No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet: Act 3 Scene 1

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Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 1

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Original Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter MERCUTIO , BENVOLIO , Mercutio’s PAGE , and others	Enter MERCUTIO , BENVOLIO , Mercutio’s PAGE , and others
BENVOLIO I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot; the Capulets, abroad; And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl, For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.	BENVOLIO I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. The day is hot; the Capulets, abroad; And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl, For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
MERCUTIO Thou art like one of those fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says “God send me no need of thee!” and, by the operation of the second cup, draws it on the drawer when indeed there is no need.	MERCUTIO Thou art like one of those fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says “God send me no need of thee!” and, by the operation of the second cup, draws it on the drawer when indeed there is no need.
BENVOLIO Am I like such a fellow?	BENVOLIO Am I like such a fellow?
MERCUTIO Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.	MERCUTIO Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.
BENVOLIO And what to?	BENVOLIO And what to?
MERCUTIO Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou, why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast quarreled with a man for coughing in the street because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With another, for tying his new shoes with old ribbon? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling!	MERCUTIO Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou, why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast quarreled with a man for coughing in the street because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With another, for tying his new shoes with old ribbon? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling!
BENVOLIO An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.	BENVOLIO An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.
MERCUTIO The fee simple? O simple!	MERCUTIO The fee simple? O simple!
Enter TYBALT , PETRUCHIO , and other CAPULETS	Enter TYBALT , PETRUCHIO , and other CAPULETS
BENVOLIO By my head, here comes the Capulets.	BENVOLIO By my head, here comes the Capulets.
MERCUTIO By my heel, I care not.	MERCUTIO By my heel, I care not.
TYBALT Follow me close, for I will speak to them. 15 Gentlemen, good e'en. A word with one of you.	TYBALT Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good e'en. A word with one of you.
MERCUTIO And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something. Make it a word and a blow.	MERCUTIO And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something. Make it a word and a blow.
TYBALT You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.	TYBALT You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.
MERCUTIO Could you not take some occasion without giving?	MERCUTIO Could you not take some occasion without giving?
TYBALT Mercutio, thou consort’st with Romeo.	TYBALT Mercutio, thou consort’st with Romeo.
MERCUTIO Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick. Here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, “consort”!	MERCUTIO Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick. Here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, “consort”!
BENVOLIO We talk here in the public haunt of men. Either withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.	BENVOLIO We talk here in the public haunt of men. Either withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.
MERCUTIO 25 Men’s eyes were made to look and let them gaze. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.	MERCUTIO Men’s eyes were made to look and let them gaze. I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.
Enter ROMEO	Enter ROMEO
TYBALT Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.	TYBALT Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.
MERCUTIO But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery. Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower. Your worship in that sense may call him “man.”	MERCUTIO But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery. Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower. Your worship in that sense may call him “man.”
TYBALT Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford No better term than this: thou art a villain.	TYBALT Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford No better term than this: thou art a villain.
ROMEO Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage 35 To such a greeting. Villain am I none. Therefore, farewell. I see thou know’st me not.	ROMEO Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting. Villain am I none. Therefore, farewell. I see thou know’st me not.
TYBALT Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.	TYBALT Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.
ROMEO I do protest I never injured thee, 40 But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so, good Capulet—which name I tender As dearly as my own—be satisfied.	ROMEO I do protest I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so, good Capulet—which name I tender As dearly as my own—be satisfied.
MERCUTIO O calm dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. (draws his sword) Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?	MERCUTIO O calm dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away. (draws his sword) Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?
TYBALT What wouldst thou have with me?	TYBALT What wouldst thou have with me?
MERCUTIO Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.	MERCUTIO Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.
TYBALT I am for you. (draws his sword)	TYBALT I am for you. (draws his sword)
ROMEO 50 Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.	ROMEO Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO Come, sir, your passado.	MERCUTIO Come, sir, your passado.
MERCUTIO and TYBALT fight	MERCUTIO and TYBALT fight
ROMEO (draws his sword) Draw, Benvolio. Beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame! Forbear this outrage. Tybalt, Mercutio! The Prince expressly hath 55 Forbidden bandying in Verona streets. Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!	ROMEO (draws his sword) Draw, Benvolio. Beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame! Forbear this outrage. Tybalt, Mercutio! The Prince expressly hath Forbidden bandying in Verona streets. Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
ROMEO tries to break up the fight TYBALT stabs MERCUTIO under ROMEO ’s am	ROMEO tries to break up the fight TYBALT stabs MERCUTIO under ROMEO ’s am
PETRUCHIO Away, Tybalt.	PETRUCHIO Away, Tybalt.
Exeunt TYBALT , PETRUCHIO , and the other CAPULETS	Exeunt TYBALT , PETRUCHIO , and the other CAPULETS
MERCUTIO I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. 60 Is he gone and hath nothing?	MERCUTIO I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone and hath nothing?
BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt?	BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough. Where is my page?—Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.	MERCUTIO Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough. Where is my page?—Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
Exit MERCUTIO'S PAGE	Exit MERCUTIO'S PAGE
ROMEO Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.	ROMEO Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.	MERCUTIO No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
ROMEO I thought all for the best.	ROMEO I thought all for the best.
MERCUTIO Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me. I have it, 70 And soundly too. Your houses!	MERCUTIO Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me. I have it, And soundly too. Your houses!
Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO	Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO
ROMEO This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf. My reputation stained With Tybalt’s slander.—Tybalt, that an hour 75 Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper softened valor’s steel!	ROMEO This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf. My reputation stained With Tybalt’s slander.—Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper softened valor’s steel!
Enter BENVOLIO	Enter BENVOLIO
BENVOLIO O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, 80 Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.	BENVOLIO O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
ROMEO This day’s black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must end.	ROMEO This day’s black fate on more days doth depend. This but begins the woe others must end.
Enter TYBALT	Enter TYBALT
BENVOLIO Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.	BENVOLIO Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
ROMEO Alive in triumph—and Mercutio slain! 85 Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, 90 Staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.	ROMEO Alive in triumph—and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.
TYBALT Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here Shalt with him hence.	TYBALT Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here Shalt with him hence.
ROMEO This shall determine that.	ROMEO This shall determine that.
They fight. TYBALT falls	They fight. TYBALT falls
BENVOLIO Romeo, away, be gone! 95 The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!	BENVOLIO Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!
ROMEO Oh, I am fortune’s fool!	ROMEO Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
BENVOLIO Why dost thou stay?	BENVOLIO Why dost thou stay?
Exit ROMEO	Exit ROMEO
Enter CITIZENS OF THE WATCH	Enter CITIZENS OF THE WATCH
CITIZEN OF THE WATCH Which way ran he that killed Mercutio? 100 Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?	CITIZEN OF THE WATCH Which way ran he that killed Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
BENVOLIO There lies that Tybalt.	BENVOLIO There lies that Tybalt.
CITIZEN OF THE WATCH (to TYBALT) Up, sir, go with me. I charge thee in the Prince’s name, obey.	CITIZEN OF THE WATCH (to TYBALT) Up, sir, go with me. I charge thee in the Prince’s name, obey.
Enter PRINCE , MONTAGUE , CAPULET , LADY MONTAGUE , LADY CAPULET , and OTHERS	Enter PRINCE , MONTAGUE , CAPULET , LADY MONTAGUE , LADY CAPULET , and OTHERS
PRINCE Where are the vile beginners of this fray?	PRINCE Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
BENVOLIO 105 O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.	BENVOLIO O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
LADY CAPULET Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child! 110 O Prince! O cousin! Husband! Oh, the blood is spilled Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin!	LADY CAPULET Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child! O Prince! O cousin! Husband! Oh, the blood is spilled Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin!
PRINCE Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?	PRINCE Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
BENVOLIO Tybalt here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay. 115 Romeo, that spoke him fair, bade him bethink How nice the quarrel was and urged withal Your high displeasure. All this uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed, Could not take truce with the unruly spleen 120 Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point, And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats Cold death aside and with the other sends 125 It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, Retorts it. Romeo, he cries aloud, “Hold, friends! Friends, part!” and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And ’twixt them rushes—underneath whose arm 130 An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.	BENVOLIO Tybalt here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay. Romeo, that spoke him fair, bade him bethink How nice the quarrel was and urged withal Your high displeasure. All this uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed, Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point, And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats Cold death aside and with the other sends It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, Retorts it. Romeo, he cries aloud, “Hold, friends! Friends, part!” and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And ’twixt them rushes—underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
But by and by comes back to Romeo, Who had but newly entertained revenge, And to ’t they go like lightning, for ere I 135 Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain. And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.	But by and by comes back to Romeo, Who had but newly entertained revenge, And to ’t they go like lightning, for ere I Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain. And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
LADY CAPULET He is a kinsman to the Montague. Affection makes him false. He speaks not true. 140 Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give. Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live.	LADY CAPULET He is a kinsman to the Montague. Affection makes him false. He speaks not true. Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give. Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live.
PRINCE Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio. 145 Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?	PRINCE Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio. Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
MONTAGUE Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.	MONTAGUE Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.
PRINCE And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence. 150 I have an interest in your hearts' proceeding. My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding. But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine. I will be deaf to pleading and excuses. 155 Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses, Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he’s found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will. Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.	PRINCE And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence. I have an interest in your hearts' proceeding. My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding. But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine. I will be deaf to pleading and excuses. Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses, Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, Else, when he’s found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will. Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Exeunt	Exeunt