He’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead! (3.2.36-42)

JULIET                        Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands? NURSE            Ah weraday, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!                         We are undone, lady, we are undone.                         Alack the day, he’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead! JULIET                        Can heaven be so envious? NURSE                                                            Romeo can,                         Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo!                         […]

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The Nurse, with news (3.2.31-35)

JULIET                                                O, here comes my Nurse, Enter NURSE, with [the ladder of] cords [in her lap]. And she brings news, and every tongue that speaks But Romeo’s name speaks heavenly eloquence. Now, Nurse, what news? What has thou there? the cords That Romeo bid thee fetch? NURSE                                                            Ay, ay, the cords.                                     [Throws them down.]             (3.2.31-35) The […]

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The mansion of a love (3.2.26-31)

JULIET                        O, I have bought the mansion of a love,                         But not yet possessed it, and though I am sold,                         Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day                         As is the night before some festival                         To an impatient child that hath new robes                         And may not wear them. (3.2.26-31) This […]

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Little stars…. (3.2.20-25)

JULIET                        Come, gentle night, come, loving black-browed night,                         Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die                         Take him and cut him out in little stars,                         And he will make the face of heaven so fine                         That all the world will be in love with night                         And pay no worship […]

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Snow on sooty feathers, and taking flight (3.2.17-19)

JULIET                        Come, night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night,                         For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night                         Whiter than new snow upon a raven’s back. (3.2.17-19) This is where the speech turns in its conceits, and gets even better. But first, night has wings– and we fleetingly picture again not just the […]

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Bating blood, and love (strange but true) (3.2.10-16)

JULIET                                                            Come, civil Night,                         Thou sober-suited matron all in black,                         And learn me how to lose a winning match,                         Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.                         Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks,                         With thy black mantle, till strange love grow bold,                         Think true love acted simple modesty. […]

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Imagining amorous rites, and light in darkness (3.2.5-10)

JULIET         Spread thy close curtain, love-performing Night,                         That runaways’ eyes may wink, and Romeo                         Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen:                         Lovers can see to do their amorous rites                         By their own beauties, or if love be blind                         It best agrees with night. (3.2.5-10) And […]

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Gallop apace…. (3.2.1-4)

[3.2] Enter JULIET alone. JULIET                        Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,                         Towards Phoebus’ lodging; such a waggoner                         As Phaëton would whip you to the west,                         And bring in cloudy night immediately. (3.2.1-4) I feel like Troilus – Shakespeare’s Troilus, waiting to be introduced, finally, to Cressida, on whom he has a queasy crush. ‘I am […]

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The Prince concludes: no mercy (3.1.179-188)

PRINCE           I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding:                         My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;                         But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine                         That you shall all repent the loss of mine.                         I will be deaf to pleading and excuses,                         Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase […]

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The Prince’s justice (3.1.173-178)

PRINCE           Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;                         Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? MONTAGUE   Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend;                         His fault concludes but what the law should end,                         The life of Tybalt. PRINCE                                               And for that offence                         Immediately we do exile him hence. (3.1.173-178) There […]

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