No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet: Act 1 Scene 2 Page 3

Original Text	Modern Text
ROMEO Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.	ROMEO The plantain The plantain leaf was thought to have healing powers. plantain leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO For what, I pray thee?	BENVOLIO For what, Romeo?
ROMEO For your broken shin.	ROMEO For when you cut your shin.
BENVOLIO Why Romeo, art thou mad?	BENVOLIO What? Romeo, are you crazy?
ROMEO 55Not mad, but bound more than a madman is, Shut up in prison, kept without my food, Whipped and tormented and—Good e'en, good fellow.	ROMEO I’m not crazy, but I’m tied up tighter than a mental patient in a straitjacket. I’m locked up in a prison and deprived of food. I’m whipped and tortured—(to PETER) Good evening, good fellow.
PETER God 'i' good e'en. I pray, sir, can you read?	PETER May God give you a good evening. Excuse me, sir, do you know how to read?
ROMEO Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.	ROMEO I can read my own fortune in my misery.
PETER 60Perhaps you have learned it without book. But I pray, can you read anything you see?	PETER Perhaps you’ve learned from life and not from books. But please tell me, can you read anything you see?
ROMEO Ay, if I know the letters and the language.	ROMEO Yes, if I know the language and the letters.
PETER Ye say honestly. Rest you merry.	PETER I see. Well, that’s an honest answer Peter assumes Romeo means he does not know his letters. honest answer . Have a nice day.
ROMEO Stay, fellow. I can read. (he reads the letter) 65“Seigneur Martino and his wife and daughters; County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; The lady widow of Vitruvio; Seigneur Placentio and his lovely nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; 70Mine uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; My fair niece Rosaline and Livia;	ROMEO Stay, fellow. I can read. (he reads the letter) “Signor Martino and his wife and daughters, Count Anselme and his beautiful sisters, Vitruvio’s widow, Signor Placentio and his lovely nieces, Mercutio and his brother Valentine, My uncle Capulet and his wife and daughters, My fair niece Rosaline and Livia,