Romieo and Julette 1

Folger Shakespeare Library
http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org
Contents
From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare

Library
Front
Textual Introduction
Matter Synopsis
Characters in the Play
Prologue
Scene 1
Scene 2
ACT 1 Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Chorus
Scene 1
Scene 2
ACT 2 Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 1
Scene 2
ACT 3 Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 1
Scene 2
ACT 4 Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 1
ACT 5 S 2
ACT 5 Scene 2
Scene 3
From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library
It is hard to imagine a world without Shakespeare. Since their

composition four hundred years ago, Shakespeare’s plays and poems
have traveled the globe, inviting those who see and read his works to
make them their own.
Readers of the New Folger Editions are part of this ongoing process
of “taking up Shakespeare,” finding our own thoughts and feelings in
language that strikes us as old or unusual and, for that very reason,
new. We still struggle to keep up with a writer who could think a mile
a minute, whose words paint pictures that shift like clouds. These
expertly edited texts are presented to the public as a resource for
study, artistic adaptation, and enjoyment. By making the classic texts
of the New Folger Editions available in electronic form as Folger
Digital Texts, we place a trusted resource in the hands of anyone who
wants them.
The New Folger Editions of Shakespeare’s plays, which are the basis
for the texts realized here in digital form, are special because of their
origin. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is the
single greatest documentary source of Shakespeare’s works. An
unparalleled collection of early modern books, manuscripts, and
artwork connected to Shakespeare, the Folger’s holdings have been
consulted extensively in the preparation of these texts. The Editions
also reflect the expertise gained through the regular performance of
Shakespeare’s works in the Folger’s Elizabethan Theater.
I want to express my deep thanks to editors Barbara Mowat and Paul

Werstine for creating these indispensable editions of Shakespeare’s
works, which incorporate the best of textual scholarship with a
richness of commentary that is both inspired and engaging. Readers
who want to know more about Shakespeare and his plays can follow
the paths these distinguished scholars have tread by visiting the Folger
either in-person or online, where a range of physical and digital
resources exist to supplement the material in these texts. I commend
to you these words, and hope that they inspire.
Michael Witmore
Director, Folger Shakespeare Library
Textual Introduction
By Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine
Until now, with the release of the Folger Digital Texts, readers in
search of a free online text of Shakespeare’s plays had to be content
primarily with using the Moby™ Text, which reproduces a late-
nineteenth century version of the plays. What is the difference? Many
ordinary readers assume that there is a single text for the plays: what
Shakespeare wrote. But Shakespeare’s plays were not published the
way modern novels or plays are published today: as a single,
authoritative text. In some cases, the plays have come down to us in
multiple published versions, represented by various Quartos (Qq) and
by the great collection put together by his colleagues in 1623, called
the First Folio (F). There are, for example, three very different
versions of Hamlet, two of King Lear, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet,
and others. Editors choose which version to use as their base text, and
then amend that text with words, lines or speech prefixes from the
other versions that, in their judgment, make for a better or more
accurate text.
Other editorial decisions involve choices about whether an unfamiliar

word could be understood in light of other writings of the period or
whether it should be changed; decisions about words that made it into
Shakespeare’s text by accident through four hundred years of
printings and misprinting; and even decisions based on cultural
preference and taste. When the Moby™ Text was created, for
example, it was deemed “improper” and “indecent” for Miranda to
chastise Caliban for having attempted to rape her. (See The Tempest,
1.2: “Abhorred slave,/Which any print of goodness wilt not
take,/Being capable of all ill! I pitied thee…”). All Shakespeare
editors at the time took the speech away from her and gave it to her
father, Prospero.
The editors of the Moby™ Shakespeare produced their text long

before scholars fully understood the proper grounds on which to make
the thousands of decisions that Shakespeare editors face. The Folger
Library Shakespeare Editions, on which the Folger Digital Texts
depend, make this editorial process as nearly transparent as is
possible, in contrast to older texts, like the Moby™, which hide
editorial interventions. The reader of the Folger Shakespeare knows
where the text has been altered because editorial interventions are
signaled by square brackets (for example, from Othello: “ If she in
chains of magic were not bound, ”), half-square brackets (for
example, from Henry V: “With blood and sword and fire to win your
p , y y
right,”), or angle brackets (for example, from Hamlet: “O farewell,
honest soldier. Who hath relieved/you?”). At any point in the text,
you can hover your cursor over a bracket for more information.
Because the Folger Digital Texts are edited in accord with twenty-first
century knowledge about Shakespeare’s texts, the Folger here
provides them to readers, scholars, teachers, actors, directors, and
students, free of charge, confident of their quality as texts of the plays
and pleased to be able to make this contribution to the study and
enjoyment of Shakespeare.
Synopsis
The prologue of Romeo and Juliet calls the title characters “star-
crossed lovers”—and the stars do seem to conspire against these
young lovers.
Romeo is a Montague, and Juliet a Capulet. Their families are

enmeshed in a feud, but the moment they meet—when Romeo and his
friends attend a party at Juliet’s house in disguise—the two fall in
love and quickly decide that they want to be married.
A friar secretly marries them, hoping to end the feud. Romeo and his
companions almost immediately encounter Juliet’s cousin Tybalt,
who challenges Romeo. When Romeo refuses to fight, Romeo’s
friend Mercutio accepts the challenge and is killed. Romeo then kills
Tybalt and is banished. He spends that night with Juliet and then
leaves for Mantua.
Juliet’s father forces her into a marriage with Count Paris. To avoid
this marriage, Juliet takes a potion, given her by the friar, that makes
her appear dead. The friar will send Romeo word to be at her family
tomb when she awakes. The plan goes awry, and Romeo learns
instead that she is dead. In the tomb, Romeo kills himself. Juliet
wakes, sees his body, and commits suicide. Their deaths appear
finally to end the feud.
Characters in the Play
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
GREGORY servingmen
PETER
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’ Page
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FRIAR JOHN
APOTHECARY
Three or four Citizens
Three Musicians
Three Watchmen
CHORUS
Attendants, Maskers, Torchbearers, a Boy with a drum, Gentlemen,
Gentlewomen, Tybalt’s Page, Servingmen.
THE PROLOGUE
Enter Chorus.
FTLN 0001 Two households, both alike in dignity

FTLN 0002 (In fair Verona, where we lay our scene),
FTLN 0003 From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
FTLN 0004 Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
FTLN 0005 From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 5
FTLN 0006 A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
FTLN 0007 Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
FTLN 0008 Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
FTLN 0009 The fearful passage of their death-marked love
FTLN 0010 And the continuance of their parents’ rage, 10
FTLN 0011 Which, but their children’s end, naught could remove,
FTLN 0012 Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
FTLN 0013 The which, if you with patient ears attend,
FTLN 0014 What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Chorus exits.
7
ACT 1
Scene 1
Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers,
of the house of Capulet.
FTLN 0015 SAMPSON Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.

FTLN 0016 GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers.
FTLN 0017 SAMPSON I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.
FTLN 0018 GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of
FTLN 0019 collar. 5
FTLN 0020 SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved.
FTLN 0021 GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
FTLN 0022 SAMPSON A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
FTLN 0023 GREGORY To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to
FTLN 0024 stand. Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st 10
FTLN 0025 away.
FTLN 0026 SAMPSON A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I
FTLN 0027 will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.
FTLN 0028 GREGORY That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest
FTLN 0029 goes to the wall. 15
FTLN 0030 SAMPSON ’Tis true, and therefore women, being the
FTLN 0031 weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore
FTLN 0032 I will push Montague’s men from the wall and
FTLN 0033 thrust his maids to the wall.
FTLN 0034 GREGORY The quarrel is between our masters and us 20
FTLN 0035 their men.
FTLN 0036 SAMPSON ’Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant.
FTLN 0037 When I have fought with the men, I will be civil
FTLN 0038 with the maids; I will cut off their heads.
9
11 Romeo and Juliet ACT 1. SC. 1
FTLN 0039 GREGORY The heads of the maids? 25

FTLN 0040 SAMPSON Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.
FTLN 0041 Take it in what sense thou wilt.
FTLN 0042 GREGORY They must take it in sense that feel it.
FTLN 0043 SAMPSON Me they shall feel while I am able to stand,
FTLN 0044 and ’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. 30
FTLN 0045 GREGORY ’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou
FTLN 0046 hadst been poor-john. Draw thy tool. Here comes
FTLN 0047 of the house of Montagues.
Enter Abram with another Servingman.
FTLN 0048 SAMPSON My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back

FTLN 0049 thee. 35
FTLN 0050 GREGORY How? Turn thy back and run?
FTLN 0051 SAMPSON Fear me not.
FTLN 0052 GREGORY No, marry. I fear thee!
FTLN 0053 SAMPSON Let us take the law of our sides; let them
FTLN 0054 begin. 40
FTLN 0055 GREGORY I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it
FTLN 0056 as they list.
FTLN 0057 SAMPSON Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
FTLN 0058 them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it.
He bites his thumb.
FTLN 0059 ABRAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? 45
FTLN 0060 SAMPSON I do bite my thumb, sir.
FTLN 0061 ABRAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
FTLN 0062 SAMPSON , aside to Gregory Is the law of our side if I
FTLN 0063 say “Ay”?
FTLN 0064 GREGORY, aside to Sampson No. 50
FTLN 0065 SAMPSON No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir,
FTLN 0066 but I bite my thumb, sir.
FTLN 0067 GREGORY Do you quarrel, sir?
FTLN 0068 ABRAM Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
FTLN 0069 SAMPSON But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as 55
FTLN 0070 good a man as you.
FTLN 0071 ABRAM No better.
FTLN 0072 SAMPSON Well, sir.
Enter Benvolio.
FTLN 0073 GREGORY, aside to Sampson Say “better”; here comes

FTLN 0074 one of my master’s kinsmen. 60
FTLN 0075 SAMPSON Yes, better, sir.
FTLN 0076 ABRAM You lie.
FTLN 0077 SAMPSON Draw if you be men.—Gregory, remember
FTLN 0078 thy washing blow. They fight.
FTLN 0079 BENVOLIO Part, fools! Drawing his sword. 65
FTLN 0080 Put up your swords. You know not what you do.
Enter Tybalt, drawing his sword.
TYBALT
FTLN 0081 What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
FTLN 0082 Turn thee, Benvolio; look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0083 I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
FTLN 0084 Or manage it to part these men with me. 70
TYBALT
FTLN 0085 What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
FTLN 0086 As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
FTLN 0087 Have at thee, coward! They fight.
Enter three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.
CITIZENS
FTLN 0088 Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!
FTLN 0089 Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues! 75
Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.
CAPULET
FTLN 0090 What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
FTLN 0091 LADY CAPULET A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a
FTLN 0092 sword?
Enter old Montague and his Wife.

CAPULET
FTLN 0093 My sword, I say. Old Montague is come
FTLN 0094 And flourishes his blade in spite of me. 80
MONTAGUE
FTLN 0095 Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not; let me go.
LADY MONTAGUE
FTLN 0096 Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.
Enter Prince Escalus with his train.
PRINCE
FTLN 0097 Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
FTLN 0098 Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel—
FTLN 0099 Will they not hear?—What ho! You men, you beasts, 85
FTLN 0100 That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
FTLN 0101 With purple fountains issuing from your veins:
FTLN 0102 On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
FTLN 0103 Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground,
FTLN 0104 And hear the sentence of your movèd prince. 90
FTLN 0105 Three civil brawls bred of an airy word
FTLN 0106 By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
FTLN 0107 Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets
FTLN 0108 And made Verona’s ancient citizens
FTLN 0109 Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments 95
FTLN 0110 To wield old partisans in hands as old,
FTLN 0111 Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
FTLN 0112 If ever you disturb our streets again,
FTLN 0113 Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
FTLN 0114 For this time all the rest depart away. 100
FTLN 0115 You, Capulet, shall go along with me,
FTLN 0116 And, Montague, come you this afternoon
FTLN 0117 To know our farther pleasure in this case,
FTLN 0118 To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
FTLN 0119 Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. 105
All but Montague, Lady Montague,
and Benvolio exit.
MONTAGUE , to Benvolio
FTLN 0120 Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?
FTLN 0121 Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0122 Here were the servants of your adversary,
FTLN 0123 And yours, close fighting ere I did approach.
FTLN 0124 I drew to part them. In the instant came 110
FTLN 0125 The fiery Tybalt with his sword prepared,
FTLN 0126 Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
FTLN 0127 He swung about his head and cut the winds,
FTLN 0128 Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.
FTLN 0129 While we were interchanging thrusts and blows 115
FTLN 0130 Came more and more and fought on part and part,
FTLN 0131 Till the Prince came, who parted either part.
LADY MONTAGUE
FTLN 0132 O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?
FTLN 0133 Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0134 Madam, an hour before the worshiped sun 120
FTLN 0135 Peered forth the golden window of the east,
FTLN 0136 A troubled mind drove me to walk abroad,
FTLN 0137 Where underneath the grove of sycamore
FTLN 0138 That westward rooteth from this city side,
FTLN 0139 So early walking did I see your son. 125
FTLN 0140 Towards him I made, but he was ’ware of me
FTLN 0141 And stole into the covert of the wood.
FTLN 0142 I, measuring his affections by my own
FTLN 0143 (Which then most sought where most might not be
FTLN 0144 found, 130
FTLN 0145 Being one too many by my weary self),
FTLN 0146 Pursued my humor, not pursuing his,
FTLN 0147 And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me.
MONTAGUE
FTLN 0148 Many a morning hath he there been seen,
FTLN 0149 With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, 135
FTLN 0150 Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs.
FTLN 0151 But all so soon as the all-cheering sun

FTLN 0152 Should in the farthest east begin to draw
FTLN 0153 The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,
FTLN 0154 Away from light steals home my heavy son 140
FTLN 0155 And private in his chamber pens himself,
FTLN 0156 Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,
FTLN 0157 And makes himself an artificial night.
FTLN 0158 Black and portentous must this humor prove,
FTLN 0159 Unless good counsel may the cause remove. 145
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0160 My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
MONTAGUE
FTLN 0161 I neither know it nor can learn of him.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0162 Have you importuned him by any means?
MONTAGUE
FTLN 0163 Both by myself and many other friends.
FTLN 0164 But he, his own affections’ counselor, 150
FTLN 0165 Is to himself—I will not say how true,
FTLN 0166 But to himself so secret and so close,
FTLN 0167 So far from sounding and discovery,
FTLN 0168 As is the bud bit with an envious worm
FTLN 0169 Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air 155
FTLN 0170 Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
FTLN 0171 Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
FTLN 0172 We would as willingly give cure as know.
Enter Romeo.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0173 See where he comes. So please you, step aside.
FTLN 0174 I’ll know his grievance or be much denied. 160
MONTAGUE
FTLN 0175 I would thou wert so happy by thy stay
FTLN 0176 To hear true shrift.—Come, madam, let’s away.
Montague and Lady Montague exit.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0177 Good morrow, cousin.
FTLN 0178 ROMEO Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0179 But new struck nine. 165
FTLN 0180 ROMEO Ay me, sad hours seem long.
FTLN 0181 Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0182 It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?
ROMEO
FTLN 0183 Not having that which, having, makes them short.
FTLN 0184 BENVOLIO In love? 170
FTLN 0185 ROMEO Out—
FTLN 0186 BENVOLIO Of love?
ROMEO
FTLN 0187 Out of her favor where I am in love.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0188 Alas that love, so gentle in his view,
FTLN 0189 Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! 175
ROMEO
FTLN 0190 Alas that love, whose view is muffled still,
FTLN 0191 Should without eyes see pathways to his will!
FTLN 0192 Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here?
FTLN 0193 Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
FTLN 0194 Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. 180
FTLN 0195 Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
FTLN 0196 O anything of nothing first create!
FTLN 0197 O heavy lightness, serious vanity,
FTLN 0198 Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,
FTLN 0199 Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, 185
FTLN 0200 Still-waking sleep that is not what it is!
FTLN 0201 This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
FTLN 0202 Dost thou not laugh?
FTLN 0203 BENVOLIO No, coz, I rather weep.
ROMEO
FTLN 0204 Good heart, at what? 190
FTLN 0205 BENVOLIO At thy good heart’s oppression.

FTLN 0206 ROMEO Why, such is love’s transgression.
FTLN 0207 Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
FTLN 0208 Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed
FTLN 0209 With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown 195
FTLN 0210 Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
FTLN 0211 Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs;
FTLN 0212 Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;
FTLN 0213 Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.
FTLN 0214 What is it else? A madness most discreet, 200
FTLN 0215 A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.
FTLN 0216 Farewell, my coz.
FTLN 0217 BENVOLIO Soft, I will go along.
FTLN 0218 An if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
ROMEO
FTLN 0219 Tut, I have lost myself. I am not here. 205
FTLN 0220 This is not Romeo. He’s some other where.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0221 Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?
FTLN 0222 ROMEO What, shall I groan and tell thee?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0223 Groan? Why, no. But sadly tell me who.
ROMEO
FTLN 0224 A sick man in sadness makes his will— 210
FTLN 0225 A word ill urged to one that is so ill.
FTLN 0226 In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0227 I aimed so near when I supposed you loved.
ROMEO
FTLN 0228 A right good markman! And she’s fair I love.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0229 A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. 215
ROMEO
FTLN 0230 Well in that hit you miss. She’ll not be hit
FTLN 0231 With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit,
FTLN 0232 And, in strong proof of chastity well armed,
FTLN 0233 From love’s weak childish bow she lives uncharmed.
FTLN 0234 She will not stay the siege of loving terms, 220
FTLN 0235 Nor bide th’ encounter of assailing eyes,
FTLN 0236 Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold.
FTLN 0237 O, she is rich in beauty, only poor
FTLN 0238 That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0239 Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste? 225
ROMEO
FTLN 0240 She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;
FTLN 0241 For beauty, starved with her severity,
FTLN 0242 Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
FTLN 0243 She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,
FTLN 0244 To merit bliss by making me despair. 230
FTLN 0245 She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow
FTLN 0246 Do I live dead, that live to tell it now.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0247 Be ruled by me. Forget to think of her.
ROMEO
FTLN 0248 O, teach me how I should forget to think!
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0249 By giving liberty unto thine eyes. 235
FTLN 0250 Examine other beauties.
FTLN 0251 ROMEO ’Tis the way
FTLN 0252 To call hers, exquisite, in question more.
FTLN 0253 These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows,
FTLN 0254 Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair. 240
FTLN 0255 He that is strucken blind cannot forget
FTLN 0256 The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.
FTLN 0257 Show me a mistress that is passing fair;
FTLN 0258 What doth her beauty serve but as a note
FTLN 0259 Where I may read who passed that passing fair? 245
FTLN 0260 Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0261 I’ll pay that doctrine or else die in debt.
They exit.
Scene 2
Enter Capulet, County Paris, and a Servingman.
CAPULET
FTLN 0262 But Montague is bound as well as I,
FTLN 0263 In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think,
FTLN 0264 For men so old as we to keep the peace.
PARIS
FTLN 0265 Of honorable reckoning are you both,
FTLN 0266 And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long. 5
FTLN 0267 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET
FTLN 0268 But saying o’er what I have said before.
FTLN 0269 My child is yet a stranger in the world.
FTLN 0270 She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
FTLN 0271 Let two more summers wither in their pride 10
FTLN 0272 Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS
FTLN 0273 Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET
FTLN 0274 And too soon marred are those so early made.
FTLN 0275 Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;
FTLN 0276 She’s the hopeful lady of my earth. 15
FTLN 0277 But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
FTLN 0278 My will to her consent is but a part.
FTLN 0279 And, she agreed, within her scope of choice
FTLN 0280 Lies my consent and fair according voice.
FTLN 0281 This night I hold an old accustomed feast, 20
FTLN 0282 Whereto I have invited many a guest
FTLN 0283 Such as I love; and you among the store,
FTLN 0284 One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
FTLN 0285 At my poor house look to behold this night
FTLN 0286 Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light. 25
FTLN 0287 Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
FTLN 0288 When well-appareled April on the heel
FTLN 0289 Of limping winter treads, even such delight
FTLN 0290 Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night
FTLN 0291 Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see, 30
FTLN 0292 And like her most whose merit most shall be;
FTLN 0293 Which, on more view of many, mine, being one,
FTLN 0294 May stand in number, though in reck’ning none.
FTLN 0295 Come go with me. To Servingman, giving him a list.
FTLN 0296 Go, sirrah, trudge about 35
FTLN 0297 Through fair Verona, find those persons out
FTLN 0298 Whose names are written there, and to them say
FTLN 0299 My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
Capulet and Paris exit.
FTLN 0300 SERVINGMAN Find them out whose names are written
FTLN 0301 here! It is written that the shoemaker should 40
FTLN 0302 meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last, the
FTLN 0303 fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets.
FTLN 0304 But I am sent to find those persons whose names
FTLN 0305 are here writ, and can never find what names the
FTLN 0306 writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned. 45
FTLN 0307 In good time!
Enter Benvolio and Romeo.
BENVOLIO , to Romeo
FTLN 0308 Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning;
FTLN 0309 One pain is lessened by another’s anguish.
FTLN 0310 Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning.
FTLN 0311 One desperate grief cures with another’s languish. 50
FTLN 0312 Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
FTLN 0313 And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO
FTLN 0314 Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0315 For what, I pray thee?
FTLN 0316 ROMEO For your broken shin. 55
FTLN 0317 BENVOLIO Why Romeo, art thou mad?
ROMEO
FTLN 0318 Not mad, but bound more than a madman is,
FTLN 0319 Shut up in prison, kept without my food,

FTLN 0320 Whipped and tormented, and—good e’en, good
FTLN 0321 fellow. 60
FTLN 0322 SERVINGMAN God gi’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you
FTLN 0323 read?
ROMEO
FTLN 0324 Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
FTLN 0325 SERVINGMAN Perhaps you have learned it without
FTLN 0326 book. But I pray, can you read anything you see? 65
ROMEO
FTLN 0327 Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
FTLN 0328 SERVINGMAN You say honestly. Rest you merry.
FTLN 0329 ROMEO Stay, fellow. I can read. (He reads the letter.)
FTLN 0330 Signior Martino and his wife and daughters,
FTLN 0331 County Anselme and his beauteous sisters, 70
FTLN 0332 The lady widow of Vitruvio,
FTLN 0333 Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces,
FTLN 0334 Mercutio and his brother Valentine,
FTLN 0335 Mine Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters,
FTLN 0336 My fair niece Rosaline and Livia, 75
FTLN 0337 Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
FTLN 0338 Lucio and the lively Helena.
FTLN 0339 A fair assembly. Whither should they come?
FTLN 0340 SERVINGMAN Up.
FTLN 0341 ROMEO Whither? To supper? 80
FTLN 0342 SERVINGMAN To our house.
FTLN 0343 ROMEO Whose house?
FTLN 0344 SERVINGMAN My master’s.
ROMEO
FTLN 0345 Indeed I should have asked thee that before.
FTLN 0346 SERVINGMAN Now I’ll tell you without asking. My 85
FTLN 0347 master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not
FTLN 0348 of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a
FTLN 0349 cup of wine. Rest you merry. He exits.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0350 At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s
FTLN 0351 Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, 90

FTLN 0352 With all the admirèd beauties of Verona.
FTLN 0353 Go thither, and with unattainted eye
FTLN 0354 Compare her face with some that I shall show,
FTLN 0355 And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
ROMEO
FTLN 0356 When the devout religion of mine eye 95
FTLN 0357 Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire;
FTLN 0358 And these who, often drowned, could never die,
FTLN 0359 Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars.
FTLN 0360 One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun
FTLN 0361 Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun. 100
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0362 Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by,
FTLN 0363 Herself poised with herself in either eye;
FTLN 0364 But in that crystal scales let there be weighed
FTLN 0365 Your lady’s love against some other maid
FTLN 0366 That I will show you shining at this feast, 105
FTLN 0367 And she shall scant show well that now seems best.
ROMEO
FTLN 0368 I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown,
FTLN 0369 But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0370 Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me.
NURSE
FTLN 0371 Now, by my maidenhead at twelve year old,
FTLN 0372 I bade her come.—What, lamb! What, ladybird!
FTLN 0373 God forbid. Where’s this girl? What, Juliet!
Enter Juliet.
FTLN 0374 JULIET How now, who calls? 5

FTLN 0375 NURSE Your mother.
JULIET
FTLN 0376 Madam, I am here. What is your will?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0377 This is the matter.—Nurse, give leave awhile.
FTLN 0378 We must talk in secret.—Nurse, come back again.
FTLN 0379 I have remembered me, thou ’s hear our counsel. 10
FTLN 0380 Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age.
NURSE
FTLN 0381 Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.
FTLN 0382 LADY CAPULET She’s not fourteen.
FTLN 0383 NURSE I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth (and yet, to my teen
FTLN 0384 be it spoken, I have but four) she’s not fourteen. 15
FTLN 0385 How long is it now to Lammastide?
FTLN 0386 LADY CAPULET A fortnight and odd days.
NURSE
FTLN 0387 Even or odd, of all days in the year,
FTLN 0388 Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
FTLN 0389 Susan and she (God rest all Christian souls!) 20
FTLN 0390 Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God;
FTLN 0391 She was too good for me. But, as I said,
FTLN 0392 On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
FTLN 0393 That shall she. Marry, I remember it well.
FTLN 0394 ’Tis since the earthquake now eleven years, 25
FTLN 0395 And she was weaned (I never shall forget it)
FTLN 0396 Of all the days of the year, upon that day.
FTLN 0397 For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,
FTLN 0398 Sitting in the sun under the dovehouse wall.
FTLN 0399 My lord and you were then at Mantua. 30
FTLN 0400 Nay, I do bear a brain. But, as I said,
FTLN 0401 When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
FTLN 0402 Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
FTLN 0403 To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug.
FTLN 0404 “Shake,” quoth the dovehouse. ’Twas no need, I 35
FTLN 0405 trow,
FTLN 0406 To bid me trudge.

FTLN 0407 And since that time it is eleven years.
FTLN 0408 For then she could stand high-lone. Nay, by th’
FTLN 0409 rood, 40
FTLN 0410 She could have run and waddled all about,
FTLN 0411 For even the day before, she broke her brow,
FTLN 0412 And then my husband (God be with his soul,
FTLN 0413 He was a merry man) took up the child.
FTLN 0414 “Yea,” quoth he, “Dost thou fall upon thy face? 45
FTLN 0415 Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,
FTLN 0416 Wilt thou not, Jule?” And, by my holidam,
FTLN 0417 The pretty wretch left crying and said “Ay.”
FTLN 0418 To see now how a jest shall come about!
FTLN 0419 I warrant, an I should live a thousand years, 50
FTLN 0420 I never should forget it. “Wilt thou not, Jule?”
FTLN 0421 quoth he.
FTLN 0422 And, pretty fool, it stinted and said “Ay.”
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0423 Enough of this. I pray thee, hold thy peace.
NURSE
FTLN 0424 Yes, madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh 55
FTLN 0425 To think it should leave crying and say “Ay.”
FTLN 0426 And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow
FTLN 0427 A bump as big as a young cock’rel’s stone,
FTLN 0428 A perilous knock, and it cried bitterly.
FTLN 0429 “Yea,” quoth my husband. “Fall’st upon thy face? 60
FTLN 0430 Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age,
FTLN 0431 Wilt thou not, Jule?” It stinted and said “Ay.”
JULIET
FTLN 0432 And stint thou, too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.
NURSE
FTLN 0433 Peace. I have done. God mark thee to his grace,
FTLN 0434 Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed. 65
FTLN 0435 An I might live to see thee married once,
FTLN 0436 I have my wish.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0437 Marry, that “marry” is the very theme
FTLN 0438 I came to talk of.—Tell me, daughter Juliet,
FTLN 0439 How stands your disposition to be married? 70
JULIET
FTLN 0440 It is an honor that I dream not of.
NURSE
FTLN 0441 An honor? Were not I thine only nurse,
FTLN 0442 I would say thou hadst sucked wisdom from thy
FTLN 0443 teat.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0444 Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you 75
FTLN 0445 Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
FTLN 0446 Are made already mothers. By my count
FTLN 0447 I was your mother much upon these years
FTLN 0448 That you are now a maid. Thus, then, in brief:
FTLN 0449 The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. 80
NURSE
FTLN 0450 A man, young lady—lady, such a man
FTLN 0451 As all the world—why, he’s a man of wax.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0452 Verona’s summer hath not such a flower.
NURSE
FTLN 0453 Nay, he’s a flower, in faith, a very flower.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0454 What say you? Can you love the gentleman? 85
FTLN 0455 This night you shall behold him at our feast.
FTLN 0456 Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face,
FTLN 0457 And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen.
FTLN 0458 Examine every married lineament
FTLN 0459 And see how one another lends content, 90
FTLN 0460 And what obscured in this fair volume lies
FTLN 0461 Find written in the margent of his eyes.
FTLN 0462 This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
FTLN 0463 To beautify him only lacks a cover.
FTLN 0464 The fish lives in the sea, and ’tis much pride 95
FTLN 0465 For fair without the fair within to hide.

FTLN 0466 That book in many’s eyes doth share the glory
FTLN 0467 That in gold clasps locks in the golden story.
FTLN 0468 So shall you share all that he doth possess
FTLN 0469 By having him, making yourself no less. 100
NURSE
FTLN 0470 No less? Nay, bigger. Women grow by men.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0471 Speak briefly. Can you like of Paris’ love?
JULIET
FTLN 0472 I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.
FTLN 0473 But no more deep will I endart mine eye
FTLN 0474 Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. 105
Enter Servingman.
FTLN 0475 SERVINGMAN Madam, the guests are come, supper

FTLN 0476 served up, you called, my young lady asked for, the
FTLN 0477 Nurse cursed in the pantry, and everything in
FTLN 0478 extremity. I must hence to wait. I beseech you,
FTLN 0479 follow straight. 110
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 0480 We follow thee. Servingman exits.
FTLN 0481 Juliet, the County stays.
NURSE
FTLN 0482 Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
They exit.
Scene 4
Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other
Maskers, Torchbearers, and a Boy with a drum.
ROMEO
FTLN 0483 What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?
FTLN 0484 Or shall we on without apology?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0485 The date is out of such prolixity.
FTLN 0486 We’ll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf,

FTLN 0487 Bearing a Tartar’s painted bow of lath, 5
FTLN 0488 Scaring the ladies like a crowkeeper,
FTLN 0489 Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke
FTLN 0490 After the prompter, for our entrance.
FTLN 0491 But let them measure us by what they will.
FTLN 0492 We’ll measure them a measure and be gone. 10
ROMEO
FTLN 0493 Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling.
FTLN 0494 Being but heavy I will bear the light.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0495 Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
ROMEO
FTLN 0496 Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
FTLN 0497 With nimble soles. I have a soul of lead 15
FTLN 0498 So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0499 You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings
FTLN 0500 And soar with them above a common bound.
ROMEO
FTLN 0501 I am too sore enpiercèd with his shaft
FTLN 0502 To soar with his light feathers, and so bound 20
FTLN 0503 I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe.
FTLN 0504 Under love’s heavy burden do I sink.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0505 And to sink in it should you burden love—
FTLN 0506 Too great oppression for a tender thing.
ROMEO
FTLN 0507 Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, 25
FTLN 0508 Too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0509 If love be rough with you, be rough with love.
FTLN 0510 Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.—
FTLN 0511 Give me a case to put my visage in.—
FTLN 0512 A visor for a visor. What care I 30
FTLN 0513 What curious eye doth cote deformities?
FTLN 0514 Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0515 Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in
FTLN 0516 But every man betake him to his legs.
ROMEO
FTLN 0517 A torch for me. Let wantons light of heart 35
FTLN 0518 Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels,
FTLN 0519 For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase:
FTLN 0520 I’ll be a candle holder and look on;
FTLN 0521 The game was ne’er so fair, and I am done.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0522 Tut, dun’s the mouse, the constable’s own word. 40
FTLN 0523 If thou art dun, we’ll draw thee from the mire—
FTLN 0524 Or, save your reverence, love—wherein thou
FTLN 0525 stickest
FTLN 0526 Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!
ROMEO
FTLN 0527 Nay, that’s not so. 45
FTLN 0528 MERCUTIO I mean, sir, in delay
FTLN 0529 We waste our lights; in vain, light lights by day.
FTLN 0530 Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits
FTLN 0531 Five times in that ere once in our five wits.
ROMEO
FTLN 0532 And we mean well in going to this masque, 50
FTLN 0533 But ’tis no wit to go.
FTLN 0534 MERCUTIO Why, may one ask?
ROMEO
FTLN 0535 I dreamt a dream tonight.
FTLN 0536 MERCUTIO And so did I.
ROMEO
FTLN 0537 Well, what was yours? 55
FTLN 0538 MERCUTIO That dreamers often lie.
ROMEO
FTLN 0539 In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0540 O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
FTLN 0541 She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes

FTLN 0542 In shape no bigger than an agate stone 60
FTLN 0543 On the forefinger of an alderman,
FTLN 0544 Drawn with a team of little atomi
FTLN 0545 Over men’s noses as they lie asleep.
FTLN 0546 Her wagon spokes made of long spinners’ legs,
FTLN 0547 The cover of the wings of grasshoppers, 65
FTLN 0548 Her traces of the smallest spider web,
FTLN 0549 Her collars of the moonshine’s wat’ry beams,
FTLN 0550 Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film,
FTLN 0551 Her wagoner a small gray-coated gnat,
FTLN 0552 Not half so big as a round little worm 70
FTLN 0553 Pricked from the lazy finger of a maid.
FTLN 0554 Her chariot is an empty hazelnut,
FTLN 0555 Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,
FTLN 0556 Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers.
FTLN 0557 And in this state she gallops night by night 75
FTLN 0558 Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love;
FTLN 0559 On courtiers’ knees, that dream on cur’sies straight;
FTLN 0560 O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees;
FTLN 0561 O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream,
FTLN 0562 Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues 80
FTLN 0563 Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are.
FTLN 0564 Sometime she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose,
FTLN 0565 And then dreams he of smelling out a suit.
FTLN 0566 And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail,
FTLN 0567 Tickling a parson’s nose as he lies asleep; 85
FTLN 0568 Then he dreams of another benefice.
FTLN 0569 Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck,
FTLN 0570 And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
FTLN 0571 Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,
FTLN 0572 Of healths five fathom deep, and then anon 90
FTLN 0573 Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes
FTLN 0574 And, being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two
FTLN 0575 And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
FTLN 0576 That plats the manes of horses in the night
FTLN 0577 And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, 95

FTLN 0578 Which once untangled much misfortune bodes.
FTLN 0579 This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
FTLN 0580 That presses them and learns them first to bear,
FTLN 0581 Making them women of good carriage.
FTLN 0582 This is she— 100
FTLN 0583 ROMEO Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace.
FTLN 0584 Thou talk’st of nothing.
FTLN 0585 MERCUTIO True, I talk of dreams,
FTLN 0586 Which are the children of an idle brain,
FTLN 0587 Begot of nothing but vain fantasy, 105
FTLN 0588 Which is as thin of substance as the air
FTLN 0589 And more inconstant than the wind, who woos
FTLN 0590 Even now the frozen bosom of the north
FTLN 0591 And, being angered, puffs away from thence,
FTLN 0592 Turning his side to the dew-dropping south. 110
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0593 This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves.
FTLN 0594 Supper is done, and we shall come too late.
ROMEO
FTLN 0595 I fear too early, for my mind misgives
FTLN 0596 Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
FTLN 0597 Shall bitterly begin his fearful date 115
FTLN 0598 With this night’s revels, and expire the term
FTLN 0599 Of a despisèd life closed in my breast
FTLN 0600 By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
FTLN 0601 But he that hath the steerage of my course
FTLN 0602 Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen. 120
FTLN 0603 BENVOLIO Strike, drum.
They march about the stage
and then withdraw to the side.
Scene 5
Servingmen come forth with napkins.
FTLN 0604 FIRST SERVINGMAN Where’s Potpan that he helps not

FTLN 0605 to take away? He shift a trencher? He scrape a
FTLN 0606 trencher?
FTLN 0607 SECOND SERVINGMAN When good manners shall lie
FTLN 0608 all in one or two men’s hands, and they unwashed 5
FTLN 0609 too, ’tis a foul thing.
FTLN 0610 FIRST SERVINGMAN Away with the joint stools, remove
FTLN 0611 the court cupboard, look to the plate.—
FTLN 0612 Good thou, save me a piece of marchpane, and, as
FTLN 0613 thou loves me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone 10
FTLN 0614 and Nell.—Anthony and Potpan!
FTLN 0615 THIRD SERVINGMAN Ay, boy, ready.
FTLN 0616 FIRST SERVINGMAN You are looked for and called for,
FTLN 0617 asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.
FTLN 0618 THIRD SERVINGMAN We cannot be here and there too. 15
FTLN 0619 Cheerly, boys! Be brisk awhile, and the longer liver
FTLN 0620 take all. They move aside.
Enter Capulet and his household, all the guests and

gentlewomen to Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and the
other Maskers.
CAPULET
FTLN 0621 Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes
FTLN 0622 Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with
FTLN 0623 you.— 20
FTLN 0624 Ah, my mistresses, which of you all
FTLN 0625 Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
FTLN 0626 She, I’ll swear, hath corns. Am I come near you
FTLN 0627 now?—
FTLN 0628 Welcome, gentlemen. I have seen the day 25
FTLN 0629 That I have worn a visor and could tell
FTLN 0630 A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear,
FTLN 0631 Such as would please. ’Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone.
FTLN 0632 You are welcome, gentlemen.—Come, musicians,

FTLN 0633 play. Music plays and they dance. 30
FTLN 0634 A hall, a hall, give room!—And foot it, girls.—
FTLN 0635 More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up,
FTLN 0636 And quench the fire; the room is grown too hot.—
FTLN 0637 Ah, sirrah, this unlooked-for sport comes well.—
FTLN 0638 Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet, 35
FTLN 0639 For you and I are past our dancing days.
FTLN 0640 How long is ’t now since last yourself and I
FTLN 0641 Were in a mask?
FTLN 0642 CAPULET’S COUSIN By ’r Lady, thirty years.
CAPULET
FTLN 0643 What, man, ’tis not so much, ’tis not so much. 40
FTLN 0644 ’Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio,
FTLN 0645 Come Pentecost as quickly as it will,
FTLN 0646 Some five and twenty years, and then we masked.
CAPULET’S COUSIN
FTLN 0647 ’Tis more, ’tis more. His son is elder, sir.
FTLN 0648 His son is thirty. 45
FTLN 0649 CAPULET Will you tell me that?
FTLN 0650 His son was but a ward two years ago.
ROMEO, to a Servingman
FTLN 0651 What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
FTLN 0652 Of yonder knight?
FTLN 0653 SERVINGMAN I know not, sir. 50
ROMEO
FTLN 0654 O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
FTLN 0655 It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
FTLN 0656 As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear—
FTLN 0657 Beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear.
FTLN 0658 So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows 55
FTLN 0659 As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
FTLN 0660 The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand
FTLN 0661 And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.
FTLN 0662 Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,
FTLN 0663 For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. 60
TYBALT
FTLN 0664 This, by his voice, should be a Montague.—
FTLN 0665 Fetch me my rapier, boy. Page exits.
FTLN 0666 What, dares the slave
FTLN 0667 Come hither covered with an antic face
FTLN 0668 To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? 65
FTLN 0669 Now, by the stock and honor of my kin,
FTLN 0670 To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
CAPULET
FTLN 0671 Why, how now, kinsman? Wherefore storm you so?
TYBALT
FTLN 0672 Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,
FTLN 0673 A villain that is hither come in spite 70
FTLN 0674 To scorn at our solemnity this night.
CAPULET
FTLN 0675 Young Romeo is it?
FTLN 0676 TYBALT ’Tis he, that villain Romeo.
CAPULET
FTLN 0677 Content thee, gentle coz. Let him alone.
FTLN 0678 He bears him like a portly gentleman, 75
FTLN 0679 And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
FTLN 0680 To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
FTLN 0681 I would not for the wealth of all this town
FTLN 0682 Here in my house do him disparagement.
FTLN 0683 Therefore be patient. Take no note of him. 80
FTLN 0684 It is my will, the which if thou respect,
FTLN 0685 Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
FTLN 0686 An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
TYBALT
FTLN 0687 It fits when such a villain is a guest.
FTLN 0688 I’ll not endure him. 85
FTLN 0689 CAPULET He shall be endured.
FTLN 0690 What, goodman boy? I say he shall. Go to.
FTLN 0691 Am I the master here or you? Go to.
FTLN 0692 You’ll not endure him! God shall mend my soul,
FTLN 0693 You’ll make a mutiny among my guests, 90

FTLN 0694 You will set cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man!
TYBALT
FTLN 0695 Why, uncle, ’tis a shame.
FTLN 0696 CAPULET Go to, go to.
FTLN 0697 You are a saucy boy. Is ’t so indeed?
FTLN 0698 This trick may chance to scathe you. I know what. 95
FTLN 0699 You must contrary me. Marry, ’tis time—
FTLN 0700 Well said, my hearts.—You are a princox, go.
FTLN 0701 Be quiet, or—More light, more light!—for shame,
FTLN 0702 I’ll make you quiet.—What, cheerly, my hearts!
TYBALT
FTLN 0703 Patience perforce with willful choler meeting 100
FTLN 0704 Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
FTLN 0705 I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
FTLN 0706 Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.
He exits.
ROMEO, taking Juliet’s hand
FTLN 0707 If I profane with my unworthiest hand
FTLN 0708 This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: 105
FTLN 0709 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
FTLN 0710 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET
FTLN 0711 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
FTLN 0712 Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
FTLN 0713 For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, 110
FTLN 0714 And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO
FTLN 0715 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET
FTLN 0716 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO
FTLN 0717 O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
FTLN 0718 They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. 115
JULIET
FTLN 0719 Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO
FTLN 0720 Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
He kisses her.
FTLN 0721 Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.
JULIET
FTLN 0722 Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO
FTLN 0723 Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged! 120
FTLN 0724 Give me my sin again. He kisses her.
FTLN 0725 JULIET You kiss by th’ book.
NURSE
FTLN 0726 Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Juliet moves toward her mother.
ROMEO
FTLN 0727 What is her mother?
FTLN 0728 NURSE Marry, bachelor, 125
FTLN 0729 Her mother is the lady of the house,
FTLN 0730 And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous.
FTLN 0731 I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
FTLN 0732 I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
FTLN 0733 Shall have the chinks. Nurse moves away. 130
FTLN 0734 ROMEO, aside Is she a Capulet?
FTLN 0735 O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0736 Away, begone. The sport is at the best.
ROMEO
FTLN 0737 Ay, so I fear. The more is my unrest.
CAPULET
FTLN 0738 Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone. 135
FTLN 0739 We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.—
FTLN 0740 Is it e’en so? Why then, I thank you all.
FTLN 0741 I thank you, honest gentlemen. Good night.—
FTLN 0742 More torches here.—Come on then, let’s to bed.—
FTLN 0743 Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late. 140
FTLN 0744 I’ll to my rest.
All but Juliet and the Nurse begin to exit.
JULIET
FTLN 0745 Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?
NURSE
FTLN 0746 The son and heir of old Tiberio.
JULIET
FTLN 0747 What’s he that now is going out of door?
NURSE
FTLN 0748 Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio. 145
JULIET
FTLN 0749 What’s he that follows here, that would not dance?
FTLN 0750 NURSE I know not.
JULIET
FTLN 0751 Go ask his name. The Nurse goes. If he be marrièd,
FTLN 0752 My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
NURSE, returning
FTLN 0753 His name is Romeo, and a Montague, 150
FTLN 0754 The only son of your great enemy.
JULIET
FTLN 0755 My only love sprung from my only hate!
FTLN 0756 Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
FTLN 0757 Prodigious birth of love it is to me
FTLN 0758 That I must love a loathèd enemy. 155
NURSE
FTLN 0759 What’s this? What’s this?
FTLN 0760 JULIET A rhyme I learned even now
FTLN 0761 Of one I danced withal.
One calls within “Juliet.”
FTLN 0762 NURSE Anon, anon.
FTLN 0763 Come, let’s away. The strangers all are gone. 160
They exit.
ACT 2
Enter Chorus.
FTLN 0764 Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,

FTLN 0765 And young affection gapes to be his heir.
FTLN 0766 That fair for which love groaned for and would die,
FTLN 0767 With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair.
FTLN 0768 Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 5
FTLN 0769 Alike bewitchèd by the charm of looks,
FTLN 0770 But to his foe supposed he must complain,
FTLN 0771 And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks.
FTLN 0772 Being held a foe, he may not have access
FTLN 0773 To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear, 10
FTLN 0774 And she as much in love, her means much less
FTLN 0775 To meet her new belovèd anywhere.
FTLN 0776 But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
FTLN 0777 Temp’ring extremities with extreme sweet.
Chorus exits.
Scene 1
Enter Romeo alone.
ROMEO
FTLN 0778 Can I go forward when my heart is here?
FTLN 0779 Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out.
He withdraws.
Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.

65
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0780 Romeo, my cousin Romeo, Romeo!
FTLN 0781 MERCUTIO He is wise
FTLN 0782 And, on my life, hath stol’n him home to bed. 5
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0783 He ran this way and leapt this orchard wall.
FTLN 0784 Call, good Mercutio.
FTLN 0785 MERCUTIO Nay, I’ll conjure too.
FTLN 0786 Romeo! Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover!
FTLN 0787 Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh. 10
FTLN 0788 Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied.
FTLN 0789 Cry but “Ay me,” pronounce but “love” and
FTLN 0790 “dove.”
FTLN 0791 Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,
FTLN 0792 One nickname for her purblind son and heir, 15
FTLN 0793 Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so trim
FTLN 0794 When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid.—
FTLN 0795 He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not.
FTLN 0796 The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.—
FTLN 0797 I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes, 20
FTLN 0798 By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip,
FTLN 0799 By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh,
FTLN 0800 And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
FTLN 0801 That in thy likeness thou appear to us.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0802 An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. 25
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0803 This cannot anger him. ’Twould anger him
FTLN 0804 To raise a spirit in his mistress’ circle
FTLN 0805 Of some strange nature, letting it there stand
FTLN 0806 Till she had laid it and conjured it down.
FTLN 0807 That were some spite. My invocation 30
FTLN 0808 Is fair and honest. In his mistress’ name,
FTLN 0809 I conjure only but to raise up him.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 0810 Come, he hath hid himself among these trees
FTLN 0811 To be consorted with the humorous night.

FTLN 0812 Blind is his love and best befits the dark. 35
MERCUTIO
FTLN 0813 If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
FTLN 0814 Now will he sit under a medlar tree
FTLN 0815 And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
FTLN 0816 As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.—
FTLN 0817 O Romeo, that she were, O, that she were 40
FTLN 0818 An open-arse, thou a pop’rin pear.
FTLN 0819 Romeo, good night. I’ll to my truckle bed;
FTLN 0820 This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep.—
FTLN 0821 Come, shall we go?
FTLN 0822 BENVOLIO Go, then, for ’tis in vain 45
FTLN 0823 To seek him here that means not to be found.
They exit.
Scene 2
Romeo comes forward.
ROMEO
FTLN 0824 He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
Enter Juliet above.
FTLN 0825 But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
FTLN 0826 It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.
FTLN 0827 Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
FTLN 0828 Who is already sick and pale with grief 5
FTLN 0829 That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
FTLN 0830 Be not her maid since she is envious.
FTLN 0831 Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
FTLN 0832 And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
FTLN 0833 It is my lady. O, it is my love! 10
FTLN 0834 O, that she knew she were!
FTLN 0835 She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
FTLN 0836 Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
FTLN 0837 I am too bold. ’Tis not to me she speaks.

FTLN 0838 Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, 15
FTLN 0839 Having some business, do entreat her eyes
FTLN 0840 To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
FTLN 0841 What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
FTLN 0842 The brightness of her cheek would shame those
FTLN 0843 stars 20
FTLN 0844 As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
FTLN 0845 Would through the airy region stream so bright
FTLN 0846 That birds would sing and think it were not night.
FTLN 0847 See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
FTLN 0848 O, that I were a glove upon that hand, 25
FTLN 0849 That I might touch that cheek!
FTLN 0850 JULIET Ay me.
FTLN 0851 ROMEO, aside She speaks.
FTLN 0852 O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art
FTLN 0853 As glorious to this night, being o’er my head, 30
FTLN 0854 As is a wingèd messenger of heaven
FTLN 0855 Unto the white-upturnèd wond’ring eyes
FTLN 0856 Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
FTLN 0857 When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
FTLN 0858 And sails upon the bosom of the air. 35
JULIET
FTLN 0859 O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
FTLN 0860 Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
FTLN 0861 Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
FTLN 0862 And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO, aside
FTLN 0863 Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 40
JULIET
FTLN 0864 ’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
FTLN 0865 Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
FTLN 0866 What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
FTLN 0867 Nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name
FTLN 0868 Belonging to a man. 45
FTLN 0869 What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
FTLN 0870 By any other word would smell as sweet.

FTLN 0871 So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
FTLN 0872 Retain that dear perfection which he owes
FTLN 0873 Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, 50
FTLN 0874 And, for thy name, which is no part of thee,
FTLN 0875 Take all myself.
FTLN 0876 ROMEO I take thee at thy word.
FTLN 0877 Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.
FTLN 0878 Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 55
JULIET
FTLN 0879 What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night,
FTLN 0880 So stumblest on my counsel?
FTLN 0881 ROMEO By a name
FTLN 0882 I know not how to tell thee who I am.
FTLN 0883 My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself 60
FTLN 0884 Because it is an enemy to thee.
FTLN 0885 Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET
FTLN 0886 My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
FTLN 0887 Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.
FTLN 0888 Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 65
ROMEO
FTLN 0889 Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
JULIET
FTLN 0890 How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
FTLN 0891 The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
FTLN 0892 And the place death, considering who thou art,
FTLN 0893 If any of my kinsmen find thee here. 70
ROMEO
FTLN 0894 With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,
FTLN 0895 For stony limits cannot hold love out,
FTLN 0896 And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
FTLN 0897 Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
JULIET
FTLN 0898 If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 75
ROMEO
FTLN 0899 Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
FTLN 0900 Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet,
FTLN 0901 And I am proof against their enmity.
JULIET
FTLN 0902 I would not for the world they saw thee here.
ROMEO
FTLN 0903 I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, 80
FTLN 0904 And, but thou love me, let them find me here.
FTLN 0905 My life were better ended by their hate
FTLN 0906 Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love.
JULIET
FTLN 0907 By whose direction found’st thou out this place?
ROMEO
FTLN 0908 By love, that first did prompt me to inquire. 85
FTLN 0909 He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
FTLN 0910 I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
FTLN 0911 As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
FTLN 0912 I should adventure for such merchandise.
JULIET
FTLN 0913 Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, 90
FTLN 0914 Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
FTLN 0915 For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
FTLN 0916 Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny
FTLN 0917 What I have spoke. But farewell compliment.
FTLN 0918 Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say “Ay,” 95
FTLN 0919 And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear’st,
FTLN 0920 Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries,
FTLN 0921 They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
FTLN 0922 If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
FTLN 0923 Or, if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, 100
FTLN 0924 I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
FTLN 0925 So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world.
FTLN 0926 In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
FTLN 0927 And therefore thou mayst think my havior light.
FTLN 0928 But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true 105
FTLN 0929 Than those that have more coying to be strange.

FTLN 0930 I should have been more strange, I must confess,
FTLN 0931 But that thou overheard’st ere I was ware
FTLN 0932 My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me,
FTLN 0933 And not impute this yielding to light love, 110
FTLN 0934 Which the dark night hath so discoverèd.
ROMEO
FTLN 0935 Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow,
FTLN 0936 That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—
JULIET
FTLN 0937 O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon,
FTLN 0938 That monthly changes in her circled orb, 115
FTLN 0939 Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO
FTLN 0940 What shall I swear by?
FTLN 0941 JULIET Do not swear at all.
FTLN 0942 Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
FTLN 0943 Which is the god of my idolatry, 120
FTLN 0944 And I’ll believe thee.
FTLN 0945 ROMEO If my heart’s dear love—
JULIET
FTLN 0946 Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
FTLN 0947 I have no joy of this contract tonight.
FTLN 0948 It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden, 125
FTLN 0949 Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
FTLN 0950 Ere one can say “It lightens.” Sweet, good night.
FTLN 0951 This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
FTLN 0952 May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
FTLN 0953 Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest 130
FTLN 0954 Come to thy heart as that within my breast.
ROMEO
FTLN 0955 O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET
FTLN 0956 What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
ROMEO
FTLN 0957 Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
JULIET
FTLN 0958 I gave thee mine before thou didst request it, 135
FTLN 0959 And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO
FTLN 0960 Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
JULIET
FTLN 0961 But to be frank and give it thee again.
FTLN 0962 And yet I wish but for the thing I have.
FTLN 0963 My bounty is as boundless as the sea, 140
FTLN 0964 My love as deep. The more I give to thee,
FTLN 0965 The more I have, for both are infinite.
Nurse calls from within.
FTLN 0966 I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu.—
FTLN 0967 Anon, good nurse.—Sweet Montague, be true.
FTLN 0968 Stay but a little; I will come again. She exits. 145
ROMEO
FTLN 0969 O blessèd, blessèd night! I am afeard,
FTLN 0970 Being in night, all this is but a dream,
FTLN 0971 Too flattering sweet to be substantial.
Reenter Juliet above.
JULIET
FTLN 0972 Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
FTLN 0973 If that thy bent of love be honorable, 150
FTLN 0974 Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
FTLN 0975 By one that I’ll procure to come to thee,
FTLN 0976 Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,
FTLN 0977 And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay
FTLN 0978 And follow thee my lord throughout the world. 155
FTLN 0979 NURSE , within Madam.
JULIET
FTLN 0980 I come anon.—But if thou meanest not well,
FTLN 0981 I do beseech thee—
FTLN 0982 NURSE , within Madam.
FTLN 0983 JULIET By and by, I come.— 160
FTLN 0984 To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
FTLN 0985 Tomorrow will I send.
FTLN 0986 ROMEO So thrive my soul—

FTLN 0987 JULIET A thousand times good night. She exits.
ROMEO
FTLN 0988 A thousand times the worse to want thy light. 165
FTLN 0989 Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their
FTLN 0990 books,
FTLN 0991 But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Going.
Enter Juliet above again.
JULIET
FTLN 0992 Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc’ner’s voice
FTLN 0993 To lure this tassel-gentle back again! 170
FTLN 0994 Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud,
FTLN 0995 Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies
FTLN 0996 And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine
FTLN 0997 With repetition of “My Romeo!”
ROMEO
FTLN 0998 It is my soul that calls upon my name. 175
FTLN 0999 How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
FTLN 1000 Like softest music to attending ears.
JULIET
FTLN 1001 Romeo.
FTLN 1002 ROMEO My dear.
FTLN 1003 JULIET What o’clock tomorrow 180
FTLN 1004 Shall I send to thee?
FTLN 1005 ROMEO By the hour of nine.
JULIET
FTLN 1006 I will not fail. ’Tis twenty year till then.
FTLN 1007 I have forgot why I did call thee back.
ROMEO
FTLN 1008 Let me stand here till thou remember it. 185
JULIET
FTLN 1009 I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
FTLN 1010 Rememb’ring how I love thy company.
ROMEO
FTLN 1011 And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget,
FTLN 1012 Forgetting any other home but this.
JULIET
FTLN 1013 ’Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone, 190
FTLN 1014 And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird,
FTLN 1015 That lets it hop a little from his hand,
FTLN 1016 Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
FTLN 1017 And with a silken thread plucks it back again,
FTLN 1018 So loving-jealous of his liberty. 195
ROMEO
FTLN 1019 I would I were thy bird.
FTLN 1020 JULIET Sweet, so would I.
FTLN 1021 Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
FTLN 1022 Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet
FTLN 1023 sorrow 200
FTLN 1024 That I shall say “Good night” till it be morrow.
She exits.
ROMEO
FTLN 1025 Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
FTLN 1026 Would I were sleep and peace so sweet to rest.
FTLN 1027 Hence will I to my ghostly friar’s close cell,
FTLN 1028 His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell. 205
He exits.
Scene 3
Enter Friar Lawrence alone with a basket.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1029 The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,
FTLN 1030 Check’ring the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
FTLN 1031 And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels
FTLN 1032 From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels.
FTLN 1033 Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, 5
FTLN 1034 The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry,
FTLN 1035 I must upfill this osier cage of ours

FTLN 1036 With baleful weeds and precious-juicèd flowers.
FTLN 1037 The Earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb;
FTLN 1038 What is her burying grave, that is her womb; 10
FTLN 1039 And from her womb children of divers kind
FTLN 1040 We sucking on her natural bosom find,
FTLN 1041 Many for many virtues excellent,
FTLN 1042 None but for some, and yet all different.
FTLN 1043 O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies 15
FTLN 1044 In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities.
FTLN 1045 For naught so vile that on the Earth doth live
FTLN 1046 But to the Earth some special good doth give;
FTLN 1047 Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use,
FTLN 1048 Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse. 20
FTLN 1049 Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
FTLN 1050 And vice sometime by action dignified.
Enter Romeo.
FTLN 1051 Within the infant rind of this weak flower

FTLN 1052 Poison hath residence and medicine power:
FTLN 1053 For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each 25
FTLN 1054 part;
FTLN 1055 Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart.
FTLN 1056 Two such opposèd kings encamp them still
FTLN 1057 In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will;
FTLN 1058 And where the worser is predominant, 30
FTLN 1059 Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
ROMEO
FTLN 1060 Good morrow, father.
FTLN 1061 FRIAR LAWRENCE Benedicite.
FTLN 1062 What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?
FTLN 1063 Young son, it argues a distempered head 35
FTLN 1064 So soon to bid “Good morrow” to thy bed.
FTLN 1065 Care keeps his watch in every old man’s eye,
FTLN 1066 And, where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
FTLN 1067 But where unbruisèd youth with unstuffed brain
FTLN 1068 Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth 40
FTLN 1069 reign.
FTLN 1070 Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
FTLN 1071 Thou art uproused with some distemp’rature,
FTLN 1072 Or, if not so, then here I hit it right:
FTLN 1073 Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight. 45
ROMEO
FTLN 1074 That last is true. The sweeter rest was mine.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1075 God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?
ROMEO
FTLN 1076 With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No.
FTLN 1077 I have forgot that name and that name’s woe.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1078 That’s my good son. But where hast thou been 50
FTLN 1079 then?
ROMEO
FTLN 1080 I’ll tell thee ere thou ask it me again.
FTLN 1081 I have been feasting with mine enemy,
FTLN 1082 Where on a sudden one hath wounded me
FTLN 1083 That’s by me wounded. Both our remedies 55
FTLN 1084 Within thy help and holy physic lies.
FTLN 1085 I bear no hatred, blessèd man, for, lo,
FTLN 1086 My intercession likewise steads my foe.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1087 Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.
FTLN 1088 Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift. 60
ROMEO
FTLN 1089 Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set
FTLN 1090 On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.
FTLN 1091 As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine,
FTLN 1092 And all combined, save what thou must combine
FTLN 1093 By holy marriage. When and where and how 65
FTLN 1094 We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow
FTLN 1095 I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray,
FTLN 1096 That thou consent to marry us today.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1097 Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
FTLN 1098 Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, 70
FTLN 1099 So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
FTLN 1100 Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
FTLN 1101 Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
FTLN 1102 Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
FTLN 1103 How much salt water thrown away in waste 75
FTLN 1104 To season love, that of it doth not taste!
FTLN 1105 The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
FTLN 1106 Thy old groans yet ringing in mine ancient ears.
FTLN 1107 Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
FTLN 1108 Of an old tear that is not washed off yet. 80
FTLN 1109 If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
FTLN 1110 Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.
FTLN 1111 And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence
FTLN 1112 then:
FTLN 1113 Women may fall when there’s no strength in men. 85
ROMEO
FTLN 1114 Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1115 For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO
FTLN 1116 And bad’st me bury love.
FTLN 1117 FRIAR LAWRENCE Not in a grave
FTLN 1118 To lay one in, another out to have. 90
ROMEO
FTLN 1119 I pray thee, chide me not. Her I love now
FTLN 1120 Doth grace for grace and love for love allow.
FTLN 1121 The other did not so.
FTLN 1122 FRIAR LAWRENCE O, she knew well
FTLN 1123 Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell. 95
FTLN 1124 But come, young waverer, come, go with me.
FTLN 1125 In one respect I’ll thy assistant be,
FTLN 1126 For this alliance may so happy prove
FTLN 1127 To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.
ROMEO
FTLN 1128 O, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste. 100
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1129 Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.
They exit.
Scene 4
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1130 Where the devil should this Romeo be?
FTLN 1131 Came he not home tonight?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1132 Not to his father’s. I spoke with his man.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1133 Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that
FTLN 1134 Rosaline, 5
FTLN 1135 Torments him so that he will sure run mad.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1136 Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet,
FTLN 1137 Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
FTLN 1138 MERCUTIO A challenge, on my life.
FTLN 1139 BENVOLIO Romeo will answer it. 10
FTLN 1140 MERCUTIO Any man that can write may answer a letter.
FTLN 1141 BENVOLIO Nay, he will answer the letter’s master, how
FTLN 1142 he dares, being dared.
FTLN 1143 MERCUTIO Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead,
FTLN 1144 stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run 15
FTLN 1145 through the ear with a love-song, the very pin of his
FTLN 1146 heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt shaft. And
FTLN 1147 is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
FTLN 1148 BENVOLIO Why, what is Tybalt?
FTLN 1149 MERCUTIO More than prince of cats. O, he’s the courageous 20
FTLN 1150 captain of compliments. He fights as you sing
FTLN 1151 prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion.
FTLN 1152 He rests his minim rests, one, two, and the third in
FTLN 1153 your bosom—the very butcher of a silk button, a
FTLN 1154 duelist, a duelist, a gentleman of the very first house 25
FTLN 1155 of the first and second cause. Ah, the immortal
FTLN 1156 passado, the punto reverso, the hay!
FTLN 1157 BENVOLIO The what?
FTLN 1158 MERCUTIO The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting
FTLN 1159 phantasimes, these new tuners of accent: “By 30
FTLN 1160 Jesu, a very good blade! A very tall man! A very good
FTLN 1161 whore!” Why, is not this a lamentable thing, grandsire,
FTLN 1162 that we should be thus afflicted with these
FTLN 1163 strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these “pardon-me” ’s,
FTLN 1164 who stand so much on the new form 35
FTLN 1165 that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O their
FTLN 1166 bones, their bones!
Enter Romeo.
FTLN 1167 BENVOLIO Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

FTLN 1168 MERCUTIO Without his roe, like a dried herring. O
FTLN 1169 flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the 40
FTLN 1170 numbers that Petrarch flowed in. Laura to his lady
FTLN 1171 was a kitchen wench (marry, she had a better love
FTLN 1172 to berhyme her), Dido a dowdy, Cleopatra a gypsy,
FTLN 1173 Helen and Hero hildings and harlots, Thisbe a gray
FTLN 1174 eye or so, but not to the purpose.—Signior Romeo, 45
FTLN 1175 bonjour. There’s a French salutation to your French
FTLN 1176 slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.
FTLN 1177 ROMEO Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit
FTLN 1178 did I give you?
FTLN 1179 MERCUTIO The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not conceive? 50
FTLN 1180 ROMEO Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was
FTLN 1181 great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain
FTLN 1182 courtesy.
FTLN 1183 MERCUTIO That’s as much as to say such a case as
FTLN 1184 yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. 55
FTLN 1185 ROMEO Meaning, to curtsy.
FTLN 1186 MERCUTIO Thou hast most kindly hit it.

FTLN 1187 ROMEO A most courteous exposition.
FTLN 1188 MERCUTIO Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
FTLN 1189 ROMEO “Pink” for flower. 60
FTLN 1190 MERCUTIO Right.
FTLN 1191 ROMEO Why, then is my pump well flowered.
FTLN 1192 MERCUTIO Sure wit, follow me this jest now till thou
FTLN 1193 hast worn out thy pump, that when the single sole
FTLN 1194 of it is worn, the jest may remain, after the wearing, 65
FTLN 1195 solely singular.
FTLN 1196 ROMEO O single-soled jest, solely singular for the
FTLN 1197 singleness.
FTLN 1198 MERCUTIO Come between us, good Benvolio. My wits
FTLN 1199 faints. 70
FTLN 1200 ROMEO Switch and spurs, switch and spurs, or I’ll cry
FTLN 1201 a match.
FTLN 1202 MERCUTIO Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I
FTLN 1203 am done, for thou hast more of the wild goose in
FTLN 1204 one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole 75
FTLN 1205 five. Was I with you there for the goose?
FTLN 1206 ROMEO Thou wast never with me for anything when
FTLN 1207 thou wast not there for the goose.
FTLN 1208 MERCUTIO I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
FTLN 1209 ROMEO Nay, good goose, bite not. 80
FTLN 1210 MERCUTIO Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most
FTLN 1211 sharp sauce.
FTLN 1212 ROMEO And is it not, then, well served into a sweet
FTLN 1213 goose?
FTLN 1214 MERCUTIO O, here’s a wit of cheveril that stretches 85
FTLN 1215 from an inch narrow to an ell broad.
FTLN 1216 ROMEO I stretch it out for that word “broad,” which
FTLN 1217 added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a
FTLN 1218 broad goose.
FTLN 1219 MERCUTIO Why, is not this better now than groaning 90
FTLN 1220 for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou
FTLN 1221 Romeo, now art thou what thou art, by art as well as
FTLN 1222 by nature. For this driveling love is like a great

FTLN 1223 natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his
FTLN 1224 bauble in a hole. 95
FTLN 1225 BENVOLIO Stop there, stop there.
FTLN 1226 MERCUTIO Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against
FTLN 1227 the hair.
FTLN 1228 BENVOLIO Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.
FTLN 1229 MERCUTIO O, thou art deceived. I would have made it 100
FTLN 1230 short, for I was come to the whole depth of my tale
FTLN 1231 and meant indeed to occupy the argument no
FTLN 1232 longer.
Enter Nurse and her man Peter.
FTLN 1233 ROMEO Here’s goodly gear. A sail, a sail!

FTLN 1234 MERCUTIO Two, two—a shirt and a smock. 105
FTLN 1235 NURSE Peter.
FTLN 1236 PETER Anon.
FTLN 1237 NURSE My fan, Peter.
FTLN 1238 MERCUTIO Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s
FTLN 1239 the fairer face. 110
FTLN 1240 NURSE God you good morrow, gentlemen.
FTLN 1241 MERCUTIO God you good e’en, fair gentlewoman.
FTLN 1242 NURSE Is it good e’en?
FTLN 1243 MERCUTIO ’Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of
FTLN 1244 the dial is now upon the prick of noon. 115
FTLN 1245 NURSE Out upon you! What a man are you?
FTLN 1246 ROMEO One, gentlewoman, that God hath made, himself
FTLN 1247 to mar.
FTLN 1248 NURSE By my troth, it is well said: “for himself to
FTLN 1249 mar,” quoth he? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me 120
FTLN 1250 where I may find the young Romeo?
FTLN 1251 ROMEO I can tell you, but young Romeo will be older
FTLN 1252 when you have found him than he was when you
FTLN 1253 sought him. I am the youngest of that name, for
FTLN 1254 fault of a worse. 125
FTLN 1255 NURSE You say well.
FTLN 1256 MERCUTIO Yea, is the worst well? Very well took, i’
FTLN 1257 faith, wisely, wisely.
FTLN 1258 NURSE If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with
FTLN 1259 you. 130
FTLN 1260 BENVOLIO She will indite him to some supper.
FTLN 1261 MERCUTIO A bawd, a bawd, a bawd. So ho!
FTLN 1262 ROMEO What hast thou found?
FTLN 1263 MERCUTIO No hare, sir, unless a hare, sir, in a Lenten
FTLN 1264 pie that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent. 135
FTLN 1265 Singing. An old hare hoar,
FTLN 1266 And an old hare hoar,
FTLN 1267 Is very good meat in Lent.
FTLN 1268 But a hare that is hoar
FTLN 1269 Is too much for a score 140
FTLN 1270 When it hoars ere it be spent.
FTLN 1271 Romeo, will you come to your father’s? We’ll to
FTLN 1272 dinner thither.
FTLN 1273 ROMEO I will follow you.
FTLN 1274 MERCUTIO Farewell, ancient lady. Farewell, lady, lady, 145
FTLN 1275 lady. Mercutio and Benvolio exit.
FTLN 1276 NURSE I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this
FTLN 1277 that was so full of his ropery?
FTLN 1278 ROMEO A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself
FTLN 1279 talk and will speak more in a minute than he will 150
FTLN 1280 stand to in a month.
FTLN 1281 NURSE An he speak anything against me, I’ll take him
FTLN 1282 down, an he were lustier than he is, and twenty
FTLN 1283 such jacks. An if I cannot, I’ll find those that shall.
FTLN 1284 Scurvy knave, I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none 155
FTLN 1285 of his skains-mates. To Peter. And thou must stand
FTLN 1286 by too and suffer every knave to use me at his
FTLN 1287 pleasure.
FTLN 1288 PETER I saw no man use you at his pleasure. If I had,
FTLN 1289 my weapon should quickly have been out. I warrant 160
FTLN 1290 you, I dare draw as soon as another man, if I
FTLN 1291 see occasion in a good quarrel, and the law on my
FTLN 1292 side.
FTLN 1293 NURSE Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every part
FTLN 1294 about me quivers. Scurvy knave! To Romeo. Pray 165
FTLN 1295 you, sir, a word. And, as I told you, my young lady
FTLN 1296 bid me inquire you out. What she bid me say, I will
FTLN 1297 keep to myself. But first let me tell you, if you
FTLN 1298 should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it
FTLN 1299 were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say. For 170
FTLN 1300 the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you
FTLN 1301 should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
FTLN 1302 thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very
FTLN 1303 weak dealing.
FTLN 1304 ROMEO Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. 175
FTLN 1305 I protest unto thee—
FTLN 1306 NURSE Good heart, and i’ faith I will tell her as much.
FTLN 1307 Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
FTLN 1308 ROMEO What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not
FTLN 1309 mark me. 180
FTLN 1310 NURSE I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as
FTLN 1311 I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.
FTLN 1312 ROMEO Bid her devise
FTLN 1313 Some means to come to shrift this afternoon,
FTLN 1314 And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’ cell 185
FTLN 1315 Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.
Offering her money.
FTLN 1316 NURSE No, truly, sir, not a penny.
FTLN 1317 ROMEO Go to, I say you shall.
NURSE
FTLN 1318 This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there.
ROMEO
FTLN 1319 And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall. 190
FTLN 1320 Within this hour my man shall be with thee
FTLN 1321 And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair,
FTLN 1322 Which to the high topgallant of my joy
FTLN 1323 Must be my convoy in the secret night.
FTLN 1324 Farewell. Be trusty, and I’ll quit thy pains. 195
FTLN 1325 Farewell. Commend me to thy mistress.
NURSE
FTLN 1326 Now, God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.
FTLN 1327 ROMEO What sayst thou, my dear nurse?
NURSE
FTLN 1328 Is your man secret? Did you ne’er hear say
FTLN 1329 “Two may keep counsel, putting one away”? 200
ROMEO
FTLN 1330 Warrant thee, my man’s as true as steel.
FTLN 1331 NURSE Well, sir, my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord,
FTLN 1332 Lord, when ’twas a little prating thing—O, there is
FTLN 1333 a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay
FTLN 1334 knife aboard, but she, good soul, had as lief see a 205
FTLN 1335 toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes
FTLN 1336 and tell her that Paris is the properer man, but I’ll
FTLN 1337 warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any
FTLN 1338 clout in the versal world. Doth not rosemary and
FTLN 1339 Romeo begin both with a letter? 210
FTLN 1340 ROMEO Ay, nurse, what of that? Both with an R.
FTLN 1341 NURSE Ah, mocker, that’s the dog’s name. R is for
FTLN 1342 the—No, I know it begins with some other letter,
FTLN 1343 and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you
FTLN 1344 and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it. 215
FTLN 1345 ROMEO Commend me to thy lady.
FTLN 1346 NURSE Ay, a thousand times.—Peter.
FTLN 1347 PETER Anon.
FTLN 1348 NURSE Before and apace.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Juliet.
JULIET
FTLN 1349 The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse.
FTLN 1350 In half an hour she promised to return.
FTLN 1351 Perchance she cannot meet him. That’s not so.
FTLN 1352 O, she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts,
FTLN 1353 Which ten times faster glides than the sun’s beams, 5
FTLN 1354 Driving back shadows over louring hills.

FTLN 1355 Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love,
FTLN 1356 And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
FTLN 1357 Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
FTLN 1358 Of this day’s journey, and from nine till twelve 10
FTLN 1359 Is three long hours, yet she is not come.
FTLN 1360 Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
FTLN 1361 She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
FTLN 1362 My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
FTLN 1363 And his to me. 15
FTLN 1364 But old folks, many feign as they were dead,
FTLN 1365 Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.
Enter Nurse and Peter.
FTLN 1366 O God, she comes!—O, honey nurse, what news?

FTLN 1367 Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.
FTLN 1368 NURSE Peter, stay at the gate. Peter exits. 20
JULIET
FTLN 1369 Now, good sweet nurse—O Lord, why lookest thou
FTLN 1370 sad?
FTLN 1371 Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily.
FTLN 1372 If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news
FTLN 1373 By playing it to me with so sour a face. 25
NURSE
FTLN 1374 I am aweary. Give me leave awhile.
FTLN 1375 Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunt have I!
JULIET
FTLN 1376 I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news.
FTLN 1377 Nay, come, I pray thee, speak. Good, good nurse,
FTLN 1378 speak. 30
NURSE
FTLN 1379 Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile?
FTLN 1380 Do you not see that I am out of breath?
JULIET
FTLN 1381 How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath
FTLN 1382 To say to me that thou art out of breath?
FTLN 1383 The excuse that thou dost make in this delay 35
FTLN 1384 Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.

FTLN 1385 Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that.
FTLN 1386 Say either, and I’ll stay the circumstance.
FTLN 1387 Let me be satisfied; is ’t good or bad?
FTLN 1388 NURSE Well, you have made a simple choice. You know 40
FTLN 1389 not how to choose a man. Romeo? No, not he.
FTLN 1390 Though his face be better than any man’s, yet his leg
FTLN 1391 excels all men’s, and for a hand and a foot and a
FTLN 1392 body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they
FTLN 1393 are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesy, 45
FTLN 1394 but I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb. Go thy
FTLN 1395 ways, wench. Serve God. What, have you dined at
FTLN 1396 home?
JULIET
FTLN 1397 No, no. But all this did I know before.
FTLN 1398 What says he of our marriage? What of that? 50
NURSE
FTLN 1399 Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I!
FTLN 1400 It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
FTLN 1401 My back o’ t’ other side! Ah, my back, my back!
FTLN 1402 Beshrew your heart for sending me about
FTLN 1403 To catch my death with jaunting up and down. 55
JULIET
FTLN 1404 I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
FTLN 1405 Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my
FTLN 1406 love?
FTLN 1407 NURSE Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a
FTLN 1408 courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I 60
FTLN 1409 warrant, a virtuous—Where is your mother?
JULIET
FTLN 1410 Where is my mother? Why, she is within.
FTLN 1411 Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest:
FTLN 1412 “Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
FTLN 1413 Where is your mother?” 65
FTLN 1414 NURSE O God’s lady dear,
FTLN 1415 Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I trow.
FTLN 1416 Is this the poultice for my aching bones?

FTLN 1417 Henceforward do your messages yourself.
JULIET
FTLN 1418 Here’s such a coil. Come, what says Romeo? 70
NURSE
FTLN 1419 Have you got leave to go to shrift today?
FTLN 1420 JULIET I have.
NURSE
FTLN 1421 Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cell.
FTLN 1422 There stays a husband to make you a wife.
FTLN 1423 Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks; 75
FTLN 1424 They’ll be in scarlet straight at any news.
FTLN 1425 Hie you to church. I must another way,
FTLN 1426 To fetch a ladder by the which your love
FTLN 1427 Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark.
FTLN 1428 I am the drudge and toil in your delight, 80
FTLN 1429 But you shall bear the burden soon at night.
FTLN 1430 Go. I’ll to dinner. Hie you to the cell.
JULIET
FTLN 1431 Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.
They exit.
Scene 6
Enter Friar Lawrence and Romeo.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1432 So smile the heavens upon this holy act
FTLN 1433 That after-hours with sorrow chide us not.
ROMEO
FTLN 1434 Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can,
FTLN 1435 It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
FTLN 1436 That one short minute gives me in her sight. 5
FTLN 1437 Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
FTLN 1438 Then love-devouring death do what he dare,
FTLN 1439 It is enough I may but call her mine.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1440 These violent delights have violent ends
FTLN 1441 And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, 10
FTLN 1442 Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey
FTLN 1443 Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
FTLN 1444 And in the taste confounds the appetite.
FTLN 1445 Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.
FTLN 1446 Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 15
Enter Juliet.
FTLN 1447 Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot

FTLN 1448 Will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint.
FTLN 1449 A lover may bestride the gossamers
FTLN 1450 That idles in the wanton summer air,
FTLN 1451 And yet not fall, so light is vanity. 20
JULIET
FTLN 1452 Good even to my ghostly confessor.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1453 Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
JULIET
FTLN 1454 As much to him, else is his thanks too much.
ROMEO
FTLN 1455 Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
FTLN 1456 Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more 25
FTLN 1457 To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath
FTLN 1458 This neighbor air, and let rich music’s tongue
FTLN 1459 Unfold the imagined happiness that both
FTLN 1460 Receive in either by this dear encounter.
JULIET
FTLN 1461 Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, 30
FTLN 1462 Brags of his substance, not of ornament.
FTLN 1463 They are but beggars that can count their worth,
FTLN 1464 But my true love is grown to such excess
FTLN 1465 I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1466 Come, come with me, and we will make short work, 35
FTLN 1467 For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone
FTLN 1468 Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.
They exit.
ACT 3
Scene 1
Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and their men.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1469 I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
FTLN 1470 The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
FTLN 1471 And if we meet we shall not ’scape a brawl,
FTLN 1472 For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
FTLN 1473 MERCUTIO Thou art like one of these fellows that, when 5
FTLN 1474 he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his
FTLN 1475 sword upon the table and says “God send me no
FTLN 1476 need of thee” and, by the operation of the second
FTLN 1477 cup, draws him on the drawer when indeed there is
FTLN 1478 no need. 10
FTLN 1479 BENVOLIO Am I like such a fellow?
FTLN 1480 MERCUTIO Come, come, thou art as hot a jack in thy
FTLN 1481 mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be
FTLN 1482 moody, and as soon moody to be moved.
FTLN 1483 BENVOLIO And what to? 15
FTLN 1484 MERCUTIO Nay, an there were two such, we should
FTLN 1485 have none shortly, for one would kill the other.
FTLN 1486 Thou—why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that
FTLN 1487 hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than
FTLN 1488 thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking 20
FTLN 1489 nuts, having no other reason but because thou
FTLN 1490 hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy
FTLN 1491 out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as
115
FTLN 1492 an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been
FTLN 1493 beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast 25
FTLN 1494 quarreled with a man for coughing in the street
FTLN 1495 because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain
FTLN 1496 asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor
FTLN 1497 for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With
FTLN 1498 another, for tying his new shoes with old ribbon? 30
FTLN 1499 And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling?
FTLN 1500 BENVOLIO An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any
FTLN 1501 man should buy the fee simple of my life for an
FTLN 1502 hour and a quarter.
FTLN 1503 MERCUTIO The fee simple? O simple! 35
Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.
FTLN 1504 BENVOLIO By my head, here comes the Capulets.

FTLN 1505 MERCUTIO By my heel, I care not.
TYBALT , to his companions
FTLN 1506 Follow me close, for I will speak to them.—
FTLN 1507 Gentlemen, good e’en. A word with one of you.
FTLN 1508 MERCUTIO And but one word with one of us? Couple it 40
FTLN 1509 with something. Make it a word and a blow.
FTLN 1510 TYBALT You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an
FTLN 1511 you will give me occasion.
FTLN 1512 MERCUTIO Could you not take some occasion without
FTLN 1513 giving? 45
FTLN 1514 TYBALT Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.
FTLN 1515 MERCUTIO Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels?
FTLN 1516 An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear
FTLN 1517 nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick; here’s
FTLN 1518 that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort! 50
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1519 We talk here in the public haunt of men.
FTLN 1520 Either withdraw unto some private place,
FTLN 1521 Or reason coldly of your grievances,
FTLN 1522 Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1523 Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze. 55
FTLN 1524 I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.
Enter Romeo.
TYBALT
FTLN 1525 Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1526 But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery.
FTLN 1527 Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower.
FTLN 1528 Your Worship in that sense may call him “man.” 60
TYBALT
FTLN 1529 Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
FTLN 1530 No better term than this: thou art a villain.
ROMEO
FTLN 1531 Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
FTLN 1532 Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
FTLN 1533 To such a greeting. Villain am I none. 65
FTLN 1534 Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.
TYBALT
FTLN 1535 Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
FTLN 1536 That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.
ROMEO
FTLN 1537 I do protest I never injured thee
FTLN 1538 But love thee better than thou canst devise 70
FTLN 1539 Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.
FTLN 1540 And so, good Capulet, which name I tender
FTLN 1541 As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1542 O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
FTLN 1543 Alla stoccato carries it away. He draws. 75
FTLN 1544 Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?
FTLN 1545 TYBALT What wouldst thou have with me?
FTLN 1546 MERCUTIO Good king of cats, nothing but one of your
FTLN 1547 nine lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as
FTLN 1548 you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the 80
FTLN 1549 eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher
FTLN 1550 by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your
FTLN 1551 ears ere it be out.
FTLN 1552 TYBALT I am for you. He draws.
ROMEO
FTLN 1553 Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. 85
FTLN 1554 MERCUTIO Come, sir, your passado. They fight.
ROMEO
FTLN 1555 Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons.
Romeo draws.
FTLN 1556 Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage!
FTLN 1557 Tybalt! Mercutio! The Prince expressly hath
FTLN 1558 Forbid this bandying in Verona streets. 90
FTLN 1559 Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
Romeo attempts to beat down their rapiers.
Tybalt stabs Mercutio.
FTLN 1560 PETRUCHIO Away, Tybalt!
Tybalt, Petruchio, and their followers exit.
FTLN 1561 MERCUTIO I am hurt.
FTLN 1562 A plague o’ both houses! I am sped.
FTLN 1563 Is he gone and hath nothing? 95
FTLN 1564 BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO
FTLN 1565 Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough.
FTLN 1566 Where is my page?—Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
Page exits.
ROMEO
FTLN 1567 Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.
FTLN 1568 MERCUTIO No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as 100
FTLN 1569 a church door, but ’tis enough. ’Twill serve. Ask for
FTLN 1570 me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I
FTLN 1571 am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’
FTLN 1572 both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a
FTLN 1573 cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart, a rogue, a 105
FTLN 1574 villain that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the
FTLN 1575 devil came you between us? I was hurt under your
FTLN 1576 arm.
FTLN 1577 ROMEO I thought all for the best.

MERCUTIO
FTLN 1578 Help me into some house, Benvolio, 110
FTLN 1579 Or I shall faint. A plague o’ both your houses!
FTLN 1580 They have made worms’ meat of me.
FTLN 1581 I have it, and soundly, too. Your houses!
All but Romeo exit.
ROMEO
FTLN 1582 This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally,
FTLN 1583 My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt 115
FTLN 1584 In my behalf. My reputation stained
FTLN 1585 With Tybalt’s slander—Tybalt, that an hour
FTLN 1586 Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet,
FTLN 1587 Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
FTLN 1588 And in my temper softened valor’s steel. 120
Enter Benvolio.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1589 O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead.
FTLN 1590 That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
FTLN 1591 Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
ROMEO
FTLN 1592 This day’s black fate on more days doth depend.
FTLN 1593 This but begins the woe others must end. 125
Enter Tybalt.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1594 Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
ROMEO
FTLN 1595 Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!
FTLN 1596 Away to heaven, respective lenity,
FTLN 1597 And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.—
FTLN 1598 Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again 130
FTLN 1599 That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul
FTLN 1600 Is but a little way above our heads,
FTLN 1601 Staying for thine to keep him company.
FTLN 1602 Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.
TYBALT
FTLN 1603 Thou wretched boy that didst consort him here 135
FTLN 1604 Shalt with him hence.
FTLN 1605 ROMEO This shall determine that.
They fight. Tybalt falls.
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1606 Romeo, away, begone!
FTLN 1607 The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
FTLN 1608 Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death 140
FTLN 1609 If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away.
ROMEO
FTLN 1610 O, I am Fortune’s fool!
FTLN 1611 BENVOLIO Why dost thou stay?
Romeo exits.
Enter Citizens.
CITIZEN
FTLN 1612 Which way ran he that killed Mercutio?
FTLN 1613 Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? 145
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1614 There lies that Tybalt.
FTLN 1615 CITIZEN , to Tybalt Up, sir, go with me.
FTLN 1616 I charge thee in the Prince’s name, obey.
Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their Wives and all.
PRINCE
FTLN 1617 Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1618 O noble prince, I can discover all 150
FTLN 1619 The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl.
FTLN 1620 There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
FTLN 1621 That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 1622 Tybalt, my cousin, O my brother’s child!
FTLN 1623 O prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is spilled 155
FTLN 1624 Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
FTLN 1625 For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.

FTLN 1626 O cousin, cousin!
PRINCE
FTLN 1627 Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
BENVOLIO
FTLN 1628 Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay— 160
FTLN 1629 Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink
FTLN 1630 How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
FTLN 1631 Your high displeasure. All this utterèd
FTLN 1632 With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed
FTLN 1633 Could not take truce with the unruly spleen 165
FTLN 1634 Of Tybalt, deaf to peace, but that he tilts
FTLN 1635 With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast,
FTLN 1636 Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point
FTLN 1637 And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
FTLN 1638 Cold death aside and with the other sends 170
FTLN 1639 It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
FTLN 1640 Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud
FTLN 1641 “Hold, friends! Friends, part!” and swifter than his
FTLN 1642 tongue
FTLN 1643 His agile arm beats down their fatal points, 175
FTLN 1644 And ’twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
FTLN 1645 An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
FTLN 1646 Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
FTLN 1647 But by and by comes back to Romeo,
FTLN 1648 Who had but newly entertained revenge, 180
FTLN 1649 And to ’t they go like lightning, for ere I
FTLN 1650 Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain,
FTLN 1651 And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
FTLN 1652 This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 1653 He is a kinsman to the Montague. 185
FTLN 1654 Affection makes him false; he speaks not true.
FTLN 1655 Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
FTLN 1656 And all those twenty could but kill one life.
FTLN 1657 I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give.
FTLN 1658 Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live. 190
PRINCE
FTLN 1659 Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio.
FTLN 1660 Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
MONTAGUE
FTLN 1661 Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio’s friend.
FTLN 1662 His fault concludes but what the law should end,
FTLN 1663 The life of Tybalt. 195
FTLN 1664 PRINCE And for that offense
FTLN 1665 Immediately we do exile him hence.
FTLN 1666 I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding:
FTLN 1667 My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
FTLN 1668 But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine 200
FTLN 1669 That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
FTLN 1670 I will be deaf to pleading and excuses.
FTLN 1671 Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.
FTLN 1672 Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,
FTLN 1673 Else, when he is found, that hour is his last. 205
FTLN 1674 Bear hence this body and attend our will.
FTLN 1675 Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
They exit, the Capulet men
bearing off Tybalt’s body.
Scene 2
Enter Juliet alone.
JULIET
FTLN 1676 Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
FTLN 1677 Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a wagoner
FTLN 1678 As Phaëton would whip you to the west
FTLN 1679 And bring in cloudy night immediately.
FTLN 1680 Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, 5
FTLN 1681 That runaways’ eyes may wink, and Romeo
FTLN 1682 Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen.
FTLN 1683 Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
FTLN 1684 By their own beauties, or, if love be blind,
FTLN 1685 It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, 10

FTLN 1686 Thou sober-suited matron all in black,
FTLN 1687 And learn me how to lose a winning match
FTLN 1688 Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.
FTLN 1689 Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks,
FTLN 1690 With thy black mantle till strange love grow bold, 15
FTLN 1691 Think true love acted simple modesty.
FTLN 1692 Come, night. Come, Romeo. Come, thou day in
FTLN 1693 night,
FTLN 1694 For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
FTLN 1695 Whiter than new snow upon a raven’s back. 20
FTLN 1696 Come, gentle night; come, loving black-browed
FTLN 1697 night,
FTLN 1698 Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die,
FTLN 1699 Take him and cut him out in little stars,
FTLN 1700 And he will make the face of heaven so fine 25
FTLN 1701 That all the world will be in love with night
FTLN 1702 And pay no worship to the garish sun.
FTLN 1703 O, I have bought the mansion of a love
FTLN 1704 But not possessed it, and, though I am sold,
FTLN 1705 Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day 30
FTLN 1706 As is the night before some festival
FTLN 1707 To an impatient child that hath new robes
FTLN 1708 And may not wear them.
Enter Nurse with cords.
FTLN 1709 O, here comes my nurse,

FTLN 1710 And she brings news, and every tongue that speaks 35
FTLN 1711 But Romeo’s name speaks heavenly eloquence.—
FTLN 1712 Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? The
FTLN 1713 cords
FTLN 1714 That Romeo bid thee fetch?
FTLN 1715 NURSE Ay, ay, the cords. 40
Dropping the rope ladder.
JULIET
FTLN 1716 Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?
NURSE
FTLN 1717 Ah weraday, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!
FTLN 1718 We are undone, lady, we are undone.
FTLN 1719 Alack the day, he’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead.
JULIET
FTLN 1720 Can heaven be so envious? 45
FTLN 1721 NURSE Romeo can,
FTLN 1722 Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo,
FTLN 1723 Whoever would have thought it? Romeo!
JULIET
FTLN 1724 What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?
FTLN 1725 This torture should be roared in dismal hell. 50
FTLN 1726 Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but “Ay,”
FTLN 1727 And that bare vowel “I” shall poison more
FTLN 1728 Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.
FTLN 1729 I am not I if there be such an “I,”
FTLN 1730 Or those eyes shut that makes thee answer “Ay.” 55
FTLN 1731 If he be slain, say “Ay,” or if not, “No.”
FTLN 1732 Brief sounds determine my weal or woe.
NURSE
FTLN 1733 I saw the wound. I saw it with mine eyes
FTLN 1734 (God save the mark!) here on his manly breast—
FTLN 1735 A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse, 60
FTLN 1736 Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood,
FTLN 1737 All in gore blood. I swoonèd at the sight.
JULIET
FTLN 1738 O break, my heart, poor bankrout, break at once!
FTLN 1739 To prison, eyes; ne’er look on liberty.
FTLN 1740 Vile earth to earth resign; end motion here, 65
FTLN 1741 And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier.
NURSE
FTLN 1742 O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had!
FTLN 1743 O courteous Tybalt, honest gentleman,
FTLN 1744 That ever I should live to see thee dead!
JULIET
FTLN 1745 What storm is this that blows so contrary? 70
FTLN 1746 Is Romeo slaughtered and is Tybalt dead?

FTLN 1747 My dearest cousin, and my dearer lord?
FTLN 1748 Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom,
FTLN 1749 For who is living if those two are gone?
NURSE
FTLN 1750 Tybalt is gone and Romeo banishèd. 75
FTLN 1751 Romeo that killed him—he is banishèd.
JULIET
FTLN 1752 O God, did Romeo’s hand shed Tybalt’s blood?
NURSE
FTLN 1753 It did, it did, alas the day, it did.
JULIET
FTLN 1754 O serpent heart hid with a flow’ring face!
FTLN 1755 Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? 80
FTLN 1756 Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical!
FTLN 1757 Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb!
FTLN 1758 Despisèd substance of divinest show!
FTLN 1759 Just opposite to what thou justly seem’st,
FTLN 1760 A damnèd saint, an honorable villain. 85
FTLN 1761 O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell
FTLN 1762 When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend
FTLN 1763 In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?
FTLN 1764 Was ever book containing such vile matter
FTLN 1765 So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell 90
FTLN 1766 In such a gorgeous palace!
FTLN 1767 NURSE There’s no trust,
FTLN 1768 No faith, no honesty in men. All perjured,
FTLN 1769 All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.
FTLN 1770 Ah, where’s my man? Give me some aqua vitae. 95
FTLN 1771 These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me
FTLN 1772 old.
FTLN 1773 Shame come to Romeo!
FTLN 1774 JULIET Blistered be thy tongue
FTLN 1775 For such a wish! He was not born to shame. 100
FTLN 1776 Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit,
FTLN 1777 For ’tis a throne where honor may be crowned
FTLN 1778 Sole monarch of the universal Earth.

FTLN 1779 O, what a beast was I to chide at him!
NURSE
FTLN 1780 Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? 105
JULIET
FTLN 1781 Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
FTLN 1782 Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy
FTLN 1783 name
FTLN 1784 When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?
FTLN 1785 But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? 110
FTLN 1786 That villain cousin would have killed my husband.
FTLN 1787 Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;
FTLN 1788 Your tributary drops belong to woe,
FTLN 1789 Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy.
FTLN 1790 My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, 115
FTLN 1791 And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my
FTLN 1792 husband.
FTLN 1793 All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?
FTLN 1794 Some word there was, worser than Tybalt’s death,
FTLN 1795 That murdered me. I would forget it fain, 120
FTLN 1796 But, O, it presses to my memory
FTLN 1797 Like damnèd guilty deeds to sinners’ minds:
FTLN 1798 “Tybalt is dead and Romeo banishèd.”
FTLN 1799 That “banishèd,” that one word “banishèd,”
FTLN 1800 Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt’s death 125
FTLN 1801 Was woe enough if it had ended there;
FTLN 1802 Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship
FTLN 1803 And needly will be ranked with other griefs,
FTLN 1804 Why followed not, when she said “Tybalt’s dead,”
FTLN 1805 “Thy father” or “thy mother,” nay, or both, 130
FTLN 1806 Which modern lamentation might have moved?
FTLN 1807 But with a rearward following Tybalt’s death,
FTLN 1808 “Romeo is banishèd.” To speak that word
FTLN 1809 Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet,
FTLN 1810 All slain, all dead. “Romeo is banishèd.” 135
FTLN 1811 There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,
FTLN 1812 In that word’s death. No words can that woe sound.
FTLN 1813 Where is my father and my mother, nurse?
NURSE
FTLN 1814 Weeping and wailing over Tybalt’s corse.
FTLN 1815 Will you go to them? I will bring you thither. 140
JULIET
FTLN 1816 Wash they his wounds with tears? Mine shall be
FTLN 1817 spent,
FTLN 1818 When theirs are dry, for Romeo’s banishment.—
FTLN 1819 Take up those cords.
The Nurse picks up the rope ladder.
FTLN 1820 Poor ropes, you are beguiled, 145
FTLN 1821 Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled.
FTLN 1822 He made you for a highway to my bed,
FTLN 1823 But I, a maid, die maiden-widowèd.
FTLN 1824 Come, cords—come, nurse. I’ll to my wedding bed,
FTLN 1825 And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead! 150
NURSE
FTLN 1826 Hie to your chamber. I’ll find Romeo
FTLN 1827 To comfort you. I wot well where he is.
FTLN 1828 Hark you, your Romeo will be here at night.
FTLN 1829 I’ll to him. He is hid at Lawrence’ cell.
JULIET
FTLN 1830 O, find him! Giving the Nurse a ring. 155
FTLN 1831 Give this ring to my true knight
FTLN 1832 And bid him come to take his last farewell.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Friar Lawrence.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1833 Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man.
FTLN 1834 Affliction is enamored of thy parts,
FTLN 1835 And thou art wedded to calamity.
Enter Romeo.
ROMEO
FTLN 1836 Father, what news? What is the Prince’s doom?
FTLN 1837 What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand 5
FTLN 1838 That I yet know not?
FTLN 1839 FRIAR LAWRENCE Too familiar
FTLN 1840 Is my dear son with such sour company.
FTLN 1841 I bring thee tidings of the Prince’s doom.
ROMEO
FTLN 1842 What less than doomsday is the Prince’s doom? 10
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1843 A gentler judgment vanished from his lips:
FTLN 1844 Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.
ROMEO
FTLN 1845 Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say “death,”
FTLN 1846 For exile hath more terror in his look,
FTLN 1847 Much more than death. Do not say “banishment.” 15
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1848 Here from Verona art thou banishèd.
FTLN 1849 Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
ROMEO
FTLN 1850 There is no world without Verona walls
FTLN 1851 But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
FTLN 1852 Hence “banishèd” is “banished from the world,” 20
FTLN 1853 And world’s exile is death. Then “banishèd”
FTLN 1854 Is death mistermed. Calling death “banishèd,”
FTLN 1855 Thou cutt’st my head off with a golden ax
FTLN 1856 And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1857 O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness! 25
FTLN 1858 Thy fault our law calls death, but the kind prince,
FTLN 1859 Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law
FTLN 1860 And turned that black word “death” to
FTLN 1861 “banishment.”
FTLN 1862 This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. 30
ROMEO
FTLN 1863 ’Tis torture and not mercy. Heaven is here
FTLN 1864 Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dog
FTLN 1865 And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
FTLN 1866 Live here in heaven and may look on her,
FTLN 1867 But Romeo may not. More validity, 35
FTLN 1868 More honorable state, more courtship lives
FTLN 1869 In carrion flies than Romeo. They may seize
FTLN 1870 On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand
FTLN 1871 And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
FTLN 1872 Who even in pure and vestal modesty 40
FTLN 1873 Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
FTLN 1874 But Romeo may not; he is banishèd.
FTLN 1875 Flies may do this, but I from this must fly.
FTLN 1876 They are free men, but I am banishèd.
FTLN 1877 And sayest thou yet that exile is not death? 45
FTLN 1878 Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground
FTLN 1879 knife,
FTLN 1880 No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
FTLN 1881 But “banishèd” to kill me? “Banishèd”?
FTLN 1882 O friar, the damnèd use that word in hell. 50
FTLN 1883 Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart,
FTLN 1884 Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
FTLN 1885 A sin absolver, and my friend professed,
FTLN 1886 To mangle me with that word “banishèd”?
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1887 Thou fond mad man, hear me a little speak. 55
ROMEO
FTLN 1888 O, thou wilt speak again of banishment.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1889 I’ll give thee armor to keep off that word,
FTLN 1890 Adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy,
FTLN 1891 To comfort thee, though thou art banishèd.
ROMEO
FTLN 1892 Yet “banishèd”? Hang up philosophy. 60
FTLN 1893 Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,
FTLN 1894 Displant a town, reverse a prince’s doom,

FTLN 1895 It helps not, it prevails not. Talk no more.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1896 O, then I see that madmen have no ears.
ROMEO
FTLN 1897 How should they when that wise men have no eyes? 65
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1898 Let me dispute with thee of thy estate.
ROMEO
FTLN 1899 Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel.
FTLN 1900 Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love,
FTLN 1901 An hour but married, Tybalt murderèd,
FTLN 1902 Doting like me, and like me banishèd, 70
FTLN 1903 Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy
FTLN 1904 hair
FTLN 1905 And fall upon the ground as I do now,
Romeo throws himself down.
FTLN 1906 Taking the measure of an unmade grave.
Knock within.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1907 Arise. One knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself. 75
ROMEO
FTLN 1908 Not I, unless the breath of heartsick groans,
FTLN 1909 Mistlike, enfold me from the search of eyes.
Knock.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1910 Hark, how they knock!—Who’s there?—Romeo,
FTLN 1911 arise.
FTLN 1912 Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile.—Stand up. 80
Knock.
FTLN 1913 Run to my study.—By and by.—God’s will,
FTLN 1914 What simpleness is this?—I come, I come.
Knock.
FTLN 1915 Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What’s
FTLN 1916 your will?
NURSE, within
FTLN 1917 Let me come in, and you shall know my errand. 85
FTLN 1918 I come from Lady Juliet.
FRIAR LAWRENCE, admitting the Nurse
FTLN 1919 Welcome, then.
Enter Nurse.
NURSE
FTLN 1920 O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,
FTLN 1921 Where’s my lady’s lord? Where’s Romeo?
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 1922 There on the ground, with his own tears made 90
FTLN 1923 drunk.
NURSE
FTLN 1924 O, he is even in my mistress’ case,
FTLN 1925 Just in her case. O woeful sympathy!
FTLN 1926 Piteous predicament! Even so lies she,
FTLN 1927 Blubb’ring and weeping, weeping and blubb’ring.— 95
FTLN 1928 Stand up, stand up. Stand an you be a man.
FTLN 1929 For Juliet’s sake, for her sake, rise and stand.
FTLN 1930 Why should you fall into so deep an O?
FTLN 1931 ROMEO Nurse.
NURSE
FTLN 1932 Ah sir, ah sir, death’s the end of all. 100
ROMEO, rising up
FTLN 1933 Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her?
FTLN 1934 Doth not she think me an old murderer,
FTLN 1935 Now I have stained the childhood of our joy
FTLN 1936 With blood removed but little from her own?
FTLN 1937 Where is she? And how doth she? And what says 105
FTLN 1938 My concealed lady to our canceled love?
NURSE
FTLN 1939 O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps,
FTLN 1940 And now falls on her bed, and then starts up,
FTLN 1941 And “Tybalt” calls, and then on Romeo cries,
FTLN 1942 And then down falls again. 110
FTLN 1943 ROMEO As if that name,

FTLN 1944 Shot from the deadly level of a gun,
FTLN 1945 Did murder her, as that name’s cursèd hand
FTLN 1946 Murdered her kinsman.—O, tell me, friar, tell me,
FTLN 1947 In what vile part of this anatomy 115
FTLN 1948 Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack
FTLN 1949 The hateful mansion. He draws his dagger.
FTLN 1950 FRIAR LAWRENCE Hold thy desperate hand!
FTLN 1951 Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art.
FTLN 1952 Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote 120
FTLN 1953 The unreasonable fury of a beast.
FTLN 1954 Unseemly woman in a seeming man,
FTLN 1955 And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both!
FTLN 1956 Thou hast amazed me. By my holy order,
FTLN 1957 I thought thy disposition better tempered. 125
FTLN 1958 Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself,
FTLN 1959 And slay thy lady that in thy life lives,
FTLN 1960 By doing damnèd hate upon thyself?
FTLN 1961 Why railest thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth,
FTLN 1962 Since birth and heaven and earth all three do meet 130
FTLN 1963 In thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose?
FTLN 1964 Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit,
FTLN 1965 Which, like a usurer, abound’st in all
FTLN 1966 And usest none in that true use indeed
FTLN 1967 Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit. 135
FTLN 1968 Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,
FTLN 1969 Digressing from the valor of a man;
FTLN 1970 Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury,
FTLN 1971 Killing that love which thou hast vowed to cherish;
FTLN 1972 Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love, 140
FTLN 1973 Misshapen in the conduct of them both,
FTLN 1974 Like powder in a skilless soldier’s flask,
FTLN 1975 Is set afire by thine own ignorance,
FTLN 1976 And thou dismembered with thine own defense.
FTLN 1977 What, rouse thee, man! Thy Juliet is alive, 145
FTLN 1978 For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead:
FTLN 1979 There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee,
FTLN 1980 But thou slewest Tybalt: there art thou happy.
FTLN 1981 The law that threatened death becomes thy friend
FTLN 1982 And turns it to exile: there art thou happy. 150
FTLN 1983 A pack of blessings light upon thy back;
FTLN 1984 Happiness courts thee in her best array;
FTLN 1985 But, like a misbehaved and sullen wench,
FTLN 1986 Thou pouts upon thy fortune and thy love.
FTLN 1987 Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable. 155
FTLN 1988 Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed.
FTLN 1989 Ascend her chamber. Hence and comfort her.
FTLN 1990 But look thou stay not till the watch be set,
FTLN 1991 For then thou canst not pass to Mantua,
FTLN 1992 Where thou shalt live till we can find a time 160
FTLN 1993 To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends,
FTLN 1994 Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back
FTLN 1995 With twenty hundred thousand times more joy
FTLN 1996 Than thou went’st forth in lamentation.—
FTLN 1997 Go before, nurse. Commend me to thy lady, 165
FTLN 1998 And bid her hasten all the house to bed,
FTLN 1999 Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto.
FTLN 2000 Romeo is coming.
NURSE
FTLN 2001 O Lord, I could have stayed here all the night
FTLN 2002 To hear good counsel. O, what learning is!— 170
FTLN 2003 My lord, I’ll tell my lady you will come.
ROMEO
FTLN 2004 Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide.
NURSE
FTLN 2005 Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir.
Nurse gives Romeo a ring.
FTLN 2006 Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.
She exits.
ROMEO
FTLN 2007 How well my comfort is revived by this! 175
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2008 Go hence, good night—and here stands all your
FTLN 2009 state:
FTLN 2010 Either be gone before the watch be set
FTLN 2011 Or by the break of day disguised from hence.
FTLN 2012 Sojourn in Mantua. I’ll find out your man, 180
FTLN 2013 And he shall signify from time to time
FTLN 2014 Every good hap to you that chances here.
FTLN 2015 Give me thy hand. ’Tis late. Farewell. Good night.
ROMEO
FTLN 2016 But that a joy past joy calls out on me,
FTLN 2017 It were a grief so brief to part with thee. 185
FTLN 2018 Farewell.
They exit.
Scene 4
Enter old Capulet, his Wife, and Paris.
CAPULET
FTLN 2019 Things have fallen out, sir, so unluckily
FTLN 2020 That we have had no time to move our daughter.
FTLN 2021 Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly,
FTLN 2022 And so did I. Well, we were born to die.
FTLN 2023 ’Tis very late. She’ll not come down tonight. 5
FTLN 2024 I promise you, but for your company,
FTLN 2025 I would have been abed an hour ago.
PARIS
FTLN 2026 These times of woe afford no times to woo.—
FTLN 2027 Madam, good night. Commend me to your
FTLN 2028 daughter. 10
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2029 I will, and know her mind early tomorrow.
FTLN 2030 Tonight she’s mewed up to her heaviness.
CAPULET
FTLN 2031 Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender
FTLN 2032 Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled
FTLN 2033 In all respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not.— 15

FTLN 2034 Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed.
FTLN 2035 Acquaint her here of my son Paris’ love,
FTLN 2036 And bid her—mark you me?—on Wednesday
FTLN 2037 next—
FTLN 2038 But soft, what day is this? 20
FTLN 2039 PARIS Monday, my lord.
CAPULET
FTLN 2040 Monday, ha ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon.
FTLN 2041 O’ Thursday let it be.—O’ Thursday, tell her,
FTLN 2042 She shall be married to this noble earl.—
FTLN 2043 Will you be ready? Do you like this haste? 25
FTLN 2044 We’ll keep no great ado: a friend or two.
FTLN 2045 For hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,
FTLN 2046 It may be thought we held him carelessly,
FTLN 2047 Being our kinsman, if we revel much.
FTLN 2048 Therefore we’ll have some half a dozen friends, 30
FTLN 2049 And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?
PARIS
FTLN 2050 My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.
CAPULET
FTLN 2051 Well, get you gone. O’ Thursday be it, then.
FTLN 2052 To Lady Capulet. Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed.
FTLN 2053 Prepare her, wife, against this wedding day.— 35
FTLN 2054 Farewell, my lord.—Light to my chamber, ho!—
FTLN 2055 Afore me, it is so very late that we
FTLN 2056 May call it early by and by.—Good night.
They exit.
Scene 5
Enter Romeo and Juliet aloft.
JULIET
FTLN 2057 Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.
FTLN 2058 It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
FTLN 2059 That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.
FTLN 2060 Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree.

FTLN 2061 Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. 5
ROMEO
FTLN 2062 It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
FTLN 2063 No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks
FTLN 2064 Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.
FTLN 2065 Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
FTLN 2066 Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain-tops. 10
FTLN 2067 I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
JULIET
FTLN 2068 Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I.
FTLN 2069 It is some meteor that the sun exhaled
FTLN 2070 To be to thee this night a torchbearer
FTLN 2071 And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 15
FTLN 2072 Therefore stay yet. Thou need’st not to be gone.
ROMEO
FTLN 2073 Let me be ta’en; let me be put to death.
FTLN 2074 I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
FTLN 2075 I’ll say yon gray is not the morning’s eye;
FTLN 2076 ’Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow. 20
FTLN 2077 Nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat
FTLN 2078 The vaulty heaven so high above our heads.
FTLN 2079 I have more care to stay than will to go.
FTLN 2080 Come death and welcome. Juliet wills it so.
FTLN 2081 How is ’t, my soul? Let’s talk. It is not day. 25
JULIET
FTLN 2082 It is, it is. Hie hence, begone, away!
FTLN 2083 It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
FTLN 2084 Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
FTLN 2085 Some say the lark makes sweet division.
FTLN 2086 This doth not so, for she divideth us. 30
FTLN 2087 Some say the lark and loathèd toad changed eyes.
FTLN 2088 O, now I would they had changed voices too,
FTLN 2089 Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,
FTLN 2090 Hunting thee hence with hunt’s-up to the day.
FTLN 2091 O, now begone. More light and light it grows. 35
ROMEO
FTLN 2092 More light and light, more dark and dark our woes.
Enter Nurse.
FTLN 2093 NURSE Madam.

FTLN 2094 JULIET Nurse?
NURSE
FTLN 2095 Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.
FTLN 2096 The day is broke; be wary; look about. She exits. 40
JULIET
FTLN 2097 Then, window, let day in, and let life out.
ROMEO
FTLN 2098 Farewell, farewell. One kiss and I’ll descend.
They kiss, and Romeo descends.
JULIET
FTLN 2099 Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, friend!
FTLN 2100 I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
FTLN 2101 For in a minute there are many days. 45
FTLN 2102 O, by this count I shall be much in years
FTLN 2103 Ere I again behold my Romeo.
FTLN 2104 ROMEO Farewell.
FTLN 2105 I will omit no opportunity
FTLN 2106 That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. 50
JULIET
FTLN 2107 O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again?
ROMEO
FTLN 2108 I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve
FTLN 2109 For sweet discourses in our times to come.
JULIET
FTLN 2110 O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
FTLN 2111 Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, 55
FTLN 2112 As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
FTLN 2113 Either my eyesight fails or thou lookest pale.
ROMEO
FTLN 2114 And trust me, love, in my eye so do you.
FTLN 2115 Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu. He exits.
JULIET
FTLN 2116 O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle. 60
FTLN 2117 If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him
FTLN 2118 That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune,
FTLN 2119 For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,
FTLN 2120 But send him back.
Enter Lady Capulet.
FTLN 2121 LADY CAPULET Ho, daughter, are you up? 65

JULIET
FTLN 2122 Who is ’t that calls? It is my lady mother.
FTLN 2123 Is she not down so late or up so early?
FTLN 2124 What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?
Juliet descends.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2125 Why, how now, Juliet?
FTLN 2126 JULIET Madam, I am not well. 70
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2127 Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?
FTLN 2128 What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?
FTLN 2129 An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live.
FTLN 2130 Therefore have done. Some grief shows much of
FTLN 2131 love, 75
FTLN 2132 But much of grief shows still some want of wit.
JULIET
FTLN 2133 Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2134 So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend
FTLN 2135 Which you weep for.
FTLN 2136 JULIET Feeling so the loss, 80
FTLN 2137 I cannot choose but ever weep the friend.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2138 Well, girl, thou weep’st not so much for his death
FTLN 2139 As that the villain lives which slaughtered him.
JULIET
FTLN 2140 What villain, madam?
FTLN 2141 LADY CAPULET That same villain, Romeo. 85

JULIET , aside
FTLN 2142 Villain and he be many miles asunder.—
FTLN 2143 God pardon him. I do with all my heart,
FTLN 2144 And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2145 That is because the traitor murderer lives.
JULIET
FTLN 2146 Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands. 90
FTLN 2147 Would none but I might venge my cousin’s death!
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2148 We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not.
FTLN 2149 Then weep no more. I’ll send to one in Mantua,
FTLN 2150 Where that same banished runagate doth live,
FTLN 2151 Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram 95
FTLN 2152 That he shall soon keep Tybalt company.
FTLN 2153 And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.
JULIET
FTLN 2154 Indeed, I never shall be satisfied
FTLN 2155 With Romeo till I behold him—dead—
FTLN 2156 Is my poor heart, so for a kinsman vexed. 100
FTLN 2157 Madam, if you could find out but a man
FTLN 2158 To bear a poison, I would temper it,
FTLN 2159 That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof,
FTLN 2160 Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors
FTLN 2161 To hear him named and cannot come to him 105
FTLN 2162 To wreak the love I bore my cousin
FTLN 2163 Upon his body that hath slaughtered him.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2164 Find thou the means, and I’ll find such a man.
FTLN 2165 But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.
JULIET
FTLN 2166 And joy comes well in such a needy time. 110
FTLN 2167 What are they, beseech your Ladyship?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2168 Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child,
FTLN 2169 One who, to put thee from thy heaviness,

FTLN 2170 Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy
FTLN 2171 That thou expects not, nor I looked not for. 115
JULIET
FTLN 2172 Madam, in happy time! What day is that?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2173 Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn
FTLN 2174 The gallant, young, and noble gentleman,
FTLN 2175 The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church
FTLN 2176 Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. 120
JULIET
FTLN 2177 Now, by Saint Peter’s Church, and Peter too,
FTLN 2178 He shall not make me there a joyful bride!
FTLN 2179 I wonder at this haste, that I must wed
FTLN 2180 Ere he that should be husband comes to woo.
FTLN 2181 I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, 125
FTLN 2182 I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear
FTLN 2183 It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,
FTLN 2184 Rather than Paris. These are news indeed!
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2185 Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself,
FTLN 2186 And see how he will take it at your hands. 130
Enter Capulet and Nurse.
CAPULET
FTLN 2187 When the sun sets, the earth doth drizzle dew,
FTLN 2188 But for the sunset of my brother’s son
FTLN 2189 It rains downright.
FTLN 2190 How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears?
FTLN 2191 Evermore show’ring? In one little body 135
FTLN 2192 Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind.
FTLN 2193 For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea,
FTLN 2194 Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is,
FTLN 2195 Sailing in this salt flood; the winds thy sighs,
FTLN 2196 Who, raging with thy tears and they with them, 140
FTLN 2197 Without a sudden calm, will overset
FTLN 2198 Thy tempest-tossèd body.—How now, wife?

FTLN 2199 Have you delivered to her our decree?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2200 Ay, sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks.
FTLN 2201 I would the fool were married to her grave. 145
CAPULET
FTLN 2202 Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife.
FTLN 2203 How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
FTLN 2204 Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blessed,
FTLN 2205 Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
FTLN 2206 So worthy a gentleman to be her bride? 150
JULIET
FTLN 2207 Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.
FTLN 2208 Proud can I never be of what I hate,
FTLN 2209 But thankful even for hate that is meant love.
CAPULET
FTLN 2210 How, how, how, how? Chopped logic? What is this?
FTLN 2211 “Proud,” and “I thank you,” and “I thank you not,” 155
FTLN 2212 And yet “not proud”? Mistress minion you,
FTLN 2213 Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
FTLN 2214 But fettle your fine joints ’gainst Thursday next
FTLN 2215 To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
FTLN 2216 Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. 160
FTLN 2217 Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!
FTLN 2218 You tallow face!
FTLN 2219 LADY CAPULET Fie, fie, what, are you mad?
JULIET, kneeling
FTLN 2220 Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
FTLN 2221 Hear me with patience but to speak a word. 165
CAPULET
FTLN 2222 Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!
FTLN 2223 I tell thee what: get thee to church o’ Thursday,
FTLN 2224 Or never after look me in the face.
FTLN 2225 Speak not; reply not; do not answer me.
FTLN 2226 My fingers itch.—Wife, we scarce thought us 170
FTLN 2227 blessed
FTLN 2228 That God had lent us but this only child,
FTLN 2229 But now I see this one is one too much,
FTLN 2230 And that we have a curse in having her.
FTLN 2231 Out on her, hilding. 175
FTLN 2232 NURSE God in heaven bless her!
FTLN 2233 You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.
CAPULET
FTLN 2234 And why, my Lady Wisdom? Hold your tongue.
FTLN 2235 Good Prudence, smatter with your gossips, go.
NURSE
FTLN 2236 I speak no treason. 180
FTLN 2237 CAPULET O, God ’i’ g’ eden!
NURSE
FTLN 2238 May not one speak?
FTLN 2239 CAPULET Peace, you mumbling fool!
FTLN 2240 Utter your gravity o’er a gossip’s bowl,
FTLN 2241 For here we need it not. 185
FTLN 2242 LADY CAPULET You are too hot.
FTLN 2243 CAPULET God’s bread, it makes me mad.
FTLN 2244 Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play,
FTLN 2245 Alone, in company, still my care hath been
FTLN 2246 To have her matched. And having now provided 190
FTLN 2247 A gentleman of noble parentage,
FTLN 2248 Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly ligned,
FTLN 2249 Stuffed, as they say, with honorable parts,
FTLN 2250 Proportioned as one’s thought would wish a man—
FTLN 2251 And then to have a wretched puling fool, 195
FTLN 2252 A whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender,
FTLN 2253 To answer “I’ll not wed. I cannot love.
FTLN 2254 I am too young. I pray you, pardon me.”
FTLN 2255 But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you!
FTLN 2256 Graze where you will, you shall not house with me. 200
FTLN 2257 Look to ’t; think on ’t. I do not use to jest.
FTLN 2258 Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart; advise.
FTLN 2259 An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend.
FTLN 2260 An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
FTLN 2261 For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, 205
FTLN 2262 Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.
FTLN 2263 Trust to ’t; bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn.
He exits.
JULIET
FTLN 2264 Is there no pity sitting in the clouds
FTLN 2265 That sees into the bottom of my grief?—
FTLN 2266 O sweet my mother, cast me not away. 210
FTLN 2267 Delay this marriage for a month, a week,
FTLN 2268 Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed
FTLN 2269 In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2270 Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.
FTLN 2271 Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. 215
She exits.
JULIET , rising
FTLN 2272 O God! O nurse, how shall this be prevented?
FTLN 2273 My husband is on Earth, my faith in heaven.
FTLN 2274 How shall that faith return again to Earth
FTLN 2275 Unless that husband send it me from heaven
FTLN 2276 By leaving Earth? Comfort me; counsel me.— 220
FTLN 2277 Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems
FTLN 2278 Upon so soft a subject as myself.—
FTLN 2279 What sayst thou? Hast thou not a word of joy?
FTLN 2280 Some comfort, nurse.
FTLN 2281 NURSE Faith, here it is. 225
FTLN 2282 Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing
FTLN 2283 That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you,
FTLN 2284 Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
FTLN 2285 Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,
FTLN 2286 I think it best you married with the County. 230
FTLN 2287 O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
FTLN 2288 Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam,
FTLN 2289 Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye
FTLN 2290 As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,
FTLN 2291 I think you are happy in this second match, 235
FTLN 2292 For it excels your first, or, if it did not,
FTLN 2293 Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were
FTLN 2294 As living here and you no use of him.
JULIET
FTLN 2295 Speak’st thou from thy heart?
NURSE
FTLN 2296 And from my soul too, else beshrew them both. 240
FTLN 2297 JULIET Amen.
FTLN 2298 NURSE What?
JULIET
FTLN 2299 Well, thou hast comforted me marvelous much.
FTLN 2300 Go in and tell my lady I am gone,
FTLN 2301 Having displeased my father, to Lawrence’ cell 245
FTLN 2302 To make confession and to be absolved.
NURSE
FTLN 2303 Marry, I will; and this is wisely done. She exits.
JULIET
FTLN 2304 Ancient damnation, O most wicked fiend!
FTLN 2305 Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn
FTLN 2306 Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue 250
FTLN 2307 Which she hath praised him with above compare
FTLN 2308 So many thousand times? Go, counselor.
FTLN 2309 Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.
FTLN 2310 I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy.
FTLN 2311 If all else fail, myself have power to die. 255
She exits.
ACT 4
Scene 1
Enter Friar Lawrence and County Paris.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2312 On Thursday, sir? The time is very short.
PARIS
FTLN 2313 My father Capulet will have it so,
FTLN 2314 And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2315 You say you do not know the lady’s mind?
FTLN 2316 Uneven is the course. I like it not. 5
PARIS
FTLN 2317 Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt’s death,
FTLN 2318 And therefore have I little talk of love,
FTLN 2319 For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.
FTLN 2320 Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous
FTLN 2321 That she do give her sorrow so much sway, 10
FTLN 2322 And in his wisdom hastes our marriage
FTLN 2323 To stop the inundation of her tears,
FTLN 2324 Which, too much minded by herself alone,
FTLN 2325 May be put from her by society.
FTLN 2326 Now do you know the reason of this haste. 15
FRIAR LAWRENCE, aside
FTLN 2327 I would I knew not why it should be slowed.—
FTLN 2328 Look, sir, here comes the lady toward my cell.
Enter Juliet.
177
PARIS
FTLN 2329 Happily met, my lady and my wife.
JULIET
FTLN 2330 That may be, sir, when I may be a wife.
PARIS
FTLN 2331 That “may be” must be, love, on Thursday next. 20
JULIET
FTLN 2332 What must be shall be.
FTLN 2333 FRIAR LAWRENCE That’s a certain text.
PARIS
FTLN 2334 Come you to make confession to this father?
JULIET
FTLN 2335 To answer that, I should confess to you.
PARIS
FTLN 2336 Do not deny to him that you love me. 25
JULIET
FTLN 2337 I will confess to you that I love him.
PARIS
FTLN 2338 So will you, I am sure, that you love me.
JULIET
FTLN 2339 If I do so, it will be of more price
FTLN 2340 Being spoke behind your back than to your face.
PARIS
FTLN 2341 Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears. 30
JULIET
FTLN 2342 The tears have got small victory by that,
FTLN 2343 For it was bad enough before their spite.
PARIS
FTLN 2344 Thou wrong’st it more than tears with that report.
JULIET
FTLN 2345 That is no slander, sir, which is a truth,
FTLN 2346 And what I spake, I spake it to my face. 35
PARIS
FTLN 2347 Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it.
JULIET
FTLN 2348 It may be so, for it is not mine own.—
FTLN 2349 Are you at leisure, holy father, now,

FTLN 2350 Or shall I come to you at evening Mass?
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2351 My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.— 40
FTLN 2352 My lord, we must entreat the time alone.
PARIS
FTLN 2353 God shield I should disturb devotion!—
FTLN 2354 Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse you.
FTLN 2355 Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss. He exits.
JULIET
FTLN 2356 O, shut the door, and when thou hast done so, 45
FTLN 2357 Come weep with me, past hope, past care, past help.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2358 O Juliet, I already know thy grief.
FTLN 2359 It strains me past the compass of my wits.
FTLN 2360 I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
FTLN 2361 On Thursday next be married to this County. 50
JULIET
FTLN 2362 Tell me not, friar, that thou hearest of this,
FTLN 2363 Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it.
FTLN 2364 If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help,
FTLN 2365 Do thou but call my resolution wise,
FTLN 2366 And with this knife I’ll help it presently. 55
She shows him her knife.
FTLN 2367 God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands;
FTLN 2368 And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s sealed,
FTLN 2369 Shall be the label to another deed,
FTLN 2370 Or my true heart with treacherous revolt
FTLN 2371 Turn to another, this shall slay them both. 60
FTLN 2372 Therefore out of thy long-experienced time
FTLN 2373 Give me some present counsel, or, behold,
FTLN 2374 ’Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
FTLN 2375 Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that
FTLN 2376 Which the commission of thy years and art 65
FTLN 2377 Could to no issue of true honor bring.
FTLN 2378 Be not so long to speak. I long to die
FTLN 2379 If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2380 Hold, daughter, I do spy a kind of hope,
FTLN 2381 Which craves as desperate an execution 70
FTLN 2382 As that is desperate which we would prevent.
FTLN 2383 If, rather than to marry County Paris,
FTLN 2384 Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,
FTLN 2385 Then is it likely thou wilt undertake
FTLN 2386 A thing like death to chide away this shame, 75
FTLN 2387 That cop’st with death himself to ’scape from it;
FTLN 2388 And if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy.
JULIET
FTLN 2389 O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
FTLN 2390 From off the battlements of any tower,
FTLN 2391 Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk 80
FTLN 2392 Where serpents are. Chain me with roaring bears,
FTLN 2393 Or hide me nightly in a charnel house,
FTLN 2394 O’ercovered quite with dead men’s rattling bones,
FTLN 2395 With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls.
FTLN 2396 Or bid me go into a new-made grave 85
FTLN 2397 And hide me with a dead man in his shroud
FTLN 2398 (Things that to hear them told have made me
FTLN 2399 tremble),
FTLN 2400 And I will do it without fear or doubt,
FTLN 2401 To live an unstained wife to my sweet love. 90
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2402 Hold, then. Go home; be merry; give consent
FTLN 2403 To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow.
FTLN 2404 Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone;
FTLN 2405 Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.
Holding out a vial.
FTLN 2406 Take thou this vial, being then in bed, 95
FTLN 2407 And this distilling liquor drink thou off;
FTLN 2408 When presently through all thy veins shall run
FTLN 2409 A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse
FTLN 2410 Shall keep his native progress, but surcease.
FTLN 2411 No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest. 100
FTLN 2412 The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
FTLN 2413 To paly ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall
FTLN 2414 Like death when he shuts up the day of life.
FTLN 2415 Each part, deprived of supple government,
FTLN 2416 Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death, 105
FTLN 2417 And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death
FTLN 2418 Thou shalt continue two and forty hours
FTLN 2419 And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
FTLN 2420 Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes
FTLN 2421 To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead. 110
FTLN 2422 Then, as the manner of our country is,
FTLN 2423 In thy best robes uncovered on the bier
FTLN 2424 Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault
FTLN 2425 Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
FTLN 2426 In the meantime, against thou shalt awake, 115
FTLN 2427 Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift,
FTLN 2428 And hither shall he come, and he and I
FTLN 2429 Will watch thy waking, and that very night
FTLN 2430 Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
FTLN 2431 And this shall free thee from this present shame, 120
FTLN 2432 If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear
FTLN 2433 Abate thy valor in the acting it.
JULIET
FTLN 2434 Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!
FRIAR LAWRENCE, giving Juliet the vial
FTLN 2435 Hold, get you gone. Be strong and prosperous
FTLN 2436 In this resolve. I’ll send a friar with speed 125
FTLN 2437 To Mantua with my letters to thy lord.
JULIET
FTLN 2438 Love give me strength, and strength shall help
FTLN 2439 afford.
FTLN 2440 Farewell, dear father.
They exit in different directions.
Scene 2
Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen,
two or three.
CAPULET
FTLN 2441 So many guests invite as here are writ.
One or two of the Servingmen exit
with Capulet’s list.
FTLN 2442 Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
FTLN 2443 SERVINGMAN You shall have none ill, sir, for I’ll try if
FTLN 2444 they can lick their fingers.
FTLN 2445 CAPULET How canst thou try them so? 5
FTLN 2446 SERVINGMAN Marry, sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick
FTLN 2447 his own fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his
FTLN 2448 fingers goes not with me.
FTLN 2449 CAPULET Go, begone. Servingman exits.
FTLN 2450 We shall be much unfurnished for this time.— 10
FTLN 2451 What, is my daughter gone to Friar Lawrence?
FTLN 2452 NURSE Ay, forsooth.
CAPULET
FTLN 2453 Well, he may chance to do some good on her.
FTLN 2454 A peevish self-willed harlotry it is.
Enter Juliet.
NURSE
FTLN 2455 See where she comes from shrift with merry look. 15
CAPULET
FTLN 2456 How now, my headstrong, where have you been
FTLN 2457 gadding?
JULIET
FTLN 2458 Where I have learned me to repent the sin
FTLN 2459 Of disobedient opposition
FTLN 2460 To you and your behests, and am enjoined 20
FTLN 2461 By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here Kneeling.
FTLN 2462 To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you.
FTLN 2463 Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
CAPULET
FTLN 2464 Send for the County. Go tell him of this.
FTLN 2465 I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning. 25
JULIET
FTLN 2466 I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell
FTLN 2467 And gave him what becomèd love I might,
FTLN 2468 Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.
CAPULET
FTLN 2469 Why, I am glad on ’t. This is well. Stand up.
Juliet rises.
FTLN 2470 This is as ’t should be.—Let me see the County. 30
FTLN 2471 Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.—
FTLN 2472 Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,
FTLN 2473 All our whole city is much bound to him.
JULIET
FTLN 2474 Nurse, will you go with me into my closet
FTLN 2475 To help me sort such needful ornaments 35
FTLN 2476 As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2477 No, not till Thursday. There is time enough.
CAPULET
FTLN 2478 Go, nurse. Go with her. We’ll to church tomorrow.
Juliet and the Nurse exit.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2479 We shall be short in our provision.
FTLN 2480 ’Tis now near night. 40
FTLN 2481 CAPULET Tush, I will stir about,
FTLN 2482 And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife.
FTLN 2483 Go thou to Juliet. Help to deck up her.
FTLN 2484 I’ll not to bed tonight. Let me alone.
FTLN 2485 I’ll play the housewife for this once.—What ho!— 45
FTLN 2486 They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself
FTLN 2487 To County Paris, to prepare up him
FTLN 2488 Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light
FTLN 2489 Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed.
They exit.
Scene 3
Enter Juliet and Nurse.
JULIET
FTLN 2490 Ay, those attires are best. But, gentle nurse,
FTLN 2491 I pray thee leave me to myself tonight,
FTLN 2492 For I have need of many orisons
FTLN 2493 To move the heavens to smile upon my state,
FTLN 2494 Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin. 5
Enter Lady Capulet.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2495 What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help?
JULIET
FTLN 2496 No, madam, we have culled such necessaries
FTLN 2497 As are behooveful for our state tomorrow.
FTLN 2498 So please you, let me now be left alone,
FTLN 2499 And let the Nurse this night sit up with you, 10
FTLN 2500 For I am sure you have your hands full all
FTLN 2501 In this so sudden business.
FTLN 2502 LADY CAPULET Good night.
FTLN 2503 Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.
Lady Capulet and the Nurse exit.
JULIET
FTLN 2504 Farewell.—God knows when we shall meet again. 15
FTLN 2505 I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins
FTLN 2506 That almost freezes up the heat of life.
FTLN 2507 I’ll call them back again to comfort me.—
FTLN 2508 Nurse!—What should she do here?
FTLN 2509 My dismal scene I needs must act alone. 20
FTLN 2510 Come, vial. She takes out the vial.
FTLN 2511 What if this mixture do not work at all?
FTLN 2512 Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?
She takes out her knife
and puts it down beside her.
FTLN 2513 No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there.
FTLN 2514 What if it be a poison which the Friar 25
FTLN 2515 Subtly hath ministered to have me dead,

FTLN 2516 Lest in this marriage he should be dishonored
FTLN 2517 Because he married me before to Romeo?
FTLN 2518 I fear it is. And yet methinks it should not,
FTLN 2519 For he hath still been tried a holy man. 30
FTLN 2520 How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
FTLN 2521 I wake before the time that Romeo
FTLN 2522 Come to redeem me? There’s a fearful point.
FTLN 2523 Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
FTLN 2524 To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, 35
FTLN 2525 And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?
FTLN 2526 Or, if I live, is it not very like
FTLN 2527 The horrible conceit of death and night,
FTLN 2528 Together with the terror of the place—
FTLN 2529 As in a vault, an ancient receptacle 40
FTLN 2530 Where for this many hundred years the bones
FTLN 2531 Of all my buried ancestors are packed;
FTLN 2532 Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth,
FTLN 2533 Lies fest’ring in his shroud; where, as they say,
FTLN 2534 At some hours in the night spirits resort— 45
FTLN 2535 Alack, alack, is it not like that I,
FTLN 2536 So early waking, what with loathsome smells,
FTLN 2537 And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth,
FTLN 2538 That living mortals, hearing them, run mad—
FTLN 2539 O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, 50
FTLN 2540 Environèd with all these hideous fears,
FTLN 2541 And madly play with my forefathers’ joints,
FTLN 2542 And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud,
FTLN 2543 And, in this rage, with some great kinsman’s bone,
FTLN 2544 As with a club, dash out my desp’rate brains? 55
FTLN 2545 O look, methinks I see my cousin’s ghost
FTLN 2546 Seeking out Romeo that did spit his body
FTLN 2547 Upon a rapier’s point! Stay, Tybalt, stay!
FTLN 2548 Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to
FTLN 2549 thee. She drinks and falls upon her bed 60
within the curtains.
Scene 4
Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2550 Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.
NURSE
FTLN 2551 They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.
Enter old Capulet.
CAPULET
FTLN 2552 Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed.
FTLN 2553 The curfew bell hath rung. ’Tis three o’clock.—
FTLN 2554 Look to the baked meats, good Angelica. 5
FTLN 2555 Spare not for cost.
FTLN 2556 NURSE Go, you cot-quean, go,
FTLN 2557 Get you to bed. Faith, you’ll be sick tomorrow
FTLN 2558 For this night’s watching.
CAPULET
FTLN 2559 No, not a whit. What, I have watched ere now 10
FTLN 2560 All night for lesser cause, and ne’er been sick.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2561 Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time,
FTLN 2562 But I will watch you from such watching now.
Lady Capulet and Nurse exit.
CAPULET
FTLN 2563 A jealous hood, a jealous hood!
Enter three or four Servingmen with spits and logs

and baskets.
FTLN 2564 Now fellow, 15

FTLN 2565 What is there?
FIRST SERVINGMAN
FTLN 2566 Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what.
CAPULET
FTLN 2567 Make haste, make haste. First Servingman exits.
FTLN 2568 Sirrah, fetch drier logs.
FTLN 2569 Call Peter. He will show thee where they are. 20
SECOND SERVINGMAN
FTLN 2570 I have a head, sir, that will find out logs
FTLN 2571 And never trouble Peter for the matter.
CAPULET
FTLN 2572 Mass, and well said. A merry whoreson, ha!
FTLN 2573 Thou shalt be loggerhead.
Second Servingman exits.
FTLN 2574 Good faith, ’tis day. 25
FTLN 2575 The County will be here with music straight,
Play music.
FTLN 2576 For so he said he would. I hear him near.—
FTLN 2577 Nurse!—Wife! What ho!—What, nurse, I say!
Enter Nurse.
FTLN 2578 Go waken Juliet. Go and trim her up.

FTLN 2579 I’ll go and chat with Paris. Hie, make haste, 30
FTLN 2580 Make haste. The bridegroom he is come already.
FTLN 2581 Make haste, I say.
He exits.
Scene 5
NURSE, approaching the bed

FTLN 2582 Mistress! What, mistress! Juliet!—Fast, I warrant
FTLN 2583 her, she—
FTLN 2584 Why, lamb, why, lady! Fie, you slugabed!
FTLN 2585 Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweetheart! Why, bride!—
FTLN 2586 What, not a word?—You take your pennyworths 5
FTLN 2587 now.
FTLN 2588 Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant,
FTLN 2589 The County Paris hath set up his rest
FTLN 2590 That you shall rest but little.—God forgive me,
FTLN 2591 Marry, and amen! How sound is she asleep! 10
FTLN 2592 I needs must wake her.—Madam, madam, madam!
FTLN 2593 Ay, let the County take you in your bed,
FTLN 2594 He’ll fright you up, i’ faith.—Will it not be?

She opens the bed’s curtains.
FTLN 2595 What, dressed, and in your clothes, and down
FTLN 2596 again? 15
FTLN 2597 I must needs wake you. Lady, lady, lady!—
FTLN 2598 Alas, alas! Help, help! My lady’s dead.—
FTLN 2599 O, weraday, that ever I was born!—
FTLN 2600 Some aqua vitae, ho!—My lord! My lady!
Enter Lady Capulet.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2601 What noise is here? 20
FTLN 2602 NURSE O lamentable day!
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2603 What is the matter?
FTLN 2604 NURSE Look, look!—O heavy day!
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2605 O me! O me! My child, my only life,
FTLN 2606 Revive, look up, or I will die with thee. 25
FTLN 2607 Help, help! Call help.
Enter Capulet.
CAPULET
FTLN 2608 For shame, bring Juliet forth. Her lord is come.
NURSE
FTLN 2609 She’s dead, deceased. She’s dead, alack the day!
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2610 Alack the day, she’s dead, she’s dead, she’s dead.
CAPULET
FTLN 2611 Ha, let me see her! Out, alas, she’s cold. 30
FTLN 2612 Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff.
FTLN 2613 Life and these lips have long been separated.
FTLN 2614 Death lies on her like an untimely frost
FTLN 2615 Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.
NURSE
FTLN 2616 O lamentable day! 35
FTLN 2617 LADY CAPULET O woeful time!

CAPULET
FTLN 2618 Death, that hath ta’en her hence to make me wail,
FTLN 2619 Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak.
Enter Friar Lawrence and the County Paris, with

Musicians.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2620 Come, is the bride ready to go to church?
CAPULET
FTLN 2621 Ready to go, but never to return.— 40
FTLN 2622 O son, the night before thy wedding day
FTLN 2623 Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies,
FTLN 2624 Flower as she was, deflowerèd by him.
FTLN 2625 Death is my son-in-law; Death is my heir.
FTLN 2626 My daughter he hath wedded. I will die 45
FTLN 2627 And leave him all. Life, living, all is Death’s.
PARIS
FTLN 2628 Have I thought long to see this morning’s face,
FTLN 2629 And doth it give me such a sight as this?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 2630 Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day!
FTLN 2631 Most miserable hour that e’er time saw 50
FTLN 2632 In lasting labor of his pilgrimage!
FTLN 2633 But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,
FTLN 2634 But one thing to rejoice and solace in,
FTLN 2635 And cruel death hath catched it from my sight!
NURSE
FTLN 2636 O woe, O woeful, woeful, woeful day! 55
FTLN 2637 Most lamentable day, most woeful day
FTLN 2638 That ever, ever I did yet behold!
FTLN 2639 O day, O day, O day, O hateful day!
FTLN 2640 Never was seen so black a day as this!
FTLN 2641 O woeful day, O woeful day! 60
PARIS
FTLN 2642 Beguiled, divorcèd, wrongèd, spited, slain!
FTLN 2643 Most detestable death, by thee beguiled,

FTLN 2644 By cruel, cruel thee quite overthrown!
FTLN 2645 O love! O life! Not life, but love in death!
CAPULET
FTLN 2646 Despised, distressèd, hated, martyred, killed! 65
FTLN 2647 Uncomfortable time, why cam’st thou now
FTLN 2648 To murder, murder our solemnity?
FTLN 2649 O child! O child! My soul and not my child!
FTLN 2650 Dead art thou! Alack, my child is dead,
FTLN 2651 And with my child my joys are burièd. 70
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2652 Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion’s cure lives not
FTLN 2653 In these confusions. Heaven and yourself
FTLN 2654 Had part in this fair maid. Now heaven hath all,
FTLN 2655 And all the better is it for the maid.
FTLN 2656 Your part in her you could not keep from death, 75
FTLN 2657 But heaven keeps his part in eternal life.
FTLN 2658 The most you sought was her promotion,
FTLN 2659 For ’twas your heaven she should be advanced;
FTLN 2660 And weep you now, seeing she is advanced
FTLN 2661 Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? 80
FTLN 2662 O, in this love you love your child so ill
FTLN 2663 That you run mad, seeing that she is well.
FTLN 2664 She’s not well married that lives married long,
FTLN 2665 But she’s best married that dies married young.
FTLN 2666 Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary 85
FTLN 2667 On this fair corse, and, as the custom is,
FTLN 2668 And in her best array, bear her to church,
FTLN 2669 For though fond nature bids us all lament,
FTLN 2670 Yet nature’s tears are reason’s merriment.
CAPULET
FTLN 2671 All things that we ordainèd festival 90
FTLN 2672 Turn from their office to black funeral:
FTLN 2673 Our instruments to melancholy bells,
FTLN 2674 Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
FTLN 2675 Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
FTLN 2676 Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse, 95

FTLN 2677 And all things change them to the contrary.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2678 Sir, go you in, and, madam, go with him,
FTLN 2679 And go, Sir Paris. Everyone prepare
FTLN 2680 To follow this fair corse unto her grave.
FTLN 2681 The heavens do lour upon you for some ill. 100
FTLN 2682 Move them no more by crossing their high will.
All but the Nurse and the Musicians exit.
FIRST MUSICIAN
FTLN 2683 Faith, we may put up our pipes and be gone.
NURSE
FTLN 2684 Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up,
FTLN 2685 For, well you know, this is a pitiful case.
FIRST MUSICIAN
FTLN 2686 Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended. 105
Nurse exits.
Enter Peter.
FTLN 2687 PETER Musicians, O musicians, “Heart’s ease,”

FTLN 2688 “Heart’s ease.” O, an you will have me live, play
FTLN 2689 “Heart’s ease.”
FTLN 2690 FIRST MUSICIAN Why “Heart’s ease?”
FTLN 2691 PETER O musicians, because my heart itself plays “My 110
FTLN 2692 heart is full.” O, play me some merry dump to
FTLN 2693 comfort me.
FTLN 2694 FIRST MUSICIAN Not a dump, we. ’Tis no time to play
FTLN 2695 now.
FTLN 2696 PETER You will not then? 115
FTLN 2697 FIRST MUSICIAN No.
FTLN 2698 PETER I will then give it you soundly.
FTLN 2699 FIRST MUSICIAN What will you give us?
FTLN 2700 PETER No money, on my faith, but the gleek. I will give
FTLN 2701 you the minstrel. 120
FTLN 2702 FIRST MUSICIAN Then will I give you the
FTLN 2703 serving-creature.
FTLN 2704 PETER Then will I lay the serving-creature’s dagger on

FTLN 2705 your pate. I will carry no crochets. I’ll re you, I’ll fa
FTLN 2706 you. Do you note me? 125
FTLN 2707 FIRST MUSICIAN An you re us and fa us, you note us.
FTLN 2708 SECOND MUSICIAN Pray you, put up your dagger and
FTLN 2709 put out your wit.
FTLN 2710 PETER Then have at you with my wit. I will dry-beat
FTLN 2711 you with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. 130
FTLN 2712 Answer me like men.
FTLN 2713 Sings. When griping griefs the heart doth wound
FTLN 2714 And doleful dumps the mind oppress,
FTLN 2715 Then music with her silver sound—
FTLN 2716 Why “silver sound”? Why “music with her silver 135
FTLN 2717 sound”? What say you, Simon Catling?
FTLN 2718 FIRST MUSICIAN Marry, sir, because silver hath a
FTLN 2719 sweet sound.
FTLN 2720 PETER Prates.—What say you, Hugh Rebeck?
FTLN 2721 SECOND MUSICIAN I say “silver sound” because musicians 140
FTLN 2722 sound for silver.
FTLN 2723 PETER Prates too.—What say you, James Soundpost?
FTLN 2724 THIRD MUSICIAN Faith, I know not what to say.
FTLN 2725 PETER O, I cry you mercy. You are the singer. I will say
FTLN 2726 for you. It is “music with her silver sound” because 145
FTLN 2727 musicians have no gold for sounding:
FTLN 2728 Sings. Then music with her silver sound
FTLN 2729 With speedy help doth lend redress.
He exits.
FTLN 2730 FIRST MUSICIAN What a pestilent knave is this same!
FTLN 2731 SECOND MUSICIAN Hang him, Jack. Come, we’ll in 150
FTLN 2732 here, tarry for the mourners, and stay dinner.
They exit.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Enter Romeo.
ROMEO
FTLN 2733 If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,
FTLN 2734 My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.
FTLN 2735 My bosom’s lord sits lightly in his throne,
FTLN 2736 And all this day an unaccustomed spirit
FTLN 2737 Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. 5
FTLN 2738 I dreamt my lady came and found me dead
FTLN 2739 (Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to
FTLN 2740 think!)
FTLN 2741 And breathed such life with kisses in my lips
FTLN 2742 That I revived and was an emperor. 10
FTLN 2743 Ah me, how sweet is love itself possessed
FTLN 2744 When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy!
Enter Romeo’s man Balthasar, in riding boots.
FTLN 2745 News from Verona!—How now, Balthasar?

FTLN 2746 Dost thou not bring me letters from the Friar?
FTLN 2747 How doth my lady? Is my father well? 15
FTLN 2748 How doth my Juliet? That I ask again,
FTLN 2749 For nothing can be ill if she be well.
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2750 Then she is well and nothing can be ill.
FTLN 2751 Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument,
FTLN 2752 And her immortal part with angels lives. 20
211
FTLN 2753 I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault

FTLN 2754 And presently took post to tell it you.
FTLN 2755 O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,
FTLN 2756 Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
ROMEO
FTLN 2757 Is it e’en so?—Then I deny you, stars!— 25
FTLN 2758 Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper,
FTLN 2759 And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight.
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2760 I do beseech you, sir, have patience.
FTLN 2761 Your looks are pale and wild and do import
FTLN 2762 Some misadventure. 30
FTLN 2763 ROMEO Tush, thou art deceived.
FTLN 2764 Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do.
FTLN 2765 Hast thou no letters to me from the Friar?
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2766 No, my good lord.
FTLN 2767 ROMEO No matter. Get thee gone, 35
FTLN 2768 And hire those horses. I’ll be with thee straight.
Balthasar exits.
FTLN 2769 Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.
FTLN 2770 Let’s see for means. O mischief, thou art swift
FTLN 2771 To enter in the thoughts of desperate men.
FTLN 2772 I do remember an apothecary 40
FTLN 2773 (And hereabouts he dwells) which late I noted
FTLN 2774 In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows,
FTLN 2775 Culling of simples. Meager were his looks.
FTLN 2776 Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
FTLN 2777 And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, 45
FTLN 2778 An alligator stuffed, and other skins
FTLN 2779 Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves,
FTLN 2780 A beggarly account of empty boxes,
FTLN 2781 Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds,
FTLN 2782 Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses 50
FTLN 2783 Were thinly scattered to make up a show.
FTLN 2784 Noting this penury, to myself I said
FTLN 2785 “An if a man did need a poison now,

FTLN 2786 Whose sale is present death in Mantua,
FTLN 2787 Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.” 55
FTLN 2788 O, this same thought did but forerun my need,
FTLN 2789 And this same needy man must sell it me.
FTLN 2790 As I remember, this should be the house.
FTLN 2791 Being holiday, the beggar’s shop is shut.—
FTLN 2792 What ho, Apothecary! 60
Enter Apothecary.
FTLN 2793 APOTHECARY Who calls so loud?

ROMEO
FTLN 2794 Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor.
He offers money.
FTLN 2795 Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have
FTLN 2796 A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
FTLN 2797 As will disperse itself through all the veins, 65
FTLN 2798 That the life-weary taker may fall dead,
FTLN 2799 And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
FTLN 2800 As violently as hasty powder fired
FTLN 2801 Doth hurry from the fatal cannon’s womb.
APOTHECARY
FTLN 2802 Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua’s law 70
FTLN 2803 Is death to any he that utters them.
ROMEO
FTLN 2804 Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
FTLN 2805 And fearest to die? Famine is in thy cheeks,
FTLN 2806 Need and oppression starveth in thy eyes,
FTLN 2807 Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back. 75
FTLN 2808 The world is not thy friend, nor the world’s law.
FTLN 2809 The world affords no law to make thee rich.
FTLN 2810 Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
APOTHECARY
FTLN 2811 My poverty, but not my will, consents.
ROMEO
FTLN 2812 I pay thy poverty and not thy will. 80
APOTHECARY , giving him the poison

FTLN 2813 Put this in any liquid thing you will
FTLN 2814 And drink it off, and if you had the strength
FTLN 2815 Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
ROMEO, handing him the money
FTLN 2816 There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls,
FTLN 2817 Doing more murder in this loathsome world 85
FTLN 2818 Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not
FTLN 2819 sell.
FTLN 2820 I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
FTLN 2821 Farewell, buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
Apothecary exits.
FTLN 2822 Come, cordial and not poison, go with me 90
FTLN 2823 To Juliet’s grave, for there must I use thee.
He exits.
Scene 2
Enter Friar John.
FRIAR JOHN
FTLN 2824 Holy Franciscan friar, brother, ho!
Enter Friar Lawrence.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2825 This same should be the voice of Friar John.—
FTLN 2826 Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo?
FTLN 2827 Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
FRIAR JOHN
FTLN 2828 Going to find a barefoot brother out, 5
FTLN 2829 One of our order, to associate me,
FTLN 2830 Here in this city visiting the sick,
FTLN 2831 And finding him, the searchers of the town,
FTLN 2832 Suspecting that we both were in a house
FTLN 2833 Where the infectious pestilence did reign, 10
FTLN 2834 Sealed up the doors and would not let us forth,
FTLN 2835 So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2836 Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
FRIAR JOHN
FTLN 2837 I could not send it—here it is again—
Returning the letter.
FTLN 2838 Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, 15
FTLN 2839 So fearful were they of infection.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2840 Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood,
FTLN 2841 The letter was not nice but full of charge,
FTLN 2842 Of dear import, and the neglecting it
FTLN 2843 May do much danger. Friar John, go hence. 20
FTLN 2844 Get me an iron crow and bring it straight
FTLN 2845 Unto my cell.
FRIAR JOHN
FTLN 2846 Brother, I’ll go and bring it thee. He exits.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2847 Now must I to the monument alone.
FTLN 2848 Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake. 25
FTLN 2849 She will beshrew me much that Romeo
FTLN 2850 Hath had no notice of these accidents.
FTLN 2851 But I will write again to Mantua,
FTLN 2852 And keep her at my cell till Romeo come.
FTLN 2853 Poor living corse, closed in a dead man’s tomb! 30
He exits.
Scene 3
Enter Paris and his Page.
PARIS
FTLN 2854 Give me thy torch, boy. Hence and stand aloof.
FTLN 2855 Yet put it out, for I would not be seen.
FTLN 2856 Under yond yew trees lay thee all along,
FTLN 2857 Holding thy ear close to the hollow ground.
FTLN 2858 So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread 5
FTLN 2859 (Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves)
FTLN 2860 But thou shalt hear it. Whistle then to me

FTLN 2861 As signal that thou hearest something approach.
FTLN 2862 Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee. Go.
PAGE, aside
FTLN 2863 I am almost afraid to stand alone 10
FTLN 2864 Here in the churchyard. Yet I will adventure.
He moves away from Paris.
PARIS, scattering flowers
FTLN 2865 Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew
FTLN 2866 (O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones!)
FTLN 2867 Which with sweet water nightly I will dew,
FTLN 2868 Or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans. 15
FTLN 2869 The obsequies that I for thee will keep
FTLN 2870 Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.
Page whistles.
FTLN 2871 The boy gives warning something doth approach.
FTLN 2872 What cursèd foot wanders this way tonight,
FTLN 2873 To cross my obsequies and true love’s rite? 20
FTLN 2874 What, with a torch? Muffle me, night, awhile.
He steps aside.
Enter Romeo and Balthasar.
ROMEO
FTLN 2875 Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron.
FTLN 2876 Hold, take this letter. Early in the morning
FTLN 2877 See thou deliver it to my lord and father.
FTLN 2878 Give me the light. Upon thy life I charge thee, 25
FTLN 2879 Whate’er thou hearest or seest, stand all aloof
FTLN 2880 And do not interrupt me in my course.
FTLN 2881 Why I descend into this bed of death
FTLN 2882 Is partly to behold my lady’s face,
FTLN 2883 But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger 30
FTLN 2884 A precious ring, a ring that I must use
FTLN 2885 In dear employment. Therefore hence, begone.
FTLN 2886 But, if thou, jealous, dost return to pry
FTLN 2887 In what I farther shall intend to do,
FTLN 2888 By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint 35

FTLN 2889 And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs.
FTLN 2890 The time and my intents are savage-wild,
FTLN 2891 More fierce and more inexorable far
FTLN 2892 Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2893 I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 40
ROMEO
FTLN 2894 So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that.
Giving money.
FTLN 2895 Live and be prosperous, and farewell, good fellow.
BALTHASAR , aside
FTLN 2896 For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout.
FTLN 2897 His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
He steps aside.
ROMEO, beginning to force open the tomb
FTLN 2898 Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, 45
FTLN 2899 Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
FTLN 2900 Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
FTLN 2901 And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food.
PARIS
FTLN 2902 This is that banished haughty Montague
FTLN 2903 That murdered my love’s cousin, with which grief 50
FTLN 2904 It is supposèd the fair creature died,
FTLN 2905 And here is come to do some villainous shame
FTLN 2906 To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him.
Stepping forward.
FTLN 2907 Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague.
FTLN 2908 Can vengeance be pursued further than death? 55
FTLN 2909 Condemnèd villain, I do apprehend thee.
FTLN 2910 Obey and go with me, for thou must die.
ROMEO
FTLN 2911 I must indeed, and therefore came I hither.
FTLN 2912 Good gentle youth, tempt not a desp’rate man.
FTLN 2913 Fly hence and leave me. Think upon these gone. 60
FTLN 2914 Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
FTLN 2915 Put not another sin upon my head

FTLN 2916 By urging me to fury. O, begone!
FTLN 2917 By heaven, I love thee better than myself,
FTLN 2918 For I come hither armed against myself. 65
FTLN 2919 Stay not, begone, live, and hereafter say
FTLN 2920 A madman’s mercy bid thee run away.
PARIS
FTLN 2921 I do defy thy commination
FTLN 2922 And apprehend thee for a felon here.
ROMEO
FTLN 2923 Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy! 70
They draw and fight.
PAGE
FTLN 2924 O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.
He exits.
PARIS
FTLN 2925 O, I am slain! If thou be merciful,
FTLN 2926 Open the tomb; lay me with Juliet. He dies.
ROMEO
FTLN 2927 In faith, I will.—Let me peruse this face.
FTLN 2928 Mercutio’s kinsman, noble County Paris! 75
FTLN 2929 What said my man when my betossèd soul
FTLN 2930 Did not attend him as we rode? I think
FTLN 2931 He told me Paris should have married Juliet.
FTLN 2932 Said he not so? Or did I dream it so?
FTLN 2933 Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, 80
FTLN 2934 To think it was so?—O, give me thy hand,
FTLN 2935 One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book!
FTLN 2936 I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.—
He opens the tomb.
FTLN 2937 A grave? O, no. A lantern, slaughtered youth,
FTLN 2938 For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes 85
FTLN 2939 This vault a feasting presence full of light.—
FTLN 2940 Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred.
Laying Paris in the tomb.
FTLN 2941 How oft when men are at the point of death
FTLN 2942 Have they been merry, which their keepers call
FTLN 2943 A light’ning before death! O, how may I 90
FTLN 2944 Call this a light’ning?—O my love, my wife,
FTLN 2945 Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,
FTLN 2946 Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.
FTLN 2947 Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s ensign yet
FTLN 2948 Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, 95
FTLN 2949 And death’s pale flag is not advancèd there.—
FTLN 2950 Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
FTLN 2951 O, what more favor can I do to thee
FTLN 2952 Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
FTLN 2953 To sunder his that was thine enemy? 100
FTLN 2954 Forgive me, cousin.—Ah, dear Juliet,
FTLN 2955 Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe
FTLN 2956 That unsubstantial death is amorous,
FTLN 2957 And that the lean abhorrèd monster keeps
FTLN 2958 Thee here in dark to be his paramour? 105
FTLN 2959 For fear of that I still will stay with thee
FTLN 2960 And never from this palace of dim night
FTLN 2961 Depart again. Here, here will I remain
FTLN 2962 With worms that are thy chambermaids. O, here
FTLN 2963 Will I set up my everlasting rest 110
FTLN 2964 And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
FTLN 2965 From this world-wearied flesh! Eyes, look your last.
FTLN 2966 Arms, take your last embrace. And, lips, O, you
FTLN 2967 The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
FTLN 2968 A dateless bargain to engrossing death. 115
Kissing Juliet.
FTLN 2969 Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide!
FTLN 2970 Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
FTLN 2971 The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark!
FTLN 2972 Here’s to my love. Drinking. O true apothecary,
FTLN 2973 Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. 120
He dies.
Enter Friar Lawrence with lantern, crow, and spade.

FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2974 Saint Francis be my speed! How oft tonight
FTLN 2975 Have my old feet stumbled at graves!—Who’s there?
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2976 Here’s one, a friend, and one that knows you well.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2977 Bliss be upon you. Tell me, good my friend,
FTLN 2978 What torch is yond that vainly lends his light 125
FTLN 2979 To grubs and eyeless skulls? As I discern,
FTLN 2980 It burneth in the Capels’ monument.
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2981 It doth so, holy sir, and there’s my master,
FTLN 2982 One that you love.
FTLN 2983 FRIAR LAWRENCE Who is it? 130
FTLN 2984 BALTHASAR Romeo.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2985 How long hath he been there?
FTLN 2986 BALTHASAR Full half an hour.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2987 Go with me to the vault.
FTLN 2988 BALTHASAR I dare not, sir. 135
FTLN 2989 My master knows not but I am gone hence,
FTLN 2990 And fearfully did menace me with death
FTLN 2991 If I did stay to look on his intents.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 2992 Stay, then. I’ll go alone. Fear comes upon me.
FTLN 2993 O, much I fear some ill unthrifty thing. 140
BALTHASAR
FTLN 2994 As I did sleep under this yew tree here,
FTLN 2995 I dreamt my master and another fought,
FTLN 2996 And that my master slew him.
FRIAR LAWRENCE, moving toward the tomb
FTLN 2997 Romeo!—
FTLN 2998 Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains 145
FTLN 2999 The stony entrance of this sepulcher?
FTLN 3000 What mean these masterless and gory swords
FTLN 3001 To lie discolored by this place of peace?

FTLN 3002 Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too?
FTLN 3003 And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour 150
FTLN 3004 Is guilty of this lamentable chance!
FTLN 3005 The lady stirs.
JULIET
FTLN 3006 O comfortable friar, where is my lord?
FTLN 3007 I do remember well where I should be,
FTLN 3008 And there I am. Where is my Romeo? 155
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 3009 I hear some noise.—Lady, come from that nest
FTLN 3010 Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep.
FTLN 3011 A greater power than we can contradict
FTLN 3012 Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
FTLN 3013 Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead, 160
FTLN 3014 And Paris, too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
FTLN 3015 Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.
FTLN 3016 Stay not to question, for the watch is coming.
FTLN 3017 Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay.
JULIET
FTLN 3018 Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. 165
He exits.
FTLN 3019 What’s here? A cup closed in my true love’s hand?
FTLN 3020 Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.—
FTLN 3021 O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop
FTLN 3022 To help me after! I will kiss thy lips.
FTLN 3023 Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, 170
FTLN 3024 To make me die with a restorative. She kisses him.
FTLN 3025 Thy lips are warm!
Enter Paris’s Page and Watch.
FTLN 3026 FIRST WATCH Lead, boy. Which way?

JULIET
FTLN 3027 Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O, happy dagger,
FTLN 3028 This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die. 175
She takes Romeo’s dagger, stabs herself, and dies.
PAGE
FTLN 3029 This is the place, there where the torch doth burn.
FIRST WATCH
FTLN 3030 The ground is bloody.—Search about the
FTLN 3031 churchyard.
FTLN 3032 Go, some of you; whoe’er you find, attach.
Some watchmen exit.
FTLN 3033 Pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain, 180
FTLN 3034 And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead,
FTLN 3035 Who here hath lain this two days burièd.—
FTLN 3036 Go, tell the Prince. Run to the Capulets.
FTLN 3037 Raise up the Montagues. Some others search.
Others exit.
FTLN 3038 We see the ground whereon these woes do lie, 185
FTLN 3039 But the true ground of all these piteous woes
FTLN 3040 We cannot without circumstance descry.
Enter Watchmen with Romeo’s man Balthasar.
SECOND WATCH
FTLN 3041 Here’s Romeo’s man. We found him in the
FTLN 3042 churchyard.
FIRST WATCH
FTLN 3043 Hold him in safety till the Prince come hither. 190
Enter Friar Lawrence and another Watchman.
THIRD WATCH
FTLN 3044 Here is a friar that trembles, sighs, and weeps.
FTLN 3045 We took this mattock and this spade from him
FTLN 3046 As he was coming from this churchyard’s side.
FIRST WATCH
FTLN 3047 A great suspicion. Stay the Friar too.
Enter the Prince with Attendants.
PRINCE
FTLN 3048 What misadventure is so early up 195
FTLN 3049 That calls our person from our morning rest?
Enter Capulet and Lady Capulet.
CAPULET
FTLN 3050 What should it be that is so shrieked abroad?
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 3051 O, the people in the street cry “Romeo,”
FTLN 3052 Some “Juliet,” and some “Paris,” and all run
FTLN 3053 With open outcry toward our monument. 200
PRINCE
FTLN 3054 What fear is this which startles in our ears?
FIRST WATCH
FTLN 3055 Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain,
FTLN 3056 And Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before,
FTLN 3057 Warm and new killed.
PRINCE
FTLN 3058 Search, seek, and know how this foul murder 205
FTLN 3059 comes.
FIRST WATCH
FTLN 3060 Here is a friar, and slaughtered Romeo’s man,
FTLN 3061 With instruments upon them fit to open
FTLN 3062 These dead men’s tombs.
CAPULET
FTLN 3063 O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds! 210
FTLN 3064 This dagger hath mista’en, for, lo, his house
FTLN 3065 Is empty on the back of Montague,
FTLN 3066 And it mis-sheathèd in my daughter’s bosom.
LADY CAPULET
FTLN 3067 O me, this sight of death is as a bell
FTLN 3068 That warns my old age to a sepulcher. 215
Enter Montague.
PRINCE
FTLN 3069 Come, Montague, for thou art early up
FTLN 3070 To see thy son and heir now early down.
MONTAGUE
FTLN 3071 Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight.
FTLN 3072 Grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath.

FTLN 3073 What further woe conspires against mine age? 220
FTLN 3074 PRINCE Look, and thou shalt see.
MONTAGUE , seeing Romeo dead
FTLN 3075 O thou untaught! What manners is in this,
FTLN 3076 To press before thy father to a grave?
PRINCE
FTLN 3077 Seal up the mouth of outrage for awhile,
FTLN 3078 Till we can clear these ambiguities 225
FTLN 3079 And know their spring, their head, their true
FTLN 3080 descent,
FTLN 3081 And then will I be general of your woes
FTLN 3082 And lead you even to death. Meantime forbear,
FTLN 3083 And let mischance be slave to patience.— 230
FTLN 3084 Bring forth the parties of suspicion.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 3085 I am the greatest, able to do least,
FTLN 3086 Yet most suspected, as the time and place
FTLN 3087 Doth make against me, of this direful murder.
FTLN 3088 And here I stand, both to impeach and purge 235
FTLN 3089 Myself condemnèd and myself excused.
PRINCE
FTLN 3090 Then say at once what thou dost know in this.
FRIAR LAWRENCE
FTLN 3091 I will be brief, for my short date of breath
FTLN 3092 Is not so long as is a tedious tale.
FTLN 3093 Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet, 240
FTLN 3094 And she, there dead, that Romeo’s faithful wife.
FTLN 3095 I married them, and their stol’n marriage day
FTLN 3096 Was Tybalt’s doomsday, whose untimely death
FTLN 3097 Banished the new-made bridegroom from this city,
FTLN 3098 For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. 245
FTLN 3099 You, to remove that siege of grief from her,
FTLN 3100 Betrothed and would have married her perforce
FTLN 3101 To County Paris. Then comes she to me,
FTLN 3102 And with wild looks bid me devise some mean
FTLN 3103 To rid her from this second marriage, 250

FTLN 3104 Or in my cell there would she kill herself.
FTLN 3105 Then gave I her (so tutored by my art)
FTLN 3106 A sleeping potion, which so took effect
FTLN 3107 As I intended, for it wrought on her
FTLN 3108 The form of death. Meantime I writ to Romeo 255
FTLN 3109 That he should hither come as this dire night
FTLN 3110 To help to take her from her borrowed grave,
FTLN 3111 Being the time the potion’s force should cease.
FTLN 3112 But he which bore my letter, Friar John,
FTLN 3113 Was stayed by accident, and yesternight 260
FTLN 3114 Returned my letter back. Then all alone
FTLN 3115 At the prefixèd hour of her waking
FTLN 3116 Came I to take her from her kindred’s vault,
FTLN 3117 Meaning to keep her closely at my cell
FTLN 3118 Till I conveniently could send to Romeo. 265
FTLN 3119 But when I came, some minute ere the time
FTLN 3120 Of her awakening, here untimely lay
FTLN 3121 The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.
FTLN 3122 She wakes, and I entreated her come forth
FTLN 3123 And bear this work of heaven with patience. 270
FTLN 3124 But then a noise did scare me from the tomb,
FTLN 3125 And she, too desperate, would not go with me
FTLN 3126 But, as it seems, did violence on herself.
FTLN 3127 All this I know, and to the marriage
FTLN 3128 Her nurse is privy. And if aught in this 275
FTLN 3129 Miscarried by my fault, let my old life
FTLN 3130 Be sacrificed some hour before his time
FTLN 3131 Unto the rigor of severest law.
PRINCE
FTLN 3132 We still have known thee for a holy man.—
FTLN 3133 Where’s Romeo’s man? What can he say to this? 280
BALTHASAR
FTLN 3134 I brought my master news of Juliet’s death,
FTLN 3135 And then in post he came from Mantua
FTLN 3136 To this same place, to this same monument.
FTLN 3137 This letter he early bid me give his father

FTLN 3138 And threatened me with death, going in the vault, 285
FTLN 3139 If I departed not and left him there.
PRINCE
FTLN 3140 Give me the letter. I will look on it.—
He takes Romeo’s letter.
FTLN 3141 Where is the County’s page, that raised the
FTLN 3142 watch?—
FTLN 3143 Sirrah, what made your master in this place? 290
PAGE
FTLN 3144 He came with flowers to strew his lady’s grave
FTLN 3145 And bid me stand aloof, and so I did.
FTLN 3146 Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb,
FTLN 3147 And by and by my master drew on him,
FTLN 3148 And then I ran away to call the watch. 295
PRINCE
FTLN 3149 This letter doth make good the Friar’s words,
FTLN 3150 Their course of love, the tidings of her death;
FTLN 3151 And here he writes that he did buy a poison
FTLN 3152 Of a poor ’pothecary, and therewithal
FTLN 3153 Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. 300
FTLN 3154 Where be these enemies?—Capulet, Montague,
FTLN 3155 See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
FTLN 3156 That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love,
FTLN 3157 And I, for winking at your discords too,
FTLN 3158 Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished. 305
CAPULET
FTLN 3159 O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
FTLN 3160 This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more
FTLN 3161 Can I demand.
FTLN 3162 MONTAGUE But I can give thee more,
FTLN 3163 For I will ray her statue in pure gold, 310
FTLN 3164 That whiles Verona by that name is known,
FTLN 3165 There shall no figure at such rate be set
FTLN 3166 As that of true and faithful Juliet.
CAPULET
FTLN 3167 As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie,
FTLN 3168 Poor sacrifices of our enmity. 315
PRINCE
FTLN 3169 A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
FTLN 3170 The sun for sorrow will not show his head.
FTLN 3171 Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.
FTLN 3172 Some shall be pardoned, and some punishèd.
FTLN 3173 For never was a story of more woe 320
FTLN 3174 Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
All exit.

Romieo and Julette 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Romieo and Julette 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Romieo and Julette 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Folger Shakespeare Library

From the Director of the Folger Shakespeare

It is hard to imagine a world without Shakespeare. Since their

I want to express my deep thanks to editors Barbara Mowat and Paul

Other editorial decisions involve choices about whether an unfamiliar

The editors of the Moby™ Shakespeare produced their text long

Romeo is a Montague, and Juliet a Capulet. Their families are

FTLN 0001 Two households, both alike in dignity

FTLN 0015 SAMPSON Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.

FTLN 0039 GREGORY The heads of the maids? 25

Enter Abram with another Servingman.

FTLN 0048 SAMPSON My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back

FTLN 0072 SAMPSON Well, sir.

FTLN 0073 GREGORY, aside to Sampson Say “better”; here comes

Enter Tybalt, drawing his sword.

Enter three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.

Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.

Enter old Montague and his Wife.

Enter Prince Escalus with his train.

FTLN 0151 But all so soon as the all-cheering sun

FTLN 0205 BENVOLIO At thy good heart’s oppression.

Enter Benvolio and Romeo.

FTLN 0319 Shut up in prison, kept without my food,

FTLN 0351 Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves, 90

FTLN 0374 JULIET How now, who calls? 5

FTLN 0406 To bid me trudge.

FTLN 0465 For fair without the fair within to hide.

FTLN 0475 SERVINGMAN Madam, the guests are come, supper

FTLN 0486 We’ll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf,

FTLN 0541 She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes

FTLN 0577 And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs, 95

FTLN 0604 FIRST SERVINGMAN Where’s Potpan that he helps not

Enter Capulet and his household, all the guests and

FTLN 0632 You are welcome, gentlemen.—Come, musicians,

FTLN 0693 You’ll make a mutiny among my guests, 90

FTLN 0764 Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,

Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.

FTLN 0811 To be consorted with the humorous night.

Enter Juliet above.

FTLN 0837 I am too bold. ’Tis not to me she speaks.

FTLN 0870 By any other word would smell as sweet.

FTLN 0929 Than those that have more coying to be strange.

Reenter Juliet above.

FTLN 0986 ROMEO So thrive my soul—

Enter Juliet above again.

FTLN 1035 I must upfill this osier cage of ours

FTLN 1051 Within the infant rind of this weak flower

FTLN 1167 BENVOLIO Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

FTLN 1186 MERCUTIO Thou hast most kindly hit it.

FTLN 1222 by nature. For this driveling love is like a great

Enter Nurse and her man Peter.

FTLN 1233 ROMEO Here’s goodly gear. A sail, a sail!

FTLN 1354 Driving back shadows over louring hills.

Enter Nurse and Peter.

FTLN 1366 O God, she comes!—O, honey nurse, what news?

FTLN 1384 Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.

FTLN 1416 Is this the poultice for my aching bones?

FTLN 1447 Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot

Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.

FTLN 1504 BENVOLIO By my head, here comes the Capulets.