ROMEO AND JULIET

William Shakespeare

PROLOGUE
Two households, both alike in dignity
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.

SCENE I. VERONA, A PUBLIC PLACE.

PRINCE
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace—
Hear the sentence of your moved Prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of my streets.
If ever you disturb my streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
You, Capulet; come along with me,
And, Montague, come this afternoon.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

BENVOLIO
Good-morrow, Romeo.

ROMEO
Ah, Benvolio; is the day so young?

BENVOLIO
Only just got nine.

ROMEO
Ay me! How the time drags when you’re sad. Was that my
father I just saw ducking into the house?

BENVOLIO
It was; what kind of sadness is this that makes the
time drag so?

ROMEO
Not having what I need to make it go fast.

BENVOLIO
In love?
ROMEO
Out—

BENVOLIO
Of love?

ROMEO
Out of her favor, where I am in love.

BENVOLIO
Tell me in sadness, who’s that love?

ROMEO
What, shall I groan and tell thee?

BENVOLIO
Why, no. But sadly tell me who.

ROMEO
In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.

BENVOLIO
Be ruled by me, forget to think of her.

ROMEO
O, teach me how I should forget to think.

BENVOLIO
By giving liberty unto thine eyes; examine other
beauties.

ROMEO
Farewell, Benvolio, there’s no way I could forget her;
there’s nothing you can do.

BENVOLIO
I’m taking that as a challenge, I’ll sort it out, don’t
worry.

SCENE II. STREET.

SERVANT
I pray, sir, can you read?

ROMEO
Ay, if I know the letters and the language.

SERVANT
You say honestly: rest your merry!

ROMEO
Stay, fellow; I can read. *unrolls the paper* A fair
assembly: whither should they come?
SERVANT
To our house.

ROMEO
Whose house?

SERVANT
My master’s: the great and rich Capulet; everyone’s
invited as long as you’re not a Montague, you’re
welcome. Rest you merry!

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

BENVOLIO
Aha! Rosaline’s going to be there, I see, among some of
the most luscious girls in Verona. Let’s go to the
Capulet’s party.

ROMEO
I will go; but, not because I think you can show me
anyone better. I’m only going so that I can see her.

SCENE III. A ROOM IN CAPULET’S HOUSE.

LADY CAPULET
Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth me.

NURSE
Yes, madame. Juliet! Oh, where’s this girl? Juliet!

JULIET
How now! Who calls?

NURSE
Your mother.

JULIET
Madame, I am here. What is your will?

LADY CAPULET
Tell me, daughter Juliet, how stands your disposition
to be married?

JULIET
It is an honor that I dream not of.

LADY CAPULET
Well, start thinking about it now; girls younger than
you are already mothers here in Verona. As a matter of
fact, I was your mother when I was much the age you are
now. But to cut a long story short, the Count Paris
wants to marry you.

NURSE
Now, there’s a man, young lady; the perfect man.

LADY CAPULET
The best in Verona.

NURSE
Indeed, without doubt.

LADY CAPULET
Speak briefly, can you like of Paris’ love?

JULIET
I’ll look forward to seeing him, yes; I’ll look at him
but I’m not going to rush into anything or do anything
that you wouldn’t want me to.

SERVANT
Madame, the guests are starting to arrive; My master
wants you.

LADY CAPULET
We follow thee. Juliet, Paris stays.

NURSE
Go on darling; go and meet your love.

SCENE IV. A HALL IN CAPULET’S HOUSE.

CAPULET
Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes
unplagued with corns will have about with you. *people
laugh* You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians,
play. A hall, a ball! Give room! And foot it, girls.

*music plays, and they dance*

*chattering*

ROMEO
[to a servant] Who’s that girl dancing with that fellow
over there?

SERVANT
I know not, sir.

ROMEO
It seems she hands upon the cheek of night like a
dazzling jewel illuminating the dark night sky; Beauty
too rich for use, for earth too dear! O, did my heart
love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw true
beauty till this night.

TYBALT
This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Get my
rapier, boy. How dare a Montague come here, his face
disguised in a festive mask, to mock his family? The
Montague was asking for trouble. How dare he!

CAPULET
Kinsman! Wherefore storm you so?

TYBALT
Uncle, ‘tis he: that villain Montague, Romeo!

CAPULET
You are a saucy boy: is it so, indeed? This trick may
chance to scathe you, I know what: Be quiet or—

LADY CAPULET
Husband!

CAPULET
More lights, more lights! For shame. I’ll make you
quiet.

LADY CAPULET
Husband!

CAPULET
O, what?

LADY CAPULET
Enough.

CAPULET
Cheerly, my hearts! *exit*

LADY CAPULET
What goodman, boy? I’m telling you to drop it. Behave
yourself, you are not spoiling my party. In my house,
you’ll take whatever I tell you to! ‘Tis a shame.

*exit all*

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

ROMEO
Milady, if you find my hands too rough, I have two
gentle lips ready to soothe you.

JULIET
Don’t speak badly of your hand, when two hands touch
like this, what they’re doing is kissing.
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips are used for praying.

ROMEO
So are hands. So, my dear saint, let our lips do the
same as our hands. I’m praying that you’ll kiss me.
*almost kiss Juliet*

NURSE
Madame, your mother craves a word with you.

*exit Juliet*

ROMEO
Nurse, who is her mother?

NURSE
Her mother? O, bachelor, Her mother is the lady of the
house.

ROMEO
O, lords, her mother is a Capulet? O dear account! My
life is my foe’s debt.

BENVOLIO
Away, begone; the sport is at the best.

ROMEO
Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

JULIET
Come hither, nurse. Who’s he?

NURSE
His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your
great enemy.

JULIET
O, saints! I’ve fallen in love with someone I hate!

NURSE
What’s this? What’s this?

JULIET
A rhyme I learned even now Of one I danced withal.

*One calls ‘Juliet.’*

NURSE
Anon!
Come, it is already bed time.

SCENE V. CAPULET’S ORCHARD.

ROMEO
Juliet is the sun; She’s so much more beautiful than
the goddess of the night. It is my lady, O, it is my
love! O, that she knew she were!

JULIET
Ay, me!

ROMEO
She speaks! O, speak again, bright angel! I wish she
could know I’m here.

JULIET
O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo? I wish you
could stop being a Montague; Or if you won’t, just say
you love me and I will stop being a Capulet.

ROMEO
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

JULIET
What’s a “Montague”? It’s not as though it’s a hand or
a foot,or an arm or a face, or anything like that. O, I
wish you could be some other name; What’s a name,
anyway? The flower that we call a rose would smell as
sweet as whatever we called it. Whatever name Romeo
had, it wouldn’t make any difference: he would still be
everything that’s perfect. O, Romeo, throw your name
out and take all of me instead.

ROMEO
I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I’ll be
new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

JULIET
Who are you? Coming here in the dark, watching me, and
eavesdropping like this?

ROMEO
I’m afraid to tell you my name; I hate my name because
you hate it. If I had written it, I would tear the word
up.

JULIET
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.

JULIET
How did you get here? Tell me that. And why? The
orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; And this
place is dangerous, considering who you are. If any of
my family finds you here…

ROMEO
I flew over the wall, with wings of love. Stone walls
can’t keep love out; Love cannot be stopped so how
could your family stop me?

JULIET
If they see you, they will kill you!

ROMEO
Your eyes are more powerful than twenty of their
swords; Just give me a loving look and I’ll be
invincible.

JULIET
‘Oh Romeo, if you do love me, please tell me honestly
or if you think I’m too fast tell me and I’ll put on an
act and be all coy and play hard to get. I’m so much in
love with you: that’s why I’m being so forward. But I
promise you, I’ll be more loving and faithful than
those who are reserved. I should have been all shy, I
know, and would have if you hadn’t overheard my real
feelings. So forgive me. And don’t think I’m taking it
lightly.

ROMEO
I swear by the moon…

JULIET
Oh don’t swear by the moon! The moon’s too changeable.

ROMEO
What shall I swear by?

JULIET
Don’t swear at all. But if you must, swear by your self
and I’ll believe you. Although I love you I don’t like
this – making commitments like this. It’s too sudden,
too fast. It’s not a good idea. Good night!

ROMEO
Are you just going to leave it like that?

JULIET
What more could we do tonight’?
ROMEO
Make faithful vows of love,

JULIET
I gave you mine before you asked for it. And yet I wish
I had it back.

ROMEO
Do you want to take it back? Why?

JULIET
To be honest, so that I can give it to you again.

NURSE
Madame!

JULIET
I come, anon— at what o’clock tomorrow shall I send to
thee?

ROMEO
At the hour of nine.

JULIET
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow. *exit*

ROMEO
Sleep well upon thine eyes, peace in thy chest! Would I
were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I go
to my ghostly father’s cell, his help to crave, and my
dear hap to tell.

SCENE VI. A STREET.

MERCUTIO
Where the devil should this Romeo be?

ROMEO
Aha, gentlemen!

MERCUTIO AND BENVOLIO

O, Romeo!

ROMEO
[To Mercutio] What counterfeit did I give you?

MERCUTIO
The ship, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?

ROMEO
Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and in
such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.
NURSE
Peter!

SERVANT
Anon!

NURSE
My fan, Peter.

MERCUTIO
Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan’s the fairer
face.

NURSE
[To Romeo and Benvolio] A pleasant morning to you,
gentlemen; Can any of you tell me where I may find the
young Romeo?

ROMEO
I am the youngest of that name, for fault a worse.

NURSE
If you be he, I desire some confidence with you.

*exit Mercutio and Benvolio*

NURSE
My young lady bade me inquire you out; but first let me
tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool’s paradise,
as they say, it were truly gross kind of behavior, as
they say: for the gentlewoman is young; therefore, if
you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak
dealing.

ROMEO
Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress: Bid her
devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon; And
there she shall at Friar Laurence’s cell be shrived and
married. Here is for thy pains.

NURSE
No truly sir; not a penny.

ROMEO
Commend me to thy lady.

NURSE
Ay, a thousand times.

*exit Romeo*
NURSE
Peter!

SERVANT
Anon!

NURSE
Go and apace.

SCENE VII. A PUBLIC PLACE.

BENVOLIO
Come on now, Mercutio; let’s go. It’s very hot and
we’re outside the Capulet’s house: if we should bump
into any of them, there’s bound to be trouble. Tempers
are short in this heat.

*walks to the side*

BENVOLIO
By my head, here come the Capulets.

MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.

*enter Tybalt and others*

TYBALT
Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen,
good den: a word with one of you.

MERCUTIO
[Laughs] Is that all? Just one word with just one of
us? Let’s have a bit more than just one word. Add
something to it: make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT
Well, peace be with you, sir; here comes my man. Romeo,
the hate I bear thee can afford no better term than
this, -thou art a villain.

ROMEO
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee doth much
excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting;
villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see thou
know’st me not.

TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast
done me—

MERCUTIO
O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! *draws* Tybalt,
you rat-catcher, will you walk?

TYBALT
What wouldst thou have with me?
MERCUTIO
O, nothing but your nine lives.

TYBALT
I am for you.

ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

*they fight*

ROMEO
Good Mercutio!

*Tybalt stabs Mercutio*

MERCUTIO
I am hurt. Curse both your houses!

BENVOLIO
What? Are you hurt?

MERCUTIO
Just a scratch; but it’s enough.

ROMEO
Brave man; the wound can’t be that bad?

MERCUTIO
No, it’s nor as deep as a well, nor as wide as a
church door; Romeo, why the devil came you between us?
I was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO
I was only trying to help.

BENVOLIO
O, Romeo, brave Mercutio’s dead!

ROMEO
There’s going to be more of this— I can feel it; this
is only the beginning.

*Romeo stabs Tybalt*

SCENE VIII. CAPULET’S ORCHARD.

JULIET
Hello, Nurse, what have you got there? The rope ladder
that Romeo asked you to get?

NURSE
Yes.. yes! The rope ladder.

JULIET
Ay me! What’s wrong? Why are you wringing your hands?

NURSE
O, no, no, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead.

JULIET
What kind of monster are you, saying such things? Has
Romeo killed himself?

NURSE
Tybalt, Tybalt is dead! And Romeo banished! He
banished.

JULIET
O God! Did Romeo killed Tybalt?

NURSE
He did, he did. All this sorrow is aging me. Shame on
Romeo!

JULIET
I hope your tongue is blistered for saying that!
There’s no shame on Romeo!

NURSE
Are you going to speak well of the man who killed your
cousin?

JULIET
Shall I speak badly of the man who is my husband? Romeo
has banished, and banished is like the death of ten
thousand Tybalt’s.
Where are my parents, Nurse?

NURSE
They’re crying over Tybalt’s body. Go to your room,
I’ll find Romeo. I think I know where he is, he’s
hiding at the Friar Laurence’s cell.

JULIET
O, find him; Give him this ring, and tell him to come
to me.

SCENE IX. FRIAR LAURENCE’S CELL.

NURSE
O holy Friar, O tell me holy Friar, Where’s my lady’s
husband? Where’s Romeo?

FRIAR
He’s here, drunk with his own tears.

NURSE
O, he’s even in my Mistress’ case. Get up; rise and
stand. For Juliet’s sake.

ROMEO
Did you speak of Juliet’s name? How is she? O, doesn’t
she think I’m a murderer now that I’ve killed her
cousin?

NURSE
She doesn’t say anything. She calls your name, and then
cries.

ROMEO
As if my name was like a bullet, as though my name’s
hand had murdered her cousin. Please tell me, Friar,
whereabout in my body is my name? Tell me so that I can
cut it out.

FRIAR
What are you doing? What kind of man are you? You look
like a man but your tears are a woman’s and your wild
acts are an animal’s. I’m surprised at you. Perhaps
you’ve killed Tybalt, but are you going to kill
yourself, too? And kill the wife who only lives for
you? Think about it, Juliet is alive, that’s a plus.
Tybalt wanted to kill you but you killed him instead,
that’s a plus. The law that condemned you to death
became your friend and turned it to exile, another
plus.

FRIAR
Go on; Go to Juliet, climb up to her room and comfort
her.

NURSE
Wait, Romeo. Here, she told me to give this to you.
Hurry now, because it’s getting late.

SCENE X. CAPULET’S ORCHARD.

JULIET
You’re not going; it’s not morning yet.
ROMEO
It really is morning. The clouds in the eastern sky are
streaked with light. I have to leave if I’m going to
stay alive, or die if I don’t.

JULIET
O, it is! It is! You must go, hurry. Come on, go. It is
getting lighter every moment.
ROMEO
The lighter it gets, the darker our troubles become.

NURSE
Madame! Your mother is coming to your chamber. The day
is broke; be wary, look about.

ROMEO
Good bye, my wife! I’ll send a message as soon as I
can.

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

LADY CAPULET
What’s the matter, my dear Juliet?

JULIET
I’m not feeling well.

LADY CAPULET
Still crying for your cousin? What are you trying to
do? Wash him from his grave with tears? Even if you
could, that wouldn’t bring him back to life. So stop
now. An appropriate amount of grief shows a lot of love
but too much shows a lack of brains.

JULIET
I can’t stop crying: I feel his loss so deeply.

LADY CAPULET
It still won’t bring him back. Rather cry because that
scoundrel who killed him is alive.

JULIET
What scoundrel?

LADY CAPULET
Romeo!

JULIET
May God pardon him. And yet no one causes me as much
sadness as he does.

LADY CAPULET
That’s because the murderous traitor is still alive.
JULIET
Yes, mother. I’d like no one but me to avenge my
cousin’s death.

LADY CAPULET
We’ll have revenge, don’t you worry about that, so stop
crying. I’ll send someone to a man in Mantua – where
that criminal’s gone to live – and he’ll give him such
an unexpected dose of poison that he’ll soon be keeping
Tybalt company. And then I hope you’ll be satisfied.

LADY CAPULET
I’ll find the man; Let’s put that behind us now because
I’ve got some joyful news, girl.

JULIET
It’s about time I had some joyful news. What is it,
Mother?

LADY CAPULET
Early on Thursday morning, the charming, young, and
noble gentleman: the Count of Paris, at St. Peter’s
church will make a joyful bride of you!

*exit Lady Capulet*

JULIET
O nurse, how shall this be prevented? *hugs nurse* Go
and tell my mother I’ve gone to Lawrence’s chapel to
confess that I’ve displeased my father and to ask for
forgiveness.

SCENE XI. FRIAR’S CELL.

JULIET
Friar Laurence, come weep with me:
past hope, past cure, past help!

FRIAR LAURENCE
O, Juliet, I already know what’s happened:
I hear you have to marry the Count on Thursday.

JULIET
God joined my heart and Romeo’s and you joined our
hands. Before this hand does anything else I’ll use it
to kill myself, so you’d better either give me some
advice or watch me die. Don’t take so long, speak up.
I’m longing to die, and will if you don’t give me
another solution.

FRIAR LAURENCE
Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent to marry
Paris: Wednesday is tomorrow: Now look here. Make sure
that when you go to bed you’re alone in your room.  Let
not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. Take this
vial when you’re in bed. In a little while your body
fluids will grow cold and you will have no pulse.
There’ll be no warmth and no breath to show that you’re
alive. The color in your face will go and your eyes
will close as though in death. Your limbs will be stiff
and cold like a corpse’s. Then, when the bridegroom
arrives to wake you up on your wedding day, there
you’ll be: dead! After forty-two hours you’ll wake up
as though from a pleasant sleep.

JULIET
Give me, give me

FRIAR LAURENCE
Go now. Be strong and don’t weaken. I’ll send a friar
to Mantua immediately, with a letter to Romeo.

SCENE XII. MANTUA, A STREET.

ROMEO
Balthasar, have you got a letter from the Friar? How’s
my wife? And my father? Is he alright?

BALTHASAR
She’s well. So nothing can be wrong, her body’s
sleeping in Capulet’s tomb and her soul’s among the
angels. I watched them putting her in their family
vault, and then came straight to you.

ROMEO
It can’t be! The stars are against us. But I won’t give
in to them!

BALTHASAR
I beg of you, Sir, be careful You’re upset and I’m
worried that something bad is going to happen.

ROMEO
Just do as I tell you: go and get the horses. I’ll see
you later.

SCENE XIII. CHURCHYARD.

ROMEO
Take this letter. Make sure you give it to my father in
the morning. And give me the light.

*exit Balthasar*
PARIS
Stop, vile Montague! How far are you going to take your
vengeance? You’re under arrest. Do as I tell you and
come quietly. You’ve got to die.

ROMEO
Die? Right. That’s exactly what I came here for. Look
here, gentle youth. Don’t take on a desperate man. Just
go away and leave me. Think about all the bodies in
there and let them frighten you away.

PARIS
I’m arresting you as a criminal.

ROMEO
I’m sorry, if that’s what you want.

*fights*

PARIS
O, I’m dying. If you have a heart, lie me beside
Juliet.

ROMEO
I will. *lays Paris at the tomb and then, looks at
Juliet* O, dear Juliet, why are you still so beautiful?
Was it because Death was in love with you and was
keeping you in this dark place as his mistress? If that
was so I would stay here with you and never leave. I
would join the worms that were your chamber-maids. This
is where I would live forever. *opens the bottle* Eyes
look your last, arms take your last embrace. Here’s to
my love!

ROMEO
O, true apothecary, thy drugs are quick. Thus with a
kiss, I die.

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

FRIAR
Romeo! You’re so pale! *checks pulse* O, no. O, Lord!
What, Paris, too? And steeped in blood? What an unkind
hour is guilty of this lamentable chance!

*Juliet wakes up*

JULIET
O, comfortable Friar, where is my lord? Where is my
husband? I remember where I’m supposed to be and here I
am. Where is my Romeo?

FRIAR
Someone’s coming. Come Juliet, come out of this nest of
death and decay. Open your eyes and look: your
husband’s lying right there. And there’s Paris too.
Come on, quickly!. I’ll take you to a convent. Don ‘t
argue. The Watch is coming.

JULIET
You go. I’m staying here.

*exit Friar*

JULIET
What’s this? A bottle? Poison. That’s what killed him.
*tries to drink* Oh, the rascal! Drunk every drop and
left none for me? I’ll take it from your lips: perhaps
there’s still some poison on them. Your lips are warm.

FIRST WACTHMAN
Which way?

JULIET
They’re here, I must hurry. O, thank God, he’s wearing
his dagger.  This is your sheath, rest there.

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

PAGE
There it is. Where the light is.

FIRST WATCHMAN
Look around. *enter some of the Watch*

PAGE
*sees Romeo and Juliet* Romeo, he’s dead! And Juliet…
she’s bleeding, warm, and newly dead.

*enter Prince*

PRINCE
Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes.

FIRST WATCHMAN
Here is a friar, and slaughtered Romeo’s man; with
instruments upon them, fit to open these dead men’s
tombs.

CAPULET
O, heavens! O wife, o look how our daughter bleeds!

LADY CAPULET
This will take me to my grave. *lifts Juliet’s body*

*enter Montague*
PRINCE
Good morning, Montague, up early to see your son down
even earlier.

MONTAGUE
A terrible night, it’s been. Terrible! My Lord, my wife
died tonight, she couldn’t bear it. Grief at my son’s
exile, and now I fear there’s more unhappiness in store
for me.

PRINCE
Look there.
MONTAGUE
O, you bad mannered boy! To press before your father to
the grave.

PRINCE
I’m going to undertake a full inquiry into this sorry
business. In the meantime, can anyone give me an idea
of who’s behind this disaster?

FRIAR
I’m the one, I’m responsible for this terrible
slaughter. Here I stand, in an impossible dilemma, both
condemning and excusing myself.

PRINCE
Then tell us immediately what you know about it.

FRIAR
I will be brief for my short date of breath is not so
long as is a tedious tale. Romeo, there dead, was
husband to that Juliet; and she, there dead, that
Romeo’s faithful wife. I married them; and their stolen
marriage day was Tybalt’s dooms day. You, to remove
grief from her, ordered her to marry Count Paris: then
she comes to me, with wild looks bid me devise some
mean to rid her from this 2nd marriage or in my cell
there would she kill herself. Then I gave her a
sleeping potion which took effect as I intended for it
wrought on her the form of death.

PRINCE
We still have known thee for a holy man. I think we’d
better hear what Romeo’s man has to say.

BALTHASAR
I took the news of Juliet’s death to my master. And he
galloped here from Mantua: here, to this monument. He
told me to take this to his father. He said he’d kill
me if I stayed here.

PRINCE
I’ll have a look at this. Where’s Paris’ page – the one
who called the Watch? Well, what was your master doing
here?

PAGE
He only brought flowers for his lady’s grave.

PRINCE
This letter confirms everything that everyone has told
me. Capulet. Montague. Can you see what punishment
you’ve been given for your hatred? And because I’ve
turned a blind eye to your quarrels I’ve also lost some
of my own family. Everyone’s been punished.
CAPULET
O, brother Montague, give me your hand. This is long
overdue. Forgive me.

MONTAGUE
With all my heart, there’s something I’d like to do.
I’m going to commission a statue of Juliet in pure
gold. From now on everyone will know that there could
never be anyone as faithful and true as the beautiful
Juliet.

CAPULET
I’ll do the same for Romeo. They’ll lie together
forever, innocent victims of our quarrel.

PRINCE
Alright, I’m pleased that you’ve made your peace but
it’s time for bed. The sun’s coming up. There it is,
hiding behind the clouds, as though too sad to show
itself. Go home, everyone, and I’ll think it over. I’m
going to hold a proper inquiry. It’s a serious
business. There’ll be punishment for some and pardons
for others because there never was a story of more woe
than this of Juliet and her Romeo.