Romeo and Juliet
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Iuliet alone.Enter Juliet alone RJ III.ii.1.1
Iul. JULIET 
Gallop apace, you fiery footed steedes,Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,apace (adv.)
quickly, speedily, at a great rate		RJ III.ii.1
Towards Phoebus lodging, such a WagonerTowards Phoebus' lodging! Such a waggonerwaggoner, wagoner (n.)
driver, charioteer		RJ III.ii.2
Phoebus (n.)
[pron: 'feebus] Latin name for Apollo as the sun-god; also called Phoebus Apollo
As Phaeton would whip you to the west,As Phaeton would whip you to the WestPhaethon, Phaeton (n.)
[pron: 'fayuhton] son of Helios, the Greek sun-god, who tried to drive his chariot but was destroyed when he drove it too near Earth		RJ III.ii.3
And bring in Cloudie night immediately.And bring in cloudy night immediately. RJ III.ii.4
Spred thy close Curtaine Loue-performing night,Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, RJ III.ii.5
That run-awayes eyes may wincke, and RomeoThat runaway's eyes may wink, and Romeowink (v.)

old form: wincke
[of the eyes] close, shut		RJ III.ii.6
Leape to these armes, vntalkt of and vnseene,Leap to these arms untalked of and unseen. RJ III.ii.7
Louers can see to doe their Amorous rights,Lovers can see to do their amorous rites RJ III.ii.8
And by their owne Beauties: or if Loue be blind,By their own beauties; or, if love be blind, RJ III.ii.9
It best agrees with night: come ciuill night,It best agrees with night. Come, civil night,civil (adj.)

old form: ciuill
seemly, decent, well-behaved		RJ III.ii.10
Thou sober suted Matron all in blacke,Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,sober-suited (adj.)
sedately dressed		RJ III.ii.11
And learne me how to loose a winning match,And learn me how to lose a winning match,learn (v.)

old form: learne
teach, instruct [not a regional dialect usage as in modern English]		RJ III.ii.12
Plaid for a paire of stainlesse Maidenhoods,Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. RJ III.ii.13
Hood my vnman'd blood bayting in my Cheekes,Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks,unmanned (adj.)

old form: vnman'd
[falconry] untrained; also: without a husband		RJ III.ii.14
bate (v.)

old form: bayting
[falconry] beat the wings, flutter
With thy Blacke mantle, till strange Loue grow bold,With thy black mantle till strange love grow bold,strange (adj.)
unfamiliar, unknown, not previously experienced		RJ III.ii.15
mantle (n.)
loose sleeveless cloak
Thinke true Loue acted simple modestie:Think true love acted simple modesty.act (v.)
enact, enforce, bring about		RJ III.ii.16
Come night, come Romeo, come thou day in night,Come, night. Come, Romeo. Come, thou day in night; RJ III.ii.17
For thou wilt lie vpon the wings of nightFor thou wilt lie upon the wings of night RJ III.ii.18
Whiter then new Snow vpon a Rauens backe:Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back. RJ III.ii.19
Come gentle night, come louing blackebrow'd night.Come, gentle night. Come, loving, black-browed night.gentle (adj.)
soft, tender, kind		RJ III.ii.20
Giue me my Romeo, and when I shall die,Give me my Romeo. And when I shall die, RJ III.ii.21
Take him and cut him out in little starres,Take him and cut him out in little stars, RJ III.ii.22
And he will make the Face of heauen so fine,And he will make the face of heaven so fine RJ III.ii.23
That all the world will be in Loue with night,That all the world will be in love with night RJ III.ii.24
And pay no worship to the Garish Sun.And pay no worship to the garish sun. RJ III.ii.25
O I haue bought the Mansion of a Loue,O I have bought the mansion of a love, RJ III.ii.26
But not possest it, and though I am sold,But not possessed it; and though I am sold, RJ III.ii.27
Not yet enioy'd, so tedious is this day,Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day RJ III.ii.28
As is the night before some Festiuall,As is the night before some festival RJ III.ii.29
To an impatient child that hath new robesTo an impatient child that hath new robes RJ III.ii.30
And may not weare them,And may not wear them. RJ III.ii.31.1
Enter Nurse with cords.Enter Nurse, wringing her hands, with the ladder of cords RJ III.ii.31
O here comes my Nurse:O here comes my Nurse, RJ III.ii.31.2
And she brings newes and euery tongue that speaksAnd she brings news; and every tongue that speaks RJ III.ii.32
But Romeos, name, speakes heauenly eloquence:But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence. RJ III.ii.33
Now Nurse, what newes? what hast thou there?Now, Nurse, what news? What, hast thou there the cords RJ III.ii.34
The Cords that Romeo bid thee fetch?That Romeo bid thee fetch? RJ III.ii.35.1
Nur. NURSE 
I, I, the Cords.Ay, ay, the cords. RJ III.ii.35.2
She throws them down RJ III.ii.36
Iuli. JULIET 
Ay me, what newes? / Why dost thou wring thy hands.Ay me! what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands? RJ III.ii.36
Nur. NURSE 
A weladay, hee's dead, hee's dead,Ah, weraday! He's dead, he's dead, he's dead!weraday (int.)
well-a-day, alas		RJ III.ii.37
We are vndone Lady, we are vndone.We are undone, lady, we are undone!undone (adj.)

old form: vndone
ruined, destroyed, brought down		RJ III.ii.38
Alacke the day, hee's gone, hee's kil'd, he's dead.Alack the day! he's gone, he's killed, he's dead! RJ III.ii.39
Iul. JULIET 
Can heauen be so enuious?Can heaven be so envious?envious (adj.)

old form: enuious
malicious, spiteful, vindictive, full of enmity		RJ III.ii.40.1
Nur. NURSE 
Romeo can,Romeo can, RJ III.ii.40.2
Though heauen cannot. O Romeo, Romeo.Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo! RJ III.ii.41
Who euer would haue thought it Romeo.Who ever would have thought it? Romeo! RJ III.ii.42
Iuli. JULIET 
What diuell art thou, / That dost torment me thus?What devil art thou that dost torment me thus? RJ III.ii.43
This torture should be roar'd in dismall hell,This torture should be roared in dismal hell. RJ III.ii.44
Hath Romeo slaine himselfe? say thou but I,Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but ‘ Ay,’ RJ III.ii.45
And that bare vowell I shall poyson moreAnd that bare vowel ‘ I ’ shall poison more RJ III.ii.46
Then the death-darting eye of Cockatrice,Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.cockatrice (n.)
murderous serpent, basilisk		RJ III.ii.47
I am not I, if there be such an I.I am not I, if there be such an ‘ I ’ RJ III.ii.48
Or those eyes shot, that makes thee answere I:Or those eyes shut that makes thee answer ‘ I.’ RJ III.ii.49
If he be slaine say I, or if not, no.If he be slain, say ‘ Ay ’; or if not, ‘ No.’ RJ III.ii.50
Briefe, sounds, determine of my weale or wo.Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe.weal (n.)

old form: weale
welfare, well-being, prosperity		RJ III.ii.51
determine (v.)
make a decision [about], reach a conclusion [about]
Nur. NURSE 
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes,I saw the wound. I saw it with mine eyes – RJ III.ii.52
God saue the marke, here on his manly brest,God save the mark! – here on his manly breast.mark (n.)
in an apologetic exclamation, after referring to something unpleasant		RJ III.ii.53
A pitteous Coarse, a bloody piteous Coarse:A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse;corse (n.)

old form: Coarse
corpse, dead body		RJ III.ii.54
Pale, pale as ashes, all bedawb'd in blood,Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood, RJ III.ii.55
All in gore blood, I sounded at the sight-All in gore-blood. I swounded at the sight.swound (v.)

old form: sounded
faint, swoon		RJ III.ii.56
gore-blood (n.)

old form: gore blood
gory blood, clotted blood
Iul. JULIET 
O breake my heart, / Poore Banckrout breake at once,O, break, my heart! Poor bankrupt, break at once!break (v.)

old form: breake
go bankrupt, become insolvent		RJ III.ii.57
bancrout, bankrout, bankerout (n./adj./v.)

old form: Banckrout
bankrupt
To prison eyes, nere looke on libertie.To prison, eyes; ne'er look on liberty! RJ III.ii.58
Vile earth to earth resigne, end motion here,Vile earth, to earth resign; end motion here, RJ III.ii.59
And thou and Romeo presse on heauie beere.And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier!heavy (adj.)

old form: heauie
sorrowful, sad, gloomy		RJ III.ii.60
Nur. NURSE 
O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best Friend I had:O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! RJ III.ii.61
O curteous Tybalt honest Gentleman,O courteous Tybalt, honest gentleman!honest (adj.)
honourable, respectable, upright		RJ III.ii.62
That euer I should liue to see thee dead.That ever I should live to see thee dead! RJ III.ii.63
Iul. JULIET 
What storme is this that blowes so contrarie?What storm is this that blows so contrary? RJ III.ii.64
Is Romeo slaughtred? and is Tybalt dead?Is Romeo slaughtered, and is Tybalt dead, RJ III.ii.65
My dearest Cozen, and my dearer Lord:My dearest cousin and my dearer lord? RJ III.ii.66
Then dreadfull Trumpet sound the generall doome,Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the General Doom!doom (n.)

old form: doome
doomsday, day of judgement		RJ III.ii.67
For who is liuing, if those two aregone?For who is living, if those two are gone? RJ III.ii.68
Nur. NURSE 
Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished,Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished; RJ III.ii.69
Romeo that kil'd him, he is banished.Romeo that killed him, he is banished. RJ III.ii.70
Iul. JULIET 
O God! Did Rom'os hand shed Tybalts bloodO God! Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? RJ III.ii.71
NURSE 
It did, it did, alas the day, it did.It did, it did! Alas the day, it did! RJ III.ii.72
Nur. JULIET 
O Serpent heart, hid with a flowring face.O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! RJ III.ii.73
Iul. Did euer Dragon keepe so faire a Caue?Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? RJ III.ii.74
Beautifull Tyrant, fiend Angelicall:Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!tyrant (n.)
pitiless ruffian, cruel villain		RJ III.ii.75
Rauenous Doue-feather'd Rauen, / Woluish-rauening Lambe,Dove-feathered raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb!wolvish-ravening (adj.)devouring like a wolfRJ III.ii.76
Dispised substance of Diuinest show:Despised substance of divinest show! RJ III.ii.77
Iust opposite to what thou iustly seem'st,Just opposite to what thou justly seemest – justly (adv.)

old form: iustly
exactly, precisely, closely		RJ III.ii.78
A dimne Saint, an Honourable Villaine:A damned saint, an honourable villain! RJ III.ii.79
O Nature! what had'st thou to doe in hell,O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell RJ III.ii.80
When thou did'st bower the spirit of a fiendWhen thou didst bower the spirit of a fiendbower (v.)
enclose, fence in		RJ III.ii.81
In mortall paradise of such sweet flesh?In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?mortal (adj.)

old form: mortall
human, subject to death, characterized by mortality		RJ III.ii.82
Was euer booke containing such vile matterWas ever book containing such vile mattermatter (n.)
subject-matter, content, substance		RJ III.ii.83
So fairely bound? O that deceit should dwellSo fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell RJ III.ii.84
In such a gorgeous Pallace.In such a gorgeous palace! RJ III.ii.85.1
Nur. NURSE 
There's no trust,There's no trust, RJ III.ii.85.2
no faith, no honestie in men, / All periur'd,No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured, RJ III.ii.86
all forsworne, all naught, all dissemblers,All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.naught, nought (adj.)
bad, wicked, sinful		RJ III.ii.87
forswear (v), past forms forsworn, forswore

old form: forsworne
swear falsely, perjure [oneself], break one's word
dissembler (n.)
hypocrite, deceiver, charlatan
Ah where's my man? giue me some Aqua-vita?Ah, where's my man? Give me some aqua-vitae.aqua-vitae (n.)
spirits, alcohol, strong drink, brandy		RJ III.ii.88
These griefes, these woes, these sorrowes make me old:These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old. RJ III.ii.89
Shame come to Romeo.Shame come to Romeo! RJ III.ii.90.1
Iul. JULIET 
Blister'd be thy tongueBlistered be thy tongue RJ III.ii.90.2
For such a wish, he was not borne to shame:For such a wish! He was not born to shame. RJ III.ii.91
Vpon his brow shame is asham'd to sit;Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit.brow (n.)
forehead [often plural, referring to the two prominences of the forehead]		RJ III.ii.92
For 'tis a throane where Honour may be Crown'dFor 'tis a throne where honour may be crowned RJ III.ii.93
Sole Monarch of the vniuersall earth:Sole monarch of the universal earth. RJ III.ii.94
O what a beast was I to chide him?O, what a beast was I to chide at him!chide (v.), past form chid
scold, rebuke, reprove		RJ III.ii.95
Nur. NURSE 
Will you speake well of him, / That kil'd your Cozen?Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? RJ III.ii.96
Iul. JULIET 
Shall I speake ill of him that is my husband?Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? RJ III.ii.97
Ah poore my Lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy namesmooth (v.)
defend, gild, speak well of		RJ III.ii.98
When I thy three houres wife haue mangled it.When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? RJ III.ii.99
But wherefore Villaine did'st thou kill my Cozin?But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? RJ III.ii.100
That Villaine Cozin would haue kil'd my husband:That villain cousin would have killed my husband. RJ III.ii.101
Backe foolish teares, backe to your natiue spring,Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring! RJ III.ii.102
Your tributarie drops belong to woe,Your tributary drops belong to woe,tributary (adj.)

old form: tributarie
paying a tribute, contributory		RJ III.ii.103
Which you mistaking offer vp to ioy:Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. RJ III.ii.104
My husband liues that Tibalt would haue slaine,My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; RJ III.ii.105
And Tibalt dead that would haue slaine my husband:And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. RJ III.ii.106
All this is comfort, wherefore weepe I then?All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then? RJ III.ii.107
Some words there was worser then Tybalts deathSome word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, RJ III.ii.108
That murdered me, I would forget it feine,That murdered me. I would forget it fain.fain (adv.)
gladly, willingly		RJ III.ii.109
But oh, it presses to my memory,But O, it presses to my memory RJ III.ii.110
Like damned guilty deedes to sinners minds,Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds! RJ III.ii.111
Tybalt is dead and Romeo banished:‘ Tybalt is dead, and Romeo – banished.’ RJ III.ii.112
That banished, that one word banished,That ‘ banished,’ that one word ‘ banished,’ RJ III.ii.113
Hath slaine ten thousand Tibalts: Tibalts deathHath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death RJ III.ii.114
Was woe inough if it had ended there:Was woe enough, if it had ended there; RJ III.ii.115
Or if sower woe delights in fellowship,Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship RJ III.ii.116
And needly will be rankt with other griefes,And needly will be ranked with other griefs,needly (adv.)
of necessity, unavoidably		RJ III.ii.117
rank (v.)

old form: rankt
find, accompany [by]
Why followed not when she said Tibalts dead,Why followed not, when she said ‘ Tybalt's dead,’ RJ III.ii.118
Thy Father or thy Mother, nay or both,Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both, RJ III.ii.119
Which moderne lamentation might haue mou'd.Which modern lamentation might have moved?modern (adj.)

old form: moderne
ordinary, trite, commonplace, everyday		RJ III.ii.120
But which a rere-ward following Tybalts deathBut with a rearward following Tybalt's death,rearward (n.)

old form: rere-ward
rearguard action		RJ III.ii.121
Romeo is banished to speake that word,‘ Romeo is banished ’ – to speak that word RJ III.ii.122
Is Father, Mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Iuliet,Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet, RJ III.ii.123
All slaine, all dead: Romeo is banished,All slain, all dead. ‘ Romeo is banished ’ –  RJ III.ii.124
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, RJ III.ii.125
In that words death, no words can that woe sound.In that word's death. No words can that woe sound.sound (v.)
cry out, declare, proclaim		RJ III.ii.126
Where is my Father and my Mother Nurse?Where is my father and my mother, Nurse? RJ III.ii.127
Nur. NURSE 
Weeping and wailing ouer Tybalts Coarse,Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse.corse (n.)

old form: Coarse
corpse, dead body		RJ III.ii.128
Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.Will you go to them? I will bring you thither. RJ III.ii.129
Iu. JULIET 
Wash they his wounds with tears: mine shal be spentWash they his wounds with tears. Mine shall be spent,spend (v.)
use up, wear out, exhaust, bring to an end		RJ III.ii.130
When theirs are drie for Romeo's banishment.When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment. RJ III.ii.131
Take vp those Cordes, poore ropes you are beguil'd,Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguiled,beguile (v.)

old form: beguil'd
cheat, deceive, trick		RJ III.ii.132
Both you and I for Romeo is exild:Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. RJ III.ii.133
He made you for a high-way to my bed,He made you for a highway to my bed, RJ III.ii.134
But I a Maid, die Maiden widowed.But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed. RJ III.ii.135
Come Cord, come Nurse, Ile to my wedding bed,Come, cords. Come, Nurse. I'll to my wedding bed, RJ III.ii.136
And death not Romeo, take my Maiden head.And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! RJ III.ii.137
Nur. NURSE 
Hie to your Chamber, Ile find RomeoHie to your chamber. I'll find Romeohie (v.)
hasten, hurry, speed		RJ III.ii.138
To comfort you, I wot well where he is:To comfort you. I wot well where he is.wot (v.)
learn, know, be told		RJ III.ii.139
Harke ye your Romeo will be heere at night,Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night. RJ III.ii.140
Ile to him, he is hid at Lawrence Cell.I'll to him. He is hid at Laurence' cell. RJ III.ii.141
Iul. JULIET 
O find him, giue this Ring to my true Knight,O, find him! Give this ring to my true knight RJ III.ii.142
And bid him come, to take his last farewell.And bid him come to take his last farewell. RJ III.ii.143
Exit.Exit Juliet with Nurse RJ III.ii.143
 Previous Act III, Scene II Next  
x

Jump directly to