Original
Modern English
Holy Franciscan Friar! Brother, ho!
Holy Franciscan Friar! Brother, hey!
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua.
Welcome from Mantua.
What says Romeo?
What does Romeo say?
Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
Or, if he wrote down his mind, give me his letter.
Going to find a barefoot brother out, One of our order, to associate me,
I went to find another barefoot brother, ne of our order, to accompany me.
Here in this city visiting the sick,
He was in the city attending to sick folks.
And finding him, the searchers of the town, Suspecting that we both were in a house Where the infectious pestilence did reign,
I found him, but the town health officials suspected that we both had been to house where people were infected with the plague/
Seal’d up the doors, and would not let us forth,
They sealed up the doors, and would not let us out.
So that my speed to Mantua there was stay’d.
So, my journey to Mantua was stopped there.
Who bare my letter then to Romeo?
The, who took my letter to Romeo?
I could not send it,—here it is again,—
I could not send it. Here it is -[He gives the letter back to Friar Lawrence]
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection.
And I could not find a messenger to bring it to you because they were so fearful of the infection.
Unhappy fortune!
Terrible fate!
By my brotherhood, The letter was not nice, but full of charge, Of dear import,
By my brotherhood, the letter was not just a greeting , but full of news of great importance,
and the neglecting it May do much danger.
And neglecting it might result in much danger.
Friar John, go hence, Get me an iron crow and bring it straight Unto my cell.
Friar John, go now and get me an iron crowbar and bring it straight back to my cell.
Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee.
Brother, I’ll go and bring it to you.
Now must I to the monument alone.
Now I must go to the tomb alone.
Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake.
Within the next three hours, beautiful Juliet will wake up.
She will beshrew me much that Romeo Hath had no notice of these accidents;
She will curse me a lot that Romeo was not informed of these accidents.
But I will write again to Mantua, And keep her at my cell till Romeo come.
But I will write again to Mantua, and keep her at my cell till Romeo comes.
Poor living corse, clos’d in a dead man’s tomb.
Poor living corpse, closed in a dead man’s tomb!