(two households.)

Romeo and Juliet monologues, printed in full

Romeo's eight, Juliet's ten, the Friar's six, the Nurse, Mercutio, Capulet, Benvolio and the Prince. Written for young actors four hundred years ago and still the most asked-for classical audition pieces there are. Public domain, printed whole.

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1
Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:36 min
Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face; Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form -- fain, fain…
2
Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 2:02 min
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou…
3
Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 3:08 min
Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, That almost freezes up the heat of life: I'll call them back again to comfort me:…
4
Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · comedic · 2:45 min
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes In shape no bigger than an agate stone On the forefinger of an alderman, Drawn with a team…
5
Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:09 min
The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return. Perchance she cannot meet him: that’s not so. O, she is lame! love’s heralds should be…
6
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:46 min
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief That…
7
Juliet Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:59 min
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' lodging! Such a wagoner As Phaeton would whip you to the west And bring in cloudy night immediately. Spread thy close…
8
Prince from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:33 min
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,— Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage…
9
Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · contemplative · 0:51 min
Madam, an hour before the worshipp’d sun Peer’d forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad, Where underneath the grove of sycamore That westward…
10
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:52 min
Alas that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it…
11
Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · joyful · 1:46 min
And too soon marr’d are those so early made. The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she, She is the hopeful lady of my earth: But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, My will…
12
Nurse from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · contemplative · 2:29 min
Even or odd, of all days in the year, Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she,—God rest all Christian souls!— Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God; She…
13
Lady Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:04 min
What say you, can you love the gentleman? This night you shall behold him at our feast; Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face, And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen.…
14
Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · comedic · 1:20 min
Welcome, gentlemen, ladies that have their toes Unplagu’d with corns will have a bout with you. Ah my mistresses, which of you all Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,…
15
Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:49 min
Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone, A bears him like a portly gentleman; And, to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-govern’d youth. I would not for the…
16
Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:04 min
Nay, I’ll conjure too. Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh, Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but ‘Ah me!’ Pronounce but Love…
17
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · romantic · 1:03 min
Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight; It is too rash, too unadvis’d, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere…
18
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · contemplative · 1:28 min
Holy Saint Francis! What a change is here! Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.…
19
Nurse from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:27 min
Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every part about me quivers. Scurvy knave. Pray you, sir, a word: and as I told you, my young lady bid me enquire you out; what she bade me say,…
20
Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · sarcastic · 1:19 min
Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou? Why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard…
21
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · romantic · 2:22 min
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a waggoner As Phaeton would whip you to the west And bring in cloudy night immediately. Spread thy close…
22
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 2:05 min
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, When I thy three-hours’ wife have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou…
23
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:32 min
’Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog, And little mouse, every unworthy thing, Live here in heaven and may look on her, But Romeo…
24
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 3:26 min
Hold thy desperate hand. Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art. Thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denote The unreasonable fury of a beast. Unseemly woman in a seeming…
25
Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 0:54 min
When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew; But for the sunset of my brother’s son It rains downright. How now? A conduit, girl? What, still in tears? Evermore showering? In one…
26
Capulet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:33 min
God’s bread, it makes me mad! Day, night, hour, ride, time, work, play, Alone, in company, still my care hath been To have her match’d, and having now provided A gentleman of…
27
Nurse from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:02 min
Faith, here it is. Romeo is banished; and all the world to nothing That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you. Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth. Then, since the case…
28
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:12 min
Tell me not, Friar, that thou hear’st of this, Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. If in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, Do thou but call my resolution wise, And with…
29
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 2:08 min
Hold then. Go home, be merry, give consent To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow; Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone, Let not thy Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. Take…
30
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 3:12 min
Farewell. God knows when we shall meet again. I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins That almost freezes up the heat of life. I’ll call them back again to comfort me.…
31
Nurse from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:22 min
Mistress! What, mistress! Juliet! Fast, I warrant her, she. Why, lamb, why, lady, fie, you slug-abed! Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweetheart! Why, bride! What, not a word? You take…
32
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:20 min
Peace, ho, for shame. Confusion’s cure lives not In these confusions. Heaven and yourself Had part in this fair maid, now heaven hath all, And all the better is it for the maid.…
33
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · romantic · 1:09 min
If I may trust the flattering eye of sleep, My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. My bosom’s lord sits lightly in his throne; And all this day an unaccustom’d spirit Lifts…
34
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:43 min
No matter. Get thee gone, And hire those horses. I’ll be with thee straight. (Exit Balthasar.) Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. Let’s see for means. O mischief thou art…
35
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:12 min
Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron. Hold, take this letter; early in the morning See thou deliver it to my lord and father. Give me the light; upon thy life I charge…
36
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 3:33 min
In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face. Mercutio’s kinsman, noble County Paris! What said my man, when my betossed soul Did not attend him as we rode? I think He told me Paris…
37
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 2:46 min
I will be brief, for my short date of breath Is not so long as is a tedious tale. Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet, And she, there dead, that Romeo’s faithful wife. I…
38
Romeo from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · romantic · 2:22 min
He jests at scars that never felt a wound. Juliet appears above at a window. But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise fair…
39
Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:36 min
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay; Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink How nice the quarrel was, and urg’d withal Your high displeasure. All this uttered With…
40
Friar Lawrence from Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:59 min
The grey-ey’d morn smiles on the frowning night, Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day’s pathway, made by…

Length is estimated at a spoken pace of about 150 words a minute. Public-domain pieces are printed in full on their own page; copyrighted ones list the character and the source.

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