Meanwhile, in Mantua, word of Juliet's death reaches young Romeo ahead of
the Friar's messenger. Rushing to Verona, the disheartened youth pauses to
purchase a vessel of poison: "Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight,"
he pledges.
Act Five, Scene Two
Friar John is unable to reach Romeo in Mantua. He explains to Friar Lawrence
that he had been quarantined in Verona because of the suspicion of the plague.
Friar Lawrence rushes to the cemeterybecause Juliet will awaken shortly.
Act Five, Scene Three
At the Capulet's vaulted tomb, there young Romeo found Paris, also in mourning.
Recognizing Romeo, he drew his sword. The two fought and Paris was fatally
wounded. In the throes of death, he pled with Romeo to lay him next to his
love. Romeo hesitated, then dragged the other man inside the tomb so that
he too could lie near Juliet. Then, looking down at his bride, Romeo cried
out...... Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! and lips, O
you ... seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death."
Leaving a kiss on the beauty's silent lips, Romeo drank the poison and lay
motionless by her side.
Soon, Juliet awoke - to find her husband lying next to her, dead. Hearing
footsteps approaching, she unsheathed Romeo's dagger and plunged it into her
breast, bewailing, "O happy dagger! ... Let me die!"
Just then the Friar enters, followed by the Montagues, the Capulets, and
the Prince. Before them lies Paris, along with the limp bodies of the two
lovers.
At once each family began to cast blame upon the other for the tragedy. The
Friar, however, steps forward and explains the circumstances which have led
to the deaths of their tender children, whose only sin was to have loved.
When he hears the story, the Prince calls out mournfully, "Where be
these enemies? Capulet, Montague, see what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love .... All are punished."
At these words, the adversaries clasp hands in brotherhood. "A gloomy
peace this morning with it brings. . . " intoned the Prince in a final
note, "for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her
Romeo."
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