Extract 6 Act 5 Scene 3

Romeo: Oh my love, my wife. Death may have taken away your sweet breath, but it has not taken away your beauty. I can still see beauty in the redness of your lips and cheeks. Pale Death has not covered you yet.

[Sees Tybalt’s body lying next to Juliet] There lies Tybalt. What more can I do for you, but kill the hand that cut off your youth? Forgive me, cousin. [Takes Juliet’s hand] Oh dear Juliet, why are you still so fair⁸? Is Death keeping you here in the dark to be his lover? I will stay with you for ever in this house of night. Here will I stay, with the worms that are your maids⁹. My body is tired of life. I want to shake off the unlucky stars that hang around my neck. Eyes, look for the last time. Arms, hold your love for

⁸ fair beautiful

⁹ maids servants

*Whose hand is he referring to?

*The idea that a person’s future or fate is in the stars is a common one in poetry.

the last time! [He takes Juliet in his arms] And lips, you doors of breath, make your promise to Death. [He takes out the bottle of poison] Come, poison, take this tired little boat* and throw it onto the rocks. Here’s to my love! [He drinks the poison]

*What is Romeo referring to as a ‘tired little boat’?