CONTENTS The story of Romeo and Juliet begins in the town of Verona, Italy where there lived two powerful families Families who were sworn enemies Families who would not think twice before drawing th.
CONTENT S CLASSIC SHORT STORIES Page Romeo and Julies 01 Finding Love Again 19 The Divine Dilemma 28 Paris, Helen and the Troy 37 Romeo and Juliet The story of Romeo and Juliet begins in the town of Verona, Italy where there lived two powerful families Families who were sworn enemies! Families who would not think twice before drawing their sword These were the Montagues and the Capulets A Soldier: Stop! Prince Escalus is coming! Prince Escalus: Enough! You threaten the peace of my town and disrupt civilian lives? I hear another brawl from the Montagues or the Capulets, the culprit shall be put in prison for life! off you go now! Alberto: Your Majesty! You look troubled Prince Escalus: Alberto! I worry about the hatred between these families! I wonder what their youngest generation make of this rivalry Don't the Montagues have a son Alberto Alberto: Yes! Romeo, Your Majesty! Prince Escalus: And the Capulets? Alberto: They have a daughter Her name's Juliet Prince Escalus: Ah! Romeo and Juliet …… Benvolio: Romeo? Romeo! There you are! I've been looking for you since morning Romeo and Juliet Romeo: Is it still morning! Benvolio: Well of course it is That's usually how long mornings are! Romeo: Then I guess sad hours seem long Benvolio: Sad? What makes you sad? Are these love poems you've been writing? You are in love! With who? I am sure she has a name! Romeo: Rosaline! But she doesn't love me She has vowed to marry another And it's not her fault You cannot force someone to fall in love with you Benvolio! Benvolio: If Rosaline doesn't understand your love then she is at a loss, my brother! You have to forget her! Romeo: How, Benvolio? Tell me how does one forget to think! Benvolio: Huh! Where's the friar? Romeo: In the praying room ……… The friar: Lord! I pray for the peace of Verona The Montague's Capulet's rivalry has swallowed this entire town Help them to see beyond their hatred The friar: Good morning, lads! Beautiful morning! isn't it? Romeo: and Not Juliet for this lover Romeo The friar: Come on The day is young just like you both Go on! Time heals all wounds only if you let it Learn to move with time ……………… “Wealth, repute, stature, family history and standing… us Capulets have it all! and I vow to protect it always” thought the Capulets head He told Peter: Here is the list of all the invites for the ball today Hand it over to someone I want special invitations to go to each one of them Count Paris is coming, too I wish to get him to marry Juliet Our family name will elevate even more! ………………… Benvolio: Hello, boys! A beautiful day, isn't it? Still thinking about Rosaline, aren't you? My Romeo! Love is the most beautiful emotion upon earth! If it makes you so sad, then ask yourself “Is it love then?” “Sir! Sir! Oh, I have found myself in a fix! Can you read this, sir?” said a man on the road Romeo: Give it to me I will help you out Livia, Lucio, Tybalt, Rosaline… What list is this? The guest list for the ball the Capulet’s! If you are not one of the Montague’s, are invited as well! Romeo and you Juliet Romeo: We must go to this ball! Benvolio: Easy for you to say! You are not a Montague! I am not stepping in that house Mercutio: But we must go for Romeo So he relishes the fact that we crashed the Capulet’s party! We will wear masks anyway Benvolio: Alright! I'm in! And you are not allowed to say no! Romeo: Fine But we return soon and we don't fight anyone there Mercutio: Wonderful! The Capulets head: Noblemen and women of Verona, welcome to our humble ball Let the dancing begin Mercutio: The Capulets can throw a party! Benvolio: Romeo, go find yourself a dance partner You need it! We will help ourselves with some wine Come Mercutio! Romeo: Wait! I don't want toThe Capulets head: Count Paris, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Juliet! Count Paris: Aren't you the most beautiful lady in Verona! May I have the pleasure of a dance? I leave Verona soon, but I plan to get married Romeo and before Juliet that What about you? Juliet: I plan to find true love first Count Paris: True love? Does that even exist! Juliet: Only for those who believe! ……… Then Juliet turns and rotates Changed Dancer! She paired up with Romeo Romeo: My heart has either stopped beating or has forgotten how to beat Juliet: Wouldn't you be dead if that were true! Romeo: No mortal can endure such beauty and stay alive May I have the pleasure? Juliet: You may Juliet: Who are you again? Romeo: I'm a yearning pilgrim and you are my holy shrine Kissing you will purge me of my sins Juliet: That's big talk! Romeo: I mean it! Juliet: And you've given me all your sins! Romeo andnow Juliet Romeo: I apologize! I will take my sins back! Juliet: You kissed by the books! The Nurse: Your mother is looking for you Juliet! Lady Capulet is looking for you! Romeo: Juliet! Beautiful name! But why is Lady Capulet calling her? The Nurse: Because she is her mother Romeo: I am in love! I'm in love with a Capulet? The Capulets head: Romeo? How dare a Monster you set foot in our property Benvolio: You removed your mask! And now we're in trouble!! Come! Let's leave! Romeo: But! Benvolio: Wouldn't hear another word! Juliet: Nurse! Find out who that man is, the one I was dancing with If he is already married to someone I might as well die Why is my heart yearning to run to him? Is this what they call True Love? The Nurse: Madam, Tybalt told me who that uncultured boy was His name is Romeo and he is a Montague! Romeo and Juliet Juliet: No! My only love sprung from my only hate! It's too late now! I can't feel my heartbeat How will I? My heart just left this house ………… Benvolio: Why were you dancing with the Capulet girl? You'd have got us killed today! Romeo: I'm a dead man, already! I now know what true love is! Benvolio: Where you think you're going? Romeo: To speak with my destiny! Benvolio: Are you mad? Do you know what you're doing! …………… Romeo broke into Juliet’s house At that time, Juliet was standing on the balcony! Juliet: Oh Romeo! My heart aches! You're a Montague? What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet But what if you think differently? You don't know I'm a Capulet But I don't care anymore, oh Romeo! Just once, accept my love and I will stop being a Capulet I will be anything you want! Why did you leave? We kissed and yearned for more! Romeo: and I didJuliet leave! But I couldn't help coming back Romeo Juliet: What are you doing here? How did you get here? They will kill you! Romeo: After listening to my life confessing her love to me, does it matter if I live or die? Juliet: Don't you want to live? Please leave! They will see you! Romeo: I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight And let them find me here for my life is better ended by their hate than live very moment wanting your love! Juliet: You love me? Romeo: Juliet! I swear by the moon! Juliet: The moon changes! Don't swear by it! Romeo: What you want me to swear by? Juliet: Your true, beautiful self! Say you love me Romeo, and I will believe I will choose to believe every word you say! Knowing well that our families are sworn enemies For I have never felt the calm I feel when I saw you This is it, Romeo, this is where my dreams celebrate me being alive I believe you! Romeo: Juliet! I love you beyond the meaning of love itself! …… Suddenly, Romeo and Julietthere was a knock on the door…… The Nurse: Madam? Juliet: You have to go! Romeo: I won't leave without that what I came for Your vow of love! Juliet: I already gave it to you! Romeo: Stay but a little, Juliet, for I am afraid! It is night and this is all a dream! I don't want to lose your love, I can't! Juliet: If your love for me is honorable, propose marriage, and I will forever be yours Propose when and where you will perform the rite, and then and there I shall be Romeo: By the hour of Nine tomorrow! At Friar Lawrence's cell! Juliet: There I will be! Now go! Hurry! Romeo: Good night my love! 10 no harm to the twin brothers, but instead, bounced off them and hit the witch back She had once dissipated into the air And with the end of her, Samantha and Amber remembered everything The two hugged each other and cried It is then that the King and the Queen also reached the place and the island stopped shaking and sinking The Divine Dilemma The King: Goodness! This can't be real! Samantha told them what the witch had done, and how her and Amber's fates were conjoined, too! The King and the Queen were delighted Austin looked at amber and smiled What next, well you all know! A happy ending, the Divine Dilemma was finally solved, and the two princes married the twin sisters and all was finally well, proving that fate always finds its way 38 Paris, Helen and the Troy One day, long ago, when the gods mingled in the affairs of men An argument ensued between three goddesses as to who was more beautiful The Queen of the God: As the Queen of the immortal gods, it is I who is the most beautiful! The Goddess of Wisdom: My dearest Hera, you may be the Queen of the God, but I am the Goddess of Wisdom And wisdom is Beauty and Beauty is Wisdom They are the same! The Goddess of Love: Nonsense, Hera I am the Goddess of Love And I possess the power of love because I am the most beautiful! The God: Enough! I have a solution to your… conundrum Zeus proposed that a contest should be held to determine who was the most beautiful 39 Paris, the Prince of Troy was chosen to judge the contest And would make his decision by awarding Zeus's apple to the winner ……………………… Paris: Bah! You got away this time, my friend Because of an apple, Paris didn't hit the deer He took the apple Paris, Helen and the Troy The Goddess of Wisdom: Wait! Do not eat that apple, for it is from the gods Paris: The Gods! The Queen of the God: Zeus, to be precise Paris: Why would Zeus send me an apple? The Goddess of Love: It is the prize that you will award to one of us who you believe to be the most beautiful The Queen of the God: It is a great honor, noble Paris! Now, I can save you quite a bit of time Award the apple to me and, as Queen of the gods, I shall give you great power The Goddess of Wisdom: As a prince you have power already Award the apple to me and I shall grant you great Wisdom! 40 The Goddess of Love: Gentle Paris! You are wise beyond your years already Demonstrate it by giving me the apple and I shall give to you the love of the most beautiful woman on earth Yes! You know of whom I speak Paris: Helen of Sparta! The Goddess of Wisdom: But she is already married to King Paris, Helen and the Troy Menelaus! The Goddess of Love: A mere inconvenience I assure you! The Queen of the God: And she is Zeus's daughter an immortal like us! Zeus will not be pleased! The Goddess of Love: I will handle Zeus Beautiful isn't she? And she can be all yours for the price of that apple Paris: Maybe this isn't a good idea! If the prophecy about me is true, I fear for her already! The Goddess of Love: Prophecy, bah! It was nothing more than a dream of your mother's Troy will not burn by your hand or any other Paris: I was shunned by my parents and abandoned to live as a shepherd because of this “dream” How can you be so sure? 41 The Goddess of Love: Because you have since been reinstated as Prince and have become Troy's greatest champion! Now I offer you the opportunity to champion the heart of Helen What you say? Now, here is how this is going to work …………………… At King Menelaus’s castle Paris: Your Majesty! Paris, Helen and the Troy King Menelaus: No formalities needed from you, my good Paris! To what honor does Sparta owe the Prince of Troy? Paris: Diplomatic formalities, King Menelaus And of course the pleasure of your good company King Menelaus: Glad to hear it, it has been too long Come, tell me how your father is doing Ah! My wife, Helen, I have someone I would like you to meet Paris: Good day, Queen Helen Allow me to introduce myself, my name is… Helen: Wait! I shall guess the name of this… Prince? Who has come to visit us! Paris: Very well! 42 Helen: Hmm… Paris: Difficulties, my lady? Helen: Oh No, good sir! Just debating something Paris: What is that? Helen: Just how truthful you wish for me to be King Menelaus: Regarding his name? Helen: Regarding everything, my King! Paris, Helen and the Troy Helen: I have heard tell of a Prince far away from Troy who is famous for both his good looks and fashionable style You are Paris, prince and champion of troy Am I right! King Menelaus: You are quite right, Helen This is Paris of Troy! Paris: The pleasure is all mine, I assure you Helen: Seems there is some truth to what I have heard King Menelaus: Good! Then a feast we shall throw this evening to welcome Prince Paris It will be an honor for Troy to grace our table? ……………… At the party! 43 Paris: And then the bear stood up and said “no, but I think you do” King Menelaus: Remind me never to go bear hunting with you! ……………… Then the Goddess of Love transformed into a waitress, poured sleeping pills into the King’s cup After drinking that glass of wine, the King went to bed Helen: You are quite an extraordinary storyteller Prince Paris Paris, IHelen Paris: thankand you,the myTroy Lady! To Sparta! Helen: And to troy! Forever may their unity last A dance for the queen? Paris: I would be delighted! …………………… Paris: And who is this one? Helen: I have no idea! I guess I should know this! Paris: Probably a good idea, unless… Helen: Unless what? Paris: Nothing, never mind What about this one over here…? Helen: Unless what?? Paris: Unless you weren't planning on staying That's all! Helen: And why wouldn't I stay here, Paris? 44 Paris: Come away with me, Helen! To Troy! Helen: And why would I that? Paris: Because I have loved you more than any other, Helen Helen: But you barely know me! Paris: Love has been my companion in your absence, and Love recognizes its own My ship awaits our arrival Come and I will show you love as pure as the dawn and as gentle as the summer rain Paris, Helen and the Troy ……………………… On the boat, came back the Troy! Helen: I wasn't exactly truthful with you today in Sparta For you see, I have loved you from afar as well I didn't know you! But I always felt you There, next to me Paris: We are destined for each other, my love! Helen: Menelaus will never stop looking for me And when he finds out where I am Paris: Then he will deal with the gods for it is they who have joined us together Helen: You don't know him as I What? What is it? 45 Paris: Even in the dead of the night, your beauty shines like a beacon to my soul Helen: Tell me about troy! ……………… At King Menelaus’s castle The servant: My Queen! Are you awake? My lady? Guards… King Menelaus: Helen! Search the grounds! Leave no stone unturned! A Soldier: Your majesty! these two serving women say they know Paris, Helen the Troy where to find and the Queen And then King Menelaus knew everything King Menelaus: Assemble my War Council! ………………… At the Troy The Troy’s King: We need to talk! Paris: How can he argue with the reasoning of the gods? For it is Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who has brought us… 46 The Troy’s King: Enough! Helen is his wife and Queen of Sparta We risk much with king Menelaus and his brother King Agamemnon by not returning her to her rightful home Paris: But Father! The Troy’s King: This is not a negotiation, Paris! Troy can ill afford even the suggestion of conflict! Helen: If I may, I sit here listening to mortal men decide the fate of immortal Zeus' daughter What your father says is true about my husband and his brother They will not give up so easily, but neither will I I love your son with all that I am, and I couldn't know more apart from him than from my flesh Paris, Helen and the Troy The Troy’s King: As King! I am hesitant to risk a confrontation with Sparta and her allies But I am even more hesitant to risk the anger of the gods by denying one of their own her heart's desire It appears that I have been overruled in my kingdom You are most welcome here, for now, and for always Bring me a messenger! Send word to King Menelaus that divine love will not be so easily intimidated! Helen, now of Troy, will stay ………………………… 47 In heaven, God talked to the Queens The God: I am trusting your judgment on this, Aphrodite I will not tolerate another war on account of your meddling The Goddess of Love: Oh come now, Zeus Your daughter has found true love This is a day of celebration! Let's not talk of silly wars The God: It is love ill-begotten that will produce untimely fruit The Goddess of Love: If it produces fruit, then let us pluck it and eat heartily! The God: Test not my patience, Aphrodite! If some harm befouls Helen It will be you who is plucked from the tree of the gods The Goddess of Love: Yes, well Let us hope that it doesn't come to Paris, Helen and the Troy that At King Menelaus’s castle King Menelaus: You may return to Troy The General: Do you have a message for the King, your Majesty? King Menelaus: Oh yes, I have a message for your King One that I shall deliver myself That's my brother! The General: Men of Sparta! Today, we set sail to reclaim that which was stolen from us When we reach our destination We will 48 strike swift and sure with no mercy asked for and no mercy given Achilles and Philoctetes command our attacks Now go! Fight for yourselves Fight for each Fight for your King And fight for Sparta To Troy! The General’s Assistant: No army on earth could withstand such a force The General: No army, but a woman The General’s Assistant: Yes! And a beautiful woman at that The General: With a face that launched a thousand ships ……………………… At the Troy Helen: Well, whoever it is, certainly has your physique Paris, Helen and the Troy Paris: Do you think? Helen: Actually, no Never mind! Paris: That's it! A Soldier: Prince Paris Paris: Yes, what is it? The Soldier: My Lord, the King requests your presence on the battlements Paris: The battlements? 49 The Soldier: He's set to hurry ………………………… On the Gates of Troy Paris: War ships? The Troy’s King: Spartan and Mycenaean war ships Paris: There must be a thousand of them The Troy’s King: They are demanding the re-release of Helen or they will unleash the fury of their army Paris: They openly risk war with us for… Helen: A woman! I told you he would never stop Paris: You should not be here! Paris, Helen and the Troy Helen: I beg to differ, my love This is exactly where I should be The Troy’s King: Be quick, Menelaus and his armies will land within the hour Paris: I didn't want this for you, Helen! For us! For troy! Helen: Neither did I, my love But such is the price of love Paris: I would pay such a price ten-fold for another moment in your arms 50 Helen: Paris…I would change the stars of Heaven if it would keep us here but another day Paris: Promise me something Helen: Anything! Paris: That you will find… Helen: No, don't you say that! Paris: You once asked how truthful I wanted you to be Now I beg it of you I will not outlast this fight Nor will troy! It has been foreseen by my mother long ago But you, you shall live a long and fruitful life, far from the stench of death and war Promise me you will find someone who makes you smile again Helen: I can't! Paris: You can, and you will! I have to go! Promise me! Promise me, Helen Paris, Helen and the Troy Helen: I promise The battle that was joined that day was but the beginning of an even greater conflict One that would span an entire decade, the great Trojan War Eventually, Troy's big and strong wall gave them the advantage of height over the Spartans The Spartans lost several of their strong soldiers, and this led to Menelaus's army pretending to withdraw, a cunning strategical move 51 Troy was unaware of what was to follow The Spartan army built a wooden horse in three days, and offered it to the temple of Athena, the Goddess of War in Troy, as an amicable end to the war… and pretended to go back The Trojans, now delighted at their victory, took the wooden Horse inside as a symbol of their victory and put it outside the temple of Athena as a gift to the Goddess But when night came, Achilles and his men came out of the wooden horse secretly, and opened the main doors of Troy Several lives were lost! Bloodshed like never before For his immortal love, Helen, Paris, gave away his mortal life For an immortal woman, many mortal lives were shed Helen was apprehended and taken back to Menelaus, leaving behind a massacred and torn down Troy that would not see life for the next few centuries Paris, Helen and the Troy The love between the immortal daughter of Zeus with a mortal man led to massive destruction It was the madness in Paris's love that caused all that destruction But such is a tale of true love, and some love stories are so sad… that they leave behind destroyed cities, kingdoms, and heart-piercing stories 52