Faculty of English

BENVOLIO      My noble uncle, do you know the cause? MONTAGUE   I neither know it, nor can learn of him. BENVOLIO      Have you importuned him by any means? MONTAGUE   Both by myself and many other friends,                         But he, his own affections’ counsellor,                         Is to himself (I will not say how true)                         But to […]

MONTAGUE   Many a morning hath he there been seen,                         With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew,                         Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs,                         But all so soon as the all-cheering sun                         Should in the farthest east begin to draw                         The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,                         Away from […]

BENVOLIO      Madam, an hour before the worshipped sun Peered forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drive me to walk abroad, Where underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from this city side, So early walking did I see your son; Towards him I made, but he was ware of me, […]

LADY MONTAGUE     O where is Romeo? saw you him today?                                     Right glad I am he was not at this fray. (1.1.107-8) Finally, one of the protagonists is named, and it’s a nice anticipation – to a knowing audience – of one of the most misremembered and misquoted phrases in the play, Juliet’s ‘Wherefore art […]

MONTAGUE   Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?                         Speak, nephew, were you by when it began? BENVOLIO      Here were the servants of your adversary,                         And yours, close fighting ere I did approach:                         I drew to part them; in the instant came                         The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,                         Which, […]

PRINCE           For this time all the rest depart away:                         You, Capulet, shall go along with me,                         And, Montague, come you this afternoon,                         To know our farther pleasure in this case,                         To old Free-town, our common judgement-place.                         Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. Exeunt [all but Montague, Lady […]

PRINCE           Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,                         By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,                         Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets,                         And made Verona’s ancient citizens                         Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments                         To wield old partisans, in hands as old,                         Cankered with peace, to part your cankered […]

Enter PRINCE ESCALUS with his train. PRINCE       Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,                         Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel—                         Will they not hear? – What ho, you men, you beasts!                         That quench the fire of your pernicious rage                         With purple fountains issuing from your veins:                         On pain of torture, […]

Enter old CAPULET in his gown, and his wife [LADY CAPULET]. CAPULET        What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho! LADY CAPULET         A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword? CAPULET        My sword, I say! Old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Enter old MONTAGUE and […]

Enter [several of both houses, who join the fray, and] three or four Citizens [as OFFICERS of the Watch,] with clubs or partisans. OFFICERS       Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down! Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues! (1.1.64-5) A rare observation (in this context) on performance: the stage is filling up, and […]