ACT 5
[Enter FRIAR JOHN]
FRIAR JOHN
Holy Franciscan friar! Brother, ho!
Holy Franciscan friar! Are you there, bro!
[Enter FRIAR LAURENCE]
FRIAR LAURENCE
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
That’s got to be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo?
Welcome from Mantua: what did Romeo say?
Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
Or, if he wrote his thoughts down, where’s his letter?
FRIAR JOHN
Going to find a bare-foot brother out
When searching for a friar, walking bare foot,
One of our order, to associate me,
From our order of Friars who could join me,
Here in this city visiting the sick,
Within this city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
I found him, but patrolmen of the town
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Suspected that we’d both been in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign,
In which had had an outbreak of the plague,
Sealed up the doors, and would not let us forth;
So they sealed up the doors and locked us in;
So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed.
And that prevented me going to Mantua.
FRIAR LAURENCE
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
Who took my letter, then, to Romeo?
FRIAR JOHN
I could not send it,--here it is again,--
I could not send it – here, you have it back –
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
Nor get a messenger to bring it here,
So fearful were they of infection.
So scared they were that I might spread infection.
FRIAR LAURENCE
Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood,
That’s so unfortunate! I swear by brotherhood,
The letter was not nice but full of charge
The letter wasn’t nice but full of content
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
Of great importance, and neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence;
Might cause much danger. Friar John, go now:
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
Get me an iron crowbar, quickly bring it
Unto my cell.
Here to my cell.
FRIAR JOHN
Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.
Brother, I’ll go and bring you it.
[Exit]
FRIAR LAURENCE
Now must I to the monument alone;
I must go to the crypt right now, alone;
Within three hours will fair Juliet wake:
Within three hours, fair Juliet will wake up:
She will beshrew me much that Romeo
She’ll tell me off so much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
Was not told how these ‘accidents’ occurred;
But I will write again to Mantua,
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come;
And keep her in my church till Romeo’s come;
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man's tomb!
Poor living corpse, enclosed within a tomb!
[Exit]
