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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 5Scene 3
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"ray her statue"
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 3
Lines 296-302

An explanation of the phrase “ray her statue” in Act 5, Scene 3 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Capulet

O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand.

Montague

                         But I can give thee more.
For I will ray her statue in pure gold;
That while Verona by that name is known,                   
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.

A common practice in the tomb of a noble person was to place a carved image of the deceased on the casket. Montague is going to array, to dress, Juliet's figure in gold. Notice the pun: if she's dressed in gold, then her statue will "ray," or shine.