The Roman Empire was at its zenith. The Empire was all-powerful, and no nation could rival its military might. In Verona, Lombardy, two families were disputing the rule of their local state. The Capulets sought to grip the reins of power and extend their political, cultural and military influence over all of Lombardy, whereas the Montagues believed that only a member of their family was capable of overseeing Lombardy’s trade and governing the state. The question of how to reconcile the two Verona families was a thorny one, there being no constitution to govern them. War was declared, and each family sought the support and approval of the church. The stakes were colossal, and the absence of a constitution prevented the election of any representative. The Capulets had a daughter named Juliet, whose governess and tutors had provided her with an education worthy of the nobility. The Montagues had a son, Romeo, who was madly in love with Juliet’s cousin, Rosaline. This was the only tenuous link between the two families, whose bitter feud had now begun to spill blood on Verona’s streets.
One night, Romeo’s friends learned that the Capulets were holding a ball in honour of their daughter, Juliet. The time had come for her to find a suitor. Juliet’s nurse and confidant was aware of this; Juliet was of age to take a husband. Rumours began to spread, and tongues wagged all across Verona. Were they to be governed by the Capulets or the Montagues? Romeo’s friends told him of the event, for which preparations were underway at the Capulet palace. The day of the ball was drawing near, which was a chance for Romeo Montague to see Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin, once again.
The day of the ball, at sundown, the guests jostled toward the Capulets’ palace. Romeo was among them. Torches burned along the central alley. The palace’s great chandelier shone with a thousand flames. Romeo skipped along, his mind bent on Rosaline. She was the most beautiful woman in all of Lombardy. How would she be dressed? What perfume would she wear? As they neared the palace, a woman stood on a balcony observing the troop of guests. Romeo noticed her. She was strikingly beautiful, with golden hair flowing down her back. The scent of her perfume was intoxicating. Her eyes were velvet blue, and she was resplendent in a gown of gold and pink. Romeo watched her; Romeo the changeable, Romeo the capricious, Romeo, always seeking for something more. From the balcony, Juliet smiled down upon him. Who was this lady? Romeo’s heart was torn apart and re-made. He wished to know her name.
“She is a Capulet, Romeo!” Brother Lorenzo informed him during confession.
“A Capulet?” exclaimed Romeo. The families are in constant strife. How can this be? I shall never be allowed to court this woman. Tell me, brother, what is her name?” asked Romeo.
“Juliet. That is her name,” the monk smiled. “A union between the two families is possible if you court Juliet. The war between the Montagues and the Capulets would be over. Lombardy would be fitly governed, and Verona cleansed of bloodshed. Do you understand, Romeo? Yet I know you to be capricious. Faithfulness has ne’er been your wont.”
“Brother! I confess. I have been unfaithful, but this lady sets my heart aquiver. I must act, for each second parted from her is a suffering,” confessed Romeo.
“If you and Juliet were to seal your love for one another, you could be married in secret in the church. Peace would reign between the Capulets and Montagues.”
“Dear Brother!” sighed Romeo. “You I love also. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” concluded Romeo.
A year went by, and a feeling of calm reigned over Lombardy. Romeo and Juliet were wed in secret. By a stroke of ill fortune, Romeo was wanted for treason and conspiracy. He was banished from the town. But how could Juliet come with him? Brother Lorenzo told Juliet to drink a potion that would put her to sleep for two days, and to inform Romeo of this plot by letter. Juliet would be laid to her rest in the crypt of the Capulets’ palace. When she awoke, Romeo would come and steal her away to Mantua. One morning, the nurse entered Juliet’s room and found her inanimate, as if dead. The funeral rites were held privately, as per Brother Lorenzo’s plan. Unfortunately, the plague was sweeping through Verona, and the letter never made it to Romeo.
Upon his return to Verona, he learned of Juliet’s death. He decided to go and visit her in the crypt, being resolved to die by her side. He drank a vial of poison given to him by an apothecary, and slept his last. When Juliet awoke, she found Romeo’s lifeless body beside hers. She gave him a final kiss, before taking up his dagger.
Alan Alfredo Geday
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