet walks with his arms crossed and his head down in careful
thought, nodding as the man beside him presents him with a very
important matter: the idea of marrying his beautiful daughter, Juliet.
Mr. Capulet is pleased, as the man he walks with today is a man of
great status—Paris, a noble kinsman of the Prince.
Rich and well known
in the community, Paris is a wise choice for his dear daughter.
There is
one hesitation, however: Juliet is only fourteen.
She is far too young, Paris.
That is all that keeps me from granting
you permission to ask for her hand in marriage.
I see, I see,
Paris says, looking away in disappointment.
I worry she is not old enough to be the wife you need—that is all.
Give her two years and she will blossom into a perfect wife for you.
And I will be the perfect husband.
I will wait, Capulet.
I will do all
I can to win her heart so that she might choose me.
Ah—such commitment.
Such devotion.
A good man you are.
Patience is indeed a virtue.
There is nothing I won’t do for such a beautiful bride.
Well, if you’re so sure about my daughter, how about we begin the
courtship tonight?
Before you ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage,
you must make her fall in love with you, which may not be as simple as
16
you think.
Capulet smiles, thinking of his daughter, who is not only
beautiful but intelligent—an independent young lady with a good head on
her shoulders, a girl who knows exactly what she wants.
What do you
say?
Absolutely.
possible.
I was hoping for the chance to meet her as soon as
I promise you, Capulet, I will do all I can to show her I am
worthy of her affection.
Then meet her you will!
back.
Our house, this evening.
Capulet exclaims, clapping Paris on the
Come to our feast! We are celebrating
the masquerade—and now we have another reason to celebrate!
Sounds perfect.
Thank you.
See you tonight.
Capulet and Paris separate, each to walk their own street toward
home.
Once Capulet arrives back at his mansion, he calls out for his servant
Peter.
Peter!
Here is the list for this evening’s guests!
Invite each and
every one of them!
Capulet does not know Peter cannot read.
A smart young boy, Peter
has managed to keep this a secret until now.
Doing his best not to
appear worried, he takes the list from Capulet’s hand.
Yes sir! I will go from house to house now.
Peter walks away, clenching the list tight in his fist, nervous and
thinking as quickly as he can about what to do.
Thankfully, he sees two young men coming down the street.
It is Romeo and Benvolio, who are still arguing about whether or not
17
Romeo will be able to forget Rosaline.
Peter interrupts them politely.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
I don’t know what is wrong with my eyes
today, but I can’t seem to see this list very clearly.
Is there any way
you could read me the names?
Romeo glances at the list and starts laughing. He smiles at Benvolio.
Cous, you’re not going to believe who’s on this list.
Let me guess—the love of your life Ms. Rosaline herself,
Benvolio
says sarcastically, sighing an irritated sigh.
What is your name, boy?
Romeo asks Peter.
Peter, sir.
Well, Peter, you have a very special lady on this list.
Lucky for
you, I’ll be more than happy to read you this list if you’ll let me come
to this party to see her.
Of course, sir.
anything,
Sound like a deal?
As long as you’re not—you know—Montagues or
Peter says.
Before reading the list to Peter, Romeo smiles again at Benvolio, who
gives him a knowing look.
This is the perfect opportunity, Romeo.
I’m so glad we’re going.
Your heart will feel better after tonight—just wait and see.
Rosaline is
definitely not the only pretty maid in Verona.
*
*
*
A few hours later, Peter has run from house to house and invited all
worthy guests for the feast.
The Capulet mansion is busy with preparation.
The servants are
18
cleaning and cooking, laughing and singing and moving from room to
room to decorate the walls.
From upstairs, Mrs. Capulet calls out for her daughter amid the busy
clatter of silverware, plates, and vases hitting the table.
Julieeeeet?
Where are you, my dear?
Julieeeeet!
She is almost
singing.
When her daughter doesn’t answer her calling, she instead calls for
the Nurse.
Nurse! Where are you?
The nurse comes running from another room, gathering her apron
around her to make room for her pounding feet.
Yes, ma’am!
Have you seen my daughter
No ma’am! I haven’t.
Well, where could she be?!
From the doorway, Juliet begins giggling.
much!
Mother . . . you worry too
Her long blond hair falls softly down her shoulders, past the
hem of her short white dress.
Lady Capulet greets her daughter with her hands on her waist.
can’t stay angry, though.
Juliet.
She
She can’t help but smile at her beautiful
Well, I just have some amazing news for you, my daughter,
that’s all!
Oh, really? And what would that be, Mom?
Juliet smiles.
Well, your father talked to a certain someone today and that special
someone is interested in a special young daughter of mine!
And that special someone would be who, Mother?
Well, before I tell you, I have another question for you.
Perhaps a
19
more IMPORTANT one.
And what’s that, Mother?
Juliet says, sighing.
Well, it has to do with men in general.
And it’s something I’ve
wanted to ask you for a long time.
Well, what is it, Mother? You’re making me nervous.
It’s just . . . are you thinking at all about marriage?
Juliet laughs.
Well, I think it depends on the man, Mother.
Can’t
say I’ve thought too much about it at this point, but if the right man
comes along, I just might!
If that’s the case, honey, then you better start thinking about it!
And why’s that?
Well, dear, because that special man’s coming to the party tonight!
Oh, really?
Yes, so get pretty!
Juliet leaves the room, but turns back for a second, hugging the
doorway.
OK, Mother, but do I have to be nice?
You better be!
Fine, fine. And what’s this special man’s name?
Paris.
And he’s a gentleman, my dear.
Is he handsome, though, Mom?
A true gentleman.
That’s what I want to know.
Juliet walks back into the hallway giggling.
Well, at least he’s rich!
Mrs. Capulet calls after her, laughing too.
20
Chapter III Questions
1. Why doesn’t Mr. Capulet want his daughter to marry Paris?
Ⓐ Because she loves someone else
Ⓑ Because she is too young
Ⓒ Because Mr. Capulet doesn’t like Paris
Ⓓ Because Paris is poor
2. Who does Mrs. Capulet ask about the whereabouts of her daughter?
Ⓐ Tybalt
Ⓑ The Nurse
Ⓒ The servant
Ⓓ Mr. Capulet
3. After Mrs. Capulet tells her that Paris is a gentleman, what does Juliet
ask her mother about him?
4. What is her mother’s response to this question?
5. When Juliet and Mrs. Capulet are talking about Paris, their mood is:
Ⓐ Light and joking
Ⓑ Irritated and frustrated
Ⓒ Worried and stressed
Ⓓ Angry and unkind
6. Please write T or F beside the following statements.
Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) ____Mr. Capulet is having a feast to celebrate Prince Escalus.
2)　____Mr. Capulet is having a feast to celebrate the masquerade.
3)____Peter is worried he cannot invite the guests on the list
because he cannot read.
7. Who does Peter run into on the street?
Ⓐ Abram and Benvolio
Ⓑ Paris and Tybalt
Ⓒ Benvolio and Romio
Ⓓ Sampson and Gregory
21
Answer
1. Ⓑ
2. Ⓑ
3. If he is handsome.
4. That at least he is rich.
5. Ⓐ
6. 1) F
7. Ⓒ
2) T
3) T
22
Chapter IV
Three Masked Montagues
Anxious for the Capulet feast, three Montagues across town leave their
house dressed in costume and masks.
Benvolio wears a red one with gold trim, Romeo a blue one with a
silver border, and their friend Mercutio a black mask with orange
accents.
It is almost night and the moon is just appearing across the horizon.
They’ve walked several blocks before they realize they may have a little
trouble getting into the party.
So how are we going to get them to let us in, boys?
Romeo asks
Mercutio and Benvolio.
We’re not on the list, Romeo?
Is there some reason you didn’t
think of this before, man? Mercutio jokes.
Mercutio is the funniest of
their group of friends, always making fun of the others.
Should we apologize?
Give them a speech or something?
Explain
our excuse?
I think we should just DANCE, boys!
and then leave if they judge us.
Benvolio offers.
Just dance
Who cares what they think, anyway?
Let’s not embarrass ourselves with some explanation.
Let’s just hit that
dance floor with the ladies!
I don’t feel like dancing, gentlemen.
Not tonight.
Oh, c’mon loverboy, you HAVE to dance, Romeo!
Mercutio punches
Romeo playfully.
My soul feels too heavy to dance. My feet feel stuck to the ground.
23
Oh, you and all your feelings, Romeo!
Mercutio laughs.
I think
Queen Mab has been swimming in your dreams a little too much lately,
my friend.
Queen Mab is one of Verona’s many fairies, believed by people to visit
sleeping
men
and
women,
bringing
them
dreams
upon
dreams.
Sometimes, it is difficult for these dreamers to separate reality from
fiction, as the nightly hand of Queen Mab is so powerful.
Plus, Romeo, like everyone else, you’ll be wearing a mask.
think of all the ladies you’ll get to dance with that way.
Just
If you cover up
your face, you’ll be SURE to get more attention!
Benvolio and Mercutio laugh.
Very funny,
says Romeo,
but seriously, though.
feeling about tonight for some reason.
I have a bad
I had a bad dream last night.
The sky has almost grown dark as Romeo says this.
I’m
telling
you,
my
friend,
it’s
Mab.
She’s
getting
to
you!
Mercutio exclaims.
As their torches light the night and lead their way to the Capulet
house, Mercutio tells his friends all about Queen Mab.
Mercutio is the
most entertaining and wild of the group, known for his passion for
storytelling.
Queen Mab, Queen Mab.
She’s the mother of all fairies, the one
who helps them give birth to more fairies! She’s no bigger than the
stone on the Prince’s ring and she’s been passing over your nose as you
sleep, Romeo!
In her royal chariot, she rides every night through the minds of lovers
and makes them dream about finding the love of their life.
rides over ladies' lips, they instantly dream of being kissed.
When she
24
But sometimes Queen Mab becomes an angry queen.
She sometimes
becomes angry at the ladies and spreads sores across their lips because
their breath smells too sweet.
When she rides over a noble’s lips, he
dreams of taking money from others. And if she tickles a priest’s nose
with the tail of a pig, he’ll dream of giving a large donation to the
church. Sometimes she rides over a soldier’s neck, and he dreams of
cutting the throats of foreign enemies, of destroying walls as he attacks.
And then, then, drums beat in his ear and he sits straight up in bed.
Say your prayers and go back to sleep, Romeo, because . . .
ENOUGH!
Enough, Mercutio!
You’re not making any sense, man.
Seriously.
Yeah, Mercutio,
Benvolio adds,
that’s enough.
Just hold your
torch and walk. We’re almost there.
I’m honestly just going to hold this torch all night.
me.
I just can’t shake this bad feeling.
No ladies for
It’s more real than you think
and it has NOTHING to do with Queen Mab, Mercutio.
The dream was
worse than that. I don’t even want to say it.
Just tell us, cous!
exactly?
You’ coueel better if you do.
What was it about,
Benvolio asks.
Well, it was about me.
Okay, well that’s pretty scary, I guess,
And how I’m supposed to die.
Mercutio laughs.
Very soon.
Because of something
that’s supposed to happen at the feast tonight.
Well, enough of that, my friend,
Mercutio comforts him.
We’re just going to dance the night away, cous,
I guess you’re right,
my life, not me.
Romeo agrees.
Benvolio joins in.
Fate is the one in charge of
And that actually feels good—to know that the stars
will decide, you know?
Mercutio and Benvolio nod, looking into the flames of their torches.
25
I feel better already, gentlemen.
Now, let’s show these Capulets
how Montagues party!
*
*
*
The Capulet house is ready for the arrival of its guests.
All is busy
with preparation as the time draws near for the beginning of the feast.
As guest after guest arrives, the servants work feverishly to make sure
everything will happen exactly as it should for Mr. and Mrs. Montague,
who are known for their incredible parties.
In the kitchen, several maids set aside a few small cuts of the dinner
meat and dessert for themselves.
Once they’ve served the table and
made sure everyone’s drink is filled, they will sneak back to the kitchen
to have their own small party.
Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio make it into the party successfully and
are sure not to remove their mto th
They take in the scene—the
beautiful centerpieces and expensive dishes—and, of course, the beautiful
women.
Mr. Capulet is moving from table to table to greet his guests, joking
and laughing with them.
After visiting with everyone for a while, he
pauses and raises his glass to make a toast to the party.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. I remember a time—a long, long
time ago—when I could wear a mask over my eyes and charm a lady by
whispering a story in her ear. That time is gone, gone, gone.
But all of you young gentlemen have that opportunity TONIGHT!
wear your masks and flirt and dance the night away!
So
Come on,
musicians, play your music!
The band begins to play and the crowd begins to dance.
Romeo
stands apart from the dancing guests, still not up for the party tonight.
26
Mercutio and Benvolio join in and find ladies to dance with them, but
Romeo stands against the wall feeling sad and still shaken by his dream.
Mr. Capulet interrupts the music again to tell his guests they’re not
enjoying themselves enough.
Make room, make room!
Clear out the
dance floor! Shake it, girls! Show these maidens some fun, boys!
To his servants, he says,
flip over the tables and get them out of
the way! And put that fire out—it’s way too hot in here.
His cousin comes over to join him.
have all this fun tonight!
Ah, my man, what a surprise to
Sit down, sit down, my good Capulet cousin.
You and I are too old to dance,
Mr. Capulet says, laughing.
How many years has it been since you and I last wore masks at a
party like this?
Mr. Capulet is so happy to be sitting there, looking over his great
room full of guests.
Nothing can disturb his happy feast.
Over and
over throughout the evening, he encourages the men and women at
each table to get up and dance.
Mr. Capulet has a great sense of
humor and knows just what to say to each group of guests.
Mrs. Capulet makes her rounds as well, chatting with the women and
taking young children into her arms.
How big you’ve gotten!
she
exclaims.
Many of these women have been her friends for years and years.
Mrs. Capulet has a talent for many things—among them gossip and
talk.
girl
She shares all the latest stories of the Verona community with
each woman, entertaining each table with as many juicy tidbits as she
can think of to amuse them.
Juliet watches her mother and father making their way around the
27
room and smiles.
She is wearing a long silk, lavender dress, and her
blond hair is braided and woven with a purple ribbon.
She feels a
sudden energy fill her as a wave of feeling moves toward her from
across the room.
It is Romeo, staring at her, unable to take his eyes off of her.
28
Chapter IV Questions
1. Match Benvolio, Romeo, and Mercutio with their masks:
1) _____Benvolio
Ⓐ black mask with orange accents
2) _____Romeo
Ⓑ red mask with gold trim
3) _____Mercutio
Ⓒ blue mask with silver border
2. What does Mr. Capulet interrupt his feast to say?
Check every
answer that applies.
1)　_____“There are so many lovely maids here tonight!”
2) _____ “Remove your masks, one and all!”
3) _____ “Flirt and dance the night away!”
4) _____ “Show these maidens some fun, boys!”
5) _____ “Come on, musicians, play your music!”
3. Why does Romeo feel unsettled/have a bad feeling about going to the
feast?
Ⓐ Because they are Montagues at a Capulet party
Ⓑ Because he has had a terrible dream
Ⓒ Because a fairy warned him there would be danger
Ⓓ Because Rosaline will be there
4. What do Benvolio and Mercutio want Romeo to do at the feast?
5. Who is Queen Mab?
6. Please write T or F beside the following statements.
Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) _____ Queen Mab can be an angry queen.
2) _____ Queen Mab doesn’t like the breath of ladies because it
smells bad.
3) _____ Queen Mab tickles priests’ noses with the tail of a pig.
29
7. Romeo is worried he is going to _________________________.
Ⓐ see Rosaline at the feast
Ⓑ get into a fight with a Capulet
Ⓒ die in the near future
Ⓓ get burned by his torch
Answers
1. 1) Ⓑ
2) Ⓒ
3) Ⓐ
2. 3), 4), 5)
3. Ⓑ
4. Dance
5. “Queen Mab is one of Verona’s many fairies, believed by people to visit
sleeping men and women, bringing them dreams upon dreams.”
6. 1) T
7. Ⓒ
2) F (⇨ sweet, not bad)
3) T
30
Chapter V
At First Sight
Suddenly, from across the room, Romeo sees her.
Instantly, without
a second’s pause, Rosaline fades from his mind, never to enter it again.
He cannot take his eyes off the beauty at the other end of the room.
Surely this is the most beautiful girl at the feast, and in fact the most
beautiful girl he’s ever seen.
He feels himself staring but cannot pull
himself away.
Oh, how she burns so brightly!
amazement.
he exclaims.
He is overtaken with
She stands out against the darkness like a jeweled earring
across the cheek of an African. Her beauty is too good for this world;
she’s too beautiful to die and be buried.
She is far too pure.
She
outshines all of the other women—not a single one compares to her.
When this dance is over, I’ll see where she stands, and then I’ll touch
her hand with my rough and ugly one. Did my heart ever love anyone
before this moment? My eyes were liars, then, because I never saw true
beauty before tonight.
There is a strange, powerful energy passed between them, one they
cannot understand.
It possesses them almost completely.
Their eyes
lock and it’s as if their bodies have locked too, even with the distance of
the room between them.
Totally connected, they continue to stare at
one another.
For Juliet, this is a look she has never before experienced from a
man.
It bears an intensity that almost moves her to trembling.
She
never wants to leave his gaze.
For Romeo, who thought so foolishly that he understood what love
meant, this is a rebirth.
He has known nothing of love until this very
31
moment and is almost moved to the point of tears.
He cannot help but
say it.
I have never been in love until this moment,
he declares.
He
begins to move through the crowd toward Juliet, his eyes still locked
with hers.
As Romeo moves through the room toward this girl who has already
stolen his heart, there is someone who cannot take their eyes off of him
—Tybalt, who hates nothing more than a Montague.
Tybalt heard
Romeo’s passionate exclamation of love and immediately tells a servant
to go get his sword for him.
The sounds and sights of the room fade away as Romeo moves
toward Juliet through the crowd of people, as if swimming underwater in
slow motion.
But Tybalt is still watching with narrowed eyes.
His angry stare is
interrupted by Capulet, who overheard him tell the servant to get his
sword.
Tybalt, Tybalt.
Always looking for a fight, aren’t you?
Capulet
laughs.
But sir, he’s a Montague. He shouldn’t be here.
Well, I thank you for your concern, Tybalt, and though I appreciate
your care for the Capulet house, this boy is different from the rest.
This
is Romeo, who has a good reputation in Verona so you can leave him
alone.
But, sir!
Tybalt, please.
I can’t have you going around killing young boys
just because they’re Montagues.
trying to have a good time here!
Especially not at my feast.
We’re
Capulet laughs and pats Tybalt on
32
the back before moving on to the next table.
But as Mr. Capulet walks away, Tybalt makes a promise to himself
that he will not forget Romeo’s trespass and will punish him for it
someday.
Unknowingly, Romeo continues moving toward Juliet through the
crowd.
He is completely fixated on her, as if she is surrounded by a
light that could never be dimmed.
It feels like an eternity before he
reaches her, and another before he touches her hand.
They touch and the world begins again.
souls, two star-crossed lovers.
Theirs is the meeting of two
To Romeo, Juliet is the worthiest, purest
of saints, the only one who can cleanse him and forgive him of his sins.
He is certain of this, and begs her for a single kiss, which he believes is
the only way he can be pure again—made anew with the touch of her
lips.
My hand is unworthy of yours.
My fingers are too imperfect for
your pure palm. If you won’t have my hand—if its touch is too dirty—
then, please, take my mouth.
My two lips are standing here like
blushing travelers, ready to make it all—my sins, this world—better with
a kiss.
Juliet agrees.
She cannot resist Romeo and says she will stay still as
he kisses her.
Dear, kind traveler, you don’t give your hand enough credit—it is
indeed pure. By holding my hand you will show me your devotion. After
all, those on journeys touch the hands of statues of saints.
In a lot of
ways, holding one palm against another is like a kiss, you know.
Romeo is still desperate to kiss her, however.
Don’t saints and
travelers have lips too?
Yes, pilgrim—and those lips are to pray with,
Juliet says playfully.
33
Well then, my beautiful and pure saint, let our lips do what hands
do. I’m praying and praying for you to kiss me. Please answer my
prayer so I might keep my faith—so that my hope doesn’t turn to
despair.
Their lips touch and time stops in that moment.
Because she has
now taken his sin from him, she believes his sin now lives upon her lips.
And with such sin on her lips, there is only one way to now rid herself
of it—to kiss Romeo once again.
Give me my sin back,
And kiss they do.
Romeo says.
It is the kiss of eternity and long-meant-to-be
connection.
From deep within, they entwine as if they were meant to be
from birth.
It is a long, passionate kiss that pulls them both into
swirling, all-consuming emotion.
Suddenly, they are interrupted by the Nurse’s voice.
Oh, Juliet! Juliet!
Yes, Nurse?
Juliet separates from Romeo, wiping her mouth with
her hand.
Your mother would like to speak with you.
Yes, Ma’am,
smiling.
Juliet walks away from Romeo and cannot stop
She gives him a long look as she moves away.
For both of
them, this is a kiss and a beginning.
Romeo watches Juliet disappear into the crowd and turns to the
Nurse, desperate to know everything he can about this perfect girl he
has just fallen for tonight.
Who is Juliet’s mother? Where is she going?
Mrs. Capulet, my dear!
Such a kind woman.
I’ve cared for her daughter since birth!
34
Romeo’s heart sinks.
He cannot believe his ears.
The Nurse walks away and Romeo cannot move.
He is absolutely
devastated by such horrible news.
As Romeo stands still, overcome with horror, Juliet moves toward the
crowd toward her mother filled with love at first sight.
She says to
herself,
If he is already married, I will die.
Benvolio finds Romeo staring into the crowd, looking as if he just
received the most overwhelming news of his entire life.
He takes
Romeo’s arm and leads him out of the banquet hall, away from the
feast.
As Benvolio and Romeo step out into the night, Juliet is as anxious as
Romeo to discover the identity of this handsome creature who just
kissed her with a passion never before known to her.
She doesn’t want to be too obvious in asking, however.
Because
Juliet doesn’t want the Nurse to say anything to her mother, so she
simply asks her to tell her who all the young men were at the party.
When the Nurse returns with her answer, Juliet almost faints.
She
cannot believe what the Nurse has just told her—that the most amazing
kiss of her life was with a Montague—that the man she has fallen in love
with so instantly, so completely, is a Montague.
The enemy of her
father’s court.
The only man I love is the son of the only man I hate!
she cries.
35
Chapter V Questions
1. Romeo calls his eyes ____________ because he never saw true
beauty before this night.
Ⓐ liars
Ⓑ fools
Ⓒ blind
Ⓓ sinners
2. What do Romeo and Juliet find out after kissing one another?
3. How many times do Romeo and Juliet kiss each other?
4. Who wants to attack Romeo when he hears Romeo’s voice?
Ⓐ Abram
Ⓑ Mr. Capulet
Ⓒ Paris
Ⓓ Tybalt
5. Match Romeo’s romantic descriptions with the parts of Juliet’s body he
is praising:
[ Ⓐ lips
Ⓑ hands
Ⓒ beauty
Ⓓ body ]
1) _____ “like a jeweled earring across the cheek of an African”
2) _____ “I’ll touch her ______ with my rough and ugly one.”
3) _____ like blushing travelers, his ______ want to touch hers.
4) _____ “too good for this world.”
6. Who wants to keep the peace at the feast?
Ⓐ Benvolio
Ⓑ Mrs. Capulet
Ⓒ Mr. Capulet
Ⓓ The Nurse
7. Who tells Romeo something he doesn’t want to hear about Juliet?
Answer
1. Ⓐ
36
2. That they are supposed to be enemies.
Juliet a Capulet.
3. Twice
4. Ⓓ
5. 1) Ⓓ
2) Ⓑ
6. Ⓒ
7. The Nurse
3) Ⓐ
4) Ⓒ
That Romeo is a Montague and
37
Chapter VI
True Love and Longing
It is after midnight and Romeo sits among the Sycamore trees once
again.
The shadows of the branches fall across his face as he stares up
at the moon.
Why, why?
he asks the stars, who have brought him a perfect
woman with an imperfect name.
He cannot contain his longing for Juliet.
Mercutio and Benvolio have
gone home and he has been desperate for Juliet since the moment he
left her.
Despite his struggle, his reaction to her Capulet name simply
cannot compare to his desire for her.
His horror was only a fleeting
emotion—replaced by a pure, pure love.
He is now unable to stop
thinking of her—every single thing about her—replaying the images of the
feast over and over in his head.
Her body—the way it fit so gracefully into her soft, flowing dress.
Her
hair, blond and falling softly across her shoulders in the light of the
candlelit room.
could save him.
Her smile—like an angel’s—innocent—a smile so lovely it
And her kiss—her kiss!
have touched hers.
He still cannot believe his lips
He can still feel her against him, still see in his
memory every aspect of her beauty.
He cannot stay away from her any
longer.
Rosaline is a distant memory now.
He cannot believe he was so
foolish to think he had ever known love before now.
All of his old
desires are fading away, and now a new desire—for the unforgettable
Juliet—is eager to take their place.
Compared with his gentle Juliet,
Rosaline doesn’t even seem pretty.
She could never compare to the
38
beauty he has now witnessed.
And he still can’t believe that Juliet’s kiss
said she felt the same way.
Romeo, like Juliet, cannot believe how unfortunate it is that such a
beautiful love between them has sprung up amid the ugliness of their
families’ fighting.
He is in love again—and this time for real.
cannot believe the task before him.
But he
He cannot believe his passion will
force him to give speech after speech of love to a woman who’s
supposed to be his enemy.
And Juliet, like Romeo, cannot believe she’s fallen so quickly for
someone she has been taught by her parents to hate and to fear.
will they ever truly be allowed to be in love?
If Romeo’s an
to her, how will he ever be able to come to her?
How
enemy
To whisper all the
words of love she so desperately wants to hear from him?
Even though
she’s just as in love, she worries how she will ever have the chance to
show him. Or how he will ever have the chance to show her.
As if he suddenly feels the intensity of her longing for him, Romeo
leaps to his feet and takes off running through the trees.
How can I be anywhere else?
screams at the sky.
When my heart is with her?!
The night hears him.
he
The stars hear his cry and
quicken his running steps toward Juliet, who is standing out on her
balcony looking at the same stars that have brought them together.
Romeo reaches her house and feels his heart is bursting—not from
running but from his excitement to see Juliet again.
He leaps onto the
wall of her orchard, careful not to entangle himself in the long vines
stretching over the stones.
39
Meanwhile, Benvolio and Mercutio are walking the streets of Verona
once again, calling out for Romeo.
Cousin!
Romeo!
Where IS he, man?
I have no idea!
He’s a smart guy.
emotion,
Maybe he went to bed.
Too tired from all that
Mercutio says, laughing.
Call for him louder, Mercutio.
You have the kind of voice that could
wake the whole city!
Haha, okay, then.
I’ll call for him as if I’m calling for a spirit! He’s
been talking of all that fate stuff, so maybe he’ll answer this: Loverboy!
Madman!
Passion!
Come to me, brother!
long sigh of love and I’ll be satisfied.
Speak in a whisper—just a
Haha—just one rhyme—one little
love poem for me and I’ll leave you alone.
Benvolio is cracking up.
Or just cry out . . . yeah, that’s it!
brother.
Say
with that heartsick tone of yours.
Or even
just one word to show us just how romantic you’ve become!
Just say
love . . .
Oh my!
Just give us a little love,
or
dove!
good friend Venus.
C’mon, man, say just one lovely word to my
Mercutio joins Benvolio in laughing so hard they
have to stop walking and lean against the wall to catch their breath.
C’MON, man!
Just say the nickname of her blind son Cupid—you
know—the one who shot all those arrows so well in the old story.
You
know! The one—
Mercutio interrupts himself and looks at Benvolio, who almost starts
laughing again at Mercutio’s expression, which could make anyone augh.
He’s not hearing me, man.
coming.
He’s just not hearing me.
He’s not
40
Benvolio is still trying to catch his breath from laughing.
okay,
he gasps,
just try one more time.
Okay,
This is too funny.
Keep
going.
All right, okay.
monkey!
Mercutio agrees, laughing.
ROMEO!
You silly
I know you’ve died from a broken heart and all, but c’MON!
Come to us, brother.
This is my last try, so I’m going to make it a
good one. Ready? Okay.
Benvolio is now rolling on the ground laughing at Mercutio.
All right, Romeo.
Here we go.
I demand that you come to us!
I command you to reveal yourself!
I ask you in the only way that will
bring you before us—I ask you by Rosaline!
Her shining eyes, by her
wide forehead and her ruby red lips, by her fine, delicate feet, by her
strong, muscular legs, by all of her body, which has seemed to control
you completely.
In the name of all of these things, I command you to
appear before us in your true form.
Okay, this is too funny, bro.
But honestly, if he hears us he’s going
to flip out. Maybe you should stop.
No way!
What I’m saying can’t possibly make him angry. He would
be angry if I called for some strange spirit to be with Rosaline instead of
him—that’s what would make him angry.
things I’m saying are pretty fair.
Let’s get real: all of these
I’m just being honest. All I’m doing is
saying the name of the woman he loves to save him from that dark,
dark place of thinking you’re in love when you’re not!
Well, his love is blind, so I guess he belongs in that dark, dark
place.
If love is blind, my friend, then it has a long way to go before it
hits the bull’s-eye.
I’ve had enough of this!
Too funny.
Come on,
Benvolio, should we go?
Yeah, I guess so.
want to be found.
No point in looking anymore for him if he doesn’t
41
Romeo’s friends have no idea that he is climbing the wall of the
Capulet house at this very moment, digging his hands and fingers into
the stone wall.
They have no idea that Rosaline has left his mind
completely, or that he has found a love richer than he ever imagined, a
love he is willing to climb walls—and soon balconies—for to reach the
woman of his dreams!
Juliet has gone back inside in her room,
without waiting.
For some
reason, even though she is in her nightgown, she cannot seem to get
into bed.
She has a feeling—almost an instinct—that she should stay
awake just a little longer.
42
Chapter VI Questions
1. When this chapter opens, Romeo and Juliet are longing for one
another.
Where arr oney?
Romeo is ___________________ and
Juliet is __________________.
Ⓐ with Benvolio, with the Nurse
Ⓑ among the Sycamore trees, standing out on her balcony
Ⓒ walking the streets of Verona, lying in her bed
Ⓓ inside his room with the curtains closed, walking around her house
2. Mercutio calls for Romeo as if he is a _______________.
3. List a name Mercutio calls Romeo to make him appear.
4. When Romeo doesn’t appear to Benvolio and Mercutio, Mercutio
begins describing_________________.
Ⓐ Queen Mab
Ⓑ Prince Escalus
Ⓒ Rosaline
Ⓓ Juliet
5. Please write T or F beside the following statements.
Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) _____Romeo compares Juliet’s smile to an angel’s.
2) _____Romeo climbs a ladder to get to Juliet’s balcony.
3) _____Juliet feels very sleepy and wishes Romeo were there with
her.
6. Benvolio and Mercutio agree that Romeo is in a _____, _____ place.
Ⓐ sad, sad
Ⓑ dark, dark
Ⓒ terrible, terrible
Ⓓ far, far
7. Romeo “[replays] the images from the feast over and over in his
43
head.” Fill in the blanks with adjectives to describe what Romeo
remembers from the night:
1) _____ room
2) _____ love
3) _____ dress
4) _____ hair
Answer
1. Ⓑ
2. spirit
3. (Possible Answers) Loverboy, Madman, Passion, silly monkey
4. Ⓒ
5. 1) T
2) F
3) F
⇨ He climbs the stone wall of her orchard.
She cannot seem to get
into bed because she feels she should stay awake just a little bit
longer.
6. Ⓑ
7. candlelit room, pure, (pure) love, soft, flowing dress, blond hair
44
Chapter VII
Such Sweet Impossibility
Romeo clings to the orchard wall.
His fingers hold tight to the vines
and his feet have found their place on a small stone that has come
loose from the wall.
It is an unsafe position and he fears he will fall,
but his desire to see Juliet is much stronger than that fear; he would fall
a thousand feet if it meant he could see her again.
Suddenly, she appears on the balcony and it is as if a soft light fills
the orchard.
Romeo is so moved by her presence that he begins to
speak poetry about the sight of her.
What is that light?
is the sun!
Such a beautiful light! It is the east, and Juliet
Verona is being filled by Juliet’s brightness!
lovely, shining so brightly, that she is the sun.
come!
She is so
Come, gorgeous sun,
Kill that jealous moon, which is white and sick with sadness—
with envy.
Juliet begins to speak, but Romeo cannot hear her from where he is.
He watches her mouth move—that mouth that he kissed so deeply.
He
is filled with love and longing.
My lady! My love! If only she knew how much I loved her.
She is
speaking—those lovely lips are moving—but she has no idea how much I
adore her—love her!
She is not speaking to me, but her eyes are telling me to listen.
Those blue eyes of hers are telling me to hang onto her every word.
am brave enough to listen—to wait for her, whatever it takes.
are stars—the two brightest shining stars in the entire sky!
I
Her eyes
When those
stars left their galaxy, they must have asked her eyes to hold their
spaces in the dark night and twinkle until they returned.
45
Or, maybe those unforgettable eyes of hers are the blue, blue sky,
full of clouds, and the twinkling stars are in her brilliant mind!
The
shining stars cannot compare to the glow of her rosy cheeks—like the
strong sun puts a candle to shame by shedding its powerful light on the
world, her glowing beauty shines more radiantly than any star.
And, if
she were a star blinking in the sky at midnight, her light would wake
even the birds!
They would chirp their song to welcome us into day—
they would think it were morning already and sing to her!
Look at how her gentle, pure hand holds her cheek like a cradle—how
she rests so softly against her open palm.
If only I were a glove on
that hand so I could touch that cheek!
Romeo’s voice is so loud and thrilled with this final exclamation that
Juliet hears his happy voice.
She cannot see him, but she senses
someone just beyond her sight in the orchard.
Oh! she cries from above him.
Romeo is so caught up in watching Juliet that he can’t bear to let her
know he’s there quite yet.
As much as he is longing for her, she is
such a picture of beauty that he’d rather wait and just watch her speak.
Oh Romeo, Romeo! Where are you, Romeo?
Oh, that beautiful sound! Romeo can’t believe he is hearing her
voice once again.
Oh, say something else, my sweet, shining angel!
wondrous tonight—just like an angel.
You are so
You are standing there like a
butterfly from heaven, flying so colorfully through the air as if you have
a message for me.
Any man would collapse to the ground just for a
chance to lie in the grass and gaze up at the sky to watch your beauty
move through the clouds!
air with your innocence.
Just to see your angelic body purifying the
46
Without knowing Romeo can hear her, Juliet cries out again.
Oh, Romeo, Romeo, can’t you have another name?
father!
Just find a new name—it is all you
Forget being a Montague!
have to do!
Forget your
And if you won’t find a new name, then just promise that
you love me!
I promise I’ll stop being a Capulet—if it means I can be
with you!
Romeo is filled with happiness at what he is hearing and wants so
desperately to scream that he can hear her!
Still, however, he wants to
listen to what other beautiful words she has to say.
Should I tell her I can hear her? he asks himself.
He resists the
urge, for the sweet sound of her voice is too gripping to interrupt with
his own.
Juliet continues.
who you are!
see?
Montague is only a name!
It isn’t you—it’s not
You aren’t my enemy—only your name is!
Don’t you
Wouldn’t you still be Romeo without your last name?
Look at
your body! Wouldn’t your legs still walk with your same walk? Wouldn’t
your elbows bend in the same way?
Wouldn’t your face still be known
by Verona?
And you could be my man!
You are your own man!
You
are no one else’s!
Oh, please, please!
Take any other name!
Besides, what's in a
name? That thing we call a rose—by any other name, it would smell just
as sweet. In the same way, you would be just as flawless without your
name—I beg you, give up your name, Romeo.
Exchange it for another—oh, won’t you?—and take all of me in return.
Romeo cannot resist responding to her now; he is too overcome with
emotion.
Yes, YES!
I trust you!
have to do is be mine.
Everything you say is true.
All you
Just say you will be mine for always and my
name will no longer matter to me.
If I have you, I will have everything
I need to be the man I want to be.
From this day on, for the rest of
47
my life, I will no longer be Romeo. I will be yours.
But Juliet cannot see Romeo; she can only hear him.
Who’s out there in the dark?
Who are you?
And whoever you are, why are you
listening to my secrets?
Oh, I can’t bear to tell you, Juliet, because that would mean I would
have to say my horrible name once again.
name is your enemy.
My lovely, pure angel, my
Please know if it is written on any piece of paper
that I will tear it up!
Romeo!
Is that you?
I know it is you!
I know your voice!
Even
though you haven’t even said a hundred words, I recognize your lovely
voice.
Juliet is completely filled with happiness at the sound of Romeo’s
voice, though she is instantly saddened again by the thought of his
name.
But you’re Romeo. You’re a Montague.
No, Juliet!
Romeo slips a little but hangs tightly to the wall.
I
am neither of those names if you don’t want me to be.
They’re going to kill you, though!
Please!
If my family sees you,
they will kill you!
Romeo tries to climb farther up the wall.
He is so desperate to reach
her.
How did you get to my house, anyway? And why? When you know
how dangerous it is?!
Please don’t fall!
That wall is so high!
Be
careful, Romeo!
Romeo smiles.
These walls are nothing, my darling.
Not when I can
climb them as if flying with love in my hands and feet.
There’s nothing
a man in love can’t do. I’m not even afraid of your family!
But if they see you they’ll kill you, Romeo!
48
Juliet, please don’t be angry.
me away from you.
Don’t be afraid.
No swords can keep
The thought of your entire family coming after me
is nothing—not when I know that there is no greater punishment than
Just smile at me—just smile.
you being mad at me, even for a second.
If you do, I will be protected against anything.
I’d give my whole world to keep them from finding you!
Just give me your love.
then I hope they find me.
That’s all I need.
If you don’t love me,
I’d rather die than have to live feeling
starved without your love.
How did you find my bedroom, anyway?
Juliet begins to smile and
can’t stop smiling.
Love brought me here—love cleared the path to you.
I wouldn’t
have even started searching for you if it weren’t for this all-consuming
love I feel.
Love has taken over my eyes.
Love is my compass.
If I
were in any part of the world, or in the stormy waters of any ocean, I
would risk my life to travel to you.
Even though I don’ t have a ship or
even know how to sail one, I would cross any stretch of water or land,
just to be near you.
If it weren’t so dark and you could see my smile, you’d see how
much you’re making me blush right now.
Everything I’ve said about you
makes me both smile and feel shy at the same time.
Maybe I should
pretend I haven’t said what I have—maybe I should be polite.
But
forget about being polite!
Do you love me like I love you, Romeo?
If you say yes—and I know
you will—I’ll believe you.
But if you swear you do, I won’t believe you.
Don’t lie to me, Romeo!
If you really, honestly love me, then say it.
Say it with everything you are.
Just because we’ve fallen in love this
easily doesn’t mean we’re not truly in love.
Maybe I should have played
hard to get, but I don’t care!
You’ve already captured my heart—I don’t
care if it was easy for you.
You did and nothing can change that.
don’t want to play games.
You already know how I feel!
I
You heard
49
me! You were there listening to me speaking from my heart!
Juliet, I swear by the moon—the moon that pours its silver light
over the tops of the trees—
Please, my love, swear by something other than the moon, for you
can’t trust it.
It’s different all the time—you know that.
It never stays
the same, and I can’t bear the thought of you changing too.
What should I swear by, then?
I’ll swear by anything you want me
to.
If you have to swear, then swear by your amazing self—who you
are—I worship everything you are, Romeo.
Swear only by that—and
then I’ll believe you.
If my heart is true, then—
No, no.
Don’t swear, Romeo.
all of these promises tonight?
thought about it.
This is CRAZY!
How can we make
This is moving so fast!
We’ve hardly
I feel joy and peace in my heart—and I hope you do
too—but I have to say goodnight. This is insane!
Juliet! Wait! How can you leave me like this?! So unsatisfied?!
Unsatisfied? But why?
I can only be satisfied if we make a true oath of love, Juliet.
If we
devote ourselves to each other for real.
You already have my love.
saw you.
My heart was yours from the moment I
Now, I want to take back my love.
Just so I can give it to
you again, Romeo.
But why, my love?
So you can see that I can give it to you again and again.
how deep my love is for you.
It is endless, Romeo.
That’s
Trust me.
heart is yours, so I can give it you over and over, forever.
My
And the
best part is that the more I give you my love, the more love I will have
to give! It will always be this way!
50
Chapter VII Questions
1.
To whom or what does Romeo compare Juliet?
Ⓐ the moon
Ⓑ the sun
Ⓒ a goddess
Ⓓ a tree
2.
What, to Romeo, is worse than 20 of Juliet’s family members coming
after him with swords?
Ⓐ an angry look from Juliet
Ⓑ being separated from Juliet
Ⓒ being called a Capulet
Ⓓ being a Montague
3.
Please write T or F beside the following statements. Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) ____ Juliet tells Romeo not to swear by the moon and instead to
swear by himself.
2) ____ Juliet calls Romeo the god she worships like an idol.
3) ____ Romeo calls the moon jealous.
4.
Fill in the blank sentences.
(Same word for both blanks)
“Her eyes are _______________—the two brightest shining
______________ in the entire sky!”
(Different word for each blank)
“Look at how her gentle, pure hand holds her cheek like
a__________________—how she rests so softly against her open
palm.
If only I were a ___________________on that hand so I
could touch that cheek!”
51
5.
List three things Romeo compares Juliet to in this chapter:
6.
What color are Juliet’s eyes?
7.
What does Romeo say will protect him from anything?
Answers
1. Ⓑ
2. Ⓐ
3. 1) T
2) T
3) T
4. stars, stars, cradle, glove
5. (Possible Answers) angel, sun, butterfly, light
6. Blue
7. Juliet’s smile
52
Chapter VIII
Until Tomorrow
Suddenly, they hear a voice from inside Juliet’s house.
Juliet? Juliet!!
Just a minute, Nurse!
Juliet calls back inside.
Romeo!
I’ll be
right back! Stay here, my love! I’ll return!
Romeo watches Juliet disappear from the balcony and slip inside her
room, her satin nightgown flowing behind her.
He feels himself slipping
again and moves to secure his position on the wall.
Oh sweet, sweet night!
Is this all a dream?
Is it too good to be
true? Too perfect to be real?
Juliet returns to the balcony.
Three more words, Romeo, and then I really have to tell you
goodnight, my sweet.
If you mean what you say, if your intentions are
real and true, if you honestly want to marry me, then send me a
message tomorrow.
I’ll send someone to you and you can tell him the
place and the time of our wedding!
I’ll give you all my money and
follow you, my king, all over the world, anywhere you choose.
The Nurse calls again.
Madam!
Be right there, Nurse!
back to Romeo.
Juliet is filled with excitement and turns
But if you are lying, Romeo, if you don’t mean what
you say—
Madam!!
Just one more minute! I beg you, Romeo, if you—
Juliet!!
53
Okay, okay!
Romeo.
I’m coming, Nurse!
I’ll send the messenger tomorrow,
Be ready!
My soul is counting on it, Juliet.
Goodnight, Romeo. A thousand times—goodnight.
Romeo stretches out his hand to her and almost falls as she
disappears once again.
marriage the next day.
He can think of nothing but taking her hand in
He calls out from the orchard wall, barely
hanging on.
Juliet!
Leaving you, having to be away from you, is a thousand
times worse than being close to you.
The man who loves a woman
races toward the one he loves with as much excitement as schoolboys
leaving their books behind, but when he must leave his beautiful girl, he
feels as horrible as those schoolboys on the way to school, to face their
books again.
Romeo starts to let his hands slide down the wall, taking care to step
down carefully, but Juliet appears again and his heart leaps to see her.
Romeo!
Romeo uses all his strength to scramble up the wall again.
Juliet!
What time tomorrow, my love?
What time shall I send the
message to you?
By nine o’clock, my sweet. Not a minute later. I’ll be waiting.
I won’t fail, Romeo.
From now until then feels like it will be twenty
years! Ha! I can’t even remember why I called you back!
Well,
then I
will
be here,
right here,
until you remember.
What if I forget and you have to hang onto that wall forever?
The
54
only thing I’m going to remember is how much I love just being near
you.
Then this wall will be my home, Juliet.
I’ve ever known. I’ll stay right here.
It will be the only home
You can forget again and again.
Goodnight, goodnight, Romeo! Parting is such sweet sorrow!
Romeo watches his beautiful Juliet leave once again.
I wish you and your sleeping all the peace I can!
I wish I were
sleep—I wish I were peace—so I could be with you all night.
I can’t
wait to tell my priest about what beautiful luck I’ve had in seeing you
and being with you tonight, my love. Until tomorrow.
*
*
*
3Romeo’s priest, Friar Lawrence, is watching the sun rise over his
greenhouse plants.
The soft morning light slides over the leaves and
flowers, warming them.
He tenderly holds the petals and runs his
fingers along the vines and branches.
A single tree stands in the center
of the greenhouse, stretching through the top.
Friar Lawrence, a thoughtful, intelligent man, often speaks to himself
or to his plants when he is in deep thought.
He walks among the rows
of endless green, watering the flowers and gently arranging each and
every bouquet.
He holds a basket in one hand and a watering vase in
the other, pouring the cool, refreshing water into each pot, watching it
drip down from leaf to leaf, petal to petal.
The morning is smiling at us, my dear plants and flowers.
replacing the night, which has been far too sad and angry.
it?
It is
Can you see
The dark is leaving us, leaving the path of the sun as if stumbling
off course to find a better place to rest.
55
He moves to his precious oak tree, stroking the trunk lovingly.
He
stares up through the opening of the greenhouse, where a little blue sky
peeks through and surrounds its leaves.
He stands there for a moment,
letting the sun warm his face.
Friar Lawrence loves the colors of his beautiful greenhouse, of all the
flowers surrounding him and his tree.
Yellow against pink—his irises and
orchids kissing one another on three small tables.
roses upon lilies in vases along the wall.
Red against purple—
And blue against green—his
beloved tree.
Now, as you know, my dear tree, the sun is rising and will soon burn
away the morning dew.
Before that happens, as I’ve told you, I need to
fill my basket with nature’s medicines.
Weeds of poison and flowers of
healing—as I know you understand, the Earth is the mother of nature,
but she is also her grave.
Every plant—even you—comes from Earth’s
womb and therefore must return to the Earth when they die.
everything the Earth gives to us, she gives a special gift.
To
Every single
plant, flower, and tree is different.
Like you!
So unique, my tree!
other tree like you?
grace.
Isn’t that amazing?
That there is no
Herbs, plants, and stones have amazing power and
There is nothing in this entire green world that is so evil that it
can’t offer something useful to us.
And there is nothing that won’t turn
evil if it’s used in the wrong way. Virtue itself turns into vice when it is
used
in
the
wrong
way,
and
vice—through
action—can
sometimes
become virtue. Any good trait will become bad if used in the wrong way.
And, in the same way, my tree, sometimes evil can become good
through a pure choice.
Romeo enters the greenhouse breathlessly.
He has run all the way
from Juliet’s house, unable to contain his excitement.
He cannot wait to
tell his priest—his most trusted friend—about his true love!
56
But Friar Lawrence is still talking to his tree.
Romeo smiles to himself and watches his dear friend, who is looking
at a beautiful orange flower.
Can you believe it, my tree?
Inside this tiny, tiny flower, inside its
tiny, swirling center, is both the deadliest poison and the strongest
medicine.
If you smell this tiny flower, my tree, you will feel good all
over your body.
But if you taste it—well, if you could taste it, my
friend, then you will die.
There are two opposite sides to everything.
In men, like in plants—there is both good and evil.
These two forces
are against each other in every way, yet they go on living in any man—
or plant’s soul.
The two are like fighting kings—and both remain in the
soul—in men as well as in herbs—there is both grace and bad will.
But when evil is stronger, my tree, when evil rules good, then death
will take over a body—any body. Even yours.
57
Chapter VIII Questions
1. Who interrupts Romeo and Juliet by calling Juliet back inside the
house from the balcony?
2. What are the two sides to everything, according to Friar Lawrence?
3. List three of Friar Lawrence’s plants/flowers.
4.
Match up Friar Lawrence’s flowers with their appropriate colors:
1) ____ irises
Ⓐ yellow
2) ____ lilies
Ⓑ red
3) ____ roses
Ⓒ pink
4) ____ orchids
Ⓓ purple
5. Please write T or F beside the following statements.
Write T if the
statement is true and F if it is false.
1) ____ Friar Lawrence likes to talk to his tree.
2) ____ Romeo compares being with Juliet to a schoolboy running
away from his books.
3) ____ Friar Lawrence believes every plant comes from God.
6. What color is the tiny, poisonous flower Friar Lawrence holds?
7. Fill in the blank.
“Earth is the mother of nature, but she is also her
______________.”
58
8. Who said the above quote?
Answers
1. The Nurse
2. Good and evil; virtue and vice
3. (Possible Answers) irises, orchids, roses, lilies, his tree
4. 1)　Ⓐ
5. 1) T
2) Ⓒ
2) T
3) Ⓑ
3) F
6. orange
7. grave
8. Friar Lawrence.
4) Ⓓ
59
Chapter IX
Patience, Patience
Father!
Romeo can’t wait any longer to interrupt.
He burst
through the plants and flowers with his arms outstretched.
Friar Lawrence spills his water on the ground, but sets the orange
flower carefully down on the nearest table.
Romeo!
However,
tonight.
God bless you, my son.
the friar says, laughing,
I’m so happy to see your face!
our Romeo hasn’t been to bed
Yours is the face of someone who hasn’t slept.
have been up all night.
Why?
stay up late and do work.
You’re young!
You, Romeo,
You shouldn’t have to
That’s what old men like me do!
Come on,
tell me! Am I right? Have you not been to bed all night?
You guessed it, Father.
need to sleep!
Romeo can’t stop smiling.
But I didn’t
My rest was so much sweeter than a night of sleep, my
friend.
Oh no!
With Rosaline?
Please tell me it isn’t true.
Were you with
her all night
Rosaline who?
I’ve forgotten all about that girl, Father.
totally out of my head.
She’s
I’ve left her behind—as well as all that sadness
she caused me.
I’m so glad to hear that, boy.
But that means you’ve been
somewhere else! Where?!
Well, Father, I’ve been with my enemy.
And my enemy has been
with me. And before we could stop what was coming, we were wounded
with love! Only you can save us, Father! Only you have the power.
Okay, okay, son.
to me straight.
Slow down.
What exactly do you mean?
Give it
A chaotic confession will get you no answers at all.
60
You’re not going to believe this, Father, but I’m in love with
Juliet—the most beautiful, amazing girl I’ve ever
Capulet’s daughter!
known!
I love her and she loves me! We’re wrapped up in each other
and totally connected in every possible way!
We need you to marry us.
There’s just one problem.
Trust me, I’ll tell you the whole story later—
every single detail about when and where we met, how we fell in love,
and all the promises we’ve already made to each other, but for now I
just need one simple thing from you.
In fact, I’m begging you.
Please,
please! Say you’ll marry us today, Father!
Oh my!
Wow!
What a complete change!
you forgotten about Rosaline already?
eyes, not in their hearts, Romeo.
thousand tears for Rosaline.
moaning!
How in the world have
The love of young men is in their
Think about it:
you have cried a
I can still hear all your sighing and
Listen to me, Romeo.
How can you expect this new girl to
be loyal to you when even you are so unreliable?
When you change
your mind so often?!
But you told me not to love Rosaline, Father!
You scolded me for
paying too much attention to her, not for loving her.
Nooo, Romeo. I told you to quit obsessing over her.
AND to bury my love.
Ha! I didn’t tell you to replace that love with another, though!
Please, please.
I get your point.
But here’s the main difference.
Juliet LOVES ME TOO!
Oh, I bet she’s smarter than you think, my boy.
Friar Lawrence
puts his arm around Romeo and begins walking him out through the
greenhouse into the sun.
I bet she knows very well that you’re acting
like you’re in love without really knowing what love means.
But still, I’m happy for you, my friend.
laughs
and
pats
Romeo
on
the
back
I really am.
lovingly.
inconsistent young man—you just come with me.
course I will.
Friar Lawrence
Come
on,
you
I’ll help you.
Of
Let’s plan that secret wedding of yours.
Let’s just hope,
61
though it’s very unlikely—that this marriage is lucky enough to turn the
hatred between your families into pure love. How about that?
Thank you, thank you, Father! But we have to hurry!
Careful, my son.
Fools rush in.
Go slowly.
Go wisely. Wisely and
slow; they stumble that run fast.
*
*
*
Back in the city, Mercutio and Benvolio are looking for Romeo once
again.
Where in the world is he, Ben?
I thought he came home last night!
Didn’t he?
Nope! Not at all. I asked a servant and he said he didn’t!
Aagh! That Rosaline is going to torture him until he goes crazy!
You know what else is crazy, Mercutio?
What?
Guess who sent a letter to Romeo at his house?
Hmmm . . . let me think about this one long and hard . . .
Tybalt! That idiot from the street!
Really? Did the servant tell you this?
Sure did! And you know what I think it says?
That he regrets being born a Capulet?
Mercutio laughs at his own
joke.
That he wants to fight him!
Well, if that’s the case, then Romeo will definitely answer.
He has
to come home now!
Benvolio agrees, laughing.
But there’s a problem, Ben.
Poor Romeo might not be able to
62
handle him right now.
His poor heart has made him weak and I’m just
not sure he’s man enough to fight!
Well, what makes Tybalt so strong?
Oh, he’s tough, man.
And he fights by the book.
He pays
attention to every detail—from the time to the distance to the size—and
he knows just when to stop for a moment—to make you think he’s done
—then he’ll come back for more!
Mercutio starts punching Benvolio playfully to show him.
One!
Two!
Three in your heart!
He pretends to stab him.
Like THIS!
He’ll turn
any argument into a swordfight.
Hey, hey! It’s Romeo!
Benvolio yells.
Romeo is walking down the street toward them in the same clothes
they saw him in at the party.
Look how skinny you are, man!
Love has made you shorter!
You
know, you really fooled us last night, man.
Yeah, yeah. What are you talking about, Mercutio?
You tricked us!
Listen boys, I had some incredibly important business to take care
of, actually.
So important that I wasn’t too worried about hurting your
feelings.
And what kind of silly business was this, man?
Listen, you fat goose—
Ah—there!
Now that’s the Romeo we love!
You seem like yourself
again, man! Joking around just like old times. Doesn’t it feel good? To
be social? To be funny instead of an idiot in love?
All right, all right, Mercutio, leave him alone.
Benvolio interrupts,
trying to make peace as always.
Are you just going to interrupt me like that, man? I’m trying to tell
63
our boy Romeo something he should really know!
Well, thank God someone else is here to interrupt you, then,
Benvolio says.
The three of them look down the street at a woman and boy coming
quickly toward them.
Romeo’s heart jumps at the sight of them.
they be walking so fast because they are carrying a message?
Could
64
Chapter IX Questions
1. What can Friar Lawrence immediately tell about Romeo when he walks
in the greenhouse to tell him about Juliet?
Ⓐ That he is in love
Ⓑ That he is over Rosaline
Ⓒ That he hasn’t been to bed
Ⓓ That he wants to buy flowers
2. What is Benvolio and Mercutio’s first reaction to Romeo’s appearance
when they see him coming toward them on the street?
3.
Fill in the blanks.
Mercutio says Romeo seems like ______________ again and asks
him if it feels good to be _______________ and ________________
instead of an ______________ ______________.
4. What make Tybalt so strong, according to Mercutio?
Ⓐ He’s tall
Ⓑ He knows how to use his sword
Ⓒ He fights by the book
Ⓓ He fights more often than anyone
5. Romeo thinks Friar Lawrence told him not to __________ Rosaline,
but Friar Lawrence insists he told him not to ____________ her.
Ⓐ leave – get over
Ⓑ marry – leave
Ⓒ love – obsess
Ⓓ cry over – kill himself
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6. How many tears has Romeo cried for Rosaline, according to Friar
Lawrence?
Answers
1. That he hasn’t been to bed.
2. (Possible Answers) That he is wearing the same clothes.
skinny, shorter, and smaller.
3. himself, funny, social, idiot in love
4. Ⓒ
5. Ⓒ
6. a thousand tears
That he looks
66
Chapter X
A Perfect Plan
Oh, this is going to be good, my friends, Romeo says.
anxious to receive the message from his love.
He is so
He watches the shapes
of the two figures become clearer in the light of the morning sun.
Sail away, lady!
ancient lady!
Sail away!
Benvolio laughs.
Look at that
Doesn’t she look like she’s a balloon and might just lift off
into the air?
There’s two of them, friends,
from the sunlight.
Peter!
Mercutio tries to see, covering his eyes
A boy too.
The woman calls out, holding up her skirts to walk faster.
Give me my fan.
I’m so hot in this summer heat.
She’s covering up, boys.
Mercutio giggles.
Her fan is much
prettier than that face of hers.
Good morning, gentlemen! the Nurse greets the trio cheerfully.
Or afternoon, Mercutio jokes.
Oh! Is it afternoon already? the Nurse asks.
No earlier, no later, Mercutio jokes again.
Okay, okay,
Gentlemen, listen.
the Nurse says, irritated.
Enough of you, silly boy.
I have an important question for you.
Have any of
you seen young Romeo?
Romeo steps into the conversation, anxious to join in and hear the
news.
Sure, I can tell you, my lady, but there’s something you should
know about young Romeo.
He won’t be so young when you find him.
In fact, he’ll be much older when you find him than he was when you
first started searching for him. I am the youngest man by that name, in
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fact. And know that you won’t find anyone younger than me.
Well, well! the Nurse blushes.
Don’t you have a way with words,
young Romeo!
Romeo smiles at the Nurse and she pulls him closer so she can
whisper in his ear.
And, my dear, if you are indeed the Romeo I’m looking for, then I
need to speak with you privately.
Oh my!
She’s asking him on a date, Mercutio!
Benvolio says,
laughing.
Hey Romeo!
Mercutio laughs.
Wanna go to your father’s for
lunch?
Sure, Mercutio. I’ll follow you guys there. Go on ahead.
All right, then.
See you in a few!
Goodbye old lady!
See you
soon lady, lady!
Romeo watches his friends walk away from them, shaking his head at
them.
Who is that rude friend of yours, Romeo? the Nurse asks.
Oh, don’t mind him.
He just loves the sound of his own voice,
that’s all.
Well, he’s certainly full of jokes, isn’t he?
What he doesn’t
understand is that a woman like me could take him any day!
He thinks
he can just call me names, but he hasn’t seen me really get angry.
Then he’d have to worry.
And Peter, why did you just stand there?
Oh, Nurse, you know I would have been there for you in a
heartbeat if you would have really needed me.
handle him yourself, that’s all,
Well, whatever.
things to talk about.
I just knew you could
Peter says, smiling.
He’s made me angry, but there are more important
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Romeo feels like hugging the Nurse!
He can’t wait to hear what she
is about to say.
Well, my young lady wanted me to come find you, Romeo.
what she asked me to say to you, I’ll keep a secret for now.
is something I have to say before
that.
And
But there
Hear me clearly: If you make
a fool of her, it would be a crime, Romeo—completely wrong.
She is
too young. And if you plan to trick her in any way, then you’re evil!
Nurse, please.
Let me stop you there.
Please send all my love to
your lady. I swear to you—
Okay, okay.
I see.
You have a good heart—I can see that.
Believe me, I’ll make sure she knows that.
Oh, and she’ll be so happy
when I tell her!
Wait, what are you going to tell her, Nurse?
Why, that you’re a gentleman!
Please, Nurse, tell her something else for me.
come up with a plan to get out of her house.
out!
Tell her she needs to
Tell her she has to get
And tell her to come to Friar Lawrence’s and make a confession
there.
Make sure she knows I’ll be there waiting for her.
where we’ll be married, Nurse!
helping me,
And that’s
Here—please—take this money for
Romeo holds out a few gold coins to the Nurse.
No, no, please, Romeo.
I can’t take money from you—not even a
penny.
Oh Nurse, I insist! You’ve helped me more than you know.
Fine, then.
Thank you, Romeo.
This afternoon, right?
there!
The Nurse begins to walk away with Peter close behind.
Wait, Nurse!
Romeo calls after her.
What is it, Romeo?
One more thing!
She’ll be
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I will send one of my men to you within an hour.
He will have a
rope ladder for you to keep for me until I come secretly to meet Juliet
at night.
Nurse.
I will use it climb over the walls to see her.
I’ll repay you for all your help.
Goodbye.
Thank you,
Tell Juliet how much
I love her!
Thank you, Romeo.
I’ve got it! This afternoon!
At the Friar
Lawrence's cell, you two star-crossed lovers will be married! Bless you.
But there is one last thing I have to tell you.
What is it?
Can you keep a secret?
Of course!
Well, have you ever heard the saying ‘two evil men can make a
plan together to put one away?’
Yes, but my man is true as steel—more honest than anything.
He
would never betray me.
Well, sir, Juliet is sweeter than any other girl I know.
another man in Verona—a nobleman—his name is Paris.
is after your girl too.
And there is
And this Paris
In fact, he would do anything to have her himself.
Now, lucky for you, Juliet would rather look at a frog than look at him.
And whenever I’ve tried to convince her to have feelings for him—before
I met you, of course—she’s gotten angry when I’ve said he’s handsome
because she’s so in love with you.
Oh, Romeo, she says the most
beautiful things about you!
Please give her all my best, Nurse.
Yes, a thousand times, Romeo.
says, handing Peter the fan.
Peter!
Here’s my fan,
Go quickly now,
the Nurse
she says, and they walk
away from Romeo down the street, even faster than they came.
Romeo watches them go, holding his hand to his heart, praying with
all his might that the message will reach Juliet as planned.
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*
*
*
Back at the Capulet House, there is walking too.
Juliet is pacing the
length of her room, walking back and forth, back and forth, her hands
pressed to her face, worrying to herself.
Where is she?
I sent the Nurse so long ago!
what if she didn’t find him?
wouldn’t happen.
At nine o’clock!
What if she can’t find him?
Oh,
No, no, that
Oh, but why does she have to be so slow!
A
messenger of love should be like a thought of love, which can move
faster than sunlight.
A messenger of love should be strong enough to
push a dark shadow over a hill—or fly like a dove—or like Cupid!
noon already!
were
young
It’s been three hours!
and
feverish,
and
full
She’s still not back!
of
passion,
if
only
It’s
If only she
she
understand the love we feel, she’d move faster—like a rolling ball.
could
My
words would make her bounce right to my sweet love, and his words
would bounce her right back to me.
But she’s old—she can’t move
passionately or understand our love like we do.
love. How could they?
No one understands our
71
Chapter X Questions
1. List two ways Mercutio and Benvolio make fun of the Nurse.
2. When the Nurse tells Romeo she worries that “two evil men can make
a plan together to put one away,” he assures her his man is as true
as ______________.
3. When did Juliet send the Nurse to find Romeo?
4. What should a messenger of love be strong enough to do, according
to Juliet?
1) to push a _______________ over a hill
2) to __________ like a _______________ or like ________________
5. Who is with the Nurse when she finds Romeo on the street?
6. The Nurse is first impressed with Romeo because she likes the way
he ____________.
Ⓐ speaks
Ⓑ looks
Ⓒ smiles
Ⓓ smells
Answers
1. (Possible Answers) call her a balloon, talk about her weight, ridicule the
way she has to cover up her ugly face with a fan, which is much
prettier, say she’s asking Romeo out on a date
2. steel
4. shadow, fly, dove, Cupid
6. Ⓐ
3. at 9 o’clock
5. Peter
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Chapter XI
The Message
Suddenly Juliet’s pacing is interrupted by the Nurse, who bursts
through the door of her bedroom, completely out of breath.
Oh God, here she comes—Oh Nurse, what’s the news?!
waiting and waiting!
Did you speak to him?
I’ve been
Oh, tell me the news is
good! What did my Romeo say? Tell me, please!
The Nurse is still trying to catch her breath.
Oh, Nurse!
you smiling?
Why do you look sad?
What is the deal?
Please, please tell me everything’s okay.
be playing tricks on me with that face of yours!
Just . . . one . . . second, dear!
my breath.
I’m exhausted!
Why aren’t
You better not
Tell me the truth!
Just . . . let . . . me . . . catch
I’ve been running all over Verona!
Just
give . . . me . . .
Nurse!
Get it together!
I can’t take this!
I beg you!
Aaghh!
Oh, how I wish you had my health and I had your news!
My goodness, Juliet! Can’t you wait a single second? Can’t you see
I’m out of breath!
Nurse!
that!
You’re not out of breath if you have enough breath to say
Your excuses are taking longer to say than the news!
me if the news is good or bad!
details.
Just answer that.
Just tell
Then I’ll wait for the
I’ll be satisfied if you can just tell me that. Good or bad??
Well, first of all, my dear, I can’t say picking Romeo was the
smartest choice.
Sure, he’s ridiculously handsome.
perfectly muscular body.
Sure, he’s got that
And yes, I suppose he’s as gentle as they
come, but, well . . . you do what you want.
Just be good, okay?
And
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have you had lunch yet?
NURSE!
Come ON!
Are you serious?
What did he say about us
getting married? You have to tell me something!
What a headache I have!
My head is just aching, dear.
It feels
like it’s going to beat itself to pieces! Oh, and my back!
Juliet rubs the Nurse’s back and sighs, rolling her eyes.
This is your fault, you know, dear.
heart!
Oh, yes, that feels good.
All this running around for your
Now, the other side.
Oh!
It hurts!
could seriously get sick and die from all this running around.
I
You know
that?
Sweet, sweet Nurse, I’m so so sorry about your back, Juliet says,
rubbing it all over softly.
Sweet Nurse, tell me more.
Please!
Well, being the sweet, honorable, good-looking, polite gentleman he
is—and, being the good man that he is—he, well—where is your mother,
Juliet?
My mother, Nurse? Why?! She’s in the house! What are you talking
about? Where else would she be? Why are you acting so weird?
And why are you so impatient?!
This is not the way to take care of
an old lady’s back. Do you want to take care of the messages yourself?
Nurse!
I really can’t take it!
Just TELL me!
Juliet stops rubbing
her back.
Fine, FINE! Can you go to confession today?
Well, sure.
Why?
If you can, my dear, then hurry.
Go as fast as you can to Friar
Lawrence’s because a husband is waiting there to make you his wife!
Juliet lights up—she is completely filled with joy at the news.
Now, you must hurry!
Go to the church.
I have to go a different
way because I’m picking up a ladder for Romeo so he can climb up to
74
see you after it’s dark.
And don’t forget—I’m doing this for you.
Now
GO!
Oh, thank you, thank you, Nurse!
Wish me luck!
Juliet hugs her
dear Nurse, the woman who raised her, with all of her might.
She can’t
believe it’s all happeith aso fast—she can’t believe she’s getting married!
*
*
*
Back at Friar Lawrence’s, the priest and Romeo await Juliet’s arrival.
Every two seconds he looks at the greenhouse door, waiting for Juliet to
appear in all of her radiant beauty.
They sit in front of Friar Lawrence’s
old oak tree, praying together before they head to the church.
Dear God, Friar Lawrence prays,
please bless this holy marriage
between my dear Romeo and his love Juliet, so that nothing terrible
happens to make them regret it.
Amen, Amen, Father.
know what?
Thank you for praying.
But honestly, you
I don’t think there’s anything that could ruin this happiness
I feel just by looking at her!
Friar Lawrence smiles at Romeo.
He is so grateful to God for making
his dear friend—the boy who has been like a son to him—so happy.
He
has never seen Romeo this delighted, this filled with joy in his entire
life.
Even when he was young without a care in the world—even that
innocence doesn’t compare to the happiness he sees in Romeo now.
He
is just bursting with it!
All you have to do is take our hands and enclose them, wrap them
with your holy words, Father.
wants!
We’ll be just fine.
Then, let death destroy whatever it
I’ll be the happiest man alive.
Anything can
happen—it’s enough for me to just call her my own and no one else’s!
Romeo stands with his arms raised to the top of the greenhouse,
shouting with joy at the sun.
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Romeo, just remember, my son:
sudden ending.
such sudden happiness has a
It might burn up before you know it.
When two joys
meet this quickly, it’s like kissing—like two violent mouths— they
consume one another completely in the heat of their violent passion.
And like eating the sweetest honey, too much will make you sick, my
friend.
So just do your best to take it slow.
thoughtfully, not violently.
Love each other
That is the secret to love that lasts a
lifetime. Too fast is much more dangerous than too slow.
Just as the priest is warning him, Romeo’s bride walks through the
door! She rushes to Romeo and they hold each other tight.
Ah, the lady has arrived,
Friar Lawrence says, smiling.
Romeo and Juliet continue holding each other as if he is not even
there.
Oh, lovers,
he sighs as he watches them.
Such light footsteps will
never be able to handle the difficult road of love and life.
Good evening, my spiritual guide,
Juliet says politely.
Romeo will thank you, my dear. From the both of us.
And I will thank him once again as well,
she replies, smiling and
hugging Romeo tighter.
Oh, my Juliet, Romeo says, holding her face with his hands, tell
me—because you speak so beautifully—what you see when you imagine
our marriage, our life together.
Oh, Romeo!
It’s impossible!
I imagine too much for words!
Anyone who can even count how much he has is a poor man!
My love
—our true, true love—has made me richer than I ever dreamed! So rich
that I can’t count even half of what I have with you!
All right, lovebirds, Friar Lawrence says, smiling.
and let’s do this right.
And let’s do it quickly, too.
Come with me
I know you can
hardly wait! And I’m not leaving you two alone until you’re married, he
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says, putting his arms around them and laughing, filled with joy himself
to see such young, innocent love.
The three walk out of the greenhouse into the sun and head toward
the church, where Romeo and Juliet will join hands and hearts and seal
their future together.
The tiny orange flower on the table curls slightly into itself, as if
changing its position—as if watching them go.
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Chapter XI Questions
1. When the Nurse makes excuses and won’t tell Juliet the news she has
for her, she complains about?
1) being out of ________________
2) having a ___________________
3) her back ___________________
2.
What is Friar Lawrence’s main advice for Romeo?
3.
What does Juliet call Friar Lawrence when she first sees him?
4.
Ⓐ her Father
Ⓑ her spiritual guide
Ⓒ her adviser
Ⓓ her friend
Juliet considers herself __________ now that she has found true
love.
5.
Friar Lawrence tenderly calls Juliet and Romeo—the
soon-to-be-married couple—_______________________s.
Ⓐ lovers
Ⓑ beauties
Ⓒ fools
Ⓓ lovebirds
6. Friar Lawrence fears that Romeo and Juliet’s footsteps are too
___________________ for the __________________ road of life.
Answers
1. breath, headache, hurting/aching
2. to take things slow so his love can last a lifetime.
3. Ⓑ
4. rich
5. Ⓓ
6. light, rocky
78
Chapter XII
Violence Returns to Verona
Back in Verona, the hot streets are not so fair.
as it beats down upon Mercutio and Benvolio.
The sun is relentless
They remove their vests
and unbutton their shirts as they walk and talk together, sweating in the
summer heat.
Let’s just call it a day, Mercutio.
Let’s go inside where it’s cool.
can’t even remember the last time it was so hot!
happens when it’s hot.
I
And you know what
Those Capulets start wandering around outside
with all of that hot blood and anger inside them.
If we run into them,
you know what will happen.
You know who you’re like, Benvolio? Mercutio says, wiping the
You’re just like that guy at the feast—you
sweat from his forehead.
know which kind of guy I mean—the one who sets his sword down on
the table and pretends like he wants peace—the one who says, ‘I hope I
never have to use you, sword.’
The guy who says that and then, before
the meal is even over, pulls out that same sword and attacks the host
for no reason at all!
Mercutio laughs at himself once again.
believes there is no one funnier than him in all of Verona.
He
Sound
familiar?
No . . . not me.
Honestly? You really think that?
Oh, my brother, come on!
You know exactly what I’m talking
about.
You can be the angriest guy in all of Verona when you’re in the
mood.
Even if someone does the smallest thing to you, you get mad.
And even if they don’t!
something to be mad about.
patting Benvolio on the back.
Maybe. But so what?
If you’re in the right mood, you’ll find
Am I right, my friend? Mercutio laughs,
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Well, the problem is this, my friend:
if you find another man like
you, you’re both going to be dead because you’ll kill each other!
fight with a man if he has more hair than you!
if you don’t like his eyes!
You’ll
You’ll fight with a man
You’ll beat up the man who wakes the
sleeping dog in the street with his cough!
Don’t you get angry when
you see someone wearing the wrong color before the right season?
Come on!
You?
The
funny in my life.
Peacemaker ?
I’ve never heard something so
And you’re the one who’s trying to tell me to keep
cool and not get in a fight!
Yeah, yeah, but I’m nothing compared to you.
If I fought like you
did, my life insurance would be so expensive I couldn’t pay for it!
Suddenly, their joking is interrupted by reality. Tybalt, his friend
Petruccio, and three other Capulets come out of a nearby inn and spot
them on the street.
Oh, great. Here they come,
Benvolio says to Mercutio.
Who cares, brother? Forget them,
Tybalt leads the group.
Just wait here.
Mercutio says.
He whispers to them,
Let me go ahead.
They stop at his command.
Excuse me, Montagues.
Mercutio isn’t afraid.
I’d like to have a word with one of you.
He steps right up to Tybalt.
You want a word
with us? How about you add something to that? Like your sword?
Are you saying I have a reason to pull out my sword?
are you giving me a reason to pull it out?
Or rather,
Tybalt replies.
Oh, I think you have enough reason on your own, Tybalt.
Mercutio, don’t you hang out with Romeo?
Hang out, Tybalt?
Who do you think we are?
Rock stars in a
band?
Well, if we look like rock stars to you, then we’ll show you some
music.
Mercutio touches the blade of his sword as he says this, glaring
at Tybalt.
In fact, we’ll make so much noise you’ll have to listen.
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Okay,
enough.
okay,
gentlemen,
We’re in public here.
the
Peacemaker
interrupts.
That’s
Let’s go somewhere more private, where
there’s no one watching.
C’mon, Benvolio.
Let everyone watch.
were made to look, so let them gaze.
I’m not moving. Men’s eyes
I will not move just for some
man’s pleasure—just because a man wants me to move.
Mercutio steps
even closer to Tybalt until he is almost touching his face.
Suddenly, Romeo appears from behind a wall and steps between
Mercutio and Tybalt, stretching out his arms to separate them.
Ah! Here he is now. Exactly the man I’m looking for!
He is NOT your man, man, Mercutio says to Tybalt with fire in his
eyes.
Unless you mean he’s the man who will chase you if you start to
run. If that’s the case, then yes, he is your man!
Actually, there’s really only one name to call you, Romeo,
says hatefully.
Tybalt
Villain.
To the surprise of Benvolio and Mercutio, Romeo remains calm.
friends have no idea about the peace that is now in his heart!
His
They
have no clue that now, because he has married Juliet, that Tybalt is his
brother!
He answers him with a kind tone.
Tybalt, I know you won’t
understand this, but I have a reason to love you, not to hate you today.
And that love I feel for you replaces the anger my friends and you think
I should feel toward you.
said.
Goodbye.
I’m no villain.
I will forgive what you’ve just
Go in peace. Soon, you will know the reason of my
love.
The Capulets who are listening look at each other in confusion.
Benvolio, Mercutio, and Tybalt are shocked by Romeo’s response.
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That’s not going to be enough, stupid boy, Tybalt says, his dark
eyes piercing Romeo’s.
You can’t take back what you’ve done to me.
Now draw your sword.
What are you talking about, Tybalt?
you.
I love you, brother.
I’ve never done anything to
More than you know.
which I love like my own name—makes you good.
Even your name—
Please, dear Capulet,
be happy with what I’ve told you.
Faster than Tybalt can respond, Mercutio boils over with anger.
I can’t take all these calm words, Romeo!
do the talking.
Maybe a sword should
Mercutio draws his sword on Tybalt.
What do you want from me?! Tybalt screams.
I want nothing but one of your nine lives, King of Cats.
take it—know that.
And I’ll
Then, after that, if I feel like it, if you rub me the
wrong way, I might take the rest of the eight from you too.
should get out that sword.
Maybe you
And maybe you should hurry before I have
to slap you on the ears with mine!
Tybalt can’t stand it and draws his sword too.
Mercutio, please!
Romeo reaches his hand forward to stop his
friend from making this horrible mistake, but Tybalt and Mercutio have
already started fighting.
He is desperate to stop them, but their swords
are flying around too quickly.
Benvolio, help me!
ours!
Romeo cries out.
He draws his sword.
Let’s stop their swords with
Please, gentlemen!
You know what the Prince will do!
Stop this stupid fight!
Stop, my friend Tybalt!
Stop, my
friend Mercutio!
Romeo tries again and again to break up the fight, but Mercutio and
Tybalt rush at each other over and over with hatred in their eyes.
Tybalt is determined to kill the Montague who challenged him.
And, to
Romeo’s horror, he reaches underneath his arm and stabs Mercutio, who
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falls to the ground.
Petruccio stares down at him and the blood that begins flowing from
his body.
Let’s go, Tybalt. We have to get out of here.
Tybalt puts his bloody sword back in his sheath and the Capulets run
away down the street without looking back.
I’m hurt, I’m hurt!
Mercutio cries from the ground.
Catch him!
Is he getting away?
Mercutio!
Romeo falls to the ground.
Benvolio cannot believe
what he is seeing—the body of his very best friend against a spreading
puddle of red.
Mercutio, how hurt are you, my friend?
Romeo kneels beside him,
holding his head on his lap.
A scratch, a scratch; but it’s enough, my friend.
Get me a doctor!
Mercutio yells to a passing boy, who takes off running for help.
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Chapter XII Questions
1.
Fill in the blanks.
It is extremely ________ in Verona when the chapter opens.
Mercutio says Benvolio can be the ____________________ guy in
all of Verona.
2. Mercutio calls Tybalt the King of _________.
Ⓐ Demons
3.
Ⓑ Fools
Ⓒ Cats
Ⓓ
Dogs
Who is the friend of Tybalt’s in this chapter?
4. Mercutio wants to take what from Tybalt? Be as specific as possible.
5. How does Tybalt stab Mercutio?
6. Even though he is severely hurt, Mercutio calls his wound a
________________.
Ⓐ cut
Ⓑ scratch
Ⓒ scrape
Answers
1. hot, angriest
2. Ⓒ
3. Petruccio 4. one of his nine lives.
5. By reaching underneath Romeo’s arm.
6. B
Ⓓ gash
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Chapter XIII
Blood and Banishment
Romeo holds his bleeding friend in his arms, doing all he can not to
cry.
The wound’s not that bad, is it?
Just have courage, man.
You’re going to be just fine.
Be brave.
Oh, Romeo, it’s enough, my friend.
tomorrow, I’ll be in a grave.
plague on both your houses!
If you come looking for me
I’m done.
I’m leaving this world.
A
I can’t believe that stupid cat did this!
Why did you come between us, Romeo? Why?
I’m so sorry.
I thought it was the right thing to do.
I’m so sorry,
Mercutio!
Get me inside somewhere cool, Benvolio!
from this heat. A plague on both your houses!
food of me!
I’m finished.
I’m going to pass out
They’ve made worms’
Curse your houses, both of you!
Mercutio
yells at Benvolio and Romeo from the depths of his agony.
Benvolio and Romeo help Mercutio into Benvolio’s arms and he carries
him limping and bleeding down the street.
Romeo is still kneeling there where Mercutio’s blood was shed upon
Verona’s street.
It’s now too much not to cry, so he begins weeping
and stares up at the sky, asking it questions it cannot answer.
Why, why?
whole hour?
Mercutio?
For Tybalt?
Oh, my dear Juliet!
my courage soft and weak.
Who had been my cousin for a
You and your perfection have turned
I used to be as strong as steel, but now I
am a fool.
Benvolio comes running back alone, weeping.
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Romeo, Romeo!
Our Mercutio is dead!
His brave soul has floated
up to the clouds, but it was too early, too early!
It wasn’t time for him
to leave us! Verona wasn’t ready for him to go to heaven!
Romeo cannot stop crying.
He grabs hold of Benvolio’s shirt and pulls
him close to him. There is nothing but fear and desperation in his eyes.
This day’s black fate on more days doth depend.
This but begins
the woe others must end. From this day forward, there will be a curse
because of this day.
All the days to come will be filled with terror
because of the horror that occurred today.
Benvolio
looks
deep
into
Romeo’s
something so terrible has just happened.
eyes.
They
cannot
believe
They cannot believe they have
just lost their best friend!
And then they hear footsteps coming toward them.
When they turn
to look at the coming man, they cannot believe the ugly sight before
their eyes. Tybalt.
Oh, no, Benvolio.
again?
Alive?
This isn’t happening.
Tybalt?
Showing his face
The winner? When our Mercutio is dead?
FORGET mercy
and kindness. It is now ANGER that controls my actions!
Romeo fills with a rage almost as deep as his love.
Call me a villain! Call me a villain, Tybalt! Just like you did before!
You see that cloud right above us?
for you!
afterlife!
That’s Mercutio’s soul!
He’s waiting
He wants you to keep him company on the way to the
So it’s you or me, you got that?
And maybe both of us are
going with him!
You’re the one who was with him on earth, so you’re the one who
will join him in death!
Tybalt screams, running toward Romeo.
This FIGHT will decide, not you! Romeo shouts back, charging
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toward Tybalt with an anger he’s never known before.
Their swords meet in a silver flash and Romeo fights with all his
might.
Despite Tybalt’s swordfighting skills, he is no match for the
depths of Romeo’s anger. Romeo kills Tybalt, who falls to the ground.
Romeo!
you’ve done!
Benvolio cries.
We have to leave!
Now!
Look what
The people of Verona are rushing toward us.
And the
Prince will give you the death penalty! Let’s go! We have to hurry!
But it is too late.
Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
Romeo says desperately.
The citizens of the watch are rushing toward them as the people of
Verona look on from their doors.
Who here killed Mercutio? Where did he go?
He’s over there, officer.
Benvolio says, pointing at Tybalt’s dead
body.
They walk over to his body and the officer says,
Get up, sir, and
come with me. I command you, by the authority of the Prince, to obey
me.
A crowd has gathered around them.
Through the lines of people, no
one can believe who’s coming through.
It’s the Prince.
Beside him,
pushing their way through the men, women, and children, are Lord and
Lady Capulet, followed by Lord and Lady Montague.
The Prince’s deep, thundering voice fills the crowd.
Now, who, WHO
are the evil men who started this fight?!
Benvolio steps forward.
Oh please, please, noble Prince.
I can tell you the whole story if
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you’ll listen.
imagine.
What’s happened here is more terrible than you can
Tybalt is lying dead over there because he killed your relative
—the dear, brave Mercutio.
And because he did, the young Romeo had
to kill him.
Oh, Tybalt, Tybalt!
Lady Capulet cries.
Oh, my nephew!
Oh,
Prince! Avenge this murder by killing a Montague! Oh, please!
Benvolio, who started this fight? the Prince asks the Peacemaker.
Benvolio begins to explain. The whole crowd is listening.
Tybalt started the fight, my Prince.
Romeo was polite.
He didn’t
want to fight.
He spoke to Tybalt gently and told him not to continue
the argument.
With kindness, he told him how angry you would be
about the fight.
peace.
He calmly gave his power to him and tried to make
But Tybalt wouldn’t listen.
peace and wanted to stay upset.
He wouldn’t listen to any talk of
Then, when Tybalt and Mercutio began
to fight each other intensely, Romeo put himself between them.
He
tried to break up the fight, my Prince!
He
But Tybalt was too quick.
reached underneath Romeo’s arm and stabbed Mercutio.
And then he
ran away, Prince! He left our friend to die!
Everyone is silent, listening to Benvolio’s desperate cries.
almost sobbing.
He is
Parents hold tight to their children’s shoulders and wait
for him to continue.
The Prince is quiet too, patiently waiting for the
rest of the story.
But Tybalt came back, my Prince!
He came back!
And Romeo
couldn’t help but be angry that he had killed his best friend!
started fighting so quickly, my friends!
them!
They
So quickly that I couldn’t stop
And soon Tybalt fell to the ground.
Romeo had to run away!
I
tell the truth. I swear on my own life that I do! Please believe me!
When Benvolio finishes his story, it is Lady Capulet who speaks again.
He’s lying, my Prince.
He’s Montague!
What do you expect!
He’s
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only protecting the Montagues here.
Who else would they have killed?
who can give me peace.
Look how many of them there are!
Please, Prince.
You are the only man
You are the only man who can give us justice.
Romeo killed him. Romeo killed Tybalt.
Therefore, Romeo must die!
But the Prince does not want to listen to anyone.
yourselves!
Romeo killed Tybalt.
But Tybalt killed Mercutio.
Listen to
Tell me,
who should now pay for these deaths?
Mr. Montague steps in.
Not Romeo, my Prince.
His murder was a
killing of justice—for his friend. For Mercutio.
But this is a serious crime, Montague.
in Verona.
I cannot let this occur here
I cannot allow such fighting to continue!
related to me, and look at him now!
He lies dead on the ground
because of the bloody rage between your families!
make me change my mind.
Mercutio was
No begging will
I’m going to punish you and your family so
powerfully that you’ll be sorry for what your son has done.
start praying or crying, because it won’t work.
And don’t
Tell your son he must
leave the city or else, when he’s found, that hour will be his last.
find him—if anyone finds him—he will be killed!
take away this body and do what I say.
it would only cause more murder.
If I
Do you hear me? Now
If I were to forgive this killing,
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Chapter XIII Questions
1. Mercutio is hurt and angry after being stabbed.
What does he wish
on the houses of both the Capulets and the Montagues?
Ⓐ a curse
2.
Ⓑ a plague
Ⓒ a death
Ⓓ a storm
Who explains how the fight happened to the Prince and to the
crowd?
Ⓐ Romeo
Ⓑ Tybalt
Ⓒ Mercutio
Ⓓ Benvolio
3.
In anger, what does Romeo tell Tybalt to call him again?
4.
Because Mercutio is now dead, Romeo declares that he wants to
______________ mercy and kindness and have
____________________ control his actions now.
5.
Who says that the explanation of the fight is a lie?
6.
What does the Prince decree as a punishment for Romeo?
Ⓐ death by drowning
Ⓑ death by hanging
Ⓒ exile
Ⓓ jail time
Answers
1. Ⓑ
2. Ⓓ
3. A villain
4. FORGET, anger
5. Lady Capulet
6. Ⓒ
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Chapter XIV
No Greater Sorrow
Far from the bloody mess of the Verona street where the crowd is still
in shock, many doors down, Juliet is alone in her bedroom once again,
waiting for her true love.
herself.
She dances around her canopy bed, hugging
Over and over, she peers out the window at the hot afternoon
sun.
Oh, sun!
night to come!
Hurry up and go down!
I cannot wait any longer for
For when night comes and the world sleeps, Romeo will
come to me! He will jump into my arms and no one will know! Though
I am young and don’t quite know how to be a bride, I will soon learn to
give myself completely to him.
Come, black night!
Come, shining
Romeo!
You, my Romeo, are like a day that arrives during the night to
brighten it. Kind, gentle night, show yourself to me.
Romeo.
Give me my sweet
And if I die—divide him into a thousand stars across the night
sky—all forming his beautiful face and body—a picture across the galaxy.
And he will make the face of heaven so beautiful that all the world will
be in love with night!
Here I am with the house of love ready to let me in, but I can’t get
into my future mansion!
Oh, give me my Romeo!
I’m like a child on
the night before Christmas! I’m ready to put on all my new clothes—the
clothes of a bride.
In the midst of her reverie, the Nurse comes to her bedroom door.
The Nurse! Juliet is filled with joy.
She must bring news!
she says his sweet name, it’s like a song!
to me!
Every time
Oh, sing to me, Nurse, sing
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Nurse! Is that the rope ladder?
Yes, my dear. It is.
Why do you sound so sad, Nurse? What’s wrong?
Oh, my sweet girl.
He’s dead, Juliet.
Today is more sad than you could ever now.
He’s dead, he’s dead! He’s gone.
He’s been killed. I
can’t believe it. He’s dead!
How can God be so cruel?
Stop playing tricks, Nurse!
Stop this
evil right now!
Oh, Romeo! Who ever thought it would be Romeo?
Stop torturing me, Nurse!
Has he been killed?
What happened?
Just say yes or no!
gone, I’ll never be myself again.
Did he kill himself?
That’s all I need!
Just say those tiny words!
If he’s
They will
decide my happiness or my agony!
Oh, Juliet!
I saw it!
with my own eyes.
No, Nurse.
I saw that terrible wound!
Bless that body of his. I fainted when I saw it.
NOOOOOOOOO!!
My heart will break!
my heart, my poor, bankrupt heart, just break!
heart has nothing left.
back to earth.
I saw the blood
Oh, just break,
Break right now!
My body is now ugly and nothing.
Forget moving.
My
I’ll send it
My body and Romeo’s shall be buried.
We’ll be pressed together forever in one heartbroken coffin.
Oh, sweet Tybalt.
gentleman!
Tybalt, my dear, dear friend.
He was such a
I wish I could have died before him, for I didn’t want to
live to see his horrible death.
Wait, are they both dead?
My dear cousin and the one who is even
dearer to me—the love of my life, my husband?
If so, then there is no
reason to live!
Oh, Juliet.
Tybalt is dead.
And Romeo is the one who killed him.
Romeo’s been banished, never to return to Verona.
punishment for killing him.
That was his
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Oh God, was it Romeo that killed Tybalt?
Yes, yes,
the Nurse admits, shaking her head and sobbing.
Curse
the day it happened, but yes—it’s true.
Oh, he’s like a snake disguised as a flower!
sleep in such a fair cave?
angel?
Did a dragon ever
How is he both a gorgeous killer and an evil
He’s a raven with a dove’s feathers.
I hate him—and yet he is
the most amazing man I’ve ever known! How can this be?
have turned out this way?
was!
How can he
He’s the exact opposite of what I thought he
He’s a noble saint who deserves to be damned—that’s who he is.
He’s an honorable villain!
Nature, how could you have done this to me?
were you committing down there in hell?
of a sinner in a body so perfect?
What horrible acts
Why would you hide the soul
In the body of the man I love?
have never read so dark, so evil a book with such a lovely cover!
why?
I
Oh,
I can’t believe the deepest evil was there inside something so
perfect, so beautiful, all along.
Oh, Juliet!
It was just there waiting!
You just can’t trust a man!
They all lie!
There are no
trustworthy ones out there—none of faith—none who are honest.
all cheat.
They’re all wicked, every single one of them.
such pain, such deep, deep sorrow!
They
Such grief,
This is what makes me feel so old.
Shame on you, Romeo!
Nurse!
How dare you?! Don’t wish something so horrible when you
know Romeo wasn’t meant to be this way.
He wasn’t born shameful.
hope blisters cover your tongue for saying that!
I
Romeo deserves only
honor—no shame. I am such an animal to even be angry at him!
How can you do this?
Are you crazy?
Are you about to speak well
of the man who just killed your cousin?
You must understand, Nurse!
own husband!
husband!
I cannot say bad things about my
He needs me so desperately right now!
My poor, poor
We haven’t even been married three hours and already I’m
betraying him—already I’m saying awful things about him!
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Juliet walks to the window and looks out again, as if talking to
Romeo.
But why, my villain?
he going to kill you?
For what reason did you kill my cousin?
I’m sure he was, Romeo.
Was
I’m sure you had to kill
him.
After reaching a certain peace with the idea, Juliet turns back to the
Nurse, who has dropped to Juliet’s bed and is holding her face in her
hands.
You know what, my Nurse?
I’m not going to cry.
I could cry with
relief because Romeo is alive, but I could also cry with deep sadness
because Tybalt is dead.
Tybalt was going to kill my husband, but
thankfully Romeo is still alive.
And Tybalt is dead for one reason—
because he was the one who wanted to kill my husband.
that way, it makes perfect sense.
dear husband is still alive.
When I say it
This is comforting news—that my
You see?
I don’t need to cry!
There is
something far worse you have told me—and that is the news that makes
me want to cry—or even to die.
I wish I could forget the words you’ve
spoken, but they weigh on me so heavily.
These words are echoing in
my head, just like sins keep swimming in minds filled with guilt.
Tybalt
is dead, and Romeo is banished.
Even if ten thousand of our dear cousin Tybalt were murdered, these
words—this banishment—is a far worse thing to hear.
It is as if you
have told me my father and my mother are dead as well—that’s how
terrible it is to learn that Romeo has been banished.
comes with this news.
Endless death
There is simply no way to put my pain into
words.
And where is my mother and father, Nurse?
They’re standing over Tybalt’s dead body crying.
want to join them.
I’ll take you if you
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Well, if they’re cleaning his wounds with their tears, then they
should know I’ll wait to cry my tears for Romeo’s banishment until after
their tears have dried.
ladder,
Here, Nurse,
Juliet says, handing her the rope
there is no need for this poor rope ladder anymore.
It’s worth
nothing now—like me—now that Romeo has been sent away, never to
return again.
This ladder was supposed to be a path to my bed, but
now I will die without ever sharing that bed with him.
lie in that bed, Nurse—in my wedding bed.
I’m going to go
And the only one who will
share it with me is death, not Romeo!
My sweet Juliet, stay in that bed, okay?
promise.
I will find Romeo, I
I know where he is hiding—with Friar Lawrence
here soon to hold you and make everything better.
He will be
Just wait in your
bed until tonight.
Oh, thank you, thank you, Nurse!
ring!
And please, please give him this
Juliet hands her a beautiful wedding ring.
knight! And tell him to come for his last farewell.
This is for my true
I will be waiting!
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Chapter XIV Questions
1. What does Juliet first think happened when the Nurse first tells her
Romeo is dead?
2.
Why is Juliet waiting to cry her tears?
3.
Juliet is so upset by Romeo’s banishment that she feels like her
___________________ is/are dead as well.
Ⓐ soul
4.
Ⓑ heart
Ⓒ parents
Ⓓ feelings
If the statement is true, put a T on the line. If it is false, change a
word to correct the sentence and make it true.
1) _____ Juliet calls herself a rat because she wrongfully was angry
with Romeo.
2) _____ Juliet goes to bed with the rope ladder.
3) _____ Juliet says the only one who will share her wedding bed is
death.
5. Juliet says the words of the Nurse’s news are echoing in her head like
______________.
6. Who does the Nurse tell Juliet she can’t trust?
Ⓐ Romeo
Ⓑ Montagues
Ⓒ Boys
Ⓓ Men
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Answers
1. That he killed himself.
2. Because her family is crying for Tybalt and she wants to wait until
their tears have dried.
3. Ⓒ
4. 1)　F. beast/animal, not rat　2) F. without the rope ladder
5. sins
6. Ⓓ
3) T
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Chapter XV
Hell and Hiding
Far from Juliet, Romeo is once again in Friar Lawrence’s greenhouse,
sitting in front of the huge oak tree.
of the afternoon.
He is still in shock over the events
They have locked the door to keep Romeo safe from
any Capulets who are looking for him.
Romeo has his head in his hands.
He cannot believe that just a few
hours ago he was sitting in the same place, waiting for his beautiful
bride to walk through the door.
Come here, Romeo.
Come here.
I know how afraid you are, but
I’m here to help. You know that. You can trust me.
Romeo slowly rises and walks toward the priest timidly.
Bad luck really seems to find you, doesn’t it?
Why does trouble like
you so much?
Romeo doesn’t laugh at his friend’s joke.
He is drowning too deeply
in sorrow.
What have you heard, Father?
What is my punishment?
Has the
Prince announced it officially?
Friar Lawrence stares at the man who is like a son to him.
He
cannot bring himself to tell him the awful news.
Please, Friar.
I beg of you—tell me.
How will I suffer?
Tell me
what I should know. Don’t leave me in the dark.
Oh, my dear, dear Romeo.
You have already suffered greatly.
Romeo knows that what the priest is about to say will change his life
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forever.
Well, Father?
Is the punishment any worse than my future would
be anyway? I’m doomed, aren’t I?
Well, son, I will say this:
bad as it could have been.
at least his punishment for you isn’t as
You don’t have to die.
Romeo is thrilled to hear this; his deepest fear was having to leave
this earth and his new bride.
But you do have to leave the city. Forever. You’re banished.
Romeo’s heart falls at the news.
Oh, but Father!
Banishment is far, far worse than death!
Exile?
Please! How can this be?!
Friar Lawrence takes a deep breath.
From now on, you can never return to your city Verona.
But son,
please, look on the bright side, Friar Lawrence says, putting his arm
around Romeo to comfort him,
the world is a very big place!
You can
travel anywhere!
But Father!
There is no other place for me.
limits of my world.
Verona’s walls are the
All that lies beyond it is torture and hell itself.
Being banished from Verona is like being exiled form the world, and
being banished from the world only means one thing: death.
Friar Lawrence cannot believe his ears. Romeo continues.
Father! This is death misnamed! To call death
banishment
is to
cut off my head with a golden ax and then smile when the final blow
kills me.
Banishment is death by the wrong name.
But Romeo!
murder.
How can you be so ungrateful?!
You committed
That is a crime that deserves death, but our kind Prince
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pushed aside the law and had mercy on you!
You must realize what
he’s done for you! You must be thankful!
But Romeo cannot see it any differently.
He is forever separated
from his true love Juliet and nothing—nothing can comfort him.
This is torture, Father!
place I can live.
Not mercy!
Verona, to me, is the only
It is heaven because Juliet lives here.
Even all of the
animals in Verona will have a better life than me—the cats, the dogs,
the mice—because even they will have the chance to see her!
can’t?
A fly can get closer to her than me!
beautiful hand and kiss her immortal lips!
And I
At least it can fly to her
I can’t even touch her,
Father! I can’t hold her! My wife! My love!
And are you saying that exile isn’t death?
you’ve mixed for me to drink?
Do you have any poison
Any sharp knife for my chest?
Any
weapon at all to kill me instead of letting me die from this banishment?
If you’re truly a man of God—if you truly forgive sins—then say you’re
truly my friend and save me!
How can you have the heart to destroy
me with this word—banishment?
Romeo! You’re talking crazy!
NO!
Listen to me!
Why should I listen, Father?!
You’re just going to speak yet
again of banishment.
Because you know I want to help you. Please.
Romeo turns his head away, but he is listening.
I’m going to give you something to fight this horrible desperation,
my friend—philosophy.
Trust me, it will cure your aching heart; it will
comfort you even now—even when you’re banished.
But Romeo cannot find comfort in philosophy.
Father!
I’m banished!
Forget philosophy,
Unless philosophy can make another Juliet, move
an entire town to another part of the world, and reverse a prince’s
doom, then it doesn’t help me a bit.
It does nothing for me, Father.
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Please, please. Stop talking.
So you’re not going to listen at all? Crazy men have no ears?
Why should they, if wise men have no eyes, Father?
Please, my son.
Let me give you advice.
You know you can trust
me.
You can’t talk about what you don’t feel, Father.
If you were young
like me, if you were in love with Juliet and had only been married for
one hour—if you had just killed Tybalt, if you were half as wrapped up
in love as I am—if you were banished—then, then, I’d listen…But you
know what you would do? You would fall to the ground! Like this!
Romeo screams in agony and collapses to the ground.
You would tear out your hair, Father!
And kneel down and dig your
grave!
Friar Lawrence looks down at Romeo—at his dear son in such
desperation—with deep sadness and pity.
Suddenly, a loud knock interrupts them.
Get up, Romeo!
Friar Lawrence whispers.
Someone’s here!
Get
up! You have to hide!
I’m not going to hide, Father!
sadness completely covers me.
Why should I?
The fog of my
No one can see me anyway.
There is a knock again. And another.
Who could that be?
Friar Lawrence says fearfully.
Who is
knocking so loudly?
Romeo doesn’t answer. He doesn’t move.
Romeo!
You have to get up!
They’ll take you away!
them do that! Stand up right this second!
Don’t let
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The knocking grows harder and louder.
Listen, Romeo!
door,
Who is it?
Get up!
They’re still knocking!
Who’s there?
Friar Lawrence yells to the
Then, back at Romeo, he whispers,
They’ll arrest you!
The knocking grows even louder. Friar Lawrence is terrified.
Just a minute! he shouts to the door.
Now, get UP, Romeo!
The knocking is so loud that it’s almost deafening.
Run to my study!
Go!
Why are you being such a fool!
I’m
coming, I’m coming! Just a minute! Here I come!
Friar Lawrence runs toward the knocking and puts his door on the
handle, shaking. He knows that if he opens the door, Romeo may die.
Who are you? Why are you knocking so hard? What do you want?
Friar Lawrence cannot make himself turn the handle.
A minute passes.
The knocking grows louder still.
eternity before he finally turns the handle.
He is too afraid.
It feels like an
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Chapter XV Questions
1. This chapter opens again at whose place?
Ⓐ Romeo’s
2.
Ⓑ Juliet’s
Ⓒ Friar Lawrence’s
Ⓓ Benvolio’s
Romeo says that if Friar Lawrence felt what he felt, he would:
1) ___________ ___________ his ___________
2) ___________ to the ___________
3) ___________ his own __________
3.
Which does Romeo think is worse?
Death or banishment? Circle
one.
4.
Circle all that are true.
Despite Friar Lawrence’s pleading, Romeo will not:
Ⓐ get up
5.
Ⓑ stop talking
Ⓒ be grateful
Ⓓ listen
Why is Friar Lawrence so afraid in this chapter?
6. Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false.
1) _____ Friar Lawrence says good luck finds Romeo often.
2) _____ Romeo believes Verona is his world.
3) _____ Romeo sees Verona as heaven.
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Answers
1. C
2. 1) tear, out, hair
2) fall, ground
3) dig, grave
3. banishment
4. Ⓐ, Ⓒ, Ⓓ
5. Because someone is knocking very loudly on the door and he doesn’t
want Romeo to get caught.
6. 1) F (bad luck)
2) T
3) T
Chapter XVI
Revival
“Friar!
I’m here for Juliet!” a woman’s voice finally calls throug7h the
door.
Friar Lawrence falls against the door exhausted, completely relieved.
He was so sure he was opening the door to Romeo’s fate.
“Oh!” Friar Lawrence exclaims, letting in the Nurse. “Well come in,
then!” He greets the Nurse warmly, still recovering from fear.
“I come with a message from Lady Juliet, Father.
Please, please tell
me Romeo is here with you! Where is he? Where is my lady’s man?”
“There, on the ground,” Friar Lawrence says, pointing to the floor
where Romeo is lying, still curled in a ball. “Look at him.
His own tears
have made him crazy.”
“Oh, he is doing just what his lady is doing at this very moment!
is crying the same tears of love.
separation!
Poor, young lovers.
He
She, too, is a wreck over this
What a horrible situation this is!
have such a terrible problem on our hands, don’t we, Father?
We
She is
lying just as he is—weeping and going on and on about her Romeo. Her
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heart, like his, has been broken.”
Turning to Romeo, her voice gets
louder with emotion.
“Stand up!
Not for me—for Juliet!
Stand up and be a man, Romeo!
For her sake, I command you.
Get up!
Why have you fallen so deeply
into pain and sorrow?”
“Nurse!”
Juliet?
Romeo cries from the floor. “Did you just say Juliet?
How is she?
Does she think I’m a murderer?
innocent joy has been stained?
My
Did she say our
Does she see the blood I took from
Tybalt as too close to her own?”
The Nurse stands over Romeo with deep pity for his desperation.
“Nurse!
I beg you to tell me!
she say those terrible words?
Where is she?
How is my lady?
Did
Has she told you she is finished with me?
Has she said she wants to end our perfect love?
Because of what I’ve
done?”
“My dear, dear son,” the Nurse says, leaning down to touch Romeo’s
shoulder with a comforting hand. “She says nothing of the sort.
don’t worry, my lord.
all.
Just like you.
Please
She weeps and weeps—she is only crying—that’s
And when she stops, even for a moment, she falls
upon her bed yet again with the same sorrowful sobbing.
Tybalt—and for you—and then falls yet again.
She cries for
She cannot speak; she
can only weep for all she has lost.”
The Friar watches the sad scene before him:
the Nurse, with her
gentle hand, comforting his dear boy Romeo, and Romeo, his dear
friend, like a son, so overcome with grief that he cannot be comforted.
“Oh, that name!
That name!” Romeo cries. “When she calls out my
name, it’s as if she thinks it’s a bullet shot from a gun, flying through
the air to kill her.
To her, it’s the same name that killed her cousin.
Oh, tell me, Friar, tell me—in what horrible, unforgivable part of my
body is my name?
Tell me where, so I can kill it, so that I can take it
out of myself and slice it into a hundred pieces!”
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“Romeo!
Stop right there!
like a wild animal.
being unreasonable!
Listen to yourself!
You’re weak right now.
You’re acting crazy
You’re not yourself.
I can’t believe you’re acting this way.
thought you were more of a man than this!
You’re
I really
You are like a son to me!
And I will not have my own son acting this way!”
Friar Lawrence is so deeply disappointed in Romeo that it’s all he can
do not to bend down and violently pull him up from the ground.
The
Nurse watches, her eyes filled with sadness, looking back and forth from
the Friar to Romeo.
“I really thought you were wiser than this, Romeo.
foolish.
I really can’t believe this.
Have you really killed Tybalt?
are you actually asking me to help you kill yourself?
that would mean!
You’re acting
And
You know what
It would mean you would also be killing your dear
wife, who would have to die if you committed such a sin.”
The Nurse shakes her head, taking out a handkerchief and dabbing at
her eyes.
“How can you complain about the life you’ve been given?
be thankful for your life—for all your talents.
Instead, you use none of
them and you remain ungrateful for everything you have.
born is a blessing.
Life is such a gift, Romeo.
You should
Don’t do this.
Just being
You’ll kill
the love you’ve promised to share with Juliet for the rest of her life.
You’ve devoted yourself to her and to this love, so act like it!
break your promise to her.
Don’t
Don’t let your mind overtake your heart and
your body.”
Romeo is finally listening.
The Friar’s urgent words have gotten into
his heart.
“Juliet is alive, my son!
Romeo!”
And waiting for you!
You must go to her,
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Romeo brightens at the thought of Juliet waiting for him.
“Just think, Romeo,” Friar Lawrence continues, “Be happy Juliet is
yours.
Be happy that you killed Tybalt, for he would have definitely
killed you.
All your blessings should make your heart light, not heavy!
Happiness is waiting for you, too.
and love, my son.
Don’t cry away all your good fortune
Anyone who doesn’t realize all the things they should
be grateful for in life will die unhappy.”
The Nurse is nodding, kneeling next to Romeo, comforting him,
looking into his eyes as Friar Lawrence brings him back to life with his
hopeful words.
“GO to her, Romeo!
You must go to your love!
It’s been decided.
Go to her bedroom and comfort her—but be sure to keep an eye on
time—you must not stay too late, for if you do, you will not be able to
make it to Mantua in time.
This is the place where you will live until
the time is right for you to marry Juliet once again.
After you take her hand again in marriage, you will someday reunite
your friends, beg the Prince for forgiveness, and regain all you’ve lost.
Trust me, my son, if you are patient, if you do these things and believe
these things, you will find in your life twenty hundred thousand times
more joy than you had before all of this sadness!”
Friar Lawrence extends his hand to the Nurse. “Go ahead of him, dear
Nurse.
Thank you for your message, for your patience.
Go to his lady,
go to Juliet in her bed and tell her to make sure everyone in the
Capulet house goes to sleep as soon as possible.
They must all be
incredibly sad right now, so they are most likely headed to bed anyway.
Go! Tell her Romeo is coming for her!”
The Nurse is in awe of the Friar’s way with words. “I could have
stayed here all night listening to your advice, Father.
you’ve taught me!
You speak with such wisdom!
Thank you for all
I will tell Juliet you
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are coming, Romeo.”
Romeo has finally recovered from his despair. “Yes—please do that,
good Nurse.
And tell my love to be angry with me for all of this
because I never should have doubted our future.”
“One last thing,” the Nurse says, still holding Friar Lawrence’s hand,
“Juliet told me to give you this ring, Romeo.
Take it,” she says, letting
go of the Friar’s hand to dig in the pocket of her apron, “and please
hurry!”
Friar Lawrence and Romeo watch the nurse rush out the door.
“I can’t believe how much better I feel, Father!
Thank you for
comforting me.”
“Don’t thank me—just go!
You have to get out of here!
is waiting for you and your every move counts.
The future
Now, either go this
instant before the night watch takes their positions, or wait until the
dawn and leave in disguise.
someone to update you.
Go to Mantua for a little while—I’ll send
Take my hand.
Get up.
Goodnight, my dear
son.”
Romeo takes the Friar’s hand and stands to his feet.
“Thank you, Father.
Even though the most amazing happiness awaits
me, it is still hard to leave you in such a rush. Goodbye, my friend.”
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Chapter XVI Questions
1. What is Romeo desperately worried about in the first half of this
chapter?
2. What are Romeo’s two choices in leaving, according to Friar
Lawrence?
(1) _______________________________________________
(2) _______________________________________________
3. What does the Nurse give Romeo?
4. What does Romeo want to destroy?
Ⓐ his heart
Ⓑ his mistake
Ⓒ his distance from Juliet
Ⓓ his name
5. What does Friar Lawrence say to convince Romeo not to kill himself?
6. Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false.
(1) _____ Friar Lawrence describes life as a gift.
(2) _____ Friar Lawrence tells Romeo not to let his heart take over
his actions.
(3) _____ Friar Lawrence instructs the Nurse to distract Lord and Lady
Capulet while Romeo talks to Juliet.
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7. Put in order the events Friar Lawrence says must happen for Romeo
to be with Juliet again.
_____ Take Juliet’s hand again in marriage.
_____ Regain all he’s lost.
_____ Beg the Prince for forgiveness.
_____ Reunite with his friends.
_____ Go to Juliet.
_____ Go to Mantua.
8. How does Friar Lawrence make Romeo feel better about his murder?
9. List a value of marriage Friar Lawrence mentions to convince Romeo
not to kill himself.
Answers
1. that Juliet thinks he’s a murderer / that she is finished with him and
wants to end their love because he’s killed Tybalt.
2. (1)
“Go this instant before the night watch takes their positions”
(2) “Wait until dawn and leave in disguise”
3. A ring from Juliet
4. Ⓓ
5. That “it would mean [he] would also be killing [his] dear wife, who
would have to die he [he] committed such a sin.”
6. (1) T
(2) F (not to let his mind overtake his heart and body),
(3) T
7. 3, 6, 4, 5, 1, 2
8. He says, “Be happy that you killed Tybalt, for he would have definitely
killed you.”
9. Devotion (top of page two in highlighted quote)
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Chapter XVII
The Divided Bride
As Romeo runs out of Friar Lawrence’s with the energy of a schoolboy
once again, Lord and Lady Capulet walk slowly through their terrace
garden back in Verona, among the bushes and trees. They do not
speak to one another. They pass the beautiful, ornate silver fountain,
its pool of water full of floating flower petals of many colors.
The moon
is shining on them as they stroll along together arm-in-arm, its silver
light reflecting off the fountain pool. It should be a happy evening, with
such beautiful moonlight, but they are overcome with a deep sadness.
All they can think of is their dear Tybalt.
Someone else soon joins them, someone who has no trouble talking
tonight. He is a tall man, well dressed in the finest clothes—someone
who has the money to wear expensive jewelry. He crosses the terrace
to walk with them, interrupting their silence to greet them politely.
Capulet knows exactly what is on his mind, so he addresses it
immediately and doesn’t pretend he has come to their house tonight for
any other reason. Capulet is an honest man, and wants to show this
rich man, who is so interested in his daughter, that he understands his
goal, that he is well aware of it. He also wants this man to realize his
family’s current situation, however.
“Well, Paris, things sure haven’t turned out the way we hoped, have
they?”
Capulet tries his best to chuckle. “This family has had such
bad luck that we really haven’t had the time to push Juliet in any
direction, if you know what I mean . . .”
“Oh, I understand perfectly, sir.”
“You know how deeply she loved her cousin, Paris.
And I loved
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Tybalt dearly too . . .” Capulet’s voice grows softer and he looks off into
the distance. His wife holds his arm more tightly.
“I suppose we were all born to die, though, weren’t we?”
Paris nods in agreement, unsure of the right words to say.
“It’s too late for Juliet to come down and greet you, Paris.
But we
appreciate you coming by tonight. If it weren’t for your company, I
would have gone to bed an hour ago.”
“These times of sadness don’t afford us much time for romance, my
friend,” Paris says, trying not to sound disappointed. “I understand
completely.”
Lady Capulet squeezes Paris’s arm and gives him a knowing look.
“Thank you for dropping by, Paris.”
“Good night, madam. Thank you for mentioning me again to your
daughter.”
“Of course, of course. I will do that. In the morning, after she’s had
some time to grieve. I’ll speak to her first thing.”
“And Paris,” Capulet joins in, “know that I, too, will make my
daughter’s marriage my focus.
And I do think she’ll agree with my
opinion and trust that you’re the one I’ve chosen for her.” He pats Paris
on the back and tries to smile through his sadness.
“And honey—” he
says, turning to his wife, “When you go to her bedroom in the morning,
be sure to tell her just how much our man Paris here loves her—and tell
her, next Wednesday—wait, what day is this?” he asks.
“Monday, sir,” Paris offers.
“Oh, ha—I’ve lost track of the time. Wednesday is far too soon.
Thursday is much better. Thursday, my dear—tell her that is the day
she will be married to this noble man. Will you be ready, Paris?” he
asks, turning to him. “I know this is moving faster than we thought it
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would, but is that all right? Is it too soon? After everything that’s
happened, all I want to do is appreciate what I have in the moment.
And that includes the very special people in my life—like my daughter
and you, Paris.
And though I’d like to invite everyone to the wedding, a
celebration seems in poor taste so soon after Tybalt’s death. So, only a
half a dozen friends or so—that’s what I’m thinking.
All right, honey?”
He turns again to his wife, who nods. “How does Thursday sound to
you, Paris?”
“My lord, if only you knew how much I wish tomorrow were
Thursday.”
“Well then, Thursday it is! Goodnight to you, Paris.
Ha—look at the
sky! It’s so late we could just call it early. Thank you, my friend—we
look forward to seeing you very soon.” He feels his heart lighten a little
as he watches Paris leave the garden smiling.
“Dear,” he says, hugging Lady Capulet close to him, “I’ve changed my
mind. Go to Juliet now. Don’t want till morning. She needs to be
prepared—really prepared and ready for her wedding day. Go to her
bedroom and use your wonderful way with words to share this news with
her. I want her to be the happiest bride she can be!”
“Of course, sweetie.
I’ll head there and speak to her now,” Lady
Capulet says, squeezing her husband’s hand.
“Leave the light on for
me.”
* * * * *
“Are you leaving already, my love?” Juliet holds tight to Romeo.
They stand out on her balcony, their bodies entwined under the stars.
“It’s not even morning! That was the nightingale singing, not the
lark—that’s the bird you heard! She’s always singing over there on my
pomegranate tree while I sleep. Please, Romeo, don’t go.
Not yet.”
“It was the morning lark, my sweet. No nightingale,” he says,
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laughing and pulling her closer. “And look over there, Juliet! The dawn
is jealous of us—it’s racing toward us across the sky.” He smiles and
points to the horizon, streaked with lines of yellow, red, and orange.
“That’s the morning sun in the east, among the clouds, my dear. It’s
replacing the light of our candles, creeping over the tops of the
mountains.
You know I have to go. It’s the last thing I want to do, but
I have to. It’s either leave and live or stay here and die.
You know
that.” He holds her against his chest, closing his eyes and stroking her
hair.
“Oh, that’s not daylight, my love!” she argues playfully. “That’s just
some meteor the sun sent to us to be your torch on the way to Mantua.
So stay—stay. Right here with me.
“If you insist, my sweet.
You don’t have to go yet!”
Let me be taken and put to death!” They
dance around the balcony, laughing.
“I’m happy here with you and nowhere else, so you will have exactly
what you wish, my lady.
I’ll pretend the morning isn’t coming—I’ll tell
myself it’s only the moon’s reflection. I’ll pretend it’s not the lark’s song
above us. I want so much more to stay than to go.
enough willpower to leave you.
I don’t have
Come, death! I welcome you! Juliet
wants you to come for me!” he says, laughing again. “How are you
feeling, my bride?” Romeo whispers in her ear. “Tell me.
It’s not
daylight. Tell me how you feel.”
“Oh, Romeo, it is day already! How did it come so quickly?” She
sighs, leaning into him, her soft hair against his neck. “I wish that lark
would quit singing! Such a horrible song! Why, why do we have to be
apart once again?” Silence overtakes her at the thought of Romeo
leaving her.
“Oh no, Romeo. Look at the sky.
light. It won’t stop coming.”
There’s more and more
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“And still more. The light keeps spreading and our pain has reached
us again too.”
They hold each other close as the sky grows beautiful and their hearts
dark once again.
“Juliet!” the Nurse hisses in a harsh whisper.
“Quick! Your mother is
coming!”
They shiver at the awful words.
“It’s morning already. Be careful!” the Nurse warns. “Watch out,
Romeo.
Don’t let them catch you!”
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Chapter XVII Questions
1. How is Paris described at the beginning of this chapter? List as many
descriptions and adjectives as possible.
2. What does Romeo welcome—in a playful way?
3. In what way does Capulet compliment Paris?
4. What is the main focus of Romeo and Juliet’s conversation on the
balcony?
5. Why does Capulet want the wedding to happen on Thursday instead
of Wednesday?
Ⓐ Because his daughter will be one day older.
Ⓑ Because Wednesday is too soon.
Ⓒ Because Paris prefers Thursday.
Ⓓ Because Lady Capulet wants it to be on Thursday.
6. Why doesn’t Capulet want to have more than half a dozen guests at
the wedding party?
7. Why does Capulet have Lady Capulet tell Juliet about the wedding
(instead of he telling her)?
Ⓐ Because she’s her mother.
Ⓑ Because he doesn’t want to face Juliet’s reaction.
Ⓒ Because she has a way with words.
Ⓓ Because he doesn’t have time at the moment to tell her.
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8. What does Romeo say is envious of him and Juliet?
Ⓐ the dawn
Ⓑ the sky
Ⓒ the sun
Ⓓ the lark
9. What are the two signs of the arriving morning?
Answer
1. rich, well dressed in the finest clothes, tall, someone who has the
money to wear expensive jewelry, polite
2. death. “Let me be taken and put to death” (before they begin dancing
around the balcony) and “Come, death! I welcome you!”
3. by telling him, “If it weren’t for your company, I would have gone to
bed an hour ago.
4. Morning/daylight coming too soon
5. Ⓑ
6. Because a celebration would be “in poor taste so soon after Tybalt’s
death”
7. Ⓒ
8. Ⓐ
9. (1)
the morning lark’s song
(2) the sky, which is becoming lighter and lighter
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Chapter XVIII
Refusal
“Oh, why?!” Juliet cries from the balcony at the sky.
“Why do you
have to let the day in and let my life out?”
“Goodbye, goodbye, my love.
Give me one last kiss before I climb
down.” Romeo walks over to the balcony edge and hangs the rope
ladder over the orchard wall so he can climb down.
“Do you have to go so soon? I need you, Romeo—my husband, my
friend. Please send me your love every day, every hour, for in a single
minute—for us—there are countless days.
Oh, I hope this isn’t true.
If
it is, then I will be so much older the next time I see you!”
“Goodbye, my sweet girl. I won’t let anything get in the way of
sending you my love.”
“Oh, Romeo! Do you think we’ll ever meet again?”
“I don’t doubt it for a single second. All of these sadnesses will be
sweet conversations in the years to come.”
“Oh, God, I have such a bad feeling, Romeo. I’m having visions of
you in a grave somewhere. Either my eyes are playing tricks on me or
you look pale, sweetheart!”
“Trust me, my love, so do you. Don’t worry—it’s only sorrow that’s
drinking our blood and making us pale. Goodbye, goodbye! I have to
go!”
“Romeo—!” Juliet stretches out her hand to him as he grabs onto the
ladder and climbs down the wall.
“Oh, fate! Bring him back to me! Why do you have to change your
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mind again and again! Why can’t you be constant and never-changing
like him? He is so faithful.
Please keep him safe.
Bring me good
fortune, I beg you. Please return Romeo back to me. And soon!”
Juliet begins to cry.
“Juliet!” Her mother calls her from inside the house. “Juliet! Are
you awake?”
“Is that you, Mother?” she asks, coming back into her bedroom and
wiping her eyes. “What are you doing up so late? Or so early? This is
so unlike you! What’s going on?”
Lady Capulet enters her daughter’s bedroom, tying her robe tighter
around her waist, thinking of how she is going to tell Juliet the news.
“How are you, my daughter?”
“Not good, Mother. Not good at all.”
Lady Capulet crosses the room to her daughter and pulls her to
herself for a big hug. “I know, I know.
Still crying for Tybalt, aren’t
you? We all are, honey.” She rubs her daughter’s back with no idea
the real reason Juliet is crying.
“But you can’t bring him back from the
grave, my dear. Your tears won’t wash him out of the ground. And
even if you could, you couldn’t bring him back to life. Be done with
your crying. I know it’s hard, and I know your tears show your deep
love for your cousin, but too many tears are never good.”
“Let me weep, Mother!” Juliet cries, sobbing.
“Let me feel this loss
as deeply as I want.”
“You can go on feeling the loss, but not the friend you’re crying for,
my daughter.”
“How in the world can you feel the loss but the not the person?”
Juliet asks, so desperate for Romeo as she says it.
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“Well, my girl, you’re not crying so much for Tybalt’s death as you
are for the villain that killed him, who’s still alive somewhere. Just
remember that.”
“What villain, Mother?”
“Romeo, that’s who,” her mother says, her eyes blazing with hatred.
Juliet’s mind and heart are racing. Oh, Mother! If only you knew
how good and true Romeo was—if only you knew he were anything but
a villain! I hope so much he’s made it far enough now that they won’t
catch him.
“Mother, I honestly hope they forgive him. I really do, with all my
heart.
Still, no man could make me grieve like him, though.” Juliet
wipes her tears with the sleeve of her nightgown.
“Yes, yes—because the murderer hasn’t been put to death yet!”
“Yes, Mother—I hate that he’s out there, far from my reach. But if I
had it my way, I would want to avenge Tybalt’s death myself!”
“Oh, don’t you worry, Juliet. We’ll have our revenge. We’ve heard
he’s hiding out in Mantua. We’re going to send someone there to poison
him. Soon enough, he’ll be with our dear Tybalt in the ground. And
then we can just forget about him, my daughter. How does that
sound?” She soothes her crying daughter, pulling back her hair gently
with both of her hands.
“But Mother, I will only feel better if I see him . . . dead, that is. If
I am the one to poison him myself! Find a man with the poison we
need and I’ll mix it myself, Mother. It’s the only way.
I can’t handle
hearing his name over and over and not being able to hunt him down
myself. I want to take the love I felt for my sweet cousin and take it
out on the body of this man!”
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Just as Juliet hoped, Lady Capulet has no idea what her daughter is
really saying. She considers Juliet’s request for a moment, and then
agrees.
“Fine, my daughter. Figure out the right way to mix the poison and
I’ll find a man who can sell some to us. But first, before such ugliness,
I have much brighter, happier news!”
“I’m so glad, Mother. We could use some good news right now.
What is it?”
“Well, you have a good father, my dear. Such a good father that
he’s found an escape for you from all of this sadness.
Now, what I’m
about to tell you may be pretty surprising, and I know you’ve had no
time to prepare, but just because you’re not expecting it doesn’t mean
you won’t love it! There’s a day of happiness coming right your way!”
She hugs her daughter close once again with excitement.
“When, Mother? What day?”
“Thursday! Only three days away! Early in the morning, the brave,
young, noble gentleman Paris—at Saint Peter’s Church—will make
you—with all of his happy heart, Juliet—will make you his joyful bride!”
Juliet’s heart and face immediately fall.
She cannot believe her ears.
“No, Mother. NO! He will not make me his joyful bride!”
“But—” her mother begins to plead.
“Why?!” Juliet cries. “Why are you and father rushing me? Why are
you doing this? And why is this Paris guy in such a hurry?! This isn’t
going to happen, Mother. NO WAY. I am not getting married. And
when I do, I swear—I’d rather it be to Romeo than to Paris! What does
that tell you?!”
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Lady Capulet cannot believe what her daughter is saying. She doesn’t
know what to say to her dear Juliet, who has stopped crying and is
staring at her mother so fiercely. Suddenly, they hear Lord Capulet’s
heavy footsteps marching down the hall toward the bedroom.
Lady
Capulet is relieved to have some support.
“Well, here comes your father now. If you really feel this way, if
you’re really going to be so resistant, then you’ll just have to tell him
yourself, Juliet. And I can only wish you luck in telling him, because
he’s not going to be happy with this.
Not happy at all.”
Juliet is so upset by this news that the room starts spinning around
her. She feels dizzy. She feels sick. How can they do this to me?
How can my parents just give me away? How can they keep me from
my Romeo!
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Chapter XVIII Questions
1. As this chapter opens, what does Juliet believe is different for her and
Romeo?
2. Why does Juliet hope this isn’t true?
3. What shocking statement does Juliet make to her mother?
4. What do Romeo and Juliet notice about one another physically?
5. What does Romeo says is the reason they both look this way?
6. How does Juliet compare fate to Romeo? List three ways she
describes Romeo as the opposite of fate.
7. Why does Lady Capulet tell Juliet to stop crying?
8. How does Lady Capulet try to comfort Juliet? Check all that are true.
(1) ______ with the idea of revenge
(2) ______ with the idea of Romeo being dead
(3) ______ with the thought of poisoning Romeo
(4) ______ with the thought of Tybalt being in heaven
9. How does Juliet fool her mother in this chapter? List all the ways.
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Answers
1. Time. “. . . for us—there are countless days.”
2. Because she will be so much older the next time she sees Romeo.
3. “And when I do [get married], I swear—I’d rather it be to Romeo than
to Paris!”
4. that they both look pale.
5. “…it’s only sorry that’s drinking our blood and making us pale.”
6. She says Romeo is 1) constant 2) never-changing 3) faithful
7. (Answer(s) will vary.)
Because she can’t wash Tybalt out of the ground
with her tears / because too many tears are never good / because she
can’t bring Tybalt back to life / back from the grave
8. (1), (2), (3)
9. By telling her she wants to kill Romeo herself / poison Romeo herself
By telling her mother she’s crying over Tybalt
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Chapter XIX
Obedience
Lord Capulet bursts into his daughter’s room.
“Sweet daughter of mine! You’re still crying! It’s as if a storm of
tears has overtaken you! Your tiny body is swimming in a sea of
sorrow! Come here.” He calls his daughter to him, but Juliet will not
budge from where she is standing and glaring at her parents, burning
with rage.
“Have you told her the news, my dear?” He looks at Lady Capulet.
“I have. Yes.
But she refuses, dear.
She says thank you, but she
has totally rejected the idea. She is a fool.”
“I don’t think I’m hearing you correctly.
Is this true, Juliet? That
you’re ungrateful? That you don’t even realize what a wonderful
marriage this will be? How can you not see what a gentleman Paris is?
He is unbelievably right for you! I thought you would thank us!” Lord
Capulet throws his hands up in the air in frustration.
Juliet steps toward her father.
“How can I be happy with this, Father? Yes, of course I’m thankful,
but I can’t be pleased with this.
I hate the idea! I know you mean the
best for me, Father, and I’m grateful, but how can I feel lucky to have
something I hate?”
Lord Capulet is growing red in the face.
“What is this crazy, illogical thinking?! “Pleased, not pleased—thank
you, but no thank you—forget your thanks and just be ready for next
Thursday!”
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Juliet feels like screaming.
“You will go to Saint Peter’s Church, daughter.
You will marry Paris,
so you better get your head right. I will drag you if I have to.”
Juliet suddenly realizes how serious her father is about this and drops
to her knees. “Father, please. Listen to me.”
But her father’s temper has taken over.
“Honestly, Juliet, you make me sick!”
“Are you insane, Juliet? Why are you embarrassing yourself?” Lady
Capulet scolds her daughter, who is bowing down before her father.
“Father, my good father, I beg of you. I’m on my knees! Please,
hear me out. Be patient. Just let me say one thing—just listen to me.”
“Forget it, Juliet! I can’t even look at you!” Capulet’s face is
completely red with anger.
“You are such a disobedient little girl! I
won’t stand for this. I don’t want to hear another word. You got that?
Don’t talk, don’t answer, and don’t beg.
up at that church on Thursday.
All I want you to do is show
That’s it, you hear me? I’m so angry I
could slap you.”
Lady Capulet begins to cry at the sight of her family fighting so
terribly. She buries her face in her hands.
Capulet turns to her. “This isn’t the daughter we raised! We always
wanted another child, but now I see this one is too much to handle! In
fact, I curse the day she was born!”
“Oh, God!” the Nurse cries, rushing into the room.
“Please, my lord!
Stop yelling at her!”
“And who do you think you are? Stay out of this, Nurse!”
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“Please. I’m trying to help,” the Nurse begs him, looking at Juliet
crying on her knees.
“Oh, for God’s sake, woman. What?”
“Can’t I say something, my lord?” the Nurse asks, bending down to
comfort Juliet.
“No! You’re a mumbling idiot! Keep your nonsense to yourself or go
share it with your other little nurses.”
Lady Capulet pleads with her husband, “You’ve lost it, dear. You’re
out of control. Please. Calm down.”
“NO! No I will not calm down! I’ve had enough! Night and day, my
whole life, I’ve devoted myself to one thing. One thing, Juliet!” He
screams, pointing at his daughter, his finger almost touching her face.
“And that’s to find you a good man, a good husband, to take care of
you. That’s all I ever wanted! And now that I’ve found him, you reject
him!” Capulet shouts at the ceiling and raises his hands again.
“You are such a child, Juliet! Any other woman would be grateful to
have him. But you are an ungrateful, selfish girl! How can you look at
something so good for you and reject it?! If you don’t want to get
married, fine! Then you can starve.
out on the streets.
You can leave my house and live
You can beg and beg for food and die there. Don’t
for a second think you can come ask me for food or for anything! You
got that? You have a simple choice. Either act like my daughter and
marry this man, my friend, or you’re not my daughter.
leave. And never return.
I promise you, Juliet.
And you can
I will never take you
back if you make this stupid decision.”
Lord Capulet storms out of the room, too angry to watch his only
daughter sobbing on the floor.
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“Is there no pity for me, Mother?” Juliet weeps.
“Sweet, sweet
Mother, please don’t throw away your daughter! Please—I’m begging
you—just push the wedding back! A month! A week! That’s all I’m
asking! If you can’t even do that for me, then Tybalt’s grave will be my
only bed.”
“Don’t speak to me, Juliet.
Like your father, I’m done worrying about
you and your life. I cannot believe this.” Lady Capulet follows her
husband out the door.
“Oh, God! Why, Nurse? How can this be happening?! How can we
stop this madness? My husband is here on earth with me—and my
wedding vows have already been made! Please, tell me what I should
do.
Comfort me.
Give me something to hold onto here.”
The Nurse rises and pulls Juliet up from the floor to sit beside her on
the bed.
“Okay, here is some faith, dear girl. Listen closely.”
Juliet nods, wiping her eyes.
“Romeo has been banished and there’s nothing we can do about that,
right? He’s not even here to be your husband! If you decide to marry
Paris, the only way he could ever come back and stop you is in
disguise—in secret. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I honestly
feel, with everything considered, that you should just marry Paris. He’s
really quite an amazing guy, Juliet. And in a lot of ways, Paris is the
better man!” She wipes Juliet’s eyes with her apron.
“Honestly, Nurse?” Juliet is confused and upset by the Nurse’s advice.
“Do you really mean that?”
“I speak from my heart and my soul, Juliet.”
“Well, I feel better, I suppose.
to hide her anger and disbelief.
Thank you, Nurse.” Juliet looks away
“But now I’ve made my father angrier
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than I’ve ever seen him. I think I should go to Friar Lawrence’s and
confess to him that I’ve sinned. Would you tell my mother that’s where
I’ve gone?”
“Of course, of course. Good girl.
You’ve made a very wise choice.
This is all going to be just fine, my dear.” The Nurse pats Juliet on the
back and leaves her on the bed.
Juliet collapses backward onto her sheets and whispers angrily at the
ceiling:
You are such a stupid old lady! And I thought you were my
friend! Such lies you’ve just told me, Nurse, such lies! I can’t figure
out what’s worse—that you want me to break my vow to my beloved
husband or that you’ve betrayed him so quickly after praising him to his
face!
Forget you and your lies, Nurse! I am never going to share anything
with you again. For the rest of my life, I’m going to keep the secrets of
my heart to myself! I’m going to the Friar and that’s it! At the very
least, I have the power to die.
If I have to escape from this horrible
world and all of this betrayal from my own family, then at least I’ll be
able to do it. At least I have that—I have something left.
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Chapter XIX Questions
1. How does Capulet threaten Juliet?
2. What does Capulet claim his life goal has always been?
3. In Capulet’s frustration, what are some adjectives he uses to describe
Juliet? List at least two.
4. What aspects of the past does Capulet refer to?
5. What is the main consequence Capulet uses to threaten Juliet?
Ⓐ poverty
Ⓑ starvation
Ⓒ shame
Ⓓ rejection
6. How does Juliet threaten her father?
7. What “compromise” does Juliet make with her parents?
8. How does the Nurse betray Juliet?
9. How does Juliet response to this surprise? Describe her reaction.
10. How does Juliet comfort herself? What power does she still claim?
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Answers
1. He says “You will marry Paris, so you better get your head right. I will
drag you if I have to.”
2. “To find [her] a good man, a good husband, and to take care of [her]”
3. disobedient, crazy, illogical, ungrateful
4. They always wanted another child / Juliet isn’t the daughter they
raised
5. Ⓑ
6. By saying Tybalt’s grave will be her only bed.
7. She says all she’s asking is for the wedding to be pushed back.
8. By telling her marrying Paris is her best choice.
9. Angry, calls the Nurse stupid and old, feels betrayed because she
thought the Nurse was a friend, feels the Nurse has been lying, says
she’s also betraying Romeo (and turning on him quickly after praising
him to his face)
10. the power to die.
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Chapter XX
Unhappiness Ever After
Less than an hour later, Juliet is almost to Friar Lawrence’s, where
he and Paris are already discussing the wedding. Friar Lawrence does
his best to hide his emotions from Paris.
“On Thursday, sir? That soon? My, my—you’re really not wasting
any time, are you?” He tries to smile.
“Honestly, it’s Capulet who decided the date, not me.
Not that I’m
dragging my feet or anything, though . . .” He smiles at the Friar,
obviously excited for the wedding. “I haven’t really spoken to Juliet
about the date, but I hope she’ll be as happy I am about it.”
“So you don’t really know your lady’s mind? You haven’t heard her
thoughts on the matter?” He pauses. “Hmm . . . I don’t like the sound
of this, Paris. That’s not really a clear path to be walking on toward
marriage, my friend.”
“Well, you know the situation, Father.
She’s been mourning, like the
rest of her family, for Tybalt’s death—I just didn’t want to interrupt her
with the idea of love or romance. It was her father that rushed the
wedding—mainly to put an end to all of her tears.
If she focuses too
much on all this sadness, it won’t be good for her. I agree with him.
I
want to comfort her, Father. I want to be her husband so she can lean
on me. So that’s why we’ve moved up the date.”
Friar Lawrence frowns and thinks to himself, Oh, if only I weren’t so
involved! If only I didn’t know the true reason this marriage has to be
slowed down!
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The Friar’s worry is interrupted by Juliet, who is walking toward the
greenhouse.
“Speaking of the sad lady, here she comes now, Paris!”
“Welcome, welcome, my lady! My wife!” Paris greets her, bowing
and taking her hand to kiss.
“Maybe you can call me that after we’re married,” Juliet says, pulling
away her hand bitterly.
“Well, soon enough, Juliet—next Thursday it will no longer be
“maybe.”
“Whatever has to be will be,” Juliet says, looking away coldly.
“Now that’s quite the truth, Juliet,” the Friar joins in.
“Well said.
You
are a lady of wisdom.”
“Why have you come here, my darling?” Paris asks Juliet. “To make
confession or to see me?” He chuckles, but Juliet ignores his joke.
“Well, to answer that, I should probably just confess to you, Paris.”
“Please don’t tell him you don’t love me.”
“I won’t.
I’ll just confess to you that I love him.”
“I’m sure that you will also confess that you love me too, though,
won’t you?” Paris glances over at Friar Lawrence, embarrassed by
Juliet’s words.
“I’m not sure you want that, Paris.
If I confess behind your back, it
will only mean more than if I would have told you to your face.”
“Oh, sweet Juliet,” Paris says, trying to change the subject. “You
have really suffered too many tears, haven’t you?”
“Honestly, my face looked just as ugly before I started to cry.”
“How can you say that? Don’t say that about your face—your
beautiful face is mine too, Juliet.”
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“It’s the truth, Paris. And you’re right—my face doesn’t belong to
me.” Paris has no idea that Juliet has promised her face, her lips, and
her soul to Romeo.
“Father?” She turns to Friar Lawrence, impatient with Paris. “Are you
open for my confession?”
“Absolutely, my dear.
Thank you for leaving us alone now, Paris,” he
says as warmly as he can.
“Of course, Father. I could never keep you from your spirituality,
Juliet! Until Thursday, my darling—and keep this holy kiss,” he says
softly, kissing her on the cheek as she turns away.
Once Paris is out of their sight, Juliet begins crying again.
“Oh, Father! Shut that door! And once you do, come cry with me!
This has all gotten out of control! It’s beyond us now! Past hope or
help or healing! There’s nothing we can do, is there?!
“Oh, sweet Juliet, I know your grief completely—Paris told me the
horrible news.
I’m so sorry there’s nothing I can do to help you, my
dear. You know I would if I could.”
“Tell me you’re not saying what you’re saying, Friar. Tell me you
have a solution. You’re the wisest man I know! And if you can’t help
me with words, then help me with this!” Juliet picks up a knife from a
nearby table and holds it to her heart. “This, here,” she whispers
desperately, “this is where Romeo is.
In my heart. And in my hands,
which you joined, Father! I will never marry another man. I’d rather
kill myself! And I will do just that if you can’t think of something else.
Please, Father! Use your endless wisdom!”
Friar Lawrence puts his hand on Juliet’s until she releases the knife
and falls against him weeping.
He sets it back on the table.
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“Stay strong, my daughter.
No need for the knife.
I do spy hope for
us in a certain plan—but you must listen carefully. If you’re so
desperate that you’re willing to take your own life with a knife, then it
seems you can handle this very desperate solution. But it involves death,
my dear.
Temporary death. If you’re willing to be careful, if you’re
willing to listen to my every direction, then I’ll share the plan with you.
You are brave, my Juliet.”
“I’ll do anything, Father! I’ll jump from the highest tower, or walk
down prison corridors among priminals. I’ll sleep in a pit full of
snakes—or be chained to growling bears! I’ll even lie in a grave full of
skeletons who stink of death—or with a single dead man, locked inside
his coffin. Anything, Father! I’m trembling at the thought of such
horrors, but there’s nothing I won’t do—fearlessly, doubtlessly—to be an
innocent wife for my only love.”
“All right, then. You must stay brave, Juliet.
quickly; tomorrow is Wednesday already.
And we must act
First, go home as if nothing is
wrong—do your best to be cheerful and agree to marry Paris. Tomorrow
night, tell your nurse you’re going to bed and when you go to your
bedroom, do it alone—make sure she doesn’t come with you. Then,
once you’re in bed, take this—” Friar Lawrence hands her a tiny bottle of
orange poison. “When you drink it, you will feel it running through your
veins. You will feel cold and sleepy, and your pulse will stop completely.
Your skin will grow cold and even your breathing will stop. When they
find you, you will look pale, as if you are dead—and on the morning of
the wedding, Paris will find your stiff body just like this. Everyone will
think you are dead—and you will be—for forty-two hours.”
Juliet is listening with every inch of her body—she does not want to
miss a word.
“Then, you know what will happen next: your family will dress you in
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your finest clothes and mourn you as they carry you in an open coffin to
the Capulet gravesite where your other relatives are buried. You will
wait for Romeo in this open coffin until you wake from your pleasant
slumber.
I will tell him of our plan. We will be waiting for you to
awaken so he can dance you away to Mantua forever—freeing you from
all of this shame and horror.
But you must stay strong, Juliet. You
must be courageous. If you grow weak and afraid, all of our brave
efforts will be ruined.”
“Of course, Father! Give me the poison! I won’t be afraid—even for
a moment!”
He hands her the vial of orange poison, made from the crushed petals
of his most deadly flower.
“Now go, my daughter. Don’t slip into doubt. I’ll send a messenger
to Romeo with my letter—and I’ll tell him to hurry to him as quickly as
possible.”
“Love will guide me and keep me strong, Father. I promise!
Farewell!”
Friar Lawrence watches her go, praying with all of his might.
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Chapter XX Questions
1. What is Friar Lawrence’s conflict in this chapter?
2. What is Friar Lawrence’s plan for Juliet? Describe it in your own
words.
3. How does Juliet treat Paris in this chapter? Describe her mood.
Support your answer with details about her behavior as well.
4. What does Paris say is “his”?
Ⓐ Juliet
Ⓑ Juliet’s face
Ⓒ Juliet’s life
Ⓓ Juliet’s hand in marriage
5. Friar Lawrence tells Juliet that because she is _____________, she
can handle a ___________ solution.
6. List the things Juliet is willing to do in order to be an innocent wife
for her only love Romeo.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
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7. How does Juliet threaten to kill herself at first?
Ⓐ with poison
Ⓑ with drowning
Ⓒ with a fight
Ⓓ with a knife
Answers
1. That he is to marry Juliet and Paris when he has already married
Juliet and Romeo / That he is supposed to marry Paris and Juliet
when he knows how much Juliet and Romeo love one another.
2. (Answers will vary.)
“All right, then. You must stay brave, Juliet.
And we must act
quickly; tomorrow is Wednesday already. First, go home as if nothing
is wrong—do your best to be cheerful and agree to marry Paris.
Tomorrow night, tell your nurse you’re going to bed and when you go
to your bedroom, do it alone—make sure she doesn’t come with you.
Then, once you’re in bed, take this?” Friar Lawrence hands her a vial
of orange poison.
“When you drink it, you will feel it running through
your veins.
You will feel cold and sleepy, and your pulse will stop
completely.
Your skin will grow cold and even your breathing will
stop. When they find you, you will look pale, as if you are dead—and
on the morning of the wedding, Paris will find your stiff body just like
this.
Everyone will think you are dead—and you will be—for forty-two
hours.”
“Then, you know what will happen next: your family will dress you in
your finest clothes and mourn you as they carry you in an open coffin
to the Capulet gravesite where your other relatives are buried. You
will wait for Romeo in this open coffin until you wake from your
pleasant slumber. I will tell him of our plan. We will be waiting for
you to awaken so he can dance you away to Mantua forever—freeing
you from all of this shame and horror. But you must stay strong,
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Juliet.
You must be courageous. If you grow weak and afraid, all of
our brave efforts will be ruined.”
3. coldly, rudely. When Paris tries to kiss her hand, she pulls it away.
When he makes a joke, she ignores it.
4. Ⓑ
5. desperate, desperate
6. (1) jump from the highest tower
(2) walk down prison corridors among criminals.
(3) sleep in a pit full of snakes
(4) be chained to growling bears!
(5) lie in a grave full of skeletons who stink of death
(6) with a single dead man, locked inside his coffin.
7. Ⓓ
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Chapter XXI
A Secret Sleep
Back at the Capulet household, the air is busy with preparation for
the wedding. No one in the house knows that the bride is returning
with a tiny bottle of poison hidden in her dress—a few drops of orange
that will change everything.
Lord Capulet is anxiously making plans,
trying hard to forget his fight with his daughter.
He trusts she’ll get
over her anger, believing that as her father, he knows what is best for
her.
“All right now, invite all of the guests you see written here on this
paper!” he says to a servant. “And hire me twenty talented chefs!” he
says to another.
The Nurse joins him, unfolding a tablecloth and spreading it over a
table.
“I don’t know if we’re going to be ready for this wedding in time,
Nurse.”
“Oh, sir, of course we will.”
“And did my daughter really go to see Friar Lawrence?”
The Nurse nods.
“Well, hopefully he can use some of that priestly magic to cure her
from all that selfishness!”
“Perhaps he already has, my Lord.
Look at her coming now! She
looks happy, doesn’t she!”
Capulet turns to see his daughter entering the front door, looking
beautiful with a smile on her face.
“Well, well, my stubborn daughter,
what have you been doing?” He smiles at her, anxious to put their
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argument behind them.
“Oh, Father!” she runs toward Capulet and throws her arms around
him excitedly.
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I’m over it now and
regret disobeying you. Father Lawrence has helped me understand how
terrible my actions toward you were.” She drops to her knees at her
father’s feet and hugs his legs. “Please forgive me. From now on, I’m
going to do whatever you ask of me.”
“Send for the Count!” Capulet shouts out to the servants excitedly.
“My daughter is going to be married tomorrow!” He pulls Juliet to her
feet and holds her close to him.
“I was nice to him, Father. I was. I met Paris at Friar Lawrence’s
and I was nice.
I wasn’t too nice, though—I wanted to be modest,
Father.”
“That makes me very happy, my daughter,” Capulet says, stroking his
dear Juliet’s hair.
“All of Verona will have to thank the Father for what
he has done.”
“Nurse?” Juliet asks, lifting her head from her father’s chest. “Will
you come with me to my bedroom and help me decide what to wear?”
“Why, dear? We can just do that on Thursday.”
“No, no, Nurse.” Capulet says. “Now is the time.
The wedding will
be at the church tomorrow!” He hugs his daughter to him once more.
“Now go get ready with the Nurse, darling,” he says, releasing her
gently.
As they walk away to Juliet’s bedroom, Lady Capulet comes to her
husband.
“It’s getting late, dear.
I don’t know if we’ll be ready for the
morning. Do you think we’ll have enough food?”
“All will be well, my sweet. How can anything be wrong now that our
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daughter has seen the light?! Don’t worry about a thing. Now go and
help her get dressed! I’m not going to bed tonight—I’m too happy!” He
throws his head back and laughs as his wife walks away smiling, so
happy to see her husband this way.
Capulet watches his wife go, his heart filled with joy. I’ll go tell Paris!
he thinks. Everything is going to work out! Just as it was meant to, he
thinks, shaking his head happily and walking out the door.
* * * * *
Up in Juliet’s bedroom, Juliet is growing impatient.
“I really appreciate your help, Nurse, but I think I can handle it from
here.
As you know, I have a lot of praying to do before tomorrow. I
haven’t been myself, and I just want the heavens to smile upon me for
the wedding, you know?”
Lady Capulet enters and Juliet tries her best to look happy to see her,
though she is desperate to be alone.
“Do you ladies need my help with the dress?” she asks.
“No, Mother—we’ve already picked out my outfits for the ceremony
and the rest of the day. Thank you, though. I really just want to be
alone.
If that’s okay with you.
Her mother nods. “Sure, honey.
If that’s what you need.”
“Nurse, thank you for all you’ve done.
Go with my Mother—she’s has
a lot to do downstairs, so maybe with your help she can get to bed a
little earlier.” Juliet smiles at them both.
“Okay, daughter.
you need it.
We’ll go finish downstairs.
Get some rest—I’m sure
Can’t wait to see you in the morning, my sweet bride!”
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Lady Capulet gives Juliet a big hug and the Nurse smiles.
Once they walk out of her room, Juliet closes the door behind them
softly.
“Goodbye,” she whispers. Who knows when we’ll see each other
again?
Suddenly, she isn’t so anxious to be alone anymore.
I’m feeling that fear the Father warned me about . . . I feel it running
through my body . . . should I call them back? No, no. I must do this
alone.
Juliet takes out the vial.
But what if it doesn’t work at all? Would I then get married
tomorrow morning? No, no! This is the only way.
She sets down her dagger on the night table.
She can’t stop her
thoughts, her doubts.
But what if Friar Lawrence wants me dead? What if he’s worried
about getting in trouble for marrying me to Romeo? No, there’s no way.
He’s a holy man. He only wants the best for me.
And the tomb! What
if I wake before Romeo comes for me? What if I’m trapped and
suffocate inside! Juliet’s mind and heart are racing with fear.
And what if I wake and the smell of death all around me is too much!
What if Tybalt’s body beside me—and all the bones of my ancestors—are
too much for me to bear? What if I hear all the screams of the dead
around me and can’t take the smell of their decaying? What will I do
then? Will I go crazy?
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Juliet’s heart is pounding.
I think I hear Tybalt calling now—I think I see his ghost.
He’s
screaming for Romeo—he’s coming after Romeo! Oh! Tybalt, wait, wait!
I’m coming to save you, Romeo! Romeo, here I come! Here is my
drink, my escape—I drink to you!
Juliet drinks from the vial and collapses upon her bed. The curtains
of her canopy fall around her gently, as if holding her.
* * * * *
The whole Capulet house continues with preparation throughout the
night until early morning.
No one has any idea that upstairs their bride
is laying completely cold and still on her bed, the orange poison
swimming through all of her body.
“Here, take these keys and grab some more spice, Nurse,” Lady
Capulet says.
“But the recipe calls for dates and pears, my lady.”
Capulet enters the kitchen, stretching. “Wake up, wake up,
everyone!” he calls out happily. “It’s three o’clock and the bell has
rung! The second cock has crowed!”
“You have to get some more sleep, sir. You’ll be sick tomorrow if you
don’t,” the Nurse says.
“Nonsense,” Capulet says. I’ve stayed up many times before—and for
far less exciting reasons!”
“Ah, yes. Chasing after ladies, weren’t you? Too bad those times are
over,” Lady Capulet says, poking her husband playfully.
“Are you jealous or something, dear?” Capulet jokes back, laughing.
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Three servants enter and ask where to put the wood for the chef’s
fire.
“Ask Peter,” Capulet says.
“No need—I’ll just figure it out myself,” one of them says.
“Ha! I like that one, dear. He’s funny.” Capulet sighs and watches
his wife cut vegetables.
“I can’t believe it’s almost morning! Can you,
sweetheart?”
Suddenly, they hear music playing outside their house.
“Is the Count here already, dear?” They can’t believe it.
“Paris must
be here for Juliet early! Nurse!” he calls, and she appears.
“Go wake up Juliet! Get her ready for her groom! He’s here early!
I’ll go talk to him while you help her get dressed. Hurry!”
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Chapter XXI Questions
1. Who is the first person Capulet wants to tell about the wedding?
2. What is Juliet worried about when the door to her room closes? What
is the thought she has?
3. What does Capulet hope Friar Lawrence cured Juliet of, using his
“priestly magic”?
4. What are the fears Juliet has before drinking the poison? Fill in the
blanks on the following list of these fears.
(1)
Smell ___________ __________ all __________ __________
(2)
__________ of her ___________
(3)
__________ of the dead around her
(4)
The smell of ___________
5. Capulet tells the Nurse to go wake up Juliet because:
Ⓐ She is sleeping too late
Ⓑ Paris has arrived for Juliet early
Ⓒ He wants to tell her something
Ⓓ Lady Capulet wants her to get into her dress in time
6. What is Lady Capulet’s concern about the wedding?
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Answers
1. the Count/Paris (though it may be unclear to the kids at this point if
they’re the same person).
2. she wonders when she’ll see her mother and the Nurse again.
3. “all that selfishness”
4. (1) of death, around her
(2) bones, ancestors
(3) screams
(4) decaying
5. Ⓑ
6. That they’re not going to have enough food.
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Chapter XXII
Death’s Escape
The nurse climbs the spiral staircase to Juliet’s bedroom, smiling to
herself. She walks down the hall and thinks of how amazing it is that
her little Juliet—like a daughter to her—is going to become a bride
today. As she opens the door to her bedroom, she calls out playfully.
“Juliet! Are you still asleep, lazy girl?” She laughs as she walks over
to the bed, where the curtains are covering Juliet’s unbreathing body.
The Nurse pulls back the curtains and is surprised at what she sees.
“Still in your clothes from last night? Juliet! Wake up, silly darling.”
She shakes her body. “Juliet?” Suddenly, the Nurse is overtaken with
fear. Her Juliet isn’t moving! Isn’t breathing! “Juliet!!!” She screams
a scream that travels the entire mansion. Every person in the Capulet
house raises their heads from what they are doing.
“Help! Help! My lady is DEAD!”
Lady Capulet comes running up the stairs as fast as she can and
bursts through the bedroom door.
“Look, look at her!” the Nurse cries.
Lady Capulet rushes over to her sweet daughter, cold as ice on the
bed.
“My child, my only child! My heart, my life! Juliet! Come back to
us! Look at us or I’ll die with you! Help, help, someone help us!”
Capulet comes running into the room as they continue to shriek that
Juliet is dead. He can’t believe his eyes. Her groom has just come for
her!
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“Let me see her.” He puts his hands upon her stiff, unmoving body.
“She’s so cold. Her blood has stopped. Oh, my Juliet. My sweet
daughter.” He begins to cry and his body shakes with the sorrow.
“Death covers her like a horrible frost; it has spread over the sweetest
flower of the whole field.”
Lady Capulet and the Nurse fall over Juliet, weeping. Capulet cannot
speak.
Friar Lawrence and Paris enter the room with musicians playing beside
them. They have been outside and have not heard the screams.
“Is the sweet bride ready to go to the church?” Friar Lawrence asks.
“Ready to go, but never to return,” Capulet answers gravely. He
looks at Paris with tears in his eyes.
“Oh, son, the night before your
wedding day . . . Death has slept with your wife. Here, she is a
beautiful flower as always, but death has taken her life and married her
instead of you.
I will die and give the rest to him—my life is now
Death’s too.”
Paris is overcome with despair.
“How long I’ve waited for this
morning! And this is what it’s given me?”
“This is the most miserable hour time has ever seen!” Lady Capulet
cries. “I only have one child—one beautiful, loving child—and only one
day to celebrate—and death has taken it from me!”
The Nurse wails. “Never has a day been so horrible, so dark!”
“Death, I curse you!” Paris shouts at the ceiling in agony.
“Cruel,
cruel death! Love! Life! If my love is dead, I cannot live!”
“How could you murder my child?” Capulet cries, shaking his fists.
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“With her all of my joys are buried!”
Friar Lawrence searches for the right words to say.
“Peace, peace be with all of you. I know this is a confusing time, but
calm your crying. Heaven gave you this beautiful girl, and now heaven
has taken her back. And heaven is ready to give her eternal life! This
is far more beautiful than anything she could experience here on earth.
How can you cry when that is true? She is already floating above you
peacefully, in the clouds.
Dry your tears and know she is happy. If you
love your sweet Juliet, you will dress her in her finest clothes and take
her to the church. And you will know she’s smiling right now in
heaven.”
Capulet still cannot believe what the morning has become.
“Everything we hoped for has turned to black. The wedding to a
funeral! Our happy songs to sad, ringing bells! Our cheerful ceremony
to a sad burial feast! Our flowers for the bride are now for a dead
body! Everything is the exact opposite of what we hoped!”
Friar Lawrence does his best to calm everyone.
“Go, my lord, and my ladies—go with him. Paris, you too.
Everyone
prepare to follow this lovely bride to her grave—this is what the heavens
want—and you must honor their will.”
Sorrowfully, they finally agree. Still crying, Lord and Lady Capulet,
followed by Friar Lawrence, Paris, and the Nurse, leave the bedroom
slowly, looking back at their beautiful Juliet with every step.
* * * * *
In Mantua, Romeo walks the earth and has no idea Juliet’s family
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believes she’s now in heaven.
He is so happy he’s practically dancing in
the sunlight, thinking of his love.
The night before, he had the most
wonderful dream: he had died—he was lying dead and Juliet came and
found him.
She kissed life back into him with her lovely lips and he was
alive again. He has no idea just how much meaning this strange dream
has.
Suddenly, Balthasar, a servant, interrupts his daydreaming.
“Good morning, boy!” Romeo greets him cheerfully. “Are you here
with a letter? Have you heard from my lady? How is she? How is my
love? Nothing can be wrong in the world if she is well!”
“Then she is, Romeo, she is. Then nothing is wrong.” Balthasar can
hardly bring himself to tell Romeo the news.
“She is heaven, sir—to live
on forever with the angels. Her body is laid in Capulet’s tomb—I’m so
sorry, Romeo. Forgive me for bringing you such news, but I knew you
would want me to . . .”
“How can this be? If it is true, then I defy you, stars! Get me paper
and a horse, Balthasar! I must leave for Verona tonight!”
“Please, sir, I beg you, have patience.
You look pale and your eyes
are wild with something dark.”
“Forget me! Leave me and go! Don’t you have a letter for me from
the Friar?”
“No sir, I’m so sorry.”
“Fine, then. It doesn’t matter anyway.
Hurry!”
Romeo’s mind and heart are a mess of pain and confusion. He
speaks aloud, to the sky and to Juliet, writing a love letter with his
words.
“Juliet, my Juliet! I will lie with you tonight.
Somehow, someway, I
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will join you. Oh, darkness, you are so quick to enter the thoughts of
desperate men . . . you’ve given me my answer right away. There is
an apothecary who lives nearby—I can’t even believe I remember him,
but I do. I saw him—this poor skinny beggar—sitting among stuffed
alligators and fishes and empty shelves and boxes, mixing herbs and
potions. When I passed him, I thought to myself, now this is where a
man could get some poison.
And now—I can’t even believe the irony of
it —I am that man! But it’s a holiday—of all days—and his shop will be
closed!”
Almost immediately, as if the stars heard Romeo, the apothecary
appears.
“Please, good man, give me some poison and quick. Here’s forty gold
coins for you—I know you are poor.
Give me the strongest potion you
have—the one that will kill me immediately—and violently.” Romeo
walks beside him back to his tiny shop of ruins.
“Sure, I have such a fierce drug, but here in Mantua I will be killed if
I sell it to you.”
“Please! You honestly care about dying? Aren’t you already starving,
my friend? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the world isn’t
your friend—and neither is the world’s law.
There’s nothing the world is
going to do to make you rich, so take this money—and forget the
world.”
“I hear you . . . and yes, I need the money desperately, as much as
I hate to do such wrong.”
The apothecary walks slowly to a tiny box on the bottom-most shelf.
He reaches inside and takes out a tiny bottle. “Here,” he says to
Romeo.
“Take this and put it in any liquid you have.
It is stronger
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than the strength of twenty men. When you drink it down, it will kill
you instantly.”
“Thank you, my friend.
yourself.
Here is your gold. Buy some food for
As far as I’m concerned, this money I’m giving you is a much
greater evil than your selling me this poison. Goodbye, friend.”
The apothecary is thankful for the money and still cannot believe how
it feels in his hands as he watches Romeo walk away.
Come, sweet medicine, Romeo whispers to the tiny bottle he holds so
carefully—you are anything but poison.
grave so I can be with her forever.
Go with me—take me to Juliet’s
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Chapter XXII Questions
1. How does Capulet describe his “dead” daughter?
2. What does Romeo want the apothecary to buy with the money he
gives him?
Ⓐ clothes
Ⓑ nothing—save it
Ⓒ food
Ⓒ more potions
3. Describe either:
A) Who Romeo will get poison from or
B) Where that person lives
4. How does the Nurse first react to Juliet’s body?
5. How does Friar Lawrence offer peace and comfort to the group
gathered around Juliet’s bed?
6. What is the color everyone uses to describe the sad day?
Ⓐ Gray
Ⓑ Purple
Ⓒ Red
Ⓓ Black
7. What or who does Romeo reject when Balthasar tells him about
Juliet?
Ⓐ life
Ⓑ the stars
Ⓒ Tybalt
8. What’s unusual about Romeo’s dream?
Ⓓ Fate
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Answers
1. “Death covers her like a horrible frost; it has spread over the sweetest
flower of the whole field.”
2. Ⓒ (because he’s starving)
3. A)
B)
poor, skinny beggar mixing herbs and potions (apothecary)
among stuffed alligators and fishes, empty shelves and boxes
4. She comments on how she is still sleeping—and still in her clothes
from last night.
5. by assuring them Juliet’s in a better place—in heaven.
6. Ⓓ
7. Ⓑ
8. He dreamed he’d died—he was lying there and Juliet came and kissed
life back into him with her lovely lips.
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Chapter XXIII
Seconds Too Late
Friar Lawrence is back in his greenhouse, praying for everything that
will happen next. His prayer is suddenly interrupted by Friar John, who
greets him loudly, out of breath.
“Brother! I can’t believe what has just happened!”
“What, what is it, Friar John? What did Romeo tell you in Mantua?
Did he give you a letter for me?”
“Oh, brother, there was no way I could find him! I never even made
it to Mantua! I’ve been locked up in a house! They kept me there
because they thought it was infected with the plague and I’d spread it if
they let me go! I’m sorry, brother. Here’s your letter back. I never
got to give it to him.”
“You didn’t send anyone else, Friar? That letter was more than a
simple greeting! Everything depended upon it!!”
“But they feared the letter would spread the disease too! They
wouldn’t let me send a messenger with it—nothing could get out of that
house!”
“I can’t believe this.” Friar Lawrence shakes his head, his mind
racing, trying to think of something he can do. “Get me a crowbar,
Friar John—the strongest you can find. And hurry!”
Friar John takes off running.
I’ll just have to open the tomb myself! Juliet will awake in three
hours and Romeo won’t be there when she opens her eyes! I’ll have to
write again to Romeo in Mantua. I’ll keep her here with me until he
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comes for her. Poor, living body, sealed in a coffin! I’ll save her now!
But Friar Lawrence has no idea that Romeo already thinks Juliet is
dead. Or that he plans to join her in heaven.
* * * * *
Paris and his page are nearing the tomb where Juliet is lying, carrying
flowers and a torch. “Give me your torch, boy! And put yours out! I
don’t want anyone to see me. Keep your ear close to the ground and
listen for anyone coming.
Listen carefully and let me know the second
you hear someone coming. Whistle to me if you do.
And hand me
those flowers. Go!”
Paris moves toward Juliet’s coffin with his hands full of roses. Oh, my
sweet, sweet flower, I spread these flowers across your bed—to be
forever watered by my hand—every single night I will return to you.”
Suddenly, Paris hears a whistle.
What cursed foot could that be? Who would come to interrupt me as
I pay tribute to my dead bride, my true love? Don’t I have this right?
And with a torch? I’ll hide and stay quiet to see who would do this.
The torch belongs to Romeo, with Balthasar beside him.
“Take this letter, Balthasar, and hand me that ax and iron. Early in
the morning, be sure to deliver it to my father. Please go and don’t
return to watch me.
And if for some reason you can’t help yourself,
then please, please, whatever you see me do here, don’t interrupt me as
I do it—no matter how hard it is for you not to. What I’m about to do
is driven by a deep darkness inside me—one you could never imagine.”
“I understand completely, sir.”
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“Thank you for being a true friend, man. Live a good life! Here’s
some money for your help. Goodbye, my good man.”
But as Balthasar walks away, he can’t help but think to himself, he’s
acting strange. I’ll just hide here and wait to be sure everything is
okay.
I don’t trust what he’s about to do.
Romeo goes to the tomb where Juliet is lying, filled with an anger so
deep he is shouting at the coffin.
“You terrible, horrible mouth of death! You’ve eaten the most
precious piece of this earth. I demand your ugly jaws to open! And
when they do, I’ll give you even more food!”
Romeo opens the coffin and is about to climb inside when Paris, who’s
been watching from his hiding place, cannot stand to keep quiet any
longer.
“So this is that banished, proud Monatague that murdered my love’s
cousin! And he dares to show his face here? At the tomb of the
woman who died from grief because of it? I will not allow this to
happen!”
Paris leaps forward from behind the rock that’s been hiding him.
“Stop this evil, you horrible Montague! Are you honestly seeking
revenge on a dead body? Stop now! I won’t let you! You need to
follow me and face your death.”
“You’re exactly right, my friend,” Romeo says, “I came here to face
my death. You’re a good man. Don’t do this.
Don’t tempt someone so
desperate. Please—leave me. I don’t want any more blood on my
hands—not the blood of anyone else but myself. I’m here ready to kill
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myself—just go and let me do that. If anyone asks, tell them a
madman had mercy on you.”
“I will not allow this! You’re a criminal!” Paris rushes toward him.
“Are you really going to make me kill you?!” Romeo cries.
Their swords clash, meeting in the air violently. But Paris is no match
for Romeo, who’s fighting with a desperation far deeper than he could
ever imagine.
Paris cries out, “Oh! I’ve been hit!” He collapses to the ground and
begs Romeo, “Please, have a heart—open the tomb and bury me with
Juliet!” before he dies.
It suddenly occurs to Romeo that this man he’s killed may be
someone he already knows. He bends over his body to take a closer
look at his face. Paris? A relative of Mercutio’s? And right then, it all
comes back to him. This is who Balthasar said Juliet was supposed to
marry.
I feel like I’m dreaming. Did he really say that as we were
rushing our horses to gallop here in time? Yes, yes he did.
“Oh, poor Paris. We’ve both had such bad luck, haven’t we?” Romeo
says to Paris’s dead body. “I’ll bury you in a worthy grave, my man.”
When he opens the tomb, he is overcome with Juliet’s beauty. “But
this isn’t a grave, Paris! This place is filled with beautiful light! Juliet’s
beauty has made this tomb a lantern.
This is where dead men lie.
I’m
a dead man burying you—another dead man.”
With all his strength, Romeo drags Paris deeper into the tomb.
Then, aloud, Romeo says his final speech before he joins the love of
his life in death.
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“How often is it that men who are close to death are happy? They
know such happiness right before they die.
But how can I call this
happiness? My love, my wife, death has taken your sweet breath.
death cannot take your beauty, which could never be conquered.
But
I see
it still—the mark of beauty upon your body—upon your rosy lips and
cheeks, which are still not pale.
Tybalt, forgive me! I now kill myself and give you your revenge.
Oh, Juliet! How are you still so perfect, so beautiful? How are you
cheeks and lips still red? How can I believe that death has truly taken
you? I simply can’t believe that! I am going to join you in this tomb
forever. I will never leave.
I’ll forget these stars, which have ruined
our time here on earth.
Oh, eyes! Take your last look around this world. And arms! Feel
your final embrace.
And lips—lips, seal the devotion you chose with a
perfect kiss.
Romeo kisses Juliet one last time, then takes out the poison and lifts
it to his lips.
“Come, you are my guide now,” he says to the bottle before raising it
and toasting Juliet. “Here’s to you, my love!” he says to her.
Then,
almost the second he puts the bottle to his lips, he cries out.
“It’s true
what you said, apothecary! The drugs are quick.
Now, with a kiss, I
die.”
Romeo’s body falls beside Juliet’s coffin, just beyond her reach.
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Chapter XXIII Questions
1. Why didn’t Friar Lawrence’s letter reach Romeo?
2. What surprises Romeo about Juliet’s physical appearance when he
sees her?
3. What is Paris doing in the tomb?
Ⓐ coming to cry over Juliet’s body
Ⓑ coming to dig up Juliet’s body
Ⓒ coming to pay his respects to Tybalt
Ⓓ coming to spread flowers over Juliet’s coffin
4. With who or what is Romeo entering the tomb?
5. Why does Balthasar stay and hide to watch Romeo?
6. To what does Romeo compare Juliet’s tomb?
7. Why won’t Paris allow Romeo to kill himself? OR Why doesn’t Paris
want Romeo to kill himself?
8. What about Juliet is too powerful to be taken, according to Romeo?
Ⓐ her life
Ⓑ her beauty
Ⓒ her future
Ⓓ her body
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Answers
1. Because Friar John (who was supposed to deliver it) was locked up in
a house because they feared the plague spreading (through him and
through the letter)
2. her cheeks and lips are still rosy and not pale (because she’s still
alive!).
3. Ⓓ
4. Balthasar, ax, and iron (being able to list all three will be the measure
of the students’ comprehension)
5. Because he fears Romeo is going to do something strange (that he
doesn’t trust).
6. A mouth (of death)—describing its jaws—saying he and Juliet are food
for it.
7. Because he’s a criminal and he believes he should be punished.
8. Ⓑ
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Chapter XXIV
The Twisted Tomb
Half an hour after Romeo collapses to the ground, Father Lawrence
appears at the entrance of the tomb.
He calls out in fear, seeing
Balthasar’s torch in the dark.
“Who’s there? How often have my old feet led me to graves? Keep
me safe, Saint Francis!”
“I’m a friend, Father. Don’t be afraid.” Balthasar steps out from the
shadows.
“Oh! It’s only you. Bless you. Now what is that light over there? It
looks like it’s burning in the Capulet tomb!”
“It is, it is, Father.
It lights up the face of my master, the one that
you love.
“Who? Who’s there?”
“Romeo, Father.”
“For how long?!”
“A full half hour.”
“Come with me to the coffin.
“Oh no, Father.
Romeo threatened me with death if I came close to
him. He told me not to watch what he was doing.”
“Stay here, then.
times.
I’ll go alone. Fear always comes at the worst
I’m so afraid something has happened.”
“I wonder that too, Friar,” Balthasar calls after him as he disappears
into the dark. “When I fell asleep beneath this tree, I had a dream that
my master fought and killed another man.”
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“Romeo!” Friar Lawrence calls out into the blackness, pushing bravely
ahead, walking deeper into the tomb despite his fear. “What is this I
see? What is all this blood? Why would swords spread their ugly color
across this place of peace?”
Friar Lawrence goes deeper into the tomb and passes the two swords
lying bloody on the ground. He suddenly sees the horror that has been
awaiting him.
“Romeo! Oh, pale Romeo! And Paris, too? Covered in blood? When
and why did all of this happen? What a terrible hour! And our lovely
lady—she’s moving!”
Juliet opens her eyes slowly, waking from her deep slumber. Romeo
is her first thought, even before she can move her body again.
“Oh, dear Friar, where is he? Where is my Romeo? I remember
where I am already—rre i where I should be. Waiting for him. Where
is my love?”
Friar Lawrence hears a noise coming from just beyond the entrance of
the tomb.
“Do you hear that, my lady? Come, come away from this nest of
death—a far greater power than we can fight, which has taken and
ruined all of our best intentions. Come away with me. Your husband
lies dead here. And so does Paris. Come now, we cannot stay to ask
questions, for the watchmen are coming. Come, sweet Juliet.”
They hear the noises again.
“I can’t stay here, Juliet.”
“Then go!” she cries. “I will be right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
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Friar Lawrence leaves and Juliet gathers the strength to begin moving
her arms and legs. She looks at the walls of the tomb, watching the
shadows dance across the stone.
After moving her limbs, she feels
strong enough to sit up in her coffin. And when she does, she looks
around the tomb.
Then looks down, at her true love lying on the
ground beside her, with a golden cup in his hand.
“What is this? A cup in Romeo’s hand? And poison? How could he
have drunk it all? How could he not have left any for me?”
She climbs out of the coffin and kneels on the ground beside Romeo’s
body.
“I will take some from his lips—the last of it—I will kiss him and die
beside him here.”
She kisses Romeo.
“Your lips are warm,” she whispers to him softly.
She again hears the watchmen, this time much closer. They are
walking through the tomb toward her.
“Which way?” one of them calls out to the others.
“Is that noise again? Then I’ll have to be quick,” she says, reaching
for the dagger on Romeo’s belt.
“Like your knife’s case, Romeo, I’ll hold you forever.”
Juliet stabs herself.
“Let me die,” she says, falling on Romeo’s body and dying.
Seconds later, Paris’s page appears, leading the watchmen.
“This was it—this was the place—this was where the torch was
burning.”
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The watchmen begin investigating the tomb.
“The ground is bloody,” the captain says.
“Search around the
graveyard for any who’ve escaped and arrest them.”
Two men head out of the tomb to search outside.
“And—oh no! Here’s Paris—dead! And Juliet—bleeding and still
warm—she must have just died! But she’s been here for two whole
days!” He realizes what this means.
“Run! Tell the Prince! Tell the Capulets and the Montagues!”
Three more of his men take off running out of the tomb.
“The bloody ground tells us a lot—but not the entire story,” he says.
Suddenly, two of the captain’s men return holding Balthasar between
them.
“We found Romeo’s man, sir,” one of them says.
“He was in the
graveyard.”
“Keep him right here until the Prince arrives,” the captain says.
“And here is the Friar!” another watchman says, bringing him to stand
before the captain. “Look at him! He’s shaking.
We took this ax and
spade from him too. He was on the other side of the graveyard.”
“Hmm . . .” the captain thinks it over. “Keep him here too.
This all
seems very suspicious.”
Suddenly, everyone is surprised to see a small parade of men coming
toward them through the entrance of the tomb.
It is the Prince and his
servants.
“What in the world has happened so early in the morning? What is
all this that has woken me from sleep?
Capulet and Lady Capulet follow close behind him.
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“What is all that crying we’ve heard on our way here?” Capulet asks
his wife.
“It’s the people of Verona, dear. They’re crying out for Romeo—for
Paris—and for our Juliet! And they’re all rushing toward this tomb!”
“What’s going on?” the Prince demands.
“What is everyone crying
and yelling about?”
It is the captain who answers him.
“My Prince, here lies Paris, murdered.
And Romeo dead, and Juliet
too, before him, though she’s still warm, so somehow she is the one
who just died right now.
“Search for answers!” the Prince shouts. “You must find out how all
these bloody deaths came to be!”
“Here is a Friar,” my Prince, the captain offers. “With one of Romeo’s
men. They have tools with them, too—tools they could have used to
open these tombs.”
“Oh, heaven! Oh, my wife! Look how our daughter bleeds!” Capulet
cries. “From the knife that should have been on that Montague’s belt!
Instead, it’s been put away in our daughter’s chest!”
“Oh, death! These bodies are bells warning me how soon I, too, will
die!”
The grieving mother and father continue to weep as another father
enters the tomb to see his child lying dead before him.
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Chapter XXIV Questions
1. How does Friar Lawrence knows Romeo is dead when he sees him?
2. What does Juliet notice about Romeo? Write in a complete sentence.
3. Why does Friar Lawrence try to rush Juliet out of the tomb? Check
all that apply.
(1) ____ he doesn’t want her to see Romeo
(2) ____ he doesn’t want her to be sick from the poison
(3) ____ the watchmen are coming
(4) ____ he fears what the watchmen will do to him
(5) ____ he cares about Juliet
4. Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false.
(1) _____ Friar Lawrence carries Juliet out of the tomb
(2) _____ Romeo has a golden cup in his hand
(3) _____ Balthasar had a dream about Romeo while sleeping on a
rock outside the tomb
(4) _____ Paris is covered in blood
5. What does Juliet wish Romeo would have done?
6. Juliet says she has to do something quickly. What is it?
Ⓐ leave Romeo
Ⓑ hide
Ⓒ stab herself
Ⓓ drink some poison
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7. Who is the first person the police find?
Ⓐ Friar Lawrence
Ⓑ Paris
Ⓒ Juliet
Ⓓ Balthasar
8. What does Capulet ask Lady Capulet?
Answers
1. Because he’s pale. “Romeo!
Oh, pale Romeo!”
2. she notices his lips are warm when she kisses him.
3. (3), (4), (5) (the first from this chapter; the last two test the tougher
skill—inference—the kids should know this from the rest of the book)
4. (1) F (she stays; he leaves)
(2) T
(3) F (sleeping under a tree)
(4) T
5. left her some poison too (so she could die beside him).
6. Ⓒ
7. Ⓓ
8. “What is all that crying we’ve heard on our way here?”
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Chapter XXV
Peace Eternal
Montague joins the heartbroken Capulets in the tomb, walking to
stand before the Prince and face the body of his dead son.
“Come, Montague. You’re up so early—only to see your son dead so
early in life.”
“Oh, my Prince, what other grief can I endure? I cannot believe what
has happened! My own wife—like her son—has died too! Sorrow over
his exile has stopped her breath. What else will try to destroy me in
my old age?”
“Look here—you will see,” the Prince says sadly, pointing to Romeo’s
body on the ground.
“How could you do this to me, my son?” Montague cries, falling down
to his son’s body. “How can you die so young—and before your father!”
“I know you’re all upset,” the Prince does his best to comfort
everyone, “but we must first answer these unanswered questions.
Only
then can we begin to grieve. Once we hear the true account of these
deaths, I will lead you in mourning, but for now you must all be
patient.”
Friar Lawrence steps forward and everyone’s eyes are on him.
“I realize you all suspect me because I was here at the time these
deaths happened. I understand that, and I will stand here for your
questioning. And for your punishment, for I have already punished
myself.”
“Tell us everything you know about what happened here, Father,” the
Prince says. “Just tell us the truth.”
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Friar Lawrence is thankful for the chance.
that, my Prince.
“I’ll do my best to do just
And I’ll try to shorten the story for all of you.”
Everyone is listening intently.
Everyone is desperate to hear the
truth.
“Romeo—who’s lying dead before you—was Juliet’s husband. And
Juliet—also dead in front of you—was Romeo’s loyal wife.
Yes, I married
them. But that joyful day of marriage quickly became a horrible day of
death, for that was the day Tybalt died. His death—which couldn’t have
come at a worse time—banished the happy new groom from the city.
And this, my friends, is why Juliet cried so many tears.
Now, to cure that sadness, you planned her marriage to Paris. But
because she loved Romeo so deeply and felt so utterly betrayed and
trapped, she came to me with a wild look in her eye, begging for an
escape from her wedding. She told me she would kill herself! And so,
instead of letting her look for poison from someone else, I gave her a
sleeping potion. This was the only way to save her from getting married
to a man she didn’t love.
The potion worked—she was supposed to look
dead so she could truly escape. Again, my friends—all I wanted to do
was save her.
Meanwhile, as she slept, I wrote to Romeo and told him to come find
her on this very night, to take her from her temporary grave. She was
supposed to wake from her sleep at the moment Romeo reached her,
but my letter never made it to Romeo! Friar John, the one who was
supposed to deliver my letter, was locked up in a house unexpectedly!
When he returned with it unopened, I knew there was only one thing I
could do. I came to this tomb to save her—to take her away until she
awoke and I could send for Romeo.
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But when she awoke, she saw Romeo dead! I begged her to come
with me, to leave them behind, but she refused. When I heard a noise
outside the tomb, I begged her again, but she wouldn’t come—she
wanted so badly to stay with the love of her life. She was desperate,
my friends, and has done such a horrible thing to herself because of
that deep love.
This is everything I know. And the Nurse knows about the marriage
as well. If I should be punished, if this is all my fault, then I stand
ready to be sacrificed, to be guilty of the worst crime.”
Everyone is silent as Friar Lawrence finishes his story, each letting it
sink in and making sense of it in their own way. Everyone is stunned at
the true story.
The Prince is the first to speak.
“We know you to be a holy man, Father—everyone believes you to be
a good man. Thank you for sharing the truth with us. Now, where is
Romeo’s man Balthasar? What does he have to say about all of this?”
Balthasar steps forward and answers immediately.
“Sir, I did bring my master news of Juliet’s death. And when I did,
he came here as fast as he could, all the way from Mantua, to this very
tomb. He told me to give his father this letter I hold in my hand. And
then he threatened me with death if I didn’t leave. He didn’t want me
to see what he was planning to do.”
“Give me the letter,” the Prince says, taking it from Balthasar’s hand.
“I will look on it right now to be sure everything Friar Lawrence says is
true. But first,” the Prince says, turning to ask the page, “how did your
master die?”
“We came here tonight so he could spread flowers over his lady’s
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grave, sir.
And he told me to hide, so I did. When Romeo came with
his torch to the coffin, Paris drew his sword on him.
They fought and
Paris died. Then I ran away to call the watchmen.”
“I see, I see,” the Prince says. Everyone is waiting for him to read
the letter, which he does quite quickly.
He takes in what he has read
with a deep breath before looking at everyone once again.
“This letter tells me that everything our Father has said is true. The
journey of their love, the news of her death—everything we need to
know. And it says right here that Romeo did buy a poison from an old
apothecary so he could come to this tomb and lie with Juliet. Now,” the
Prince says, his voice growing louder, darker, and more serious.
“Listen
to me!”
Everyone stands still, waiting for him to continue.
“Capulets! Montagues! Do you see what happens because you are
enemies?! Do you understand what the evil, the hate between you has
caused? Heaven has learned to punish you for all of your fighting.
I,
too, have now lost part of my family because of you. And that said,
each and every one of you are punished!”
But the Prince has accomplished exactly what he hoped.
Capulet’s heart has softened in all of his sadness. He takes
Montague’s hand.
“Here, my brother. Give me your hand. This is for my daughter—it
is all I can ask of you.”
Montague squeezes his hand tight.
Lady Capulet smiles at these two men, united in friendship for the
first time.
She only wishes Lady Montague were alive to see this day,
as she wishes her dear daughter and her true groom could be together
in life as they were in love.
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“At least I have a little more to give you, dear Capulet. I will build a
statue of your sweet daughter in pure gold. And then there will be
nothing more beautiful to praise in all of Verona.”
“Then I, too, will make a statue of Romeo, my friend—to stand beside
Juliet’s until the end of time. With these statues, our son and daughter
will live on forever. With these statues, we’ll represent the eternal end
of our hatred!”
“A sad, sad peace this morning has brought to us, my friends,” the
Prince declares. “Even the sun is too sorrowful to arrive. Let’s go now,
out of the darkness, and talk more about what has
happened—everything that has changed our lives today.
Yes—some
actions will be forgiven—and some will be punished. This much is true.
But at least we can leave knowing one thing, my friends:
there has
never been a story more full of pain and sadness than the story of our
dear Juliet and her Romeo.”
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Chapter XXV Questions
1. What are the two horrible things Montague has to deal with?
(1)
(2)
2. How do Capulet and Montague make up with one another in the end?
3. What is the one thing the Prince is sure of?
4. Of course he wants to tell the truth and share the story of what
happened, but what is the other reason that Friar Lawrence steps
forward to speak?
5. What virtue does the Prince tell everyone to have and put into action
during this difficult, sad time?
Ⓐ patience
Ⓑ understanding
Ⓒ honesty
Ⓓ strength
6. Who is the first to respond to Friar Lawrence’s story?
7. Who and what confirms Friar Lawrence’s explanation?
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Answers
1. (1)
the death of his son
(2) the death of his wife, too
2. By making gold statues of Romeo and Juliet to represent the “eternal
end of [their] fighting.”
3. that “there has never been a story more full of pain and sadness than
the story of our dear Juliet and her Romeo.”
4. Because he realizes everyone suspects him because he was there at the
time the deaths happened.
question him.
5. Ⓐ
6. The Prince is the first to speak.
7. The letter and Balthasar
He wants to give them a chance to