Romeo and Juliet
By William ShakespeareVerona, Italy—1590's, JulyROMEO...........................Son of MONTAGUEBENVOLIO.....................Montague cousin of ROMEOBALTHASAR..................Montague servant to ROMEOABRAM...........................Montague servantLORD MONTAGUE.......Father of ROMEOLADY MONTAGUE.......Mother of ROMEOJULIET............................Daughter of CAPULET, age 13TYBALT..........................Capulet cousin of JULIETSAMPSON.......................Capulet servantGREGORY.......................Capulet servantLORD CAPULET............Father of JULIET, in his 50'sLADY CAPULET............Mother of JULIET, about 27 NURSE............................Capulet servant to JULIETPETER.............................Capulet servant to NURSEMERCUTIO.....................Friend of ROMEO, related to PRINCECOUNTY PARIS.............Count to wed JULIET, related to PRINCEPRINCE ESCALUS.........Prince of VeronaFRIAR LAWRENCE.......Franciscan who marries ROMEO & JULIETFRIAR JOHN...................Carries message for FRIAR LAWRENCEAPOTHECARY...............Sells poison to ROMEOCITIZENS, SERVANTS, MUSICIANS, GUARDS, etc.
Shakespeare’s complete original script based on the Second Quarto of 1599, with correctionsand alternate text from other editions indicated as:
1
First Quarto of 1597;
2
Second Quarto of 1599;
3
Third Quarto of 1609,
4
Fourth Quarto of 1622,
5
First Folio of 1623, and
+
for later editions. First performed around 1595. Line-numbering matches the Folger Library editionof 1992. Spelling and punctuation are modernized (American) with some indications of pronunciation. Stage directions are clarified. Side notes are given for vocabulary, figurativelanguage, and allusions. This script be downloaded from www.hundsness.com and used freely for education and performance. David Hundsness, editor, 2004.
PROLOGUE
CHORUS1.0.1Two households, both alike in dignity,
families, rank
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
rivalry, outbreaks, fighting
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
civilian
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
fateful, children
1.0.5A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life,
doomed
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
unfortunate, pitiful, downfall
Doth
2
with their death bury their parents' strife.do
+
, end, fighting
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
doomed
And the continuance of their parents' rage,1.0.10Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,
except for, nothing
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage.
performance
The which if you with patient ears attend,
listen
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
play
ACT 1, SCENE 1
[Verona, a street, morning. SAMPSON & GREGORY, armed]
SAMPSON1.1.1Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.
take insults
GREGORY1.1.2 No, for then we should be colliers.
coal miners
SAMPSON1.1.3I mean, if
5
we be in choler, we'll draw.and
2
, angered, draw our weapons
GREGORY1.1.4Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of [the]
1
collar.
take, noose
SAMPSON1.1.6I strike quickly, being moved.
attack, angered
GREGORY1.1.7But thou art not quickly moved to strike.SAMPSON1.1.8A dog of the house of Montague moves me.GREGORY1.1.9To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand.
brave
Therefore if thou art moved, thou runn'st away!SAMPSON1.1.12A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I willtake the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.
make them step aside
GREGORY1.1.14That shows thee a weak slave
2
, for the weakestweakling
1
:
coward
goes to the wall.
backs up against the wall
SAMPSON1.1.16'Tis true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,
gender
are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montague's
always
men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.
women
GREGORY1.1.20The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
menservants
SAMPSON1.1.22'Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant. When I
all the same, prove
have fought with the men, I will be civil with the
humane
maids, and
5
cut off their heads!I will
2
GREGORY1.1.25The heads of the maids?SAMPSON1.1.26Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads!
virginity
Take it in what sense thou wilt.
whatever meaning
GREGORY1.1.28They must take it in
1
sense that feel it !
feel what I do to them (bawdy)
SAMPSON1.1.29Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and'tis known I am a pretty
2
piece of flesh.tall
1
(bawdy)
GREGORY1.1.31'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst,
if you were
thou hadst been poor-john.
a poor catch[ABRAM & another Montague Servant enter, armed]
Draw thy tool! Here comes [two]
1
of the house of Montagues
2
!
sword,
the Montagues
5
SAMPSON1.1.34My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee.
unsheathed, fight
GREGORY1.1.36How, turn thy back and run?
how do you mean
SAMPSON1.1.37Fear me not.
trust me
GREGORY1.1.38 No, marry. I fear thee!
indeed
SAMPSON1.1.39Let us take the law on
1
our side
1
; let them begin.of
2
, sides
2
GREGORY1.1.41I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.
please
SAMPSON1.1.43 Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them,
give the finger
which is a disgrace to them if they bear it.
take it without a fight [bites his thumb]
ABRAM1.1.45Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON1.1.46I do bite my thumb, sir.ABRAM1.1.47Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON
[aside to Gregory]
1.1.48Is the law on
1
our side if I say "ay"?of
2
,
yes
GREGORY
[aside to Sampson]
1.1.50 No!SAMPSON1.1.51 No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite mythumb, sir.GREGORY1.1.53Do you quarrel, sir?
challenge us
ABRAM1.1.54Quarrel sir? No, sir!SAMPSON1.1.55But if you do, sir, I am for you! I serve
will fight you
as good a man as you.
master
ABRAM1.1.57 No better?SAMPSON1.1.58Well, sir— GREGORY
[sees Tybalt coming; to Sampson]
1.1.59Say "better"! Here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
relatives
SAMPSON1.1.61Yes, better, [sir]
2
.
[not in 5]
ABRAM1.1.62You lie!SAMPSON1.1.63Draw, if you be men!
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Romeo & Juliet Script
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