Original
Modern English
But Montague is bound as well as I, In penalty alike;
But Montague has sworn an oath just like I have and he has to pay the same penalty.
and’tis not hard, I think, For men so old as we to keep the peace.
I don’t think it will be hard for old men like us to keep the peace.
Of honourable reckoning are you both, And pity’tis you liv’d at odds so long.
You both hold good reputations and it’s a pity that you both have been enemies for so long.
But now my lord, what say you to my suit?
But now, my lord, what do you have to say to my request?
But saying o’er what I have said before.
I repeat what I have already said before.
My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
My child is too young for this world. She is not even fourteen years old.
Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
Let’s allow two more summers to pass before we start thinking that she is ready for marriage.
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
Girls younger than your daughter are happy mothers now.
And too soon marr’d are those so early made.
Girls who marry too young grow up too early.
The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she, She is the hopeful lady of my earth:
All my children have been buried in the earth, so all my hopes rest in her.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, My will to her consent is but a part; And she agree, within her scope of choice Lies my consent and fair according voice.
But you may woo her, kind Paris. Go, win her heart, make her love you.
This night I hold an old accustom’d feast, Whereto I have invited many a guest, Such as I love, and you among the store, One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
My permission is only conditional. If she agrees to marry you, my blessings and fair words will confirm her choice.
At my poor house look to behold this night Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light:
Tonight, I am hosting a traditional dinner that has been a custom for many years now. I have invited many guests and I would like to welcome you and have you as my guest.
Such comfort as do lusty young men feel When well apparell’d April on the heel Of limping winter treads, even such delight
At my modest house tonight, you will see dazzling stars that walk on the ground and light the sky from below.
Among fresh female buds shall you this night Inherit at my house.
Like all lusty men, you will be pleased to see young women, as fresh as spring flowers.
Hear all, all see, And like her most whose merit most shall be: Which,
Talk to them and look at them all and choose whoever you like.
on more view of many, mine, being one, May stand in number, though in reckoning none. Come, go with me.
You may find someone more beautiful than my daughter. Come with me.
Go, sirrah, trudge about Through fair Verona;
Go, sir, roam around Verona.
find those persons out Whose names are written there, [
] Find the people on this list and tell them they are invited to my house for a feast tonight.
] and to them say, My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
] Find the people on this list and tell them they are invited to my house for a feast tonight.
Find them out whose names are written here!
Find out whose names are written on the list?
It is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil, and the painter with his nets;
It is written that the shoemakers and tailors should use each other’s tools, and the fishermen should use the brushes while the painters must use the fishing nets.
but I am sent to find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ.
but now I am asked to read the names on the list and invite them but I can not read.
I must to the learned. In good time!
I must find someone who can read to help me.
Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning,
Come on Romeo! A fire can be put out by starting a new one.
One pain is lessen’d by another’s anguish;
An old hurt can be forgotten by a new pain.
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;
If you feel dizzy, you can fix it by spinning in the other direction.
One desperate grief cures with another’s languish:
A new grief will cure an old one.
Take thou some new infection to thy eye, And the rank poison of the old will die.
Let your eyes show affection to some new girl, and your love sickness will be cured.
Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
The plantain leaf is excellent for that.
For what, I pray thee?
For what, I ask you?
For your broken shin.
For your broken leg.
Why, Romeo, art thou mad?
Why Romeo! Are you mad?
Not mad, but bound more than a madman is:
Not mad, but I am bound more tightly than any mental patient.
Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
As if I am locked in a prison, without food.
Whipp’d and tormented and—
I am beaten and tortured and -
God-den, good fellow.
[TO PETER] Good evening, good fellow.
God gi’go-den. I pray, sir, can you read?
A very Good evening to you. I ask you, sir, Can you read?
Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
Yes, I can ready my fortune in my misery.
Perhaps you have learned it without book.
Perhaps you have memorised it.
But I pray, can you read anything you see?
But I request you to tell me if you can read what you see?
Ay, If I know the letters and the language.
Yes, If I know the letters and the language.
Ye say honestly, rest you merry!
That is an honest answer. Have a good day sir!
Stay, fellow; I can read.
Stay, fellow; I can read.
A fair assembly. [
] Where are they suppose to go?
] Whither should they come?
] Where are they suppose to go?
Up.
Up.
Whither to supper?
Where?
To our house.
To Supper. To our house.
Whose house?
Whose house?
My master’s.
My master’s house.
Indeed I should have ask’d you that before.
Indeed. I should have asked you that before.
Now I’ll tell you without asking.
Fine. I will tell you even without you asking.
My master is the great rich Capulet,
My master is the the great, rich, Capulet.
and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.
And if you are not from the house of Montagues, I request you to come over and drink as much as you like.
Rest you merry.
Have a good day!
At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lov’st; With all the admired beauties of Verona.
At this same traditional feast of Capulet’s, Rosaline will be there along with all other beautiful girls of Verona.
Go thither and with unattainted eye, Compare her face with some that I shall show,
Let’s go there and you yourself compare her to some other whom I point out.
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
And I will show you that the woman you think is as beautiful as a swan is actually as ugly as a crow.
When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire;
If my faithful eyes ever lie to me like that, let my tears burn into flames and burn them for being such obvious liars.
And these who, often drown’d, could never die, Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars.
This way, my eyes which never drowned in my tears, can be burned for being such obvious liars!
One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun.
Someone more beautiful than my love? The sun has never seen anyone as beautiful as her since the world began.
Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, Herself pois’d with herself in either eye:
Come on, you saw her first and decided that she is the most beautiful woman and there was no one around to compare her with.
But in that crystal scales let there be weigh’d Your lady’s love against some other maid That I will show you shining at this feast, And she shall scant show well that now shows best.
But let your eyes compare her to other beautiful woman I am going to show you at the feast and you will see that she is far from the best.
I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown, But to rejoice in splendour of my own.
I’ll go along with you - not to look at other beautiful woman but to look at my love.