Original
Modern English
Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.
Will you be gone? It is not yet close to daytime.
It was the nightingale, and not the lark, That pierc’d the fearful hollow of thine ear; Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree.
It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of your ear, and sang on that pomegranate tree every night.
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
It was the lark, the herald of the morn, No nightingale.
It was the lark, the signal of the morning, not a nightingale.
Look, love, what envious streaks Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.
Look, love, what envious streaks illuminates the severing clouds in the far east.
Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
Night’s candles are burnt out, and the cheerful day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
I must be gone to live, or I can stay and die.
Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I.
That light is not daylight, I know it.
It is some meteor that the sun exhales To be to thee this night a torchbearer And light thee on thy way to Mantua.
It is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be a torchbearer to this night, and light you on thy way to Mantua.
Therefore stay yet, thou need’st not to be gone.
Therefore stay now, you do not have to leave.
Let me be ta’en, let me be put to death,
Let me be caught, let me be put to death.
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
I am happy, if that’s how you want to have it.
I’ll say yon grey is not the morning’s eye, ’Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow.
I’ll say that grey is not the coming morning, instead it is the pale reflection of the moon.
Nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat The vaulty heaven so high above our heads.
And it is not the lark who sings in the vaulty heaven so high above our heads.
I have more care to stay than will to go.
I would rather stay than go.
Come, death, and welcome. Juliet wills it so.
Come, death, and welcome. Juliet wants it so.
How is’t, my soul? Let’s talk. It is not day.
How is it, my love? Let’s talk. It is not day.
It is, it is!
It is, it is!
Hie hence, be gone, away.
Go away, be gone, away.
It is the lark that sings so out of tune, Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
It is the lark that sings so out of tune, straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division; This doth not so, for she divideth us.
Some say the lark makes a sweet transition between day and night. That’s not so, for she divides us.
Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes.
Some say the lark and disgusting toad change eyes.
O, now I would they had chang’d voices too, Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, Hunting thee hence with hunt’s-up to the day.
Oh, now I wish they had changed voices too, since it’s lark’s voice that pulls us from each other’s arms and sets men hunting you during the day.
O now be gone, more light and light it grows.
Oh now be gone, more light and light it grows.
More light and light, more dark and dark our woes.
The lighter it gets, the darker is our fate.
Madam.
Madam.
Nurse?
Nurse?
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.
The day is broke, be wary, look about.
The day has arrived. Be wary. Watch out.
Then, window, let day in, and let life out.
The window lets the day in and lets my life out.
Farewell, farewell, one kiss, and I’ll descend.
Farewell, farewell, one kiss, and I’ll go down the ladder.
Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, friend,
Are you gone just like that, love, lord, my husband, friend!
I must hear from thee every day in the hour, For in a minute there are many days.
I must hear from you every day in the hour, for in a minute there are many days.
O, by this count I shall be much in years Ere I again behold my Romeo.
Oh, by this count, I will be much older before I again behold my Romeo.
Farewell!
Farewell!
I will omit no opportunity That may convey my greetings, love, to thee.
I will leave no opportunity that may convey my greetings, love, to you.
O thinkest thou we shall ever meet again?
O do you think that we will ever meet again?
I doubt it not, and all these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in our time to come.
I do not doubt it, and all these miseries will serve for sweet stories to tell in our time to come.
O God! I have an ill-divining soul!
O God! My soul senses some evil coming!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
I think that when I see you now standing down there as you are, you look as if you are lying dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale.
Either my eyesight is failing me, or you look pale.
And trust me, love, in my eye so do you.
And trust me, love, in my eyes, so do you.
Dry sorrow drinks our blood.
Dry sorrow drinks our blood.
Adieu, adieu.
Goodbye, goodbye!
O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle,
Oh fortune, Fortune! All men call you fickle minded.
If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him That is renown’d for faith?
If you are so fickle minded, what will you do with him, who is known for faith?
Be fickle, Fortune; For then, I hope thou wilt not keep him long But send him back.
Be fickle, Fortune so then, I hope you will not keep him away for long but send him back.
[
] Hey, daughter! Are you up?
] Ho, daughter, are you up?
] Hey, daughter! Are you up?
Who is’t that calls? Is it my lady mother?
Who is calling? Is it my lady mother?
Is she not down so late, or up so early?
Is she up until this late, or did she wake up so early?
What unaccustom’d cause procures her hither?
What extraordinary circumstances made her come here?
Why, how now, Juliet?
What is the matter, Juliet?
Madam, I am not well.
Madam, I am not well.
Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?
Will you be always weeping for your cousin’s death?
What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?
What, will you wash him from his grave with your tears?
And if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live. Therefore have done:
And if you could, you couldt not bring him to life. Therefore, stop crying.
some grief shows much of love, But much of grief shows still some want of wit.
Some grief shows much of love, but too much of grief shows still lack of wisdom.
Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.
Yet let me weep for such a terrible loss.
So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend Which you weep for.
Weeping like this will make you feel the loss, but won’t bring the friend which you weep for.
Feeling so the loss, I cannot choose but ever weep the friend.
Feeling the loss, I cannot help but weep for the friend forever.
Well, girl, thou weep’st not so much for his death As that the villain lives which slaughter’d him.
Well, girl, you are not weeping for his death, but rather the villain who lives, which slaughtered him.
What villain, madam?
What villain, madam?
That same villain Romeo.
That same villain Romeo.
Villain and he be many miles asunder.
[TO HERSELF] Villain and he be many miles apart.
God pardon him. I do, with all my heart.
[TO LADY CAPULET] May God pardon him. I do, with all my heart.
And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.
And yet no man like him made my heart grieve so much.
That is because the traitor murderer lives.
That is because the traitor murderer lives.
Ay madam, from the reach of these my hands.
Yes madam, out of the reach of my hands.
Would none but I might venge my cousin’s death.
I wish I could be the one to avenge my cousin’s death.
We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not.
We will have vengeance for it, fear you not.
Then weep no more.
Then weep no more.
I’ll send to one in Mantua, Where that same banish’d runagate doth live,
I’ll send a note to someone in Mantua, where that same banish’d deserter lives.
Shall give him such an unaccustom’d dram That he shall soon keep Tybalt company:
He will give him such a unfamiliar liquor that he will soon be in the Tybalt’s company.
And then I hope thou wilt be satisfied.
And then I hope you will be satisfied.
Indeed I never shall be satisfied With Romeo till I behold him—dead— Is my poor heart so for a kinsman vex’d.
Indeed I will never be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him — dead - is my poor heart so frustrated for my kinsman.
Madam, if you could find out but a man To bear a poison, I would temper it, That Romeo should upon receipt thereof, Soon sleep in quiet.
Madam, if you could find out a man to bring poison, I would mix it myself, that Romeo should upon receiving it once, soom sleep in quiet forever.
O, how my heart abhors To hear him nam’d, and cannot come to him, To wreak the love I bore my cousin Upon his body that hath slaughter’d him.
Oh, how my heart hates to hear his name, and cannot go near him to wreak the love I had for my cousin upon his body that has killed him.
Find thou the means, and I’ll find such a man.
Find out the means, and I’ll find such a man.
But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.
But now I will tell you the joyful news, girl.
And joy comes well in such a needy time.
And joy comes well in such a needy time.
What are they, I beseech your ladyship?
What is the news, I implore you ladyship?
Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child; One who to put thee from thy heaviness,
Well, well, you have a careful father, child, one who wants to put you away from this heaviness.
Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy, That thou expects not, nor I look’d not for.
He has arranged a sudden day of joy, that you were neither expected nor looking for.
Madam, in happy time, what day is that?
Madam, in happy time, what day is that?
Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.
Well, my child, early next Thursday morning, the gallant, young, and noble gentleman, the County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church will happily make you his joyful bride.
Now by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride.
Right now, I swear by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, that he will not make me his joyful bride.
I wonder at this haste, that I must wed Ere he that should be husband comes to woo.
I wonder at this hurry, why I must wed would-be husband even before he comes to woo me.
I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet;
I request you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet.
and when I do, I swear It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris.
And when I do, I swear, it will be Romeo whom you know I hate, and not Paris.
These are news indeed.
This is some news indeed.
Here comes your father, tell him so yourself, And see how he will take it at your hands.
Here comes your father! Tell him so yourself and see how he will take it yourself.
When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; But for the sunset of my brother’s son It rains downright.
When the sun sets, the air drizzles dew; but for the sunset of my brother’s son (Tybalt), it comes down as a downpour.
How now? A conduit, girl? What, still in tears? Evermore showering?
[TO JULIET] What’s with you? A conduit, girl? What, still in tears? Will you cry forever?
In one little body Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind. For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears;
In one little body, you resemble a ship, a sea, and the wind. For still your eyes, which I may call the sea, recedes and flows with tears.
the bark thy body is, Sailing in this salt flood,
Your body is like the ship, sailing in this salt water of your tears.
the winds, thy sighs, Who raging with thy tears and they with them, Without a sudden calm will overset Thy tempest-tossed body.
The winds are your sighs, which rages with your tears and unless you instantly calm it down, it will toss your body as if it’s a storm and it will sink you.
How now, wife? Have you deliver’d to her our decree?
So, what is happening, wife? Have you delivered our announcement to her?
Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks.
Yes, sir! But she will not, she gives you thanks.
I would the fool were married to her grave.
I wish this fool were married to her grave.
Soft. Take me with you, take me with you, wife.
What. explain me, explain me, wife.
How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
Will she refuse? Does she not say us thank you? Is she not proud of the match?
Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?
Is she not counting her blessings, unworthy as she is, that we have found such worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?
Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.
Not proud for what you have found, but thankful that you have.
Proud can I never be of what I hate; But thankful even for hate that is meant love.
I can not be proud of what I hate but I am thankful even for this hate as it was meant for love.
How now, how now, chopp’d logic? What is this?
What now, what now, Insane logic? What is this?
Proud, and, I thank you, and I thank you not; And yet not proud.
Proud, and, I thank you, and I thank you not and yet not proud.
Mistress minion you, Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
You useless woman, don’t give me your thank you and not thank you, proud and not prouds.
But fettle your fine joints’gainst Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
But condition your fine joints for next Thursday to go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church.
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Or I will drag you there on a hurdle.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You pale-face!
Fie, fie! What, are you mad?
Alas, my lord! What, are you mad?
Good father, I beseech you on my knees, Hear me with patience but to speak a word.
Good father, I beg you on my knees, hear me with patience and let me speak a word.
Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch!
Hang there young disagreeable woman, you disobedient woman!
I tell thee what,—get thee to church a Thursday, Or never after look me in the face.
I tell you what, —get yourself to church on Thursday, or never look at me in the face.
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me. My fingers itch.
Do not speak, do not reply, do not answer me. My fingers itch.
Wife, we scarce thought us blest That God had lent us but this only child; But now I see this one is one too much,
Wife, we never thought that God blessed us that we had only one child but now I see this one is one too much.
And that we have a curse in having her.
And that we have a curse in having her.
Out on her, hilding.
Out on her, good-for-nothing!
God in heaven bless her.
God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.
You are to blame, my lord, to shout at her like that.
And why, my lady wisdom?
And why is that, my lady of such wisdom?
Hold your tongue,
Hold your tongue.
Good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go.
Be cautious; Go chatter with your gossiping friends.
I speak no treason.
I speak no treason.
O God ye good-en!
Oh, for God’s sake!
May not one speak?
Can I not speak?
Peace, you mumbling fool!
Peace, you mumbling fool!
Utter your gravity o’er a gossip’s bowl, For here we need it not.
Speak your wisdom in front of your gossiping gang. We do not need it here.
You are too hot.
You are too angry.
God’s bread, it makes me mad!
By God, it makes me mad!
Day, night, hour, ride, time, work, play, Alone, in company, still my care hath been To have her match’d,
Day, night, hour, ride, time, work, play, alone, in company, I have always cared to find her a suitable match.
and having now provided A gentleman of noble parentage, Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly allied, Stuff’d, as they say, with honourable parts, Proportion’d as one’s thought would wish a man,
And having now provided a gentleman of noble parentage, of fair fortunes, youthful, and nobly allied, stuffed, as they say, with honorable parts, proportioned as one’s thought would wish for a man.
And then to have a wretched puling fool, A whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender, To answer,‘I’ll not wed, I cannot love, I am too young, I pray you pardon me.’
And then to have a wretched crying fool, a whining woman, responds to her fortune by saying, ’I will not marry, I cannot love, I am too young, I beg you to pardon me.’
But, and you will not wed, I’ll pardon you.
But, if you do not get married, here is how I will pardon you.
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.
Eat wherever you want, except in my house with me.
Look to’t, think on’t, I do not use to jest.
Look at that, think about it, I am not use to kidding.
Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise.
Thursday is near; lay your hand on your heart, and listen to my advise.
And you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend;
And if you will be mine, I will give you to my friend.
And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
And if you are not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets.
For by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.
For by my soul, I will never acknowledge you nor what is mine will be given to you.
Trust to’t, bethink you, I’ll not be forsworn.
Trust me on it. Think about it. I am not break my oath.
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, That sees into the bottom of my grief?
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds, that sees into the bottom of my grief?
O sweet my mother, cast me not away,
Oh my sweet mother, do not cast me away.
Delay this marriage for a month, a week, Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.
Delay this marriage for a month, a week, or, if you do not, make the bridal bed in that crypt where Tybalt lies.
Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.
Do not talk to me as I will not say a word.
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Do as you will, for I am done with you.
O God! O Nurse, how shall this be prevented?
Oh God! Oh Nurse, how can this be prevented?
My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven.
My husband is alive on earth, and my faith in heaven.
How shall that faith return again to earth, Unless that husband send it me from heaven By leaving earth?
How shall that faith return again to earth, unless my husband goes to heaven and send it to me from heaven.
Comfort me, counsel me.
Comfort me, counsel me.
Alack, alack, that heaven should practise stratagems Upon so soft a subject as myself.
Oh, Oh, why heaven is devising a plan upon as soft a subject as myself.
What say’st thou? Hast thou not a word of joy?
What do you say? Don’t you have a word of joy?
Some comfort, Nurse.
Some comfort, Nurse.
Faith, here it is.
Faith, here it is.
Romeo is banished; and all the world to nothing That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you.
Romeo is banished; and there is no chance in the world, he will come back to challenge if you get married.
Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
Or if he comes back, it needs to be in the stealth mode.
Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the County.
Since the case so stands as now it does, I think it is best that you get married to the County.
O, he’s a lovely gentleman.
Oh, he is a lovely gentleman.
Romeo’s a dishclout to him.
Romeo is a dish cloth compared to him.
An eagle, madam, Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye As Paris hath.
An eagle, madam, does not have eyes as green, as quick, as beautiful as Paris has.
Beshrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first:
Curse my very heart, I think you are lucky in this second match, for it excels your first.
or if it did not, Your first is dead, or’twere as good he were, As living here and you no use of him.
Or even if he did not, Your first husband is dead, or as good as dead, since Romeo does not live here and you have no use of him.
Speakest thou from thy heart?
Are you speaking from your heart?
And from my soul too, Or else beshrew them both.
And from my soul too, Or else curse them both.
Amen.
Amen.
What?
What?
Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much.
Well, you have comforted me greatly.
Go in, and tell my lady I am gone, Having displeas’d my father, to Lawrence’cell, To make confession and to be absolv’d.
Go in, and tell my lady I am going to Lawrence’s cell to make confession and be absolved as I have displeased my father.
Marry, I will; and this is wisely done.
Indeed, I will. And this is wisely done.
Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!
Damn old lady! Oh most wicked fiend!
Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue Which she hath prais’d him with above compare So many thousand times?
Is it more sin to wish me to go back on my vows, or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue which she used to praise him without comparisons a thousand times before?
Go, counsellor. Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.
Go, counsellor. You and my heart henceforth will be two.
I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy.
I will go to the Friar to know his remedy.
If all else fail, myself have power to die.
If everything else fail, I have the power to take my own life.