3
Juliet
Are you going to leave? It’s not yet that close to daytime. That was the nightingale — not the morning lark — that just made that loud, piercing cry. The nightingale sings every night on that pomegranate tree over there. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
Capulet
Sir, things have turned out so unluckily that we haven’t had the time to persuade Juliet to marry you. Understand that she loved her cousin Tybalt dearly, as did I...well, we all must die. It’s very late, she won’t come down tonight. I can tell you that if it weren’t for your company I would have gone to bed an hour ago.
Paris
These sad times don’t give much opportunity for wooing. Madam, good night. Give my respects to your daughter.
Friar Laurence
Come here, Romeo. Come here my frightened young man. Trouble must be in love with you because you seem to be married to disaster.
Romeo
What’s the news, father? How did the Prince rule in my case? What other misfortune is waiting to meet me that I’m not already acquainted with?
Friar Laurence
Unfortunately trouble and disaster are your closest friends, my dear son. I have news of the Prince’s verdict.
Juliet
Come on, sun, hurry up and set. I wish some god would whip you forward so the cloudy night would come immediately. Let night wanderers blink and miss us and let Romeo leap into my arms unseen. Lovers can see well enough to make love by the light of beauty, and if they can’t, it won’t matter in the dark of night anyway. If only night would come like a proper widow dressed in black and teach me how to gain something by losing my virginity.
Benvolio
I think it would be a good idea to get out of the streets, Mercutio. When it’s as hot as this, people get easily provoked. There’s lots of Capulets about. I’m afraid that if we run into any of them, we’ll wind up in a fight.
Mercutio
You’re one of those guys who goes into a pub and takes his sword off saying, “I won’t be needing you.” But by the time your second drink is having an effect, you’ve drawn your sword on the bartender for no good reason.
Hamlet
[Hamlet enters with several actors]
Claudius
Can’t you steer the conversation to find out why he’s behaving so crazy, why his normal peaceful state of mind has been replaced with this violent, dangerous lunacy?
Rosencrantz
He confesses that he feels bothered, but he won’t say why.
Guildenstern
He didn’t seem to like being questioned. He cleverly faked madness to avoid revealing what’s really going on.
Gertrude
Was he polite to you?
[Enter Cinna the poet]
Cinna the Poet
I dreamed last night that I was feasting with Caesar, and my dream was full of unlucky omens. I don't want to leave home, but something's drawing me out.
[Enter Plebeian]
First Plebeian
What is your name?
Second Plebeian
Where are you going?
Third Plebeian
Where do you live?
[Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens]
Plebeians
Give us some answers! We want answers!
Brutus
Then follow me and let me speak to you, friends. Cassius, you go into the other street and divide the crowd. Let anyone who wants to hear me speak stay here, and those who wish to hear you can go with you. We'll both give reasons before the public for Caesar's death.
First Plebeian
I want to hear Brutus speak.
