Original
Modern English
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire:
I request you, good Mercutio, let’s go home.
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl,
The day is hot, the Capulets are all over, and if we meet any of them, we will not be able to escape a fight.
For now these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
Hot days like these makes people mad and stirs their blood.
Thou art like one of these 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!’
You are like one of those fellows that, when he enters the confines of a pub, puts his sword upon the table, and says ‘God send me no need of to use these!’
and by the operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.
And by the time of the second cup, he draws his sword on the bartender, when indeed there is no need.
Am I like such a fellow?
Am I like such a fellow?
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy;
Come, come, you can be as hot a Jack in that mood as any in Italy.
and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.
And as soon moved to be angry, and can get angry when moved.
And what to?
So what?
Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other.
No, if there were two such men, it would not take long before there is none because 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.
You? Why, you will fight with a man that has a hair more or a hair less in his beard than you have.
Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes.
You will fight with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because he has hazel eyes.
What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel?
What eye but such an eye would seek out such a fight?
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.
Your head is as full of fights as an egg is full of meat, and yet your head has been beaten as rotten as an egg for fighting.
Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun.
You have fought with a man for coughing in the street, because he has awakened your dog that has been lying asleep in the sun.
Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter?
Did you not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new jacket before Easter?
with another for tying his new shoes with an old riband?
And with another for tying his new shoes with an old laces?
And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling!
And yet you are telling me how to avoid fights!
And 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.
If I were so quick to fight as you are, any man should buy the insurance of my life for an hour and a quarter.
The fee simple! O simple!
The insurance! Oh, simple!
By my head, here comes the Capulets.
By my head, here comes the Capulets.
By my heel, I care not.
By my foot, I do not care.
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
[TO HIS MEN] Follow me closely, I will speak to them.
Gentlemen, good-den: a word with one of you.
[TO MERCUTIO AND BENVOLIO] Gentlemen, good-afternoon! A word with one of you.
And but one word with one of us?
Just one word with one of us?
Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.
Couple it with something; make it a word and a punch.
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, and you will give me occasion.
You will find me inclined enough to do that, sir, if you give me a reason.
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
Could you not find a reason without me giving you one?
Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.
Mercutio, you hangout with Romeo.
Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels?
Hangout? What, do you think of us as musicians?
And thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords.
And if you think of us as musicians, you will hear nothing but contention.
Here’s my fiddlestick, here’s that shall make you dance.
[TOUCHING SWORD] Here’s my sword that should make you dance.
Zounds, consort!
Goodness, hangout!
We talk here in the public haunt of men.
We talk here in the public spot.
Either withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart;
Either withdraw to some private place and reason unemotionally of your grievances, Or else depart.
here all eyes gaze on us.
Here all eyes gaze on us.
Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze.
Men’s eyes were made to look. Let them gaze.
I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.
I will not move for no man’s pleasure.
Well, peace be with you, sir, here comes my man.
Well, may peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.
But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery.
But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wears your uniform.
Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower;
Alright! Walk out in the field, he will chase you.
Your worship in that sense may call him man.
Your lord in that sense may call him a "man".
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford No better term than this: Thou art a villain.
Romeo, the love I bear for you can afford no better term than this: You are a villain.
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting.
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love you excuses the appropriate rage to such a greeting.
Villain am I none;
I am no Villain.
Therefore farewell; I see thou know’st me not.
Therefore farewell; I see you don’t know me at all.
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw.
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that you have done to me, therefore turn and draw your sword.
I do protest I never injur’d thee,
I do protest I never injured you.
But love thee better than thou canst devise Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.
In fact, I love you more than you can realise till you know the reason of my love.
And so good Capulet, which name I tender As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.
And so good Capulet - which is a name I love as dearly as mine own, be satisfied.
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Oh calm, dishonourable, Immoral submission!
[
] The thrust of sword carries it away.
] Alla stoccata carries it away.
] The thrust of sword carries it away.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you fight with me?
What wouldst thou have with me?
What do you want with me?
Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal,
Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives that I mean to make bold withdrawal,
and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight.
And as you behave with me afterwards will decide the rest of the eight.
Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears?
Will you draw your sword out of your ears?
Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.
Hurry up, or let mine be about your ears before yours come out.
[
] I am for you.
] I am for you.
] I am for you.
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Gentle Mercutio, put your sword away.
Come, sir, your passado.
[TO TYBALT] Come, sir, your passado - attack forward.
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage,
Gentlemen, have shame, Refrain from this outrage.
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince explicitly has forbid this fighting in Verona streets.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
I am hurt.
I am hurt!
A plague o’both your houses. I am sped.
A plague upon both your houses. I am done.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?
Is he gone, and had no injury?
What, art thou hurt?
What, are you hurt?
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry,’tis enough.
Yes, yes, a scratch, a scratch. Yes, it’s enough.
Where is my page? Go villain, fetch a surgeon.
Where is my page? Go villain, find a doctor.
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
Courage, man; the injury cannot be that bad.
No,’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but’tis enough,’twill serve.
No, it’s not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but it’s enough, it will serve.
Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.
Ask for me tomorrow, and you will find me a grave man.
I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’both your houses.
I am done, I believe, for this world. May a plague strike on both your houses.
Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death.
God!, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat has scratched a man to death.
A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic!
A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic (calculation)!
—Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
[TO ROMEO] — Why the devil did you come between us? I was hurt under your arm.
I thought all for the best.
I was trying to do all for the best.
Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint.
Help me get inside some house, Benvolio, or I shall faint.
A plague o’both your houses.
May a plague strike both your houses.
They have made worms’meat of me.
They have made worms’ meat of me.
I have it, and soundly too. Your houses!
I have it, and soundly too. Curse your houses!
This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain’d With Tybalt’s slander,
This gentleman, a relative of the Prince and my very friend, has got his mortal hurt on my behalf; my reputation stained With Tybalt’s actions.
—Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my cousin.
Tybalt, who has been my cousin since an hour .
O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soften’d valour’s steel.
Oh sweet Juliet, your beauty has made me feminine and softened my valour’s steel.
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio’s dead,
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead.
That gallant spirit hath aspir’d the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
That heroic spirit has gone to the clouds, but it was too untimely to reject the earth.
This day’s black fate on mo days doth depend;
This day’s black fate will affect the future.
This but begins the woe others must end.
This but begins the agony others must end.
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
Again in triumph, and Mercutio slain?
Again in triumph, and Mercutio killed?
Away to heaven respective lenity,
Go away, respectfully and gently.
And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now!
And rage and fury be my conduct now!
Now, Tybalt, take the‘villain’back again That late thou gav’st me,
Now, Tybalt, take the ’villain’ back again the word you earlier called me.
for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company.
For Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for you to keep him company.
Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.
Either you or I, or both, must go with him.
Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence.
You wretched boy, that accompanied him here, must accompany him there too.
This shall determine that.
This shall determine that.
Romeo, away, be gone!
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
The citizens are coming, and Tybalt is killed.
Stand not amaz’d.
Do not stand amazed.
The Prince will doom thee death If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!
The Prince will doom you to death if you are caught. Hence, be gone, away!
O, I am fortune’s fool!
O, I am fortune’s fool!
Why dost thou stay?
Why are you still here?
Which way ran he that kill’d Mercutio?
Which way ran the man who killed Mercutio?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way did he run?
There lies that Tybalt.
There lies that Tybalt.
Up, sir, go with me.
[TO TYBALT] Get up, sir, come with me.
I charge thee in the Prince’s name obey.
I order you to obey in the name of the Prince.
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
Where are the wicked beginners of this fight?
O noble Prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl.
O noble Prince, I can reveal all the unlucky events of this fatal fight.
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
There lies the man, killed by young Romeo, that murdered our kinsman, brave Mercutio.
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child!
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child!
O Prince! O husband! O, the blood is spill’d Of my dear kinsman!
O Prince! O husband! O, the blood is spilled of my dear kinsman!
Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague.
Prince, as you are a man of honour, in return of blood of ours, you must shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, cousin.
O cousin, cousin.
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
Benvolio, who began this bloody fight?
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay;
Tybalt, lying dead, who was killed by Romeo’s hand.
Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink How nice the quarrel was, and urg’d withal Your high displeasure.
Romeo, that spoke politely, urged him to rethink how useless the fight was, and urged him to think about your displeasure.
All this uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow’d
All this said with gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed.
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Of Tybalt, deaf to peace,
But could not make peace with the disorderly spleen of Tybalt, deaf to peace.
but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And then he tilts with piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, who was as hot and turned deadly point to point.
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats Cold death aside, and with the other sends It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity Retorts it.
And, with a martial disdain, with one hand he beats cold death aside, and with the other attacks Tybalt, whose dexterity replies it.
Romeo he cries aloud, ‘Hold, friends! Friends, part!’
Romeo cried aloud, ‘Hold, friends! Friends, part!’
and swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And’twixt them rushes;
And faster than his tongue, his agile arm pushes them away, dodge their blows.
underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
And underneath his arm, an envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
But by and by comes back to Romeo, Who had but newly entertain’d revenge,
But soon again Tybalt comes back to Romeo, who had but new desire for revenge.
And to’t they go like lightning; for, ere I Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain;
And as quick as lightning; before I could draw them apart, there was stout Tybalt killed.
And as he fell did Romeo turn and fly.
And as he fell, Romeo turned around and flew.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
He is a kinsman to the Montague.
He is a kinsman to the Montague.
Affection makes him false, he speaks not true.
Affection makes him false, he does not speak the truth.
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life.
Some twenty of them fought in this awful conflict, and all those twenty could but kill one life only.
I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give;
I beg for justice, which you, Prince, must give.
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
Romeo killed Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio.
Romeo killed him, he killed Mercutio.
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Who should pay the price of his dear blood?
Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend;
Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend.
His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.
His crime concludes what otherwise the law would have done, the end of life of Tybalt.
And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence.
And for that crime, immediately we do exile him.
I have an interest in your hate’s proceeding,
I have an interest in your hate crime.
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
My relative for your rude fights lies dead.
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
But I will punish you with so strong a fine that you would all repent the loss of mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses. Therefore use none.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; nor tears nor prayers will purchase out abuses. Therefore use none.
Let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.
Let Romeo to leave the city in hurry, else, when he is found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body, and attend our will.
Take away this body, and do what I say.
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Showing mercy by pardoning killers only causes murders.