William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
With A Kiss I Die
From Romeo and Juliet (1595)
Act V, Scene III
This scene is set at night, in a graveyard with the Capulets’ vault in the background. The effect of
Juliet’s potion is beginning to disappear. Romeo plans to open Juliet’s vault, see his wife’s face, and
take a ring from her finger. While he is engaged in opening the tomb, Paris comes forward and tries
to arrest Romeo. In the fight that follows, Romeo kills his opponent. To his shock, he discovers that
his opponent was Paris, whom he failed to recognize in the dark. He accepts the man’s dying wish
and lays Paris in the tomb beside Juliet.
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ROMEO: Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous1,
And that the lean abhorred2 monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour3?
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night4
Depart again. Here, here, will I remain
With worms5 that are thy chamber-maids6. O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest7,
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars8
From this world-wearied flesh9. Eyes, look your last10.
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing Death11. […]
Here’s to my love! [Drinks] O true apothecary12,
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
[He falls.] […]
JULIET: What’s here? a cup, closed in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end13.
O churl14. Drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips.
Haply15 some poison yet doth hang on them16
To make me die with a restorative17. [She kisses him]
Thy lips are warm! […]
Yea, noise? then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger.
This is thy sheath18. There rust19, and let me die.
[She stabs herself20 and falls.]
1. unsubstantial … amorous. La morte senza corpo può innamorarsi.
2. the lean abhorred. Lo scarno aborrito.
3. to be his paramour. Per essere la sua amante.
4. dim night. Oscura notte.
5. worms. Vermi.
6. thy chambermaids. Le tue ancelle.
7. Will … rest. Fisseròilmioriposoeterno.
8. shake … stars. Scuoterò il giogo delle stelle avverse.
9. this world-wearied flesh. Questa carne stanca del mondo.
10. look your last. Guardate per l’ultima volta.
11. seal … Death. Suggellate con un bacio legittimo un contratto eterno con la Morte ingorda.
12. apothecary. Speziale.
13. timeless end. Fine immatura.
14. Churl. Scortese, egoista.
15. Haply. Forse.
16. some poison … hang on them. Del veleno è ancora su di esse (labbra).
17. with a restorative. Con un conforto.
18. This is thy sheath. Questa è la tua guaina.
19. There rust. Arrugginisci là.
20. She stabs herself. Si trafigge.
WORK ON THE TEXT
1. Read lines 1-17 and complete the following sentences.
1. Romeo descends into the _______________ .
2. He wonders how Juliet can look so _______________ in death.
3. He fancies that Death has _______________ in _______________ with her.
4. Before _______________ his poison, he asks his eyes to _______________ their last look.
5. Then he begs his arms to ______________ their last ______________ and his lips to
_______________ hers.
6. He _______________ the poison and _______________ by her side.
2. Read the rest of the passage and answer the following questions.
1. What does Juliet find in her true love’s hands?
2. How does she first try to kill herself?
3. What does she discover?
4. What does she do when she hears some noise?
STRUCTURE AND STYLE
Focus on Romeo
3. What are the dominant themes of his soliloquy?
❑ Young love
❑ Love and death
❑ Suicide
❑ Family feud
4. How does he describe death? Complete these statements.
a) Death is a rival because it _______________ (line 3).
b) Death is terrible because it is linked to _______________ and to the _______________ of the
body (line 9).
c) Death is desirable because it will _______________ him to his beloved (lines 16-17).
Concentrate on Juliet
5. Answer the following questions.
1. Is she afraid of death?
2. Does she consider any other possible alternative to death?
3. Why does she immediately seek death?
6. Find these figures of speech in the excerpt.
1. Metaphor.
a) line …........
2. Personification.
b) line ….....
3. Symbol.
4. Accumulation of meaning.
c) lines …........
d) line …........