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Romeo and JulietModern English

Romeo and Juliet, Act 5, Scene 2

Friar Lawrence’s Cell.

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Which text to show for Act 5, Scene 2

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Modern English

  1. Enter Friar John.

    Friar John comes in.

  2. Friar John1

    Holy Franciscan Friar! Brother, ho!

    Holy Franciscan Friar! Brother, hello!

  3. Enter Friar Lawrence.

    Friar Lawrence comes in.

  4. Friar Lawrence2

    This same should be the voice of Friar John. Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo? Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.

    That must be the voice of Friar John. Welcome back from Mantua. What does Romeo say? Or, if he has written down his thoughts, give me his letter.

  5. Friar John5

    Going to find a barefoot brother out, One of our order, to associate me, Here in this city visiting the sick, And finding him, the searchers of the town, Suspecting that we both were in a house Where the infectious pestilence did reign, Seal’d up the doors, and would not let us forth, So that my speed to Mantua there was stay’d.

    I went to find a barefoot brother, one of our order, to go with me, here in this city visiting the sick, and when I found him, the town's health inspectors, suspecting that we had both been in a house where the infectious plague was raging, sealed up the doors and would not let us out, so my journey to Mantua was halted there.

  6. Friar Lawrence13

    Who bare my letter then to Romeo?

    Then who carried my letter to Romeo?

  7. Friar John14

    I could not send it,—here it is again,— Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection.

    I could not send it — here it is back again — nor could I find a messenger to bring it to you, they were so afraid of infection.

  8. Friar Lawrence17

    Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood, The letter was not nice, but full of charge, Of dear import, and the neglecting it May do much danger. Friar John, go hence, Get me an iron crow and bring it straight Unto my cell.

    What miserable luck! I swear by our brotherhood, the letter was not a trivial one, but full of urgent instructions, of serious importance, and neglecting it may cause great harm. Friar John, go away from here, get me a crowbar and bring it at once to my cell.

  9. Friar John23

    Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee.

    Brother, I'll go and bring it to you.

  10. Exit.

    He leaves.

  11. Friar Lawrence24

    Now must I to the monument alone. Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake. She will beshrew me much that Romeo Hath had no notice of these accidents; But I will write again to Mantua, And keep her at my cell till Romeo come. Poor living corse, clos’d in a dead man’s tomb.

    Now I must go to the tomb alone. Within the next three hours lovely Juliet will wake. She will curse me bitterly that Romeo has had no word of what has happened; but I will write to Mantua again, and keep her at my cell until Romeo comes. Poor living body, shut up in a dead man's tomb.

  12. Exit.

    He leaves.

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Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1513 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.