Scene 1: Love's Stretch Cut By Death
At Mercutio's Death
[Mercutio]
Blood litter, thy water salt my fresh wounds.
Gentle heart, coz, why dost thou weep so well
That I were deceived and sky's tears collapse down?
[Romeo]
Thy still-beating heart doth not comprehend
That which to thine eyes hath not been send.
Rest, Mercutio, for the stars hath led,
But know now I prepare my earthly bed.
[Mercutio]
Merry, 'tis I that should prepare the dirt.
Hark, what is this matter for which you speak?
[Romeo]
'Tis of blind eyes and the all-seeing soul –
[Mercutio]
My time is numbered, therefore have mercy.
Cut out thy speech. I need not hear it all,
Nor can my patience bear it further long.
Shoot thy arrow, let not wind intertwine.
[Romeo]
Indeed, 'tis of arrows I do now speak
Released of their shaking chains not by me,
But by the muffled man inside the clouds,
That fly straight but seem bemiss their target,
Piercing out hearts with shining, deadly tip.
[Mercutio] Thou doddles.
[Romeo] Nay, I do not.
[Mercutio] Then speak, dog.
[Romeo]
The fire that tears and slaughters all in path
Consuming all, leaving but bit behind.
[Mercutio]
Thy words twist under the playful cat's paw.
Deadly arrows, consuming fires, war?
[Romeo]
War? My imprisoned heart doth laugh at the thought.
[Mercutio] What is it then? Of hate?
[Romeo] Of love.
[Mercutio] Ay, me.
A blow to the chest, child to child is sent.
[Romeo] It hurts?
[Mercutio] Nay, but pierces.
[Romeo] The wound?
[Mercutio] The arrow.
Though raper's point stings as scorpion.
[Romeo] And what dost thou think?
[Mercutio] Me thinkist I die.
[Romeo] Mercutio!
[Mercutio] Ay, the salt! Halt the salt.
[Romeo] Wilt thou leave me hanging?
[Mercutio] Nay, but bleeding.
[Romeo]
Mercutio – dear Lord, answer! Rise up!
No, 'tis not true, 'tis not true, 'tis not true!
O, wretched holy bondage stained with red!
O, damned holiness, tampered purity!
Why do the stars jeer so? – His hand, it stirs!
[Mercutio] Romeo –
[Romeo] Anon?
[Mercutio] Romeo…I…I…
Mercutio falls still.
[Romeo]
Thou never utters the words I need most!
But three words, Mercutio, but small words…
End of Scene 1.