The most excellent Tragedie of
Romeo and Iuliet.
[Sc. I.]
Enter 2. Seruingmen of the Capolets.
to it: therefore (of my word) if thou be mooud thou't 10
runne away.
the wall of.
to the wall. 15
wall, and thrust the maids to to the walls: nay, thou shalt
see I am a tall peece of flesh.
wouldst be but poore Iohn. 20
off with their heads.
take it in what sence thou wilt. 25
comes two of the Mountagues.
Enter two Seruingmen of the Mountagues.
first. Ile tell thee what Ile doo, as I goe by ile bite my
thumbe, which is disgrace enough if they suffer it.
come after and frowne.
They draw, to them enters Tybalt, they fight, to them the Prince, old Mountague, and his wife, old Capulet and his wife, and other Citizens and part them.
On paine of torture, from those bloody handes
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground. 45
Three Ciuell brawles bred of an airie word,
By the old Capulet and Mountague,
Haue thrice disturbd the quiet of our streets.
If euer you disturbe our streets againe,
Your liues shall pay the ransome of your fault: 50
For this time euery man depart in peace.
Come Capulet come you along with me,
And Mountague, come you this after noone,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old free Towne our common iudgement place, 55
Once more on paine of death each man depart.
Exeunt.
Speake Nephew, were you by when it began?
And yours close fighting ere I did approch. 60
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
Peept through the golden window of the East,
[Pg 147] A troubled thought drew me from companie:
Where vnderneath the groue Sicamoure,
That Westward rooteth from the Citties side,
So early walking might I see your sonne.
I drew towards him, but he was ware of me,
And drew into the thicket of the wood: 70
I noting his affections by mine owne,
That most are busied when th' are most alone,
Pursued my honor, not pursuing his.
Vnlesse good counsaile doo the cause remooue. 75
Enter Romeo.
Ile know his grieuance, or be much denied.
To heare true shrift. Come Madame lets away.
Was that my Father that went hence so fast?
Should be so tyrranous and rough in proofe.
Should without lawes giue path-waies to our will:
Where shall we dine? Gods me, what fray was here?
Yet tell me not for I haue heard it all,
Heres much to doe with hate, but more with loue.
Why then, O brawling loue, O louing hate, 100
O anie thing, of nothing first create!
O heauie lightnes serious vanitie!
Mishapen Caos of best seeming thinges,
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sicke health,
Still waking sleepe, that is not what it is: 105
This loue feele I, which feele no loue in this.
Doest thou not laugh?
[Pg 148]
Griefes of mine owne lie heauie at my hart,
Which thou wouldst propagate to haue them prest
With more of thine, this griefe that thou hast showne,
Doth ad more griefe to too much of mine owne: 115
Loue is a smoke raisde with the fume of sighes
Being purgde, a fire sparkling in louers eyes:
Being vext, a sea raging with a louers teares.
What is it else? A madnes most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preseruing sweet. Farewell Cose. 120
And if you hinder me you doo me wrong.
This is not Romeo, hee's some other where.
Ah word ill vrgde to one that is so ill.
In sadnes Cosen I doo loue a woman. 130
With Cupids arrow, she hath Dianaes wit, 135
And in strong proofe of chastitie well arm'd:
Gainst Cupids childish bow she liues vnharm'd,
Shee'le not abide the siedge of louing tearmes,
Nor ope her lap to Saint seducing gold,
Ah she is rich in beautie, only poore, 140
That when she dies with beautie dies her store. Exeu.
[Sc. II.]
Enter Countie Paris, old Capulet.
And pittie tis they liue at ods so long:
But leauing that, what say you to my sute?
My daughter is a stranger in the world, 5
Shee hath not yet attainde to fourteene yeares:
Let two more sommers wither in their pride,
Before she can be thought fit for a Bride.
But wooe her gentle Paris, get her heart,
[Pg 149] My word to her consent is but a part.
This night I hold an old accustom'd Feast,
Whereto I haue inuited many a guest,
Such as I loue: yet you among the store, 15
One more most welcome makes the number more.
At my poore house you shall behold this night,
Earth treadding stars, that make darke heauen light:
Such comfort as doo lusty youngmen feele,
When well apparaild Aprill on the heele 20
Of lumping winter treads, euen such delights
Amongst fresh female buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house, heare all, all see,
And like her most, whose merite most shalbe.
Such amongst view of many myne beeing one, 25
May stand in number though in reckoning none.
Enter Servingman.
Through faire Verona streets, and seeke them out:
Whose names are written here and to them say,
My house and welcome at their pleasure stay. Exeunt. 30
and yet I knowe not who are written here: I must to
the learned to learne of them, that's as much to say, as
the Taylor must meddle with his Laste, the Shoomaker
with his needle, the Painter with his nets, and the Fisher 35
with his Pensill, I must to the learned.
Enter Benuolio and Romeo.
One paine is lessned with anothers anguish:
Turne backward, and be holp with backward turning.
One desperate griefe cures with anothers languish. 40
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the ranke poyson of the old will die.
Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode,
Whipt and tormented, and Godden good fellow.
He reads the Letter.
Anselme and his beauteous sisters, the Ladie widdow of
Vtruuio, Seigneur Placentio, and his louelie Neeces,
Mercutio and his brother Valentine, mine vncle Capulet60
his wife and daughters, my faire Neece Rosaline and
Liuia, Seigneur Valentio and his Cosen Tibalt, Lucio
and the liuelie Hellena.
the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of
Mountagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest
you merrie.
Sups the faire Rosaline whom thou so loues:
With all the admired beauties of Verona,
Goe thither and with vnattainted eye,
Compare her face with some that I shall shew,
And I will make thee thinke thy swan a crow. 80
Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire,
And these who often drownde could neuer die,
Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers.
One fairer than my loue, the all seeing sonne 85
Nere saw her match, since first the world begun.
Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye:
But in that Cristall scales let there be waide,
Your Ladyes loue, against some other maide 90
That I will shew you shining at this feast,
And she shall scant shew well that now seemes best.
But to reioyce in splendor of mine owne.
[Sc. III.]
Enter Capulets wife and Nurce.
[Pg 151]
bad her come, what Lamb, what Ladie bird, God forbid.
Wher's this girle? what Iuliet. Enter Iuliet. 5
must talke in secret. Nurce come back again I haue remembred 10
me, thou'se heare our counsaile. Thou knowest
my daughters of a prettie age.
teene be it spoken, I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene.
How long is it now to Lammas-tide?
Lammas Eue at night shall she be fourteene. Susan and she20
God rest all Christian soules were of an age. Well Susan is
with God, she was too good for me: But as I said on Lammas
Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall shee marie
I remember it well. Tis since the Earth-quake nowe eleauen
yeares, and she was weand I neuer shall forget it, of 25
all the daies of the yeare vpon that day: for I had then laid
wormewood to my dug, sitting in the sun vnder the Doue-house
wall. My Lord and you were then at Mantua, nay I
do beare a braine: But as I said, when it did tast the wormwood
on the nipple of my dug, & felt it bitter, pretty foole 30
to see it teachie and fall out with Dugge. Shake quoth the
Doue-house twas no need I trow to bid me trudge, and since
that time it is a leauen yeare: for then could Iuliet stande
high lone, nay by the Roode, shee could haue wadled vp and
downe, for euen the day before shee brake her brow, and then 35
my husband God be with his soule, hee was a merrie man:
Dost thou fall forward Iuliet? thou wilt fall backward when
thou hast more wit: wilt thou not Iuliet? and by my hollidam,
the pretty foole left crying and said I. To see how a
ieast shall come about, I warrant you if I should liue a hundred40
yeare, I neuer should forget it, wilt thou not Iuliet?
and by my troth she stinted and cried I.
grace, thou wert the prettiest Babe that euer I nurst, might 45
I but liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.
[Pg 152] I meant to talke of: Tell me Iuliet, howe stand you affected
to be married?
would say thou hadst suckt wisedome from thy Teat.
thee for his Wife.
the world, why he is a man of waxe.
But no more deepe will I engage mine eye,
Then your consent giues strength to make it flie.
Enter Clowne.
the Nurce curst in the Pantrie, all thinges in extreamitie,
make hast for I must be gone to waite. 65
[Sc. IV.]
Enter Maskers with Romeo and a Page.
Or shall we on without Apologie.
Weele haue no Cupid hudwinckt with a Scarfe,
Bearing a Tartars painted bow of lath, 5
Scaring the Ladies like a crow-keeper:
Nor no withoutbooke Prologue faintly spoke
After the Prompter, for our entrance.
But let them measure vs by what they will,
Weele measure them a measure and be gone. 10
Being but heauie I will beare the light.
With nimble soles, I haue a soule of lead 15
So stakes me to the ground I cannot stirre.
A visor for a visor, what care I
What curious eye doth coate deformitie.
Tickle the senceles rushes with their heeles:
For I am prouerbd with a Grandsire phrase,
Ile be a candleholder and looke on,
The game was nere so faire and I am done.
[Pg 153] If thou beest Dun, weele draw thee from the mire
Of this surreuerence loue wherein thou stickst.
Leaue this talke, we burne day light here.
We burne our lights by night, like Lampes by day, 30
Take our good meaning for our iudgement sits
Three times a day, ere once in her right wits.
But tis no wit to goe.
She is the Fairies Midwife and doth come
In shape no bigger than an Aggat stone
On the forefinger of a Burgomaster,
Drawne with a teeme of little Atomi, 45
A thwart mens noses when they lie a sleepe.
Her waggon spokes are made of spinners webs,
The couer, of the winges of Grashoppers,
The traces are the Moone-shine watrie beames,
The collers crickets bones, the lash of filmes, 50
Her waggoner is a small gray coated flie,
Not halfe so big as is a little worme,
Pickt from the lasie finger of a maide,
And in this sort she gallops vp and downe
Through Louers braines, and then they dream of loue: 55
O're Courtiers knees: who strait on cursies dreame
O're Ladies lips, who dreame on kisses strait:
Which oft the angrie Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breathes with sweet meats tainted are:
Sometimes she gallops ore a Lawers lap, 60
And then dreames he of smelling out a sute,
And sometime comes she with a tithe pigs taile,
Tickling a Parsons nose that lies a sleepe,
And then dreames he of another benefice:
Sometime she gallops ore a souldiers nose, 65
And then dreames he of cutting forraine throats,
Of breaches ambuscados, countermines,
Of healthes fiue fadome deepe, and then anon
Drums in his eare: at which he startes and wakes,
And sweares a Praier or two and sleepes againe. 70
[Pg 154] This is that Mab that makes maids lie on their backes,
And proues them women of good cariage.
This is the verie Mab that plats the manes of Horses in the night,
And plats the Elfelocks in foule sluttish haire,
Which once vntangled much misfortune breedes. 75
Which are the Children of an idle braine,
Begot of nothing but vaine fantasie,
Which is as thinne a substance as the aire, 80
And more inconstant than the winde,
Which wooes euen now the frosē bowels of the north,
And being angred puffes away in haste,
Turning his face to the dew-dropping south.
Supper is done and we shall come too late.
Some consequence is hanging in the stars,
Which bitterly begins his fearefull date
With this nights reuels, and expiers the terme 90
Of a dispised life, closde in this breast,
By some vntimelie forfet of vile death:
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Directs my saile, on lustie Gentlemen.
[Sc. V.]
Enter old Capulet with the ladies.
Ladies that haue their toes vnplagud with Corns
Will haue about with you, ah ha my Mistresses,
Which of you all will now refuse to dance?
Shee that makes daintie, shee Ile sweare hath Corns. 5
Am I come neere you now, welcome Gentlemen, welcome,
More lights you knaues, & turn these tables vp,
And quench the fire the roome is growne too hote.
Ah sirra, this vnlookt for sport comes well,
Nay sit, nay sit, good Cosen Capulet: 10
For you and I are past our standing dayes,
How long is it since you and I were in a Maske?
Tis since the mariage of Lucentio, 15
Come Pentecost as quicklie as it will,
Some fiue and twentie yeares, and then we maskt.
[Pg 155] His sonne was but a Ward three yeares agoe,
Good youths I faith. Oh youth's a iolly thing.
Of yonder Knight? O shee doth teach the torches to burne bright!
It seemes she hangs vpon the cheeke of night,
Like a rich iewell in an Aethiops eare, 25
Beautie too rich for vse, for earth too deare:
So shines a snow-white Swan trouping with Crowes,
As this faire Ladie ouer her fellowes showes.
The measure done, ile watch her place of stand,
And touching hers, make happie my rude hand. 30
Did my heart loue till now? Forsweare it sight,
I neuer saw true beautie till this night.
Fetch me my rapier boy. What dares the slaue
Come hither couer'd with an Anticke face, 35
To scorne and ieere at our solemnitie?
Now by the stocke and honor of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it for no sin.
A villaine that is hether come in spight,
To mocke at our solemnitie this night.
And to speake truth, Verona brags of him,
As of a vertuous and well gouern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all this towne,
Here in my house doo him disparagement:
Therefore be quiet take no note of him, 50
Beare a faire presence, and put off these frownes,
An ill beseeming semblance for a feast.
Ile not indure him.
Am I the Master of the house or you?
You'le not indure him? God shall mend my soule
You'le make a mutenie amongst my guests.
You'le set Cocke a hoope, you'le be the man.
This tricke will scath you one day I know what.
Well said my hartes. Be quiet:
[Pg 156] More light Ye knaue, or I will make you quiet.
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greetings:
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, conuert to bitter gall.
This holie shrine, the gentle sinne is this: 70
My lips two blushing Pilgrims ready stand,
To smooth the rough touch with a gentle kisse.
Which mannerly deuotion shewes in this:
For Saints haue hands which holy Palmers touch, 75
And Palme to Palme is holy Palmers kisse.
They pray, yeeld thou, least faith turne to dispaire. 80
Thus from my lips, by yours my sin is purgde.
Giue me my sinne againe.
house, and a good Lady, and a wise, and a vertuous. I nurst
her daughter that you talkt withall, I tell you, he that can
lay hold of her shall haue the chinkes.
My life is my foes thrall. 95
We haue a trifling foolish banquet towards.
They whisper in his eare.
Well then I thanke you honest Gentlemen,
I promise you but for your company, 100
I would haue bin a bed an houre agoe:
Light to my chamber hoe. Exeunt.
[Pg 157]
My graue is like to be my wedding bed. 110
sonne of your great enemie.
Too early seene vnknowne, and knowne too late:
Prodigious birth of loue is this to me, 115
That I should loue a loathed enemie.
with you. Exeunt.
[Sc. VI.]
Enter Romeo alone.
Turne backe dull earth and finde thy Center out.
Enter Benuolio Mercutio.
Vpon my life he hath stolne him home to bed. 5
Call good Mercutio.
likenes of a sigh: speek but one rime & I am satisfied, cry 10
but ay me. Pronounce but Loue and Doue, speake to
my gossip Venus one faire word, one nickname for her
purblinde sonne and heire young Abraham: Cupid hee
that shot so trim when young King Cophetua loued the
begger wench. Hee heares me not. I coniure thee by 15
Rosalindes bright eye, high forehead, and scarlet lip, her
prettie foote, straight leg, and quiuering thigh, and the
demaines that there adiacent lie, that in thy likenesse
thou appeare to vs.
raise a spirit in his Mistris circle of some strange fashion,
making it there to stand till she had laid it, and coniurde
it downe, that were some spite. My inuocation is faire
and honest, and in his Mistris name I coniure onely but 25
to raise vp him.
[Pg 158]
To be consorted with the humerous night,
Blinde in his loue, and best befits the darke.
Now will he sit vnder a Medler tree,
And wish his Mistris were that kinde of fruite,
As maides call Medlers when they laugh alone.
Ah Romeo that she were, ah that she were
An open Et cætera, thou a poprin Peare. 35
Romeo God night, il'e to my trundle bed:
This field bed is too cold for mee.
Come lets away, for tis but vaine,
To seeke him here that meanes not to be found.
But soft, what light forth yonder window breakes?
It is the East, and Iuliet is the Sunne,
Arise faire Sunne, and kill the enuious Moone
That is alreadie sicke, and pale with griefe:
That thou her maid, art far more faire than she. 45
Be not her maide since she is enuious,
Her vestall liuerie is but pale and greene,
And none but fooles doe weare it, cast it off.
She speakes, but she sayes nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourseth, I will answere it. 50
I am too bold, tis not to me she speakes,
Two of the fairest starres in all the skies,
Hauing some busines, doe entreat her eyes
To twinckle in their spheares till they returne.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head, 55
The brightnes of her cheekes would shame those stars:
As day-light doth a Lampe, her eyes in heauen,
Would through the airie region streame so bright,
That birdes would sing, and thinke it were not night.
Oh now she leanes her cheekes vpon her hand, 60
I would I were the gloue to that same hand,
That I might kisse that cheeke.
For thou art as glorious to this night beeing ouer my head, 65
As is a winged messenger of heauen
Vnto the white vpturned woondring eyes,
Of mortals that fall backe to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lasie pacing cloudes,
And sailes vpon the bosome of the aire. 70
[Pg 159] Denie thy Father, and refuse thy name,
Or if thou wilt not be but sworne my loue,
And il'e no longer be a Capulet.
Whats Mountague? It is nor hand nor foote,
Nor arme, nor face, nor any other part.
Whats in a name? That which we call a Rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet: 80
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo cald,
Retaine the diuine perfection he owes:
Without that title Romeo part thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee,
Take all I haue. 85
Call me but loue, and il'e be new Baptisde,
Henceforth I neuer will be Romeo.
Doest stumble on my counsaile? 90
My name deare Saint is hatefull to my selfe,
Because it is an enemie to thee.
Had I it written I would teare the word.
Of that tongues vtterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Mountague?
The Orchard walles are high and hard to clime, 100
And the place death considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen finde thee here.
For stonie limits cannot hold loue out,
And what loue can doo, that dares loue attempt, 105
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
Then twentie of their swords, looke thou but sweete,
And I am proofe against their enmitie. 110
And but thou loue me let them finde me here:
For life were better ended by their hate,
Than death proroged wanting of thy loue. 115
[Pg 160]
I he gaue me counsaile and I lent him eyes.
I am no Pilot: yet wert thou as farre
As that vast shore, washt with the furthest sea, 120
I would aduenture for such Marchandise.
Els would a Maiden blush bepaint my cheeks:
For that which thou haste heard me speake to night,
Faine would I dwell on forme, faine faine denie, 125
What I haue spoke: but farewell complements.
Doest thou loue me? Nay I know thou wilt say I,
And I will take thy word: but if thou swearst,
Thou maiest proue false:
At Louers periuries they say Ioue smiles. 130
Ah gentle Romeo, if thou loue pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou thinke I am too easely wonne,
Il'e frowne and say thee nay and be peruerse,
So thou wilt wooe: but els not for the world,
In truth faire Mountague, I am too fond, 135
And therefore thou maiest thinke my hauiour light:
But trust me gentleman Ile proue more true,
Than they that haue more cunning to be strange.
I should haue bin strange I must confesse,
But that thou ouer-heardst ere I was ware 140
My true loues Passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yeelding to light loue,
Which the darke night hath so discouered.
That tips with siluer all these fruit trees tops. 145
That monthlie changeth in her circled orbe,
Least that thy loue proue likewise variable.
Or if thou sweare, sweare by thy glorious selfe,
Which art the God of my Idolatrie,
And il'e beleeue thee.
I haue small ioy in this contract to night,
It is too rash, too sodaine, too vnaduisde,
Too like the lightning that doth cease to bee
Ere one can say it lightens. I heare some comming,
Deare loue adew, sweet Mountague be true, 160
Stay but a little and il'e come againe.
[Pg 161] All this is but a dreame I heare and see,
Too flattering true to be substantiall.
If that thy bent of loue be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to morrow
By one that il'e procure to come to thee:
Where and what time thou wilt performe that right,
And al my fortunes at thy foote il'e lay, 170
And follow thee my Lord through out the world.
But loue from loue, to schoole with heauie lookes.
To lure this Tassell gentle backe againe: 175
Bondage is hoarse and may not crie aloud,
Els would I teare the Caue where Eccho lies
And make her airie voice as hoarse as mine,
With repetition of my Romeos name.
Romeo? 180
How siluer sweet sound louers tongues in night.
Romeo I haue forgot why I did call thee backe.
Remembring how I loue thy companie.
Forgetting any other home but this.
But yet no further then a wantons bird, 195
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a pore prisoner in his twisted giues,
And with a silke thred puls it backe againe,
Too louing iealous of his libertie.
Yet I should kill thee with much cherrishing thee.
Good night, good night, parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
I would that I were sleep and peace of sweet to rest.
Now will I to my Ghostly fathers Cell,
[Pg 162] His help to craue, and my good hap to tell.
[Sc. VII.]
Enter Frier Francis.
Checkring the Easterne clouds with streakes of light,
And flecked darkenes like a drunkard reeles,
From forth daies path, and Titans fierie wheeles:
Now ere the Sunne aduance his burning eye, 5
The world to cheare, and nights darke dew to drie.
We must vp fill this oasier Cage of ours,
With balefull weeds, and precious iuyced flowers.
Oh mickle is the powerfull grace that lies
In hearbes, plants, stones, and their true qualities: 10
For nought so vile, that vile on earth doth liue,
But to the earth some speciall good doth giue:
Nor nought so good, but straind from that faire use,
Reuolts to vice and stumbles on abuse:
Vertue it selfe turnes vice being misapplied, 15
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
Within the infant rinde of this small flower,
Poyson hath residence, and medecine power:
For this being smelt too, with that part cheares ech hart,
Being tasted slaies all sences with the hart. 20
Two such opposed foes incampe them still,
In man as well as herbes, grace and rude will,
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soone the canker death eats vp that plant.
Yong sonne it argues a distempered head,
So soone to bid good morrow to my bed.
Care keepes his watch in euerie old mans eye,
And where care lodgeth, sleep can neuer lie: 30
But where vnbrused youth with vnstuft braines
Doth couch his limmes, there golden sleepe remaines:
Therefore thy earlines doth me assure,
Thou art vprows'd by some distemperature.
Or if not so, then here I hit it right 35
Our Romeo hath not bin a bed to night.
I haue forgot that name, and that names woe. 40
I haue bin feasting with mine enemie:
Where on the sodaine one hath wounded mee
[Pg 163] Thats by me wounded, both our remedies
With in thy help and holy phisicke lies,
I beare no hatred blessed man: for loe
My intercession likewise steades my foe.
Ridling confession findes but ridling shrift. 50
On the faire daughter of rich Capulet:
As mine on hers, so hers likewise on mine,
And all combind, saue what thou must combine
By holy marriage: where, and when, and how, 55
We met, we woo'd, and made exchange of vowes,
Il'e tell thee as I passe: But this I pray,
That thou consent to marrie vs to day.
Is Rosaline whome thou didst loue so deare 60
So soone forsooke, lo yong mens loue then lies
Not truelie in their harts, but in their eyes.
Iesu Maria, what a deale of brine
Hath washt thy sallow cheekes for Rosaline?
How much salt water cast away in waste, 65
To season loue, that of loue doth not taste.
The sunne not yet thy sighes from heauen cleares,
Thy old grones ring yet in my ancient eares,
And loe vpon thy cheeke the staine doth sit,
Of an old teare that is not washt off yet. 70
If euer thou wert thus, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline,
And art thou changde, pronounce this sentence then
Women may fal, when ther's no strength in men.
To lay one in another out to haue.
Doth grace for grace, and loue for loue allow:
The other did not so.
Thy loue did read by rote, and could not spell.
But come young Wauerer, come goe with mee, 85
In one respect Ile thy assistant bee:
For this alliaunce may so happie proue,
To turne your Housholds rancour to pure loue. Exeunt.
[Sc. VIII.]
Enter Mercutio, Benuolio.
Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Hath sent a Letter to his Fathers House:
Some Challenge on my life.
with a white wenches blacke eye, shot thorough the eare
with a loue song, the verie pinne of his heart cleft with the
blinde bow-boyes but-shaft. And is he a man to encounter
Tybalt? 15
he is the couragious captaine of complements. Catso, he
fightes as you sing pricke-song, keepes time dystance and
proportion, rests me his minum rest one two and the thirde 20
in your bosome, the very butcher of a silken button, a Duellist
a Duellist, a gentleman of the very first house of the first
and second cause, ah the immortall Passado, the Punto reuerso,
the Hay.
these new tuners of accents. By Iesu a very good
blade, a very tall man, a very good whoore. Why graundsir
is not this a miserable case that we should be stil afflicted
with these strange flies: these fashionmongers, these pardonmees, 30
that stand so much on the new forme, that they
cannot sitte at ease on the old bench. Oh their bones, theyr
bones.
how art thou fishified. Sirra now is he for the numbers that
Petrarch flowdin: Laura to his Lady was but a kitchin
drudg, yet she had a better loue to berime her: Dido a dowdy
Cleopatra a Gypsie, Hero and Hellen hildings and harletries:
Thisbie a gray eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior 40
Romeo bon iour, there is a French curtesie to your French
slop: yee gaue vs the counterfeit fairely yesternight.
[Pg 165]
a case as mine, a man may straine curtesie.
constraine a man to bow in the hams.
worne out thy Pumpe, that when the single sole of it is worn 55
the iest may remaine after the wearing solie singuler.
done: for I am sure thou hast more of the goose in one of
thy wits, than I haue in all my fiue: Was I with you there for
the goose?
thou wert not with me for the goose. 65
from an ynch narrow to an ell broad.
the goose, proues thee faire and wide a broad goose.
why now art thou sociable, now art thou thy selfe, nowe art 75
thou what thou art, as wel by arte as nature. This driueling
loue is like a great naturall, that runs vp and downe to hide
his bable in a hole.
the haire.
short, for I was come to the whole depth of my tale? and
meant indeed to occupie the argument no longer. 85
Enter Nurse and her man.
her fanne is the fairer of the two.
the diall is euen now vpon the pricke of noone.
himselfe to marre.
quoth he? I pray you can anie of you tell where one maie
finde yong Romeo?
haue found him, than he was when you sought him. I am
the yongest of that name for fault of a worse. 105
wisely.
that is somewhat stale and hoare ere it be eaten.
He walkes by them, and sings.
is verie good meate in Lent:
But a hare thats hoare is too much for a score,
if it hore ere it be spent.
Exeunt Benuolio, Mercutio.
this that was so full of his roperipe?
talke, and will speake more in an houre than hee will stand
to in a month. 125
him downe if he were lustier than he is: if I cannot take him
[Pg 167] downe, Ile finde them that shall: I am none of his flurtgills,
I am none of his skaines mates. 130
She turnes to Peter her man.
vse me at his pleasure.
would soone haue drawen: you know my toole is as soone
out as anothers if I see time and place. 135
member about me quiuers: scuruie Iacke. But as I said, my
Ladie bad me seeke ye out, and what shee bad me tell yee,
that Ile keepe to my selfe: but if you should lead her into a
fooles paradice as they saye, it were a verie grosse kinde of 140
behauiour as they say, for the Gentlewoman is yong. Now
if you should deale doubly with her, it were verie weake
dealing, and not to be offered to anie Gentlewoman.
protest. 145
a ioyfull woman.
Gentlemanlike proffer. 150
To come to shrift to Frier Laurence cell:
And stay thou Nurse behinde the Abbey wall,
My man shall come to thee, and bring along
The cordes, made like a tackled staire, 155
Which to the high top-gallant of my ioy
Must be my conduct in the secret night.
Hold, take that for thy paines.
[Sc. IX.]
Enter Iuliet.
In halfe an houre she promist to returne.
Perhaps she cannot finde him. Thats not so.
Oh she is lazie, Loues heralds should be thoughts,
And runne more swift, than hastie powder fierd, 5
Doth hurrie from the fearfull Cannons mouth.
Enter Nurse.
my bones ake. Oh wheres my man? Giue me some aqua 10
vitæ.
side. Lord, Lord, what a case am I in.
no bodie, he is not the Flower of curtesie, he is not a proper
man: and for a hand, and a foote, and a baudie, wel go thy
way wench, thou hast it ifaith. Lord, Lord, how my head
beates? 20
mariage?
kinde, and I warrant a vertuous: wheres your Mother?
kinde Gentleman, and an honest, and a vertuous; wheres
your mother?
the poultesse for mine aking boanes? next arrant youl haue
done, euen doot your selfe. 30
What sayes my Loue, my Lord, my Romeo?
And frame a scuse that you must goe to shrift:
There stayes a Bridegroome to make you a Bride. 35
Now comes the wanton blood vp in your cheekes,
I must prouide a ladder made of cordes,
With which your Lord must clime a birdes nest soone.
I must take paines to further your delight,
But you must beare the burden soone at night. 40
Doth this newes please you now?
Thankes gentle Nurse, dispatch thy busines,
And Ile not faile to meete my Romeo. Exeunt.
[Sc. X.]
Enter Romeo, Frier.
Consists the good of me and Iuliet.
To make you happie if in me it lye.
And consumate those neuer parting bands,
Witnes of our harts loue by ioyning hands.
[Pg 169] And come she will.
Youths loue is quicke, swifter than swiftest speed. 10
Enter Iuliet somewhat fast, and embraceth Romeo.
So light of foote nere hurts the troden flower:
Of loue and ioy, see see the soueraigne power.
(Cloasd in Nights mysts) attend the frolicke Day,
So Romeo hath expected Iuliet,
And thou art come.
Come to my Sunne: shine foorth, and make me faire. 20
Defer imbracements till some fitrer time,
Part for a while, you shall not be alone, 25
Till holy Church haue ioynd ye both in one.
Hast is a common hindrer in crosse way. Exeunt omnes. 30
[Sc. XI.]
Enter Benuolio, Mercutio.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad.
into the confines of a tauerne, claps me his rapier on the
boord, and sayes, God send me no need of thee: and by 5
the operation of the next cup of wine, he drawes it on the
drawer, when indeed there is no need.
and as soone mooude to be moodie, and as soone moodie to 10
be mooud.
none shortly. Didst not thou fall out with a man for cracking
of nuts, hauing no other reason, but because thou hadst 15
hasill eyes? what eye but such an eye would haue pickt out
such a quarrell? With another for coughing, because hee
wakd thy dogge that lay a sleepe in the Sunne? With a
Taylor for wearing his new dublet before Easter: and
[Pg 170] with another for tying his new shoes with olde ribands.
And yet thou wilt forbid me of quarrelling.
Enter Tybalt.
it with somewhat, and make it a word and a blow.
of vs. If you doe sirra, look for nothing but discord: For
heeres my fiddle-sticke.
Enter Romeo.
go before into the field, and he may be your follower, so in 35
that sence your worship may call him man.
words then these, thou art a villaine.
appertaining rage to such a word: villaine am I none, therfore 40
I well perceiue thou knowst me not.
drawe.
than thou canst deuise, till thou shall know the reason of 45
my loue.
it away. You Ratcatcher, come backe, come backe.
nine liues, therefore come drawe your rapier out of your
scabard, least mine be about your eares ere you be aware.
downe their weapons.
Tibalt vnder Romeos arme thrusts Mercutio, in and flyes.
houses.
[Pg 171] barne doore, but it will serue I warrant. What meant you to
come betweene vs? I was hurt vnder your arme. 60
goe fetch me a Surgeon.
hath made wormes meate of me, & ye aske for me to morrow
you shall finde me a graue-man. A poxe of your houses,
I shall be fairely mounted vpon foure mens shoulders: For
your house of the Mountegues and the Capolets: and then
some peasantly rogue, some Sexton, some base slaue shall 70
write my Epitapth, that Tybalt came and broke the Princes
Lawes, and Mercutio was slaine for the first and second
cause. Wher's the Surgeon?
other side, come Benuolio, lend me thy hand: a poxe of
your houses. Exeunt.
My very frend hath tane this mortall wound
In my behalfe, my reputation staind 80
With Tibalts slaunder, Tybalt that an houre
Hath beene my kinsman. Ah Iuliet
Thy beautie makes me thus effeminate,
And in my temper softens valors steele.
Enter Benuolio.
That gallant spirit hath a spir'd the cloudes,
Which too vntimely scornd the lowly earth.
This but begins what other dayes must end.
Enter Tibalt.
Away to heauen respectiue lenity:
And fier eyed fury be my conduct now.
Now Tibalt take the villaine backe againe,
Which late thou gau'st me: for Mercutios soule, 95
Is but a little way aboue the cloudes,
And staies for thine to beare him company.
Or thou, or I, or both shall follow him.
Fight, Tibalt falles.
[Pg 172] The Citizens approach, away, begone
Thou wilt be taken.
Exeunt.
Enter Citizens.
Vp sirra goe with vs[1594].
Enter Prince, Capolets wife.
The most vnlucky mannage of this brawle.
Heere lyes the man slaine by yong Romeo, 110
That slew thy kinsman braue Mercutio.
Vnhappie sight? Ah the blood is spilt
Of my deare kinsman, Prince as thou art true:
For blood of ours, shed bloud of Mountagew. 115
Romeo who spake him fayre bid him bethinke
How nice the quarrell was.
But Tibalt still persisting in his wrong, 120
The stout Mercutio drewe to calme the storme,
Which Romeo seeing cal'd stay Gentlemen,
And on me cry'd, who drew to part their strife,
And with his agill arme yong Romeo,
As fast as tung crydepeace, sought peace to make. 125
While they were enterchanging thrusts and blows,
Vnder yong Romeos laboring arme to part,
The furious Tybalt cast an enuious thrust,
That rid the life of stout Mercutio.
With that he fled, but presently return'd, 130
And with his rapier braued Romeo:
That had but newly entertain'd reuenge.
And ere I could draw forth my rapyer
To part their furie, downe did Tybalt fall,
And this way Romeo fled. 135
Some twentie of them fought in this blacke strife:
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I doo intreate sweete Prince thoult iustice giue,
[Pg 173] Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo may not liue. 140
Immediately we doo exile him hence.
I haue an interest in your hates proceeding,
My blood for your rude braules doth lye a bleeding.
But Ile amerce you with so large a fine, 145
That you shall all repent the losse of mine.
I will be deafe to pleading and excuses,
Nor teares nor prayers shall purchase for abuses.
Pittie shall dwell and gouerne with vs still:
Mercie to all but murdrers, pardoning none that kill. 150
Exeunt omnes.
[Sc. XII.]
Enter Iuliet.
To Phœbus mansion, such a Waggoner
As Phaeton, would quickly bring you thether,
And send in cloudie night immediately.
Enter Nurse wringing her hands, with the ladder of cordes in her lap.
What hast thou there, the cordes?
We are vndone, Ladie we are vndone.
Can heauens be so enuious?
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes.
God saue the sample, on his manly breast: 15
A bloodie coarse, a piteous bloodie coarse,
All pale as ashes, I swounded at the sight.
Hath seuerd thee from thy true Juliet?
Ah why should Heauen so much conspire with Woe, 20
Or Fate enuie our happie Marriage,
So soone to sunder vs by timelesse Death?
O honest Tybalt, curteous Gentleman.
Is Tybalt dead, and Romeo murdered:
My deare loude cousen, and my dearest Lord.
Then let the trumpet sound a generall doome
[Pg 174] These two being dead, then liuing is there none.
Romeo that murdred him is banished.
O painted sepulcher, including filth. 35
Was neuer booke containing so foule matter,
So fairly bound. Ah, what meant Romeo?
All false, all faithles, periurde, all forsworne.
Shame come to Romeo. 40
Vpon his face Shame is ashamde to sit.
But wherefore villaine didst thou kill my Cousen?
That villaine Cousen would haue kild my husband.
All this is comfort. But there yet remaines 45
Worse than his death, which faine I would forget:
But ah, it presseth to my memorie,
Romeo is banished. Ah that word Banished
Is worse than death. Romeo is banished,
Is Father, Mother, Tybalt, Iuliet, 50
All killd, all slaine, all dead, all banished.
Where are my Father and my Mother Nurse?
Will you goe to them?
Mine shall he shed for Romeos banishment.
Ile to him, he is hid at Laurence Cell.
And bid him come to take his last farewell. Exeunt.60
[Sc. XIII.]
Enter Frier.
Affliction is enamourd on thy parts,
And thou art wedded to Calamitie.
Enter Romeo.
What Sorrow craues acquaintance at our hands, 5
Which yet we know not.
Is my yong sonne with such sowre companie:
I bring thee tidings of the Princes doome.
For Exile hath more terror in his lookes,
Than death it selfe, doo not say Banishment. 15
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
But purgatorie, torture, hell it selfe.
Hence banished, is banisht from the world: 20
And world exilde is death. Calling death banishment,
Thou cutst my head off with a golden axe,
And smilest vpon the stroke that murders me.
Thy fault our law calls death, but the milde Prince 25
(Taking thy part) hath rushd aside the law,
And turnd that blacke word death to banishment:
This is meere mercie, and thou seest it not.
Where Iuliet liues: and euerie cat and dog, 30
And little mouse, euerie vnworthie thing
Liue here in heauen, and may looke on her,
But Romeo may not. More validitie,
More honourable state, more courtship liues
In carrion flyes, than Romeo: they may seaze 35
On the white wonder of faire Iuliets skinne,
And steale immortall kisses from her lips;
But Romeo may not, he is banished.
Flies may doo this, but I from this must flye.
Oh Father hadst thou no strong poyson mixt, 40
No sharpe ground knife, no present meane of death,
Though nere so meane, but banishment
To torture me withall: ah, banished.
O Frier, the damned vse that word in hell:
Howling attends it. How hadst thou the heart, 45
Being a Diuine, a ghostly Confessor,
A sinne absoluer, and my frend profest,
To mangle me with that word, Banishment?
Aduersities sweete milke, philosophie,
To comfort thee though thou be banished.
Vnlesse philosophie can make a Juliet, 55
Displant a Towne, reuerse a Princes doome,
It helpes not, it prevailes not, talke no more.
[Pg 176]
Wert thou as young as I, Iuliet thy Loue,
An houre but married, Tybalt murdred.
Doting like me, and like me banished,
Then mightst thou speake, then mightst thou teare thy hayre. 65
And fall vpon the ground as I doe now,
Taking the measure of an vnmade graue.
Nurse knockes.
I heare one knocke, arise and get thee gone.
Shee knockes againe.
Where is my Ladies Lord? Wher's Romeo?
drunke.
Iust in her case. Oh wofull simpathy,
Pitteous predicament, euen so lyes shee,
Weeping and blubbring, blubbring and weeping:
Stand vp, stand vp, stand and you be a man.
For Iuliets sake, for her sake rise and stand, 85
Why should you fall into so deep an O.
He rises.
Doth she not thinke me an olde murderer, 90
Now I haue stainde the childhood of her ioy,
With bloud remou'd but little from her owne?
Where is she? and how doth she? And what sayes
My conceal'd Lady to our canceld loue?
And now fals on her bed, now on the ground,
And Tybalt cryes, and then on Romeo calles.
[Pg 177]
Did murder her, as that names cursed hand
Murderd her kinsman. Ah tell me holy Fryer 100
In what vile part of this Anatomy
Doth my name lye? Tell me that I may sacke
The hatefull mansion?
He offers to stab himselfe, and Nurse snatches the dagger away.
Cryes out thou art, but thy wilde actes denote
The vnresonable furyes of a beast.
Vnseemely woman in a seeming man,
Or ill beseeming beast in seeming both.
Thou hast amaz'd me. By my holy order, 110
I thought thy disposition better temperd,
Hast thou slaine Tybalt? wilt thou slay thy selfe?
And slay thy Lady too, that liues in thee?
Rouse vp thy spirits, thy Lady Iuliet liues,
For whose sweet sake thou wert but lately dead: 115
There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou sluest Tybalt, there art thou happy too.
A packe of blessings lights vpon thy backe,
Happines Courts thee in his best array:
But like a misbehaude and sullen wench 120
Thou frownst vpon thy Fate that smilles on thee.
Take heede, take heede, for such dye miserable.
Goe get thee to thy loue as was decreed:
Ascend her Chamber Window, hence and comfort her,
But looke thou stay not till the watch be set: 125
For then thou canst not passe to Mantua.
Nurse prouide all things in a readines,
Comfort thy Mistresse, haste the house to bed,
Which heauy sorrow makes them apt vnto.
I could haue stayde heere all this night
To heare good counsell. Well Sir,
Ile tell my Lady that you will come.
Farwell good Nurse. 135
Nurse offers to goe in and turnes againe.
Exit Nurse.
And he shall signifie from time to time:
Euery good hap that doth befall thee heere. 140
Farwell.
It were a griefe so breefe to part with thee.
[Sc. XIV.]
Enter olde Capolet and his Wife, with County Paris.
That we haue had no time to moue my daughter.
Looke yee Sir, she lou'd her kinsman dearely,
And so did I. Well, we were borne to dye,
Wife wher's your daughter, is she in her chamber? 5
I thinke she meanes not to come downe to night.
Maddam farwell, commend me to your daughter.
Paris offers to goe in, and Capolet calles him againe.
I thinke she will be rulde in all respectes by mee: 10
But soft what day is this?
On Thursday let it be: you shall be maried.
Wee'le make no great a doe, a frend or two, or so: 15
For looke ye Sir, Tybalt being slaine so lately,
It will be thought we held him care leslye:
If we should reuell much, therefore we will haue
Some halfe a dozen frends and make no more adoe.
But what say you to Thursday. 20
Acquaint her with the County Paris loue,
Fare well my Lord till Thursday next.
Wife gette you to your daughter. Light to my Chamber. 25
Afore me it is so very very late,
That we may call it earely by and by.
Exeunt.
[Sc. XV.]
Enter Romeo and Iuliet at the window.
[Pg 179] It was the Nightingale and not the Larke
That pierst the fearfull hollow of thine eare:
Nightly she sings on yon Pomegranate tree,
Beleeue me loue, it was the Nightingale. 5
And not the Nightingale. See Loue what enuious strakes
Doo lace the seuering clowdes in yonder East.
Nights candles are burnt out, and iocond Day
Stands tiptoes on the mystie mountaine tops. 10
I must be gone and liue, or stay and dye.
It is some Meteor that the Sunne exhales,
To be this night to thee a Torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 15
Then stay awhile, thou shalt not goe soone.
If thou wilt haue it so, I am content.
Ile say yon gray is not the Mornings Eye,
It is the pale reflex of Cynthias brow. 20
Ile say it is the Nightingale that beates
The vaultic heauen so high aboue our heads,
And not the Larke the Messenger of Morne.
Come death and welcome, Iuliet wils it so.
What sayes my Loue? lets talke, tis not yet day. 25
It is the Larke that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh Discords and vnpleasing Sharpes.
Some say, the Larke makes sweete Diuision:
This doth not so: for this diuideth vs. 30
Some say the Larke and loathed Toad change eyes,
I would that now they had changd voyces too:
Since arme from arme her voyce doth vs affray,
Hunting thee hence with Huntsvp to the day.
So now be gone, more light and light it growes. 35
Farewell my Loue, one kisse and Ile descend.
He goeth downe.
I must heare from thee euerie day in the hower:
For in an hower there are manie minutes, 40
Minutes are dayes, so will I number them:
Oh, by this count I shall be much in yeares,
Ere I see thee againe.
For sweete discourses in the time to come.
Me thinkes I see thee now thou art below 50
Like one dead in the bottome of a Tombe:
Either mine ey-sight failes, or thou lookst pale.
Drie sorrow drinkes our blood: adieu, adieu. Exit.
Enter Nurse hastely.
Your Mother's comming to your Chamber, make all sure.
She goeth downe from the window.
Enter Iuliets Mother, Nurse.
I thinke thoult wash him from his graue with teares.
But it greeues thee more that Villaine liues.
I soone would send to Mantua where he is,
That should bestow on him so sure a draught,
As he should soone beare Tybalt companie.
For whilest he liues, my heart shall nere be light
Till I behold him, dead is my poore heart.
Thus for a Kinsman vext?
And one who pittying thy needfull state,
Hath found thee out a happie day of ioy.
[Pg 181] The gallant, yong and youthfull Gentleman,
The Countie Paris at Saint Peters Church,
Early next Thursday morning must prouide,
To make you there a glad and ioyfull Bride.
He shall not there make mee a ioyfull Bride.
Are these the newes you had to tell me of?
Marrie here are newes indeed. Madame I will not marrie yet.
And when I doo, it shalbe rather Romeo whom I hate,
Than Countie Paris that I cannot loue. 95
Enter olde Capolet.
In one little bodie thou resemblest a sea, a barke, a storme:
For this thy bodie which I tearme a barke,
Still floating in thy euerfalling teares, 100
And tost with sighes arising from thy hart:
Will without succour shipwracke presently.
But heare you Wife, what haue you sounded her, what saies she to it?
Would God that she were married to her graue. 105
she not wexe proud?
Proud can I neuer be of that I hate,
But thankfull euen for hate that is ment loue. 110
And yet not proud. Whats here, chop logicke.
Proud me no prouds, nor thanke me no thankes,
But fettle your fine ioynts on Thursday next
To goe with Paris to Saint Peters Church, 115
Or I will drag you on a hurdle thether.
Out you greene sicknes baggage, out you tallow face.
She kneeles downe.
To goe with Paris to Saint Peters Church: 120
Or henceforth neuer looke me in the face.
Speake not, reply not, for my fingers ytch.
Why wife, we thought that we were scarcely blest
That God had sent vs but this onely chyld:
But now I see this one is one too much, 125
[Pg 182] And that we haue a crosse in hauing her.
You are too blame to rate her so.
Good prudence smatter with your gossips, goe. 130
Vtter your grauity ouer a gossips boule,
For heere wee need it not.
Day, night, early, late, at home, abroad,
Alone, in company, waking or sleeping,
Still my care hath beene to see her matcht.
And hauing now found out a Gentleman, 140
Of Princely parentage, youthfull, and nobly trainde.
Stuft as they say with honorable parts,
Proportioned as ones heart coulde wish a man:
And then to haue a wretched whyning foole,
A puling mammet in her fortunes tender, 145
To say I cannot loue, I am too young, I pray you pardon mee?
But if you cannot wedde Ile pardon you.
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.
Looke to it, thinke out, I doe not vse to iest.
I tell yee what, Thursday is neere, 150
Lay hand on heart, aduise, bethinke your selfe,
If you be mine, Ile giue you to my frend:
If not, hang, drowne, starue, beg,
Dye in the streetes: for by my Soule
Ile neuer more acknowledge thee, 155
Nor what I haue shall euer doe thee good,
Thinke ont, looke toot, I doe not vse to iest. Exit.
That lookes into the bottom of my woes?
I doe beseech you Madame, cast me not away, 160
Defer this mariage for a day or two,
Or if you cannot, make my mariage bed
In that dimme monument where Tybalt lyes.
Do what thou wilt for I haue done with thee. Exit. 165
Your Romeo he is banisht, and all the world to nothing
He neuer dares returne to challendge you.
[Pg 183] Now I thinke good you marry with this County,
Oh he is a gallant Gentleman, Romeo is but a dishclout
In respect of him. I promise you
I thinke you happy in this second match.
As for your husband he is dead:
Or twere as good he were, for you haue no vse of him. 175
I pray thee goe thy waies vnto my mother
Tell her I am gone hauing displeasde my Father.
To Fryer Laurence Cell to confesse me,
And to be absolu'd.
She lookes after Nurse.
Is it more sinne to wish me thus forsworne,
Or to dispraise him with the selfe same tongue
That thou hast praisde him with aboue compare
So many thousand times? Goe Counsellor, 190
Thou and my bosom henceforth shalbe twaine.
Ile to the Fryer to know his remedy,
If all faile els, I haue the power to dye.
Exit.
[Sc. XVI.]
Enter Fryer and Paris.
And I am nothing slacke to slow his hast.
Vneuen is the course, I like it not. 5
And therefore haue I little talkt of loue.
For Venus smiles not in a house of teares,
Now Sir, her father thinkes it daungerous:
That she doth giue her sorrow so much sway. 10
And in his wisedome hasts our mariage,
To stop the inundation of her teares.
Which too much minded by her selfe alone
May be put from her by societie.
Now doe ye know the reason of this hast. 15
Enter Paris.
Being spoke behinde your backe, than to your face.
For it was bad enough before their spite.
And what I spake I spake it to my face. 35
Are you at leasure holy Father now:
Or shall I come to you at euening Masse?
My Lord we must entreate the time alone.
Iuliet farwell, and keep this holy kisse.
Exit Paris.
Come weepe with me that am past cure, past help, 45
I heare thou must and nothing may proroge it,
On Thursday next be married to the Countie.
Vnlesse thou tell me how we may preuent it. 50
Giue me some sudden counsell: els behold
Twixt my extreames and me, this bloodie Knife
Shall play the Vmpeere, arbitrating that
Which the Commission of thy yeares and arte
Could to no issue of true honour bring. 55
Speake not, be briefe: for I desire to die,
If what thou speakst, speake not of remedie.
Which craues as desperate an execution,
[Pg 185] As that is desperate we would preuent.
If rather than to marrie Countie Paris
Thou hast the strength or will to slay thy selfe,
Tis not vnlike that thou wilt vndertake
A thing like death to chyde away this shame,
Thou coapst with death it selfe to flye from blame. 65
And if thou doost, Ile giue thee remedie.
From off the battlements of yonder tower:
Or chaine me to some steepie mountaines top,
Where roaring Beares and sauage Lions are: 70
Or shut me nightly in a Charnell-house,
With reekie shankes, and yeolow chaples sculls:
Or lay me in tombe with one new dead:
Things that to heare them namde haue made me tremble;
And I will doo it without feare or doubt, 75
To keep my selfe a faithfull vnstaind Wife
To my deere Lord, my deerest Romeo.
Let not thy Nurse lye with thee in thy Chamber:
And when thou art alone, take thou this Violl, 80
And this distilled Liquor drinke thou off:
When presently through all thy veynes shall run
A dull and heauie slumber, which shall seaze
Each vitall spirit: for no Pulse shall keepe
His naturall progresse, but surcease to beate: 85
No signe of breath shall testifie thou liust.
And in this borrowed likenes of shrunke death,
Thou shall remaine full two and fortie houres.
And when thou art laid in thy Kindreds Vault,
Ile send in hast to Mantua to thy Lord, 90
And he shall come and take thee from thy graue.
Exeunt.
[Sc. XVII.]
Enter olde Capolet, his Wife, Nurse, and Seruingman.
them by licking their fingers. 5
Exit Seruingman.
To be confest.
A headstrong selfewild harlotrie it is.
Enter Iuliet.
gadding?
Of froward wilfull opposition
Gainst you and your behests, and am enioynd 20
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here,
And craue remission of so foule a fact.
She kneeles downe.
All our whole Citie is much bound vnto. 25
Goe tell the Countie presently of this,
For I will haue this knot knit vp to morrow.
To sort such things as shall be requisite
Against to morrrow, 30
Helpe her to sort Tyres, Rebatoes, Chaines,
And I will come vnto you presently,
Exeunt Nurse and Iuliet.
Goe one and certefie the Count thereof.
Now before God my heart is passing light,
To see her thus conformed to our will. Exeunt.
[Sc. XVIII.]
Enter Nurse, Iuliet.
and so good night. Exit.
Enter Mother.
For I haue manie things to thinke vpon.
The Countie will be earlie here to morrow. Exit. 10
Ah, I doo take a fearfull thing in hand.
What if this Potion should not worke at all.
Must I of force be married to the Countie?
This shall forbid it. Knife, lye thou there. 15
What if the Frier should giue me this drinke
To poyson mee, for feare I should disclose
Our former marriage? Ah, I wrong him much,
He is a holy and religious Man:
I will not entertaine so bad a thought. 20
What if I should be stifled in the Toomb?
Awake an houre before the appointed time:
Ah then I feare I shall be lunaticke,
And playing with my dead forefathers bones,
Dash out my franticke braines. Me thinkes I see 25
My Cosin Tybalt weltring in his bloud,
Seeking for Romeo: stay Tybalt stay.
Romeo I come, this doe I drinke to thee.
She fals vpon her bed within the Curtaines.
[Sc. XIX.]
Enter Nurse with hearbs, Mother.
The Countie will be heere immediatly.
Enter Oldeman.
The Curfewe bell hath rung, t'is foure a clocke,
Looke to your bakt meates good Angelica.
will be sicke anone.
night, and haue taken no harme at all.
Enter Seruingman with Logs & Coales.
thou shalt fetch them. 15
choose a Log.
Exit.
Come, come, make hast call vp your daughter,
The Countie will be heere with musicke straight. 20
Gods me hees come, Nurse call vp my daughter.
birde? fast I warrant. What Iuliet? well, let the County take
you in your bed: yee sleepe for a weeke now, but the next
night, the Countie Paris hath set vp his rest that you shal rest25
but little. What lambe I say, fast still: what Lady, Loue,
whatbride, what Iuliet? Gods me how sound she sleeps? Nay
then I see I must wake you indeed. Whats heere, laide on
your bed, drest in your cloathes and down, ah me, alack the
day, some Aqua vitæ hoe. 30
Enter Mother.
Enter Oldeman.
Accursed time, vnfortunate olde man.
Enter Fryer and Paris.
O Sonne the night before thy wedding day, 40
Hath Death laine with thy bride, flower as she is,
Deflowerd by him, see, where she lyes,
Death is my Sonne in Law, to him I giue all that I haue,
And doth it now present such prodegies? 45
Accurst, vnhappy, miserable man,
Forlorne, forsaken, destitute I am:
Borne to the world to be a slaue in it.
Distrest, remediles, and vnfortunate.
O heauens, O nature, wherefore did you make me, 50
To liue so vile, so wretched as I shall.
[Pg 189]
And being dead, dead sorrow nips vs all.
All at once cry out and wring their hands.
Dead, lost, vndone, absented, wholy fled. 55
Why to this day haue you preseru'd my life?
To see my hope, my stay, my ioy, my life,
Depriude of sence, of life, of all by death,
Cruell, vniust, impartiall destinies. 60
Why this sad time haue I desird to see.
This day, this vniust, this impartiall day
Wherein I hop'd to see my comfort full,
To be depriude by suddaine destinie. 65
To see this day, this miserable day.
Alacke the time that euer I was borne.
To be partaker of this destinie.
Alacke the day, alacke and welladay. 70
Your daughter liues in peace and happines,
And it is vaine to wish it otherwise.
Come sticke your Rosemary in this dead coarse,
And as the custome of our Country is, 75
In all her best and sumptuous ornaments,
Conuay her where her Ancestors lie tomb'd,
Let vs together taste this bitter fate.
They all but the Nurse goe foorth, casting Rosemary on her and shutting the Curtens.
Enter Musitions.
Enter Seruingman.
some mery dumpe.
[Pg 190]
my wodden wit. Come on Simon found Pot, Ile pose you,
And dolefull dumps the minde oppresse: 95
Then musique with her siluer sound,
Why siluer sound? Why siluer sound?
Singer. I saye Siluer sound, because such Fellowes as you
haue sildome Golde for sounding. Farewell Fidlers, 105
farewell. Exit.
[Sc. XX.]
Enter Romeo.
My Dreame presagde some good euent to come.
My bosome Lord sits chearfull in his throne,
And I am comforted with pleasing dreames.
Me thought I was this night alreadie dead: 5
(Strange dreames that giue a dead man leaue to thinke)
And that my Ladie Iuliet came to me,
And breathd such life with kisses in my lips,
That I reuiude and was an Emperour.
Enter Balthasar his man booted.
How doth my Ladie? Is my Father well?
How fares my Juliet? that I aske againe:
If she be well, then nothing can be ill.
Her bodie sleepes in Capels Monument, 15
And her immortall parts with Angels dwell.
Pardon me Sir, that am the Messenger of such bad tidings.
Goe get me incke and paper, hyre post horse,
I will not stay in Mantua to night. 20
Your lookes are dangerous and full of feare:
I dare not, nor I will not leaue you yet.
[Pg 191]
And hyre those horse: stay not I say. 25
Exit Balthasar.
Lets see for meanes. As I doo remember
Here dwells a Pothecarie whom oft I noted
As I past by, whose needie shop is stufft
With beggerly accounts of emptie boxes: 30
And in the same an Aligarta hangs,
Olde endes of packthred, and cakes of Roses,
Are thinly strewed to make vp a show.
Him as I noted, thus with my selfe I thought:
And if a man should need a poyson now, 35
(Whose present sale is death in Mantua)
Here he might buy it. This thought of mine
Did but forerunne my need: and here about he dwels.
Being Holiday the Beggers shop is shut.
What ho Apothecarie, come forth I say. 40
Enter Apothecarie.
Giue me a dram of some such speeding geere,
As will dispatch the wearie takers life,
As suddenly as powder being fierd 45
From forth a Cannons mouth.
But yet the law is death to those that sell them.
And doost thou feare to violate the Law? 50
The Law is not thy frend, nor the Lawes frend,
And therefore make no conscience of the law:
Vpon thy backe hangs ragged Miserie,
And starued Famine dwelleth in thy cheekes.
you will, and it will serue had you the liues of twenty men.
Than this which thou hast giuen me. Goe hye thee hence, 60
Goe buy the cloathes, and get thee into flesh.
Come cordiall and not poyson, goe with mee
To Iuliets Graue: for there mvst I vse thee. Exeunt.
[Sc. XXI.]
Enter Frier Iohn.
What newes from Mantua, what will Romeo come?
One of our order to associate mee, 5
Here in this Cittie visiting the sick,
Whereas the infectious pestilence remaind:
And being by the Searchers of the Towne
Found and examinde, we were both shut vp.
The letters were not nice, but of great weight.
Goe get thee hence, and get me presently
A spade and mattocke. 15
Least that the Ladie should before I come
Be wakde from sleepe. I will hye
To free her from that Tombe of miserie. Exit. 20
[Sc. XXII.]
Enter Countie Paris and his Page with flowers and sweete water.
Vnder this Ew-tree, keeping thine eare close to the hollow ground.
And if thou heare one tread within this Churchyard,
Staight giue me notice. 5
Paris strewes the Tomb with flowers.
Sweete Tombe that in thy circuite dost containe,
The perfect modell of eternitie:
Faire Iuliet that with Angells dost remaine, 10
Accept this latest fauour at my hands,
That liuing honourd thee, and being dead
With funerall praises doo adorne thy Tombe.
Enter Romeo and Balthasar, with a torch, a mattocke, and a crow of yron.
What cursed foote wanders this was to night,
[Pg 193] To stay my obsequies and true loues rites?
What with a torch, muffle me night a while.
And take these letters, early in the morning, 20
See thou deliuer them to my Lord and Father.
So get thee gone and trouble me no more.
Why I descend into this bed of death,
Is partly to behold my Ladies face,
But chiefly to take from her dead finger, 25
A precious ring which I must vse
In deare imployment: but if thou wilt stay,
Further to prie in what I vndertake,
By heauen Ile teare thee ioynt by ioynt,
And strewe thys hungry churchyard with thy lims 30
The time and my intents are sauage, wilde.
Commend me to my Father, farwell good fellow.
Romeo opens the tombe.
Gorde with the dearest morsell of the earth.
Thus I enforce thy rotten iawes to ope.
That murderd my loues cosen, I will apprehend him. 40
Stop thy vnhallowed toyle vile Mountague.
Can vengeance be pursued further then death?
I doe attach thee as a fellon heere.
The Law condemnes thee, therefore thou must dye,
Good youth be gone, tempt not a desperate man.
Heape not another sinne vpon my head
By sheding of thy bloud, I doe protest
I loue thee better then I loue my selfe:
For I come hyther armde against my selfe, 50
And doe attach thee as a fellon heere.
They fight.
Open the tombe, lay me with Iuliet.
Mercutios kinsman, noble County Paris?
[Pg 194] What said my man, when my betossed soule
Did not regard him as we past a long.
Did he not say Paris should have maried
Iuliet? eyther he said so, or I dreamd it so.
But I will satisfie thy last request,
For thou hast prizd thy loue aboue thy life.
Death lye thou there, by a dead man interd, 65
How oft have many at the houre of death
Beene blith and pleasant? which their keepers call
A lightning before death But how may I
Call this a lightning. Ah deare Iuliet,
How well thy beauty doth become this graue? 70
O I beleeue that vnsubstanciall death,
Is amorous, and doth court my loue.
Therefore will I, O heere, O euer heere,
Set vp my euerlasting rest
With wormes, that are thy chamber mayds. 75
Come desperate Pilot now at once runne on
The dashing rockes thy sea-sicke weary barge.
Heers to my loue. O true Apothecary:
Thy drugs are swift: thus with a kisse I dye. Falls.
Enter Fryer with a Lanthorne.
Stumbled at graues as I did passe along.
Whose there?
What light is yon? if I be not deceiued, 85
Me thinkes it burnes in Capels monument?
That loues you dearly.
On paine of death he chargde me to be gone, 95
And not for to disturbe him in his enterprize.
Fryer stoops and lookes on the blood and weapons.
Of this marble stony monument?
[Pg 195] What meanes these maisterles and goory weapons?
Ah me I doubt, whose heere? what Romeo dead?
Who and Paris too? what vnluckie houre
Is accessary to so foule a sinne?
Iuliet rises.
Ah comfortable Fryer. 105
I doe remember well where I should be,
And what we talkt of: but yet I cannot see
Him for whose sake I vndertooke this hazard.
We shall be taken, Paris he is slaine, 110
And Romeo dead: and if we heere be tane
We shall be thought to be as accessarie.
I will prouide for you in some close Nunery.
Whats heere a cup closde in my louers hands?
Ah churle drinke all, and leaue no drop for me.
Enter watch.
O happy dagger thou shalt end my feare,
Rest in my bosome, thus I come to thee.
She stabs herselfe and falles.
Enter watch.
See frends where Iuliet two daies buried,
New bleeding wounded, search and see who's neare, 125
Attach and bring them to vs presently.
Enter one with the Fryer.
Fitte to ope a tombe.
Enter one with Romeos man.
Enter Prince with others.
[Pg 196]
Where Juliet that hath lyen intoombd two dayes,
Warme and fresh bleeding, Romeo and Countie Paris 135
Likewise newly slaine.
Enter olde Capolet and his Wife.
And some on Iuliet: as if they alone 140
Had been the cause of such a mutinie.
For (loe) the backe is emptie of yong Mountague,
And it is sheathed in our Daughters breast.
Enter olde Montague.
To see thy Sonne and Heire more early downe.
And yong Benuolio is deceased too:
What further mischiefe can there yet be found?
To presse before thy Father to a graue.
And let vs seeke to finde the Authors out
Of such a hainous and seld seene mischaunce. 155
Bring forth the parties in suspition.
Most worthie Prince, heare me but speake the truth.
And Ile informe you how these things fell out.
Juliet here slaine was married to that Romeo, 160
Without her Fathers or her Mothers grant:
The Nurse was priuie to the marriage.
The balefull day of this vnhappie marriage,
Was Tybalts doomesday: for which Romeo
Was banished from hence to Mantua. 165
He gone, her Father sought by foule constraint
To marrie her to Paris: But her Soule
(Loathing a second Contract) did refuse
To giue consent; and therefore did she vrge me
Either to finde a meanes she might auoyd 170
What so her Father sought to force her too:
Or els all desperately she threatned
Euen in my presence to dispatch her selfe.
Then did I giue her, (tutord by mine arte)
A potion that should make her seeme as dead: 175
[Pg 197] And told her that I would with all post speed
Send hence to Mantua for her Romeo,
That he might come and take her from the Toombe.
But he that had my Letters (Frier John)
Seeking a Brother to associate him, 180
Whereas the sicke infection remaind,
Was stayed by the Searchers of the Towne,
But Romeo vnderstanding by his man,
That Iuliet was deceasde, returnde in post
Vnto Verona for to see his loue. 185
What after happened touching Paris death,
Or Romeos is to me vnknowne at all.
But when I came to take the Lady hence,
I found them dead, and she awakt from sleep:
Whom faine I would haue taken from the tombe, 190
Which she refused seeing Romeo dead.
Anone I heard the watch and then I fled,
What after happened I am ignorant of.
And if in this ought haue miscaried.
By me, or by my meanes let my old life 195
Be sacrificd some houre before his time.
To the most strickest rigor of the Law.
Wheres Romeos man, what can he say in this?
And then he poasted straight from Mantua,
Vnto this Toombe. These Letters he deliuered me,
Charging me early giue them to his Father.
Where is the Counties Boy that calld the Watch? 205
But one approaching, straight I calld my Master.
At last they fought, I ran to call the Watch.
And this is all that I can say or know.
Come Capolet, and come olde Mountagewe.
Where are these enemies? see what hate hath done.
There is my daughters dowry: for now no more
Can I bestowe on her, thats all I haue. 215
Her statue of pure golde:
That while Verona by that name is knowne.
There shall no statue of such price be set,
As that of Romeos loued Iuliet. 220
Come, let vs hence,
To haue more talke of these sad things. 225
Some shall be pardoned and some punished:
For nere was heard a Storie of more woe,
Than this of Iuliet and her Romeo.
FINIS.
FOOTNOTES:
[1594] Watch: is omitted in the text but 'Watch: Vp' is the catchword of the previous page.
[1595] Here again the stage direction is omitted, but 'Iul:' is the catchword of the previous page.