Romeo and Juliet. Othello / Ромео и Джульетта. Отелло

But Tybalt was more furious than ever, and wanted to disobey his uncle. Old Capulet, however, was short tempered, and when he saw that Tybalt was still angry, he went on.

“It is my will. If you respect me, show a pleasant face, and cease this frowning; it is not suitable for a feast.”

Tybalt replied, “Such a villain is a guest! I’ll not endure him.”

“He’ll be endured,” said Capulet testily. “I say. Am I master here, or you? You’ll not endure him! You’ll make a riot among my guests!”

“Why, uncle,” replied Tybalt, “it is a shame.”

“Be quiet!” cried Capulet. “Or I’ll make you quiet!^[11]”

Tybalt could not endure to be patient when he saw Romeo, so he strode away muttering vengeance when next they should meet.

Romeo had heard nothing of what passed between old Capulet and Tybalt. Unlike Tybalt, who wanted to fight, Romeo could think only of the beautiful Juliet. He made his way through the dancers and took Juliet’s hand and spoke to her and gently kissed it. They talked together for a while, but soon the nurse came to fetch Juliet away, for her mother wished to speak with her. Juliet was very attracted to the handsome young man.

“Who is her mother?” asked Romeo.

The nurse was surprised that one of the guests should ask such a question, and answered,

“Her mother is the lady of the house^[12], and a good lady too. I nursed her daughter, that you were talking with.”

When Romeo heard that his new love was a Capulet his heart sank; but he had no time for brooding, for the dancing was over and the guests were preparing to go home. As Romeo went out, Juliet asked her nurse who he was. She did not know, but asked one of the guests, and so learnt that it was Romeo, the only son of Montague.

On their way home Benvolio and Mercutio soon missed Romeo in the crowd of departing guests. And he made his way back to Capulet’s house, climbed the wall of the garden, and hid himself amongst the trees. He did not know that he was in Juliet’s garden.

The others stayed for some time calling for him, but as there was no answer they went home to bed. As soon as they bad gone Romeo came out of his hiding, and, in the darkness made his way towards the house, he saw a light in one of the upper windows. The window opened, and Juliet herself came out upon the balcony. She began to speak aloud. Romeo drew nearer and listened: Juliet, was murmuring his name.

At length Romeo, still hidden in the darkness, answered her. She asked him who he was.

“My name,” he replied, “is hateful to me because it is your enemy.”

Juliet at once knew his voice, and asked him, “Are you not Romeo and a Montague^[13]?”

“Neither,” he said, “if it displeases you.”

“Oh, Romeo, why are you called so? Renounce your father and give up your name!”

“If you swear that you love me I shall give myself a new name!”

“But how did you come here?” she asked. “The walls are high and hard to climb; and the place is death to you if any of my kinsmen find you.”

“Love’s wings,” said Romeo, “carried me here, for stone walls cannot keep out love.”

Then Juliet knew that he loved her as deeply as she loved him, and without any feigning or pretence she said,

“Do you love me? I know you will say ‘yes’.”

And each declared their love for the other, until the nurse from within the house called Juliet. Juliet answered that she was coming at once, but she said to Romeo,

“Three words, Romeo, and then good-night indeed. If your love is honourable, and your purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow by one that I shall send, where and what time you will marry me, and I will follow.”

The nurse called more insistently. So Juliet hurried inside, but soon she came back and again whispered:

“Hist, Romeo, hist!”

Romeo was still waiting, and answered her softly.

“At what time tomorrow shall I send to you?” she asked.

“By nine o’clock,” said he.

The first signs of dawn were now appearing in the east, which warned Romeo to be gone. He climbed over the wall, and instead of going home made his way towards the cell of Friar Laurence^[14], his confessor.

The friar was up, as it was his custom to gather herbs to cure poor folk. He was thus busied when he saw Romeo approaching. He gave Romeo his blessing, and then asked why he was so early.

Then Romeo confessed that he was in love with Capulet’s daughter, and begged the friar to unite them in holy marriage.

Friar Laurence was astonished at this news, for a short while before Romeo had been in love with Rosaline, and now Rosaline was forgotten in this new love. At the same time the news was not unwelcome to him, for if the only son of Montague should marry the Capulet’s daughter then it seemed likely that the ancient rancour of these two houses might be buried.

In the morning, Benvolio and Mercutio came out into the streets of Verona to look for Romeo. Benvolio had no news of him. He had not been home since they parted, and a letter from Tybalt was waiting for him at his father’s house. When he heard this, Mercutio was afraid for his friend; for the letter must be a challenge. He knew that Romeo would accept this challenge; but Tybalt was an expert duellist, a most dangerous enemy.

Romeo approached. Mercutio treated him mockingly, as a forlorn lover, for as yet neither he nor any one knew that his hopeless love for Rosaline had given place to a warmer love for Juliet. But Romeo said nothing of his secret.

Juliet’s nurse came upon them, and asked whether they could direct her to Romeo. Mercutio and Benvolio thought she was vexed and indignant. But at last they left her to give her message to Romeo alone.

At first she forgot that she was to bring a message back from Romeo to Juliet. She was preparing to go away, but he stopped her. Then he bade her tell Juliet to come to confession to Friar Laurence’s cell that afternoon, and there they should be married. And further: within one hour his man should give her a ladder of rope by which he could climb up and visit Juliet.

The nurse was so excited at the thought of Juliet’s wedding that she began, as always, to chatter about the days when Juliet was a little girl, but at last she turned to go.

Juliet was waiting impatiently for the nurse to come back. It was nine when she had started, and it was noon before the old woman returned, out of breath, hot, weary, and peevish. Juliet at once asked her for her news, but she sat down to lament the aches in her bones. Juliet began to plead with her more urgently than before.

“Sweet nurse,” she said, “tell me what my love says.”

“Your love says,” began the nurse, “like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome – where’s your mother?”

“Where’s my mother?” repeated Juliet. “Why, in the house. What a strange message! ‘Your love says, like an honest gentleman, “Where’s your mother?”

“Are you so impatient?” snapped the nurse. “Is this a cure for my aching bones? Henceforward carry your own messages yourself.”

But she was soon mollified, and asked,

“Are you going to Friar Laurence today?”

“I am,” said Juliet.

“Then make haste to his cell. There’s a husband waiting for you there. Get you to the friar. I must fetch a ladder by which your love must climb up to the nest when it is dark. Make haste.”

When Juliet reached the friar’s cell, Friar Laurence and Romeo were waiting for her. Without more ado the friar led them to his chapel and then made them man and wife. And the friar gave them a solemn warning:

“Violent loves often have violent endings.”

So they parted.

Meanwhile two of Romeo’s friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, were walking in the street. It was a hot afternoon, and they sat down to rest. Soon they saw Tybalt with some of his friends. Tybalt came up to them. Tybalt was looking for Romeo.

“Gentlemen,” he said truculently, “a word with one of you.”

Mercutio was quite as eager, but Tybalt left him abruptly, for Romeo himself passed by, on his way back from the friar.

“Here comes my man,” cried Tybalt. He stepped up to Romeo and called him “villain”, which was as good as a challenge.

Romeo, his head full of thoughts of Juliet, answered him gently:

“I am no villain. Farewell. I see you do not know me.”

Romeo did not want to fight with Tybalt because he knew that Tybalt was Juliet’s cousin. But Tybalt challenged Romeo directly to draw his rapier and fight. Romeo replied even more gently than before. This unexpected meekness filled Mercutio with anger and amazement at such seeming cowardice. He was angry that Romeo did not return Tybalt’s insult. So he took the challenge himself and dared Tybalt to fight him. In a moment they were thrusting at each other.

Romeo called on Benvolio to separate them. He drew his own rapier and came between them. In this way Mercutio did not see Tybalt, and Tybalt thrust under Romeo’s outstretched arm and ran Mercutio through the body. Then he saw that the Prince’s kinsman is hurt, he turned and fled. Romeo at first thought the hurt but slight; but Mercutio knew that it was mortal, and, supported by Benvolio, he was led away into the nearest house.

Romeo himself stood dazed with horror at this sudden event, until Benvolio came out of the house to say that Mercutio was dead. Tybalt at this moment came back. Romeo drew his rapier and attacked Tybalt so furiously that, after a few passes, he ran him through the heart and he fell dead.

The noise of the fight had brought the citizens to their doors, and there was a great outcry. Benvolio urged Romeo to run and hide, for soon the Prince, old Capulet, Montague, and their wives and kinsfolk were on the scene.