Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780486275574
• eBook ISBN: 9780486110004
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

One of Shakespeare's most popular and accessible plays, Romeo and Juliet tells the story of two star-crossed lovers and the unhappy fate that befell them as a result of a long and bitter feud between their families. The play contains some of Shakespeare's most beautiful and lyrical love poetry and is perhaps the finest celebration of the joys of young love ever written. This inexpensive edition includes the complete, unabridged text with explanatory footnotes. Ideal for classroom use, it is a wonderful addition to the home library of anyone wanting to savor one of literature's most sublime paeans to love.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A public place.

Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants.

BEN. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire:

The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,

And, if we meet, we shall not ’scape a brawl;

For now these hot days is the mad blood stirring.

MER. Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table, and says ‘God send me no need of thee!’ and by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer,¹ when indeed there is no need.

BEN. Am I like such a fellow?

MER. Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody,² and as soon moody to be moved.

BEN. And what to?

MER. Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes; what eye, but such an eye, would spy out such a quarrel? thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun: didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling!

BEN. An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.

MER. The fee-simple! O simple!

Enter TYBALT and others.

BEN. By my head, here come the Capulets.

MER. By my heel, I care not.

TYB. Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.

MER. And but one word with one of us? couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.

TYB. You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.

MER. Could you not take some occasion without giving?

TYB. Mercutio, thou consort’st with Romeo,—

MER. Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you dance. ’Zounds, consort!

BEN. We talk here in the public haunt of men:

Either withdraw unto some private place,

Or reason coldly of your grievances,

Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.

MER. Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;

I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.

Enter ROMEO.

TYB. Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.

MER. But I’ll be hang’d, sir, if he wear your livery:

Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower;

Your worship...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Note
• Contents
• Dramatis Personae
• Prologue
• Act I
• Act II
• Act III
• Act IV
• Act V