Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2: Line-by-Line Modern English Translation

He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

Modern English: He laughs at scars who never felt a wound.

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

Modern English: But wait! What light is breaking through that window?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Modern English: It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Modern English: Rise up, beautiful sun, and kill the jealous moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

Modern English: who is already sick and pale with grief

That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

Modern English: that you, her maid, are much more beautiful than she is.

Be not her maid, since she is envious;

Modern English: Don't be her maid, since she is so jealous;

Her vestal livery is but sick and green

Modern English: her virgin's uniform is sickly and green,

And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

Modern English: and only fools wear it; throw it off.

It is my lady, O, it is my love!

Modern English: It is my lady; oh, it is my love!

O, that she knew she were!

Modern English: Oh, I wish she knew she was!

She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?

Modern English: She's speaking, yet she says nothing. What does that matter?

Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

Modern English: Her eyes are talking; I will answer them.

I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:

Modern English: I'm being too bold; she's not speaking to me.

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,

Modern English: Two of the brightest stars in the whole sky,

Having some business, do entreat her eyes

Modern English: having some business elsewhere, are pleading with her eyes

To twinkle in their spheres till they return.

Modern English: to sparkle in their orbits until the stars return.

What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

Modern English: What if her eyes were moved there, and the stars were in her head?

The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,

Modern English: The radiance of her cheek would outshine those stars,

As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven

Modern English: just as daylight outshines a lamp; her eyes in heaven

Would through the airy region stream so bright

Modern English: would shine so brightly through the sky

That birds would sing and think it were not night.

Modern English: that birds would start singing, thinking it wasn't night.

See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!

Modern English: Look how she rests her cheek against her hand!

O, that I were a glove upon that hand,

Modern English: Oh, I wish I were a glove on that hand,

That I might touch that cheek!

Modern English: so that I could touch that cheek!

JULIET appears above at a window

Modern English: JULIET appears above at a window

Ay me!

Modern English: Oh my!

She speaks:

Modern English: She's speaking.

O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art

Modern English: Oh, speak again, bright angel! For you are

As glorious to this night, being o'er my head

Modern English: as glorious to this night, being above me,

As is a winged messenger of heaven

Modern English: as a winged messenger from heaven is

Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes

Modern English: to the wide-eyed, upturned faces

Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him

Modern English: of humans who fall back to stare at him

When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds

Modern English: when he rides the slow-moving clouds

And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Modern English: and glides through the middle of the air.

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

Modern English: Oh Romeo, Romeo! Why do you have to be Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Modern English: Disown your father and give up your name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

Modern English: or, if you won't, just swear to be my love,

And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Modern English: and I will no longer be a Capulet.

[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

Modern English: Should I listen for more, or should I speak now?

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;

Modern English: It is only your name that is my enemy;

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

Modern English: you are yourself, even if you weren't a Montague.

What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,

Modern English: What is a Montague? It isn't a hand, or a foot,

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part

Modern English: or an arm, or a face, or any other part

Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!

Modern English: belonging to a man. Oh, be some other name!

What's in a name? that which we call a rose

Modern English: What is in a name? The thing we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet;

Modern English: would smell just as sweet if it had any other name;

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,

Modern English: so Romeo, if he weren't called Romeo,

Retain that dear perfection which he owes

Modern English: would keep that precious perfection he owns

Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,

Modern English: without that title. Romeo, drop your name,

And for that name which is no part of thee

Modern English: and in exchange for that name, which isn't part of you,

Take all myself.

Modern English: take all of me.

I take thee at thy word:

Modern English: I'll take you at your word.

Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;

Modern English: Just call me your love, and I'll be baptized with a new name;

Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Modern English: from now on, I will never be Romeo again.

What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night

Modern English: Who are you, hidden here in the dark,

So stumblest on my counsel?

Modern English: stumbling onto my private thoughts?

By a name

Modern English: By using a name,

I know not how to tell thee who I am:

Modern English: I don't know how to tell you who I am.

My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,

Modern English: My name, dear saint, is hateful to me,

Because it is an enemy to thee;

Modern English: because it is an enemy to you;

Had I it written, I would tear the word.

Modern English: if I had it written down, I would tear up the word.

My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words

Modern English: My ears haven't even heard a hundred words

Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:

Modern English: spoken by that voice, yet I recognize the sound.

Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?

Modern English: Aren't you Romeo, and a Montague?

Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.

Modern English: Neither one, beautiful saint, if you dislike both.

How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?

Modern English: Tell me, how did you get here, and why?

The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,

Modern English: The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,

And the place death, considering who thou art,

Modern English: and this place means death, considering who you are,

If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

Modern English: if any of my relatives find you here.

With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;

Modern English: I flew over these walls on the light wings of love;

For stony limits cannot hold love out,

Modern English: because stone barriers cannot keep love out,

And what love can do that dares love attempt;

Modern English: and whatever love can do, love dares to try;

Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.

Modern English: therefore your relatives are no obstacle to me.

If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

Modern English: If they see you, they will kill you.

Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye

Modern English: Unfortunately, there is more danger in your eyes

Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,

Modern English: than in twenty of their swords. Just look at me kindly,

And I am proof against their enmity.

Modern English: and I will be protected against their hatred.

I would not for the world they saw thee here.

Modern English: I wouldn't have them see you here for anything in the world.

I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;

Modern English: I have the cloak of night to hide me from their sight;

And but thou love me, let them find me here:

Modern English: and unless you love me, let them find me here.

My life were better ended by their hate,

Modern English: I'd rather my life ended by their hate

Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.

Modern English: than have death postponed without your love.

By whose direction found'st thou out this place?

Modern English: Who gave you directions to find this place?

By love, who first did prompt me to inquire;

Modern English: Love, who first prompted me to ask;

He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.

Modern English: he gave me advice, and I gave him eyes.

I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far

Modern English: I'm no navigator; yet, even if you were as far away

As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,

Modern English: as the vast shore washed by the farthest sea,

I would adventure for such merchandise.

Modern English: I would risk a journey for such a treasure.

Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,

Modern English: You know the mask of night covers my face,

Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek

Modern English: otherwise a maidenly blush would color my cheek

For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night

Modern English: because of what you heard me say tonight.

Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny

Modern English: I'd gladly stick to proper manners, gladly, gladly deny

What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!

Modern English: what I've said—but goodbye to formalities!

Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'

Modern English: Do you love me? I know you will say "Yes,"

And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st,

Modern English: and I will take your word for it. Yet if you swear it,

Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries

Modern English: you might turn out to be false; they say

Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,

Modern English: that Jove laughs at lovers' lies. Oh gentle Romeo,

If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:

Modern English: if you do love me, say it faithfully.

Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,

Modern English: Or if you think I'm won over too easily,

I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,

Modern English: I'll frown and be difficult and say no to you,

So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.

Modern English: just so you'll have to woo me; but otherwise, I wouldn't do it for the world.

In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,

Modern English: In truth, handsome Montague, I am too deeply in love,

And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light:

Modern English: and so you might think my behavior is frivolous.

But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true

Modern English: But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove to be more faithful

Than those that have more cunning to be strange.

Modern English: than those who are more clever at acting cold.

I should have been more strange, I must confess,

Modern English: I should have been more distant, I must admit,

But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,

Modern English: but you overheard, before I realized it,

My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,

Modern English: my true heart's passion. Therefore, forgive me,

And not impute this yielding to light love,

Modern English: and don't assume this surrender is due to light-minded love,

Which the dark night hath so discovered.

Modern English: which the dark night has revealed.

Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear

Modern English: Lady, I swear by that blessed moon over there

That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--

Modern English: that tips all these fruit-tree tops with silver—

O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,

Modern English: Oh, don't swear by the moon, the inconsistent moon,

That monthly changes in her circled orb,

Modern English: that changes every month in its orbit,

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Modern English: or your love might prove to be just as variable.

What shall I swear by?

Modern English: What should I swear by?

Do not swear at all;

Modern English: Don't swear at all;

Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,

Modern English: Or, if you must, swear by your own gracious self,

Which is the god of my idolatry,

Modern English: who is the god I worship,

And I'll believe thee.

Modern English: and then I will believe you.

If my heart's dear love--

Modern English: If my heart's precious love—

Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,

Modern English: Well, don't swear. Even though you bring me joy,

I have no joy of this contract to-night:

Modern English: I take no joy in this pledge tonight.

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;

Modern English: It is too reckless, too unthinking, too sudden;

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be

Modern English: too much like lightning, which disappears

Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!

Modern English: before one can even say, 'It's lightning.' Sweetheart, good night!

This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,

Modern English: This bud of love, ripened by summer's breath,

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.

Modern English: might become a beautiful flower the next time we meet.

Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest

Modern English: Good night, good night! May the same sweet peace and rest

Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

Modern English: fill your heart as it does mine!

O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

Modern English: Oh, are you going to leave me so unsatisfied?

What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?

Modern English: What satisfaction can you possibly have tonight?

The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.

Modern English: The exchange of your faithful vow of love for mine.

I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:

Modern English: I gave you mine before you even asked for it,

And yet I would it were to give again.

Modern English: and yet I wish I still had it to give again.

Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?

Modern English: Would you take it back? For what reason, my love?

But to be frank, and give it thee again.

Modern English: Only to be generous and give it to you again.

And yet I wish but for the thing I have:

Modern English: And yet I only wish for the thing I already have;

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,

Modern English: my generosity is as limitless as the sea,

My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

Modern English: my love just as deep. The more I give to you,

The more I have, for both are infinite.

Modern English: the more I have, for both are infinite.

I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!

Modern English: I hear a noise inside; dear love, goodbye!

Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.

Modern English: Coming, Nurse! Sweet Montague, be faithful.

Stay but a little, I will come again.

Modern English: Wait just a moment, I'll come back.

Nurse calls within

Modern English: Nurse calls within

Exit, above

Modern English: The character leaves above.

O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.

Modern English: Oh, blessed, blessed night! I am afraid,

Being in night, all this is but a dream,

Modern English: since it is night, that all this is just a dream,

Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

Modern English: too wonderfully sweet to be real.

Re-enter JULIET, above

Modern English: JULIET, above return.

Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.

Modern English: Three words, dear Romeo, and then good night for real.

If that thy bent of love be honourable,

Modern English: If your love's intention is honorable,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,

Modern English: and your purpose is marriage, send me word tomorrow,

By one that I'll procure to come to thee,

Modern English: by someone I will arrange to send to you,

Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite;

Modern English: where and at what time you will perform the ceremony;

And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay

Modern English: then I will lay my entire future at your feet

And follow thee my lord throughout the world.

Modern English: and follow you, my lord, throughout the world.

[Within] Madam!

Modern English: (From within) Madam!

I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well,

Modern English: I'm coming right away!—But if you don't mean well,

I do beseech thee--

Modern English: I beg you—

[Within] Madam!

Modern English: (From within) Madam!

By and by, I come:--

Modern English: Right now, I'm coming!—

To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:

Modern English: to stop your pursuit and leave me to my grief.

To-morrow will I send.

Modern English: Tomorrow I will send someone.

So thrive my soul--

Modern English: May my soul thrive—

A thousand times good night!

Modern English: A thousand times good night!

Exit, above

Modern English: The character leaves above.

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.

Modern English: It's a thousand times worse to be without your light.

Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from

Modern English: Love goes toward love as schoolboys run away from

their books,

Modern English: their books,

But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.

Modern English: but love leaves love with the sad face of a boy going to school.

Retiring

Modern English: Retiring

Re-enter JULIET, above

Modern English: JULIET, above return.

Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,

Modern English: Hist! Romeo, hist! Oh, for a falconer's voice,

To lure this tassel-gentle back again!

Modern English: to lure this male hawk back again!

Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;

Modern English: Being a prisoner makes one hoarse and unable to speak loudly;

Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,

Modern English: otherwise, I would tear open the cave where Echo sleeps

And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,

Modern English: and make her airy voice even hoarser than mine

With repetition of my Romeo's name.

Modern English: by repeating my Romeo's name over and over.

It is my soul that calls upon my name:

Modern English: It is my soul that calls out my name.

How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,

Modern English: How silver-sweet lovers' voices sound at night,

Like softest music to attending ears!

Modern English: like the softest music to listening ears!

Romeo!

Modern English: Romeo!

My dear?

Modern English: My dear?

At what o'clock to-morrow

Modern English: At what time tomorrow

Shall I send to thee?

Modern English: should I send someone to you?

At the hour of nine.

Modern English: At nine o'clock.

I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.

Modern English: I won't fail; it feels like twenty years until then.

I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Modern English: I've forgotten why I called you back.

Let me stand here till thou remember it.

Modern English: Let me stand here until you remember it.

I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,

Modern English: I'll keep forgetting, just to keep you standing there,

Remembering how I love thy company.

Modern English: remembering how much I love your company.

And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,

Modern English: And I'll keep staying, just to have you keep forgetting,

Forgetting any other home but this.

Modern English: forgetting any other home but this one.

'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:

Modern English: It's almost morning; I want you to go,

And yet no further than a wanton's bird;

Modern English: but no further than a spoiled child's bird,

Who lets it hop a little from her hand,

Modern English: who lets it hop just a little way from her hand,

Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,

Modern English: like a poor prisoner in tangled shackles,

And with a silk thread plucks it back again,

Modern English: and pulls it back again with a silk thread,

So loving-jealous of his liberty.

Modern English: because she is so lovingly jealous of its freedom.

I would I were thy bird.

Modern English: I wish I were your bird.

Sweet, so would I:

Modern English: Sweetheart, I wish you were too,

Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.

Modern English: though I would kill you with too much petting.

Good night, good night! parting is such

Modern English: Good night, good night! Parting is such

sweet sorrow,

Modern English: sweet sorrow

That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Modern English: that I shall say good night until it is tomorrow.

Exit above

Modern English: The character leaves above.

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!

Modern English: May sleep stay on your eyes and peace in your heart!

Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!

Modern English: I wish I were sleep and peace, to rest so sweetly!

Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,

Modern English: Now I will go to my priest's cell,

His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

Modern English: to ask for his help and tell him of my good fortune.

Exit

Modern English: The character leaves.