Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host. Every week, I will read you

an old story to help you relax, put the stressful day behind you, and drift off to sleep.

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Tonight, I will be reading two adaptations of Shakespeare plays by Edith Nesbitt, Romeo and Juliet, and Much Adieu About Nothing.

So lie down, close your eyes, and let me read you a story.

Romeo and Juliet.

Once upon a time, there lived in Verona two great families named Montague and Capulet. They were both rich,

and I suppose they were as sensible in most things as other rich people. But in one thing,

they were extremely silly. There was an old, old quarrel between the two families, and instead of making it up like

reasonable folks, they made a sort of pet of their quarrel, and would not let it die out,

so that a Montague wouldn't speak to a Capulet if he met one in the street, nor a Capulet to

a Montague, or if they did speak, it was to say rude and unpleasant

things, which often ended in a fight. And their relations and servants were just as foolish,

so that street fights and jewels and uncomfortableness of that kind were always growing out

of the Montecule and Capulet quarrel.

Now Lord Capulet, the head of that family, gave a party.

A grand supper and a dance.

And he was so hospitable that he said anyone might come to it except, of course, the Montague's.

But there was one young Montague named Romeo who very much wanted to be there, because

...