JULIET                        Come hither, Nurse. What is yond gentleman? NURSE            The son and heir of old Tiberio. JULIET                        What’s he that now is going out of door? NURSE            Marry, that I think be young Petruchio. JULIET                        What’s he that follows here, that would not dance? NURSE            I know not. JULIET                        Go ask his name.—If he be […]

BENVOLIO      Away, be gone, the sport is at the best. ROMEO           Ay, so I fear, the more is my unrest. CAPULET        Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone,                         We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.                                                 [They whisper in his ear.]                         Is’t e’en so? Why then I thank you all.                         I […]

NURSE            Madam, your mother craves a word with you. ROMEO           What is her mother? NURSE                                                Marry, bachelor,                         Her mother is the lady of the house,                         And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous.                         I nursed her daughter that you talked withal;                         I tell you, he that can lay hold of […]

ROMEO           Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged. JULIET                        Then have my lips the sin that they have took. ROMEO           Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!                         Give me my sin again. JULIET                                                            You kiss by th’book. (1.5.106-109) Uncharacteristically, I haven’t included the stage directions here. The edition from which […]

ROMEO           If I profane with my unworthiest hand                         This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,                         My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand                         To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. JULIET                        Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,                         Which mannerly devotion shows in this,                         For saints […]

CAPULET        What, goodman boy, I say he shall, go to!                         Am I the master here, or you? go to!                         You’ll not endure him? God shall mend my soul,                         You’ll make a mutiny among my guests!                         You will set cock-a-hoop! you’ll be the man! TYBALT          Why, uncle, ’tis a shame. CAPULET                                                        Go […]

CAPULET        Young Romeo, is it? TYBALT                                              ’Tis he, that villain Romeo. CAPULET        Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone,                         ’A bears him like a portly gentleman;                         And to say truth, Verona brags of him                         To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.                         I would not for the wealth of all this town […]

TYBALT          This, by his voice, should be a Montague.                         Fetch me my rapier, boy.                  [Exit Page]                                                             What dares the slave                         Come hither, covered with an antic face,                         To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?                         Now by the stock and honour of my kin,                         To strike him dead I hold […]

ROMEO           [To a Servingman] What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand                         Of yonder knight? SERVINGMAN                                    I know not, sir. ROMEO           O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!                         It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night                         As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear –                         Beauty too rich […]

CAPULET                    More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up;                                     And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.                                     Ah, sirrah, this unlooked-for sport comes well.                                     Nay sit, nay sit good Cousin Capulet,                                     For you and I are past our dancing days.                                     How long is’t now since last yourself […]