ACT 3
[Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants]
BENVOLIO
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
I tell you, good Mercutio, let’s go home:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
It’s hot, and Capulets are everywhere,
And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl;
And, if we meet, we won’t escape a fight;
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
In days as hot as this, it makes one’s blood boil.
MERCUTIO
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
You’re like one of those people that, when they enter
enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword
the tight confines of a pub, they grab their sword
upon the table and says 'God send me no need of
and slam it on the table, declaring, “God, I hope I don’t need to
thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws
use this sword!” But once they’ve downed their second pint,
it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.
they draw their sword upon the barman, when there is no need.
BENVOLIO
Am I like such a fellow?
Am I like such a chap?
MERCUTIO
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as
Come on, you are as hot-headed when you want to be as
any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as
any bloke in Italy, and any incitation to be angry makes
soon moody to be moved.
you angry by the incitation.
BENVOLIO
And what to?
And so what?
MERCUTIO
Nay, an there were two such, we should have none
So, if there were two hotheads like you, there’d soon be none,
shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! Why,
for you’d both kill each other. You! Well,
thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more,
you’d pick a fight with a man if he had one hair more
or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou
or one hair less in his beard than you have! You
wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no
will argue with a man for cracking nuts open, for no
other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what
other reason than your eyes are the colour of hazelnuts. Whose
eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel?
eyes except yours would go looking for such a fight?
Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of
Your head is as full of fighting as an egg is full of
meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as
chicken meat, and yet your head’s been beaten to a scramble
an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a
like egg because of your arguing. You’ve argued with a
man for coughing in the street, because he hath
man for coughing in the street, because he has
wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun:
woken up your dog that lay asleep in the sunshine.
didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing
Didn’t you fall out with a tailor for wearing
his new doublet before Easter? With another, for
his new jacket before it was Easter? With another, for
tying his new shoes with old riband? And yet thou
tying his new shoes up with ribbons? And yet you
wilt tutor me from quarrelling!
will try to teach me how to stop getting into an argument!
BENVOLIO
An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
If I were as prone to getting into arguments as you are, then
should buy the fee-simple of my life for an
I should purchase life insurance to last an
hour and a quarter.
hour and a quarter.
MERCUTIO
The fee-simple! O simple!
Purchase life insurance! Ha!
BENVOLIO
By my head, here come the Capulets.
Oh look out, here come the Capulets.
MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.
I tell you, I don’t give a damn.
[Enter TYBALT and others]
TYBALT
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Keep close to me, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.
Gentlemen, good afternoon. I’d like a word with one of you.
MERCUTIO
And but one word with one of us? Couple it with
You’d like one word with one of us? Add it to something
something; make it a word and a blow.
else; make it a word and a punch.
TYBALT
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you
You’ll find I’m perfectly up for that sir, if you
will give me occasion.
give me the reason.
MERCUTIO
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
Could you not form a reason without us having to give one?
TYBALT
Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,--
Mercutio, you’re chummy with Romeo…
MERCUTIO
Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? An
Chummy? What, do you think we’re in a music band? If
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
you think we’re musicians, you’ll hear us play nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
a racket: I’ll play a tune on my sword; this will
make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!
make you dance. By God’s wounds, chummy!
BENVOLIO
We talk here in the public haunt of men:
We’re talking here within a public place:
Either withdraw unto some private place,
We either should withdraw to somewhere private,
And reason coldly of your grievances,
And air our grievances without emotion,
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.
Or else, clear off. Here, everyone is looking.
MERCUTIO
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
Men’s eyes were made to look, so let them look;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
I will not move for anyone’s request.
[Enter ROMEO]
TYBALT
Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.
Well, peace be with you; here’s my man I’m seeking.
MERCUTIO
But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery:
Well I’ll be damned if he wears your attire;
Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower;
Go on, go in that field, and he will follow;
Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.'
That is the only time you’ll call him “man.”
TYBALT
Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford
Romeo, the hate I have for you can be
No better term than this,--thou art a villain.
Described no more this: you are a villain.
ROMEO
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Tybalt, the reasons that I have for loving you
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
Prevent me getting overwhelmed with anger
To such a greeting: villain am I none;
From how you’ve greeted me. I’m not a villain.
Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.
And so, goodbye; I see you do not know me.
TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
Boy, this does not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.
You’ve done to me; so turn and draw your sword.
ROMEO
I do protest, I never injured thee,
That isn’t right; I’ve never injured you;
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
In fact, I love you more than you’re aware;
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
Until you know the reason for my love:
And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender
And so, good Capulet – a name I value
As dearly as my own,--be satisfied.
As much as my own name – be satisfied.
MERCUTIO
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
What a pathetic, weak capitulation!
Alla stoccata carries it away.
The first to draw his sword will win the fight.
[Draws]
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
Tybalt, you pussy, will you walk away?
TYBALT
What wouldst thou have with me?
What do you want from me?
MERCUTIO
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine
Good king of cats, I only want to take one of your nine
lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you
lives; but, nonetheless, however you behave towards me
shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the
after that, I might decide to take the other
eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher
eight. Will you draw your sword out of its sheath by pulling
by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your
on its ear-like cross-guard? Move quickly, else my sword will be
ears ere it be out.
at your ears before you’ve even drawn yours.
TYBALT
I am for you.
I’ll fight with you.
[Drawing]
ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Gentle Mercutio, put your sword away.
MERCUTIO
Come, sir, your passado.
Come on then, sir, let’s see your forward thrust.
[They fight]
ROMEO
Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Draw, Benvolio; let’s stop them fighting.
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
Gentlemen, now stop this shameful outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly
Forbidden bandying in Verona streets:
Forbids us fighting in Verona’s streets:
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
Stop, Tybalt! Stop Mercutio!
[TYBALT under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and flies with his followers]
MERCUTIO
I am hurt.
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
God damn to both your families. I am done for.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?
Has he left here unscathed?
BENVOLIO
What, art thou hurt?
What, are you hurt?
MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Yes, yes, a scratch, but it’s enough to kill me.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
Where is my servant? Go and fetch a surgeon.
[Exit Page]
ROMEO
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
Be brave; it surely cannot hurt that much.
MERCUTIO
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
No, it’s not as deep as a well, nor as wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for
church door; but it’s enough to do the trick: Ask for
me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.
me tomorrow, and you’ll find me in my grave.
I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o'
I’m stabbed, and I assure you, stabbed to death. God damn
both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a
both your families! By God’s wounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a
cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a
cat has scratched a man to death! That show-off,
rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of
scoundrel, a villain, that fights like he has learned it from
arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I
a textbook! Why on earth did you push to get between us? I
was hurt under your arm.
was stabbed when you grabbed me.
ROMEO
I thought all for the best.
I thought it was for the best.
MERCUTIO
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Help me inside a house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
Else I will faint. God damn to both your families!
They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,
They’ve turned me into worm food. Now, I’ve had it,
And soundly too: your houses!
I have completely had it: get me inside!
[Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO]
ROMEO
This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
This gentleman, a kinsman of the prince
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
And my dear friend, has mortally been stabbed
In my behalf; my reputation stained
Because of me, defending my credentials
With Tybalt's slander,--Tybalt, that an hour
From Tybalt’s slander… Tybalt, for an hour
Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
You’ve been my relative! Oh, Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
Your beauty’s made me act like I’m a sissy,
And in my temper softened valour's steel!
And turned my temperament from brave to weak!
[Re-enter BENVOLIO]
BENVOLIO
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio’s dead!
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
His fearless spirit has gone up to heaven,
Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
And his contempt means he has died too soon.
ROMEO
This day's black fate on more days doth depend;
This tragic day has started future pain;
This but begins the woe, others must end.
Today begins the grief we’ll see again.
BENVOLIO
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
Here’s Tybalt, furious, after he fled
ROMEO
Alive, in triumph! And Mercutio slain!
Alive, victorious Mercutio’s dead!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
Get lost, my lenient nature, and from now on
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
I’ll let my red-faced anger be my guide!
[Re-enter TYBALT]
Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
Tybalt, retract that you called me a villain;
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
You called me that before: Mercutio’s soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Is just a little way above our heads
Staying for thine to keep him company:
And waiting there for you to keep him company.
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
Either you, or me, or both must go with him.
TYBALT
Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
You, boy, associated with him on earth,
Shalt with him hence.
And you’ll leave with him now.
ROMEO
This shall determine that.
My sword will sort this out.
[They fight; TYBALT falls]
BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
Romeo, get out of here!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
The citizens are angry; Tybalt’s dead.
Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,
Don’t stand here gawping, for the prince will kill you
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
If you are captured, so get out of here!
ROMEO
O, I am fortune's fool!
Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
BENVOLIO
Why dost thou stay?
Why are you staying?
[Exit ROMEO]
[Enter Citizens]
FIRST CITIZEN
Which way ran he that killed Mercutio?
Which way did he that killed Mercutio run?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way did he run?
BENVOLIO
There lies that Tybalt.
Tybalt is lying there.
FIRST CITIZEN
Up, sir, go with me;
Stand up and come with me.
I charge thee in the princes name, obey.
I charge you in the prince’s name, obey me.
[Enter Prince, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Wives, and others]
PRINCE
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
Where are the wretched folk who caused this trouble?
BENVOLIO
O noble prince, I can discover all
Oh noble prince, I can reveal exactly
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
What caused this most unlucky fatal brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
There lies the man, killed by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
That killed your kinsman, brave Mercutio.
LADY CAPULET
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!
Tybalt, my cousin! Oh, my brother’s child!
O prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is spilt
Oh prince! Oh cousin! Husband! Oh, the blood is spilt
O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
From my dear kinsman! Prince, you’re honourable,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
So for this death, a Montague must die.
O cousin, cousin!
Oh cousin, cousin!
PRINCE
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
Benvolio, who began this bloody fight?
BENVOLIO
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;
Tybalt, lying here dead, was killed by Romeo;
Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink
Romeo politely spoke, and urged he think
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
How trivial the quarrel was, and spoke of
Your high displeasure: all this uttered
How angry you would be. He said all this
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed,
In gentle tone, calm faced, and humbly bowing,
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
But this could not appease the stubborn temper
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
Of Tybalt, who’d not hear of peace, but pointed
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,
His sharpened sword at bold Mercutio’s breast,
Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
Who, just as angry, drew his sword back at him,
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
And with a brave dexterity, deflected
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
A lethal jab, and parried back the jab
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity,
To Tybalt, whose most skilful swordsmanship
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
Returned it back. Then Romeo cried out,
'Hold, friends! Friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue,
“Stop, friends! Break up!” and, faster than he spoke,
His agile arm beats down their fatal points,
His nimble arms pushed down their fatal swords,
And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
Whilst breaking them apart. Below his arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
An envious stab from Tybalt hit the heart
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
But very soon he came back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertained revenge,
Who now had set his heart upon revenge,
And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I
And, fast as lightning, started fighting, prior
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.
To me splitting them up, but Tybalt died.
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
And, as he fell, Romeo turned and fled;
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
I promise this is true, else leave me dead.
LADY CAPULET
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true:
Through loyalty, he lies; this isn’t true.
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
Some twenty Montagues fought in this strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
And twenty men could only take one life.
I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
I beg for justice, which you, prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
Romeo killed Tybalt, and Romeo mustn’t live.
PRINCE
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Romeo killed Tybalt, who’d killed Mercutio.
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Who has to pay the price for what they owe?
MONTAGUE
Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;
Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio’s friend;
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
His fault brought justice as the laws intend:
The life of Tybalt.
The life of Tybalt.
PRINCE
And for that offence
And for that offence,
Immediately we do exile him hence:
He’ll live in exile; that’s his recompense.
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
I’m now embroiled within your families fighting,
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
My kinsman’s dead from brawls you’ve been inciting.
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
But I will punish you with such a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
That you’ll repent this family death of mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
I will ignore your pleading and excuses,
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
Your tears or prayers won’t pardon your abuses,
Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste,
So do not use them. Romeo can’t stay
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
Else, if he’s found, he’ll be killed right away.
Bear hence this body and attend our will:
Remove this body, and await instruction;
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Forgiving murderers brings more destruction.
[Exeunt]
