Act 1 of BBC Radio Presents: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Unabridged (HQ Re-upload)

[Music]

[Music]

the most excellent and lamentable

tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William

Shakespeare

with kenneth branagh as Romeo Samantha

bond as Juliet Judi Dench as the nurse

John Gielgud as Friar Lawrence Richard

Briers as Capulet Sheila Hancock as

Capulets wife derek jacobi as Mercutio

Simon Callow as Benvolio Ian Glen as

tibalt Nicholas Farrell as Paris

Bernhard hapten as Montague Dilys lay as

Montague's wife Norman rod way as the

Prince

Morris denim as the apothecary Richard

Vernon as friar John and Ian Holm as the

chorus

Romeo and Juliet

[Music]

two households both alike in dignity in

fair Verona where we lay our scene from

ancient Grudge break to new mutiny where

civil blood makes civil hands unclean

from forth the fatal loins of these two

foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take

their life whose misadventured piteous

overthrows doth with their death bury

their parents strife the fearful passage

of their death marked lung and the

continuance of their parents rage which

but their children's end nought could

remove is now the two hours traffic of

our stage

The Witch of you with patient ears

attend what here shall miss our toil

shall strive to mend Gregory on my word

will not carry coals

no we should be Colliers I mean and we

be in collar will draw hey while you

live draw your neck out a collar I

strike quickly being moved but not

quickly move to strike a dog of the

ansan montague moves me to move is to

stir and to be valiant is to stand

therefore he fell out moved though runs

the way a dog of that house shall move

me to stand I will take the wall of any

man or maid of Montague that shows the a

week's leave for the weakest goes to the

wall it is true and therefore women

being the weaker vessels who are ever

thrust to the wall therefore I will push

Montague's men from the wall and thrust

his mates to the rule the quarrel is

between our masters and us their men

he's all one I will show myself a tyrant

when I fought with the men I will be

civil with the mate of their heads me

they shall feel while I'm able to stand

and tis known I am a pretty piece of

flesh tis well not fish if thou hadst

thou has been poured zong drawtite oh

here comes to other house of Montague's

my naked weapon is out quarrel I will

back thee how turn my back and run fear

me not

no Mary I fancy let us take the lord of

our side let them begin I will frown as

I

bye and let them take it as they list

may I stay there I will bite my thumb at

them which is disgrace to them if they

bear it I do bite my thumb sir

do you bite your thumb at us sir is the

door of our side of a se Aiye no no sir

I do not bite my thumb at you sir but I

bite my thumb sir do you quarrel sir

quarrel sir and no sir but if you do sir

I am for you I serve us gonna manage you

know better

well sir say better here comes one of my

Master's kinsmen yes better sir

[Applause]

thou drawn among these heartless times

turn thee Benvolio look upon thy dead I

do but keep the peace

put up thy sword or manage it to part

these men with me walks drawn and talk

of peace I hate the word as I hate hell

all Montague's and thee what noise is

this

give me my long sword ho the crotch our

crotch I call you for assaulting my

sword I say old Montague is come and

flourishes his blade in spite of me thou

villain

let me not let me go

[Music]

the favors of this neighbor spinach will

pay not here what-ho you menu maids with

purple Ogden's eat we from your veins

unpaid of torture from those bloody

hands throw your mistempered weapons to

the ground and here the Centers of your

movie prints three civil brawls bred of

an airy word by thee old capulet and

montague have thrice disturbed the quiet

of our streets and made for owners

ancient citizens cast by their grave

beseeming ornaments to wield old

partisans in hands as old tankard with

peace to part your kin could hate if

ever you disturb our streets again your

lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace

for this time all the rest depart away

you can't give it shall go along with me

my Lord and Montague come you this

afternoon to know our Father pleasure in

this case too old free town our common

judgement place my lord what's more all

men depart who set this ancient quarrel

new abroach speak nephew will you buy

when it began here were the servants of

your adversary and yours close fighting

air I did approach i drew to part them

in the instant came the fiery Tibbles

with his sword prepared which as he

breathed defiance to my ears he swung

about his head and cut the winds who

nothing hurt with all histamine spawn

while we were interchanging thrusts and

blows came more and more and fought on

part and part till the Prince came who

parted either part where is Romeo saw

you him today right glad I am he was not

at this fray an hour before the worship

Sun peered forth the golden window of

the east a troubled mind drew me to walk

abroad

we're underneath the grove of sycamore

that westward rooted from the city side

so early walking did I see your son

towards him I made but he was ware of me

and stole into the covet of the wood I'm

measuring his affections by my own which

then most sought where most might not be

found being one too many by my weary

self pursued my human not pursuing his

and gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from

me many a morning hath he there been

seen with tears augmenting the fresh

morning's Dew adding to clouds more

clouds with his deep sighs but also soon

as the old cheering son should in the

farthest East begin to draw the shady

curtains from aurora's bed away from

light steals home my heavy son and

private in his chamber pens himself

shuts up his windows locks fair daylight

out and makes himself an artificial

night black and portentous must this

Yuma prove unless good console may the

cause remove my noble uncle do you know

the cause I neither know it no can learn

of him have you important him by any

means both by myself and many other

friends but he his own affections

counselor is to himself I will not say

how true but to himself so secret and so

close so far from sounding and discovery

as is the bud bit with an envious worm a

he can spread his sweet leaves to the

air or dedicate his beauty to the Sun

could we but learn from whence his

sorrows grow we would as willingly give

pure as no see where he comes so please

you step aside I'll know his grievance

or be much denied I would thou wert so

happy by thy stay to hear true shrift

come madam let's away

good morrow Kozma is the day so young

but new struck nine why me sad hours

seem long was that my father that went

hence so fast it was what sadness

lengthens Romeo's hours not having that

which having makes them short in love

out of love out of her favor where I am

in love alas that love so gentle in his

view should be so tyrannous and rough in

proof alas that love whose view is

muffled still should without eyes see

pathways to his will where shall we join

me what fray was here yet tell me not

for I have heard it all here's much to

do with hate but more with love why then

o brawling love o loving hate

Oh anything of nothing first create Oh

heavy lightness serious vanity misshapen

chaos of well-seeming forms feather of

lead bright smoke cold fire sick health

still waking sleep that is not what it

is this love feel I that feel no love in

this dust a not love no rather weep good

heart at what but thy good hearts

oppression why such as love's

transgression griefs of mine only heavy

in my breast which thou wilt propagate

to have it Prest with more of thine this

love that thou hast shown does add more

grief to too much of mine own love is a

smoke made with a fume of Sighs being

purged a fire sparkling in lovers eyes

being vexed by sea nourish'd with lovers

tears what is it else a madness most

discreet a choking gall and a preserving

sweet farewell my coz soft I will go

along and you leave me so you do me taht

I have lost myself I am NOT here this is

not Romeo he's some other where tell me

in sadness who is that you love what

shall i groan and tell me groan why no

but sadly tell me who bid a sick man in

sadness make his will a word ill urged

one that is so ill in sadness cousin I

do love a woman I aimed so near when I

supposed you loved a right good Markman

and she's fair I love a right fair mark

fair coz is soonest hit well in that hit

you miss she'll not be hit with Cupid's

arrow she hath Diane's wit and in strong

proof of chastity well arm'd from love's

weak childish bows she lives unharmed

she will not stay the siege of loving

terms nor bide the encounter of

assailing eyes nor opal apt a saint

seducing gold o she is rich in beauty

only poor that when she dies with beauty

dies her store then she hath sworn that

she will still lived

JC happened in that sparing makes huge

waste for beauty starved with her

severity cuts beauty off from all

posterity she is too fair too wise

wisely too fair to merit bliss by making

me despair she hath forsworn to love and

in that vow do I live dead that live to

tell it now be ruled by me forget to

think of giving Liberty unto thine eyes

examine other beauty is the way to call

hers exquisite in question more these

happy masks that kiss fair lady's brows

being black puts us in mind they hide

the fair he that is strucken blind

cannot forget the precious treasure of

his eyesight loss

show me a mistress that is passing fair

what duffer beauty sir but as a note

where I may read who pass'd that passing

fair farewell thou canst not teach me to

forget I'll pay that doctrine but

Montague is bound as well as I in

penalty alike and tis not hard I think

for men so old as we just keep the

feasts of honorable reckoning are you

both and pity tis you lived at odds so

long but now my lord what say you to my

suit but saying or what I have said

before my child is yet a stranger in the

world she hath not seen the change of

fourteen years let two more summers

wither in their pride ere we may think

her ripe to be a bride younger than she

are happy Mother's made and to soon Maud

are those so early made earth hath

swallowed all my hopes but she she is

the hopeful Lady of my earth but woo her

gentle Paris get her heart my will to

her consent is but a part and she agreed

within her scope of choice lies my

consent and fair according voice this

night I hold an old accustomed feast

whereto I've invited many a guest such

as I love and you among the store one

more most welcome makes my number more

at my poor house look to behold this

night the treading stars that make dark

heaven light such comforters do lusty

young men feel when will apparel April

on the heel of limping winter treads

even such delight among fresh female

buds shall you with this

night in edit at my house hear all all

see and like her most whose merit most

shall be which on more view of many mine

being one may stand in number the win

reckoning none come go with me a Peter

sir go Sarah trudge about through fair

Verona finds those persons out whose

names are written there and to them say

my house and welcome on their pleasure

stay find them out whose names are

written here it is written that the

shoemaker should meddle with his yard

and the tailor with his lasts the Fisher

with his pencil and the painter with his

nets but I am sent to find those persons

whose names are here writ and can never

find what names the writing person hath

here returning one desperate grief take

thou some new infection to my eye and

the rank poison of the old die your

plantain leaf is excellent for your

broken Shin whipped and tormented and

good e'en good fellow God Giga Dean I

pray you sir can you read I mine own

fortune in my misery perhaps you've

mounted without book but I pray can you

read anything you see I if I know the

letters and the language you say

honestly rest you married a fellow I can

read signore Martina and his wife and

daughters can t Anselm and his beauteous

sisters the lady widow of the Truvia

signor placentio and his lovely nieces

Mercutio

and his brother Valentine playing uncle

a Capulet his wife and daughters my

niece Rosaline and Livia signore Valenti

oh and his cousin tybalt Luxio and the

lively Helena a fair assembly whither

should they come up with her to supper

to our house whose house my Master's

indeed I should have asked you that

before

now I'll tell you without asking my

master is the great rich Capulet and if

you be not of the house of Montague's I

pray come and crush a cup of wine best

you marry this same ancient feast of

Capulets sups the fair Rosaline whom now

so loves with all the admired beauties

of Verona go thither we can identify

compare her face with some but i shall

show and i will make me think thighs

Swan when the devout religion of mine I

maintain such falsehood then turned

tears to fires and these who often

drowned could never die transparent

heretics be burnt for liars one fairer

than my love the all-seeing Sun nurse or

her match since first the world begun

taught you saw her fair none else being

by herself poised with herself in either

I but in that crystal scales let there

be weighed your lady's love against some

other maid that I will show you shining

at this feast and she shall scamp show

well that now seems best I'll go along

no such sight to be shown but to rejoice

in splendour of mine own

[Music]

yes where's my daughter call her forth

to me now by my Maidenhead at 12 year

old I better come what ladybird god

me where is this girl what Julia how now

who calls your mother madam

I'm here what is your will this is the

matter nurse give leave awhile we must

talk in secret

Oh nurse come back again I have

remembered me the house hear our counsel

earnest my daughters of a pretty safe a

if I can tell her age into an hour she's

not 14 I'll lay fourteen of my teeth and

yet to my team be it spoken I have but

fall she's not fourteen out oh it's not

a Lannister a fortnight and odd day even

a lot of all days in the year come

Lammas Eve at night shall she be

fourteen Susan and she God rest all

Christian souls were of an age well

Susan is with God oh she was too good

for me

but as I said on lamb I see that night

she should be 14 that shall she marry I

remember it well - since the earthquake

now eleven years since she was weaned I

never shall forget it of all days of the

year upon that day for I then laid

wormwood to my dog sitting in the sun

under the doghouse walls my lord and you

were then amongst your may I do bear a

pray but as I said when it did taste a

wormwood on the nipple of my dug and

Feldick bitter pretty food to see it

touchy and fall out with a dog shake off

the doghouse was no need I drew out a

bid me truly since that time it is

eleven years for then she could stand

high loan nay by the Rood she could have

run and waddled all about for even the

day before she broke her brow and then

my husband got me with his so low he was

a merry

took out the child yay coffee to SAP

fall upon thy face thou wilt fall

backward when there are small wit by my

hand 'm the pretty wretch have cried and

said I you see now I would just sort

come about I want it and I shall live a

thousand not you enough of this I pray

thee hold thy peace yes madam warrant it

and upon it Brauer boop as big as a

young cockerels stone a perilous knock

and it cried bitterly yes my husband

forced my face Oh God who is Grace that

was the prettiest babe that ere I nursed

and I might live to see thee married

once I have my wish marry that marry is

the very theme I came to talk of tell me

daughter Juliet how stands your

dispositions to be married it is an

honour that I dream not of not i thine

own eNOS I would say that wisdom from a

bow think of marriage now younger than

you here in Verona ladies of esteem are

made already mothers by my count I was

your mother much upon these years that

you are now a maid vas then in brief the

valiant Paris seeks you for his love a

man young lady lady such a man as all a

world wide

he's a man oh wow Verona's summer hath

not such a flower magnate he's a flower

in faith a very flower or say you can

you love the gentleman this night you

shall behold him at our feast read or

the volume of young Paris face and find

delight writ there with beauty's pen

examine every married liniment and see

how one another lends content and what

obscured in this fair volume lies find

written in the margent of his eyes this

precious book of love this unbound lover

to beautify him only lacks a cover the

fish lives in the sea and tis much pride

for fair without the fair within to hide

that book in many's eyes that share the

glory that in gold clasps locks in the

golden story so shall you share all that

he doth possess by having him making

yourself no less no less nay bigger

women grow by men speak briefly can you

like of Paris love I'll look to like if

looking liking move but no more deep

will i endart mine eye than your consent

gives strength to make it flow the

guests are come supper served up you

call my young lady asked for the nurse

cursed in the pantry and everything

extremity I must hence to wait have a

seat you forestry we follow thee Juliet

the countess days go girl seek happy

nights the happy days

[Music]

[Music]

what shall this speech be spoke for our

excuse or shall we on without apology

the date is out of such prolixity will

have no Cupid hoodwinked with the scarf

bearing at Arthas painted bow of laughs

carrying the ladies like a crow keep not

nor know without book prologue faintly

spoke after the prompter for our

entrance but let them measure us by what

they will we all measure them a measure

I am NOT for this ambling oh we must

have you done not I'm at you sure you

have dancing shoes with nimble soles I

have a soul of lead so stakes me to the

ground I cannot move you are a lover

borrow Cupid's wings and soar with them

above a common bound I am to soar in

Pierce head with his shaft to soar with

his light feathers and so bound I cannot

bound a pitch above dull world under

loves heavy burden do I sink and to sink

in it should you burden love or to great

oppression for a tender thing it is too

rough too rude too boisterous and it

pricks like for waves love be rough with

you be rough with love prick love for

pricking and you beat love down give me

a case to put my busy gin a visor for

visor what care I what curious eye

dovecote deformity here of the beatle

brow so blush for me come knock and

enter and no sooner in every man betake

him to his legs thoughts for me let

wantons light of heart tickle the

senseless rushes with their heels for I

am proverb dwith a grand

seiyya phrase I'll be a candleholder and

look on the game was near so fair and I

am dungeon that's done is the mouse the

constables own word if thou art done

will draw me from the mire orb save your

reverence love within those sticky stuff

of the years come daylight so I mean sir

in delay we waste our lights in vain

like lamps by day take our good meaning

for our judgments it's five times in

that air what's in our five wits and we

mean well in going to this masque but

tis no wit to go wise may wanna I dreamt

a dream tonight the dreamers often lie

in bed asleep while they do dream things

true no then I see Queen Mab have been

with you Queen Mab what see she is the

fairies midwife and she comes in shape

no bigger than an agate-stone on the

fore-finger of an alderman drawn with a

team of little atomies athwart men's

noses as they lie asleep her wagon

spokes made of long spinners legs the

cover of the wings of grasshoppers a

traces of the moonshines watery beams

her collars of the smallest spiderweb a

whip of cricket's bone the lash of film

her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat not

half so big as a round little worm

prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid

her chariot is an empty hazelnut made by

the joiner spill or old grub time out of

mind the fairies coachmakers and in this

state she gallops night by night through

lovers brains

and then they dream of or courtiers

knees the dream on Kurtz is straight or

ladies lips who straight on kisses dream

which oft the angry mAb with blisters

plagues because their breaths with

sweetmeats tainted arms sometimes she

gallops or a lawyer's lip and then

dreams he of smelling out a suit and

sometime comes she with a tithe pig's

tail tickling a parson's nose as a lies

asleep then dreams he of another

benefits sometimes he drives our

soldiers neck and then dreams he of

cutting foreign throats of breaches

bastardos spanish blades 5 fathom deep

and then anon jobs in his ear at which

he starts and wakes and being thus

frighted swears a prayer or two and

sleeps again this is that very mab that

plats the manes of horses in the night

and breaks the elf locks in foul

sluttish hairs which once untangled much

misfortune bones there says the hag when

maids lie on their backs that presses

them and learns them first to bear

making them women of good carriage there

say seize talk'st of nothing true I talk

of dreams which are the children of an

idle brain begot of nothing but vain

fantasy which is as thin of substance as

the air and more inconstant than the

wind who woos even now the frozen bosom

of the north and being angered puffs

away from thence turning his face to the

dew-dropping south this wind you talk of

blows us from ourselves Supper is done

and we should come to late

I fear too early for my mind misgives

some consequence yet hanging in the

Stars shall bitterly begin his fearful

date with this nights revels and expire

the term of a despised life closed in my

breast by some vile he that hath the

steerage of my course direct my sail

[Applause]

[Music]

where's potpan that he helps not to take

away these shifter treasure he scrape a

trencher when good manners shall lie all

in one or two men's hands and they

unwashed to tis a foul thing 'we were

the joint stools remove the court

cupboards look to the plate oh good now

save me a piece of marzipan and as

though loves me let the portal it ensues

and grindstone and now you look for a

cold for a sporran sought for in the

Great Chamber cannot be here and there

too chilly boys be brisk awhile and the

longest liver take all

[Music]

then you should have their toes unplayed

with bones we'll walk about for you my

mistress is YouTube you all will now

deny to dance huh she that makes dainty

she I'll swear had caught my cam hear ye

now welcome gentlemen I have seen the

day that i have worn a visor and could

tell a whispering tale in a fair lady's

ear such as would please she's gone tis

gone tis gone

you're welcome gentlemen come musicians

played a whole hokey rumors Fuji girl

more like you names and to the tables up

and push the fire the room is grow too

hot ah this unlooked-for support comes

well cuz they sit they sit a little

cousin Capulet ah you and I have passed

our dancing day oh how long is now since

last your selves and I were in a mask 30

years what man is not so much tis not so

much yes tis since the nuptial of

lucentio come pentecost as quickly as it

will some 5 and 20 years and then we

murdered his board his boys his son

little his son will you tell me that his

son was put a ward 2 years ago

[Music]

friend sir what lady is that which doth

enrich the hand of yonder Knight I know

not sir

oh she doth teach the torches to burn

bright

it seems she hangs upon the cheek of

night as a rich jewel in an ethiop's ear

beauty too rich for use for earth too

dear so shows a snowy dove trooping with

crows as yonder lady o'er her fellows

shows the measure done I'll watch her

place of stand and touching hers make

blessed my rude hand did my heart love

till now forswear in sight for I ne'er

saw true beauty till this night this by

his voice should be a Montague

[Music]

that should be my rapier boy who art

dares the slave come hither cover'd with

an antic face to fleer and scorn at our

solemnity now by the stock and honor of

my kin to strike him dead I hold it not

a sin why how now kinsman wherefore

storm you so uncle this is a Montague

our foe a villain that is hither come in

spite to scorn at our solemnity this

night young Romeo is he to see that

villain Romeo content thee gentle coz

let him alone

he bears him like a portly gentleman and

to say truth verona brags of him to be a

virtuous and well governed youth i would

not for the wealth of all this town here

in my house do him disparagement

therefore be patient take no note of him

it is my will the which if thou respect

show a fair presence and put off these

frowns and he will be seeming symbols

for a feast he fits when such a villain

is a guest not injure him he shall be

endured what Goodman boy I say shall go

to my the master here are you good you

wouldn't kill him God shall mend my soul

you'll make a mutiny among my guests you

will set cock-a-hoop you'll be the man

to go to your saucy boy if so indeed

this trick may chance to skate you I

know what you must contrary Nietzsche

strength be quiet or more light more

light for shame how meet you Roger

what killed if I have patience perforce

with wilful choler meeting makes my

flesh tremble

have different gritty I will withdraw

but this intrusion shall now seeming

sweet convert to bitterest gold

[Music]

if I profane with my unworthiest hand

this holy shrine the gentler sin is this

my lips two blushing pilgrims ready

stand to smooth that rough touch with a

tender kiss a pilgrim you do wrong your

hand too much which mannerly devotion

shows in this the Saints have hands that

pilgrims hands do touch and palm to Palm

is holy Palmer's kiss have not Saints

lips and holy Palmer's too I pilgrim

lips that they must use in prayer o then

dear Saint let lips do what hands do

they pray grant thou lest faith turn to

despair Saints do not move though grant

for prayers sake then move not while my

prayers effect I take

thus from my lips by thine my sin is

purged then have my lips the sin that

they haven't sin from my lips o trespass

sweetly urged

give me my sin again you kiss by the

book madam your mother craves a word

with you thank you yes what is her

mother marry bachelor her mother is a

lady the house and a good lady and a

wise and virtuous I nursed her daughter

that you talk'd withal I tell you either

can lay hold of her shall have the

chinks is she a Capulet

o dear account my life is my foes debt

away the game the sport is at the best I

so I fear the more is my unrest hey

gentlemen prepare not to be gone we have

a trifling foolish banquet towards hmm

is it him so why then I thank you all I

thank you honest gentleman good night

more torches here come on then let's

debate I sit up by my fate waxing oh I -

my wrist no he knows what he's young

gentlemen this son an heir of old

Tiberio watch he that now is going out

of door and married that I think the

young Petruchio what's he that follows

here that would not dance

I know noise he'll ask his name

he be married my grave is like to be my

wedding bed his name is Romeo and a

Montague the only son of your great

enemy my only loves to early seen

unknown and known too late

prodigiously it is to me that I must

love and love it what's this what's this

Oh rhyme I learned in now of when I

danced with no no no come let's away the

strangers all have gone