Romeo and Juliet Act I Scene IV: Modern Translation with Annotations

Romeo and Juliet Act I Scene IV Original Modern Notes 1 SCENE IV. A Street. 1 SCENE IV. A Street. 2 [Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers; Torch-bearers and others.] 2 [Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers and others.] 3 ROMEO. What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Or shall we on without apology? 3 ROMEO. Well, shall we deliver a speech as our excuse, or shall we go in without any apology? 4 BENVOLIO. The date is out of such prolixity : We’ll have no Cupid hoodwink’d with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar’s painted bow of lath, Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke After the prompter, for our entrance: But let them measure us by what they will, We’ll measure them a measure, and be gone. 4 BENVOLIO. That kind of long-winded speech is out of date. We’ll have no Cupid blindfolded with a scarf, carrying a Tartar’s painted wooden bow, scaring the ladies like a scarecrow; nor any memorised pr…