William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo e Giulietta (Traducción) La très excellente et lamentable tragédie de Roméo et Juliette (Traducción) Romeo y Julieta Tragedia (Traducción)

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine. Washington D.C.: Folger Shakespeare Library, 2013. Folger Digital Texts. (This text is furnished courtesy of Folger Digital Texts, www.folgerdigitaltexts.org and is distributed under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported.)

Joan Oleza Simó (Investigador principal) Ureña Tormo, Clara (Editor)

English · Verso · 2586 versos

https://playcode.fly.dev/plays/EMOTHE0153_TheTragedyOfRomeoAndJuliet

Tiempo histórico: Edad Media
Dante Alighieri makes reference to the Montecchi (a Ghibelline family of Verona) and the Cappelletti Guelfs (of the papal faction from Cremona). See Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio. Other two sources make referenc to the story:Da Porto, Luigi. Istoria novellamente ritrovata di due nobili amanti con la loro pietosa morte intervenuta gia nella Città di Verona nel tempo del S. Bartholomeo della Scala (Venice, c. 1530)Bandello, Matteo. Le novelle del Bandello (1544)All sources contextualize the story in the thirteenth century.
Datación: 1593–1596
desde o posterior 1593 y anterior o hasta 1596; 1595

Bibliografía

Ediciones modernas

Alexander, Catherine M.S., ed. Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, William. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. New Cambridge Shakespeare.
Alexander, Peter, ed. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. London and Glasgow: Collins, 1951.
Collier, J. Payne, ed. The Plays of Shakespeare: The Text Regulated by the Old Copies and by the Recently Discovered Folio of 1632. London: Whittaker, 1853.
Kittredge, George Lyma, ed. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Boston: Ginn and Co., 1936.
McMullan, Gordon, ed. Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, William. New York: Norton, 2017.
Mowat, Barbara and Paul Werstine, ed. Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, William. Washington, DC: Folger Shakespeare Library, 2013. Folger Digital Texts. Digital text editor for EMOTHE Digital Library: Ureña Tormo, Clara. Also available at: https://emothe.uv.es/biblioteca/textosEMOTHE/EMOTHE0153_TheTragedyOfRomeoAndJuliet.php. URL: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/romeo-and-juliet/
Sisson, Charles Jasper, ed. William Shakespeare: Complete Works. London: Odhams, 1954.
Weis, René, ed. Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare, William. London and New York: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2012. The Arden Shakespeare.

Bibliografía crítica

Belsey, Catherine. Romeo and Juliet: Language and Writing. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 2014. Bloombury Arden Shakespeare.
Booth, Stephen. "Shakespeare’s Language and the Language of Shakespeare". Shakespeare Survey. 1997, 50, p. 1-17.
Branam, George C. "The Genesis of David Garrick’s Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare’s Quarterly. 1984, 35, p. 170-9.
Bullough, Geoffrey, ed. "Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare". Vol. 8. 1957-75.
Cantrell, Paul L. and George Walton Williams. "The Printing of the Second Quarto of Romeo and Juliet (1599)". Shakespeare Bulletin. 1957, 9, p. 107-16.
Davies, Anthony. "The Film Versions of Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Survey. 1996, 49, p. 153-62.
Duncan-Jones, Katherine. "”O Happy Dagger”: The Autonomy of Shakespeare’s Juliet". Notes and Queries. 1998, 45, p. 314-15.
Dusinberre, Juliet. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women (3rd edition). Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Ed. Porter, Joseph A. New York, 1997. Critical Essays on Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”.
Gurr, Andrew. "The Date and the Expected Venue of Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Survey. 1996, 49, p. 15-25.
Halio, Jay L. Romeo and Juliet: A Guide to the Play. 1998.
Hoppe, H. R. "The First Quarto Version of Romeo and Juliet, II.vi and IV.v.43 ff". RES. 1938, 14, p. 271-84.
Hosley, Richard. "How Many Children Had Lady Capulet?". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1967, 18, p. 3-6.
Hosley, Richard. "The Corrupting Influence of the Bad Quarto on the Received Text of Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1953, p. 11-33.
Kahn, Coppélia. "Coming of Age in Verona". Ed. Neely, Lenz, C. and G. Greene. Chicago, 1980, p. 171-93.
Levenson, Jill L. "Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: The Places of Invention". Shakespeare Survey. 1996, 49, p. 45-55.
Levenson, Jill L. Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare in Performance. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1987.
Loehlin, James N. Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare in Production. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Lupton, Julia Reinhard. Romeo and Juliet: A Critical Reader. London and New York: Bloomsbury, 2016.
Melchiori, Giorgio. "Peter, Balthasar, and Shakespeare’s Art of Doubling". Modern Language Review. 1983, 78, p. 777-92.
Reid, S. W. "The Editing of Folio Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Bulletin. 1982, 35, p. 43-66.
Tanselle, G. Thomas. "Time in Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1964, 4, p. 349-61.
Wells, Stanley. "The Challeges of Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Survey. 1996, 49, p. 1-14.
Whittier, Gayle. "The Sonnet’s Body and the Body Sonnetized in Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare Quarterly. 1989, 40, p. 111-24.

Traducciones

Español

Shakespeare, William. Romeo y Julieta. Ed. Andreu Jaume. Tra. Josep María Jaumá. Vol. 2. Barcelona, 2012, p. 89-192, 5 vols. William Shakespeare Obra Completa. (Orig: Romeo and Juliet)

ROMEO

MONTAGUE his father

LADY MONTAGUE his mother

BENVOLIO their kinsman

ABRAM a Montague servingman

BALTHASAR Romeo’s servingman

JULIET

CAPULET her father

LADY CAPULET her mother

NURSE to Juliet

TYBALT kinsman to the Capulets

PETRUCHIO Tybalt’s companion

Capulet’s Cousin

SAMPSON servingman

GREGORY servingman

PETER servingman

Other Servingmen

ESCALUS Prince of Verona

PARIS the Prince’s kinsman and Juliet’s suitor

MERCUTIO the Prince’s kinsman and Romeo’s friend

Paris’s Page

FRIAR LAWRENCE

FRIAR JOHN

APOTHECARY

Three or four Citizens

Three Musicians

Three Watchmen

Attendants

Maskers

Torchbearers

A Boy with a drum

Gentlemen

Gentlewomen

Tybalt’s Page

Servingmen

Chorus

Act

The Prologue

(⸢Enter⸣ Chorus.)

CHORUS

Two households, both alike in dignity 1

(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene), 2

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, 3

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. 4

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 5

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; 6

Whose misadventured piteous overthrows 7

Doth with their death bury their parent's strife. 8

The fearful passage of their death-marked love 9

And the continuance of their parent's rage, 10

Which, but their children's end, naught could remove, 11

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; 12

The which, if you with patient ears attend, 13

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. 14

(⸢Chorus exits.⸣)

Act I

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers, of the house of Capulet.)

SAMPSON

Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.

GREGORY

No, for then we should be colliers.

SAMPSON

I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.

GREGORY

Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.

SAMPSON

I strike quickly, being moved.

GREGORY

But thou art not quickly moved to strike.

SAMPSON

A dog of the house of Montague moves me.

GREGORY

To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand. Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st away.

SAMPSON

A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.

GREGORY

That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes to the wall.

SAMPSON

’Tis true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall.

GREGORY

The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.

SAMPSON

’Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant. When I have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads.

GREGORY

The heads of the maids?

SAMPSON

Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads. Take it in what sense thou wilt.

GREGORY

They must take it ⸢in⸣ sense that feel it.

SAMPSON

Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and ’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.

GREGORY

’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor-john. Draw thy tool. Here comes of the house of Montagues.

(Enter ⸢Abram with another Servingman⸣.)

SAMPSON

My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee.

GREGORY

How? Turn thy back and run?

SAMPSON

Fear me not.

GREGORY

No, marry. I fear thee!

SAMPSON

Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.

GREGORY

I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.

SAMPSON

Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it.

(⸢He bites his thumb⸣.)

ABRAM

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON

I do bite my thumb, sir.

ABRAM

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON,

Is the law of our side if I say "Ay"?

GREGORY,

No.

SAMPSON

No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.

GREGORY

Do you quarrel, sir?

ABRAM

Quarrel, sir? No, sir.

SAMPSON

But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you.

ABRAM

No better.

SAMPSON

Well, sir.

(Enter Benvolio.)

GREGORY,

Say "better"; here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.

SAMPSON

Yes, better, sir.

ABRAM

You lie.

SAMPSON

Draw if you be men.—Gregory, remember thy washing blow.

(They fight.)

BENVOLIO

Part, fools! ⸢Drawing his sword⸣. Put up your swords. You know not what you do.

(Enter Tybalt, ⸢drawing his sword⸣.)

TYBALT

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? 15

Turn thee, Benvolio; look upon thy death. 16

BENVOLIO

I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, 17

Or manage it to part these men with me. 18

TYBALT

What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word 19

As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. 20

Have at thee, coward! 21

(⸢They fight⸣.)

(Enter three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.)

⸢CITIZENS⸣

Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down! 22

Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues! 23

(Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.)

CAPULET

What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho! 24

LADY CAPULET

A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword? 25

(Enter old Montague and his Wife.)

CAPULET

My sword, I say. Old Montague is come 26

And flourishes his blade in spite of me. 27

MONTAGUE

Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not; let me go. 28

LADY MONTAGUE

Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe. 29

(Enter Prince Escalus with his train.)

PRINCE

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, 30

Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel— 31

Will they not hear?—What ho! You men, you beasts, 32

That quench the fire of your pernicious rage 33

With purple fountains issuing from your veins: 34

On pain of torture, from those bloody hands 35

Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground, 36

And hear the sentence of your movèd prince. 37

Three civil brawls bred of an airy word 38

By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, 39

Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets 40

And made Verona’s ancient citizens 41

Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments 42

To wield old partisans in hands as old, 43

Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate. 44

If ever you disturb our streets again, 45

Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. 46

For this time all the rest depart away. 47

You, Capulet, shall go along with me, 48

And, Montague, come you this afternoon 49

To know our farther pleasure in this case, 50

To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. 51

Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. 52

(⸢All but Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio⸣ exit.)

MONTAGUE

, ⸢to Benvolio⸣ Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach? 53

Speak, nephew, were you by when it began? 54

BENVOLIO

Here were the servants of your adversary, 55

And yours, close fighting ere I did approach. 56

I drew to part them. In the instant came 57

The fiery Tybalt with his sword prepared, 58

Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears, 59

He swung about his head and cut the winds, 60

Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn. 61

While we were interchanging thrusts and blows 62

Came more and more and fought on part and part, 63

Till the Prince came, who parted either part. 64

LADY MONTAGUE

O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today? 65

Right glad I am he was not at this fray. 66

BENVOLIO

Madam, an hour before the worshiped sun 67

Peered forth the golden window of the east, 68

A troubled mind ⸢drove⸣ me to walk abroad, 69

Where underneath the grove of sycamore 70

That westward rooteth from this city side, 71

So early walking did I see your son. 72

Towards him I made, but he was ’ware of me 73

And stole into the covert of the wood. 74

I, measuring his affections by my own 75

(Which then most sought where most might not be found, 76

Being one too many by my weary self), 77

Pursued my humor, not pursuing his, 78

And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me. 79

MONTAGUE

Many a morning hath he there been seen, 80

With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, 81

Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs. 82

But all so soon as the all-cheering sun 83

Should in the farthest east begin to draw 84

The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed, 85

Away from light steals home my heavy son 86

And private in his chamber pens himself, 87

Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out, 88

And makes himself an artificial night. 89

Black and portentous must this humor prove, 90

Unless good counsel may the cause remove. 91

BENVOLIO

My noble uncle, do you know the cause? 92

MONTAGUE

I neither know it nor can learn of him. 93

BENVOLIO

Have you importuned him by any means? 94

MONTAGUE

Both by myself and many other friends. 95

But he, ⸢his⸣ own affections’ counselor, 96

Is to himself—I will not say how true, 97

But to himself so secret and so close, 98

So far from sounding and discovery, 99

As is the bud bit with an envious worm 100

Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air 101

Or dedicate his beauty to the same. 102

Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow, 103

We would as willingly give cure as know. 104

(Enter Romeo.)

BENVOLIO

See where he comes. So please you, step aside. 105

I’ll know his grievance or be much denied. 106

MONTAGUE

I would thou wert so happy by thy stay 107

To hear true shrift.—Come, madam, let’s away. 108

(⸢Montague and Lady Montague⸣ exit.)

BENVOLIO

Good morrow, cousin. 109

ROMEO

Is the day so young?

BENVOLIO

But new struck nine. 110

ROMEO

Ay me, sad hours seem long.

Was that my father that went hence so fast? 111

BENVOLIO

It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours? 112

ROMEO

Not having that which, having, makes them short. 113

BENVOLIO

In love?

ROMEO

Out—

BENVOLIO

Of love?

ROMEO

Out of her favor where I am in love. 114

BENVOLIO

Alas that love, so gentle in his view, 115

Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! 116

ROMEO

Alas that love, whose view is muffled still, 117

Should without eyes see pathways to his will! 118

Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? 119

Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. 120

Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. 121

Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, 122

O anything of nothing first ⸢create!⸣ 123

O heavy lightness, serious vanity, 124

Misshapen chaos of ⸢well-seeming⸣ forms, 125

Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, 126

Still-waking sleep that is not what it is! 127

This love feel I, that feel no love in this. 128

Dost thou not laugh? 129

BENVOLIO

No, coz, I rather weep.

ROMEO

Good heart, at what? 130

BENVOLIO

At thy good heart’s oppression.

ROMEO

Why, such is love’s transgression. 131

Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, 132

Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed 133

With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown 134

Doth add more grief to too much of mine own. 135

Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; 136

Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes; 137

Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears. 138

What is it else? A madness most discreet, 139

A choking gall, and a preserving sweet. 140

Farewell, my coz. 141

BENVOLIO

Soft, I will go along.

An if you leave me so, you do me wrong. 142

ROMEO

Tut, I have lost myself. I am not here. 143

This is not Romeo. He’s some other where. 144

BENVOLIO

Tell me in sadness, who is that you love? 145

ROMEO

What, shall I groan and tell thee? 146

BENVOLIO

Groan? Why, no. But sadly tell me who. 147

ROMEO

A sick man in sadness makes his will— 148

A word ill urged to one that is so ill. 149

In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman. 150

BENVOLIO

I aimed so near when I supposed you loved. 151

ROMEO

A right good markman! And she’s fair I love. 152

BENVOLIO

A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. 153

ROMEO

Well in that hit you miss. She’ll not be hit 154

With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit, 155

And, in strong proof of chastity well armed, 156

From love’s weak childish bow she lives uncharmed. 157

She will not stay the siege of loving terms, 158

Nor bide th’ encounter of assailing eyes, 159

Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold. 160

O, she is rich in beauty, only poor 161

That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store. 162

BENVOLIO

Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste? 163

ROMEO

She hath, and in that sparing ⸢makes⸣ huge waste; 164

For beauty, starved with her severity, 165

Cuts beauty off from all posterity. 166

She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair, 167

To merit bliss by making me despair. 168

She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow 169

Do I live dead, that live to tell it now. 170

BENVOLIO

Be ruled by me. Forget to think of her. 171

ROMEO

O, teach me how I should forget to think! 172

BENVOLIO

By giving liberty unto thine eyes. 173

Examine other beauties. 174

ROMEO

’Tis the way

To call hers, exquisite, in question more. 175

These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows, 176

Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. 177

He that is strucken blind cannot forget 178

The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. 179

Show me a mistress that is passing fair; 180

What doth her beauty serve but as a note 181

Where I may read who passed that passing fair? 182

Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget. 183

BENVOLIO

I’ll pay that doctrine or else die in debt. 184

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Capulet, County Paris, and ⸢a Servingman.⸣)

CAPULET

But Montague is bound as well as I, 185

In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think, 186

For men so old as we to keep the peace. 187

PARIS

Of honorable reckoning are you both, 188

And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long. 189

But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? 190

CAPULET

But saying o’er what I have said before. 191

My child is yet a stranger in the world. 192

She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. 193

Let two more summers wither in their pride 194

Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. 195

PARIS

Younger than she are happy mothers made. 196

CAPULET

And too soon marred are those so early made. 197

Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; 198

She’s the hopeful lady of my earth. 199

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; 200

My will to her consent is but a part. 201

And, she agreed, within her scope of choice 202

Lies my consent and fair according voice. 203

This night I hold an old accustomed feast, 204

Whereto I have invited many a guest 205

Such as I love; and you among the store, 206

One more, most welcome, makes my number more. 207

At my poor house look to behold this night 208

Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light. 209

Such comfort as do lusty young men feel 210

When well-appareled April on the heel 211

Of limping winter treads, even such delight 212

Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night 213

Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see, 214

And like her most whose merit most shall be; 215

Which, on more view of many, mine, being one, 216

May stand in number, though in reck’ning none. 217

Come go with me. 218

⸢To Servingman, giving him a list⸣. Go, sirrah, trudge about

Through fair Verona, find those persons out 219

Whose names are written there, and to them say 220

My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. 221

(⸢Capulet and Paris⸣ exit.)

SERVINGMAN

Find them out whose names are written here! It is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets. But I am sent to find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned. In good time!

(Enter Benvolio and Romeo.)

BENVOLIO

, ⸢to Romeo⸣ Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning; 222

One pain is lessened by another’s anguish. 223

Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning. 224

One desperate grief cures with another’s languish. 225

Take thou some new infection to thy eye, 226

And the rank poison of the old will die. 227

ROMEO

Your plantain leaf is excellent for that. 228

BENVOLIO

For what, I pray thee? 229

ROMEO

For your broken shin.

BENVOLIO

Why Romeo, art thou mad? 230

ROMEO

Not mad, but bound more than a madman is, 231

Shut up in prison, kept without my food, 232

Whipped and tormented, and—good e’en, good fellow. 233

SERVINGMAN

God gi’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you read?

ROMEO

Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. 234

SERVINGMAN

Perhaps you have learned it without book. But I pray, can you read anything you see?

ROMEO

Ay, if I know the letters and the language. 235

SERVINGMAN

You say honestly. Rest you merry.

ROMEO

Stay, fellow. I can read. 236

((He reads the letter.))

Signior Martino and his wife and daughters, 237

County Anselme and his beauteous sisters, 238

The lady widow of Vitruvio, 239

Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces, 240

Mercutio and his brother Valentine, 241

Mine Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters, 242

My fair niece Rosaline and Livia, 243

Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt, 244

Lucio and the lively Helena. 245

A fair assembly. Whither should they come? 246

SERVINGMAN

Up.

ROMEO

Whither? To supper?

SERVINGMAN

To our house.

ROMEO

Whose house?

SERVINGMAN

My master’s.

ROMEO

Indeed I should have asked thee that before. 247

SERVINGMAN

Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry.

(⸢He exits.⸣)

BENVOLIO

At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s 248

Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, 249

With all the admirèd beauties of Verona. 250

Go thither, and with unattainted eye 251

Compare her face with some that I shall show, 252

And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. 253

ROMEO

When the devout religion of mine eye 254

Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire; 255

And these who, often drowned, could never die, 256

Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars. 257

One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun 258

Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun. 259

BENVOLIO

Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, 260

Herself poised with herself in either eye; 261

But in that crystal scales let there be weighed 262

Your lady’s love against some other maid 263

That I will show you shining at this feast, 264

And she shall scant show well that now seems best. 265

ROMEO

I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown, 266

But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. 267

(⸢They exit.⸣)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter ⸢Lady Capulet⸣ and Nurse.)

LADY CAPULET

Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me. 268

NURSE

Now, by my maidenhead at twelve year old, 269

I bade her come.—What, lamb! What, ladybird! 270

God forbid. Where’s this girl? What, Juliet! 271

(Enter Juliet.)

JULIET

How now, who calls?

NURSE

Your mother.

JULIET

Madam, I am here. What is your will? 272

LADY CAPULET

This is the matter.—Nurse, give leave awhile. 273

We must talk in secret.—Nurse, come back again. 274

I have remembered me, thou ’s hear our counsel. 275

Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age. 276

NURSE

Faith, I can tell her age unto ⸢an⸣ hour. 277

LADY CAPULET

She’s not fourteen.

NURSE

I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth (and yet, to my teen be it spoken, I have but four) she’s not fourteen. How long is it now to Lammastide?

LADY CAPULET

A fortnight and odd days.

NURSE

Even or odd, of all days in the year, 278

Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. 279

Susan and she (God rest all Christian souls!) 280

Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God; 281

She was too good for me. But, as I said, 282

On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. 283

That shall she. Marry, I remember it well. 284

’Tis since the earthquake now eleven years, 285

And she was weaned (I never shall forget it) 286

Of all the days of the year, upon that day. 287

For I had then laid wormwood to my dug, 288

Sitting in the sun under the dovehouse wall. 289

My lord and you were then at Mantua. 290

Nay, I do bear a brain. But, as I said, 291

When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple 292

Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool, 293

To see it tetchy and fall out with ⸢the⸣ dug. 294

"Shake," quoth the dovehouse. ’Twas no need, I trow, 295

To bid me trudge. 296

And since that time it is eleven years. 297

For then she could stand high-lone. Nay, by th’rood, 298

She could have run and waddled all about, 299

For even the day before, she broke her brow, 300

And then my husband (God be with his soul, 301

He was a merry man) took up the child. 302

"Yea," quoth he, "Dost thou fall upon thy face? 303

Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, 304

Wilt thou not, Jule?" And, by my holidam, 305

The pretty wretch left crying and said "Ay." 306

To see now how a jest shall come about! 307

I warrant, an I should live a thousand years, 308

I never should forget it. "Wilt thou not, Jule?" quoth he. 309

And, pretty fool, it stinted and said "Ay." 310

LADY CAPULET

Enough of this. I pray thee, hold thy peace. 311

NURSE

Yes, madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh 312

To think it should leave crying and say "Ay." 313

And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow 314

A bump as big as a young cock’rel’s stone, 315

A perilous knock, and it cried bitterly. 316

"Yea," quoth my husband. "Fall’st upon thy face? 317

Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age, 318

Wilt thou not, Jule?" It stinted and said "Ay." 319

JULIET

And stint thou, too, I pray thee, nurse, say I. 320

NURSE

Peace. I have done. God mark thee to his grace, 321

Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed. 322

An I might live to see thee married once, 323

I have my wish. 324

LADY CAPULET

Marry, that "marry" is the very theme 325

I came to talk of.—Tell me, daughter Juliet, 326

How stands your ⸢disposition⸣ to be married? 327

JULIET

It is an ⸢honor⸣ that I dream not of. 328

NURSE

An ⸢honor⸣? Were not I thine only nurse, 329

I would say thou hadst sucked wisdom from thy teat. 330

LADY CAPULET

Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you 331

Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, 332

Are made already mothers. By my count 333

I was your mother much upon these years 334

That you are now a maid. Thus, then, in brief: 335

The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. 336

NURSE

A man, young lady—lady, such a man 337

As all the world—why, he’s a man of wax. 338

LADY CAPULET

Verona’s summer hath not such a flower. 339

NURSE

Nay, he’s a flower, in faith, a very flower. 340

LADY CAPULET

What say you? Can you love the gentleman? 341

This night you shall behold him at our feast. 342

Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face, 343

And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen. 344

Examine every married lineament 345

And see how one another lends content, 346

And what obscured in this fair volume lies 347

Find written in the margent of his eyes. 348

This precious book of love, this unbound lover, 349

To beautify him only lacks a cover. 350

The fish lives in the sea, and ’tis much pride 351

For fair without the fair within to hide. 352

That book in many’s eyes doth share the glory 353

That in gold clasps locks in the golden story. 354

So shall you share all that he doth possess 355

By having him, making yourself no less. 356

NURSE

No less? Nay, bigger. Women grow by men. 357

LADY CAPULET

Speak briefly. Can you like of Paris’ love? 358

JULIET

I’ll look to like, if looking liking move. 359

But no more deep will I endart mine eye 360

Than your consent gives strength to make ⸢it⸣ fly. 361

(Enter ⸢Servingman.⸣)

SERVINGMAN

Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you called, my young lady asked for, the Nurse cursed in the pantry, and everything in extremity. I must hence to wait. I beseech you, follow straight.

LADY CAPULET

We follow thee. 362

⸢Servingman exits.⸣ Juliet, the County stays.

NURSE

Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. 363

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other Maskers, Torchbearers, ⸢and a Boy with a drum.⸣)

ROMEO

What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? 364

Or shall we on without apology? 365

BENVOLIO

The date is out of such prolixity. 366

We’ll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf, 367

Bearing a Tartar’s painted bow of lath, 368

Scaring the ladies like a crowkeeper, 369

⸢Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke 370

After the prompter, for our entrance⸣. 371

But let them measure us by what they will. 372

We’ll measure them a measure and be gone. 373

ROMEO

Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. 374

Being but heavy I will bear the light. 375

MERCUTIO

Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. 376

ROMEO

Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes 377

With nimble soles. I have a soul of lead 378

So stakes me to the ground I cannot move. 379

MERCUTIO

You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings 380

And soar with them above a common bound. 381

ROMEO

I am too sore enpiercèd with his shaft 382

To soar with his light feathers, and so bound 383

I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe. 384

Under love’s heavy burden do I sink. 385

⸢MERCUTIO⸣

And to sink in it should you burden love— 386

Too great oppression for a tender thing. 387

ROMEO

Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, 388

Too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn. 389

MERCUTIO

If love be rough with you, be rough with love. 390

Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.— 391

Give me a case to put my visage in.— 392

A visor for a visor. What care I 393

What curious eye doth cote deformities? 394

Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. 395

BENVOLIO

Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in 396

But every man betake him to his legs. 397

ROMEO

A torch for me. Let wantons light of heart 398

Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels, 399

For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase: 400

I’ll be a candle holder and look on; 401

The game was ne’er so fair, and I am ⸢done.⸣ 402

MERCUTIO

Tut, dun’s the mouse, the constable’s own word. 403

If thou art dun, we’ll draw thee from the mire— 404

Or, save ⸢your⸣ reverence, love—wherein thou stickest 405

Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho! 406

ROMEO

Nay, that’s not so. 407

MERCUTIO

I mean, sir, in delay

We waste our lights; in vain, ⸢light⸣ lights by day. 408

Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits 409

Five times in that ere once in our ⸢five⸣ wits. 410

ROMEO

And we mean well in going to this masque, 411

But ’tis no wit to go. 412

MERCUTIO

Why, may one ask?

ROMEO

I dreamt a dream tonight. 413

MERCUTIO

And so did I.

ROMEO

Well, what was yours? 414

MERCUTIO

That dreamers often lie.

ROMEO

In bed asleep while they do dream things true. 415

MERCUTIO

O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. 416

She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes 417

In shape no bigger than an agate stone 418

On the forefinger of an alderman, 419

Drawn with a team of little ⸢atomi⸣ 420

Over men’s noses as they lie asleep. 421

Her wagon spokes made of long spinners’ legs, 422

The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, 423

Her traces of the smallest spider web, 424

Her collars of the moonshine’s wat’ry beams, 425

Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film, 426

Her wagoner a small gray-coated gnat, 427

Not half so big as a round little worm 428

Pricked from the lazy finger of a ⸢maid.⸣ 429

Her chariot is an empty hazelnut, 430

Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, 431

Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers. 432

And in this state she gallops night by night 433

Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love; 434

On courtiers’ knees, that dream on cur’sies straight; 435

O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees; 436

O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream, 437

Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues 438

Because their ⸢breaths⸣ with sweetmeats tainted are. 439

Sometime she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose, 440

And then dreams he of smelling out a suit. 441

And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail, 442

Tickling a parson’s nose as he lies asleep; 443

Then he dreams of another benefice. 444

Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck, 445

And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, 446

Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades, 447

Of healths five fathom deep, and then anon 448

Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes 449

And, being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two 450

And sleeps again. This is that very Mab 451

That plats the manes of horses in the night 452

And bakes the ⸢elflocks⸣ in foul sluttish hairs, 453

Which once untangled much misfortune bodes. 454

This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, 455

That presses them and learns them first to bear, 456

Making them women of good carriage. 457

This is she— 458

ROMEO

Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace.

Thou talk’st of nothing. 459

MERCUTIO

True, I talk of dreams,

Which are the children of an idle brain, 460

Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, 461

Which is as thin of substance as the air 462

And more inconstant than the wind, who woos 463

Even now the frozen bosom of the north 464

And, being angered, puffs away from thence, 465

Turning his side to the dew-dropping south. 466

BENVOLIO

This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves. 467

Supper is done, and we shall come too late. 468

ROMEO

I fear too early, for my mind misgives 469

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars 470

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date 471

With this night’s revels, and expire the term 472

Of a despisèd life closed in my breast 473

By some vile forfeit of untimely death. 474

But he that hath the steerage of my course 475

Direct my ⸢sail.⸣ On, lusty gentlemen. 476

BENVOLIO

Strike, drum.

(They march about the stage and ⸢then withdraw to the side.⸣)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Servingmen come forth with napkins.)

⸢FIRST⸣ SERVINGMAN

Where’s Potpan that he helps not to take away? He shift a trencher? He scrape a trencher?

⸢SECOND⸣ SERVINGMAN

When good manners shall lie all in one or two men’s hands, and they unwashed too, ’tis a foul thing.

⸢FIRST⸣ SERVINGMAN

Away with the joint stools, remove the court cupboard, look to the plate.— Good thou, save me a piece of marchpane, and, as thou loves me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell.—Anthony and Potpan!

⸢THIRD⸣ SERVINGMAN

Ay, boy, ready.

⸢FIRST⸣ SERVINGMAN

You are looked for and called for, asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.

⸢THIRD⸣ SERVINGMAN

We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys! Be brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.

(⸢They move aside.⸣)

(Enter ⸢Capulet and his household,⸣ all the guests and gentlewomen to ⸢Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and⸣ the ⸢other⸣ Maskers.)

CAPULET

Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes 477

Unplagued with corns will walk ⸢a bout⸣ with you.— 478

Ah, my mistresses, which of you all 479

Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty, 480

She, I’ll swear, hath corns. Am I come near you now?— 481

Welcome, gentlemen. I have seen the day 482

That I have worn a visor and could tell 483

A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear, 484

Such as would please. ’Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone. 485

You are welcome, gentlemen.—Come, musicians, play. 486

(Music plays and they dance.)

A hall, a hall, give room!—And foot it, girls.— 487

More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up, 488

And quench the fire; the room is grown too hot.— 489

Ah, sirrah, this unlooked-for sport comes well.— 490

Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet, 491

For you and I are past our dancing days. 492

How long is ’t now since last yourself and I 493

Were in a mask? 494

CAPULET’S COUSIN

By ’r Lady, thirty years.

CAPULET

What, man, ’tis not so much, ’tis not so much. 495

’Tis since the nuptial of ⸢Lucentio,⸣ 496

Come Pentecost as quickly as it will, 497

Some five and twenty years, and then we masked. 498

CAPULET’S COUSIN

’Tis more, ’tis more. His son is elder, sir. 499

His son is thirty. 500

CAPULET

Will you tell me that?

His son was but a ward two years ago. 501

ROMEO

, ⸢to a Servingman⸣ What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand 502

Of yonder knight? 503

SERVINGMAN

I know not, sir.

ROMEO

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! 504

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night 505

As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear— 506

Beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear. 507

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows 508

As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. 509

The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand 510

And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand. 511

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, 512

For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. 513

TYBALT

This, by his voice, should be a Montague.— 514

Fetch me my rapier, boy. 515

⸢Page exits.⸣ What, dares the slave

Come hither covered with an antic face 516

To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? 517

Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, 518

To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. 519

CAPULET

Why, how now, kinsman? Wherefore storm you so? 520

TYBALT

Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, 521

A villain that is hither come in spite 522

To scorn at our solemnity this night. 523

CAPULET

Young Romeo is it? 524

TYBALT

’Tis he, that villain Romeo.

CAPULET

Content thee, gentle coz. Let him alone. 525

He bears him like a portly gentleman, 526

And, to say truth, Verona brags of him 527

To be a virtuous and well-governed youth. 528

I would not for the wealth of all this town 529

Here in my house do him disparagement. 530

Therefore be patient. Take no note of him. 531

It is my will, the which if thou respect, 532

Show a fair presence and put off these frowns, 533

An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. 534

TYBALT

It fits when such a villain is a guest. 535

I’ll not endure him. 536

CAPULET

He shall be endured.

What, goodman boy? I say he shall. Go to. 537

Am I the master here or you? Go to. 538

You’ll not endure him! God shall mend my soul, 539

You’ll make a mutiny among my guests, 540

You will set cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man! 541

TYBALT

Why, uncle, ’tis a shame. 542

CAPULET

Go to, go to.

You are a saucy boy. Is ’t so indeed? 543

This trick may chance to scathe you. I know what. 544

You must contrary me. Marry, ’tis time— 545

Well said, my hearts.—You are a princox, go. 546

Be quiet, or—More light, more light!—for shame, 547

I’ll make you quiet.—What, cheerly, my hearts! 548

TYBALT

Patience perforce with willful choler meeting 549

Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. 550

I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, 551

Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall. 552

(He exits.)

ROMEO

, ⸢taking Juliet’s hand⸣ If I profane with my unworthiest hand 553

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: 554

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand 555

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. 556

JULIET

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, 557

Which mannerly devotion shows in this; 558

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, 559

And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss. 560

ROMEO

Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? 561

JULIET

Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. 562

ROMEO

O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. 563

They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. 564

JULIET

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake. 565

ROMEO

Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take. 566

(⸢He kisses her.⸣)

Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged. 567

JULIET

Then have my lips the sin that they have took. 568

ROMEO

Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged! 569

Give me my sin again. 570

(⸢He kisses her⸣.)

JULIET

You kiss by th’ book.

NURSE

Madam, your mother craves a word with you. 571

(⸢Juliet moves toward her mother⸣.)

ROMEO

What is her mother? 572

NURSE

Marry, bachelor,

Her mother is the lady of the house, 573

And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous. 574

I nursed her daughter that you talked withal. 575

I tell you, he that can lay hold of her 576

Shall have the chinks. 577

(⸢Nurse moves away⸣.)

ROMEO

Is she a Capulet?

O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt. 578

BENVOLIO

Away, begone. The sport is at the best. 579

ROMEO

Ay, so I fear. The more is my unrest. 580

CAPULET

Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone. 581

We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.— 582

Is it e’en so? Why then, I thank you all. 583

I thank you, honest gentlemen. Good night.— 584

More torches here.—Come on then, let’s to bed.— 585

Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late. 586

I’ll to my rest. 587

(⸢All but Juliet and the Nurse begin to exit.⸣)

JULIET

Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman? 588

NURSE

The son and heir of old Tiberio. 589

JULIET

What’s he that now is going out of door? 590

NURSE

Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio. 591

JULIET

What’s he that follows here, that would not dance? 592

NURSE

I know not.

JULIET

Go ask his name. ⸢The Nurse goes⸣. If he be marrièd, 593

My grave is like to be my wedding bed. 594

NURSE

, ⸢returning⸣ His name is Romeo, and a Montague, 595

The only son of your great enemy. 596

JULIET

My only love sprung from my only hate! 597

Too early seen unknown, and known too late! 598

Prodigious birth of love it is to me 599

That I must love a loathèd enemy. 600

NURSE

What’s this? What’s this? 601

JULIET

A rhyme I learned even now

Of one I danced withal. 602

(One calls within "Juliet.")

NURSE

Anon, anon.

Come, let’s away. The strangers all are gone. 603

(They exit.)

Act II

(⸢Enter⸣ Chorus.)

CHORUS

Now old desire doth in his deadbeth lie, 604

And young affection gapes to be his heir. 605

That fair for which love groaned for and would die, 606

With tender Juliet ⸢matched⸣, is now not fair. 607

Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 608

Alike bewitchèd by the charm of looks, 609

But to his foe supposed he must complain, 610

And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks. 611

Being held a foe, he may not have access 612

To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear, 613

And she as much in love, her means much less 614

To meet her new belovèd anywhere. 615

But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, 616

Temp’ring extremities with extreme sweet. 617

(⸢Chorus exits.⸣)

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Romeo alone.)

ROMEO

Can I go forward when my heart is here? 618

Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out. 619

(⸢He withdraws.⸣)

(Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.)

BENVOLIO

Romeo, my cousin Romeo, Romeo! 620

MERCUTIO

He is wise 621

And, on my life, hath stol’n him home to bed. 622

BENVOLIO

He ran this way and leapt this orchard wall. 623

Call, good Mercutio. 624

⸢MERCUTIO⸣

Nay, I’ll conjure too.

Romeo! Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover! 625

Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh. 626

Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied. 627

Cry but "Ay me," ⸢pronounce⸣ but "love" and ⸢"dove."⸣ 628

Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, 629

One nickname for her purblind son and ⸢heir,⸣ 630

Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so ⸢trim⸣ 631

When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid.— 632

He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not. 633

The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.— 634

I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes, 635

By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip, 636

By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, 637

And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, 638

That in thy likeness thou appear to us. 639

BENVOLIO

An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. 640

MERCUTIO

This cannot anger him. ’Twould anger him 641

To raise a spirit in his mistress’ circle 642

Of some strange nature, letting it there stand 643

Till she had laid it and conjured it down. 644

That were some spite. My invocation 645

Is fair and honest. In his mistress’ name, 646

I conjure only but to raise up him. 647

BENVOLIO

Come, he hath hid himself among these trees 648

To be consorted with the humorous night. 649

Blind is his love and best befits the dark. 650

MERCUTIO

If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. 651

Now will he sit under a medlar tree 652

And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit 653

As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.— 654

O Romeo, that she were, O, that she were 655

An ⸢open-arse,⸣ thou a pop’rin pear. 656

Romeo, good night. I’ll to my truckle bed; 657

This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep.— 658

Come, shall we go? 659

BENVOLIO

Go, then, for ’tis in vain

To seek him here that means not to be found. 660

(⸢They⸣ exit.)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(⸢Romeo comes forward.⸣)

ROMEO

He jests at scars that never felt a wound. 661

(⸢Enter Juliet above.⸣)

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? 662

It is the East, and Juliet is the sun. 663

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, 664

Who is already sick and pale with grief 665

That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. 666

Be not her maid since she is envious. 667

Her vestal livery is but sick and green, 668

And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off. 669

It is my lady. O, it is my love! 670

O, that she knew she were! 671

She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that? 672

Her eye discourses; I will answer it. 673

I am too bold. ’Tis not to me she speaks. 674

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, 675

Having some business, ⸢do⸣ entreat her eyes 676

To twinkle in their spheres till they return. 677

What if her eyes were there, they in her head? 678

The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars 679

As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven 680

Would through the airy region stream so bright 681

That birds would sing and think it were not night. 682

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. 683

O, that I were a glove upon that hand, 684

That I might touch that cheek! 685

JULIET

Ay me.

ROMEO

She speaks.

O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art 686

As glorious to this night, being o’er my head, 687

As is a wingèd messenger of heaven 688

Unto the white-upturnèd wond’ring eyes 689

Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him 690

When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds 691

And sails upon the bosom of the air. 692

JULIET

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? 693

Deny thy father and refuse thy name, 694

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 695

And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. 696

ROMEO

Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 697

JULIET

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy. 698

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. 699

What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, 700

Nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name 701

Belonging to a man. 702

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose 703

By any other word would smell as sweet. 704

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, 705

Retain that dear perfection which he owes 706

Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, 707

And, for thy name, which is no part of thee, 708

Take all myself. 709

ROMEO

I take thee at thy word.

Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized. 710

Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 711

JULIET

What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, 712

So stumblest on my counsel? 713

ROMEO

By a name

I know not how to tell thee who I am. 714

My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself 715

Because it is an enemy to thee. 716

Had I it written, I would tear the word. 717

JULIET

My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words 718

Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound. 719

Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 720

ROMEO

Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike. 721

JULIET

How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? 722

The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, 723

And the place death, considering who thou art, 724

If any of my kinsmen find thee here. 725

ROMEO

With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, 726

For stony limits cannot hold love out, 727

And what love can do, that dares love attempt. 728

Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. 729

JULIET

If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 730

ROMEO

Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye 731

Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet, 732

And I am proof against their enmity. 733

JULIET

I would not for the world they saw thee here. 734

ROMEO

I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, 735

And, but thou love me, let them find me here. 736

My life were better ended by their hate 737

Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love. 738

JULIET

By whose direction found’st thou out this place? 739

ROMEO

By love, that first did prompt me to inquire. 740

He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. 741

I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far 742

As that vast shore ⸢washed⸣ with the farthest sea, 743

I should adventure for such merchandise. 744

JULIET

Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, 745

Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek 746

For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight. 747

Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny 748

What I have spoke. But farewell compliment. 749

Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say "Ay," 750

And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear’st, 751

Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries, 752

They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, 753

If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. 754

Or, if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, 755

I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, 756

So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world. 757

In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, 758

And therefore thou mayst think my ⸢havior⸣ light. 759

But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true 760

Than those that have ⸢more⸣ coying to be strange. 761

I should have been more strange, I must confess, 762

But that thou overheard’st ere I was ware 763

My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me, 764

And not impute this yielding to light love, 765

Which the dark night hath so discoverèd. 766

ROMEO

Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow, 767

That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops— 768

JULIET

O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, 769

That monthly changes in her ⸢circled⸣ orb, 770

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. 771

ROMEO

What shall I swear by? 772

JULIET

Do not swear at all.

Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, 773

Which is the god of my idolatry, 774

And I’ll believe thee. 775

ROMEO

If my heart’s dear love—

JULIET

Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, 776

I have no joy of this contract tonight. 777

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, 778

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be 779

Ere one can say "It lightens." Sweet, good night. 780

This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, 781

May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. 782

Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest 783

Come to thy heart as that within my breast. 784

ROMEO

O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? 785

JULIET

What satisfaction canst thou have tonight? 786

ROMEO

Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine. 787

JULIET

I gave thee mine before thou didst request it, 788

And yet I would it were to give again. 789

ROMEO

Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love? 790

JULIET

But to be frank and give it thee again. 791

And yet I wish but for the thing I have. 792

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, 793

My love as deep. The more I give to thee, 794

The more I have, for both are infinite. 795

(⸢Nurse calls from within⸣.)

I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu.— 796

Anon, good nurse.—Sweet Montague, be true. 797

Stay but a little; I will come again. 798

(⸢She exits⸣.)

ROMEO

O blessèd, blessèd night! I am afeard, 799

Being in night, all this is but a dream, 800

Too flattering sweet to be substantial. 801

(⸢Reenter Juliet above⸣.)

JULIET

Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. 802

If that thy bent of love be honorable, 803

Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, 804

By one that I’ll procure to come to thee, 805

Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite, 806

And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay 807

And follow thee my ⸢lord⸣ throughout the world. 808

⸢NURSE

, within⸣ Madam.

JULIET

I come anon.—But if thou meanest not well, 809

I do beseech thee— 810

⸢NURSE

, within⸣ Madam.

JULIET

By and by, I come.— 811

To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief. 812

Tomorrow will I send. 813

ROMEO

So thrive my soul— 814

JULIET

A thousand times good night. 815

(⸢She exits.⸣)

ROMEO

A thousand times the worse to want thy light. 816

Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, 817

But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. 818

(⸢Going.⸣)

(Enter Juliet ⸢above⸣ again.)

JULIET

Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc’ner’s voice 819

To lure this tassel-gentle back again! 820

Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud, 821

Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies 822

And make her airy tongue more hoarse than ⸢mine⸣ 823

With repetition of "My Romeo!" 824

ROMEO

It is my soul that calls upon my name. 825

How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night, 826

Like softest music to attending ears. 827

JULIET

Romeo. 828

ROMEO

My ⸢dear.⸣

JULIET

What o’clock tomorrow

Shall I send to thee? 829

ROMEO

By the hour of nine.

JULIET

I will not fail. ’Tis twenty year till then. 830

I have forgot why I did call thee back. 831

ROMEO

Let me stand here till thou remember it. 832

JULIET

I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, 833

Rememb’ring how I love thy company. 834

ROMEO

And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget, 835

Forgetting any other home but this. 836

JULIET

’Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone, 837

And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird, 838

That lets it hop a little from his hand, 839

Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, 840

And with a silken thread plucks it back again, 841

So loving-jealous of his liberty. 842

ROMEO

I would I were thy bird. 843

JULIET

Sweet, so would I.

Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. 844

Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow 845

That I shall say "Good night" till it be morrow. 846

(⸢She exits.⸣)

⸢ROMEO⸣

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast. 847

Would I were sleep and peace so sweet to rest. 848

Hence will I to my ghostly friar’s close cell, 849

His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell. 850

(He exits.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ alone with a basket.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night, 851

⸢Check’ring⸣ the eastern clouds with streaks of light, 852

And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels 853

From forth day’s path and Titan’s ⸢fiery⸣ wheels. 854

Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, 855

The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry, 856

I must upfill this osier cage of ours 857

With baleful weeds and precious-juicèd flowers. 858

The Earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb; 859

What is her burying grave, that is her womb; 860

And from her womb children of divers kind 861

We sucking on her natural bosom find, 862

Many for many virtues excellent, 863

None but for some, and yet all different. 864

O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies 865

In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities. 866

For naught so vile that on the Earth doth live 867

But to the Earth some special good doth give; 868

Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use, 869

Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse. 870

Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, 871

And vice sometime by action dignified. 872

(Enter Romeo.)

Within the infant rind of this weak flower 873

Poison hath residence and medicine power: 874

For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; 875

Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart. 876

Two such opposèd kings encamp them still 877

In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will; 878

And where the worser is predominant, 879

Full soon the canker death eats up that plant. 880

ROMEO

Good morrow, father. 881

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Benedicite.

What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? 882

Young son, it argues a distempered head 883

So soon to bid "Good morrow" to thy bed. 884

Care keeps his watch in every old man’s eye, 885

And, where care lodges, sleep will never lie; 886

But where unbruisèd youth with unstuffed brain 887

Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign. 888

Therefore thy earliness doth me assure 889

Thou art uproused with some distemp’rature, 890

Or, if not so, then here I hit it right: 891

Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight. 892

ROMEO

That last is true. The sweeter rest was mine. 893

FRIAR LAWRENCE

God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline? 894

ROMEO

With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No. 895

I have forgot that name and that name’s woe. 896

FRIAR LAWRENCE

That’s my good son. But where hast thou been then? 897

ROMEO

I’ll tell thee ere thou ask it me again. 898

I have been feasting with mine enemy, 899

Where on a sudden one hath wounded me 900

That’s by me wounded. Both our remedies 901

Within thy help and holy physic lies. 902

I bear no hatred, blessèd man, for, lo, 903

My intercession likewise steads my foe. 904

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift. 905

Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift. 906

ROMEO

Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set 907

On the fair daughter of rich Capulet. 908

As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine, 909

And all combined, save what thou must combine 910

By holy marriage. When and where and how 911

We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow 912

I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray, 913

That thou consent to marry us today. 914

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here! 915

Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, 916

So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies 917

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. 918

Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine 919

Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline! 920

How much salt water thrown away in waste 921

To season love, that of it doth not taste! 922

The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears, 923

Thy old groans yet ringing in mine ancient ears. 924

Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit 925

Of an old tear that is not washed off yet. 926

If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine, 927

Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline. 928

And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then: 929

Women may fall when there’s no strength in men. 930

ROMEO

Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline. 931

FRIAR LAWRENCE

For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. 932

ROMEO

And bad’st me bury love. 933

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Not in a grave

To lay one in, another out to have. 934

ROMEO

I pray thee, chide me not. Her I love now 935

Doth grace for grace and love for love allow. 936

The other did not so. 937

FRIAR LAWRENCE

O, she knew well

Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell. 938

But come, young waverer, come, go with me. 939

In one respect I’ll thy assistant be, 940

For this alliance may so happy prove 941

To turn your households’ rancor to pure love. 942

ROMEO

O, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste. 943

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast. 944

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.)

MERCUTIO

Where the devil should this Romeo be? 945

Came he not home tonight? 946

BENVOLIO

Not to his father’s. I spoke with his man. 947

MERCUTIO

Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, 948

Torments him so that he will sure run mad. 949

BENVOLIO

Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet, 950

Hath sent a letter to his father’s house. 951

MERCUTIO

A challenge, on my life.

BENVOLIO

Romeo will answer it.

MERCUTIO

Any man that can write may answer a letter.

BENVOLIO

Nay, he will answer the letter’s master, how he dares, being dared.

MERCUTIO

Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead, stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run through the ear with a love-song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt shaft. And is he a man to encounter Tybalt?

⸢BENVOLIO⸣

Why, what is Tybalt?

MERCUTIO

More than prince of cats. O, he’s the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion. He rests his minim rests, one, two, and the third in your bosom—the very butcher of a silk button, a duelist, a duelist, a gentleman of the very first house of the first and second cause. Ah, the immortal passado , the punto reverso , the hay !

BENVOLIO

The what?

MERCUTIO

The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting ⸢phantasimes,⸣ these new tuners of accent: "By Jesu, a very good blade! A very tall man! A very good whore!" Why, is not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these ⸢pardon-me ’s⸣, who stand so much on the new form that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O their bones, their bones!

(Enter Romeo.)

BENVOLIO

Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

MERCUTIO

Without his roe, like a dried herring. O flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in. Laura to his lady was a kitchen wench (marry, she had a better love to berhyme her), Dido a dowdy, Cleopatra a gypsy, Helen and Hero hildings and harlots, Thisbe a gray eye or so, but not to the purpose.—Signior Romeo, bonjour. There’s a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.

ROMEO

Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give you?

MERCUTIO

The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not conceive?

ROMEO

Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.

MERCUTIO

That’s as much as to say such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.

ROMEO

Meaning, to curtsy.

MERCUTIO

Thou hast most kindly hit it.

ROMEO

A most courteous exposition.

MERCUTIO

Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.

ROMEO

"Pink" for flower.

MERCUTIO

Right.

ROMEO

Why, then is my pump well flowered.

MERCUTIO

Sure wit, follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out thy pump, that when the single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular.

ROMEO

O single-soled jest, solely singular for the singleness.

MERCUTIO

Come between us, good Benvolio. My wits faints.

ROMEO

Switch and spurs, switch and spurs, or I’ll cry a match.

MERCUTIO

Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done, for thou hast more of the wild goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five. Was I with you there for the goose?

ROMEO

Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast not there for the goose.

MERCUTIO

I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.

ROMEO

Nay, good goose, bite not.

MERCUTIO

Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most sharp sauce.

ROMEO

And is it not, then, well served into a sweet goose?

MERCUTIO

O, here’s a wit of cheveril that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad.

ROMEO

I stretch it out for that word "broad," which added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.

MERCUTIO

Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo, now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature. For this driveling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.

BENVOLIO

Stop there, stop there.

MERCUTIO

Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair.

BENVOLIO

Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.

MERCUTIO

O, thou art deceived. I would have made it short, for I was come to the whole depth of my tale and meant indeed to occupy the argument no longer.

(Enter Nurse and her man ⸢Peter.⸣)

ROMEO

Here’s goodly gear. A sail, a sail!

MERCUTIO

Two, two—a shirt and a smock.

NURSE

Peter.

PETER

Anon.

NURSE

My fan, Peter.

MERCUTIO

Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer face.

NURSE

God you good morrow, gentlemen.

MERCUTIO

God you good e’en, fair gentlewoman.

NURSE

Is it good e’en?

MERCUTIO

’Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon.

NURSE

Out upon you! What a man are you?

ROMEO

One, gentlewoman, that God hath made, himself to mar.

NURSE

By my troth, it is well said: "for himself to mar," quoth he? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo?

ROMEO

I can tell you, but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him. I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.

NURSE

You say well.

MERCUTIO

Yea, is the worst well? Very well took, i’ faith, wisely, wisely.

NURSE

If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you.

BENVOLIO

She will indite him to some supper.

MERCUTIO

A bawd, a bawd, a bawd. So ho!

ROMEO

What hast thou found?

MERCUTIO

No hare, sir, unless a hare, sir, in a Lenten pie that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.

(⸢Singing.⸣)

An old hare hoar, 952

And an old hare hoar, 953

Is very good meat in Lent. 954

But a hare that is hoar 955

Is too much for a score 956

When it hoars ere it be spent. 957

Romeo, will you come to your father’s? We’ll to dinner thither.

ROMEO

I will follow you.

MERCUTIO

Farewell, ancient lady. Farewell, lady, lady, lady.

(⸢Mercutio and Benvolio⸣ exit.)

NURSE

I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this that was so full of his ropery?

ROMEO

A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.

NURSE

An he speak anything against me, I’ll take him down, an he were lustier than he is, and twenty such jacks. An if I cannot, I’ll find those that shall. Scurvy knave, I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates. ⸢To Peter⸣. And thou must stand by too and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure.

PETER

I saw no man use you at his pleasure. If I had, my weapon should quickly have been out. I warrant you, I dare draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a good quarrel, and the law on my side.

NURSE

Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every part about me quivers. Scurvy knave! ⸢To Romeo⸣. Pray you, sir, a word. And, as I told you, my young lady bid me inquire you out. What she bid me say, I will keep to myself. But first let me tell you, if you should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say. For the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

ROMEO

Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto thee—

NURSE

Good heart, and i’ faith I will tell her as much. Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.

ROMEO

What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not mark me.

NURSE

I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.

ROMEO

Bid her devise 958

Some means to come to shrift this afternoon, 959

And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’ cell 960

Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains. 961

(⸢Offering her money.⸣)

NURSE

No, truly, sir, not a penny.

ROMEO

Go to, I say you shall.

NURSE

This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there. 962

ROMEO

And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall. 963

Within this hour my man shall be with thee 964

And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair, 965

Which to the high topgallant of my joy 966

Must be my convoy in the secret night. 967

Farewell. Be trusty, and I’ll quit thy pains. 968

Farewell. Commend me to thy mistress. 969

NURSE

Now, God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir. 970

ROMEO

What sayst thou, my dear nurse? 971

NURSE

Is your man secret? Did you ne’er hear say 972

"Two may keep counsel, putting one away"? 973

ROMEO

Warrant thee, my man’s as true as steel. 974

NURSE

Well, sir, my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord, Lord, when ’twas a little prating thing—O, there is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife aboard, but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man, but I’ll warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world. Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?

ROMEO

Ay, nurse, what of that? Both with an R.

NURSE

Ah, mocker, that’s the ⸢dog’s⸣ name. R is for the—No, I know it begins with some other letter, and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it.

ROMEO

Commend me to thy lady.

NURSE

Ay, a thousand times.—Peter.

PETER

Anon.

NURSE

Before and apace.

(⸢They⸣ exit.)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Enter Juliet.)

JULIET

The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse. 975

In half an hour she promised to return. 976

Perchance she cannot meet him. That’s not so. 977

O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts, 978

Which ten times faster glides than the sun’s beams, 979

Driving back shadows over louring hills. 980

Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love, 981

And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings. 982

Now is the sun upon the highmost hill 983

Of this day’s journey, and from nine till twelve 984

Is ⸢three⸣ long hours, yet she is not come. 985

Had she affections and warm youthful blood, 986

She would be as swift in motion as a ball; 987

My words would bandy her to my sweet love, 988

And his to me. 989

But old folks, many feign as they were dead, 990

Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead. 991

(Enter Nurse ⸢and Peter.⸣)

O God, she comes!—O, honey nurse, what news? 992

Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away. 993

NURSE

Peter, stay at the gate.

(⸢Peter exits⸣.)

JULIET

Now, good sweet nurse—O Lord, why lookest thou sad? 994

Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily. 995

If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news 996

By playing it to me with so sour a face. 997

NURSE

I am aweary. Give me leave awhile. 998

Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunt have I! 999

JULIET

I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news. 1000

Nay, come, I pray thee, speak. Good, good nurse, speak. 1001

NURSE

Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile? 1002

Do you not see that I am out of breath? 1003

JULIET

How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath 1004

To say to me that thou art out of breath? 1005

The excuse that thou dost make in this delay 1006

Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. 1007

Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that. 1008

Say either, and I’ll stay the circumstance. 1009

Let me be satisfied; is ’t good or bad? 1010

NURSE

Well, you have made a simple choice. You know not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he. Though his face be better than any man’s, yet his leg excels all men’s, and for a hand and a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesy, but I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench. Serve God. What, have you dined at home?

JULIET

No, no. But all this did I know before. 1011

What says he of our marriage? What of that? 1012

NURSE

Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I! 1013

It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. 1014

My back o’ t’ other side! Ah, my back, my back! 1015

Beshrew your heart for sending me about 1016

To catch my death with jaunting up and down. 1017

JULIET

I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. 1018

Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love? 1019

NURSE

Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous—Where is your mother?

JULIET

Where is my mother? Why, she is within. 1020

Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest: 1021

"Your love says, like an honest gentleman, 1022

Where is your mother?" 1023

NURSE

O God’s lady dear,

Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I trow. 1024

Is this the poultice for my aching bones? 1025

Henceforward do your messages yourself. 1026

JULIET

Here’s such a coil. Come, what says Romeo? 1027

NURSE

Have you got leave to go to shrift today? 1028

JULIET

I have.

NURSE

Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell. 1029

There stays a husband to make you a wife. 1030

Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks; 1031

They’ll be in scarlet straight at any news. 1032

Hie you to church. I must another way, 1033

To fetch a ladder by the which your love 1034

Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark. 1035

I am the drudge and toil in your delight, 1036

But you shall bear the burden soon at night. 1037

Go. I’ll to dinner. Hie you to the cell. 1038

JULIET

Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell. 1039

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 6⸣

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ and Romeo.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

So smile the heavens upon this holy act 1040

That after-hours with sorrow chide us not. 1041

ROMEO

Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can, 1042

It cannot countervail the exchange of joy 1043

That one short minute gives me in her sight. 1044

Do thou but close our hands with holy words, 1045

Then love-devouring death do what he dare, 1046

It is enough I may but call her mine. 1047

FRIAR LAWRENCE

These violent delights have violent ends 1048

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, 1049

Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey 1050

Is loathsome in his own deliciousness 1051

And in the taste confounds the appetite. 1052

Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so. 1053

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 1054

(Enter Juliet.)

Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot 1055

Will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint. 1056

A lover may bestride the gossamers 1057

That idles in the wanton summer air, 1058

And yet not fall, so light is vanity. 1059

JULIET

Good even to my ghostly confessor. 1060

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both. 1061

JULIET

As much to him, else is his thanks too much. 1062

ROMEO

Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy 1063

Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more 1064

To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath 1065

This neighbor air, and let rich ⸢music’s⸣ tongue 1066

Unfold the imagined happiness that both 1067

Receive in either by this dear encounter. 1068

JULIET

Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, 1069

Brags of his substance, not of ornament. 1070

They are but beggars that can count their worth, 1071

But my true love is grown to such excess 1072

I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth. 1073

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Come, come with me, and we will make short work, 1074

For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone 1075

Till Holy Church incorporate two in one. 1076

(⸢They exit.⸣)

Act III

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and ⸢their⸣ men.)

BENVOLIO

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire. 1077

The day is hot, the Capels ⸢are⸣ abroad, 1078

And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl, 1079

For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. 1080

MERCUTIO

Thou art like one of these fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says "God send me no need of thee" and, by the operation of the second cup, draws him on the drawer when indeed there is no need.

BENVOLIO

Am I like such a fellow?

MERCUTIO

Come, come, thou art as hot a jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.

BENVOLIO

And what to?

MERCUTIO

Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou—why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast quarreled with a man for coughing in the street because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With another, for tying his new shoes with old ribbon? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling?

BENVOLIO

An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.

MERCUTIO

The fee simple? O simple!

(Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.)

BENVOLIO

By my head, here comes the Capulets.

MERCUTIO

By my heel, I care not.

TYBALT

, ⸢to his companions⸣ Follow me close, for I will speak to them.— 1081

Gentlemen, good e’en. A word with one of you. 1082

MERCUTIO

And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something. Make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT

You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.

MERCUTIO

Could you not take some occasion without giving?

TYBALT

Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.

MERCUTIO

Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort!

BENVOLIO

We talk here in the public haunt of men. 1083

Either withdraw unto some private place, 1084

Or reason coldly of your grievances, 1085

Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us. 1086

MERCUTIO

Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. 1087

I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I. 1088

(Enter Romeo.)

TYBALT

Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man. 1089

MERCUTIO

But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery. 1090

Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower. 1091

Your Worship in that sense may call him "man." 1092

TYBALT

Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford 1093

No better term than this: thou art a villain. 1094

ROMEO

Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee 1095

Doth much excuse the appertaining rage 1096

To such a greeting. Villain am I none. 1097

Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not. 1098

TYBALT

Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries 1099

That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw. 1100

ROMEO

I do protest I never injured thee 1101

But love thee better than thou canst devise 1102

Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. 1103

And so, good Capulet, which name I tender 1104

As dearly as mine own, be satisfied. 1105

MERCUTIO

O calm, dishonorable, vile submission! 1106

Allas toccato carries it away. 1107

(⸢He draws.⸣)

Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk? 1108

TYBALT

What wouldst thou have with me?

MERCUTIO

Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

TYBALT

I am for you.

(⸢He draws.⸣)

ROMEO

Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. 1109

MERCUTIO

Come, sir, your passado. 1110

(⸢They fight.⸣)

ROMEO

Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons. 1111

(⸢Romeo draws.⸣)

Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage! 1112

Tybalt! Mercutio! The Prince expressly hath 1113

Forbid this bandying in Verona streets. 1114

Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio! 1115

(⸢Romeo attempts to beat down their rapiers⸣. ⸢Tybalt stabs Mercutio⸣.)

⸢PETRUCHIO⸣

Away, Tybalt!

(⸢Tybalt, Petruchio, and their followers exit.⸣)

MERCUTIO

I am hurt. 1116

A plague o’ both houses! I am sped. 1117

Is he gone and hath nothing? 1118

BENVOLIO

What, art thou hurt?

MERCUTIO

Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough. 1119

Where is my page?—Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. 1120

(⸢Page exits.⸣)

ROMEO

Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much. 1121

MERCUTIO

No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but ’tis enough. ’Twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a villain that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO

I thought all for the best. 1122

MERCUTIO

Help me into some house, Benvolio, 1123

Or I shall faint. A plague o’ both your houses! 1124

They have made worms’ meat of me. 1125

I have it, and soundly, too. Your houses! 1126

(⸢All but Romeo⸣ exit.)

ROMEO

This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, 1127

My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt 1128

In my behalf. My reputation stained 1129

With Tybalt’s slander—Tybalt, that an hour 1130

Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet, 1131

Thy beauty hath made me effeminate 1132

And in my temper softened valor’s steel. 1133

(Enter Benvolio.)

BENVOLIO

O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead. 1134

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, 1135

Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. 1136

ROMEO

This day’s black fate on more days doth depend. 1137

This but begins the woe others must end. 1138

(⸢Enter Tybalt.⸣)

BENVOLIO

Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. 1139

ROMEO

⸢Alive⸣ in triumph, and Mercutio slain! 1140

Away to heaven, respective lenity, 1141

And ⸢fire-eyed⸣ fury be my conduct now.— 1142

Now, Tybalt, take the "villain" back again 1143

That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul 1144

Is but a little way above our heads, 1145

Staying for thine to keep him company. 1146

Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. 1147

TYBALT

Thou wretched boy that didst consort him here 1148

Shalt with him hence. 1149

ROMEO

This shall determine that.

(They fight. Tybalt falls.)

BENVOLIO

Romeo, away, begone! 1150

The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. 1151

Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death 1152

If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away. 1153

ROMEO

O, I am Fortune’s fool! 1154

BENVOLIO

Why dost thou stay?

(Romeo exits.)

(Enter Citizens.)

CITIZEN

Which way ran he that killed Mercutio? 1155

Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? 1156

BENVOLIO

There lies that Tybalt. 1157

CITIZEN

, ⸢to Tybalt⸣ Up, sir, go with me.

I charge thee in the Prince’s name, obey. 1158

(Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their Wives and all.)

PRINCE

Where are the vile beginners of this fray? 1159

BENVOLIO

O noble prince, I can discover all 1160

The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl. 1161

There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, 1162

That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. 1163

LADY CAPULET

Tybalt, my cousin, O my brother’s child! 1164

O prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is spilled 1165

Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, 1166

For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. 1167

O cousin, cousin! 1168

PRINCE

Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? 1169

BENVOLIO

Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay— 1170

Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink 1171

How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal 1172

Your high displeasure. All this utterèd 1173

With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed 1174

Could not take truce with the unruly spleen 1175

Of Tybalt, deaf to peace, but that he tilts 1176

With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, 1177

Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point 1178

And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats 1179

Cold death aside and with the other sends 1180

It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity 1181

Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud 1182

"Hold, friends! Friends, part!" and swifter than his tongue 1183

His ⸢agile⸣ arm beats down their fatal points, 1184

And ’twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm 1185

An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life 1186

Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled. 1187

But by and by comes back to Romeo, 1188

Who had but newly entertained revenge, 1189

And to ’t they go like lightning, for ere I 1190

Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain, 1191

And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. 1192

This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. 1193

LADY CAPULET

He is a kinsman to the Montague. 1194

Affection makes him false; he speaks not true. 1195

Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, 1196

And all those twenty could but kill one life. 1197

I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give. 1198

Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live. 1199

PRINCE

Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio. 1200

Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? 1201

⸢MONTAGUE⸣

Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio’s friend. 1202

His fault concludes but what the law should end, 1203

The life of Tybalt. 1204

PRINCE

And for that offense

Immediately we do exile him hence. 1205

I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding: 1206

My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding. 1207

But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine 1208

That you shall all repent the loss of mine. 1209

⸢I⸣ will be deaf to pleading and excuses. 1210

Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses. 1211

Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, 1212

Else, when he is found, that hour is his last. 1213

Bear hence this body and attend our will. 1214

Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. 1215

(⸢They⸣ exit, ⸢the Capulet men bearing off Tybalt’s body.⸣)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Juliet alone.)

JULIET

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, 1216

Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a wagoner 1217

As Phaëton would whip you to the west 1218

And bring in cloudy night immediately. 1219

Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, 1220

That runaways’ eyes may wink, and Romeo 1221

Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen. 1222

Lovers can see to do their amorous rites 1223

By their own beauties, or, if love be blind, 1224

It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, 1225

Thou sober-suited matron all in black, 1226

And learn me how to lose a winning match 1227

Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. 1228

Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks, 1229

With thy black mantle till strange love grow bold, 1230

Think true love acted simple modesty. 1231

Come, night. Come, Romeo. Come, thou day in night, 1232

For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night 1233

Whiter than new snow upon a raven’s back. 1234

Come, gentle night; come, loving black-browed night, 1235

Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, 1236

Take him and cut him out in little stars, 1237

And he will make the face of heaven so fine 1238

That all the world will be in love with night 1239

And pay no worship to the garish sun. 1240

O, I have bought the mansion of a love 1241

But not possessed it, and, though I am sold, 1242

Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day 1243

As is the night before some festival 1244

To an impatient child that hath new robes 1245

And may not wear them. 1246

(Enter Nurse with cords.)

O, here comes my nurse,

And she brings news, and every tongue that speaks 1247

But Romeo’s name speaks heavenly eloquence.— 1248

Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? The cords 1249

That Romeo bid thee fetch? 1250

NURSE

Ay, ay, the cords.

(⸢Dropping the rope ladder.⸣)

JULIET

Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands? 1251

NURSE

Ah weraday, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead! 1252

We are undone, lady, we are undone. 1253

Alack the day, he’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead. 1254

JULIET

Can heaven be so envious? 1255

NURSE

Romeo can,

Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo, 1256

Whoever would have thought it? Romeo! 1257

JULIET

What devil art thou that dost torment me thus? 1258

This torture should be roared in dismal hell. 1259

Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but "Ay," 1260

And that bare vowel "I" shall poison more 1261

Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice. 1262

I am not I if there be such an "I," 1263

Or those eyes ⸢shut⸣ that makes thee answer "Ay." 1264

If he be slain, say "Ay," or if not, "No." 1265

Brief sounds determine my weal or woe. 1266

NURSE

I saw the wound. I saw it with mine eyes 1267

(God save the mark!) here on his manly breast— 1268

A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse, 1269

Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood, 1270

All in gore blood. I swoonèd at the sight. 1271

JULIET

O break, my heart, poor bankrout, break at once! 1272

To prison, eyes; ne’er look on liberty. 1273

Vile earth to earth resign; end motion here, 1274

And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier. 1275

NURSE

O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! 1276

O courteous Tybalt, honest gentleman, 1277

That ever I should live to see thee dead! 1278

JULIET

What storm is this that blows so contrary? 1279

Is Romeo slaughtered and is Tybalt dead? 1280

My dearest cousin, and my dearer lord? 1281

Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom, 1282

For who is living if those two are gone? 1283

NURSE

Tybalt is gone and Romeo banishèd. 1284

Romeo that killed him—he is banishèd. 1285

JULIET

O God, did Romeo’s hand shed Tybalt’s blood? 1286

⸢NURSE⸣

It did, it did, alas the day, it did. 1287

⸢JULIET⸣

O serpent heart hid with a flow’ring face! 1288

Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? 1289

Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical! 1290

Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! 1291

Despisèd substance of divinest show! 1292

Just opposite to what thou justly seem’st, 1293

A ⸢damnèd⸣ saint, an honorable villain. 1294

O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell 1295

When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend 1296

In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh? 1297

Was ever book containing such vile matter 1298

So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell 1299

In such a gorgeous palace! 1300

NURSE

There’s no trust,

No faith, no honesty in men. All perjured, 1301

All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers. 1302

Ah, where’s my man? Give me some aqua vitae. 1303

These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old. 1304

Shame come to Romeo! 1305

JULIET

Blistered be thy tongue

For such a wish! He was not born to shame. 1306

Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit, 1307

For ’tis a throne where honor may be crowned 1308

Sole monarch of the universal Earth. 1309

O, what a beast was I to chide at him! 1310

NURSE

Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? 1311

JULIET

Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? 1312

Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name 1313

When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it? 1314

But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? 1315

That villain cousin would have killed my husband. 1316

Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring; 1317

Your tributary drops belong to woe, 1318

Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy. 1319

My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, 1320

And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband. 1321

All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then? 1322

Some word there was, worser than Tybalt’s death, 1323

That murdered me. I would forget it fain, 1324

But, O, it presses to my memory 1325

Like damnèd guilty deeds to sinners’ minds: 1326

"Tybalt is dead and Romeo banishèd." 1327

That "banishèd," that one word "banishèd," 1328

Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt’s death 1329

Was woe enough if it had ended there; 1330

Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship 1331

And needly will be ranked with other griefs, 1332

Why followed not, when she said "Tybalt’s dead," 1333

"Thy father" or "thy mother," nay, or both, 1334

Which modern lamentation might have moved? 1335

But with a rearward following Tybalt’s death, 1336

"Romeo is banishèd." To speak that word 1337

Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet, 1338

All slain, all dead. "Romeo is banishèd." 1339

There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, 1340

In that word’s death. No words can that woe sound. 1341

Where is my father and my mother, nurse? 1342

NURSE

Weeping and wailing over Tybalt’s corse. 1343

Will you go to them? I will bring you thither. 1344

JULIET

Wash they his wounds with tears? Mine shall be spent, 1345

When theirs are dry, for Romeo’s banishment.— 1346

Take up those cords. 1347

(⸢The Nurse picks up the rope ladder.⸣)

Poor ropes, you are beguiled,

Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. 1348

He made you for a highway to my bed, 1349

But I, a maid, die maiden-widowèd. 1350

Come, cords—come, nurse. I’ll to my wedding bed, 1351

And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! 1352

NURSE

Hie to your chamber. I’ll find Romeo 1353

To comfort you. I wot well where he is. 1354

Hark you, your Romeo will be here at night. 1355

I’ll to him. He is hid at Lawrence’ cell. 1356

JULIET

O, find him! 1357

⸢Giving the Nurse a ring⸣. Give this ring to my true knight

And bid him come to take his last farewell. 1358

(⸢They⸣ exit.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence.⸣)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man. 1359

Affliction is enamored of thy parts, 1360

And thou art wedded to calamity. 1361

(⸢Enter Romeo.⸣)

ROMEO

Father, what news? What is the Prince’s doom? 1362

What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand 1363

That I yet know not? 1364

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Too familiar

Is my dear son with such sour company. 1365

I bring thee tidings of the Prince’s doom. 1366

ROMEO

What less than doomsday is the Prince’s doom? 1367

FRIAR LAWRENCE

A gentler judgment vanished from his lips: 1368

Not body’s death, but body’s banishment. 1369

ROMEO

Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say "death," 1370

For exile hath more terror in his look, 1371

Much more than death. Do not say "banishment." 1372

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Here from Verona art thou banishèd. 1373

Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. 1374

ROMEO

There is no world without Verona walls 1375

But purgatory, torture, hell itself. 1376

Hence "banishèd" is "banished from the world," 1377

And world’s exile is death. Then "banishèd" 1378

Is death mistermed. Calling death "banishèd," 1379

Thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax 1380

And smilest upon the stroke that murders me. 1381

FRIAR LAWRENCE

O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness! 1382

Thy fault our law calls death, but the kind prince, 1383

Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law 1384

And turned that black word "death" to "banishment." 1385

This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. 1386

ROMEO

’Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here 1387

Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog 1388

And little mouse, every unworthy thing, 1389

Live here in heaven and may look on her, 1390

But Romeo may not. More validity, 1391

More honorable state, more courtship lives 1392

In carrion flies than Romeo. They may seize 1393

On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand 1394

And steal immortal blessing from her lips, 1395

Who even in pure and vestal modesty 1396

Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin; 1397

But Romeo may not; he is banishèd. 1398

Flies may do this, but I from this must fly. 1399

They are free men, but I am banishèd. 1400

And sayest thou yet that exile is not death? 1401

Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife, 1402

No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean, 1403

But "banishèd" to kill me? "Banishèd"? 1404

O friar, the damnèd use that word in hell. 1405

Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart, 1406

Being a divine, a ghostly confessor, 1407

A sin absolver, and my friend professed, 1408

To mangle me with that word "banishèd"? 1409

FRIAR LAWRENCE

⸢Thou⸣ fond mad man, hear me a little speak. 1410

ROMEO

O, thou wilt speak again of banishment. 1411

FRIAR LAWRENCE

I’ll give thee armor to keep off that word, 1412

Adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy, 1413

To comfort thee, though thou art banishèd. 1414

ROMEO

Yet "banishèd"? Hang up philosophy. 1415

Unless philosophy can make a Juliet, 1416

Displant a town, reverse a prince’s doom, 1417

It helps not, it prevails not. Talk no more. 1418

FRIAR LAWRENCE

O, then I see that ⸢madmen⸣ have no ears. 1419

ROMEO

How should they when that wise men have no eyes? 1420

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Let me dispute with thee of thy estate. 1421

ROMEO

Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel. 1422

Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, 1423

An hour but married, Tybalt murderèd, 1424

Doting like me, and like me banishèd, 1425

Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair 1426

And fall upon the ground as I do now, 1427

(⸢Romeo throws himself down.⸣)

Taking the measure of an unmade grave. 1428

(Knock ⸢within.⸣)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Arise. One knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself. 1429

ROMEO

Not I, unless the breath of heartsick groans, 1430

Mistlike, enfold me from the search of eyes. 1431

(Knock.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Hark, how they knock!—Who’s there?—Romeo, arise. 1432

Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile.—Stand up. 1433

(Knock.)

Run to my study.—By and by.—God’s will, 1434

What simpleness is this?—I come, I come. 1435

(Knock.)

Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What’s your will? 1436

NURSE

, ⸢within⸣ Let me come in, and you shall know my errand. 1437

I come from Lady Juliet. 1438

FRIAR LAWRENCE

, ⸢admitting the Nurse⸣ Welcome, then.

(⸢Enter Nurse⸣.)

NURSE

O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar, 1439

Where’s my lady’s lord? Where’s Romeo? 1440

FRIAR LAWRENCE

There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk. 1441

NURSE

O, he is even in my mistress’ case, 1442

Just in her case. O woeful sympathy! 1443

Piteous predicament! Even so lies she, 1444

Blubb’ring and weeping, weeping and blubb’ring.— 1445

Stand up, stand up. Stand an you be a man. 1446

For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand. 1447

Why should you fall into so deep an O? 1448

ROMEO

Nurse.

NURSE

Ah sir, ah sir, death’s the end of all. 1449

ROMEO

, ⸢rising up⸣ Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her? 1450

Doth not she think me an old murderer, 1451

Now I have stained the childhood of our joy 1452

With blood removed but little from her own? 1453

Where is she? And how doth she? And what says 1454

My concealed lady to our canceled love? 1455

NURSE

O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps, 1456

And now falls on her bed, and then starts up, 1457

And "Tybalt" calls, and then on Romeo cries, 1458

And then down falls again. 1459

ROMEO

As if that name,

Shot from the deadly level of a gun, 1460

Did murder her, as that name’s cursèd hand 1461

Murdered her kinsman.—O, tell me, friar, tell me, 1462

In what vile part of this anatomy 1463

Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack 1464

The hateful mansion. 1465

(⸢He draws his dagger⸣.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Hold thy desperate hand!

Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art. 1466

Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts ⸢denote⸣ 1467

The unreasonable fury of a beast. 1468

Unseemly woman in a seeming man, 1469

And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both! 1470

Thou hast amazed me. By my holy order, 1471

I thought thy disposition better tempered. 1472

Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself, 1473

And slay thy lady that in thy life ⸢lives,⸣ 1474

By doing damnèd hate upon thyself? 1475

Why railest thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth, 1476

Since birth and heaven and earth all three do meet 1477

In thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose? 1478

Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit, 1479

Which, like a usurer, abound’st in all 1480

And usest none in that true use indeed 1481

Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit. 1482

Thy noble shape is but a form of wax, 1483

Digressing from the valor of a man; 1484

Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury, 1485

Killing that love which thou hast vowed to cherish; 1486

Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love, 1487

Misshapen in the conduct of them both, 1488

Like powder in a skilless soldier’s flask, 1489

Is set afire by thine own ignorance, 1490

And thou dismembered with thine own defense. 1491

What, rouse thee, man! Thy Juliet is alive, 1492

For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead: 1493

There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee, 1494

But thou slewest Tybalt: there art thou happy. 1495

The law that threatened death becomes thy friend 1496

And turns it to exile: there art thou happy. 1497

A pack of blessings light upon thy back; 1498

Happiness courts thee in her best array; 1499

But, like a ⸢misbehaved⸣ and sullen wench, 1500

Thou ⸢pouts upon⸣ thy fortune and thy love. 1501

Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable. 1502

Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed. 1503

Ascend her chamber. Hence and comfort her. 1504

But look thou stay not till the watch be set, 1505

For then thou canst not pass to Mantua, 1506

Where thou shalt live till we can find a time 1507

To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, 1508

Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back 1509

With twenty hundred thousand times more joy 1510

Than thou went’st forth in lamentation.— 1511

Go before, nurse. Commend me to thy lady, 1512

And bid her hasten all the house to bed, 1513

Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto. 1514

Romeo is coming. 1515

NURSE

O Lord, I could have stayed here all the night 1516

To hear good counsel. O, what learning is!— 1517

My lord, I’ll tell my lady you will come. 1518

ROMEO

Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide. 1519

NURSE

Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir. 1520

(⸢Nurse gives Romeo a ring⸣.)

Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late. 1521

(⸢She exits⸣.)

ROMEO

How well my comfort is revived by this! 1522

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Go hence, good night—and here stands all your state: 1523

Either be gone before the watch be set 1524

Or by the break of day ⸢disguised⸣ from hence. 1525

Sojourn in Mantua. I’ll find out your man, 1526

And he shall signify from time to time 1527

Every good hap to you that chances here. 1528

Give me thy hand. ’Tis late. Farewell. Good night. 1529

ROMEO

But that a joy past joy calls out on me, 1530

It were a grief so brief to part with thee. 1531

Farewell. 1532

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter old Capulet, his Wife, and Paris.)

CAPULET

Things have fallen out, sir, so unluckily 1533

That we have had no time to move our daughter. 1534

Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly, 1535

And so did I. Well, we were born to die. 1536

’Tis very late. She’ll not come down tonight. 1537

I promise you, but for your company, 1538

I would have been abed an hour ago. 1539

PARIS

These times of woe afford no times to woo.— 1540

Madam, good night. Commend me to your daughter. 1541

LADY CAPULET

I will, and know her mind early tomorrow. 1542

Tonight she’s mewed up to her heaviness. 1543

CAPULET

Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender 1544

Of my child’s love. I think she will ⸢be⸣ ruled 1545

In all respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not.— 1546

Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed. 1547

Acquaint her here of my son Paris’ love, 1548

And bid her—mark you me?—on Wednesday next— 1549

But soft, what day is this? 1550

PARIS

Monday, my lord.

CAPULET

Monday, ha ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon. 1551

O’ Thursday let it be.—O’ Thursday, tell her, 1552

She shall be married to this noble earl.— 1553

Will you be ready? Do you like this haste? 1554

⸢We’ll⸣ keep no great ado: a friend or two. 1555

For hark you, Tybalt being slain so late, 1556

It may be thought we held him carelessly, 1557

Being our kinsman, if we revel much. 1558

Therefore we’ll have some half a dozen friends, 1559

And there an end. But what say you to Thursday? 1560

PARIS

My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow. 1561

CAPULET

Well, get you gone. O’ Thursday be it, then. 1562

(⸢To Lady Capulet⸣.)

Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed. 1563

Prepare her, wife, against this wedding day.— 1564

Farewell, my lord.—Light to my chamber, ho!— 1565

Afore me, it is so very late that we 1566

May call it early by and by.—Good night. 1567

(They exit.)

⸢Scene 5⸣

(Enter Romeo and Juliet aloft.)

JULIET

Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day. 1568

It was the nightingale, and not the lark, 1569

That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. 1570

Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree. 1571

Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. 1572

ROMEO

It was the lark, the herald of the morn, 1573

No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks 1574

Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. 1575

Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day 1576

Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain-tops. 1577

I must be gone and live, or stay and die. 1578

JULIET

Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I. 1579

It is some meteor that the sun ⸢exhaled⸣ 1580

To be to thee this night a torchbearer 1581

And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 1582

Therefore stay yet. Thou need’st not to be gone. 1583

ROMEO

Let me be ta’en; let me be put to death. 1584

I am content, so thou wilt have it so. 1585

I’ll say yon gray is not the morning’s eye; 1586

’Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow. 1587

Nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat 1588

The vaulty heaven so high above our heads. 1589

I have more care to stay than will to go. 1590

Come death and welcome. Juliet wills it so. 1591

How is ’t, my soul? Let’s talk. It is not day. 1592

JULIET

It is, it is. Hie hence, begone, away! 1593

It is the lark that sings so out of tune, 1594

Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps. 1595

Some say the lark makes sweet division. 1596

This doth not so, for she divideth us. 1597

Some say the lark and loathèd toad ⸢changed⸣ eyes. 1598

O, now I would they had changed voices too, 1599

Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray, 1600

Hunting thee hence with hunt’s-up to the day. 1601

O, now begone. More light and light it grows. 1602

ROMEO

More light and light, more dark and dark our woes. 1603

(Enter Nurse.)

NURSE

Madam.

JULIET

Nurse?

NURSE

Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. 1604

The day is broke; be wary; look about. 1605

(⸢She exits.⸣)

JULIET

Then, window, let day in, and let life out. 1606

ROMEO

Farewell, farewell. One kiss and I’ll descend. 1607

(⸢They kiss, and Romeo descends.⸣)

JULIET

Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, friend! 1608

I must hear from thee every day in the hour, 1609

For in a minute there are many days. 1610

O, by this count I shall be much in years 1611

Ere I again behold my Romeo. 1612

ROMEO

Farewell. 1613

I will omit no opportunity 1614

That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. 1615

JULIET

O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again? 1616

ROMEO

I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve 1617

For sweet discourses in our times to come. 1618

⸢JULIET⸣

O God, I have an ill-divining soul! 1619

Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, 1620

As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. 1621

Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale. 1622

ROMEO

And trust me, love, in my eye so do you. 1623

Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu. 1624

(He exits.)

JULIET

O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle. 1625

If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him 1626

That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune, 1627

For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long, 1628

But send him back. 1629

(Enter ⸢Lady Capulet⸣.)

LADY CAPULET

Ho, daughter, are you up?

JULIET

Who is ’t that calls? It is my lady mother. 1630

Is she not down so late or up so early? 1631

What unaccustomed cause procures her hither? 1632

(⸢Juliet descends.⸣)

LADY CAPULET

Why, how now, Juliet? 1633

JULIET

Madam, I am not well.

LADY CAPULET

Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death? 1634

What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears? 1635

An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live. 1636

Therefore have done. Some grief shows much of love, 1637

But much of grief shows still some want of wit. 1638

JULIET

Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss. 1639

LADY CAPULET

So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend 1640

Which you weep for. 1641

JULIET

Feeling so the loss,

I cannot choose but ever weep the friend. 1642

LADY CAPULET

Well, girl, thou weep’st not so much for his death 1643

As that the villain lives which slaughtered him. 1644

JULIET

What villain, madam? 1645

LADY CAPULET

That same villain, Romeo.

JULIET,

Villain and he be many miles asunder.— 1646

God pardon ⸢him⸣. I do with all my heart, 1647

And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart. 1648

LADY CAPULET

That is because the traitor murderer lives. 1649

JULIET

Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands. 1650

Would none but I might venge my cousin’s death! 1651

LADY CAPULET

We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not. 1652

Then weep no more. I’ll send to one in Mantua, 1653

Where that same banished runagate doth live, 1654

Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram 1655

That he shall soon keep Tybalt company. 1656

And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied. 1657

JULIET

Indeed, I never shall be satisfied 1658

With Romeo till I behold him—dead— 1659

Is my poor heart, so for a kinsman vexed. 1660

Madam, if you could find out but a man 1661

To bear a poison, I would temper it, 1662

That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof, 1663

Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors 1664

To hear him named and cannot come to him 1665

To wreak the love I bore my cousin 1666

Upon his body that hath slaughtered him. 1667

LADY CAPULET

Find thou the means, and I’ll find such a man. 1668

But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl. 1669

JULIET

And joy comes well in such a needy time. 1670

What are they, beseech your Ladyship? 1671

LADY CAPULET

Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child, 1672

One who, to put thee from thy heaviness, 1673

Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy 1674

That thou expects not, nor I looked not for. 1675

JULIET

Madam, in happy time! What day is that? 1676

LADY CAPULET

Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn 1677

The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, 1678

The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church 1679

Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. 1680

JULIET

Now, by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too, 1681

He shall not make me there a joyful bride! 1682

I wonder at this haste, that I must wed 1683

Ere he that should be husband comes to woo. 1684

I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, 1685

I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear 1686

It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, 1687

Rather than Paris. These are news indeed! 1688

LADY CAPULET

Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself, 1689

And see how he will take it at your hands. 1690

(Enter Capulet and Nurse.)

CAPULET

When the sun sets, the earth doth drizzle dew, 1691

But for the sunset of my brother’s son 1692

It rains downright. 1693

How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears? 1694

Evermore show’ring? In one little body 1695

Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind. 1696

For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, 1697

Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, 1698

Sailing in this salt flood; the winds thy sighs, 1699

Who, raging with thy tears and they with them, 1700

Without a sudden calm, will overset 1701

Thy tempest-tossèd body.—How now, wife? 1702

Have you delivered to her our decree? 1703

LADY CAPULET

Ay, sir, but she will none, she ⸢gives⸣ you thanks. 1704

I would the fool were married to her grave. 1705

CAPULET

Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife. 1706

How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? 1707

Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blessed, 1708

Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought 1709

So worthy a gentleman to be her bride? 1710

JULIET

Not proud you have, but thankful that you have. 1711

Proud can I never be of what I hate, 1712

But thankful even for hate that is meant love. 1713

CAPULET

How, how, how, how? Chopped logic? What is this? 1714

"Proud," and "I thank you," and "I thank you not," 1715

And yet "not proud"? Mistress minion you, 1716

Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, 1717

But fettle your fine joints ’gainst Thursday next 1718

To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, 1719

Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. 1720

Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! 1721

You tallow face! 1722

LADY CAPULET

Fie, fie, what, are you mad?

JULIET

, ⸢kneeling⸣ Good father, I beseech you on my knees, 1723

Hear me with patience but to speak a word. 1724

CAPULET

Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! 1725

I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday, 1726

Or never after look me in the face. 1727

Speak not; reply not; do not answer me. 1728

My fingers itch.—Wife, we scarce thought us blessed 1729

That God had lent us but this only child, 1730

But now I see this one is one too much, 1731

And that we have a curse in having her. 1732

Out on her, hilding. 1733

NURSE

God in heaven bless her!

You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so. 1734

CAPULET

And why, my Lady Wisdom? Hold your tongue. 1735

Good Prudence, smatter with your gossips, go. 1736

NURSE

I speak no treason. 1737

⸢CAPULET⸣

O, God ’i’ g’ eden!

⸢NURSE⸣

May not one speak? 1738

CAPULET

Peace, you mumbling fool!

Utter your gravity o’er a gossip’s bowl, 1739

For here we need it not. 1740

LADY CAPULET

You are too hot. 1741

CAPULET

God’s bread, it makes me mad. 1742

Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play, 1743

Alone, in company, still my care hath been 1744

To have her matched. And having now provided 1745

A gentleman of noble parentage, 1746

Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly ⸢ligned,⸣ 1747

Stuffed, as they say, with honorable parts, 1748

Proportioned as one’s thought would wish a man— 1749

And then to have a wretched puling fool, 1750

A whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender, 1751

To answer "I’ll not wed. I cannot love. 1752

I am too young. I pray you, pardon me." 1753

But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you! 1754

Graze where you will, you shall not house with me. 1755

Look to ’t; think on ’t. I do not use to jest. 1756

Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart; advise. 1757

An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend. 1758

An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, 1759

For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, 1760

Nor what is mine shall never do thee good. 1761

Trust to ’t; bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn. 1762

(He exits.)

JULIET

Is there no pity sitting in the clouds 1763

That sees into the bottom of my grief?— 1764

O sweet my mother, cast me not away. 1765

Delay this marriage for a month, a week, 1766

Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed 1767

In that dim monument where Tybalt lies. 1768

LADY CAPULET

Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. 1769

Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. 1770

(She exits.)

JULIET

, ⸢rising⸣ O God! O nurse, how shall this be prevented? 1771

My husband is on Earth, my faith in heaven. 1772

How shall that faith return again to Earth 1773

Unless that husband send it me from heaven 1774

By leaving Earth? Comfort me; counsel me.— 1775

Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems 1776

Upon so soft a subject as myself.— 1777

What sayst thou? Hast thou not a word of joy? 1778

Some comfort, nurse. 1779

NURSE

Faith, here it is.

Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing 1780

That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you, 1781

Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth. 1782

Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, 1783

I think it best you married with the County. 1784

O, he’s a lovely gentleman! 1785

Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam, 1786

Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye 1787

As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, 1788

I think you are happy in this second match, 1789

For it excels your first, or, if it did not, 1790

Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were 1791

As living here and you no use of him. 1792

JULIET

Speak’st thou from thy heart? 1793

NURSE

And from my soul too, else beshrew them both. 1794

JULIET

Amen.

NURSE

What?

JULIET

Well, thou hast comforted me marvelous much. 1795

Go in and tell my lady I am gone, 1796

Having displeased my father, to Lawrence’ cell 1797

To make confession and to be absolved. 1798

NURSE

Marry, I will; and this is wisely done. 1799

(⸢She exits⸣.)

JULIET

Ancient damnation, O most wicked fiend! 1800

Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn 1801

Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue 1802

Which she hath praised him with above compare 1803

So many thousand times? Go, counselor. 1804

Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. 1805

I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy. 1806

If all else fail, myself have power to die. 1807

(She exits.)

Act IV

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ and County Paris.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

On Thursday, sir? The time is very short. 1808

PARIS

My father Capulet will have it so, 1809

And I am nothing slow to slack his haste. 1810

FRIAR LAWRENCE

You say you do not know the lady’s mind? 1811

Uneven is the course. I like it not. 1812

PARIS

Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt’s death, 1813

And therefore have I little talk of love, 1814

For Venus smiles not in a house of tears. 1815

Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous 1816

That she do give her sorrow so much sway, 1817

And in his wisdom hastes our marriage 1818

To stop the inundation of her tears, 1819

Which, too much minded by herself alone, 1820

May be put from her by society. 1821

Now do you know the reason of this haste. 1822

FRIAR LAWRENCE,

I would I knew not why it should be slowed.— 1823

Look, sir, here comes the lady toward my cell. 1824

(Enter Juliet.)

PARIS

Happily met, my lady and my wife. 1825

JULIET

That may be, sir, when I may be a wife. 1826

PARIS

That "may be" must be, love, on Thursday next. 1827

JULIET

What must be shall be. 1828

FRIAR LAWRENCE

That’s a certain text.

PARIS

Come you to make confession to this father? 1829

JULIET

To answer that, I should confess to you. 1830

PARIS

Do not deny to him that you love me. 1831

JULIET

I will confess to you that I love him. 1832

PARIS

So will you, I am sure, that you love me. 1833

JULIET

If I do so, it will be of more price 1834

Being spoke behind your back than to your face. 1835

PARIS

Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears. 1836

JULIET

The tears have got small victory by that, 1837

For it was bad enough before their spite. 1838

PARIS

Thou wrong’st it more than tears with that report. 1839

JULIET

That is no slander, sir, which is a truth, 1840

And what I spake, I spake it to my face. 1841

PARIS

Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it. 1842

JULIET

It may be so, for it is not mine own.— 1843

Are you at leisure, holy father, now, 1844

Or shall I come to you at evening Mass? 1845

FRIAR LAWRENCE

My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.— 1846

My lord, we must entreat the time alone. 1847

PARIS

God shield I should disturb devotion!— 1848

Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse you. 1849

Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss. 1850

(He exits.)

JULIET

O, shut the door, and when thou hast done so, 1851

Come weep with me, past hope, past care, past help. 1852

FRIAR LAWRENCE

O Juliet, I already know thy grief. 1853

It strains me past the compass of my wits. 1854

I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, 1855

On Thursday next be married to this County. 1856

JULIET

Tell me not, friar, that thou hearest of this, 1857

Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. 1858

If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, 1859

Do thou but call my resolution wise, 1860

And with this knife I’ll help it presently. 1861

(⸢She shows him her knife.⸣)

God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands; 1862

And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s sealed, 1863

Shall be the label to another deed, 1864

Or my true heart with treacherous revolt 1865

Turn to another, this shall slay them both. 1866

Therefore out of thy long-experienced time 1867

Give me some present counsel, or, behold, 1868

’Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife 1869

Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that 1870

Which the commission of thy years and art 1871

Could to no issue of true honor bring. 1872

Be not so long to speak. I long to die 1873

If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy. 1874

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Hold, daughter, I do spy a kind of hope, 1875

Which craves as desperate an execution 1876

As that is desperate which we would prevent. 1877

If, rather than to marry County Paris, 1878

Thou hast the strength of will to ⸢slay⸣ thyself, 1879

Then is it likely thou wilt undertake 1880

A thing like death to chide away this shame, 1881

That cop’st with death himself to ’scape from it; 1882

And if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy. 1883

JULIET

O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, 1884

From off the battlements of any tower, 1885

Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk 1886

Where serpents are. Chain me with roaring bears, 1887

Or hide me nightly in a charnel house, 1888

O’ercovered quite with dead men’s rattling bones, 1889

With reeky shanks and yellow ⸢chapless⸣ skulls. 1890

Or bid me go into a new-made grave 1891

And hide me with a dead man in his ⸢shroud⸣ 1892

(Things that to hear them told have made me tremble), 1893

And I will do it without fear or doubt, 1894

To live an unstained wife to my sweet love. 1895

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Hold, then. Go home; be merry; give consent 1896

To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow. 1897

Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone; 1898

Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber. 1899

(⸢Holding out a vial.⸣)

Take thou this vial, being then in bed, 1900

And this distilling liquor drink thou off; 1901

When presently through all thy veins shall run 1902

A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse 1903

Shall keep his native progress, but surcease. 1904

No warmth, no ⸢breath⸣ shall testify thou livest. 1905

The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade 1906

To ⸢paly⸣ ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall 1907

Like death when he shuts up the day of life. 1908

Each part, deprived of supple government, 1909

Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death, 1910

And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death 1911

Thou shalt continue two and forty hours 1912

And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. 1913

Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes 1914

To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead. 1915

Then, as the manner of our country is, 1916

⸢In⸣ thy best robes uncovered on the bier 1917

Thou ⸢shalt⸣ be borne to that same ancient vault 1918

Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. 1919

In the meantime, against thou shalt awake, 1920

Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift, 1921

And hither shall he come, and he and I 1922

Will watch thy ⸢waking⸣, and that very night 1923

Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. 1924

And this shall free thee from this present shame, 1925

If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear 1926

Abate thy valor in the acting it. 1927

JULIET

Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! 1928

FRIAR LAWRENCE

, ⸢giving Juliet the vial⸣ Hold, get you gone. Be strong and prosperous 1929

In this resolve. I’ll send a friar with speed 1930

To Mantua with my letters to thy lord. 1931

JULIET

Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford. 1932

Farewell, dear father. 1933

(⸢They exit in different directions.⸣)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen, two or three.)

CAPULET

So many guests invite as here are writ. 1934

(⸢One or two of the Servingmen exit with Capulet’s list⸣.)

Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. 1935

SERVINGMAN

You shall have none ill, sir, for I’ll try if they can lick their fingers.

CAPULET

How canst thou try them so?

SERVINGMAN

Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not with me.

CAPULET

Go, begone.

(⸢Servingman exits.⸣)

We shall be much unfurnished for this time.— 1936

What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence? 1937

NURSE

Ay, forsooth.

CAPULET

Well, he may chance to do some good on her. 1938

A peevish ⸢self-willed⸣ harlotry it is. 1939

(Enter Juliet.)

NURSE

See where she comes from shrift with merry look. 1940

CAPULET

How now, my headstrong, where have you been gadding? 1941

JULIET

Where I have learned me to repent the sin 1942

Of disobedient opposition 1943

To you and your behests, and am enjoined 1944

By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here 1945

(⸢Kneeling.⸣)

To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you. 1946

Henceforward I am ever ruled by you. 1947

CAPULET

Send for the County. Go tell him of this. 1948

I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning. 1949

JULIET

I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell 1950

And gave him what becomèd love I might, 1951

Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty. 1952

CAPULET

Why, I am glad on ’t. This is well. Stand up. 1953

(⸢Juliet rises⸣.)

This is as ’t should be.—Let me see the County. 1954

Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.— 1955

Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, 1956

All our whole city is much bound to him. 1957

JULIET

Nurse, will you go with me into my closet 1958

To help me sort such needful ornaments 1959

As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow? 1960

LADY CAPULET

No, not till Thursday. There is time enough. 1961

CAPULET

Go, nurse. Go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow. 1962

(⸢Juliet and the Nurse⸣ exit.)

LADY CAPULET

We shall be short in our provision. 1963

’Tis now near night. 1964

CAPULET

Tush, I will stir about,

And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife. 1965

Go thou to Juliet. Help to deck up her. 1966

I’ll not to bed tonight. Let me alone. 1967

I’ll play the housewife for this once.—What ho!— 1968

They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself 1969

To County Paris, to prepare up him 1970

Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light 1971

Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed. 1972

(⸢They⸣ exit.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Juliet and Nurse.)

JULIET

Ay, those attires are best. But, gentle nurse, 1973

I pray thee leave me to myself tonight, 1974

For I have need of many orisons 1975

To move the heavens to smile upon my state, 1976

Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin. 1977

(Enter ⸢Lady Capulet.⸣)

LADY CAPULET

What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help? 1978

JULIET

No, madam, we have culled such necessaries 1979

As are behooveful for our state tomorrow. 1980

So please you, let me now be left alone, 1981

And let the Nurse this night sit up with you, 1982

For I am sure you have your hands full all 1983

In this so sudden business. 1984

LADY CAPULET

Good night.

Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need. 1985

(⸢Lady Capulet and the Nurse⸣ exit.)

JULIET

Farewell.—God knows when we shall meet again. 1986

I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins 1987

That almost freezes up the heat of life. 1988

I’ll call them back again to comfort me.— 1989

Nurse!—What should she do here? 1990

My dismal scene I needs must act alone. 1991

Come, vial. 1992

(⸢She takes out the vial.⸣)

What if this mixture do not work at all? 1993

Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? 1994

(⸢She takes out her knife and puts it down beside her⸣.)

No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there. 1995

What if it be a poison which the Friar 1996

Subtly hath ministered to have me dead, 1997

Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored 1998

Because he married me before to Romeo? 1999

I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not, 2000

For he hath still been tried a holy man. 2001

How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 2002

I wake before the time that Romeo 2003

Come to redeem me? There’s a fearful point. 2004

Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, 2005

To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, 2006

And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? 2007

Or, if I live, is it not very like 2008

The horrible conceit of death and night, 2009

Together with the terror of the place— 2010

As in a vault, an ancient receptacle 2011

Where for this many hundred years the bones 2012

Of all my buried ancestors are packed; 2013

Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, 2014

Lies fest’ring in his shroud; where, as they say, 2015

At some hours in the night spirits resort— 2016

Alack, alack, is it not like that I, 2017

So early waking, what with loathsome smells, 2018

And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth, 2019

That living mortals, hearing them, run mad— 2020

O, if I ⸢wake⸣, shall I not be distraught, 2021

Environèd with all these hideous fears, 2022

And madly play with my forefathers’ joints, 2023

And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud, 2024

And, in this rage, with some great kinsman’s bone, 2025

As with a club, dash out my desp’rate brains? 2026

O look, methinks I see my cousin’s ghost 2027

Seeking out Romeo that did spit his body 2028

Upon a rapier’s point! Stay, Tybalt, stay! 2029

Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee. 2030

(⸢She drinks and falls upon her bed within the curtains⸣.)

⸢Scene 4⸣

(Enter ⸢Lady Capulet⸣ and Nurse.)

LADY CAPULET

Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse. 2031

NURSE

They call for dates and quinces in the pastry. 2032

(Enter old Capulet.)

CAPULET

Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed. 2033

The curfew bell hath rung. ’Tis three o’clock.— 2034

Look to the baked meats, good Angelica. 2035

Spare not for cost. 2036

NURSE

Go, you cot-quean, go,

Get you to bed. Faith, you’ll be sick tomorrow 2037

For this night’s watching. 2038

CAPULET

No, not a whit. What, I have watched ere now 2039

All night for lesser cause, and ne’er been sick. 2040

LADY CAPULET

Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time, 2041

But I will watch you from such watching now. 2042

(Lady ⸢Capulet⸣ and Nurse exit.)

CAPULET

A jealous hood, a jealous hood! 2043

(Enter three or four ⸢Servingmen⸣ with spits and logs and baskets.)

Now fellow,

What is there?

⸢FIRST SERVINGMAN⸣

Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what. 2044

CAPULET

Make haste, make haste. 2045

⸢First Servingman exits.⸣ Sirrah, fetch drier logs.

Call Peter. He will show thee where they are. 2046

⸢SECOND SERVINGMAN⸣

I have a head, sir, that will find out logs 2047

And never trouble Peter for the matter. 2048

CAPULET

Mass, and well said. A merry whoreson, ha! 2049

Thou shalt be loggerhead. 2050

(⸢Second Servingman exits.⸣)

⸢Good faith,⸣ ’tis day.

The County will be here with music straight, 2051

(Play music.)

For so he said he would. I hear him near.— 2052

Nurse!—Wife! What ho!—What, nurse, I say! 2053

(Enter Nurse.)

Go waken Juliet. Go and trim her up. 2054

I’ll go and chat with Paris. Hie, make haste, 2055

Make haste. The bridegroom he is come already. 2056

Make haste, I say. 2057

(⸢He exits.⸣)

⸢Scene 5⸣

NURSE

, ⸢approaching the bed⸣ Mistress! What, mistress! Juliet!—Fast, I warrant her, she— 2058

Why, lamb, why, lady! Fie, you slugabed! 2059

Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweetheart! Why, bride!— 2060

What, not a word?—You take your pennyworths now. 2061

Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant, 2062

The County Paris hath set up his rest 2063

That you shall rest but little.—God forgive me, 2064

Marry, and amen! How sound is she asleep! 2065

I needs must wake her.—Madam, madam, madam! 2066

Ay, let the County take you in your bed, 2067

He’ll fright you up, i’ faith.—Will it not be? 2068

(⸢She opens the bed’s curtains.⸣)

What, dressed, and in your clothes, and down again? 2069

I must needs wake you. Lady, lady, lady!— 2070

Alas, alas! Help, help! My lady’s dead.— 2071

O, weraday, that ever I was born!— 2072

Some aqua vitae, ho!—My lord! My lady! 2073

(⸢Enter Lady Capulet.⸣)

LADY CAPULET

What noise is here? 2074

NURSE

O lamentable day!

LADY CAPULET

What is the matter? 2075

NURSE

Look, look!—O heavy day!

LADY CAPULET

O me! O me! My child, my only life, 2076

Revive, look up, or I will die with thee. 2077

Help, help! Call help. 2078

(Enter ⸢Capulet.⸣)

CAPULET

For shame, bring Juliet forth. Her lord is come. 2079

NURSE

She’s dead, deceased. She’s dead, alack the day! 2080

LADY CAPULET

Alack the day, she’s dead, she’s dead, she’s dead. 2081

CAPULET

Ha, let me see her! Out, alas, she’s cold. 2082

Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff. 2083

Life and these lips have long been separated. 2084

Death lies on her like an untimely frost 2085

Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. 2086

NURSE

O lamentable day! 2087

LADY CAPULET

O woeful time!

CAPULET

Death, that hath ta’en her hence to make me wail, 2088

Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak. 2089

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ and the County ⸢Paris, with Musicians.⸣)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Come, is the bride ready to go to church? 2090

CAPULET

Ready to go, but never to return.— 2091

O son, the night before thy wedding day 2092

Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies, 2093

Flower as she was, deflowerèd by him. 2094

Death is my son-in-law; Death is my heir. 2095

My daughter he hath wedded. I will die 2096

And leave him all. Life, living, all is Death’s. 2097

PARIS

Have I thought ⸢long⸣ to see this morning’s face, 2098

And doth it give me such a sight as this? 2099

LADY CAPULET

Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! 2100

Most miserable hour that e’er time saw 2101

In lasting labor of his pilgrimage! 2102

But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, 2103

But one thing to rejoice and solace in, 2104

And cruel death hath catched it from my sight! 2105

NURSE

O woe, O woeful, woeful, woeful day! 2106

Most lamentable day, most woeful day 2107

That ever, ever I did yet behold! 2108

O day, O day, O day, O hateful day! 2109

Never was seen so black a day as this! 2110

O woeful day, O woeful day! 2111

PARIS

Beguiled, divorcèd, wrongèd, spited, slain! 2112

Most detestable death, by thee beguiled, 2113

By cruel, cruel thee quite overthrown! 2114

O love! O life! Not life, but love in death! 2115

CAPULET

Despised, distressèd, hated, martyred, killed! 2116

Uncomfortable time, why cam’st thou now 2117

To murder, murder our solemnity? 2118

O child! O child! My soul and not my child! 2119

Dead art thou! Alack, my child is dead, 2120

And with my child my joys are burièd. 2121

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion’s ⸢cure⸣ lives not 2122

In these confusions. Heaven and yourself 2123

Had part in this fair maid. Now heaven hath all, 2124

And all the better is it for the maid. 2125

Your part in her you could not keep from death, 2126

But heaven keeps his part in eternal life. 2127

The most you sought was her promotion, 2128

For ’twas your heaven she should be advanced; 2129

And weep you now, seeing she is advanced 2130

Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? 2131

O, in this love you love your child so ill 2132

That you run mad, seeing that she is well. 2133

She’s not well married that lives married long, 2134

But she’s best married that dies married young. 2135

Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary 2136

On this fair corse, and, as the custom is, 2137

And in her best array, bear her to church, 2138

For though ⸢fond⸣ nature bids us all lament, 2139

Yet nature’s tears are reason’s merriment. 2140

CAPULET

All things that we ordainèd festival 2141

Turn from their office to black funeral: 2142

Our instruments to melancholy bells, 2143

Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast, 2144

Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change, 2145

Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse, 2146

And all things change them to the contrary. 2147

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Sir, go you in, and, madam, go with him, 2148

And go, Sir Paris. Everyone prepare 2149

To follow this fair corse unto her grave. 2150

The heavens do lour upon you for some ill. 2151

Move them no more by crossing their high will. 2152

(⸢All but the Nurse and the Musicians⸣ exit.)

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Faith, we may put up our pipes and be gone. 2153

NURSE

Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up, 2154

For, well you know, this is a pitiful case. 2155

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Ay, ⸢by⸣ my troth, the case may be amended. 2156

(⸢Nurse⸣ exits.)

(Enter ⸢Peter.⸣)

PETER

Musicians, O musicians, "Heart's ease," "Heart's ease". O, an you will have me live, play "Heart's ease."

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Why "Heart's ease?"

PETER

O musicians, because my heart itself plays "My heart is full." O, play me some merry dump to comfort me.

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Not a dump, we. ’Tis no time to play now.

PETER

You will not then?

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

No.

PETER

I will then give it you soundly.

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

What will you give us?

PETER

No money, on my faith, but the gleek. I will give you the minstrel.

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Then will I give you the serving-creature.

PETER

Then will I lay the serving-creature’s dagger on your pate. I will carry no crochets. I’ll re you, I’ll fa you. Do you note me?

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

An you re us and fa us, you note us.

SECOND ⸢MUSICIAN⸣

Pray you, put up your dagger and put out your wit.

⸢PETER⸣

Then have at you with my wit. I will dry-beat you with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer me like men.

(⸢Sings⸣.)

When griping griefs the heart doth wound 2157

⸢And doleful dumps the mind oppress,⸣ 2158

Then music with her silver sound— 2159

Why "silver sound"? Why "music with her silver sound"? What say you, Simon Catling?

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound.

PETER

Prates.—What say you, Hugh Rebeck?

SECOND ⸢MUSICIAN⸣

I say "silver sound" because musicians sound for silver.

PETER

Prates too.—What say you, James Soundpost?

THIRD ⸢MUSICIAN⸣

Faith, I know not what to say.

PETER

O, I cry you mercy. You are the singer. I will say for you. It is "music with her silver sound" because musicians have no gold for sounding:

(⸢Sings.⸣)

Then music with her silver sound 2160

With speedy help doth lend redress. 2161

(He exits.)

⸢FIRST MUSICIAN⸣

What a pestilent knave is this same!

SECOND ⸢MUSICIAN⸣

Hang him, Jack. Come, we’ll in here, tarry for the mourners, and stay dinner.

(⸢They⸣ exit.)

Act V

⸢Scene 1⸣

(Enter Romeo.)

ROMEO

If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep, 2162

My dreams presage some joyful news at hand. 2163

My bosom’s ⸢lord⸣ sits lightly in his throne, 2164

And all this day an unaccustomed spirit 2165

Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. 2166

I dreamt my lady came and found me dead 2167

(Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to think!) 2168

And breathed such life with kisses in my lips 2169

That I revived and was an emperor. 2170

Ah me, how sweet is love itself possessed 2171

When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy! 2172

(Enter Romeo’s man ⸢Balthasar, in riding boots.⸣)

News from Verona!—How now, Balthasar? 2173

Dost thou not bring me letters from the Friar? 2174

How doth my lady? Is my father well? 2175

How doth my Juliet? That I ask again, 2176

For nothing can be ill if she be well. 2177

BALTHASAR

Then she is well and nothing can be ill. 2178

Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument, 2179

And her immortal part with angels lives. 2180

I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault 2181

And presently took post to tell it you. 2182

O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, 2183

Since you did leave it for my office, sir. 2184

ROMEO

Is it e’en so?—Then I deny you, stars!— 2185

Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper, 2186

And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight. 2187

BALTHASAR

I do beseech you, sir, have patience. 2188

Your looks are pale and wild and do import 2189

Some misadventure. 2190

ROMEO

Tush, thou art deceived.

Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. 2191

Hast thou no letters to me from the Friar? 2192

BALTHASAR

No, my good lord. 2193

ROMEO

No matter. Get thee gone,

And hire those horses. I’ll be with thee straight. 2194

(⸢Balthasar⸣ exits.)

Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. 2195

Let’s see for means. O mischief, thou art swift 2196

To enter in the thoughts of desperate men. 2197

I do remember an apothecary 2198

(And hereabouts he dwells) which late I noted 2199

In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows, 2200

Culling of simples. Meager were his looks. 2201

Sharp misery had worn him to the bones. 2202

And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, 2203

An alligator stuffed, and other skins 2204

Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves, 2205

A beggarly account of empty boxes, 2206

Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, 2207

Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses 2208

Were thinly scattered to make up a show. 2209

Noting this penury, to myself I said 2210

"An if a man did need a poison now, 2211

Whose sale is present death in Mantua, 2212

Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him." 2213

O, this same thought did but forerun my need, 2214

And this same needy man must sell it me. 2215

As I remember, this should be the house. 2216

Being holiday, the beggar’s shop is shut.— 2217

What ho, Apothecary! 2218

(⸢Enter Apothecary.⸣)

APOTHECARY

Who calls so loud?

ROMEO

Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor. 2219

(⸢He offers money.⸣)

Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have 2220

A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear 2221

As will disperse itself through all the veins, 2222

That the life-weary taker may fall dead, 2223

And that the trunk may be discharged of breath 2224

As violently as hasty powder fired 2225

Doth hurry from the fatal cannon’s womb. 2226

APOTHECARY

Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua’s law 2227

Is death to any he that utters them. 2228

ROMEO

Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, 2229

And fearest to die? Famine is in thy cheeks, 2230

Need and oppression starveth in thy eyes, 2231

Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back. 2232

The world is not thy friend, nor the world’s law. 2233

The world affords no law to make thee rich. 2234

Then be not poor, but break it, and take this. 2235

APOTHECARY

My poverty, but not my will, consents. 2236

ROMEO

I ⸢pay⸣ thy poverty and not thy will. 2237

APOTHECARY

, ⸢giving him the poison⸣ Put this in any liquid thing you will 2238

And drink it off, and if you had the strength 2239

Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight. 2240

ROMEO

, ⸢handing him the money⸣ There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls, 2241

Doing more murder in this loathsome world 2242

Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. 2243

I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. 2244

Farewell, buy food, and get thyself in flesh. 2245

(⸢Apothecary exits.⸣)

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me 2246

To Juliet’s grave, for there must I use thee. 2247

(⸢He exits.⸣)

⸢Scene 2⸣

(Enter Friar John.)

FRIAR JOHN

Holy Franciscan friar, brother, ho! 2248

(Enter ⸢Friar⸣ Lawrence.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

This same should be the voice of Friar John.— 2249

Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo? 2250

Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter. 2251

FRIAR JOHN

Going to find a barefoot brother out, 2252

One of our order, to associate me, 2253

Here in this city visiting the sick, 2254

And finding him, the searchers of the town, 2255

Suspecting that we both were in a house 2256

Where the infectious pestilence did reign, 2257

Sealed up the doors and would not let us forth, 2258

So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed. 2259

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo? 2260

FRIAR JOHN

I could not send it—here it is again— 2261

(⸢Returning the letter.⸣)

Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, 2262

So fearful were they of infection. 2263

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood, 2264

The letter was not nice but full of charge, 2265

Of dear import, and the neglecting it 2266

May do much danger. Friar John, go hence. 2267

Get me an iron crow and bring it straight 2268

Unto my cell. 2269

FRIAR JOHN

Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee. 2270

(He exits.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Now must I to the monument alone. 2271

Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake. 2272

She will beshrew me much that Romeo 2273

Hath had no notice of these accidents. 2274

But I will write again to Mantua, 2275

And keep her at my cell till Romeo come. 2276

Poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb! 2277

(He exits.)

⸢Scene 3⸣

(Enter Paris and his Page.)

PARIS

Give me thy torch, boy. Hence and stand aloof. 2278

Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. 2279

Under yond ⸢yew⸣ trees lay thee all along, 2280

Holding thy ear close to the hollow ground. 2281

So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread 2282

(Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves) 2283

But thou shalt hear it. Whistle then to me 2284

As signal that thou hearest something approach. 2285

Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee. Go. 2286

PAGE,

I am almost afraid to stand alone 2287

Here in the churchyard. Yet I will adventure. 2288

(⸢He moves away from Paris.⸣)

PARIS

, ⸢scattering flowers⸣ Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew 2289

(O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones!) 2290

Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, 2291

Or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans. 2292

The obsequies that I for thee will keep 2293

Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep. 2294

(⸢Page⸣ whistles.)

The boy gives warning something doth approach. 2295

What cursèd foot wanders this way tonight, 2296

To cross my obsequies and true love’s rite? 2297

What, with a torch? Muffle me, night, awhile. 2298

(⸢He steps aside.⸣)

(Enter Romeo and ⸢Balthasar.⸣)

ROMEO

Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron. 2299

Hold, take this letter. Early in the morning 2300

See thou deliver it to my lord and father. 2301

Give me the light. Upon thy life I charge thee, 2302

Whate’er thou hearest or seest, stand all aloof 2303

And do not interrupt me in my course. 2304

Why I descend into this bed of death 2305

Is partly to behold my lady’s face, 2306

But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger 2307

A precious ring, a ring that I must use 2308

In dear employment. Therefore hence, begone. 2309

But, if thou, jealous, dost return to pry 2310

In what I farther shall intend to do, 2311

By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint 2312

And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs. 2313

The time and my intents are savage-wild, 2314

More fierce and more inexorable far 2315

Than empty tigers or the roaring sea. 2316

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 2317

ROMEO

So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that. 2318

(⸢Giving money.⸣)

Live and be prosperous, and farewell, good fellow. 2319

⸢BALTHASAR,

For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout. 2320

His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt. 2321

(⸢He steps aside.⸣)

ROMEO

, ⸢beginning to force open the tomb⸣ Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, 2322

Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, 2323

Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, 2324

And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food. 2325

PARIS

This is that banished haughty Montague 2326

That murdered my love’s cousin, with which grief 2327

It is supposèd the fair creature died, 2328

And here is come to do some villainous shame 2329

To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him. 2330

(⸢Stepping forward.⸣)

Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague. 2331

Can vengeance be pursued further than death? 2332

Condemnèd villain, I do apprehend thee. 2333

Obey and go with me, for thou must die. 2334

ROMEO

I must indeed, and therefore came I hither. 2335

Good gentle youth, tempt not a desp’rate man. 2336

Fly hence and leave me. Think upon these gone. 2337

Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth, 2338

Put not another sin upon my head 2339

By urging me to fury. O, begone! 2340

By heaven, I love thee better than myself, 2341

For I come hither armed against myself. 2342

Stay not, begone, live, and hereafter say 2343

A madman’s mercy bid thee run away. 2344

PARIS

I do defy thy ⸢commination⸣ 2345

And apprehend thee for a felon here. 2346

ROMEO

Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy! 2347

(⸢They draw and fight.⸣)

⸢PAGE⸣

O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch. 2348

(⸢He exits.⸣)

PARIS

O, I am slain! If thou be merciful, 2349

Open the tomb; lay me with Juliet. 2350

(⸢He dies.⸣)

ROMEO

In faith, I will.—Let me peruse this face. 2351

Mercutio’s kinsman, noble County Paris! 2352

What said my man when my betossèd soul 2353

Did not attend him as we rode? I think 2354

He told me Paris should have married Juliet. 2355

Said he not so? Or did I dream it so? 2356

Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, 2357

To think it was so?—O, give me thy hand, 2358

One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book! 2359

I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.— 2360

(⸢He opens the tomb.⸣)

A grave? O, no. A lantern, slaughtered youth, 2361

For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes 2362

This vault a feasting presence full of light.— 2363

Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred. 2364

(⸢Laying Paris in the tomb.⸣)

How oft when men are at the point of death 2365

Have they been merry, which their keepers call 2366

A light’ning before death! O, how may I 2367

Call this a light’ning?—O my love, my wife, 2368

Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, 2369

Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. 2370

Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s ensign yet 2371

Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, 2372

And death’s pale flag is not advancèd there.— 2373

Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet? 2374

O, what more favor can I do to thee 2375

Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain 2376

To sunder his that was thine enemy? 2377

Forgive me, cousin.—Ah, dear Juliet, 2378

Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe 2379

That unsubstantial death is amorous, 2380

And that the lean abhorrèd monster keeps 2381

Thee here in dark to be his paramour? 2382

For fear of that I still will stay with thee 2383

And never from this ⸢palace⸣ of dim night 2384

Depart again. Here, here will I remain 2385

With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here 2386

Will I set up my everlasting rest 2387

And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars 2388

From this world-wearied flesh! Eyes, look your last. 2389

Arms, take your last embrace. And, lips, O, you 2390

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss 2391

A dateless bargain to engrossing death. 2392

(⸢Kissing Juliet.⸣)

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide! 2393

Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on 2394

The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! 2395

Here’s to my love. ⸢Drinking⸣. O true apothecary, 2396

Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. 2397

(⸢He dies.⸣)

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ with lantern, crow, and spade.)

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Saint Francis be my speed! How oft tonight 2398

Have my old feet stumbled at graves!—Who’s there? 2399

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

Here’s one, a friend, and one that knows you well. 2400

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Bliss be upon you. Tell me, good my friend, 2401

What torch is yond that vainly lends his light 2402

To grubs and eyeless skulls? As I discern, 2403

It burneth in the Capels’ monument. 2404

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

It doth so, holy sir, and there’s my master, 2405

One that you love. 2406

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Who is it?

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

Romeo.

FRIAR LAWRENCE

How long hath he been there? 2407

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

Full half an hour.

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Go with me to the vault. 2408

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

I dare not, sir.

My master knows not but I am gone hence, 2409

And fearfully did menace me with death 2410

If I did stay to look on his intents. 2411

FRIAR LAWRENCE

Stay, then. I’ll go alone. Fear comes upon me. 2412

O, much I fear some ill unthrifty thing. 2413

⸢BALTHASAR⸣

As I did sleep under this ⸢yew⸣ tree here, 2414

I dreamt my master and another fought, 2415

And that my master slew him. 2416

FRIAR LAWRENCE

, ⸢moving toward the tomb⸣ Romeo!—

Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains 2417

The stony entrance of this sepulcher? 2418

What mean these masterless and gory swords 2419

To lie discolored by this place of peace? 2420

Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too? 2421

And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour 2422

Is guilty of this lamentable chance! 2423

The lady stirs. 2424

JULIET

O comfortable friar, where is my lord? 2425

I do remember well where I should be, 2426

And there I am. Where is my Romeo? 2427

FRIAR LAWRENCE

I hear some noise.—Lady, come from that nest 2428

Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. 2429

A greater power than we can contradict 2430

Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away. 2431

Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead, 2432

And Paris, too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee 2433

Among a sisterhood of holy nuns. 2434

Stay not to question, for the watch is coming. 2435

Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay. 2436

JULIET

Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. 2437

(He exits.)

What’s here? A cup closed in my true love’s hand? 2438

Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.— 2439

O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop 2440

To help me after! I will kiss thy lips. 2441

Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, 2442

To make me die with a restorative. 2443

(⸢She kisses him.⸣)

Thy lips are warm! 2444

(Enter ⸢Paris’s Page⸣ and Watch.)

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

Lead, boy. Which way?

JULIET

Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O, happy dagger, 2445

This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die. 2446

(⸢She takes Romeo’s dagger, stabs herself, and dies.⸣)

⸢PAGE⸣

This is the place, there where the torch doth burn. 2447

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

The ground is bloody.—Search about the churchyard. 2448

Go, some of you; whoe’er you find, attach. 2449

(⸢Some watchmen exit.⸣)

Pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain, 2450

And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead, 2451

Who here hath lain this two days burièd.— 2452

Go, tell the Prince. Run to the Capulets. 2453

Raise up the Montagues. Some others search. 2454

(⸢Others exit.⸣)

We see the ground whereon these woes do lie, 2455

But the true ground of all these piteous woes 2456

We cannot without circumstance descry. 2457

(Enter ⸢Watchmen with⸣ Romeo’s man ⸢Balthasar.⸣)

⸢SECOND⸣ WATCH

Here’s Romeo’s man. We found him in the churchyard. 2458

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

Hold him in safety till the Prince come hither. 2459

(Enter Friar ⸢Lawrence⸣ and another Watchman.)

THIRD WATCH

Here is a friar that trembles, sighs, and weeps. 2460

We took this mattock and this spade from him 2461

As he was coming from this churchyard’s side. 2462

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

A great suspicion. Stay the Friar too. 2463

(Enter the Prince ⸢with Attendants.⸣)

PRINCE

What misadventure is so early up 2464

That calls our person from our morning rest? 2465

(Enter ⸢Capulet and Lady Capulet.⸣)

CAPULET

What should it be that is so ⸢shrieked⸣ abroad? 2466

LADY CAPULET

O, the people in the street cry "Romeo," 2467

Some "Juliet," and some "Paris," and all run 2468

With open outcry toward our monument. 2469

PRINCE

What fear is this which startles in ⸢our⸣ ears? 2470

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain, 2471

And Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before, 2472

Warm and new killed. 2473

PRINCE

Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes. 2474

⸢FIRST⸣ WATCH

Here is a friar, and ⸢slaughtered⸣ Romeo’s man, 2475

With instruments upon them fit to open 2476

These dead men’s tombs. 2477

CAPULET

O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds! 2478

This dagger hath mista’en, for, lo, his house 2479

Is empty on the back of Montague, 2480

And it mis-sheathèd in my daughter’s bosom. 2481

LADY CAPULET

O me, this sight of death is as a bell 2482

That warns my old age to a sepulcher. 2483

(Enter Montague.)

PRINCE

Come, Montague, for thou art early up 2484

To see thy son and heir now ⸢early⸣ down. 2485

MONTAGUE

Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight. 2486

Grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath. 2487

What further woe conspires against mine age? 2488

PRINCE

Look, and thou shalt see. 2489

MONTAGUE

, ⸢seeing Romeo dead⸣ O thou untaught! What manners is in this, 2490

To press before thy father to a grave? 2491

PRINCE

Seal up the mouth of outrage for awhile, 2492

Till we can clear these ambiguities 2493

And know their spring, their head, their true descent, 2494

And then will I be general of your woes 2495

And lead you even to death. Meantime forbear, 2496

And let mischance be slave to patience.— 2497

Bring forth the parties of suspicion. 2498

FRIAR LAWRENCE

I am the greatest, able to do least, 2499

Yet most suspected, as the time and place 2500

Doth make against me, of this direful murder. 2501

And here I stand, both to impeach and purge 2502

Myself condemnèd and myself excused. 2503

PRINCE

Then say at once what thou dost know in this. 2504

FRIAR LAWRENCE

I will be brief, for my short date of breath 2505

Is not so long as is a tedious tale. 2506

Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet, 2507

And she, there dead, ⸢that⸣ Romeo’s faithful wife. 2508

I married them, and their stol’n marriage day 2509

Was Tybalt’s doomsday, whose untimely death 2510

Banished the new-made bridegroom from this city, 2511

For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. 2512

You, to remove that siege of grief from her, 2513

Betrothed and would have married her perforce 2514

To County Paris. Then comes she to me, 2515

And with wild looks bid me devise some mean 2516

To rid her from this second marriage, 2517

Or in my cell there would she kill herself. 2518

Then gave I her (so tutored by my art) 2519

A sleeping potion, which so took effect 2520

As I intended, for it wrought on her 2521

The form of death. Meantime I writ to Romeo 2522

That he should hither come as this dire night 2523

To help to take her from her borrowed grave, 2524

Being the time the potion’s force should cease. 2525

But he which bore my letter, Friar John, 2526

Was stayed by accident, and yesternight 2527

Returned my letter back. Then all alone 2528

At the prefixèd hour of her waking 2529

Came I to take her from her kindred’s vault, 2530

Meaning to keep her closely at my cell 2531

Till I conveniently could send to Romeo. 2532

But when I came, some minute ere the time 2533

Of her awakening, here untimely lay 2534

The noble Paris and true Romeo dead. 2535

She wakes, and I entreated her come forth 2536

And bear this work of heaven with patience. 2537

But then a noise did scare me from the tomb, 2538

And she, too desperate, would not go with me 2539

But, as it seems, did violence on herself. 2540

All this I know, and to the marriage 2541

Her nurse is privy. And if aught in this 2542

Miscarried by my fault, let my old life 2543

Be sacrificed some hour before his time 2544

Unto the rigor of severest law. 2545

PRINCE

We still have known thee for a holy man.— 2546

Where’s Romeo’s man? What can he say to this? 2547

BALTHASAR

I brought my master news of Juliet’s death, 2548

And then in post he came from Mantua 2549

To this same place, to this same monument. 2550

This letter he early bid me give his father 2551

And threatened me with death, going in the vault, 2552

If I departed not and left him there. 2553

PRINCE

Give me the letter. I will look on it.— 2554

(⸢He takes Romeo’s letter.⸣)

Where is the County’s page, that raised the watch?— 2555

Sirrah, what made your master in this place? 2556

PAGE

He came with flowers to strew his lady’s grave 2557

And bid me stand aloof, and so I did. 2558

Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb, 2559

And by and by my master drew on him, 2560

And then I ran away to call the watch. 2561

PRINCE

This letter doth make good the Friar’s words, 2562

Their course of love, the tidings of her death; 2563

And here he writes that he did buy a poison 2564

Of a poor ’pothecary, and therewithal 2565

Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. 2566

Where be these enemies?—Capulet, Montague, 2567

See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, 2568

That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love, 2569

And I, for winking at your discords too, 2570

Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished. 2571

CAPULET

O brother Montague, give me thy hand. 2572

This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more 2573

Can I demand. 2574

MONTAGUE

But I can give thee more,

For I will ray her statue in pure gold, 2575

That whiles Verona by that name is known, 2576

There shall no figure at such rate be set 2577

As that of true and faithful Juliet. 2578

CAPULET

As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie, 2579

Poor sacrifices of our enmity. 2580

PRINCE

A glooming peace this morning with it brings. 2581

The sun for sorrow will not show his head. 2582

Go hence to have more talk of these sad things. 2583

Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd. 2584

For never was a story of more woe 2585

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. 2586

(⸢All exit.⸣)