First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Enter Capulet, Countie Paris, and the Clowne. | Enter Capulet, County Paris, and the Clown, a | | RJ I.ii.1.1 | |
| Servant | | RJ I.ii.1.2 | |
| Capu. | CAPULET | | | |
| Mountague is bound as well as I, | But Montague is bound as well as I, | bound (adj.) obliged, required, forced | RJ I.ii.1 | |
| In penalty alike, and 'tis not hard I thinke, | In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think, | | RJ I.ii.2 | |
| For men so old as wee, to keepe the peace. | For men so old as we to keep the peace. | | RJ I.ii.3 | |
| Par. | PARIS | | | |
| Of Honourable reckoning are you both, | Of honourable reckoning are you both, | reckoning (n.)esteem, estimation, distinction | RJ I.ii.4 | |
| And pittie 'tis you liu'd at ods so long: | And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. | | RJ I.ii.5 | |
| But now my Lord, what say you to my sute? | But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | RJ I.ii.6 | |
| Capu. | CAPULET | | | |
| But saying ore what I haue said before, | But saying o'er what I have said before: | | RJ I.ii.7 | |
| My Child is yet a stranger in the world, | My child is yet a stranger in the world; | | RJ I.ii.8 | |
| Shee hath not seene the change of fourteene yeares, | She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, | | RJ I.ii.9 | |
| Let two more Summers wither in their pride, | Let two more summers wither in their pride, | | RJ I.ii.10 | |
| Ere we may thinke her ripe to be a Bride. | Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. | | RJ I.ii.11 | |
| Pari. | PARIS | | | |
| Younger then she, are happy mothers made. | Younger than she are happy mothers made. | | RJ I.ii.12 | |
| Capu. | CAPULET | | | |
| And too soone mar'd are those so early made: | And too soon marred are those so early made. | | RJ I.ii.13 | |
| Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she, | Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; | | RJ I.ii.14 | |
| Shee's the hopefull Lady of my earth: | She's the hopeful lady of my earth. | hopeful (adj.)promising, giving hope of success | RJ I.ii.15 | |
| But wooe her gentle Paris, get her heart, | But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart. | gentle (adj.)well-born, honourable, noble | RJ I.ii.16 | |
| My will to her consent, is but a part, | My will to her consent is but a part, | | RJ I.ii.17 | |
| And shee agree, within her scope of choise, | And, she agreed, within her scope of choice | | RJ I.ii.18 | |
| Lyes my consent, and faire according voice: | Lies my consent and fair according voice. | voice (n.)support, approval, good word | RJ I.ii.19 | |
| | according (adj.)agreeing, assenting | | |
| This night I hold an old accustom'd Feast, | This night I hold an old accustomed feast, | | RJ I.ii.20 | |
| Whereto I haue inuited many a Guest, | Whereto I have invited many a guest, | | RJ I.ii.21 | |
| Such as I loue, and you among the store, | Such as I love; and you among the store, | store (n.)group, company, assembly | RJ I.ii.22 | |
| One more, most welcome makes my number more: | One more, most welcome, makes my number more. | | RJ I.ii.23 | |
| At my poore house, looke to behold this night, | At my poor house look to behold this night | | RJ I.ii.24 | |
| Earth-treading starres, that make darke heauen light, | Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light. | | RJ I.ii.25 | |
| Such comfort as do lusty young men feele, | Such comfort as do lusty young men feel | lusty (adj.)lustful, sensual, sexful | RJ I.ii.26 | |
| When well apparrel'd Aprill on the heele | When well-apparelled April on the heel | well-apparelled (adj.)well-dressed, nicely adorned | RJ I.ii.27 | |
| Of limping Winter treads, euen such delight | Of limping winter treads, even such delight | | RJ I.ii.28 | |
| Among fresh Fennell buds shall you this night | Among fresh female buds shall you this night | | RJ I.ii.29 | |
| Inherit at my house: heare all, all see: | Inherit at my house. Hear all; all see; | inherit (v.)receive, obtain, come into possession [of] | RJ I.ii.30 | |
| And like her most, whose merit most shall be: | And like her most whose merit most shall be; | | RJ I.ii.31 | |
| Which one more veiw, of many, mine being one, | Which, on more view of many, mine, being one, | | RJ I.ii.32 | |
| May stand in number, though in reckning none. | May stand in number, though in reckoning none. | reckoning (n.)counting up, enumeration, calculation | RJ I.ii.33 | |
| Come, goe with me: goe sirrah trudge about, | Come, go with me. (To Servant) Go, sirrah, trudge about | trudge about (v.)[of menials] walk about, tramp round | RJ I.ii.34 | |
| | sirrah (n.)sir [commanding, insulting, or familiar, depending on context] | | |
| Through faire Verona, find those persons out, | Through fair Verona; find those persons out | | RJ I.ii.35 | |
| Whose names are written there, and to them say, | Whose names are written there, and to them say, | | RJ I.ii.36 | |
| My house and welcome, on their pleasure stay. | My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. | | RJ I.ii.37 | |
| Exit. | Exeunt Capulet and Paris | | RJ I.ii.37 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Find them out whose names are written. Heere it | Find them out whose names are written here! It | | RJ I.ii.38 | |
| is written, that the Shoo-maker should meddle with his | is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his | meddle (v.)busy oneself, concern oneself | RJ I.ii.39 | |
| Yard, and the Tayler with his Last, the Fisher with his Pensill, | yard and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil | pencil (n.)finely-pointed paint-brush | RJ I.ii.40 | |
| | last (n.)wooden model of the foot, for shaping shoes | | |
| | fisher (n.)fisherman | | |
| | yard (n.)yard measure | | |
| and the Painter with his Nets. But I am sent to find those | and the painter with his nets. But I am sent to find those | | RJ I.ii.41 | |
| persons whose names are writ, & can neuer find | persons whose names are here writ, and can never find | | RJ I.ii.42 | |
| what names the writing person hath here writ (I must | what names the writing person hath here writ. I must | | RJ I.ii.43 | |
| to the learned) in good time. | to the learned. In good time! | time, in goodat the right moment | RJ I.ii.44 | |
| Enter Benuolio, and Romeo. | Enter Benvolio and Romeo | | RJ I.ii.45 | |
| Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
| Tut man, one fire burnes out anothers burning, | Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning. | | RJ I.ii.45 | |
| One paine is lesned by anothers anguish: | One pain is lessened by another's anguish. | | RJ I.ii.46 | |
| Turne giddie, and be holpe by backward turning: | Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning. | | RJ I.ii.47 | |
| One desparate greefe, cures with anothers lauguish: | One desperate grief cures with another's languish. | | RJ I.ii.48 | |
| Take thou some new infection to the eye, | Take thou some new infection to thy eye, | | RJ I.ii.49 | |
| And the rank poyson of the old wil die. | And the rank poison of the old will die. | rank (adj.)foul, festering, diseased | RJ I.ii.50 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Your Plantan leafe is excellent for that. | Your plantain leaf is excellent for that. | plantain (n.)variety of medicinal herb | RJ I.ii.51 | |
| Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
| For what I pray thee? | For what, I pray thee? | | RJ I.ii.52.1 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| For your broken shin. | For your broken shin. | | RJ I.ii.52.2 | |
| Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
| Why Romeo art thou mad? | Why, Romeo, art thou mad? | | RJ I.ii.53 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Not mad, but bound more then a mad man is: | Not mad, but bound more than a madman is; | | RJ I.ii.54 | |
| Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode, | Shut up in prison, kept without my food, | | RJ I.ii.55 | |
| Whipt and tormented: and Godden good fellow, | Whipped and tormented and – Good-e'en, good fellow. | | RJ I.ii.56 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Godgigoden, I pray sir can you read? | God gi' good-e'en. I pray, sir, can you read? | | RJ I.ii.57 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| I mine owne fortune in my miserie. | Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. | | RJ I.ii.58 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Perhaps you haue learn'd it without booke: | Perhaps you have learned it without book. But | book, withoutoff by heart, by rote | RJ I.ii.59 | |
| But I pray can you read any thing you see? | I pray, can you read anything you see? | | RJ I.ii.60 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| I, if I know the Letters and the Language. | Ay, if I know the letters and the language. | | RJ I.ii.61 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Ye say honestly, rest you merry. | Ye say honestly. Rest you merry. | | RJ I.ii.62 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Stay fellow, I can read. | Stay, fellow. I can read. | | RJ I.ii.63 | |
| He reades the Letter. | He reads the letter | | RJ I.ii.64 | |
| SEigneur Martino, and his wife and daughter: County Anselme | Signor Martino and his wife and daughters. County Anselm | | RJ I.ii.64 | |
| and his beautious sisters: the Lady widdow of Vtruuio, | and his beauteous sisters. The lady widow of Utruvio. | | RJ I.ii.65 | |
| Seigneur Placentio, and his louely Neeces: Mercutio and his | Signor Placentio and his lovely nieces. Mercutio and his | | RJ I.ii.66 | |
| brother Valentine: mine vncle Capulet his wife and daughters: | brother Valentine. Mine uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters. | | RJ I.ii.67 | |
| my faire Neece Rosaline, Liuia, Seigneur Valentio, & | My fair niece Rosaline and Livia. Signor Valentio and | | RJ I.ii.68 | |
| his Cosen Tybalt: Lucio and the liuely Helena. | his cousin Tybalt. Lucio and the lively Helena. | | RJ I.ii.69 | |
| A faire assembly, whither should they come? | A fair assembly. Whither should they come? | | RJ I.ii.70 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Vp. | Up. | | RJ I.ii.71 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Whither? to supper? | Whither? To supper? | | RJ I.ii.72 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| To our house. | To our house. | | RJ I.ii.73 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Whose house? | Whose house? | | RJ I.ii.74 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| My Maisters. | My master's. | | RJ I.ii.75 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Indeed I should haue askt you that before. | Indeed I should have asked thee that before. | | RJ I.ii.76 | |
| Ser. | SERVANT | | | |
| Now Ile tell you without asking. My maister is | Now I'll tell you without asking. My master is | | RJ I.ii.77 | |
| the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of | the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of | | RJ I.ii.78 | |
| Mountagues I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest | Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest | crush (v.)drink down, quaff, knock back | RJ I.ii.79 | |
| you merry. | you merry. | | RJ I.ii.80 | |
| Exit. | Exit Servant | | RJ I.ii.80 | |
| Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
| At this same auncient Feast of Capulets | At this same ancient feast of Capulet's | ancient, aunchient (adj.)long-established, long-standing | RJ I.ii.81 | |
| Sups the faire Rosaline, whom thou so loues: | Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, | sup (v.)have supper | RJ I.ii.82 | |
| With all the admired Beauties of Verona, | With all the admired beauties of Verona. | admired (adj.)regarded with admiration, wondered at | RJ I.ii.83 | |
| Go thither and with vnattainted eye, | Go thither, and, with unattainted eye | unattainted (adj.)dispassionate, detached, unprejudiced | RJ I.ii.84 | |
| Compare her face with some that I shall show, | Compare her face with some that I shall show, | | RJ I.ii.85 | |
| And I will make thee thinke thy Swan a Crow. | And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. | | RJ I.ii.86 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| When the deuout religion of mine eye | When the devout religion of mine eye | religion (n.)religious observance, spiritual duty, obligation | RJ I.ii.87 | |
| Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire: | Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; | | RJ I.ii.88 | |
| And these who often drown'd could neuer die, | And these, who often drowned, could never die, | | RJ I.ii.89 | |
| Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers. | Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! | | RJ I.ii.90 | |
| One fairer then my loue: the all-seeing Sun | One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun | | RJ I.ii.91 | |
| Nere saw her match, since first the world begun. | Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun. | | RJ I.ii.92 | |
| Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
| Tut, you saw her faire, none else being by, | Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, | | RJ I.ii.93 | |
| Herselfe poys'd with herselfe in either eye: | Herself poised with herself in either eye. | poise (v.)balance, weigh, make even | RJ I.ii.94 | |
| But in that Christall scales, let there be waid, | But in that crystal scales let there be weighed | | RJ I.ii.95 | |
| Your Ladies loue against some other Maid | Your lady's love against some other maid | | RJ I.ii.96 | |
| That I will show you, shining at this Feast, | That I will show you shining at this feast, | | RJ I.ii.97 | |
| And she shew scant shell, well, that now shewes best. | And she shall scant show well that now seems best. | scant (adv.)scarcely, barely, hardly | RJ I.ii.98 | |
| Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
| Ile goe along, no such sight to be showne, | I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, | | RJ I.ii.99 | |
| But to reioyce in splendor of mine owne. | But to rejoice in splendour of mine own. | | RJ I.ii.100 | |
| Exeunt | | RJ I.ii.100 | |