wy LONGMAN CLASSICS _ —-a Three Great Plays of Shakespeare Simplified by D K Swan and Michael West Escaneado con CamScannerContents Introduction 1 Romeo and Juliet 2 Macbeth 3 King Lear Questions New words Escaneado con CamScanner 24 39 67 71‘Addison Wesley Longman Limited, Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE, England and Associated Companies throughout the world. This simplifed edition © Longman Group UK Limited 1952 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, ‘mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers. First published 1992 Eighth impression 1996 ISBN 0-582-0358b-4 Set in 10/13 point Linotron 202 Versailles Printed in China GCC/08 Acknowledgements Al photographs, including cover picture, are printed with kind Peamission © BBC. é cover background is a wallpaper design called NUAGE, courtesy of Osbome and Little DI . Stage 4: 1800 word vocabulary. Please look under Ne is book peace ew words at the back of this DOO! for explanations of words outside this stage- Escaneado con CamScannerIntroduction William Shakespeare The most famous writer of plays in the English language was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, six years after Elizabeth I became Queen of England. We know him as the writer of thirty-nine plays, of which at least thirty-four are still regularly seen on the stage. We believe that he was also the poet who wrote 154 sonnets (fourteen-line poems), many of great beauty, and some longer poems. Rather surprisingly, we don’t know very much about the man himself. We think he went to the grammar school in Stratford. If so, he probably had a good education, especially in Latin. The next thing we know is that he married Anne Hathaway in 1582, and they had three children: Suzanna (born in 1583) and a boy and a girl (Hamnet and Judith) born at the same time in 1585. After that, we know nothing until 1592, when he was already writing successful plays in London. We don’t know when he went there. By 1597, Shakespeare had made enough money as a writer and actor to buy New Place, the largest house in Stratford. Perhaps he retired to New Place in 1610, but he continued to write plays. He died at Stratford in 1616. We know much more about the plays than we know about the writer. For four hundred years people have been studying every word that Shakespeare wrote, as well as millions of words that others have written about him and his times. Escaneado con CamScanner‘Three Great Plays of Shakespeare We usually divide Shakespeare’s plays into three kinds: Comedies The fourteen comedies of Shakespeare that are still produced have light and amusing stories and a happy ending. —Histories The nine histories are the stories, written for the stage, of English kings. — Tragedies Three of Shakespeare’s eleven tragedies are represented in this book. The tragedies in this book As the word list on page 71 tells you, a tragedy is a serious play with a sad ending. The sadness often includes the death of the main character or characters. A tragedy may also teach a lesson: the sad ending is likely to be the result of some fault or weakness in the main character. Audi- ences in Shakespeare’s time felt that for “high tragedy” ” the characters who came to the sad ending should be people of rank and importance. It is only in modern times that we have accepted tragedies about “common” people. In Romeo and Juliet we are shown two great families of Verona in Italy. The families have an unending quarrel and unending hatred. When Romeo of the Montague family and Juliet of the Capulet family fall in love, there is the making of tragedy. The personal tragedy of the two young lovers is directly caused by the social evil of the pay family quarrel, which makes it impossible for their ove to have a happy ending. Hatred, Shakespeare shows, nie human relations in society and affects everyone the eff — Romeo and Juliet are too young to escape Th si 0 of their families’ hatred. Lord aaa a Macbeth comes from the ambition of jacbeth. That is the fault in their charac- kh Escaneado con CamScannerIntroduction ters that produces the tragedy, and in the character of Macbeth there is an added weakness. Lady Macbeth says, “I am afraid Macbeth is too kind, too gentle. There are things he must do, but will be afraid to do. I must speak to him.” She speaks, and in the end he becomes a murderer, a cruel ruler, a man easily deceived by the witches, and even heartless when his wife dies: “She could have died some other time.” If Romeo and Juliet are too young, the king in King Lear is too old. He is too old to see the foolishness of his own actions. Age makes him too weak-minded to under- stand the characters of his two older daughters and to see the goodness of his youngest daughter, Cordelia. His tragedy comes from his own weakness as much as from the wickedness of his ungrateful daughters. We have looked, above, at the faults and weaknesses that produce tragedy. We must not forget that there have been great moments in the lives of those whose sad ending makes the tragedy. Macbeth has been a fine army commander. He has won a great victory and has earned the honour of a visit from King Duncan. Lear has been a great king, respected by the King of France and loved by men of the quality of the Earl of Gloucester. Even Romeo and Juliet have had their one “wonderfully happy” night. Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet Lord Montague Lord Capulet Lady Montague, his wife Lady Capulet, his wife Romeo, their son Juliet, their daughter Benvolio } Romeo's friends Juliet’s Nurse Mercutio Tybalt, one of the Capulets Balthazar, Romeo’s servant Escalus, Prince of Verona Count Paris, nephew of the Prince Friar Lawrence Friar John men of God 1. The Montagues and the Capulets were two important families in the city of Verona. There was a quarrel be- tween them. This quarrel was so fierce that even the servants hated each other, and they fought and cursed each other whenever they met. The play tells of the love of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo was the son of Lord Montague, the head of the Montague family. Juliet was the daughter of Lord Capulet. One day two servants of the house of Capulet saw two servants of the house of Montague. They began to fight. Benvolio, a friend of Romeo, saw them fighting. He was a man who liked peace and quiet. So he tried to stop the fight. “Stop!” he cried. But it was already too late. Tybalt, a hot-blooded Capulet, had arrived. The noise and the shouting had brought officers among them all. Lord Capulet and his wife came, and 1 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare Lord Montague and his wife. The heads of the two fami- lies drew their swords. ' Suddenly the Prince of Verona, Prince Escalus, arrived, “You men, you beasts! Your quarrels spoil the quiet of our streets too often. Now listen! If ever you make trouble in our streets again, you shall pay for it with your lives! Now, let everyone leave this place,” he said to them angrily. Lord and Lady Montague and Benvolio were the last to go. “Where is Romeo?” asked Lady Montague. “I’m very glad he wasn’t in this fight.” “Very early this morning,” said Benvolio, “I couldn’t sleep. So I walked out into the woods on the west of the city. There I saw Romeo. He was alone. I went towards him, but, when he saw me, he went and hid himself among the trees. I didn’t follow him.” Romeo's father, Lord Montague, said, “Romeo has been seen on many mornings, weeping alone. But when the sun comes up, he goes into his room and he shuts the daylight out. I’m afraid for him.” “Look! Here he comes,” said Benvolio. “If you will go home, I'll try to find out what his trouble is.” He did not have to ask Romeo many questions before he learnt the truth. Romeo said, “I love the beautiful Rosa- line, but she doesn’t love me.” Benvolio, his good friend, said everything he could to help Romeo. It was all useless. “Forget her. Don’t think of her,” he said. “You can’t teach me to forget,” was Romeo’s answer. “You should Jet your eyes look round more freely: Look at other beautiful women.” , “They only show me how much more beautiful Rosa- line is than any of them!” ) 2 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet In a street in Verona, Count Paris was talking to Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father. Paris was one of the prince’s family. “What do you say to my wish to marry Juliet?” Paris asked. “She’s too young,” said Capulet. “Let two more sum- mers pass before we think of her as ready to be married. She is my only child. But you may speak to her and see if you can win her love. I'm giving a great feast tonight, as I have done for many years at this time of year. There will be dancing. All my friends will be there. Come and be one of them. Juliet will be there.” Capulet called a servant and said, “Go everywhere in Verona and find all the people whose names are written on this piece of paper. Ask them to come to dinner at my house tonight.” Then he walked away with Paris. The servant thought, “This is going to be quite difficult for me because I can’t read.” Benvolio and Romeo came along the street. They were still talking about Romeo’s unhappiness. “Please, sir, can you read?” said Capulet’s servant, and he gave Romeo the list of names. Romeo read it out for him: “Signor Martino and his wife and daughters; Count Anselm and his beautiful sis- ters; Lucio and Helena; Rosaline ... Where are they to meet?” e ' “At dinner at my master Capulet’s house tonight. If you aren’t a Montague, come and drink a cup of wine with us all.” “This,” said Benvolio gladly, “is the chance I wanted for you! Go there, and compare your Rosaline with other beautiful women. She’s beautiful to you now because you have met so few others.” Escaneado con CamScanner‘three Great Plays of Shakespeare “y will go - but only to look at Rosaline. The sun never saw her equal since the world began. Juliet was with her mother, Lady Capulet, and the nurse who had brought her up from a little baby. “you were the prettiest child I ever nursed,” said the Nurse. “If only I could live to see you married! Then | would have everything I wish for ug “That’s what I came to talk about,” said Lady Capulet. “Juliet, how do you feel about getting married?” “] haven't’ thought very much about it,” answered Juliet. “Younger girls than you, here in Verona, are already important ladies and mothers. I'll tell you now: Count Paris hopes to win your love.” “He is a man, almost a perfect man!” cried the Nurse. “He's the finest man in Verona!” “You'll see him tonight at our feast,” said Lady Capulet. “He needs a-wife. He needs only yourself to make him perfect.” ; The evening came. Romeo and his friend Benvolio put on masks and went to the feast at Capulet’s house. is Tybalt was a Capulet. He heard Romeo's voice at the = I know that voice!” said Tybalt. “He’s a Montague. H low dare he come here?” And he called to his servant, ‘Fetch my sword!” oe the matter?” asked Lord Capulet. ? at man is a Montague, our enemy!” Is it young Romeo?” “Yes.” “Let him stay good 'y. The people of Vero ae 2 ; na say that he is young man. He is behaving like a gentleman. Take 4 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet no notice of him, and don’t look so angry. Angry looks aren't right at a feast.” Something wonderful had happened to Romeo. He had seen a girl so lovely, so sweet and happy and good that he did not think of Rosaline any mote. Now he was truly most deeply in love. As he and Juliet shook hands, he said, “Your soft hand is too tender for my rough touch. But my lips are ready to heal your gentle hand with a kiss.” He kissed her hand. “You have lips, too,” he said. Juliet found that she was in love with him too, and they kissed. The Nurse came in. “Your mother wants to speak to you,” she said to Juliet. “Who is her mother?” asked Romeo. “Her mother is Lady Capulet.” It was a terrible thing for Romeo to hear. Everyone began to leave, and Romeo went with the others. Juliet watched them go. “Come here, Nurse. Who is that gentleman over there? Go and ask his name.” The Nurse came back and said, “His name is Romeo. He is a Montague, the only son of your great enemy.” 2 That same night, while Romeo's friends were trying to find him, Romeo was standing below Juliet’s lighted win- dow. Someone came to the window. “It’s Juliet!” he said. “Oh! It’s my love! ... She’s speak- ing. But she isn’t speaking to me. She's looking up at the Stars. If her eyes were stars in heaven, they would be so bright that birds would think that it was day, and start to sing.” Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare Juliet leaned out of her window and rested her face on her hand. She was thinking of Romeo. She did not know that he was there, listening. “Oh, Romeo, Romeo, why are you Romeo? Change your name, OT, if you can't, I will no longer be a Capulet, ]t’s only your name that is my enemy. But what does a name matter? If a rose had any other name, it would smell as sweet.” “Call me ‘Love’,” said Romeo. “Let that be my name, and from now I'll never be called Romeo. I hate my name because it is an enemy to you.” Juliet was silent for a moment in surprise. Then, “How did you come here?” she said. “The walls are high.” “Stone walls can’t keep love out.” “If any of my family sees you here, they'll kill you.” “If their hatred ended my life,” said Romeo, “that would be better than for me to go on living without your love” g ig love. __ “Do you love me? ~ I know that you say “Yes’, but even if you swear it, you may still be untrue.” ‘Lady, I swear by the moon that touches with silver the tops of those fruit trees,” Oh! Don’t swear by the moon. It changes every month. Your love might be so changeable.” ‘What shall J swear by?” ‘Don’t swear at all.” a — moment the Nurse called. She we 4 noise,” said Juliet. “Sweet love, goodbye.” “Dear Ro inside, but soon she came back. me, send eee he said, “if you truly wish to marry will bring me your ed tomorrow. I'll send someone wh? time you will marry a Tell me where and at what - And I will lay all that | have at 6 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet Romeo meets Juliet at night 7 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare feet, and follow you, my lord, through all the world,” our : i ‘ e Nurse called again. Juliet went in, and then came Th out again. “Romeo!” “My sweet?” “At what time tomorrow shall I send to you?” “At nine o'clock.” “My messenger will be there. It’s almost morning, I must let you go. Good night! Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I won't stop saying ‘Good night’ until tomorrow.” She went back into her room. “Sleep rest on your eyes,” said Romeo, “peace in your breast, I wish that I were Sleep and Peace to rest in so sweet a place.” Romeo turned away, saying to himself, “I must go to Friar Lawrence.” Friar Lawrence was a man of God. Both Romeo and Juliet knew him. aes next morning he was picking plants outside his make art @ great deal about all the uses of plants to It was aT ple well, or to send the tired or ill to sleep. see Ro) very early, Friar Lawrence was surprised to Whee running towards him, oo ia So early?” said the friar. “Is it be- ee thinking of Rosaline?” unhappiness th, ‘ad forgotten her name and all the ‘at Went With it. I inly: I laugh - I must tell you plainly: ant yout? Of Lord Capulet. And she You to marry us today.” like it. It's too dden; it’, aay Friar Lawrence. “I don’t i it's bag” ° Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet - “Don’t speak hard words to me. Juliet loves me. Rosa- line didn’t. I beg-you to marry us today.” “Rosaline knew that you weren’t really in love,” said the wise friar. “But I will marry you. This marriage may turn the hatred between your two families into love” Romeo met Mercutio and Benvolio. Mercutio was a member of Prince Escalus’s family, and one of Romeo’s friends. The Nurse came to where they were talking in the street. Plans were quickly made for the marriage. “Tell Juliet,” said Romeo, “to find some way to be with Friar Lawrence this afternoon. He will marry us at his cell. And, Nurse, my man Balthazar will meet you in an hour's” time behind the church. He will bring you a rope ladder for me to climb up tonight to Juliet’s room. Goodbye. Give my dearest love to your lady.” “1 will, a thousand times over,” she promised. Juliet was waiting for the Nurse to come. “Oh! Here she comes! Oh, dearest Nurse, what news do you bring? Have you met him? What does he say about our marriage?” “Can you go and say your prayers with Friar Lawrence today?” asked the Nurse. “Yes.” “Then go to Friar Lawrence’s cell. Romeo is waiting there to make you his wife. - That brings the blood to your face! Now I must go to fetch a ladder for Romeo to climb up into your room tonight.” “Dear, good Nurse!” That same afternoon, Romeo and Juliet were married by the friar. Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare 3 A little later on the same day, Benvolio and Mercutio were talking together. Pee “Mercutio,” said Benvolio, “let's go away. The Capulets are somewhere near. If we meet them) I’m afraid there will be fighting,” He was right. Suddently Mercutio and Tybalt met in the street. Tybalt was a Capulet. Mercutio was a friend of Romeo. They started qua elling. Romeo came along the street and tried to stop th quarrel. But not all that Benvo- lio could say, nor all that Romeo could do or say could stop them. Romeo had just married Juliet, who was a Capulet. So he wanted to be friendly with the Capulets. But Tybalt was determined to have a fight. “Draw your sword!’ he shouted to Romeo. “Thave no quarrel with you,” Romeo said. Mercutio did not like Romeo to be so surprisingly kind to Tybalt. “I'll fight you instead,” he shouted to Tybalt. A fight began. As a last hope, Romeo tried to come between them. This stopped Mercutio from seeing what Tybalt was doing. Tybalt’s sword went under Romeo's arm and wounded Mercutio. Tybalt ran away. “Ym wounded””cried Mercutio. “A curse on both your families - Montagues and Capulets both! — Fetch a doctor.” “Courage, man!” said Romeo. “I hope it isn’t a bad wound.” “No. It’s not as deep as a well, nor as wide as a church. But it's bad enough. Look for me tomorrow, and you'll have to find my grave. Why the devil did you come be- tween us? The sword passed under your arm. Help mé into some house, Benvolio.” Soon afterwards, Benvolio returned. “Oh, Romeo,” he said. “Brave Mercutio is dead.” 10 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet All seemed black for Romeo. His dear friend was dead, Tybalt hated him worse than ever. The prince would be very angry when he heard of Mercutio’s death and this new outbreak of quarrelling. Tybalt came back. “Tybalt is alive, and my friend Mercutio is dead,” cried Romeo. “Now I don’t care what I do.” There was a terrible fight between Romeo and Tybalt, and Tybalt fell dead. “Escape, Romeo!” cried Benvolio. “Everyone is com- ing. The prince will have you put to death)” As the unhappy Romeo ran away, all the people poured into the street, and the prince, the Montagues and the Capulets. ooce “Who began this quarrel?” asked the prince, while Lady Capulet stood weeping over the body of the dead Tybalt. Benvolio did his best to give a clear, true story. “For killing Tybalt,” said’ the prince, “Romeo is banished. If he is found here, he will die!” Juliet was waiting for night, when Romeo would come to her. “Come, night!” she said. “Come, Romeo! You are like day in the night. Come, gentle night. Bring me my Romeo. And, when he dies, take’ him and cut him out in little stars(Then he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night)— Here comes my Nurse. Now, Nurse, what news? — Why are you weeping?” The Nurse came in carrying a rope ladder. ; “Tybalt is dead,” she said. “Romeo killed him and he is banished. Oh, Tybalt! Tybalt was the best friend I had! 11 Escaneado con CamScannerMercutio fights Tybalt 12 a Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare “My husband is alive, and Tybalt is dead. Tybalt would have killed my husband. But Romeo is banished. That word means death to me.” “Go to your room,” said the Nurse. “I will find Romeo to comfort you. I know where he is. He’s in Friar Lawrence's cell.” “Oh, find him! Take this ring to him and tell him to come and say his last goodbye to me!” At the same time, Friar Lawrence was trying to comfort Romeo: “The prince could have had you put to death. But you are only ordered to leave Verona. The world is broad and wide.” “There is no world for me anywhere except here, where Juliet is.” The Nurse arrived. “I've come from Lady Juliet. Where is Romeo?” “Tell me,” said Romeo. “How is she?” “She doesn’t say anything, but just weeps and weeps.” Romeo could not bear any more. He tried to drive his sharp dagger into his heart, but the friar stopped him. “Are you a man?” Friar Lawrence asked. “Your tears are like a woman’s, and your wild actions are like @ beast’s. If you kill yourself, you will kill your lady, who only lives because you are alive. Nurse, go to your lady- Tell her that Romeo is coming to her.” “Yes,” said Romeo. “Here, sir, is the ring she asked me to give you.” When night came, Romeo cli . ’ into Juliet’s room. climbed up the ladder ang’ was @ strange night for the newly-married Romeo uliet. They were wonderfully happy, but very much 14 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet afraid. At the first light of day, Romeo had to go. “Must you go now?” said Juliet. “It isn’t yet near day.” “Look, love,” said Romeo, “the light is shining through the clouds in the east. The stars are getting pale, and day stands waiting on the mountain tops. I must go now, and live - or stay, and die.” The thought of danger for Romeo frightened Juliet. “Go now!” she said. “Quickly! Go!” Capulet and Lady Capulet decided that Juliet must marry Paris. Lady Capulet came to Juliet’s room. “My child,” she said, “early next Thursday morning, Count Paris will make you a happy married woman at St Peter’s Church.” “He will never do that!” cried Juliet. “I would rather marry Romeo, although I know you hate him.” “Here comes your father. Tell him what you have just told me.” Lord Capulet and the Nurse came into the room. “What's this?” Capulet said. “Are you still weeping? Hasn’t your mother told you what we have decided?” “Yes, sir,” said Lady Capulet, “I told her. She won't obey.” “I don’t understand. Isn’t she grateful to us? Isn’t she glad that we have found such a fine gentleman to'be her husband?” “1 can never be glad of what I hate,” said Juliet. Lord Capulet was very angry. “On Thursday next, you will go with Paris to St Peter’s Church, or I will take you there by force. Go to the church on Thursday, or I'll never speak to you again, or allow you into my house. You may hang, beg, die in the streets.” He went out. 15 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare “Js there no pity?” said Juliet. “Oh, my sweet mother, delay this marriage for a month — a week.” “Don’t speak to me, for I won't help you.” Juliet went to Friar Lawrence’s cell. She thought, “If he can’t help me, I can put an end to my life.” 4 Paris was in Friar Lawrence’s cell to arrange about his marriage to Juliet. “On Thursday, sir?” said the friar. “The time is very short.” “Capulet wants that, and so do I. Juliet weeps too much — because of Tybalt’s death, we suppose. Her father wants us to be married soon so as to stop her tears. So now you know the reason for this haste.” “T wish,” thought the friar, “that I didn’t know the reason for it to be delayed, or never be at all. — Look, sir, here she comes!” “My lady and my wife!” said Paris. “Ym not yet your wife,” said Juliet. “You will be my wife on Thursday. Till then, goodbye.” He went out and left her alone with the friar. “Oh, shut the door,” she cried, “and then come and weep with me. I am past hope, past help! I want only to die if you can’t think of any plan to help me.” “Wait, daughter. 1 see some hope. You feel that you can kill yourself so as not to marry Paris? Then perhaps you won't be afraid to seem dead for a short time.” “4 can do anything if it will help me to remain true to my dear love.” s “Then go home. ‘Tell the: Tomorrow is Wednesday. M: tomorrow night: your Nurse ‘m that you will marry Paris. jake sure you go to bed alone must not be with you. When 16 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence for help 17 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare you are in bed, drink this. A cold, sleepy feeling will run through your body. You will seem quite dead, and yoy will stay like that for forty-two hours. When Paris comes for you, they will think you are dead. They will put you in your family’s tomb. I'll send a letter to Romeo. He and | will be there when you wake up quite easily at the end of the forty-two hours. And then he'll take” you away to Mantua.(Are you brave enough to do it? You won’t be prevented from doing it by fear?” “Give me the drink, and don’t speak of fear!” said Juliet. The friar said, “T’ll send Friar John to Romeo at once.” Juliet went home. The next night, she drank Friar Lawrence’s mixture, and fell back on her bed. Great preparations were being made for the marriage. On the Thursday morning, Juliet’s Nurse came to wake her. She called her name. She spoke to her. At last she shook her. “Lady! Lady! Lady! - Oh! Oh! Help! Help! My lady is dead!” Her cries brought Juliet’s parents running in. Paris was with them. The friar was sent for, and he tried to comfort them. “She was so lovely that you had to share her with heaven. You couldn’t keep your share in her from death. Now heaven has all of her. She is above the clouds in heaven itself. You mustn't weep when she is there. Dry your tears and take her to the tomb.” “These flowers,” said Capulet, “which were meant for her marriage, will now be used for her burial.” So Juliet was taken to the tomb of the Capulets. 18 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet 5 Romeo, far away in Mantua, saw his man Balthazar com- ing towards him. * “How is my love?” he asked. “Is she well?” Balthazar answered, “Her body sleeps in the tomb of the Capulets. She herself is alive in heaven now.” “Js there no letter for me from the friar?” “No.” “Get horses for me,” cried Romeo. “I must leave here tonight.” Balthazar was afraid of what his master was going to do. Romeo’s only wish now was to kill himself beside Juliet in her tomb. He went to a very poor chemist. This chemist sold things to cure illness, but he was so poor that he dared to sell other mixtures. Romeo knew that for gold he would give him a poison that would end his life. “Buy food with my gold,” said Romeo, as he took what the chemist gave him. Friar John came to Friar Lawrence. “Welcome,” said Friar Lawrence. “What does Romeo say?” Friar John looked very unhappy. “I couldn’t go to Mantua,” he said. “I went to a house in Verona to find a friar to go with me. While I was there, the officers came and fastened all the doors and windows. They thought there was a dangerous illness in the house. They wouldn’t let anyone in or out, and they wouldn’t even touch your letter. Here it is.” “This is terrible!” said Friar Lawrence. “Go quickly!” Bring an iron bar.” Friar Lawrence thought, “In three hours Juliet will 19 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare wake up. I'll write again to Mantua. But I must open the tomb and hide her in my cell till Romeo comes.” Paris, too, was making his way to Juliet’s tomb. He had come to put flowers on it. He heard Romeo near the tomb, but he did not know who it was. Romeo gave Balthazar, his servant, a letter for his father. He took from Balthazar the lamp that he had been carrying, and things for breaking open the tomb. Then he told Balthazar to go away. But Balthazar thought, “I'll hide myself near here. He looks strange, and I don’t know what he intends to do.” Romeo broke open the tomb. Paris heard the noise of the opening. “It’s Romeo!” he cried. “He has come to do something evil to the dead bodies! - Romeo! I have caught you! You must die.” “Yes, I must die,” said Romeo. “That’s why I came here. I came here to kill myself. I don’t want to hurt you, boy. Go away, and say that a madman in his mercy told you to go.” But Paris made Romeo fight him. Paris’s servant heard all this, and ran to call the officers who were on watch through the night. Romeo did not know who was attacking him, but he defended himself strongly. After a time, his sword reached the unknown attacker, ; “Oh!” cried Paris. “I'm dying! Open the tomb! Lay me with Juliet.” Now Romeo could see who he had killed. He laid Paris in the tomb beside Juliet. “Dear Juliet,” said Romeo as he looked at her, “why are you still so beautiful? Does Death keep you here to be his lover? Let me have a last look at you. Let my arms hold you for the last time, Here's to my love!” And he 20 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet drank the poison that the chemist had given him. Friar Lawrence came running over the rough ground. He saw a light in the tomb, and he saw Balthazar, Balthazar said, “Romeo, my master, has been in the tomb at least half an hour.” Full of fear, the friar went alone into the tomb. He saw the dead bodies of Romeo and Paris. And just then Juliet awoke. “Where is my Romeo?” “Lady,” said the friar, “come out from this place of death. A greater power than ours has ruined all our plans. Come, come away. Your husband lies dead. And Paris is dead. There is nothing we can do here. I'll take you to a safe place.” “Go! Get away from here, for I won't go,” said Juliet. The friar hurried away to get help. She looked at Romeo. “What's this? A cup in my true love’s hand? Poison? Oh, Romeo, you have drunk it all and left no friendly drop for me. I'll kiss your lips: perhaps some poison remains on them.” She kissed him. But the watchmen had come. Juliet had no more time. She seized Romeo’s dagger and drove it into her heart. Very soon everyone had gathered. The weeping friar had been caught as he was leaving the burial ground. Prince Escalus came. “What has happened?” he asked. “Why have I been called from my bed?” . Lady Capulet said, “The people in the street are crying ‘Romeo!’ and some cry ‘Juliet!’ and some cry ‘Paris! They are all shouting and running towards our tomb.” Then the head watchman told them, “Count Paris has been killed, and Romeo is dead, and Juliet has killed herself.” 21 Escaneado con CamScannerThree Great Plays of Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet lie together in the tomb 22 Escaneado con CamScannerRomeo and Juliet “Here is the friar,” said another watchman, “and here js Romeo’s servant, Balthazar.” Montague said, “Prince, my wife died during the night. Sorrow at my son’s banishment killed her.” The prince turned to the friar. “Tell me, Friar, what you know about this.” The friar, in a few words, told the whole unhappy story. He ended, “If any of these things are my fault, let my punishment be death.” “We have always known that you are a good man,” said the prince. “Where is Romeo’s man? What can he say?” . So Balthazar added the things that he knew. Paris’s servant also told his story. “Capulet, Montague,” said the prince sadly, “now you see what has happened because your families hated each other. And, because of it, I have lost two of my family.” Capulet said to Montague, “My daughter’s marriage with Romeo, your son, has joined our families at last. Oh, brother Montague, give me your hand.” “And so,” the prince said, “this dark and cloudy morning brings sad peace.” 23 Escaneado con CamScanner