Original: ‘Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Modern: This is torture, not mercy: heaven is right here,

Original: Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
Modern: Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog

Original: And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Modern: And little mouse, every worthless creature,

Original: Live here in heaven and may look on her;
Modern: Lives here in heaven and gets to look at her;

Original: But Romeo may not: more validity,
Modern: But Romeo cannot: more worth,

Original: More honourable state, more courtship lives
Modern: More honor, more privilege to court her lives

Original: In carrion-flies than Romeo: they my seize
Modern: In flies that feed on dead flesh than Romeo: they can land

Original: On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand
Modern: On the beautiful whiteness of dear Juliet’s hand

Original: And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Modern: And steal eternal blessing from her lips,

Original: Who even in pure and vestal modesty,
Modern: Which even in pure and virgin-like modesty,

Original: Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
Modern: Still blush, as if thinking their own kisses are sinful;

Original: But Romeo may not; he is banished:
Modern: But Romeo cannot; he is banished:

Original: Flies may do this, but I from this must fly:
Modern: Flies can do this, but I must flee from this:

Original: They are free men, but I am banished.
Modern: They are free, but I am banished.

Original: And say’st thou yet that exile is not death?
Modern: And do you still say that exile is not death?

Original: Hadst thou no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife,
Modern: Didn’t you have any mixed poison, no sharpened knife,

Original: No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
Modern: No quick way to die, no matter how lowly,

Original: But ‘banished’ to kill me?.’banished’?
Modern: Instead of ‘banished’ to kill me? ‘banished’?

Original: O friar, the damned use that word in hell;
Modern: Oh friar, the damned use that word in hell;

Original: Howlings attend it: how hast thou the heart,
Modern: Screaming follows it: how do you have the heart,

Original: Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
Modern: Being a holy man, a spiritual confessor,

Original: A sin-absolver, and my friend profess’d,
Modern: Someone who forgives sins, and my declared friend,

Original: To mangle me with that word ‘banished’?
Modern: To torture me with that word ‘banished’?

In Act III, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo hides in Friar Lawrence’s cell after killing Tybalt in the previous scene. The Friar informs Romeo that Prince Escalus has banished him from Verona rather than sentencing him to death, which the Friar considers merciful. However, Romeo responds with despair, claiming that banishment is worse than death because it separates him from Juliet. He throws himself on the ground in anguish, declaring that he would rather die than live in exile away from his beloved.

The Nurse arrives at the Friar’s cell, seeking Romeo on Juliet’s behalf. She reports that Juliet is in a similar state of despair, weeping and lamenting Romeo’s banishment. When Romeo learns of Juliet’s distress, he attempts to stab himself with a dagger, but the Friar intervenes and delivers a lengthy speech chastising Romeo for his lack of reason and gratitude. The Friar devises a plan: Romeo will secretly spend his wedding night with Juliet, then flee to Mantua at dawn and wait there until they can find a way to make the marriage public, reconcile their families, and secure a pardon from the Prince. Romeo agrees to this plan, and the Nurse departs to inform Juliet that Romeo will come to her that night.

“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.