Romeo and Juliet the whole play in modern English, scene by scene
Two teenagers from feuding families fall in love, marry in secret, and have five days. The most-taught play in English — and the most misquoted. Every scene below shows Shakespeare's original text and a plain modern English translation side by side — free, printable, no account, no paywall.
Confused by a different line? Paste any Shakespeare — any play, any edition — and get it in modern English.
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Famous lines
- “Two households, both alike in dignity,” — Prologue
- “A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;” — Prologue
- “Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,” — Act 1, Scene 1
- “Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!” — Act 1, Scene 1
- “O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.” — Act 1, Scene 4
- “This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,” — Act 1, Scene 5
- “My only love sprung from my only hate!” — Act 1, Scene 5
- “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?” — Act 2, Scene 2
- “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” — Act 2, Scene 2
- “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” — Act 2, Scene 3
Want to read Shakespeare unassisted? The Shakespearean English course teaches the grammar and vocabulary behind these lines — or paste anything into the Shakespearean English translator.