AcT 1, ScEnE 1 MoNtAgUe 100


Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?52 Speak, nephew. Were you by when it began?


BeNvOlIo


Here were the servants of your adversary,53 And yours, close fighting ere54


I did approach.


I drew to part them. In the instant came The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,55 Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears, He swung about his head and cut the winds, Who, nothing hurt withal,56


110 53 adversary: enemy 54 ere: before 55 prepared: ready, i.e. drawn 52


Who set…abroach?: Who reignited this old feud?


hissed him in scorn.


While we were interchanging thrusts and blows, Came more and more and fought on part and part,57 Till the prince came, who parted either part.


LaDy MoNtAgUe


O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray.58


BeNvOlIo


Madam, an hour before the worshipped sun Peered forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drove me to walk abroad, Where, underneath the grove of sycamore That westward rooteth59


120 And stole61


So early walking did I see your son. Towards him I made, but he was ware60 into the covert62


I, measuring his affections63


of the wood. by my own,


That most are busied when they’re most alone, Pursued my humour not pursuing his,64 And gladly shunned65


who gladly fled from me. MoNtAgUe


Many a morning hath he there been seen, With tears augmenting66


the fresh morning’s dew, 130


Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs. But all so soon as the all-cheering sun Should in the furthest east begin to draw The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,67 Away from the light steals home my heavy68


son,


And private in his chamber pens himself,69 Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out And makes himself an artificial night. Black and portentous70 Unless good counsel72


must this humour71 66 augmenting: increasing 58 fray: fight/brawl/riot


56


nothing hurt withal: was not hurt by this


57


fought on part and part: fought for one side or the other


from the city’s side, of me


59 rooteth: is rooted/grows 60


ware: 1. aware 2. wary


61 stole: sneaked 62 covert: cover


63 64


measuring his affections: judging his emotions


Pursued…pursuing his: followed my inclination by not following him


65 shunned: avoided


67


Aurora’s bed: i.e. dawn. Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn


68 heavy: sad 69


And private…pens himself: and shuts himself in his room


prove, may the cause remove.


70 portentous: foreboding/ominous 71 humour: mood 72 counsel: advice


17


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