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! […]
Continue ReadingMonth: June 2018
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 […]
Continue ReadingThe 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 […]
Continue ReadingLittle 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 […]
Continue ReadingSnow 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 […]
Continue ReadingBating 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. […]
Continue ReadingImagining 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 […]
Continue ReadingGallop 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 […]
Continue ReadingThe 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 […]
Continue ReadingThe 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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