Give me thy torch, boy. Hence and stand aloof.
Yet put it out, for I would not be seen.
Under yond yew tree lay thee all along,
Holding thy ear close to the hollow ground;
So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread,
Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves,
But thou shalt hear it. Whistle then to me,
As signal that thou hear’st something approach.
Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.
Give me your torch, boy. Go away and keep your distance. But put the light out first, because I don't want to be seen. Lay down under that yew tree, stretched out on the ground, Holding your ear close to the hollow earth. Then you'll hear any footstep in the churchyard, Since the ground is loose and unstable from digging graves. When you hear something approaching, whistle to me As a signal. Give me those flowers. Do as I tell you, now go.
Give me your torch, boy, and then get away from here and stay back. But turn off the light first—I don't want to be seen. Lay flat under that yew tree and hold your ear to the ground. That way you'll hear anyone coming through the churchyard because the earth's all loose from burying people. If you hear someone, whistle to warn me. Hand me those flowers and then get going.
give me torch go back put out light lay by yew tree listen to ground whistle if u hear someone go
[_Aside._] I am almost afraid to stand alone
Here in the churchyard; yet I will adventure.
I am almost afraid to stand alone here in the churchyard, yet I will take the risk.
I'm scared to be alone here in this graveyard, but I'll do it anyway.
im scared alone here but ill do it
Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew.
O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones,
Which with sweet water nightly I will dew,
Or wanting that, with tears distill’d by moans.
The obsequies that I for thee will keep,
Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.
Sweet flower, I scatter flowers over your bridal bed. Oh sorrow, your canopy is dust and stone, Which I will water nightly with sweet water, Or if I cannot, with tears drawn from my cries. The funeral rites I will keep for you Will be nightly to scatter flowers on your grave and weep.
Sweet girl, I'm covering your bridal bed with flowers. Your canopy is just stone and dirt now. Every night I'll pour sweet water over it, or if I can't, I'll water it with my tears. This is the funeral I'll give you—every night I'll come put flowers on your grave and cry.
sweet flower i'll cover ur grave with flowers night after night i'll cry for u
The boy gives warning something doth approach.
What cursed foot wanders this way tonight,
To cross my obsequies and true love’s rite?
What, with a torch! Muffle me, night, awhile.
The boy gives a warning—something is approaching. What cursed foot wanders this way tonight, To interfere with my funeral rites and true love's ceremony? What, someone with a torch! Night, hide me for a moment.
That kid is warning me someone's coming. Who's walking around here tonight? Some jerk trying to interrupt what I'm doing for Juliet? Someone with a light? Come on, darkness, cover me up.
someone's coming who's wandering by? tryin to ruin my funeral rites with a torch? hide me
Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron.
Hold, take this letter; early in the morning
See thou deliver it to my lord and father.
Give me the light; upon thy life I charge thee,
Whate’er thou hear’st or seest, stand all aloof
And do not interrupt me in my course.
Why I descend into this bed of death
Is partly to behold my lady’s face,
But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger
A precious ring, a ring that I must use
In dear employment. Therefore hence, be gone.
But if thou jealous dost return to pry
In what I further shall intend to do,
By heaven I will tear thee joint by joint,
And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs.
The time and my intents are savage-wild;
More fierce and more inexorable far
Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.
Give me that pickaxe and the iron crowbar. Wait, take this letter. Early in the morning Deliver it to my father. Give me the light. I'm ordering you on your life: Whatever you hear or see, stay far away And don't interrupt me in what I'm doing. Why I'm descending into this tomb Is partly to see my lady's face, But mainly to take from her dead finger A precious ring, a ring I must use For an important purpose. So go away. But if you grow suspicious and come back to spy On what I'm planning to do, By heaven I will tear you apart limb by limb And scatter this hungry churchyard with your body parts. My mood and my plans are wildly violent. Fierce and unstoppable, far more Than starving tigers or the roaring sea.
Hand me that pickaxe and that iron bar. Actually, take this letter—deliver it to my father first thing in the morning. Give me the light now. I'm ordering you: don't follow me, don't watch what I do, don't get in my way. I'm going down into that tomb partly to see my lady's face one more time, but mainly to get a ring off her finger—a ring I need for something important. Now get out of here. And if you get curious and come back to spy on me, I swear I'll rip you apart piece by piece and scatter your body all over this graveyard. I'm in a violent and dangerous mood right now. I'm more wild and unstoppable than a starving tiger or a storm at sea.
give me pickaxe take letter to my father stay back don't watch me im going down to see her i need her ring if u come back i'll destroy u im crazy right now
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
I'll leave, sir, and won't bother you.
I'm leaving right now, sir. I won't be any trouble.
i'm leaving
So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that.
Live, and be prosperous, and farewell, good fellow.
That's how you show me friendship. Take this money. Live well, be successful, and goodbye, my friend.
That shows you're a real friend. Here, take this—go live a good life and prosper. Goodbye, my friend.
that's friendship take this live well goodbye
For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout.
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
But I'll still hide nearby. I fear his appearance, and I doubt his intentions.
But I'm still going to hide around here somewhere. There's something scary about the way he looks, and I don't trust what he's planning to do.
im hiding anyway something's wrong i don't trust him
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,
Gorg’d with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
You detestable mouth, you womb of death, gorged with the dearest thing on earth, I force your rotten jaws open,
Horrible tomb, place of death, you've swallowed the most precious person in the world - I'm going to force you open,
disgusting tomb deathly womb holds my precious love i'll force you open
And in despite, I’ll cram thee with more food.
And in spite of everything, I'll cram you with more food.
And to spite you, I'll stuff you with more bodies.
im gonna stuff you with more
This is that banish’d haughty Montague
That murder’d my love’s cousin,—with which grief,
It is supposed, the fair creature died,—
And here is come to do some villainous shame
To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him.
This is that banished proud Montague Who murdered my love's cousin—and from that grief, It's believed, the fair creature died— And he's come here to do something villainous and shameful To the dead bodies. I will arrest him.
This is that proud Montague they exiled from the city—the one who murdered my beloved's cousin. And that grief is what killed her, they say. And now he's here to do something horrible to the bodies. I'm going to stop him.
it's that montague he killed my love's cousin that's why she died he's here to desecrate bodies i'm stopping him
Stop thy unhallow’d toil, vile Montague.
Can vengeance be pursu’d further than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee.
Obey, and go with me, for thou must die.
Stop your unholy digging, vile Montague. Can revenge be pursued any further than death? Condemned villain, I arrest you. Obey and come with me, for you must die.
Stop that evil grave-robbing, you scum Montague. What more revenge do you want beyond killing? You criminal, I'm arresting you. Get moving—you're going to die.
stop that grave digging u murderer you gotta die come with me now
I must indeed; and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man.
Fly hence and leave me. Think upon these gone;
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head
By urging me to fury. O be gone.
By heaven I love thee better than myself;
For I come hither arm’d against myself.
Stay not, be gone, live, and hereafter say,
A madman’s mercy bid thee run away.
I must, yes, and that's why I came here. Good gentle youth, don't provoke a desperate man. Run away and leave me. Think of all those who are dead. Let their deaths scare you. I beg you, youth, Don't put another sin on my head By pushing me into fury. Please go away. By heaven I love you more than myself, Because I came here armed against myself. Don't stay, be gone, live, and later say That a madman's mercy told you to run away.
Yeah, I have to, and that's why I came here. Good kid, don't push a desperate man like me. Get out of here and leave me alone. Look at all the people who are already dead—let that scare you straight. I'm asking you to go, don't make me angrier. Don't add another sin to my conscience. Honestly, I care about you more than I care about myself right now, because I came here to hurt myself. Just go. Live your life and someday tell people that a madman showed you mercy by letting you walk away.
i have to do this don't provoke me just go i'm begging u i love u more than myself i'm here to kill myself just run away and live
Romeo's death speech (5-3-038 through 5-3-070 in source) is one of Shakespeare's most carefully constructed. It begins with a philosophical observation — men are often cheerful before death ('lightning before death') — and applies it to himself. He notices Juliet's beauty and cannot understand it: death has 'sucked the honey of her breath' but hasn't touched her beauty. He interprets this as death being amorous — keeping her as a paramour — and decides he will stay with her to prevent this. The logic is entirely wrong (she is not dead) but psychologically precise: Romeo cannot accept that the most beautiful person he has ever seen is simply gone. He makes meaning from the wrongness of her beauty in death. The speech ends in three words: 'Thus with a kiss I die.'
I do defy thy conjuration,
And apprehend thee for a felon here.
I reject your pleas, And I'm arresting you as a criminal here.
I'm not listening to your warnings, and I'm arresting you for a crime.
im not backing down im arresting u
Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!
Will you provoke me? Then come on, boy!
Are you going to fight me? Then let's go, boy!
u asking for a fight? let's do it
O lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.
Oh my goodness, they're fighting! I'm going to call the guards.
Oh no, they're fighting! I'm going to get the police!
omg they're fighting i gotta call the watch
O, I am slain! [_Falls._] If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.
Oh, I'm killed! If you have mercy, Open the tomb and lay me with Juliet.
Oh, I'm dying! Please, if you show me any mercy, put me in the tomb with Juliet.
im dying put me in tomb with juliet
In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face.
Mercutio’s kinsman, noble County Paris!
What said my man, when my betossed soul
Did not attend him as we rode? I think
He told me Paris should have married Juliet.
Said he not so? Or did I dream it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet,
To think it was so? O, give me thy hand,
One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book.
I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.
A grave? O no, a lantern, slaught’red youth,
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr’d.
Yes, I will. Let me look at this face. Mercutio's relative, noble County Paris! What did my servant say when my troubled mind Wasn't paying attention to him as we rode? I think He told me that Paris was supposed to marry Juliet. Did he not say that? Or did I just dream it? Or am I mad that hearing him talk of Juliet, I believed it was true? Oh, give me your hand, You, written with me in sorrow's book. I'll bury you in a triumphant grave. A grave? No, you're like a lantern, slaughtered youth, Because here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes This vault a bright hall full of light. Death, you lie there with a dead man for your tomb.
Yes, I will. Let me look at this face. It's Mercutio's relative, the noble County Paris! I remember my man telling me something when I was so upset I wasn't paying attention—I think he said Paris was supposed to marry Juliet. Did he say that? Or did I dream it? Or am I so crazy that I'm imagining all this? Paris, give me your hand. You're connected with me in this terrible tragedy. I'll give you an honorable burial. Actually, you're not just a body—you're like a light in this darkness, poor dead youth. Because Juliet is here, and her beauty makes this tomb bright and glowing. Death, you can stay here buried with another dead man.
let me look at u paris? mercutio's cousin wasn't u supposed to marry juliet? i'm so messed up your hand i'll bury u with honor u light up this tomb juliet's beauty makes it glow
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry! Which their keepers call
A lightning before death. O, how may I
Call this a lightning? O my love, my wife,
Death that hath suck’d the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
Thou art not conquer’d. Beauty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death’s pale flag is not advanced there.
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O, what more favour can I do to thee
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
To sunder his that was thine enemy?
Forgive me, cousin. Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous;
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
For fear of that I still will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again. Here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest;
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last.
Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death.
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide.
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark.
Here’s to my love! [_Drinks._] O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
How often when men are at the point of death Have they been merry! Which their attendants call A flash of light before death. How can I Call this a flash? My love, my wife, Death that has drained the honey of your breath Has had no power yet over your beauty. You are not conquered. Beauty's banner yet Is crimson in your lips and in your cheeks, And death's pale flag has not advanced there. Tybalt, do you lie there in your bloody sheet? What greater honor can I give you Than with this hand that cut your youth in two To end the life of your enemy? Forgive me, cousin. Ah, dear Juliet, Why are you still so beautiful? Should I believe That death is in love with you, And that the lean hated monster keeps You here in darkness to be his lover? For fear of that I will stay with you, And never leave this palace of dark night. Here, here I will remain With worms that are your servants. Here I will settle my eternal rest, And throw off the weight of these unlucky stars From this exhausted flesh. Eyes, take your last look. Arms, hold your last embrace! Lips, you Doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A final bargain with consuming death. Come, bitter poison, come, sour guide. You desperate captain, now all at once drive on The crashing rocks your sea-sick weary ship. Here's to my love! I drink this poison. Thus with a kiss I die.
You know how when someone's dying they sometimes get cheerful? People call it a final flash of happiness before the end. But how can I call this that? My wife, my love—Death drank all the sweetness from your breath, but he couldn't touch your beauty. You're still beautiful. Pink still colors your lips and cheeks. Death hasn't conquered you. Tybalt, you're lying there covered in blood? I'm ending my enemy with the same hand that once cut your life short. I hope you forgive me, cousin. Juliet, why are you still so gorgeous? Am I supposed to think death fell in love with you? That this gross monster is keeping you down here in the dark as his girlfriend? I can't live with that thought. I'm staying here forever with the worms. This is where I'll rest. I'm done fighting against fate. Eyes, this is your last view. Arms, this is your last hug. Lips—you're the gates of breath—seal your final deal with death with a kiss. Come on, poison. You're my guide now. You desperate pilot, crash this exhausted ship on the rocks. Here's to Juliet! I drink this. And I kiss you as I die.
when people die they get happy they call it a final flash but my love ur so beautiful death cant touch u u still have color in ur lips why r u still so gorgeous did death fall in love w u im staying here forever im done eyes take ur last look arms hold on lips kiss death w me i drink this poison i die kissing u
lantern, crow, and spade.
lantern, crowbar, and spade.
a lantern, a crowbar, and a shovel.
lantern crowbar spade
Saint Francis be my speed. How oft tonight
Have my old feet stumbled at graves? Who’s there?
Who is it that consorts, so late, the dead?
Saint Francis, help me hurry. How many times tonight Have my old feet stumbled on graves? Who's there? Who is it that keeps company so late with the dead?
Saint Francis, help me. How many times tonight have I tripped over graves? Who's there? Who's out here at this hour keeping company with the dead?
saint francis help i keep tripping on graves who's here with the dead?
Here’s one, a friend, and one that knows you well.
Here's someone, a friend, and someone who knows you well.
This is a friend, someone who knows you.
friend here who knows u
Bliss be upon you. Tell me, good my friend,
What torch is yond that vainly lends his light
To grubs and eyeless skulls? As I discern,
It burneth in the Capels’ monument.
Blessing on you. Tell me, good friend, What torch is that which pointlessly shines its light On worms and eyeless skulls? As I can see, It burns in the Capulets' monument.
God bless you. Tell me, friend, what's that torch over there? It's just lighting up a bunch of dead bodies and worms. If I'm not mistaken, it's burning in the Capulets' tomb.
god bless u what's that torch? lighting up corpses it's in the capulets' tomb
It doth so, holy sir, and there’s my master,
One that you love.
Yes, holy sir, and my master is there, Someone you care about.
Yes, Father, and my master is in there—someone you know and care about.
yes father my master is in there u know him
Who is it?
Who is it?
who is it?
who is it?
Romeo.
Romeo.
romeo.
romeo.
How long hath he been there?
How long has he been there?
Is he still down in that tomb?
how long's he been there?
Full half an hour.
A full half hour.
About half an hour.
half an hour
Juliet's decision to die takes approximately two seconds of stage time. She wakes. She asks for Romeo. The Friar tells her what happened. She refuses to leave. She sees the cup. She kisses Romeo. She hears noise. She takes the dagger and stabs herself. The speed is not impulsiveness — it is the completion of a decision she made in Act 4-3 when she put the dagger down 'to forbid' the wedding. The dagger was always there. When the wedding was no longer the danger — when Romeo's death was — she used it. What stops her momentarily in 4-3 is the possibility of the plan working. That possibility is now gone.
Go with me to the vault.
Come with me to the tomb.
We need to go to the burial vault now.
lets go to the tomb
I dare not, sir;
My master knows not but I am gone hence,
And fearfully did menace me with death
If I did stay to look on his intents.
I don't dare, sir. My master doesn't know I left, And he threatened me with death If I stayed to watch what he was doing.
I can't, sir. My master doesn't know I'm out here, and he threatened to kill me if I watched what he was going to do.
i can't he doesn't know im out here he said he'd kill me if i watched
Stay then, I’ll go alone. Fear comes upon me.
O, much I fear some ill unlucky thing.
Then stay here, I'll go alone. Fear grabs me. Oh, I fear something bad and unlucky.
Stay here then, I'll go by myself. I'm getting a bad feeling about this. Something terrible has happened.
stay here i'll go alone something bad happened i can feel it
As I did sleep under this yew tree here,
I dreamt my master and another fought,
And that my master slew him.
While I was sleeping under this yew tree, I dreamed that my master and another man fought, And that my master killed him.
I was sleeping under this yew tree and I had a dream that my master fought with someone and killed him.
i dreamed my master fought and killed someone
Romeo! [_Advances._]
Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains
The stony entrance of this sepulchre?
What mean these masterless and gory swords
To lie discolour’d by this place of peace?
Romeo! Oh, oh, what blood is this that stains The stone entrance of this tomb? What do these bloodstained swords without an owner Mean to lie discolored here in this place of peace?
Romeo! Oh no, oh no! What's all this blood at the tomb entrance? What are these bloody swords doing lying around this sacred place?
romeo! what's all this blood? why are there bloody swords? this is supposed to be peaceful
Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too?
And steep’d in blood? Ah what an unkind hour
Is guilty of this lamentable chance?
The lady stirs.
Romeo! Oh, pale! Who else? What, Paris also? And soaked in blood? Ah, what an unkind time Is responsible for this tragic accident? The lady stirs.
Romeo! You're so pale! Who else is here? Paris too? Both covered in blood? What a horrible moment this is What a tragic mess we're in. Wait, the lady's moving.
romeo ur so pale whos here paris too both bleeding out no no no wait shes moving
O comfortable Friar, where is my lord?
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my Romeo?
Oh blessed Friar, where is my husband? I remember well where I should wake, and I'm there. Where is my Romeo?
Oh good Friar, where's my husband? I know where I was supposed to wake up, and I'm here in that place. But where's Romeo?
im awake where is romeo
I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep.
A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming.
Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay.
I hear some noise. Lady, come away from that place Of death, disease, and unnatural sleep. A power greater than we can fight Has destroyed our plan. Come, come away. Your husband lies dead in your arms. And Paris too. Come, I'll arrange for you To live among a community of holy nuns. Don't ask questions, the guards are coming. Come on, let's go, good Juliet. I can't stay any longer.
Listen, I hear someone coming. Juliet, you have to get out of here now. This is a place of death and unnatural sleep. Something bigger than us has ruined everything. Your husband is dead in there, and so is Paris. I'm going to get you to safety with a group of nuns. Don't ask me any questions—the guards are coming. We have to go right now. I can't stay here any longer.
i hear noise juliet get out the guards are coming your husband is dead i'll hide u with nuns we gotta go now
Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.
Go, get out of here, because I won't leave.
Leave me! I'm not going anywhere.
i'm staying here
What’s here? A cup clos’d in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.
O churl. Drink all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips.
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative.
What's here? A cup closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, is how he died before his time. You selfish man. You drank it all and left no friendly drop To help me after? I'll kiss your lips. Maybe some poison still hangs on them, To make me die with a healing cure.
What's this? A cup in his hand? Poison—that's how he died. You selfish jerk. You drank it all and didn't leave any for me? I'm gonna kiss you. Maybe there's still poison on your lips So I can die with you.
whats this cup in ur hand poison greedy u drank it all left none for me im kissing u maybe theres poison left so i can die w u
Thy lips are warm!
Your lips are warm!
You're not cold yet!
ur lips r still hot
[_Within._] Lead, boy. Which way?
Lead the way, boy. Which direction?
Go on, boy. Which way?
go on whats the direction
Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger.
Yes, noise? Then I'll be quick. Oh fortunate dagger.
Noise? Then I'll do this quickly. Oh welcome dagger.
quick then oh welcome dagger
This is thy sheath. [_stabs herself_] There rest, and let me die.
This is your sheath. [She stabs herself.] There rest, and let me die.
Here's your sheath. [She stabs herself.] Stay there, and let me die.
ur sheath im stabbing myself let me die
Montague's offer to raise a golden statue of Juliet — and Capulet's matching offer for Romeo — have been variously interpreted. Some critics see them as genuine expressions of grief transformed into honour. Others find them hollow: the same impulse toward display that characterised both families throughout the play, now redirected at the children their feud destroyed. The Prince's closing couplet does not endorse the statues — it simply states the fact of the tragedy. The play ends with grief, not with monuments. The monuments are what the living do to manage their guilt.
This is the place. There, where the torch doth burn.
This is the place. There, where the torch burns.
This is it. See where the torch is burning?
this is it where the torch burns
The ground is bloody. Search about the churchyard.
Go, some of you, whoe’er you find attach.
The ground is bloody. Search the churchyard thoroughly. Go, some of you, arrest whoever you find.
There's blood everywhere. Search the whole churchyard. Go ahead, arrest anyone you find.
blood everywhere search the churchyard arrest everyone
Pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain,
And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead,
Who here hath lain this two days buried.
Go tell the Prince; run to the Capulets.
Raise up the Montagues, some others search.
A pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain, And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead, Who has lain here for two days buried. Go tell the Prince; run to the Capulets. Wake the Montagues; have others search.
This is awful! The County is dead here, And Juliet's bleeding, still warm, just died, Even though she was buried two days ago. Go get the Prince; tell the Capulets. Wake up the Montagues; search everywhere else.
the county is dead here juliet bleeding still warm newly dead buried 2 days ago but shes still fresh tell the prince tell capulets wake montagues
We see the ground whereon these woes do lie,
But the true ground of all these piteous woes
We cannot without circumstance descry.
We see the ground where these sorrows lie, But the true cause of all these tragic sorrows We cannot discover without more details.
We can see where the bodies are, But we can't figure out what really happened Without getting more information.
we see the bodies but we dont know why need more info
Here’s Romeo’s man. We found him in the churchyard.
This man is Romeo's servant, and we've located him here in the graveyard.
We found Romeo's servant here in the churchyard.
we found romeo's servant
Hold him in safety till the Prince come hither.
Keep him secure until the Prince arrives here.
Keep him in custody until the Prince gets here.
hold him til the prince arrives
Here is a Friar that trembles, sighs, and weeps.
We took this mattock and this spade from him
As he was coming from this churchyard side.
This Friar is shaking, gasping heavily, and weeping. We confiscated this pickaxe and shovel from him As he was exiting the churchyard.
Here's a Friar who's shaking, breathing hard, and in tears. We found this pickaxe and shovel on him As he was leaving the churchyard.
friar shaking out of breath crying we took his tools he was leaving the graveyard
A great suspicion. Stay the Friar too.
That's highly suspicious. Keep the Friar in custody as well.
This is deeply suspicious. We should arrest the Friar too.
sus hold the friar
What misadventure is so early up,
That calls our person from our morning’s rest?
What misfortune is up so early That calls me away from my morning sleep?
What terrible thing is happening that wakes me up this early?
what disaster happened? why am i awake so early?
What should it be that they so shriek abroad?
What could it be that they're shouting about so loudly?
What's all that screaming about?
what's all the screaming?
O the people in the street cry Romeo,
Some Juliet, and some Paris, and all run
With open outcry toward our monument.
Oh, the people in the street are shouting Romeo, Some are shouting Juliet, and some Paris, and they're all running With loud cries toward our tomb.
People in the streets are screaming Romeo, Juliet, Paris—and they're all running toward our tomb screaming.
people screaming romeo juliet paris running to our tomb
What fear is this which startles in our ears?
What terrible thing is this that startles us?
What's this awful noise about?
what's this terrible noise?
Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain,
And Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before,
Warm and new kill’d.
Your Majesty, here lies County Paris, slain, and Romeo dead, and Juliet--dead before but warm and freshly killed.
Your Majesty, County Paris is dead here, and Romeo is dead too, and Juliet is dead as well--she was already dead, but her body is still warm and recently lifeless.
paris is dead romeo is dead juliet is dead but still warm
Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes.
Search, investigate, and find out how this foul murder happened.
Search around and find out what happened here.
search and find out what happened
The play's closing line — 'never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo' — names Juliet first. The play is called Romeo and Juliet, placing him before her in the title. But in the final couplet, she comes first. This may be a coincidence of metre. It may also be Shakespeare's acknowledgement of what the play actually showed: a girl who was thirteen years old, who was given no choices, who made the most choices of anyone in the story, and whose agency — while always constrained — was the engine of the last two acts.
Here is a Friar, and slaughter’d Romeo’s man,
With instruments upon them fit to open
These dead men’s tombs.
Here is a Friar and Romeo's dead servant, With tools on them that are made to open These dead men's tombs.
We have a Friar and Romeo's servant here, and they're carrying tools for opening tombs.
friar and romeo's servant they got tomb-breaking tools
O heaven! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds!
This dagger hath mista’en, for lo, his house
Is empty on the back of Montague,
And it mis-sheathed in my daughter’s bosom.
Oh heaven! Wife, look how our daughter is bleeding! This dagger has gone astray, you see, its holder Is empty on Montague's back, And it's buried in my daughter's chest.
Oh God! Wife, look—our daughter is bleeding! This dagger came out of Romeo's scabbard and ended up in our daughter instead.
oh god our daughter's bleeding romeo's dagger in her chest
O me! This sight of death is as a bell
That warns my old age to a sepulchre.
Oh no! This sight of death is like a bell That warns me that my old age is heading to the grave.
Oh my God! Seeing all this death is like a warning bell that I'll be joining them in the grave soon.
oh god this death warns me i'm next
Come, Montague, for thou art early up,
To see thy son and heir more early down.
Come here, Montague, you're up early To see your son and heir go into the ground even earlier.
Come here, Montague. You're up early, but your son got there sooner—he's already dead.
montague u got here early but your son got here first he's dead
Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight.
Grief of my son’s exile hath stopp’d her breath.
What further woe conspires against mine age?
Alas, my Prince, my wife is dead tonight. The grief of my son's exile has stopped her breath. What other sorrows are coming against me in my old age?
Your Highness, my wife died tonight. The sadness of my son being exiled killed her. What else is going to happen to me now?
my wife died from sadness about my son what else can happen to me?
Look, and thou shalt see.
Look, and you will see.
Look for yourself.
look
O thou untaught! What manners is in this,
To press before thy father to a grave?
Oh you rude boy! What kind of behavior is this, To go to your grave before your father?
Oh you rude, disrespectful boy! How could you die before me?
how rude to die before ur own father
Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while,
Till we can clear these ambiguities,
And know their spring, their head, their true descent,
And then will I be general of your woes,
And lead you even to death. Meantime forbear,
And let mischance be slave to patience.
Bring forth the parties of suspicion.
Stop all this noise and crying for a while Until we can clear up these confusions And know the source, the reason, the true causes, And then I will be the leader of all your sorrows And guide you to the end. Meanwhile, be patient And let chance be subject to patience. Bring forward the people under suspicion.
Everybody needs to stop screaming and crying for a minute. Let me figure out what happened here. Once I know the full story, I'll share your grief and help you through it. For now, just be patient and let's get to the truth. Bring the suspects here.
everyone stop be quiet let me figure this out i'll share your pain be patient bring the suspects
I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me, of this direful murder.
And here I stand, both to impeach and purge
Myself condemned and myself excus’d.
I'm the most guilty but can do the least, Yet most suspected, because the time and place Look bad for me, for this terrible murder. I stand here both to accuse and defend Myself guilty and myself innocent.
I'm the most responsible but the least able to help now. Everything about the time and place makes me look guilty of this terrible crime. I'm here to explain and defend myself.
im the most guilty but everything looks bad for me im here to defend myself
Then say at once what thou dost know in this.
Then tell me at once what you know about this.
Tell me everything you know right now.
tell me everything u know
I will be brief, for my short date of breath
Is not so long as is a tedious tale.
Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet,
And she, there dead, that Romeo’s faithful wife.
I married them; and their stol’n marriage day
Was Tybalt’s doomsday, whose untimely death
Banish’d the new-made bridegroom from this city;
For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pin’d.
You, to remove that siege of grief from her,
Betroth’d, and would have married her perforce
To County Paris. Then comes she to me,
And with wild looks, bid me devise some means
To rid her from this second marriage,
Or in my cell there would she kill herself.
Then gave I her, so tutored by my art,
A sleeping potion, which so took effect
As I intended, for it wrought on her
The form of death. Meantime I writ to Romeo
That he should hither come as this dire night
To help to take her from her borrow’d grave,
Being the time the potion’s force should cease.
But he which bore my letter, Friar John,
Was stay’d by accident; and yesternight
Return’d my letter back. Then all alone
At the prefixed hour of her waking
Came I to take her from her kindred’s vault,
Meaning to keep her closely at my cell
Till I conveniently could send to Romeo.
But when I came, some minute ere the time
Of her awaking, here untimely lay
The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.
She wakes; and I entreated her come forth
And bear this work of heaven with patience.
But then a noise did scare me from the tomb;
And she, too desperate, would not go with me,
But, as it seems, did violence on herself.
All this I know; and to the marriage
Her Nurse is privy. And if ought in this
Miscarried by my fault, let my old life
Be sacrific’d, some hour before his time,
Unto the rigour of severest law.
I'll keep it short, because the little life I have left is not as long as a drawn-out story would be. Romeo, lying there dead, was the husband of Juliet, and she, lying there dead, was Romeo's loyal wife. I married them, and the day of their secret wedding was the day Tybalt died, and his early death got the new bridegroom exiled from this city. It was for Romeo, not for Tybalt, that Juliet was wasting away. You, trying to lift that weight of grief off her, got her engaged and meant to force her to marry Count Paris. Then she came to me, looking frantic, and begged me to find some way to free her from this second marriage, or else she would kill herself right there in my room. So, using my skill with herbs, I gave her a sleeping drug, which worked just as I planned, since it gave her the appearance of death. Meanwhile I wrote to Romeo telling him to come here on this terrible night to help take her out of her temporary grave, since that was when the drug would wear off. But the man carrying my letter, Friar John, was held up by chance, and last night he brought my letter back to me. So, all on my own, at the hour I'd planned for her to wake, I came to take her out of her family's tomb, intending to hide her in my room until I could safely send word to Romeo. But when I arrived, a few minutes before she woke, here lay, cut down too soon, the noble Paris and faithful Romeo, both dead. She woke up, and I begged her to come away and accept what heaven had done with patience. But then a noise frightened me out of the tomb, and she, in total despair, refused to come with me, and, it seems, took her own life. That is everything I know, and her Nurse knew about the marriage. If any part of this went wrong through my fault, let my old life be sacrificed, a little before its natural end, to the full force of the harshest law.
I'll make this quick, since I honestly don't have long enough left to tell a long story. Romeo, there, was Juliet's husband. And Juliet, there, was his devoted wife. I married them. The day of their secret wedding was the same day Tybalt was killed, and that got Romeo banished. That's who Juliet was really crying over: Romeo, not Tybalt. You thought you'd cheer her up by setting her up with Paris and forcing the marriage. So she came to me, completely panicked, begging me to find a way out, or she'd kill herself right in front of me. So I gave her a potion that put her into a sleep so deep she looked dead. It worked exactly like I meant it to. Meanwhile I wrote to Romeo to come tonight, when the potion would wear off, and help get her out of the tomb. But Friar John, who was carrying the letter, got stuck, and last night he brought it back to me undelivered. So I came here alone, right when she was due to wake, planning to hide her at my place until I could get word to Romeo. But when I got here, just minutes before she woke, Paris and Romeo were already lying dead. She woke up. I begged her to come with me and accept what had happened. Then I heard a noise and got scared and ran. She was too desperate to leave, and it looks like she killed herself. That's everything I know. Her Nurse knew about the marriage too. If any of this went wrong because of me, then let the law do its worst and take what's left of my life.
ok quick version i married romeo + juliet in secret same day tybalt died, romeo got banished juliet was crying over romeo, not tybalt then u tried to force her to marry paris she said she'd kill herself so i gave her a fake-death potion my letter to romeo never got there came to get her, found paris + romeo dead she wouldn't leave with me and killed herself the nurse knew too if this is on me, punish me
We still have known thee for a holy man.
Where’s Romeo’s man? What can he say to this?
We have always known you as a holy man. Where is Romeo's servant? What can he say about this?
We've always known you to be a good friar. Where's Romeo's servant? Let's hear what he has to say.
we know u're holy where's romeo's servant? what's he got to say?
I brought my master news of Juliet’s death,
And then in post he came from Mantua
To this same place, to this same monument.
This letter he early bid me give his father,
And threaten’d me with death, going in the vault,
If I departed not, and left him there.
I brought my master news of Juliet's death, And then he hurried from Mantua To this place, to this tomb. He told me early on to give this letter to his father, And threatened me with death when he was going into the vault, If I didn't stay away and leave him there.
I told my master that Juliet was dead, and then he rushed here from Mantua to the tomb. Before he went down, he gave me a letter to deliver to his father and threatened to kill me if I didn't leave him alone down there.
i told him juliet was dead he rushed here gave me letter for his father threatened to kill me if i watched
Give me the letter, I will look on it.
Where is the County’s Page that rais’d the watch?
Sirrah, what made your master in this place?
Give me the letter, I will look at it. Where is the County's Page who called the guards? Lad, what was your master doing in this place?
Give me that letter. Where's Paris's page who called for the watch? Boy, what was your master doing here?
give me the letter where's paris's page? what was paris doing here?
He came with flowers to strew his lady’s grave,
And bid me stand aloof, and so I did.
Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb,
And by and by my master drew on him,
And then I ran away to call the watch.
He came with flowers to scatter on his lady's grave And told me to stand back, so I did. Then someone came with a light to open the tomb, And then my master fought him, And then I ran away to call the guards.
He came to put flowers on Juliet's grave and told me to stay back. Then someone showed up with a light to open the tomb, and my master started fighting with him. That's when I ran to get the guards.
he came with flowers told me to stay back then someone came my master fought him i ran to get guards
This letter doth make good the Friar’s words,
Their course of love, the tidings of her death.
And here he writes that he did buy a poison
Of a poor ’pothecary, and therewithal
Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet.
Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague,
See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!
And I, for winking at your discords too,
Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punish’d.
This letter confirms the Friar's words, Their story of love, the news of her death. And here he writes that he bought poison From a poor apothecary, and then Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. Where are these enemies? Capulet, Montague, See what punishment your hatred has brought, That heaven finds a way to kill your joy with love! And I, for ignoring your conflicts, Have lost two relatives. Everyone is punished.
The letter proves the Friar was telling the truth. Romeo and Juliet really did love each other, and that's how she died. He writes here that he bought poison from a pharmacy and came here to die with Juliet. Capulet and Montague, look at what your hatred has done! You hated each other so much that heaven punished you by using love as a weapon against you—love killed all your joy. And I'm punished too for turning a blind eye to your feud. I lost two relatives. Everyone loses here.
letter proves friar was right romeo and juliet loved each other he bought poison came to die with her capulet montague look what ur hatred did heaven killed ur joy with love i lost kinsmen too everyone's punished
O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more
Can I demand.
Oh brother Montague, give me your hand. This is my daughter's inheritance gift, I can't ask for anything more.
Oh Montague, let's put aside our hatred. This loss is all that comes from our feud—I can't expect anything more from you now.
montague leme shake ur hand our daughters are gone that's all i need
But I can give thee more,
For I will raise her statue in pure gold,
That whiles Verona by that name is known,
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
But I can give you more, Because I will raise her statue in pure gold, So that as long as Verona is known by that name, No figure will be valued as highly As that of the true and faithful Juliet.
But I want to do more. I'll build a golden statue of Juliet that will stand forever in Verona. As long as the city exists, no statue will be more beautiful or more honored than hers.
i'll do more i'll build golden statue of juliet as long as verona exists no statue will be more honored
As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie,
Poor sacrifices of our enmity.
And Romeo's statue will lie just as richly by his lady's, Poor victims of our hatred.
And Romeo's golden statue will lie right next to hers. Both will be sacrifices to our feud.
romeo's statue next to hers both victims of our hate
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun for sorrow will not show his head.
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things.
Some shall be pardon’d, and some punished,
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
A shadowy peace this morning brings with it. The sun from sadness will not show its head. Go away now to discuss these sad things more. Some will be forgiven and some punished, Because there was never a story of more sadness Than this one of Juliet and her Romeo.
We have peace now, but it's a dark, sad peace. The sun won't even come out because of all this sorrow. Everyone go home. Some of you will be forgiven, some punished. But this is the saddest story ever told—the story of Juliet and Romeo.
dark peace today sun won't come out some forgiven some punished saddest story ever told
The Reckoning
The whole play has been falling toward this vault. What happens here is not a redemptive tragedy — it is a catastrophe built from a chain of almost comically ordinary failures. Romeo and Juliet die within minutes of each other, separated by the one accident that mattered: the undelivered letter. Shakespeare does not let us look away from the arbitrariness of it. He also does not give us the Prince's closing couplet as comfort. 'Never was a story of more woe' is not resolution. It is the statement of a fact.
If this happened today…
A man arrives at a hospital to say goodbye to his wife, believing she died. He has poison with him. A stranger tries to stop him in the corridor and he kills the stranger in the fight. He takes the poison in her room, not knowing she's on a ventilator, not dead. She wakes up minutes after he dies. She finds the empty bottle and understands everything. She takes the only tool available to her and does what she decided to do in act four. The doctors and the families arrive to a room with three bodies and start asking questions.