ABSTRACT
Romeo and Juliet interesting variants. The feud is not dormant; more is made of Romeo's calf-love; he attends the ball not as a nymph but 'in a masque after supper with certain other young gentlemen'; he removes his vizard and is recognized, but is so young and handsome that nobody insults him. The man with the icy hands is called Mercutio, 'of audacity among maidens as a lion among lambs'. Romeo gets to know who Julietta is only when he asks a friend on leaving, and Julietta finds out his identity from her old nurse. When he waits under Julietta's window she speaks of his danger; they decide at this first nocturnal meeting to get married, and the Nurse is persuaded to help. Pietro is Romeo's servant, who provides the rope-ladder which Romeo gives to the Nurse; with the aid of this Romeo visits Julietta's room before their marriage, which is consummated in the Capulet garden. Almost at once Romeo comes upon his kinsmen and Julietta's fighting in the street, and although he tries to make peace he is forced to fight and slays Tibaldo, then hides in the Friar's cell, whence he writes to his wife before bidding her goodbye in the garden. Julietta wants to accompany him to Mantua dressed as a page, but he will not allow it; she begs Friar Lawrence to help her flee in disguise, and he suggests the potion-scheme. Before taking the drug she is terrified of awaking in the chatnelhouse.
