Original: Romeo is banish’d; and all the world to nothing,
Modern: Romeo has been banished, and I’d bet anything

Original: That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you;
Modern: That he’ll never dare come back to fight for you;

Original: Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
Modern: Or if he does return, he’ll have to sneak around in secret.

Original: Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,
Modern: So, since this is how things are right now,

Original: I think it best you married with the county.
Modern: I think it’s best that you marry the Count.

Original: O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Modern: Oh, he’s such a wonderful gentleman!

Original: Romeo’s a dishclout to him: an eagle, madam,
Modern: Romeo’s just a dirty dishrag compared to him: an eagle, my lady,

Original: Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye
Modern: Doesn’t have eyes as bright, as lively, or as beautiful

Original: As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,
Modern: As Paris has. I swear on my heart,

Original: I think you are happy in this second match,
Modern: I think you’ll be happy with this second marriage,

Original: For it excels your first: or if it did not,
Modern: Because it’s better than your first one: and even if it weren’t,

Original: Your first is dead; or ‘twere as good he were,
Modern: Your first husband is as good as dead; or he might as well be,

Original: As living here and you no use of him.
Modern: Since he’s alive but you can’t be with him anyway.

In Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, the scene opens at dawn in Juliet’s bedroom, where Romeo and Juliet have spent their wedding night together following their secret marriage. As morning approaches, they debate whether the birdsong they hear is from the nightingale (signaling night) or the lark (signaling day). Romeo must leave Verona immediately, as he has been banished for killing Tybalt, and remaining in the city means death. After Romeo reluctantly departs by climbing down from Juliet’s window, Lady Capulet enters to inform Juliet that her father has arranged for her to marry the County Paris on Thursday.

When Juliet refuses the marriage, her father Lord Capulet enters and responds to her defiance with violent rage, threatening to disown her if she does not obey. He insists she will marry Paris or be cast out of the household. Lady Capulet refuses to intercede on Juliet’s behalf, and even the Nurse, after initially trying to calm Capulet, ultimately advises Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris, since Romeo is banished and as good as dead to her. Left alone after the Nurse’s betrayal of her confidence, Juliet resolves to seek help from Friar Laurence, determined to find a solution to her impossible situation or else take her own life rather than be unfaithful to Romeo.

“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.