Original: Thou know’st the mask of night is on my face,
Modern: You know that the darkness of night is covering my face,

Original: Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
Modern: Otherwise you would see me blushing like a proper young woman

Original: For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night
Modern: Because of what you heard me say tonight

Original: Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
Modern: I would love to follow proper manners and deny

Original: What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!
Modern: What I just said, but forget about being polite!

Original: Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say ‘Ay,’
Modern: Do you love me? I know you’ll say “Yes,”

Original: And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear’st,
Modern: And I’ll believe you, but if you make promises,

Original: Thou mayst prove false; at lovers’ perjuries
Modern: You might turn out to be lying; when lovers break their promises

Original: Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
Modern: They say the gods just laugh. Oh sweet Romeo,

Original: If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Modern: If you truly love me, say it honestly,

Original: Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won,
Modern: Or if you think I’ve given in too easily,

Original: I’ll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,
Modern: I’ll act upset and stubborn and tell you no,

Original: So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
Modern: Just so you’ll chase after me, but otherwise, not for anything.

Original: In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
Modern: Honestly, handsome Montague, I care too much,

Original: And therefore thou mayst think my ‘havior light:
Modern: And so you might think I’m being too forward,

Original: But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true
Modern: But believe me, sir, I’ll be more faithful

Original: Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
Modern: Than girls who are better at playing hard to get.

Original: I should have been more strange, I must confess,
Modern: I should have been more distant, I admit,

Original: But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware,
Modern: But you overheard me before I realized it,

Original: My true love’s passion: therefore pardon me,
Modern: Speaking my true feelings of love, so please forgive me,

Original: And not impute this yielding to light love,
Modern: And don’t think that my openness means shallow love,

Original: Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Modern: Which this dark night has revealed.

In Act II, Scene ii of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo stands beneath Juliet’s balcony in the Capulet orchard, having climbed over the garden wall after the feast. He speaks to himself about Juliet, comparing her to the sun and declaring that she outshines the moon. Juliet appears at her window above, unaware of Romeo’s presence below. She speaks aloud to herself, lamenting that Romeo is a Montague and therefore her family’s enemy, famously asking “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” She wishes he would abandon his name, or that she could abandon hers, so they could be together without the burden of their feuding families.

Romeo reveals himself and the two engage in a passionate exchange about their newfound love. Juliet expresses concern about how Romeo managed to reach her and warns him of the danger he faces if her kinsmen discover him there. They declare their mutual love, with Juliet initially worried about appearing too forward but ultimately abandoning such concerns. The scene culminates with the lovers agreeing to marry, as Juliet promises to send a messenger to Romeo the following day to learn when and where the wedding ceremony will take place. After several reluctant farewells, with each trying to part but being drawn back into conversation, Romeo finally departs as dawn approaches and Juliet retires to her chamber.

“Romeo and Juliet” tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families in Verona. Romeo Montague attends a Capulet feast in disguise, where he meets and instantly falls in love with Juliet Capulet. They meet secretly that night on her balcony and decide to marry the next day. Friar Lawrence agrees to perform the ceremony, hoping their union might end the family feud.

After the secret wedding, Romeo encounters Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, who challenges him to a duel. When Romeo refuses to fight, his friend Mercutio accepts the challenge and is killed by Tybalt. In revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona by Prince Escalus. Meanwhile, Juliet’s parents, unaware of her secret marriage, arrange for her to wed Count Paris.

Desperate to avoid this second marriage, Juliet seeks help from Friar Lawrence, who gives her a potion that will make her appear dead. The plan is for Romeo to return and take her away when she awakens in the Capulet tomb. However, Romeo never receives the friar’s message explaining the scheme. Believing Juliet truly dead, he purchases poison and drinks it beside her tomb.

Juliet awakens to find Romeo’s lifeless body and, in despair, kills herself with his dagger. The tragic deaths of their children finally reconcile the Montague and Capulet families, who vow to end their ancient hatred. Prince Escalus concludes that all are punished by this sorrowful outcome of the families’ bitter feud.