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Romeo, Lines 29-51
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Act 3,
Scene 3
Lines 29-51

Romeo performs a speech from Act 3, Scene 3 of myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. 

myShakespeare | Romeo and Juliet 3.3 Performance: Romeo, Lines 29-51

Romeo

'Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog                     
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her,
But Romeo may not. More validity,
More honorable state, more courtship lives
In carrion-flies than Romeo. They may seize
On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Who even in pure and vestal modesty
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin.
But Romeo may not; he is banishèd.                             
Flies may do this, but I from this must fly.
They are free men, but I am banishèd.
And sayest thou yet that exile is not death?
Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife,
No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean
But 'banishèd' to kill me? 'Banishèd'!
O friar, the damnèd use that word in hell;
Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart,
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver, and my friend professed,                      
To mangle me with that word 'banishèd'?