FRIAR How long hath he been there? BALTHASAR Full half an hour. FRIAR Go with me to the vault. BALTHASAR I dare not, sir. My master knows not but that I am gone hence, And fearfully did menace me with death If I did stay to look on his intents. FRIAR Stay […]
Continue ReadingMonth: November 2018
Friar: who’s in the tomb? (5.3.121-129)
Enter FRIAR [LAWRENCE] with lantern, crow, and spade. FRIAR Saint Francis be my speed! how oft tonight Have my old feet stumbled at graves! Who’s there? BALTHASAR Here’s one, a friend, and one that knows you well. FRIAR Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend, What torch is yond that vainly […]
Continue ReadingWith a kiss… (5.3.116-120)
ROMEO Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here’s to my love! [Drinks.] O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [Dies.] (5.3.116-120) Does it seem trivial, or inappropriate, or just postponing […]
Continue ReadingLast look, last hug, last kiss (53.112-115)
ROMEO Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and lips, O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing Death! (5.3.112-115) This is a moment that connects with, makes sense of, all those previous moments of body language in the play. And most […]
Continue ReadingThe yoke of inauspicious stars – star-crossed… (5.3.108-112)
ROMEO Here, here will I remain With worms that are thy chambermaids; O here Will I set up my everlasting rest, And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. (5.3.108-112) Where is here? in the tomb, this palace of dim night, certainly. But there’s implied action, perhaps: here is […]
Continue ReadingI will stay here with you, always (5.3.101-108)
ROMEO Ah, dear Juliet, Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe That unsubstantial death is amorous, And that the lean abhorrèd monster keeps Thee here in dark to be his paramour? For fear of that, I still will stay with thee, And never from this palace of […]
Continue ReadingMaking peace with Tybalt (5.3.97-101)
ROMEO Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? O, what more favour can I do to thee Than with the hand that cut thy youth in twain To sunder his that was thine enemy? Forgive me, cousin. (5.3.97-101) This speech in the tomb (of which this is, obviously, only one […]
Continue ReadingMy love, my wife… (5.3.91-96)
ROMEO O my love, my wife, Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty: Thou art not conquered, beauty’s ensign yet Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks And Death’s pale flag is not advancèd there. (5.3.91-96). As anyone […]
Continue ReadingLight, and light’ning (5.3.87-91)
ROMEO Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred. [Laying Paris in the tomb.] How oft when men are at the point of death Have they been merry, which their keepers call A light’ning before death! O how may I Call this a light’ning? (5.3.87-91) Paris is death, because […]
Continue ReadingFull of light (5.3.81-86)
ROMEO O give me thy hand, One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book! I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave. A grave? O no, a lantern, slaughtered youth; For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a feasting presence full of light. (5.3.81-86) At some point, the […]
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