Romeo and Juliet: Act 1, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Capulet, County Paris, and a Servingman. CAPULET But Montague is bound as well as I, In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think, For men so old as we to keep the peace.	Meanwhile, Lord Capulet is hanging out with County (a.k.a. Count) Paris, Verona's #1 most Eligible Bachelor. Capulet says something like "I'm getting too old for this whole family feud thing and so is Lord Montague—I'm sure we can work something out to keep the peace." (Get your highlighters out because this is pretty important. The whole Montague/Capulet feud may not be as big a deal to the older generation as it is to the younger generation.)
PARIS Of honorable reckoning are you both, And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long. 5 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?	But Paris has other things on his mind, like, "Hey, can I marry your thirteen-year-old daughter, Juliet?"
CAPULET But saying o’er what I have said before. My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers wither in their pride 10 Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. PARIS Younger than she are happy mothers made.	Capulet says that his daughter's a little young—better wait until she's fifteen—and Paris creepily suggests that girls younger than thirteen can be happy wives and mothers. Quick Brain Snack: In Shakespeare's day, the legal age of marriage was twelve for girls and fourteen for boys, but that doesn't mean people were running around getting married as pre-teens. In fact, most English people of the time married in their early twenties, just like now (source). Shakespeare was probably emphasizing how crazy these Italians were by making Juliet so young.
CAPULET And too soon marred are those so early made. Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; She’s the hopeful lady of my earth. 15 But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part. And, she agreed, within her scope of choice Lies my consent and fair according voice. This night I hold an old accustomed feast, 20 Whereto I have invited many a guest Such as I love; and you among the store, One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house look to behold this night Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light. 25 Such comfort as do lusty young men feel When well-appareled April on the heel Of limping winter treads, even such delight Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see, 30 And like her most whose merit most shall be; Which, on more view of many, mine, being one, May stand in number, though in reck’ning none. Come go with me. To Servingman, giving him a list. Go, sirrah, trudge about 35 Through fair Verona, find those persons out Whose names are written there, and to them say My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. Capulet and Paris exit.	In addition to wanting to hold onto his daughter a bit longer, Capulet would also like Juliet to be on board with any marital arrangements. But he says Paris can talk to his daughter at the annual Capulet bash that they're holding tonight at his house—maybe Juliet will fall in love with Paris. Before he and Paris exit, Capulet gives one of his servants, Peter, a list of people to invite to the party.
SERVINGMAN Find them out whose names are written here! It is written that the shoemaker should 40 meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets. But I am sent to find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned. 45 In good time!	Unfortunately, the servant can't read. The illiterate servant decides to look for some people who can read.
Enter Benvolio and Romeo. BENVOLIO, to Romeo Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning; One pain is lessened by another’s anguish. Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning. One desperate grief cures with another’s languish. 50 Take thou some new infection to thy eye, And the rank poison of the old will die. ROMEO Your plantain leaf is excellent for that. BENVOLIO For what, I pray thee? ROMEO For your broken shin. 55 BENVOLIO Why Romeo, art thou mad? 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. 60	Romeo and Benvolio come in, still arguing about Romeo's unnamed love interest. (Don't worry, we'll find out this mystery girl's name soon enough.) Benvolio keeps telling him that a new crush will make him forget his current obsession, just like a new ailment would make him forget an old one. You know, like if you stubbed your toe, it would probably make you forget that you had a headache, right?
SERVINGMAN God gi’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you read? ROMEO Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. SERVINGMAN Perhaps you have learned it without book. But I pray, can you read anything you see? 65 ROMEO Ay, if I know the letters and the language. SERVINGMAN You say honestly. Rest you merry. ROMEO Stay, fellow. I can read. (He reads the letter.) "Signior Martino and his wife and daughters, County Anselme and his beauteous sisters, 70 The lady widow of Vitruvio, Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces, Mercutio and his brother Valentine, Mine Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters, My fair niece Rosaline and Livia, 75 Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena." A fair assembly. Whither should they come? SERVINGMAN Up. ROMEO Whither? To supper? 80 SERVINGMAN To our house. ROMEO Whose house? SERVINGMAN My master’s. ROMEO Indeed I should have asked thee that before. SERVINGMAN Now I’ll tell you without asking. My 85 master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry. He exits.	The Capulets's servant asks Romeo to read the guest list for the party. Romeo does, and then gets the details: all of these folks are being invited up to Capulet's house for a party, and as long as they're not Montagues (which, of course, they are) Romeo and Benvolio are welcome to join.
BENVOLIO At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, 90 With all the admirèd beauties of Verona. Go thither, and with unattainted eye Compare her face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.	Benvolio doesn't seem to take the whole "No Montagues allowed" thing very seriously. He says he and Romeo should go to the party. Fair Rosaline—yep, that's Romeo's mystery crush—will be there, and Benvolio is sure that when Romeo compares her with the other young ladies in the room, he'll see that she's not as attractive as he thinks.
ROMEO When the devout religion of mine eye 95 Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire; And these who, often drowned, could never die, Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars. One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun. 100 BENVOLIO Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, Herself poised with herself in either eye; But in that crystal scales let there be weighed Your lady’s love against some other maid That I will show you shining at this feast, 105 And she shall scant show well that now seems best. ROMEO I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown, But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. They exit.	Romeo laughs at the thought that anyone could outshine Rosaline. Or, at least, he would laugh...if he wasn't so darned depressed. Instead he says something like, "Don't blame me if it rains," and agrees to go. His expectations are pretty low, but he'll be happy to get a glimpse of Rosaline.