UK Audiobook
(Yes, both copies are mine. A little known fact about me: I collect Shakespeare covers. My largest collection is "Hamlet". I have 12 copies.)
Everyone knows the story, but who would have guessed? Ronan in an audio book? He plays the County Paris in this 1995 recording. I haven't received it yet, but as soon as I do I'll review it in full.
Shakespeare is one of my many passions and apparently Ronan has done it before (check out Venus and Adonis when I have more about it), but I could almost see him as Marc Anthony in Anthony and Cleopatra, or Laertes in Hamlet. Until I discovered this part, I never realized that Paris doesn't have enough lines!
"Younger than she are happy mothers made"
"Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,
And therefore have I little talked of love;
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears."
"Do not deny to him that you love me."
"God shield I should disturb devotion!"
(after finding Juliet dead)
"Have I thought long to see this morning's face,
And doth it give me such a sight as this?"
"Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain!
Most destestible Death, by thee beguiled,
By cruel, cruel thee quite overthrown!
O love! O life! not life, but love in death!"
"O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones!"
"Can vengence be pursued futher that death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee.
Obey, and go with me, for thou must die."
"If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet."
(He dies.)
I realize the play is called "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet", but who have I always felt really sorry for? (Besides Benvolio who always seems stuck in the middle?) You got it. Paris. He was just a poor confused guy who fell in love with the wrong girl.