Scene II

Verona. Friar Laurence's Cell.

Enter Friar John.

JOHN:

Holy Franciscan friar, brother, ho!

JOHN:

Holy Franciscan friar! brother, hello!

Enter Friar Laurence.

LAUR:

This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo?
Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.

LAUR:

This is the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua. What does Romeo say?
Or, if he wrote his mind, give me his letter.

JOHN:

Going to find a barefoot brother out,(5)
One of our order, to associate me
Here in this city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign,(10)
Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth,
So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.

JOHN:

Going to find a fellow brother,
One of our order, to help me
Visit the sick here in this city,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious plague was,
Sealed up the doors, and wouldn’t let us leave;
So that my speed to Mantua was delayed by that.

LAUR:

Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?

LAUR:

The, who took my letter to Romeo?

JOHN:

I could not send it—here it is again—
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,(15)
So fearful were they of infection.

JOHN:

I couldn’t deliver it, so here it is again,
I couldn’t even get a messenger to bring it back to you,
They were so afraid of getting infected with the plague.

LAUR:

Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice, but full of charge,
Of dear import; and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence,(20)
Get me an iron crow and bring it straight
Unto my cell.

LAUR:

Very bad luck! By my brotherhood,
The letter was not a social one, but a message
Of great importance, and failing to deliver it
May do a lot of damage. Friar John, leave here.
Get me an iron crowbar and bring it straight
To my cell.

JOHN:

Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.

Exit.

JOHN:

Brother, I'll go and bring it to you.

LAUR:

Now, must I to the monument alone.
Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake.(25)
She will beshrew me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come—
Poor living corse, clos'd in a dead man's tomb!(30)

Exit.

LAUR:

Now I must go to the tomb alone;
In three hours beautiful Juliet will wake up.
She will really curse me that Romeo
Has had no news of these events;
But I will write to him again in Mantua,
And keep her at my cell until Romeo comes to get her;
Poor living corpse, closed in a dead man's tomb!