No Fear Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 1, Scene 2, Page 3

Original Text

Modern Text


ROMEO
Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
ROMEO
The 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?

55

ROMEO
Not 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.

60
PETER
Perhaps 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. Have a nice day.


65




70
ROMEO
Stay, fellow. I can read. (he reads the letter)
“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;
Mine 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,

More Help

Watch the Video SparkNote

A quick and easy plot summary of Romeo and Juliet.

Read the Romeo and Juliet SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download the No Fear Shakespeare app for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes

Buy No Fear Romeo and Juliet at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.

Do energy juices actually work?

Our blogger puts 'em to the test!