Disclaimer: I don't own Romeo and Juliet. I'm not Shakespeare.
(Benvolio is at his dead uncle's tomb grave.)
OLDER BENVOLIO
Old Montague, grief of his dearest wife and son
Hath stopped his breath.
I, as the only heir of the Montague family
Am married to mine true love Rosaline.
But there is guilt inside mine heart.
Yond I hath brought death to mine cousin;
And his Juliet.
This story, the ten minutes traffic of our stage-
Which, if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
(Benvolio runs after Rosaline, stops and talks out loud.)
BENVOLIO
Oh, Rosaline, doth teach the torches to burn bright!
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.
BENVOLIO
Good morrow, cousin.
ROMEO
Ay me! Sad hours seem long.
BENVOLIO
What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
ROMEO
Not having that, which, having, makes them short.
BENVOLIO
In love?
ROMEO
Out-
BENVOLIO
Of love?
ROMEO
Out of Rosaline's favour, where I am in love.
(Benvolio is surprised. He stumbles over his words in order to not let Romeo see it.)
BENVOLIO
Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!
ROMEO
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate…!
Dost thou not laugh?
BENVOLIO
No, coz, I rather weep.
(Benvolio waits, makes up an excuse)
At thy good heart's oppression.
ROMEO
Why, what is love? A madness most discreet,
A choking gall and a preserving sweet.
BENVOLIO
Be ruled by me, forget to think of her.
ROMEO
O, teach me how I should forget to think.
BENVOLIO
By giving liberty unto thine eyes;
Examine other beauties.
(Romeo exits)
BENVOLIO (to himself)
My only love sprung from my cousin's date!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
O, woe is me,
That I must love a forbidden beauty.
(Exit)
BENVOLIO
At this same ancient feast of Capulet's
Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest,
With all the admired beauties of Verona:
Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,
Compare her face with some that I shall show...
ROMEO
And thou wilt make me think my swan a crow?
(Pause, Romeo laughs)
I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,
But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.
PARTY SCENE:
ROMEO
Oh, Rosaline! Where is mine Rosaline?
(Romeo looks around, sees Juliet.)
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
(goes towards Juliet)
JULIET
(walks towards Romeo)
Call this a lightning? O my love! My future husband!
It is my lord, O, it is my love!
ROMEO
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
(Romeo kisses Juliet's hand.)
JULIET
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO
Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.
(They kiss)
JULIET
You kiss by the book.
(Nurse waves Juliet over.)
ROMEO
(Tense silence)
Are you a Capulet?
(Pause, Juliet nods.)
O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.
(Pause)
I must away.
(Romeo exits)
JULIET
(Looking at Romeo's back as he walks away from her)
Art thou gone so, love, lord?
I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
For in a minute there are many days.
Oh, by this count I shall be much in years
'Ere I again behold my Romeo.
(Romeo enters)
ROMEO:
Oh! Benvolio, Benvolio!
I have been feasting with mine enemy,
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me.
My heart's dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.
BENVOLIO:
If there be love, it's enough my coz.
(Romeo exits)
BENVOLIO
Now that Romeo has his Juliet,
Rosaline can be mine, all mine.
(Runs next to Rosaline.)
Dearest lady,
May I have this dance?
(They dance)
ROSALINE (inner voice)
I must marry thee, Benvolio
Of the house of Montagues.
I shalt beest rich and
Joyous mine entire life.
BALCONY SCENE:
(Rosaline comes to Montague balcony)
ROSALINE
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon.
BENVOLIO
Ay me!
ROSALINE
O, speak again, bright angel!
BENVOLIO
O Rosaline, Rosaline! Wherefore art thou maiden?
Deny thy vow and you'll no longer be a virgin.
ROSALINE
Take all myself.
Henceforth I shall never be a virgin.
BENVOLIO
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound.
(Pause)
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
ROSALINE
A horse carriage didst bring me here.
BENVOLIO
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
ROSALINE
It wast not the horses
That didst tell me.
(Pause, Rosaline laughs.)
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'
And I will take thy word.
BENVOLIO
Ay, Rosaline. Ay!
ROSALINE
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Giveth me mine kiss.
(They kiss.)
Now, what comes next?
(They look at the audience and smile.)
(Exit)
OLDER BENVOLIO
Now, I feel guilty for only caring about mineself.
I would ne'er bethink that
(Turns to look at Romeo and Juliet's graves)
My dearest cousin, Romeo, would fall in love
With the only lady he wouldn't
Beest allowed to love.