Immortal phrases from Shakespeare...

Part one

The Montagues and the Capulets are the two highest families of Verona, who are at enmity with each other from their history. There are frequent fights between the members and even the servants of the two families. One day the Lord Capulet invited all the gentlemen of Verona except the Montagues, to a grand party. Meanwhile Romeo, a young man from Montague family is obsessed with his love for Rosaline who does not return his love. His friends want him to forget the lady and bring him in disguise to Capulet’s feast to show him more beautiful ladies.

Romeo is at once struck by the beauty of the Lord Capulet’s daughter Juliet. She too instantly falls in love with Romeo and deeply frustrated to learn that Romeo is from her enemy’s family. After the feast, Romeo finds himself unable to leave the house where Juliet live. He jumps over a wall and hides in a dark Corner of Juliet’s Orchard. When she appears at the window, he gazes at her...

Romeo: When he sees Juliet at the party

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright it seems she hangs upon the cheeks of the night. As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s car beauty too rich for use, for earth to 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 it, sight! for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

	Romeo. If profane with my unworthiest hand.	Friar Laurence. Till holy church incoporate two

In current English

“The light of her face is brighter than torches it is clear she is like a golden earring on the cheeks of night just like a bright jewel in a black Africans car her beauty is too good for ordinary life. It is too valuable for this world. She looks like a very white dove walking with (black) crows when she is walking with her attendant ladies when the dance is finished, I’ll check where she stands (she’s statue of a saint) and I’ll touch her hand and there by make my unclean hands clean. I’m not sure whether I have truly loved till this moment. Truly ! Because I’ve never seen such a beauty until this moment of the night”

Juliet: (When she learns through the nurse, that Romeo is a Montague)
My only love sprung from my only hate
Too early seen unknown and known too late
Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathed enemy

(In current English)

“The one man I love is the son of the family I hate I saw him too soon and fell in love with him. And now I’ve found out who he is but it is too late. Im in love this is a great birth of love in me what kind of love this is that I must love a hated enemy”

Romeo: (When he is at the street unable to leave Juliet)
Can I go forward when my heart is here? turn back dull earth and find thy center out.

(In current English)

“I can’t go away when my love - Juliet is here. Turn back Romeo (dull earth) and find out your heart (center)
(Juliet is now the center of his world since his heart is where she is)
Romeo: (When he sees Juliet at the window)
Be soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east and Juliet is the sun!
Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou, her maid art far more fair than she
Be not her maid since she is envious
Her vestal livery’ is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off,
It is my lady. O it is my love
O that she knew she were
She speaks. Yet says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it
I am too bold! This not to me she speaks;
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their, spheres till they return.
What it her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp.....

(In current English)

“Be quiet! What kind of light (Juliet’s face) comes out of that window? I think it is the east and Juliet’s face is the Sun!
Come on beautiful sun and destroy that jealous moon (virgin goddess Diana)
Who is already sick and weak with sorrow.
Because you, the goddess’ girl, are more beautiful than she is
Don’t be a follower of her (Virgin god Diana) who hates love and marriage.
Her virginity dress is boringly ugly and under coloured.
It is foolish to remain uninterested to love. So reject the Pale and green of such maidens.”
 

“She’s my girl. She’s my love
I wish she new she were my love!
She speaks, But I hear nothing. Why is that?
Her eyes are talking. I will answer her.
I don’t have any fear. She speaks not to me.
Two of the most beautiful stars in the sky,
Having some work outside, appeal to her eyes,
To shine for them in their place until they come back.
What will happen if her eyes were to be in the sky, and the stars in her face?
Her bright face outshines the stars
Just as a lamp’s light is nothing in daytime...”

To be continued.........

Amal HEWAVISSENTI