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The Tragedie of Romeo & Juliet
(Updated text and data: 8 May 2024)
But Romeo tries to stay out of the fray. He is desperately in love with Rosaline, but since Rosaline wants nothing to do with Romeo, he is spending his days moping about and feeling sorry for himself. He loves her madly, that is, until he sees young Juliet, after which he never gives Rosaline another thought. But this time Juliet returns his love as ferociously as he gives his. And that, as they say, is when all hell breaks loose...
Prologue
Two households, both
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene)
From ancient
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two
A pair of
Whose
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
What
Two households, both
The
THE TRAGEDIE OF ROMEO and IVLIET
The Prologue.
[From the Second Quarto]
Two housholds both alike in dignitie,
(In faire Verona where we lay our Scene)
From auncient grudge, breake to new mutinie,
Where ciuill bloud makes ciuill hands vncleane:
From forth the fatall loynes of these two foes,
A paire of starre-crost louers, take their life:
Whose misaduentur'd pittious ouerthrowes,
Doth with their death burie their Parents strife.
The fearfull passage of their death-markt loue,
And the continuance of their Parents rage:
Which but their childrens end nought could remoue:
Is now the two houres trafficque of our Stage.
The which if you with patient eares attend,
What heare shall misse, our toyle shall striue to mend.
Prologue, This prologue, which is written on the same metrical scheme as the Sonnets, rather than the blank verse found in most of the play, is omitted in the folios, and by some is supposed not to be Shakespeare's.DeightonRJ But it is just too good and too famous to leave out.KickAss
Where = 'In which strife'. In civil blood, civil hands, civil means that which relates to the community of citizens, there is probably in the latter phrase a play upon the word civil in its sense of 'polite,' 'well-mannered.'DeightonRJ
civil, One quarto (Q4) prints 'cruel' for 'civil'.HudsonRJ
Act I
Act I. Scene I. Verona. A public place.
Then citizens of Verona swarm into the square and the scene becomes more chaotic. Finally, the Prince of Verona arrives and rebukes everyone, telling the Capulets and Montagues that whomever fights again will pay with their lives for disturbing the peace.
After most have left the square Romeo's friend, Benvolio, tries to find out:
What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
And all he gets back from Romeo is:
Not having that, which, having, makes them short.
Enter Sampson and Gregory, of the house of Capulet, armed with swords and bucklers
Gregory, o' my word, we'll not
Gregory, o' my word we'll not
Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
Enter Sampson and Gregory, with Swords and Bucklers,
of the House of Capulet.
buckler, A small shield held in one hand to fend off blows from others in a sword fight
carry coals, "put up with insults". A phrase very common by the old dramatists and owing its origin to the fact that the carriers of coals were the lowest of menials. DeightonRJ
The carrying of coal and wood to stoke the fires of a home or business was the lowest of the jobs available. And those people would never dare to challenge an insult from someone above them.
Sampson and Gregory are servants to the Capulets (Juliet's family). Sampson relishes antagonizing the men of the Montague house and Gregory backs him up though a bit reluctantly.
No, for then we should be
No, for then we should be
colliers, a term of contempt, not merely from their being ready to carry coals, i.e. put up with insults, but from the blackness of their appearance from their grimy work.DeightonRJ
I mean, if we be in
I mean, if we be in
Ay, while you live,
Ay, while you live,
o'th Collar.
Ay, ... collar. 'Yes, so long as you live, do your best to get out of difficulties.'
Merely said for the sake of the pun on colliers, choler, and collar. DeightonRJ
I strike quickly, being
I strike quickly, being
But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand:
therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.
To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand. Therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.
Therefore, if thou art mou'd, thou runst away.
A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will
10
A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will
I will take the wall of any Man or Maid of Mountagues.
take the wall When walking down streets the safest place to walk was right along side the walls of buildings because the occupants of the buildings threw their waste, human and otherwise, out onto the middle of the streets. No indoor plumbing in those days.
That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest
to the wall.
That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest
kest goes to the wall.
True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,
are ever
Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids
to the wall.
True, and therefore women -- being the weaker vessels --
are ever
Vessels, are euer thrust to the wall: therefore I will push
Mountagues men from the wall, and thrust his Maides to
the wall.
women...are ever thrust to the wall, a reference to a sexual act few want to comment on.
Here 'thrust' would mean 'attack with the point of a sharp weapon'KickAss
The quarrel is between our masters and us,
The quarrel is between our masters and us,
'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I
have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the
20maids, and cut off their heads.
'Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads.
I haue fought with the men, I will bee ciuill with the
Maids, and cut off their heads.
The heads of the maids?
The heads of the maids?
Ay, the heads of the maids, or their
take it in what sense thou wilt.
Ay, the heads of the maids, or their
Take it in what sence thou wilt.
They must take it in
They must take it in
Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and
'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
Me they shall feel while I am able to stand. And 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
And 'tis knowne I am a pretty peece of flesh.
'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou
two of the house of the Montagues.
'Tis well thou art not fish: if thou
had'st beene poore Iohn. Draw thy Toole, here comes of
the House of the Mountagues.
poor John, Hake. A coarse, cod-like fish that at the time was dried and salted and cheap, and not very good for eating. In this instance an insult.KAGlossHudsonRJ
here comes two of the house of the Montagues, The members of the Montague family, their men and their servants, wore a token in their hats to distinguish them from their enemies the Capulets. Hence throughout this play they are easily identified even at a distance. HudsonRJ
My naked
Enter two other servants of the Capulet house.
My naked
Enter two other Seruingmen.
How?
How?
Fear me not.
Fear me not.
No,
No, marry, I fear thee!
marry, A corruption of 'Mary, the Mother of Jesus' equivalent to 'by Mary,' and used as a petty oath. Used to express
- indignant surprise
- affirmation of anything, 'indeed' or 'to be sure'
- contempt
and more...
Sometimes employed in order to avoid laws against profane swearing. KickAssGloss DeightonRJ
Expresses something like today's 'Holy Cow!'
Let us take the law
Let us take the law
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
they
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
they
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
which is a disgrace to them, if they beare it.
bite my thumb, This was a common mode of insult and a good way to begin a quarrel. It was performed by putting the thumb nail into the mouth, and with a quick jerk (from the upper teeth) flick it out making a snapping sound.HudsonRJ
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Abraham and Balthasar. Balthasar is more than just Romeo's servant, he is his friend.
Abraham is a servant in the Montague house. He and Balthasar encounter the two Capulets at the beginning of the play and help provoke the fight that ensues.
I do bite my thumb, sir.
I do bite my thumb, sir.
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
[Aside to Gregory]
Is the law of our side, if I say
ay?
[Aside to Gregory]
Is the law of our side if I say
ay?
No.
No.
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I
bite my thumb, sir.
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
I bite my Thumbe sir.
Do you quarrel sir?
Do you quarrel sir?
Quarrel sir? no, sir.
Quarrel sir? No, sir.
If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.
If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.
No better?
No better?
Well sir.
Well sir.
Enter Benvolio
Say 'better': here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
Say 'better', here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
Enter Benuolio.
Yes, better, sir.
Yes, better, sir.
First Folio or Q2, If you read an edtion that has 'sir' at the end of this line, then that edition (or at least this speech in that edition) is probably based on the Second Quarto. If it is not there, then it is most likely based on the First Folio.
This is sometimes cloudy as many editions of Shakespeare's plays are based on other modern edtions, rather than on original (late 16th and early 17th century) sources.
You lie.
You lie.
Draw if you be men. Gregory, remember thy
They fight
Draw if you be men.
Gregory, remember thy
They fight
washing blow.
They Fight.
Part, fools!
Put up your swords; you know not what you do.
Beats down their swords with his
Part, fools! Put up your swords. You know not what you do.
Beats down their swords with his
what you do.
Benvolio is Romeo's cousin, and like Romeo has little interest in the feud.
He tries to find out why Romeo is so unhappy at the beginning of the play.
Enter Tybalt
What, art thou drawn among these
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
What, art thou drawn among these
Enter Tibalt.
Hindes? Turne thee Benuolio, looke vpon thy death.
Tybalt is Juliet's favorite cousin but he hates the Montagues with a fiery passion. He becomes even more inflamed when he discovers Romeo at a Capulet party. After (sort of) accidentally killing Romeo's friend - the Prince's cousin Mercutio - Typbalt is killed in a fight with Romeo.
hinds, The female of red deer. An insult to be sure, but one you won't hear much in the 21st century.
I do
Or manage it to part these men with me.
I do
Or manage it to part these men with me.
What
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
They fight
What
They fight
As I hate hell, all Mountagues, and thee:
Haue at thee Coward. Fight.
Enter, several men from both houses, who join the fray.
After them enter citizens, with clubs
Clubs,
Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!
Clubs,
Enter three or foure Citizens with cubs.
Downe with the Capulets, downe with the Mountagues.
partisan A long pole with a large, double-edged blade or small battle-axe affixed to the end of it.
This is a completely different meaning than 'partisan' referring to someone who supports a cause, party or group.
Clubs, bills, and partisans!, A common alarm sounded in London for armed persons to come, surround, and part the combatants. The clubs were those borne by the London apprentices, who were called in for this purpose, though sometimes the cry was raised to stir up a disturbance.DeightonRJ
Yes, in London not in Verona. Shakespeare used what he knew.
Citizens of Verona, are tired of the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, especially of the violence the feud brings to their streets.
Enter Capulet in his gown, and Lady Capulet
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
Enter old Capulet in his Gowne, and his wife.
A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword?
A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?
My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
70And flourishes his blade
My sword, I say! Old Montague is come
and flourishes his blade
And flourishes his Blade in spight of me.
Enter Montague and Lady Montague
Thou villain Capulet.
Thou villain Capulet.
Enter old Mountague, & his wife.
Thou shalt not
Thou shalt not
Enter Prince, with attendants
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Will they not hear? What ho, you men, you beasts,
That
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your
And hear the sentence of your
Three
By thee old Capulet and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's
To wield old
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the
For this time, all the rest depart away:
You Capulet; shall go along with me:
And Montague come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town,
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
Exeunt all but Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Three
If ever you disturb our streets again
your lives shall pay the
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
Exeunt all but Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio
Enter Prince Eskales, with his Traine.
Prophaners of this Neighbor-stained Steele,
Will they not heare? What hoe, you Men, you Beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernitious Rage,
With purple Fountaines issuing from your Veines:
On paine of Torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd Weapons to the ground,
And heare the Sentence of your mooued Prince.
Three ciuill Broyles, bred of an Ayery word,
By thee old Capulet and Mountague,
Haue thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient Citizens
Cast by their Graue beseeming Ornaments,
To wield old Partizans, in hands as old,
Cankred with peace, to part your Cankred hate,
If euer you disturbe our streets againe,
Your liues shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away:
You Capulet shall goe along with me,
And Mountague come you this afternoone,
To know our Fathers pleasure in this case:
To old Free-towne, our common iudgement place:
Once more on paine of death, all men depart.
Exeunt.
Prince Escalus, Prince Escalus rules Verona, but only appears in the play after somethng really bad has happened. He is fed up with the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues. He has two relatives in the play, Count Paris and Mercutio, who both die due to the feud.
mistemper'd, 'made for an evil purpose'. But involving the idea of tempered, welded, fashioned, to an evil use.
To 'temper' steel is to bring it to the proper degree of hardness by plunging it into icy-cold water when red-hot. DeightonRJ
So 'mistemered' can mean 'made for an evil purpose'.
Who set this ancient quarrel
Speak nephew, were you by, when it began?
Who set this ancient quarrel
Speake Nephew, were you by, when it began:
abroach, 'abroach' equals 'on broach' equals 'to broach' which is to pierce a cask in order to set the liquor flowing out of it by inserting a peg or spit (broach) into it.DeightonRJ
Here were the servants of your
And yours close fighting
I
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,
Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
He
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
Came more and more
Till the Prince came, who
Here were the servants of your
And yours close fighting ere I did approach,
I drew to part them, in the instant came
The fiery Tibalt, with his sword prepar'd,
Which as he breath'd defiance to my eares,
He swong about his head, and cut the windes,
Who nothing hurt withall, hist him in scorne.
While we were enterchanging thrusts and blowes,
Came more and more, and fought on part and part,
Till the Prince came, who parted either part.
O where is Romeo, saw you him today?
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
O where is Romeo, saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
Right glad am I, he was not at this fray.
"I am" vs "am I", Compare the common text with the source text. The former has "glad I am", the latter "glad am I'. Different editors of the play will decide for themselves which to use. "Glad I am" is from the second quarto (published 1599) and "glad am I" is from the First Folio (published 1623). Many of the plays have these variations as different editors place greater or lesser value on the different original source texts. (Though other texts, some eighteen of the plays, have almost none of these incidents as they were only - or at least were first - published in the First Folio of 1623). Romeo and Juliet is not one of them.
Madam, an hour before the
A troubled mind drove me to
Where, underneath the grove of sycamore
That westward
So early walking did I see your son:
Towards him I made, but he was
And stole into the
I, measuring his affections by my own,
Pursued my humour not pursuing his,
And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.
Madam, an hour before the
Peer'd forth the golden window of the East,
A troubled mind draue me to walke abroad,
Where vnderneath the groue of Sycamour,
That West-ward rooteth from this City side:
So earely walking did I see your Sonne:
Towards him I made, but he was ware of me,
And stole into the couert of the wood,
I measuring his affections by my owne,
Which then most sought, wher most might not be found:
Being one too many by my weary selfe,
Pursued my Honour, not pursuing his
And gladly shunn'd, who gladly fled from me.
before...east,
an hour before the worshipp'd sun
Peer'd forth the golden window of the east
Shakespeare's way of saying, "before sunrise".
A modern reader should be excused for sometimes wondering if Shakespeare was paid by the word.
humour / honour, See the comment about "glad I am" vs "glad am I" above.
Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;
But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
Should in the furthest east begin to draw
The shady curtains from
Away from the light steals home my heavy son,
And
Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out
And makes himself an artificial night:
Black and
Unless good
Many a morning hath he there been seen
with
unless good
With teares augmenting the fresh mornings deaw,
Adding to cloudes, more cloudes with his deepe sighes,
But all so soone as the all-cheering Sunne,
Should in the farthest East begin to draw
The shadie Curtaines from Auroras bed,
Away from light steales home my heauy Sonne,
And priuate in his Chamber pennes himselfe,
Shuts vp his windowes, lockes faire day-light out,
And makes himselfe an artificiall night:
Blacke and portendous must this humour proue,
Vnlesse good counsell may the cause remoue.
Aurora, In Roman mythology Aurora was the goddess of the morning.
My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
I neither know it, nor can learn of him.
I neither know it, nor can learn of him.
Have you
Have you
Both by myself and many other friends:
But he,
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the
Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
Both by myself and many other friends.
But he,
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
But he his owne affections counseller,
Is to himselfe (I will not say how true)
But to himselfe so secret and so close,
So farre from sounding and discouery,
As is the bud bit with an enuious worme,
Ere he can spread his sweete leaues to the ayre,
Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
Could we but learne from whence his sorrowes grow,
We would as willingly giue cure, as know.
Enter Romeo
See,
I'll know
See,
Enter Romeo.
Ile know his greeuance, or be much denide.
I
To hear
Exeunt Montague and Lady Montague
I
Exeunt Montague and Lady Montague
To heare true shrift. Come Madam let's away.
Exeunt.
Good-
Good-
Good-morrow, 'good morrow,' or 'good day,' was the salutation used until noon, after which time it became 'good e'en' (evening).DeightonRJ
This was the use in Elizabethan England - as elsewhere Shakespeare used what he knew.
Is the day so young?
Is the day so young?
Ay me! sad hours seem long.
Was that my father that went hence so fast?
Ay me! Sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?
Was that my Father that went hence so fast?
It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?
Not having that, which, having, makes them short.
Not having that, which having, makes them short.
In love?
In love?
Out.
Out.
Of love?
Of love?
Out of her favour,
Out of her favour,
Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so
Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
should be so
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proofe.
his / its (as in 'in his view'), 'Its' was just creeping into use at the beginning of the seventeenth century. It does not occur once in the King James version of the Bible as originally printed; it occurs only ten times in the First Folio, generally in the form 'it 's.' HudsonHamlet
Sometimes what it is referring to can be quite ambiguous: reading it different ways gives different meanings.
Alas, that love, whose view is
Should, without eyes, see
Where shall we dine?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.
Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
170O anything,
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,
sick health!
This love
Alas, that love, whose view is
Should without eyes, see path-wayes to his will:
Where shall we dine? O me: what fray was heere?
Yet tell me not, for I haue heard it all:
Heere's much to do with hate, but more with loue:
Why then, O brawling loue, O louing hate,
O any thing, of nothing first created:
O heauie lightnesse, serious vanity,
Mishapen Chaos of welseeming formes,
Feather of lead, bright smoake, cold fire, sicke health,
Still waking sleepe, that is not what it is:
This loue feele I, that feele no loue in this.
Doest thou not laugh?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Perhaps the best explanation of this string of mutually exclusive images is that such an affected way of speaking aptly shows the state of Romeo's mind: that his love is self-generated rather than being inspired by any object.
In any case, as compared with his style of speech after meeting Juliet, it serves to mark the difference between being lovesick and being in love.HudsonRJ
No
No
At thy good heart's
At thy good heart's
Why such is love's
Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt
Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
Love is
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being
What is it else? a madness most discreet,
190A choking
Farewell, my coz.
Why such is love's
Farewell, my coz.
Griefes of mine owne lie heauie in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate to haue it preast
With more of thine, this loue that thou hast showne,
Doth adde more griefe, to too much of mine owne.
Loue, is a smoake made with the fume of sighes,
Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in Louers eyes,
Being vext, a Sea nourisht with louing teares,
What is it else? a madnesse, most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preseruing sweet:
Farewell my Coze.
preserving sweet, seems to mean a sweet of the kind used for preserving. DeightonRJ
Soft! I will go
An if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
Soft! I will go
And if you leaue me so, you do me wrong.
I will go along, with you. The omission of 'with me, you,' etc., is frequent in shakespeare.DeightonRJ
tut, 'Tut' is an interjection expressing contempt of what has been said by anotherKickAss Glossary
This is not Romeo, he's
This is not Romeo, hee's some other where.
Tell me in
Tell me in
sadness, seriousnessKickAss Glossary; in all sober truth, in earnest. A meaning frequent in Shakespeare.DeightonRJ
Thus 'sadly' can mean 'seriously' as in But sadly tell me who.HudsonRJ
What,
What,
Groan! why, no.
But
Groan! Why, no.
But
Bid a sick man in sadness makes his will:
A word ill urged to one that is so ill!
In
Bid a sick man in sadness makes his will: a word ill urged to one that is so ill!
In
A word ill vrg'd to one that is so ill:
In sadnesse Cozin, I do loue a woman.
I aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved.
I aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved.
A right good
A right good
And
A
A
Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit
With Cupid's arrow; she hath
And,
She will not
Nor bide the encounter of
Nor
O she is rich in beauty, only poor,
That when she dies,
Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit
with Cupid's arrow. She hath
With Cupids arrow, she hath Dians wit:
And in strong proofe of chastity well arm'd:
From loues weake childish Bow, she liues vncharm'd.
Shee will not stay the siege of louing tearmes,
Nor bid th' encounter of assailing eyes.
Nor open her lap to Sainct-seducing Gold:
O she is rich in beautie, onely poore,
That when she dies, with beautie dies her store.
proof, 'armour of proof' or 'proof-armour' is armour which has been tested when it is made by a severe strain being put upon it; so we speak of swords, guns, cannon, being 'proved' before they are issued for use. DeightonRJ
Then she hath sworn that she will
Then she hath sworn that she will
She hath, and in that
For beauty
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,
220To
She hath
Do I live dead that live to tell it now.
She hath, and in that
For beauty steru'd with her seuerity,
Cuts beauty off from all posteritie.
She is too faire, too wise: wisely too faire,
To merit blisse by making me dispaire:
She hath forsworne to loue, and in that vow
Do I liue dead, that liue to tell it now.
cuts beauty off from all posterity, She won't have any children to pass along her beauty to future generations.
Be
Be
O, teach me how I should forget to think.
O, teach me how I should forget to think.
By
Examine other beauties.
By
Examine other beauties,
These
Being black, put us in mind they hide
He that is strucken blind cannot forget
The precious treasure of his
Show me a mistress that is
What doth her beauty serve, but as a
Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.
Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.
These happy maskes that kisse faire Ladies browes,
Being blacke, puts vs in mind they hide the faire:
He that is strooken blind, cannot forget
The precious treasure of his eye-sight lost:
Shew me a Mistresse that is passing faire,
What doth her beauty serue but as a note,
Where I may read who past that passing faire.
Farewell thou can'st not teach me to forget,
These happy masks ... fair?, The gist of these lines is; when we behold the masks worn by ladies, the fact of the masks being black only serves to make us think of the fair complexions they hide; and so, if I look at other beauties, I shall only be led to think of Rosaline: men may lose their eyesight, but that does not prevent them from remembering, with a yearning regret, that they once had that precious possession; and so, if I examine other features, my doing so will only serve to call up the painful remembrance that I have already looked on other features more beautiful (i.e., those of Rosaline): if you show me someone exquisitely lovely, the only result will be to put me in mind of one whose loveliness far surpassed hers.DeightonRJ
I'll
Exeunt
I'll
Exeunt
Exeunt.
Act I. Scene II. A street.
Capulet then hands a servant a list of names and tells him to go and invite everyone on that list to come to the Capulet's house that evening for a big dinner and dancing party – unaware that the servant can't read.
Running across Romeo and Benvolio in the street, the servant asks them to help with reading the list. Seeing that there is a party that night, Benvolio has the idea that they should go to the party too, even though it is at the rival family's house. After all, Romeo's love, Rosaline, will be there.
Enter Capulet, Paris, and Servant
But Montague is
In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard I think,
For men so old as we, to keep the peace.
But Montague is
Enter Capulet, Countie Paris, and the Clowne.
In penalty alike, and 'tis not hard I thinke,
For men so old as wee, to keepe the peace.
And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long.
But now, my lord, what say you to my
And pittie 'tis you liu'd at ods so long:
But now my Lord, what say you to my sute?
Count Paris, a relative of the Prince, is desperate to wed Juliet and has petitioned her father for her hand but has to convince her parents that she isn't too young (she was just under 14 at the time). Even though Juliet rejects him - she is already married to Romeo - he remains in love with her until he dies in a fight with Romeo at Juliet's tomb.
My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,
10Let two more summers
My Child is yet a stranger in the world,
Shee hath not seene the change of fourteene yeares,
Let two more Summers wither in their pride,
Ere we may thinke her ripe to be a Bride.
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
And too soon
The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,
She is the hopeful lady of my earth:
But woo her gentle Paris, get her heart,
My
Lies my consent and
This night I hold
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
At my poor house look to behold this night
Such
When
Of limping winter treads, even such delight
Among fresh
And like her most
Which on more view, of many
May stand in number, though in reckoning none,
Come, go with me.
Giving a paper to a servant
Go sirrah, trudge about
Through fair Verona; find those persons out
Whose names are written there, and to them say,
Exeunt Capulet and Paris
And too soon
This night I hold
Hear all, all see,
and like her most
Giving a paper to a servant
Go sirrah, trudge about
through fair Verona. Find those persons out
whose names are written there, and to them say,
Exeunt Capulet and Paris
Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she,
Shee's the hopefull Lady of my earth:
But wooe her gentle Paris, get her heart,
My will to her consent, is but a part,
And shee agree, within her scope of choise,
Lyes my consent, and faire according voice:
This night I hold an old accustom'd Feast,
Whereto I haue inuited many a Guest,
Such as I loue, and you among the store,
One more, most welcome makes my number more:
At my poore house, looke to behold this night,
Earth-treading starres, that make darke heauen light,
Such comfort as do lusty young men feele,
When well apparrel'd Aprill on the heele
Of limping Winter treads, euen such delight
Among fresh Fennell buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house: heare all, all see:
And like her most, whose merit most shall be:
Which one more veiw, of many, mine being one,
May stand in number, though in reckning none.
Come, goe with me: goe sirrah trudge about,
Through faire Verona, find those persons out,
Whose names are written there, and to them say,
My house and welcome, on their pleasure stay.
Exit.
marr'd, (or marred, mar'd) Too soon grown up and their beauty faded.DeightonRJ
Find them out whose names are written here! It is
40written, that the shoemaker should
his pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I am
sent to find those persons whose names are here
writ, and can never find what names the writing
person hath here writ. I must
Find them out whose names are written here! It is
written, that the shoemaker should
But I am
sent to find those persons whose names are here
writ, and can never find what names the writing
person hath here writ. I must
is written, that the Shoo-maker should meddle with his
Yard, and the Tayler with his Last, the Fisher with his
Pensill, and the Painter with his Nets. But I am sent to
find those persons whose names are writ, & can neuer find
what names the writing person hath here writ (I must to
the learned) in good time.
It is written...nets, The servant is, of course, turning the sayings topsy-turvy. DeightonRJ
He is confused and frustrated.
Enter Benvolio and Romeo
Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,
One pain is lessen'd by
One desperate grief cures with another's languish:
50Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the
Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning;
one pain is lessen'd by
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the
Enter Benuolio, and Romeo.
One paine is lesned by anothers anguish:
Turne giddie, and be holpe by backward turning:
One desparate greefe, cures with anothers languish:
Take thou some new infection to the eye,
And the rank poyson of the old wil die.
plaintain-leaf. The leaf of this herb, or rather weed, was supposed to be good for fresh wounds and various other ailments.
For what I pray thee?
For what I pray thee?
For your broken shin.
For your broken shin.
Why Romeo art thou mad?
Why Romeo art thou mad?
Not mad, but
Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
Whipp'd and tormented and
Not mad, but
Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode,
Whipt and tormented: and Godden good fellow,
God-den, (Or 'Godden') A contraction of 'God give you good even,' found in many similar forms, such as that given in the reply by the servant. DeightonRJ
Ay, mine own
Ay, mine own
Perhaps you have learned it without book: but, I
pray, can you read anything you see?
Perhaps you have learned it without book, but I pray, can you read anything you see?
But I pray can you read any thing you see?
Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
rest you merry, Or "God rest you merry", was a common form of farewell among the lower orders, and equivalent to 'good luck to you.' DeightonRJ
Stay fellow, I can read.
Reads
Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;
the lady widow of Vitravio;
Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces;
70Mercutio and his brother Valentine;
mine uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters;
my fair niece Rosaline;
Livia;
Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
Lucio and the lively Helena.
A fair assembly:
Stay fellow, I can read.
Reads
Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;
the lady widow of Vitravio;
Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces;
Mercutio and his brother Valentine;
mine uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters;
my fair niece Rosaline;
Livia;
Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
Lucio and the lively Helena.
A fair assembly,
He reades the Letter.
Seigneur Martino, and his wife and daughter: County An-selme
and his beautious sisters: the Lady widdow of Vtru-uio,
Seigneur Placentio, and his louely Neeces: Mercutio and
his brother Valentine: mine vncle Capulet his wife and daugh-ters:
my faire Neece Rosaline, Liuia, Seigneur Valentio, & his
Cosen Tybalt: Lucio and the liuely Helena.
A faire assembly, whither should they come?
County, Another form of 'Count,' often used by Shakespeare. Originally meaning a companion, usually to some great leader. The modern 'county' = shire, being the portion of territory over which the Count ruled. DeightonRJ
Up.
Up.
Whither? To supper?
Whither? To supper?
To our house.
To our house.
Whose house?
Whose house?
My master's.
My master's.
Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before.
Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before.
Now I'll tell you without asking: my master is the
of Montagues,
Exit
Now I'll tell you without asking. My master is the
Exit
the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of
Mountagues I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest
you merry.
Exit.
At this same
Sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so lovest,
With all the
Go thither; and with
Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee think thy swan
At this same
Sups the faire Rosaline, whom thou so loues:
With all the admired Beauties of Verona,
Go thither and with vnattainted eye,
Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee thinke thy Swan a Crow.
this same, The expression 'this same' or ' that same' is frequently used with a contemptuous tone, like the modern vulgarity 'this here' and even when no contempt is intended there is generally an implied familiarity.DeightonRJ
When the devout religion of mine eye
And these, who often drown'd could never die,
Transparent heretics be burnt for liars!
One fairer than my love, the all-seeing sun
Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.
When the devout religion of mine eye
One fairer than my love, the all-seeing sun ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.
Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire:
And these who often drown'd could neuer die,
Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers.
One fairer then my loue: the all-seeing Sun
Nere saw her match, since first the world begun.
Tut, you saw her fair,
Herself
But in
That I will show you shining at this feast,
And she shall
Tut, you saw her fair,
Herselfe poys'd with herselfe in either eye:
But in that Christall scales, let there be waid,
Your Ladies loue against some other Maid
That I will show you, shining at this Feast,
And she shew scant shell, well, that now shewes best.
I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,
But to rejoice
Exeunt
I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,
but to rejoice
Exeunt
But to reioyce in splendor of mine owne.
Act I. Scene III. A room in Capulet's house.
Juliet's mother then queries Juliet as to whether or not she likes Count Paris, and if she would like to marry him. Juliet is evasive and noncommittal.
A servant then enters and tells them that guests are arriving and the party is ready to get started.
Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse
Nurse, where's my daughter? call her forth to me.
Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me.
Enter Capulets Wife and Nurse.
Now, by my maidenhead, at twelve year old,
I bade her come.
Now,
I bad her come, what Lamb: what Ladi-bird, God forbid,
Where's this Girle? what Iuliet?
Nurse is the former nurse to baby Juliet and her current cherished servant. In many ways Juliet is closer to Nurse than she is to her mother, and she eventually confides everything to her, making the Nurse an active accomplice in the marriage between Juliet and Romeo.
ladybird, lady-bird, a term of endearment: the lady-bird is really a small scarlet insect which flits about from leaf to leaf.DeightonJC
what, an exclamation of impatience at not finding her. why is frequently used in the same way~DeightonJC
Enter Juliet
Enter Iuliet.
Your mother.
Your mother.
Madam, I am here, what is your will?
Madam, I am here, what is your will?
This is the matter: Nurse,
We must talk in secret. Nurse come back again;
10Thou know'st my daughter's of a
This is the matter.
Nurse,
Nurse come back again:
Thou know'st my daughter's of a
must talke in secret. Nurse come backe againe, I haue re-
membred me, thou'se heare our counsell. Thou knowest
my daughter's of a prety age.
She's not fourteen.
She's not fourteen.
I'll
And yet, to my
I have but four, she is not fourteen.
How long is it now to Lammas-tide?
I'll
How long is it now to Lammas-tide?
And yet to my teene be it spoken,
I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene.
How long is it now to Lammas tide?
Lammas-tide, A name for the first day of August. The literal sense is 'loaf-mass' because a loaf was offered on this day as an offering of the first fruits of the harvest. DeightonRJ
Even or odd, of all days in the year,
20Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen.
Were
She was too good for me: but as I said,
On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;
That shall she, marry; I remember it well.
'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;
And she was wean'd -- I never shall forget it --
Of all the days of the year, upon that day:
For I had then
Sitting in the sun under the
My lord and you were then at Mantua --
Nay, I do
When
Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
To see
And since that time it is eleven years;
For then she could stand alone; nay, by the
She could have run and waddled all about;
For even the day before, she
And then my husband--God be with his soul!
A' was a merry man--took up the child:
"Yea," quoth he, "dost thou fall upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more
Wilt thou not,
The pretty wretch
To see, now, how a jest shall come about!
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
50I never should forget it: "Wilt thou not,
And, pretty
Even or odd, of all days in the year,
come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen.
Marry, I remember it well.
'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years,
and she was wean'd -- I never shall forget it --
of all the days of the year, upon that day.
For I had then
And since that time it is eleven years;
For then she could stand alone; nay, by the
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
I never should forget it: "Wilt thou not,
Lammas Eue at night shall she be fourteene. Susan & she,
God rest all Christian soules, were of an age. Well Susan
is with God, she was too good for me. But as I said, on La-mas
Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall she ma-
rie, I remember it well. 'Tis since the Earth-quake now
eleuen yeares, and she was wean'd I neuer shall forget it,
of all the daies of the yeare, vpon that day: for I had then
laid Worme-wood to my Dug sitting in the Sunne vnder
the Douehouse wall, my Lord and you were then at
Mantua, nay I doe beare a braine. But as I said, when it
did tast the Worme-wood on the nipple of my Dugge,
and felt it bitter, pretty foole, to see it teachie, and fall out
with the Dugge, Shake quoth the Doue-house, 'twas no
neede I trow to bid mee trudge, and since that time it is
a eleuen yeares, for then she could stand alone, nay bi'th'
roode she could haue runne, & wadled all about: for euen
the day before she broke her brow, & then my Husband
God be with his soule, a was a merrie man, tooke vp the
Child, yea quoth hee, doest thou fall vpon thy face? thou
wilt fall backeward when thou hast more wit, wilt thou
not Iule? And by my holy-dam, the pretty wretch lefte
crying, & said I: to see now how a Iest shall come about.
I warrant, & I shall liue a thousand yeares, I neuer should
forget it: wilt thou not Iule quoth he? and pretty foole it
stinted, and said I.
Enough of this; I pray thee hold thy peace.
Enough of this. I pray thee hold thy peace.
Yes madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh,
To think it should
And yet I warrant it had upon its brow
A bump as big as a young
A
"Yea," quoth my husband, "fall'st upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;
60Wilt thou not,
Yes madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh
to think it should
thinke it should leaue crying, & say I: and yet I warrant
it had vpon it brow, a bumpe as big as a young Cockrels
stone? A perilous knock, and it cryed bitterly. Yea quoth
my husband, fall'st vpon thy face, thou wilt fall back-
ward when thou commest to age: wilt thou not Iule? It
stinted: and said I.
And
And
Peace, I have done.
Thou wast the prettiest babe that
And I might live to see thee married
Peace, I have done.
thou wast the prettiest Babe that ere I nurst, and I might
liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.
I came to talk of. Tell me daughter Juliet,
How stands your
I came to talke of, tell me daughter Iuliet,
How stands your disposition to be Married?
It is an honour that I dream not of.
It is an honour that I dream not of.
An honour! were not I thine only nurse,
I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from
An honour! Were not I thine only nurse,
I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from
say thou had'st suckt wisedome from thy teat.
Well think of marriage now; younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are
I was your mother
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
Well think of marriage now. Younger than you,
here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
are
Thus then in brief: the valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
Heere in Verona, Ladies of esteeme,
Are made already Mothers. By my count
I was your Mother, much vpon these yeares
That you are now a Maide, thus then in briefe:
The valiant Paris seekes you for his loue.
By my count...you are now a maid, So Juliet's mother is now somewhere near twenty-eight years old and had Juliet when she was fourteen or so. Life came and went much faster in both Shakespeare's time and that of Romeo and Juliet. KickAss Shakespeare
A man young lady! lady, such a man
As all the world. Why, he's a
A man young lady! Lady, such a man
as all the world. Why, he's a
the world. Why hee's a man of waxe.
a man of wax, Well made, as if he had heen modelled in wax.DeightonRJ
Verona's summer hath not such a
Verona's summer hath not such a
Nay, he's a flower;
Nay, he's a flower,
What say you, can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast;
And find
Examine every
And see how
And what obscured in this fair volume lies
Find written in the
This precious book of love, this
To
The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride
For fair without the fair within to hide:
That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,
That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;
So shall you share all that he doth possess,
By having him, making yourself no less.
What say you, can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast.
This precious book of love, this
This night you shall behold him at our Feast,
Read ore the volume of young Paris face,
And find delight, writ there with Beauties pen:
Examine euery seuerall liniament,
And see how one another lends content:
And what obscur'd in this faire volume lies,
Find written in the Margent of his eyes.
This precious Booke of Loue, this vnbound Louer,
To Beautifie him, onely lacks a Couer.
The fish liues in the Sea, and 'tis much pride
For faire without, the faire within to hide:
That Booke in manies eyes doth share the glorie,
That in Gold claspes, Lockes in the Golden storie:
So shall you share all that he doth possesse,
By hauing him, making your selfe no lesse.
The fish lives ... hide, as the beauty of the water in which it lives sets off the beauty of the fish, so man is graced by his union with woman.DeightonRJ
So shall you share ... making yourself no less, The hope for their children's social climbing evidently isn't new to 21st century mothers.KAS
No less! Nay, bigger: women
No less! Nay, bigger: women
No less! Nay, bigger: women grow by men, Snicker, snicker: the nurse is referring to a woman's pregnant belly.KAS
Speak briefly, can you
Speak briefly, can you
But no more deep will I
Than your consent gives strength to make
But no more deepe will I endart mine eye,
Then your consent giues strength to make flye.
Enter a Servant
Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you
called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in
the pantry, and every thing
hence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight.
Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you
called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in
the pantry, and every thing
Enter a Seruing man.
cal'd, my young Lady askt for, the Nurse cur'st in the Pan-
tery, and euery thing in extremitie: I must hence to wait, I
beseech you follow straight.
Exit.
Madam, the guests are come... Panic before a party is not a modern phenomenon.DeightonRJ
We follow thee.
Exit Servant
Juliet, the
We follow thee.
Exit Servant
Juliet, the
Go girl,
Exeunt
Go girl,
Exeunt
Exeunt.
Act I. Scene IV. A street.
Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others
What, shall this
Or shall we
What, shall this
Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benuolio, with fiue or sixe
other Maskers, Torch-bearers.
Or shall we on without Apologie?
Maskers. Men wearing masks and prepared to take part in a masquerade, i.e. an assembly of maskers or buffoons. (Not the same as masque where entertainers dance and act wearing masks.).DeightonRJ
Speech. The wearing of masks was a custom observed by those who came to a party without an invitation: with a desire to conceal themselve; for the sake of intrigue; or just to enjoy a greater freedom of conversation.
Their entry on these occasions was always prefaced by some speech in praise of the beauty of the ladies, or the generosity of the host. HudsonRJ
hoodwinked To 'hoodwink' is to blind the eyes by covering the head with a hood, as hawks were blinded by a hood drawn over their eyes until the moment arrived for releasing them at their prey.DeightonRJ
We'll have no Cupid
Bearing a Tartar's painted bow
Scaring the ladies like a
We'll
Weele haue no Cupid, hood winkt with a skarfe,
Bearing a Tartars painted Bow of lath,
Skaring the Ladies like a Crow-keeper.
But let them measure vs by what they will,
Weele measure them with a Measure, and be gone.
measure, 'measure' has three meanings in this speech:
1) judge,
2) to dance and,
3) a piece of music to which people dance.
DeightonRJ
Give me a torch: I am not for this
Being but
Give me a torch. I am not for this
Being but heauy I will beare the light.
Nay gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
Nay gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
Mercutio. Romeo's friend Mercutio, is also a cousin to the Prince, and while not a Montague, he is on their side. His reckless taunting of the Capulets, especially Tybalt, leads to fights and his own death.
Not I believe me: you have dancing shoes
With nimble soles: I have a
Not I believe me. You have dancing shoes
with nimble soles -- I have a
With nimble soles, I haue a soale of Lead
So stakes me to the ground, I cannot moue.
You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,
And soar with them
You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings,
and soar with them
And soare with them aboue a common bound.
I am too
To soar with his light feathers, and so
I cannot
Under love's heavy burden do I sink.
I am too
To soare with his light feathers, and to bound:
I cannot bound a pitch aboue dull woe,
Vnder loues heauy burthen doe I sinke.
And, to sink in it, should you burden love;
Too great oppression for a tender thing.
And, to sink in it, should you burden love, too great oppression for a tender thing.
Too great oppression for a tender thing.
Is love a tender thing? it is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Too rude, too boysterous, and it pricks like thorne.
If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Give me a
A visor for a visor! what care I
What curious eye
Here are
If love be rough with you, be rough with love.
Pricke loue for pricking, and you beat loue downe,
Giue me a Case to put my visage in,
A Visor for a Visor, what care I
What curious eye doth quote deformities:
Here are the Beetle-browes shall blush for me.
Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in,
But every man
Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in,
but every man
But euery man betake him to his legs.
A torch for me: let
Tickle the
For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;
I'll be a candle-holder, and look on.
The game was ne'er
A torch for me. Let
Tickle the sencelesse rushes with their heeles:
For I am prouerb'd with a Grandsier Phrase,
Ile be a Candle-holder and looke on,
The game was nere so faire, and I am done.
For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase, Possibly someting like:
I am guided by grandfather's saying, "If you are the one to hold a candle at a game you can not loose."
Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:
If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire
40Of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st
Up to the ears. Come, we
Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word. If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st up to the ears.
Come, we
If thou art dun, weele draw thee from the mire.
Or saue your reuerence loue, wherein thou stickest
Vp to the eares, come we burne day-light ho.
dun. The color gray, tan or gray-gold.
Here Mercutio is pretending to misunderstand that Romeo said he was 'done'.
dun's the mouse. A proverbial saying of vague origin, Alluding to the color of the mouse; but frequently employed with no other intent than making a pun on the word 'done.'
To 'draw dun out of the mire' was an old Christmas pastime, in which 'dun' meant a dun horse, stuck in the mire, and often represented by one of the persons who played, sometimes by a log of wood.
Nay, that's not so.
Nay, that's not so.
I mean sir,
We waste our lights in vain,
Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits
Five times
I mean sir,
We wast our lights in vaine, lights, lights, by day;
Take our good meaning, for our Iudgement sits
Fiue times in that, ere once in our fiue wits.
five wits, A common phrase denoting the five senses. It was sometimes used also of the intellectual faculties, which were supposed to correspond to the five senses.HudsonRJ
The five wits were: common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation [i.e. judgment), and memory. The phrase was sometimes used as an equivalent to the five senses.DeightonRJ
Take our good meaning ... wits,"Take our words as they were meant, for it is in that meaning that our good sense shows itself much more often than when we use of our five wits: if our words are strictly taken, they are often misunderstood."~DeightonJC
One of the most difficult passages in all of Shakespeare to figure out.
And we mean well in going to this
But 'tis
And we mean well in going to this
But 'tis no wit to go.
Why, may one ask?
Why, may one ask?
I dreampt a dream
I dreampt a dream
to night (tonight), Shakespeare often uses 'to night' to mean what we would call 'last night.
to night (tonight), Shakespeare often uses 'to night' to mean what we would call 'last night.
And so did I.
And so did I.
Well what was yours?
Well what was yours?
That dreamers often lie.
That dreamers often lie.
In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an
On the fore-finger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little
Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs,
The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
The
The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,
Her whip of cricket's bone, the
Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,
Not so big as a round little worm
Prick'd from the
Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut
70Made by the
And
Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;
O'er courtiers' knees, that dream
O'er lawyers' fingers, who
O'er ladies ' lips, who
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breaths with
Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,
80And then
And sometime comes she with a
Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,
Then dreams he, of
Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,
And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
Of
Of
Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,
And being thus frighted
And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
That
And
Which once untangled,
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
That presses them and
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she.
O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes
in shape no bigger than an
And
Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,
and then
This is that very Mab
that
This is she.
She is the Fairies Midwife, & she comes in shape no big-
ger then Agat-stone, on the fore-finger of an Alderman,
drawne with a teeme of little Atomies, ouer mens noses as
they lie asleepe: her Waggon Spokes made of long Spin-
ners legs: the Couer of the wings of Grashoppers, her
Traces of the smallest Spiders web, her coullers of the
Moonshines watry Beames, her Whip of Crickets bone,
the Lash of Philome, her Waggoner, a small gray-coated
Gnat, not halfe so bigge as a round little Worme, prickt
from the Lazie-finger of a man. Her Chariot is an emptie
Haselnut, made by the Ioyner Squirrel or old Grub, time
out a mind, the Faries Coach-makers: & in this state she
gallops night by night, through Louers braines: and then
they dreame of Loue. On Courtiers knees, that dreame on
Cursies strait: ore Lawyers fingers, who strait dreampt on
Fees, ore Ladies lips, who strait on kisses dreame, which
oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, because their
breath with Sweet meats tainted are. Sometime she gal-
lops ore a Courtiers nose, & then dreames he of smelling
out a sute: & somtime comes she with Tith pigs tale, tick-
ling a Parsons nose as a lies asleepe, then he dreames of
another Benefice. Sometime she driueth ore a Souldiers
necke, & then dreames he of cutting Forraine throats, of
Breaches, Ambuscados, Spanish Blades: Of Healths fiue
Fadome deepe, and then anon drums in his eares, at which
he startes and wakes; and being thus frighted, sweares a
prayer or two & sleepes againe: this is that very Mab that
plats the manes of Horses in the night: & bakes the Elk-
locks in foule sluttish haires, which once vntangled, much
misfortune bodes,
This is the hag, when Maides lie on their backs,
That presses them, and learnes them first to beare,
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she.
Queen Mab, was Queen of the fairies. Sometimes called Fairy Queen Mab. It is possible the Shakespeare was the first to refer to Mab as a Queen. She is referred to as the midwife who helps give birth to sleeping people's dreams. Mercutio describes her as a small creature that visits sleeping people, drives her chariot across their noses and "delivers the fancies of sleeping men."
fairies' midwife, a member of the fairy nation whose job it was to deliver sleeping men's fancies of their dreams, those "children of an idle brain".HudsonRJ
atomies, another form of atons. Literally something so small as to be incapable of division.DeightonRJ
film, extremely fine threads
Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid, Taken out with a needle from the finger of a lazy maid. It was popularly believed that small parasites were sometimes harboured in the flesh of the fingers of lazy persons. DeightonRJ
tithe-pig's, A pig given to a priest in payment of tithes, or tenth parts of the parishioner's annual income.
Mab ... in the night, It was believed that certain malignant spirits occasionally assumed the likenesses of women clothed in white; who then haunted stables in the night, carrying in their hands wax candles, which they dropped on the horses' manes, thereby platting them into inextricable knots to the great annoyance of the poor animals, and the vexation of their masters. HudsonRJ
Her chariot ... coachmakers., The squirrel and the grub, because the squirl is fond of cracking nuts, and the grub is fond of boring its way through the shell, both eating the kernel thus hollowing out the shell which thereby becomes fitted for a coach for fairies.DeightonRJ
another benefice, i.e. an increase to his income by his being presented with a richer living, better church preferment, or perhaps a living in addition to that already held by him, it being common in those days for priests to hold more than one living at a time.DeightonRJ
Thou talk'st
Thou talk'st of nothing.
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Which is as thin of substance as the air
And more
Even now the frozen bosom of the north,
And, being anger'd,
Turning his face to the
True, I talk of dreams,
which are the children of an idle brain,
Which are the children of an idle braine,
Begot of nothing, but vaine phantasie,
Which is as thin of substance as the ayre,
And more inconstant then the wind, who wooes
Euen now the frozen bosome of the North:
And being anger'd, puffes away from thence,
Turning his side to the dew dropping South.
This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves;
Supper is done, and we shall
This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves:
supper is done, and we shall
Supper is done, and we shall come too late.
I fear too early: for my mind
With this night's revels and
Of a
By some vile
But he that hath the steerage of my course,
Direct my sail! On lusty gentlemen.
I fear too early: for my mind
But he that hath the steerage of my course, direct my sail! On lusty gentlemen.
Some consequence yet hanging in the starres,
Shall bitterly begin his fearefull date
With this nights reuels, and expire the tearme
Of a despised life clos'd in my brest:
By some vile forfeit of vntimely death.
But he that hath the stirrage of my course,
Direct my sute: on lustie Gentlemen.
But he that hath. Some editors have capitalized 'he' indicating the 'He' refers to God. But the original texts do not capitalize it so 'he' could easily be refering to Benvolio.
Exeunt
Exeunt
They march about the Stage, and Seruingmen come forth
with their napkins.
Act I. Scene V. A hall in Capulet's house.
Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen with napkins
Where's Potpan, that he
Where's Potpan, that he
Enter Seruant.
He shift a Trencher? he scrape a Trencher?
When good manners
hands and
When good manners
hands, and they vnwasht too, 'tis a foule thing.
Away with the
me a piece of
the porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell,
Antony, and Potpan!
Away with the
cubbord, looke to the Plate: good thou, saue mee a piece
of Marchpane, and as thou louest me, let the Porter let in
Susan Grindstone, and Nell, Anthonie and Potpan.
joint-stools, Stools made from separate pieces of would and crafted by a joiner (fine carpenter).
marchpane, A confection common in desserts, the ingredients being principally almonds, filberts, sugar, and flour.DeightonRJ
Ay boy, ready.
Ay boy, ready.
You are looked for and called for, asked for and
sought for, in the great chamber.
You are looked for and called for, asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.
for, in the great Chamber.
We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly boys; be
brisk awhile, and the
We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly boys. Be
brisk awhile, and the
Be brisk awhile, and the longer liuer take all.
Exeunt.
Enter Capulet, with Juliet and others of his house, meeting the Guests and Maskers
Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes
Ah
Will
She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?
Welcome, gentlemen!
That I have worn a
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please:
You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play.
Music plays, and they dance
More light, you knaves; and
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.
Nay sit, nay sit, good cousin Capulet;
30For you and I are past our dancing days:
How long is't now since last yourself and I
Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes
Music plays, and they dance
More light, you knaves, and
Enter all the Guests and Gentlewomen to the
Maskers.
Ladies that haue their toes
Vnplagu'd with Cornes, will walke about with you:
Ah my Mistresses, which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She Ile sweare hath Cornes: am I come neare ye now?
Welcome Gentlemen, I haue seene the day
That I haue worne a Visor, and could tell
A whispering tale in a faire Ladies eare:
Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone,
You are welcome Gentlemen, come Musitians play:
Musicke plaies: and they dance.
A Hall, Hall, giue roome, and foote it Girles,
More light you knaues, and turne the Tables vp:
And quench the fire, the Roome is growne too hot.
Ah sirrah, this vnlookt for sport comes well:
Nay sit, nay sit, good Cozin Capulet,
For you and I are past our dauncing daies:
How long 'ist now since last your selfe and I
Were in a Maske?
cousin, A common expression for ' kinsman.' The elder Capulet is really his uncle. HudsonRJ
By'r lady, By our lady, i.e. the Virgm Mary, Mother of Christ; a common form of petty oath. DeightonRJ
What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:
'Tis since the
Come pentecost as quickly as it will,
Some five and twenty years;
What, man! 'Tis not so much, 'tis not so much.
'Tis since the
'Tis since the Nuptiall of Lucentio,
Come Pentycost as quickely as it will,
Some fiue and twenty yeares, and then we Maskt.
'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is
His son is thirty.
'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is
His Sonne is thirty.
Will you tell me that?
His son was
Will you tell me that?
His son was
His Sonne was but a Ward two yeares agoe.
To a Servingman
What lady is that, which doth
Of yonder knight?
To a Servingman
What lady is that, which doth
Of yonder Knight?
I know not, sir.
I know not, sir.
O she doth
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove
As yonder lady o'er
The
And touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now?
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
O she doth
Did my heart love till now?
It seemes she hangs vpon the cheeke of night,
As a rich Iewel in an Aethiops eare:
Beauty too rich for vse, for earth too deare:
So shewes a Snowy Doue trooping with Crowes,
As yonder Lady ore her fellowes showes;
The measure done, Ile watch her place of stand,
And touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart loue till now, forsweare it sight,
For I neuer saw true Beauty till this night.
Ethiope, Ethiopian. Used generically for any dark-skinned race and even figuratively
Such Ethiop words, blacker in their effect
Than in their countenance.
(A.Y.L.I iv 3.35) DeightonRJ
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy.
Come hither, cover'd with
To
Now by the stock and honour of my kin,
60To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy.
Now by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
Fetch me my Rapier Boy, what dares the slaue
Come hither couer'd with an antique face,
To fleere and scorne at our Solemnitie?
Now by the stocke and Honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
Why how now kinsman!
Why how now kinsman,
Wherefore storme you so?
Uncle this is a Montague, our foe,
A villain that is hither come
To scorn at our
Uncle this is a Montague, our foe.
A villain that is hither come
A Villaine that is hither come in spight,
To scorne at our Solemnitie this night.
Young Romeo is it?
Young Romeo is it?
'Tis he, that villain Romeo.
'Tis he, that villain Romeo.
He bears
And to say truth,
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all the town
Here in my house do him
Therefore be patient, take no note of him:
It is my will, the which if thou respect,
A beares him like a portly Gentleman:
And to say truth, Verona brags of him,
To be a vertuous and well gouern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all the towne,
Here in my house do him disparagement:
Therfore be patient, take no note of him,
It is my will, the which if thou respect,
Shew a faire presence, and put off these frownes,
An ill beseeming semblance for a Feast
I'll not endure him.
Ile not endure him.
He shall be endured:
What goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;
Am I the master here, or you?
You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!
You'll make a mutiny among my guests!
You will
He shall be endured.
Am I the master here, or you?
You'll not endure him? God shall mend my soul!
You'll make a mutiny among my guests!/p>
You will
What goodman boy, I say he shall, go too,
Am I the Maister here or you? go too,
Youle not endure him, God shall mend my soule,
Youle make a Mutinie among the Guests:
You will set cocke a hoope, youle be the man.
Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.
Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.
You are a
This trick may chance to
You must
Well said, my hearts! You are a
Be quiet, or--
I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly my
Go to, go to,
you are a
More light, more light! For shame!
I'll make you quiet.
What, cheerly my
You are a sawcy Boy, 'ist so indeed?
This tricke may chance to scath you, I know what,
You must contrary me, marry 'tis time.
Well said my hearts, you are a Princox, goe,
Be quiet, or more light, more light for shame,
Ile make you quiet. What, chearely my hearts.
Makes my flesh tremble
I will
Exit
I will
Exit
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting:
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, conuert to bitter gall.
Exit.
To Juliet
If I
This holy shrine, the
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
100To
To Juliet
If I
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,
My lips to blushing Pilgrims did ready stand,
To smooth that rough touch, with a tender kisse.
Good pilgrim, you
Which
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And
Good pilgrim, you
You do wrong your hand too much.
Which mannerly deuotion shewes in this,
For Saints haue hands, that Pilgrims hands do tuch,
And palme to palme, is holy Palmers kisse.
holy palmer. In the Middle Ages, a palmer was a Christian Pilgrim, normally from Western Europe, who had visited the holy places in Palestine and who, as a token of his visits to the Holy Land, brought back a palm leaf or a palm leaf folded into a cross.Wikipedia
Ay pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
Ay pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
O then dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray,
O then dear saint, let lips do what hands do:
they pray,
They pray (grant thou) least faith turne to dispaire.
Saints do
Saints do
Though grant for prayers sake.
Then move not, while my prayer's
Thus from my lips,
Then move not, while my prayer's
Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purg'd.
Then
Then
Sin from thy lips? O
Give me my sin again.
Sin from thy lips? O
Giue me my sin againe.
You kiss by the
You kiss by the
Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Her mother is the lady of the house,
120And a good lady, and a wise and
I nursed her daughter, that you
I tell you, he that can
Shall have the
Her Mother is the Lady of the house,
And a good Lady, and a wise, and Vertuous,
I Nur'st her Daughter that you talkt withall:
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her,
Shall haue the chincks.
Is she a Capulet?
O
Is she a Capulet?
O deare account! My life is my foes debt.
Away, begone. The
Ay, so I fear;
Ay, so I fear.
Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone;
We have a
Is it e'en so? why then I thank you
I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night.
More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.
Ah, sirrah, by my
I'll to my rest.
Exeunt all but Juliet and Nurse
Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone:
we have a
More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.
Ah, sirrah, by my
Exeunt all but Juliet and Nurse
We haue a trifling foolish Banquet towards:
Is it e'ne so? why then I thanke you all.
I thanke you honest Gentlemen, good night:
More Torches here: come on, then let's to bed.
Ah sirrah, by my faie it waxes late,
Ile to my rest.
banquet, A banquet, or rere-supper, as it was sometimes called, was similar to the modern dessert. DeightonRJ
Come hither, nurse.
Come hither, nurse.
What is yond Gentleman:
Marry, that I think be young Petrucio.
Marry, that I think be young Petrucio.
I know not.
I know not.
Go ask his name: if he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
Go ask his name. If he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
My graue is like to be my wedded bed.
His name is Romeo, and a Montague;
The only son of your great enemy.
His name is Romeo, and a Montague. The only son of your great enemy.
The onely Sonne of your great Enemie.
My only love sprung from my only hate!
That I must love a loathed enemy.
My only love sprung from my only hate!
That I must love a loathed enemy.
Too early seene, vnknowne, and knowne too late,
Prodigious birth of Loue it is to me,
That I must loue a loathed Enemie.
Of one I dan'st withall.
One cals within, Iuliet
One cals within, Iuliet.
I danced withal. "I danced with". Even Shakespeare dangled prepositions.
A call from within 'Juliet.'
Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone.
Exeunt
Exeunt
Come let's away, the strangers all are gone.
Exeunt.
Act II
Act II. Scene I. A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.
Enter Chorus
Now old
And young affection
That
With tender Juliet
Now Romeo is
But to
And she steal love's sweet bait from
Being
To
And she as much in love, her
To meet her new-beloved anywhere:
But passion lends them power,
Exit
Now old
And young affection
That
With tender Juliet
Now Romeo is
But to
And she steal love's sweet bait from
Being
To
And she as much in love, her
To meet her new-beloved anywhere:
But passion lends them power,
Exit
Now old desire doth in his death bed lie,
And yong affection gapes to be his Heire,
That faire, for which Loue gron'd for and would die,
With tender Iuliet matcht, is now not faire.
Now Romeo is beloued, and Loues againe,
A like bewitched by the charme of lookes:
But to his foe suppos'd he must complaine,
And she steale Loues sweet bait from fearefull hookes:
Being held a foe, he may not haue accesse
To breath such vowes as Louers vse to sweare,
And she as much in Loue, her meanes much lesse,
To meete her new Beloued any where:
But passion lends them Power, time, meanes to meete,
Temp'ring extremities with extreame sweete.
Enter Romeo by himself
Can I go
Turn back dull
He climbs the wall of the Capulet compound and leaps down into the yard on the other side.
Can I go
He climbs the wall of the Capulet compound and leaps down into the yard on the other side.
Enter Romeo alone.
Turne backe dull earth, and find thy Center out.
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio
Romeo! my cousin Romeo! Romeo.
Romeo! My cousin Romeo! Romeo.
Enter Benuolio, with Mercutio.
He is wise;
And on my life,
He is wise,
and on my life,
And on my life hath stolne him home to bed.
He ran this way and leap'd this orchard wall:
Call good Mercutio.
Nay, I'll
He ran this way and leap'd this orchard wall.
Call good Mercutio.
Nay, I'll
Call good Mercutio:
Nay, Ile coniure too.
Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:
Speak but one rhyme, and I am
Cry but 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;'
Speak to my
One nick-name for her
Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so true,
30When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid!
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not;
The
I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh
And the
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!
Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh.
Speak but one rhyme, and I am
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not:
the
Appeare thou in the likenesse of a sigh,
Speake but one rime, and I am satisfied:
Cry me but ay me, Prouant, but Loue and day,
Speake to my goship Venus one faire word,
One Nickname for her purblind Sonne and her,
Young Abraham Cupid he that shot so true,
When King Cophetua lou'd the begger Maid,
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moueth not,
The Ape is dead, I must coniure him,
I coniure thee by Rosalines bright eyes,
By her High forehead, and her Scarlet lip,
By her Fine foote, Straight leg, and Quiuering thigh,
And the Demeanes, that there Adiacent lie,
That in thy likenesse thou appeare to vs.
gossip, A gossip is literally a god-relative, a sponsor in baptism, and as these sponsors were frequently talkative old women, it came to mean an idle, chattering person, and finally just 'idle talk', its modern meaning.DeightonRJ
King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid. According to tradition, Cophetua was an African king known for his lack of any sexual attraction to women. One day while looking out a palace window he witnesses a young beggar (Penelophon) suffering for lack of clothes. Struck by love at first sight, Cophetua decides that he will either have the beggar as his wife or commit suicide. Wikipedia
And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
This cannot anger him:
To raise a spirit in
Of some strange nature, letting it there stand
Till she had laid it and conjured it down;
That
My
I conjure only but to raise up him.
This cannot anger him.
My
To raise a spirit in his Mistresse circle,
Of some strange nature, letting it stand
Till she had laid it, and coniured it downe,
That were some spight.
My inuocation is faire and honest, & in his Mistris name,
I coniure onely but to raise vp him.
Till she had laid it and conjured it down, Sexual innuendo runs throughout Mercutio's speech. 'stand', 'laid it', 'down' and more.
Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,
To
Blind is his love
Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,
to
To be consorted with the Humerous night:
Blind is his Loue, and best befits the darke.
If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
50Now will he sit under a medlar tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
Romeo that she were, O, that she were
An open, or thou a
Romeo good night: I'll to my
This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep:
Come, shall we go?
If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Now will he sit under a medlar tree
and wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
as maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.
Romeo that she were, O, that she were
an open, or thou a
Come, shall we go?
Now will he sit vnder a Medler tree,
And wish his Mistresse were that kind of Fruite,
As Maides cal Medlers when they laugh alone,
O Romeo that she were, O that she were
An open, or thou a Poprin Peare,
Romeo goodnight, Ile to my Truckle bed,
This Field-bed is to cold for me to sleepe,
Come shall we go?
medlar tree. The tree Mespilus Germanica, and its fruit (good for making a pun with meddler)
Go then; for 'tis in vain
To seek him here
Exeunt
Go then, for 'tis in vain
to seek him here
Exeunt
That meanes not to be found.
Exeunt.
Act II. Scene II. Capulet's orchard.
Enter Romeo
He
Juliet appears at a window above Romeo
But
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise fair sun and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
10It is my lady, O it is my love!
O
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
20As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
He
Juliet appears at a window above Romeo
But
Be not her maid, since she is envious,
her
It is my lady, O it is my love!
O
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
as daylight doth a lamp. Her eyes in heaven
would through the
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Iuliet is the Sunne,
Arise faire Sun and kill the enuious Moone,
Who is already sicke and pale with griefe,
That thou her Maid art far more faire then she:
Be not her Maid since she is enuious,
Her Vestal liuery is but sicke and greene,
And none but fooles do weare it, cast it off:
It is my Lady, O it is my Loue, O that she knew she were,
She speakes, yet she sayes nothing, what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answere it:
I am too bold 'tis not to me she speakes:
Two of the fairest starres in all the Heauen,
Hauing some businesse do entreat her eyes,
To twinckle in their Spheres till they returne.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head,
The brightnesse of her cheeke would shame those starres,
As day-light doth a Lampe, her eye in heauen,
Would through the ayrie Region streame so bright,
That Birds would sing, and thinke it were not night:
See how she leanes her cheeke vpon her hand.
O that I were a Gloue vpon that hand,
That I might touch that cheeke.
vestial livery Vesta was the Roman goddess of the home and her priestesses were vowed to a life of chastity and celibacy. Wikipedia
Ay me!
Ay me!
She speaks:
Oh speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night
As is
Of mortals that
When he bestrides the
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
She speaks.
Oh speak again, bright angel for thou art
as glorious to this night
Oh speake againe bright Angell, for thou art
As glorious to this night being ore my head,
As is a winged messenger of heauen
Vnto the white vpturned wondring eyes
Of mortalls that fall backe to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lazie puffing Cloudes,
And sailes vpon the bosome of the ayre.
O Romeo, Romeo,
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or if thou wilt not,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
O Romeo, Romeo,
Denie thy Father and refuse thy name:
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworne to my Loue,
And Ile no longer be a Capulet.
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself,
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not
Retain that dear perfection which he
Without that title. Romeo,
Take
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
Thou art thyself,
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not
Thou art thy selfe, though not a Mountague,
What's Mountague? it is nor hand nor foote,
Nor arme, nor face, O be some other name
Belonging to a man.
What? in a names that which we call a Rose,
By any other word would smell as sweete,
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo cal'd,
Retaine that deare perfection which he owes,
Without that title Romeo, doffe thy name,
And for thy name which is no part of thee,
Take all my selfe.
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new
Call me but Loue, and Ile be new baptiz'd,
Hence foorth I neuer will be Romeo.
What man art thou that thus
What man art thou that thus
So stumblest on my counsell?
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name dear saint, is hateful to myself,
60Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
My name dear saint, is hateful to myself,
because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name deare Saint, is hatefull to my selfe,
Because it is an Enemy to thee,
Had I it written, I would teare the word.
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
Of thy tongues vttering, yet I know the sound.
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
Neither
Neither
How camest thou hither, tell me, and
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
How camest thou hither, tell me, and
Tell me, and wherefore?
The Orchard walls are high, and hard to climbe,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here,
With love's light wings did I
For stony
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no
With love's light wings did I
Did I ore-perch these Walls,
For stony limits cannot hold Loue out,
And what Loue can do, that dares Loue attempt:
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am
Then twenty of their Swords, looke thou but sweete,
And I am proofe against their enmity.
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;
80And
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than
I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight.
And
And but thou loue me, let them finde me here,
My life were better ended by their hate,
Then death proroged wanting of thy Loue.
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
By love who first did prompt me to inquire;
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
I am no
As that vast shore
I would adventure for such
By love, that first did prompt me to inquire.
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
I am no
He lent me counsell, and I lent him eyes,
I am no Pylot, yet wert thou as far
As that vast-shore-washet with the farthest Sea,
I should aduenture for such Marchandise.
Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
90For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight
What I have spoke: but farewell
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'
And I will take thy word: yet if thou
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers'
They say,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
100I'll frown and be
So thou wilt woo; but else not for the world.
In truth
And therefore thou mayst think my
But trust me gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more
I should have been more
But that thou overheard'st,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not
Which
Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
In truth
Else would a Maiden blush bepaint my cheeke,
For that which thou hast heard me speake to night,
Faine would I dwell on forme, faine, faine, denie
What I haue spoke, but farewell Complement,
Doest thou Loue? I know thou wilt say I,
And I will take thy word, yet if thou swear'st,
Thou maiest proue false: at Louers periuries
They say Ioue laught, oh gentle Romeo,
If thou dost Loue, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou thinkest I am too quickly wonne,
Ile frowne and be peruerse, and say thee nay,
So thou wilt wooe: But else not for the world.
In truth faire Mountague I am too fond:
And therefore thou maiest thinke my behauiour light,
But trust me Gentleman, Ile proue more true,
Then those that haue coying to be strange,
I should haue beene more strange, I must confesse,
But that thou ouer heard'st ere I was ware
My true Loues passion, therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yeelding to light Loue,
Which the darke night hath so discouered.
Then say Jove laughs, This famous proverb is thus given in Marlowe's translation of Ovid's Art of Love:
For Jove himself sits in the azure skies,
And laughs below at lovers' perjuries.
DeightonRJ
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I
That tips with
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I
That tips with siluer all these Fruite tree tops.
O swear not by the moon, the
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
O swear not by the moon, the
That monethly changes in her circled Orbe,
Least that thy Loue proue likewise variable.
What shall I swear by?
What shall I swear by?
Do not swear at all;
Or if thou wilt swear by thy
Which is the god
And I'll believe thee.
Do not swear at all.
Or if thou wilt swear by thy
Or if thou wilt sweare by thy gratious selfe,
Which is the God of my Idolatry,
And Ile beleeue thee.
If my heart's dear love.
If my heart's dear love.
Well do not swear: although I
I
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
This
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
130Come to thy heart as
Well do not swear: although I
Good night, good night, as sweet repose and rest
come to thy heart as
I haue no ioy of this contract to night,
It is too rash, too vnaduis'd, too sudden,
Too like the lightning which doth cease to be
Ere, one can say, it lightens, Sweete good night:
This bud of Loue by Summers ripening breath,
May proue a beautious Flower when next we meete:
Goodnight, goodnight, as sweete repose and rest,
Come to thy heart, as that within my brest.
O wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
O wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
What satisfaction can'st thou have tonight?
What satisfaction can'st thou have tonight?
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it,
and yet I
And yet I would it were to giue againe.
Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
For what purpose Loue?
But to be frank and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
Nurse calls within
I hear some noise within; dear love adieu!
Anon good nurse! Sweet Montague be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
Exit, above
But to be frank and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
my
Nurse calls within
I hear some noise within. Dear love adieu!
Exit back into the her rooms
And yet I wish but for the thing I haue,
My bounty is as boundlesse as the Sea,
My Loue as deepe, the more I giue to thee
The more I haue, for both are Infinite:
I heare some noyse within deare Loue adue:
Cals within.
Anon good Nurse, sweet Mountague be true:
Stay but a little, I will come againe.
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
too
Being in night, all this is but a dreame,
Too flattering sweet to be substantiall.
Enter Juliet on a balcony above
Three words dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy
By one that I'll
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Three words dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy
And goodnight indeed,
If that thy bent of Loue be Honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to morrow,
By one that Ile procure to come to thee,
Where and what time thou wilt performe the right,
And all my Fortunes at thy foote Ile lay,
And follow thee my Lord throughout the world.
Within: Madam.
I come, anon: but if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee
Within: Madam.
(By and by I come)
To cease thy strife, and leaue me to my griefe,
To morrow will I send.
[Within]
Madam!
[Within]
Madam!
[In the First Folio the nurse calling from within is treated as a stage direction not a separate speech. So Juliet's "Three words" speech is all one in the First Folio.]
I come, anon.--
I do beseech thee--
I come, anon. But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee--
[See comment above]
[Within]
Madam!
[Within]
Madam!
[See comment above]
By and by I come
160To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
Tomorrow will I send.
(By and by I come.)
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief. Tomorrow will I send.
[See comment above]
So
So
A thousand times good night!
Exit, above
A thousand times good night!
Exit, above
Exit.
A thousand times the worse
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from
their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Retiring
A thousand times the worse
Retiring
Loue goes toward Loue as school-boyes fro[m] their books
But Loue fro[m] Loue, towards schoole with heauie lookes.
Juliet comes back out on the balcony
To lure
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her
With repetition of my Romeo's name.
Enter Iuliet againe.
To lure this Tassell gentle backe againe,
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speake aloud,
Else would I teare the Caue where Eccho lies,
And make her ayrie tongue more hoarse, then
With repetition of my Romeo.
Echo. In Roman mythology Echo is a mountain nymph who by Juno was changed into a being that was neither able to speak until somebody had spoken, nor able to be silent after anybody had spoken.
It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to
It is my soul that calls upon my name.
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
like softest music to
How siluer sweet, sound Louers tongues by night,
Like softest Musicke to attending eares.
Romeo!
Romeo!
My dear?
My dear?
At what o'clock tomorrow
180Shall I send
At what o'clock tomorrow
shall I send
Shall I send to thee?
At the hour of nine.
At the hour of nine.
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
I haue forgot why I did call thee backe.
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, remembering how I love thy company.
Remembring how I Loue thy company.
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, forgetting any other home but this.
Forgetting any other home but this.
'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
190And yet no further than a
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So
'Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone.
And yet no further than a
And yet no further then a wantons Bird,
That let's it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poore prisoner in his twisted Gyues,
And with a silken thred plucks it backe againe,
So louing Iealous of his liberty.
I would I were thy bird.
I would I were thy bird.
Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night!
Sweet, so would I. Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night!
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing:
Good night, good night.
Parting is such sweet sorrow,
200That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Exit above
Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.
Exit above
That I shall say goodnight, till it be morrow.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my
His help to crave, and my
Exit
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my
Exit
The gray ey'd morne smiles on the frowning night,
Checkring the Easterne Clouds with streakes of light,
And darkenesse fleckel'd like a drunkard reeles,
From forth dayes pathway, made by Titans wheeles.
Hence will I to my ghostly Friers close Cell,
His helpe to craue, and my deare hap to tell.
Exit.
Act II. Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.
Enter Friar Laurence, with a basket
The
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels
From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels:
Now,
The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry,
I must
With
The earth that's nature's mother
What is her burying grave that is her womb,
And from her womb children of
We sucking on her natural bosom find,
Many for many virtues excellent,
None but for some and yet all different.
O mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true
For
But to the earth some special good doth give,
Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use
20Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied;
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
Within the infant
Poison hath residence and medicine power:
For this being smelt, with
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
In man as well as herbs, grace and
And where the
Full soon the
CHECK CAREFULLY!! The
chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
and flecked darkness like a drunkard reels
from forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels.
Now,
the day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry,
I must
with
The earth that's nature's mother
What is her burying grave that is her womb,
and from her womb children of
we sucking on her natural bosom find,
many for many virtues excellent,
none but for some and yet all different.
O mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true
for
but to the earth some special good doth give,
nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use
revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
and vice sometimes by action dignified.
Within the infant
poison hath residence and medicine power:
for this being smelt, with
being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
in man as well as herbs, grace and
And where the
full soon the
Enter Frier alone with a basket.
Checkring the Easterne Cloudes with streaks of light:
And fleckled darknesse like a drunkard reeles,
From forth daies path, and Titans burning wheeles:
Now ere the Sun aduance his burning eye,
The day to cheere, and nights danke dew to dry,
I must vpfill this Osier Cage of ours,
With balefull weedes, and precious Iuiced flowers,
The earth that's Natures mother, is her Tombe,
What is her burying graue that is her wombe:
And from her wombe children of diuers kind
We sucking on her naturall bosome find:
Many for many vertues excellent:
None but for some, and yet all different.
O mickle is the powerfull grace that lies
In Plants, Hearbs, stones, and their true qualities:
For nought so vile, that on earth doth liue,
But to the earth some speciall good doth giue.
Nor ought so good, but strain'd from that faire vse,
Reuolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
Vertue it selfe turnes vice being misapplied,
And vice sometime by action dignified.
Enter Romeo.
Within the infant rind of this weake flower,
Poyson hath residence, and medicine power:
For this being smelt, with that part cheares each part,
Being tasted stayes all sences with the heart.
Two such opposed Kings encampe them still,
In man as well as Hearbes, grace and rude will:
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soone the Canker death eates vp that Plant.
Titan's fiery wheels, The original Titans dwelt in heaven, from which, after a contest, they were hurled by Zeus beneath Tartarus; among their descendants were Helios (the sun) and Selene (the moon); the fiery wheels are those of the chariot which Helios drove around the world each twenty-four hours. DeightonRJ
Enter Romeo
Good morrow, father.
Good morrow, father.
What early
Young son, it argues a
So soon to
Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye,
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
But where
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:
40Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
What early
Young son, it argues a
So soon to
Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye,
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
But where
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:
Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?
Young Sonne, it argues a distempered head,
So soone to bid goodmorrow to thy bed;
Care keepes his watch in euery old mans eye,
And where Care lodges, sleepe will neuer lye:
But where vnbrused youth with vnstuft braine
Doth couch his lims, there, golden sleepe doth raigne;
Therefore thy earlinesse doth me assure,
Thou art vprous'd with some distemprature;
Or if not so, then here I hit it right.
Our Romeo hath not beene in bed to night.
Benedicite, An ecclesiastical salutation at meeting or parting; literally 'bless God, praise God' DeightonRJ
That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.
That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.
God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?
God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?
With Rosaline, my
I have forgot that name, and that name's
With Rosaline, my
I have forgot that name, and that name's
I haue forgot that name, and that names woe.
That's my good son: but where hast thou been, then?
That's my good son. But where hast thou been, then?
I'll tell thee
I have been
Where
Within thy help and holy
I bear no hatred, blessed man, for, lo,
My intercession
I'll tell thee
I haue beene feasting with mine enemie,
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me,
That's by me wounded: both our remedies
Within thy helpe and holy phisicke lies:
I beare no hatred, blessed man: for loe
My intercession likewise steads my foe.
Be plain good son, and homely in thy
Be plain good son, and homely in thy
Ridling confession, findes but ridling shrift.
Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet:
60As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combined, save what thou must combine
By holy marriage: when and where and how
We met, we wooed and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we
That thou consent to marry us today.
Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
on the fair daughter of rich Capulet.
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine,
and all combined, save what thou must combine
by holy marriage. When and where and how
we met, we wooed and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we
On the faire daughter of rich Capulet:
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combin'd, saue what thou must combine
By holy marriage: when and where, and how,
We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow:
Ile tell thee as we passe, but this I pray,
That thou consent to marrie vs to day.
Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
70Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
How much salt water thrown away in waste,
To season love that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears;
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
80And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then,
Women may
Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,
so soon forsaken? Young men's love then lies
not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Is Rosaline that thou didst Loue so deare
So soone forsaken? young mens Loue then lies
Not truely in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Iesu Maria, what a deale of brine
Hath washt thy sallow cheekes for Rosaline?
How much salt water throwne away in wast,
To season Loue that of it doth not tast.
The Sun not yet thy sighes, from heauen cleares,
Thy old grones yet ringing in my auncient eares:
Lo here vpon thy cheeke the staine doth sit,
Of an old teare that is not washt off yet.
If ere thou wast thy selfe, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes, were all for Rosaline.
And art thou chang'd? pronounce this sentence then,
Women may fall, when there's no strength in men.
Thou
Thou
For
For
And
And
Not in a grave,
To lay one in,
Not in a grave,
to lay one in,
To lay one in, another out to haue.
I pray thee,
The other did not so.
I pray thee,
Doth grace for grace, and Loue for Loue allow:
The other did not so.
O she knew well
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.
But come young waverer, come, go with me,
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.
O she knew well
thy love did read by rote and could not spell.
But come young waverer, come, go with me,
Thy Loue did read by rote, that could not spell:
But come young wauerer, come goe with me,
In one respect, Ile thy assistant be:
For this alliance may so happy proue,
To turne your houshould rancor to pure Loue.
O let us
O let us
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
Exeunt
Wisely and slow; They stumble that run fast.
Exeunt
Exeunt.
Act II. Scene IV. A street.
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio
Where the devil should this Romeo be?
Came he not home
Where the devil should this Romeo be?
Came he not home
Enter Benuolio and Mercutio.
not home to night?
Not to his father's; I spoke with his
Not to his father's, I spoke with his
Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline.
Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline. torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father's house.
Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet, hath sent a letter to his father's house.
ter to his Fathers house.
A
A
Romeo will answer it.
Romeo will answer it.
Any man that can write may answer a letter.
Any man that can write may answer a letter.
Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he
dares, being dared.
Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he dares, being dared.
dares, being dared.
Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead; stabbed with a
white wench's
love-song; the very pin of his heart,
encounter Tybalt?
Alas poor Romeo, he is already dead. Stabbed with a
white wench's
a white wenches blacke eye, runne through the eare with
a Loue song, the very pinne of his heart, cleft with the
blind Bowe-boyes but-shaft, and is he a man to encounter
Tybalt?
Why, what is Tybalt?
Why, what is Tybalt?
More than Prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is
20the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as
you sing
proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and
the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk
button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the
very
ah, the immortal
More than Prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as
you sing
ous Captaine of Complements: he fights as you sing
pricksong, keeps time, distance, and proportion, he rests
his minum, one, two, and the third in your bosom: the ve-
ry butcher of a silk button, a Dualist, a Dualist: a Gentleman
of the very first house of the first and second cause: ah the
immortall Passado, the Punto reuerso, the Hay.
Prince of cats. 'Tybert' (sometimes 'Tibert' and 'Tibalt') is the name given to a cat in the old story of Reynard the Fox and in other stories, "Tho' you were Tybert, the Iong-tail'd prince of cats." The name became a common one for cats. DeightonRJ HudsonRJ
In this scene there are a number references to Tybalt as a cat, many of them used tauntingly.
The what?
The what?
a very good
whore!" Why is not this a lamentable thing,
grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with
these
pardon-me's, who stand so much on the
that they cannot at ease on the old bench? O, their
bones, their bones!
tacies, these new tuners of accent: Iesu a very good blade,
a very tall man, a very good whore. Why is not this a la-
mentable thing Grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted
with these strange flies: these fashion Mongers, these par-don-mee's,
who stand so much on the new form, that they
cannot sit at ease on the old bench. O their bones, their
bones.
new form ... old bench, During the ridiculous fashion which prevailed of great padded pants, it is said to have been necessary to cut away hollow places in the benches of the House of Commons, without which those who "stood on the new form" could not "sit at ease on the old bench." Mercutio is poking fun at the fantastical affectations of those smart rapier and dagger experts, with their fencing-school jargon, who explode in boyish ecstasies at every slight turn of agility, shouting "Bon!" that is, 'good,' 'well done,' as often as a clever thrust or parry occurs in the practice of their fellows. HudsonRJ
Enter Romeo
Here comes Romeo here comes Romeo.
Here comes Romeo here comes Romeo.
Enter Romeo.
how art thou fishified! Now is he
that
kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better
Helen and Hero
eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior
Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation
to your French slop. You
fairly last night.
You
flesh, how art thou fishified? Now is he for the numbers
that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his Lady, was a kitchen
wench, marrie she had a better Loue to berime her: Dido
a dowdie, Cleopatra a Gipsie, Hellen and Hero, hildings
and Harlots: Thisbie a gray eie or so, but not to the purpose.
Signior Romeo, Bon iour, there's a French salutation to your
French slop: you gaue vs the counterfait fairely last
night.
Good morrow to you both. What
Good morrow to you both. What
did I giue you?
The slip, sir, the slip; can you not
The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not
slip. Slips were pieces of counterfeit money, brass covered over with silver, and to 'give one the slip' is to play one the trick of stealing away unnoticed. DeightonRJ
Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and in
such a case as mine a man may
Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great, and in
such a case as mine a man may
such a case as mine, a man may straine curtesie.
That's as much as to say, such a case as yours
constrains a man to bow
That's as much as to say, such a case as yours
constrains a man to bow
strains a man to bow in the hams.
Meaning, to court'sy.
Meaning, to court'sy.
Thou hast most
Thou hast most
A most courteous
A most courteous
Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
Right.
Right.
Why then
Why then
Well said: follow me this jest now till thou hast
worn out thy pump, that when the single sole
is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing, sole singular.
Well said. Follow me this jest now till thou hast
worn out thy pump, that when the single sole
worne out thy Pump, that when the single sole of it is
worne, the ieast may remaine after the wearing, sole-singular.
O
singleness.
O
Soly singular for the singlenesse.
Come between us good Benvolio; my wits
Come between us good Benvolio, my wits
Swits and spurs, or Ile crie a match.
Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have
done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of
70thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five:
was I with you there for the goose?
Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five.
Was I with you there for the goose?
done: For thou hast more of the Wild-Goose in one of
thy wits, then I am sure I haue in my whole fiue. Was I
with you there for the Goose?
in my whole five i.e my five wits. A common phrase denoting the five senses. It was sometimes used also of the intellectual faculties, which were supposed to correspond to the five senses.HudsonRJ
The five wits were common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation [i.e. judgment), and memory; though the phrase was sometimes used as an equivalent to the five senses.DeightonRJ
Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast
not there for the goose.
Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast not there for the goose.
thou wast not there for the Goose.
I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
Nay, good goose, bite not.
Nay, good goose, bite not.
Thy
sharp sauce.
Thy
It is a most sharpe sawce.
And is it not well served in to a sweet goose?
And is it not well served in to a sweet goose?
O here's a
inch
O here's a
an ynch narrow, to an ell broad.
I stretch it out for that word '
to the goose, proves thee far and wide, a
I stretch it out for that word '
to the Goose, proues thee farre and wide, abroad Goose.
Why is not this better now, than groaning for love?
now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature:
for this
that runs lolling up and down to hide his
Why is not this better now, than groaning for love?
Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature.
For this
Loue, now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo: now art
thou what thou art, by Art as well as by Nature, for this
driueling Loue is like a great Naturall, that runs lolling
vp and downe to hid his bable in a hole.
Stop there, stop there.
Stop there, stop there.
against the hair, In the opposite direction that hair or fur naturally lies. Think of rubbing a dog's fur against the way it normally lies.
Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.
Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.
O thou art
for I was come to the whole depth of my tale; and
meant, indeed, to
O thou art
or I was come to the whole depth of my tale, and meant
indeed to occupie the argument no longer.
Enter Nurse and Peter
Here's
A sail, a sail.
Here's
A sail, a sail.
Enter Nurse and her man.
A sayle, a sayle.
A sail, a sail, The exclamation of the lookout at sea when a strange vessel is seen approaching.
Two, two; a
Two, two; a
Peter!
Peter!
Anon!
Anon!
My fan Peter.
My fan Peter.
fan, a hand fan for cooling and also for hiding a woman's face
fairer face.
Good Peter to hide her face, for her fan's the fairer face.
For her Fans the fairer face?
God
God
God
God
Is it
Is it
'Tis no less, I tell you, for the
dial is now upon the
'Tis no less, I tell you, for the
Dyall is now vpon the pricke of Noone.
One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to
One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to
By my troth, it is well said; "for himself to
may find the young Romeo?
By my troth, it is well said; "for himself to
tha: Gentlemen, can any of you tel me where I may find
the young Romeo?
I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when
you have found him than he was when you sought him:
I am the youngest of that name, for
I can tell you, but young Romeo will be older when
you have found him than he was when you sought him.
I am the youngest of that name, for
when you haue found him, then he was when you sought
him: I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.
You say well.
You say well.
Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith;
wisely, wisely.
Yea, is the worst well? Very well took, i' faith, wisely, wisely.
If you be he, sir, I desire some
you.
If you be he, sir, I desire some
I desire some confidence with you?
She will
She will
What hast thou found?
What hast thou found?
No
that is something stale and
Sings
An old hare hoar,
And an old hare hoar,
Is very good meat in lent
But a hare that is hoar
Is too much for a score,
130When it hoars ere it be spent.
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll
No
Sings
An old hare hoar,
And an old hare hoar,
Is very good meat in lent
But a hare that is hoar
Is too much for a score,
When it hoars ere it be spent.
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll
that is something stale and hoare ere it be spent.
An old Hare hoare, and an old Hare hoare is very good
meat in Lent.
But a Hare that is hoare is too much for a score, when it
hoares ere it be spent,
Romeo will you come to your Fathers? Weele to dinner
thither.
I will follow you.
I will follow you.
Farewell, ancient lady; farewell,
'lady, lady, lady.'
Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio
Farewell, ancient lady, farewell, 'lady, lady, lady.'
Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio
Exit Mercutio, Benuolio.
I pray you, sir, what saucy
that was so full of his
I pray you, sir, what saucy
that was so full of his roperie?
A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk,
and will speak more in a minute than he will
in a month.
A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk
and will speak more in a minute than he will
talke, and will speake more in a minute, then he will stand
to in a Moneth.
And a' speak anything against me, I'll take him
down, and a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall.
none of his
too, and
And a' speak anything against me, I'll take him
down, and a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall.
downe, and a were lustier then he is, and twentie such Iacks:
and if I cannot, Ile finde those that shall: scuruie knaue, I
am none of his flurt-gils, I am none of his skaines mates,
and thou must stand by too and suffer euery knaue to vse
me at his pleasure.
I saw no man use you
should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare
draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a
150good quarrel, and the law on my side.
I saw no man use you
weapon should quickly haue beene out, I warrant you, I
dare draw assoone as another man, if I see occasion in a
good quarrell, and the law on my side.
Now,
me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you sir, a word:
and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you
out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself:
but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into
a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman
is young; and therefore, if you should deal double
with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered
160to any gentlewoman, and very
Now,
me quiuers, skuruy knaue: pray you sir a word: and as I
told you, my young Lady bid me enquire you out, what
she bid me say, I will keepe to my selfe: but first let me
tell ye, if ye should leade her in a fooles paradise, as they
say, it were a very grosse kind of behauiour, as they say:
for the Gentlewoman is yong: & therefore, if you should
deale double with her, truely it were an ill thing to be of-
fered to any Gentlewoman, and very weake dealing.
Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I
Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I
protest vnto thee.
Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
Lord, Lord she will be a ioyfull woman.
What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not
What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not
marke me?
I will tell her, sir, that you do
I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.
I will tell her, sir, that you do
take it, is a Gentleman-like offer.
protest, As elsewhere in this speech and other speeches the Nurse really mangles the language sometimes as she does here mistakenly using 'protest' for 'propose'. The language Shakespeare uses for the Nurse is very different that that of Romeo, Juliet and others of their place in society. The use of language to emphasize social differences runs throughout Shakespeare's plays (and that of any good story teller).
Bid her devise
Some means to come to
And there she shall at Friar Laurence's cell
Bid her devise
some means to come to
Here is for thy pains.
And there she shall at Frier Lawrence Cell
Be shriu'd and married: here is for thy paines.
No truly sir; not a penny.
No truly sir, not a penny.
Go to. I say you shall.
This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there.
This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there.
And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall:
Within this hour my man shall be with thee
And bring thee cords made like a
Which to the high
Farewell; be trusty, and I'll
Farewell;
And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall.
Within this hour my man shall be with thee
and bring thee cords made like a
Farewell.
Within this houre my man shall be with thee,
And bring thee Cords made like a tackled staire,
Which to the high top gallant of my ioy,
Must be my conuoy in the secret night.
Farewell, be trustie and Ile quite thy paines:
Farewell, commend me to thy Mistresse.
Now God in heaven bless thee!
Now God in heaven bless thee!
What say'st thou, my dear nurse?
What say'st thou, my dear nurse?
Is your man
Two may keep
Is your man
Two may keep
may keepe counsell putting one away.
I
I
Well sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord,
Lord, when 'twas a little prating thing. O, there
is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would
lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as
see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her
sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer
man; but I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks
as pale as any clout in the
rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?
Well sir, my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord, Lord, when 'twas a little prating thing.
O, there
is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would
rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?
Lord, when 'twas a little prating thing. O there is a No-
ble man in Towne one Paris, that would faine lay knife a-
board: but she good soule had as leeue see a Toade, a very
Toade as see him: I anger her sometimes, and tell her that
Paris is the properer man, but Ile warrant you, when I say
so, shee lookes as pale as any clout in the versall world.
Doth not Rosemarie and Romeo begin both with a letter?
versal, 'universal'. Another instance of the nurse mangling the language.
Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.
Ay, nurse; what of that? Both with an R.
Ah. mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for
the -- No, I know it begins with some other
letter -- and she hath the prettiest
it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good
to hear it.
Ah. mocker! That's the dog's name. R is for
the -- No, I know it begins with some other
letter -- and she hath the prettiest
I know it begins with some other letter, and she hath the
prettiest sententious of it, of you and Rosemary, that it
would do you good to heare it.
Commend me to thy lady.
Commend me to thy lady.
Ay, a thousand times.
Exit Romeo
Peter!
Ay, a thousand times.
Exit Romeo
Peter!
Anon!
Anon!
Exeunt
Exeunt
Exit Nurse and Peter.
Act II. Scene V. Capulet's orchard
Enter Juliet
The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;
In half an hour she promised to return.
O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams,
Driving back shadows over
Therefore do nimble-
And therefore hath the
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
10Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve
Is three long hours, yet she is not come.
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me:
But old folks, many
Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.
Enter Nurse and Peter
O God, she comes!
O honey nurse, what news?
20Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.
The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse,
in half an hour she promised to return.
But old folks many
unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.
Enter Nurse and Peter
O God, she comes! O honey nurse, what news? Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.
Enter Iuliet.
In halfe an houre she promised to returne,
Perchance she cannot meete him: that's not so:
Oh she is lame, Loues Herauld should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glides then the Sunnes beames,
Driuing backe shadowes ouer lowring hils.
Therefore do nimble Pinion'd Doues draw Loue,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings:
Now is the Sun vpon the highmost hill
Of this daies iourney, and from nine till twelue,
Is three long houres, yet she is not come.
Had she affections and warme youthfull blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball,
My words would bandy her to my sweete Loue,
And his to me, but old folkes,
Many faine as they were dead,
Vnwieldie, slow, heauy, and pale as lead.
Enter Nurse.
O God she comes, O hony Nurse what newes?
Hast thou met with him? send thy man away.
Peter, stay at the gate.
Exit Peter
Peter, stay at the gate.
Exit Peter
Now, good sweet nurse:
O Lord, why look'st thou sad?
Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily;
If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news
By playing it to me with so sour a face.
Now, good sweet nurse -- O Lord, why look'st thou sad? Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; if good, thou shamest the music of sweet news by playing it to me with so sour a face.
O Lord, why lookest thou sad?
Though newes, be sad, yet tell them merrily.
If good thou sham'st the musicke of sweet newes,
By playing it to me, with so sower a face.
I am
I am
Fie how my bones ake, what a iaunt haue I had?
Fie, An exclamation of contempt or dislike. Expressing impatience rather than contempt or disdain. KickAssGlossary
I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news:
30Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak.
I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news. Nay, come I pray thee speak, good, good nurse speak.
Nay come I pray thee speake, good good Nurse speake.
Jesu, what haste? can you not
Do you not see that I am out of breath?
Jesu, what haste? Can you not
Do you not see that I am out of breath?
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath
To say to me that thou art out of breath?
The excuse that thou dost make in this delay
Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.
Is thy news good or bad? answer to that;
Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance:
Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad?
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath to say to me that thou art out of breath? The excuse that thou dost make in this delay is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. Is thy news good or bad? Answer to that. Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance. Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad?
To say to me, that thou art out of breath?
The excuse that thou dost make in this delay,
Is longer then the tale thou dost excuse.
Is thy newes good or bad? answere to that,
Say either, and Ile stay the circumstance:
Let me be satisfied, ist good or bad?
Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not
how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his
face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels
all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body,
though they be not to be talked on, yet they are
but, I'll
ways, wench; serve God. What, have you dined at home?
Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not
how to choose a man. Romeo! No, not he. Though his
face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels
all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body,
though they be not to be talked on, yet they are
What, have you dined at home?
not how to chuse a man: Romeo, no not he though his face
be better then any mans, yet his legs excels all mens, and
for a hand, and a foote, and a body, though they be not to
be talkt on, yet they are past compare: he is not the flower
of curtesie, but Ile warrant him as gentle a Lambe: go thy
waies wench, serue God. What haue you din'd at home?
No, no: but all this did I know before.
What says he of our marriage? what of that?
No, no. But all this did I know before. What says he of our marriage? What of that?
What saies he of our marriage? what of that?
Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I!
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o' t'
To catch my death with jaunting up and down!
Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I:
it beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o' t'
It beates as it would fall in twenty peeces.
My backe a tother side: o my backe, my backe:
Beshrew your heart for sending me about
To catch my death with iaunting vp and downe.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me what says my love?
Sweet sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me what saies my Loue?
Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a
courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I
warrant, a virtuous: Where is your mother?
Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a virtuous.
Where is your mother?
And a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome,
And I warrant a vertuous: where is your Mother?
Where is my mother? Why, she is within;
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest!
"Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
Where is your mother?"
Where is my mother? Why, she is within,
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest!
"Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
Where is your mother?"
Why she is within, where should she be?
How odly thou repli'st:
Your Loue saies like an honest Gentleman:
Where is your Mother?
O
Are you so hot? marry, come up, I
Is this the
Henceforward do your messages yourself.
O
Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I
Is this the
Henceforward do your messages yourself.
Are you so hot? marrie come vp I trow,
Is this the Poultis for my aking bones?
Henceforward do your messages your selfe.
Here's such a
Here's such a
Have you got leave to go to
Have you got leave to go to
I have.
I have.
Then
There stays a husband to make you a wife:
Now comes the
They'll be in scarlet
To fetch a ladder, by the which your love
Must climb a bird's nest
I am the
But you shall bear the burden soon at night.
80Go; I'll to dinner: hie you to
Then
Go. I'll to dinner, hie you to
There staies a Husband to make you a wife:
Now comes the wanton bloud vp in your cheekes,
Thei'le be in Scarlet straight at any newes:
Hie you to Church, I must an other way,
To fetch a Ladder by the which your Loue
Must climde a birds nest Soone when it is darke:
I am the drudge, and toile in your delight:
But you shall beare the burthen soone at night.
Go Ile to dinner, hie you to the Cell.
Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.
Exeunt
Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.
Exeunt
Exeunt.
Act II. Scene VI. Friar Laurence's cell.
Enter Friar Laurence and Romeo
That
Enter Frier and Romeo.
That after houres, with sorrow chide vs not.
with sorrow chide us not, the heavens will not scold us in the future by bringing sorrow upon us
It cannot
That one short minute gives me in her sight:
Then
It is enough
It cannot counteruaile the exchange of ioy
That one short minute giues me in her sight:
Do thou but close our hands with holy words.
Then Loue-deuouring death do what he dare,
It is inough. I may call her mine.
exchange of joy, Exchange means the enjoyment of happiness in the present, which may have to be exchanged for sorrow hereafter. DeightonRJ
These
And
Which as they kiss
Is
And in the taste
Therefore love moderately;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
Enter Juliet
Here comes the lady: Oh so light a foot
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint:
A lover may bestride the
That
And yet not fall; so light is vanity.
These
Enter Juliet
Here comes the lady. Oh so light a foot
will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint.
A lover may bestride the
And in their triumph: die like fire and powder;
Which as they kisse consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his owne deliciousnesse,
And in the taste confoundes the appetite.
Therefore Loue moderately, long Loue doth so,
Too swift arriues as tardie as too slow.
Enter Iuliet.
Here comes the Lady. Oh so light a foot
Will nere weare out the euerlasting flint,
A Louer may bestride the Gossamours,
That ydles in the wanton Summer ayre,
And yet not fall, so light is vanitie.
Good
Good
Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
Ah Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
Be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more
This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue
Unfold the imagined happiness that both
Receive in either by this dear encounter.
Ah Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more
Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more
To blason it, then sweeten with thy breath
This neighbour ayre, and let rich musickes tongue,
Vnfold the imagin'd happinesse that both
Receiue in either, by this deere encounter.
Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of his substance, not of ornament:
They are but beggars that can count their worth;
But my true love is grown to such excess
I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.
Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, brags of his substance, not of ornament. They are but beggars that can count their worth. But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.
Brags of his substance, not of Ornament:
They are but beggers that can count their worth,
But my true Loue is growne to such excesse,
I cannot sum vp some of halfe my wealth.
Come, come with me, and we will make short work;
For by your
Till holy church
Exeunt
Come, come with me, and we will make short work,
for by your
Exeunt
For by your leaues, you shall not stay alone,
Till holy Church incorporate two in one.
Act III
Act III. Scene I. A public place.
Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Servants
I pray thee good Mercutio let's
The day is hot, the Capulets
And if we meet, we shall not
For now these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
I pray thee good Mercutio let's
Enter Mercutio, Benuolio, and men.
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad:
And if we meet, we shal not scape a brawle, for now these
hot dayes, is the mad blood stirring.
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
enters the confines of a tavern
upon the table and says "God send me no need of
thee!" and by the operation of the second cup
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
enters the confines of a tavern
enters the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his Sword vpon
the Table, and sayes, God send me no need of thee: and by
the operation of the second cup, drawes him on the Draw-
er, when indeed there is no need.
Am I like such a fellow?
Am I like such a fellow?
Come, come, thou art as
any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as
soon moody to be
Come, come, thou art as
as any in Italie: and assoone moued to be moodie, and as-
soone moodie to be mou'd.
Jack, A term of contempt for saucy and paltry, or silly fellows. KickAssGlossary
And what to?
And what to?
Nay,
shortly, for one would kill the other.
Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair
more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast.
20
Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having
no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes.
What eye but such an eye would
Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of
meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as
an egg for quarrelling.
Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing
30in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog
that hath lain asleep in the sun.
Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing
his new doublet before Easter?
With another, for tying his new shoes with old
And yet thou wilt
Nay,
Thou, why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast.
Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having
no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes.
What eye but such an eye would
Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of
meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as
Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun.
Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter?
With another, for tying his new shoes with old
And yet thou wilt
none shortly, for one would kill the other: thou, why thou
wilt quarrell with a man that hath a haire more, or a haire
lesse in his beard, then thou hast: thou wilt quarrell with a
man for cracking Nuts, hauing no other reason, but be-
cause thou hast hasell eyes: what eye, but such an eye,
would spie out such a quarrell? thy head is full of quar-
rels, as an egge is full of meat, and yet thy head hath bin
beaten as addle as an egge for quarreling: thou hast quar-rel'd
with a man for coffing in the street, because he hath
wakened thy Dog that hath laine asleepe in the Sun. Did'st
thou not fall out with a Tailor for wearing his new Doub-
let before Easter? with another, for tying his new shooes
with old Riband, and yet thou wilt Tutor me from quar-
relling?
Speech formatting. The modern version of this speech has been reformatted, namely breaking thoughts into separate lines, to make it more readable and easier to understand.
riband, a long and narrow web of silk, worn for ornament. KickAssGlossary
should buy the
should buy the Fee-simple of my life, for an houre and a
quarter.
fee-simple, A piece of property that someone owns without any mortgage or any other claim to it. In other words the owner is free to sell or dispose of the property on their own.
The fee-simple? O simple.
The fee-simple? O simple.
Enter Tybalt and others.
By my head, here come the Capulets.
By my head, here come the Capulets.
Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen,
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen,
Gentlemen, Good den, a word with one of you.
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a
And but one word with one of us? Couple it with
something, make it a word and a blow.
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir,
will give me occasion.
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir,
will giue me occasion.
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
giuing?
Mercutio, thou
Mercutio, thou
Consort? what, dost thou make us minstrels? an
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
make you dance. 'Zounds,
Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? An
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
make you dance. 'Zounds,
thou make Minstrels of vs, looke to heare nothing but dis-
cords: heere's my fiddlesticke, heere's that shall make you
daunce. 'Zounds consort.
Consort, A company of musicians. Also means to keep company with. Another pun for Shakespeare
'Zounds, A corruption of "God's wounds," i.e. the wounds of Christ when crucified, often spelt 'sounds; so 'sblood for "God's blood," 'sbody for "God's body," etc. DeightonRJ
We
Either withdraw unto some private place,
And
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.
We
Either withdraw vnto some priuate place,
Or reason coldly of your greeuances:
Or else depart, here all eies gaze on vs.
Men's eyes were made to look,
I will not budge
Men's eyes were made to look,
I will not budge for no mans pleasure I.
Enter Romeo
Well peace be with you sir, here comes
Well peace be with you sir, here comes
Enter Romeo.
But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear
Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower;
Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.'
But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear
Marry go before to field, heele be your follower,
Your worship in that sense, may call him man.
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
No better term than this: Thou art a villain.
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villain.
No better terme then this: Thou art a Villaine.
hate / love, Some modern texts have the hate I bear and other the love I bear. This is because the first quarto uses hate while all the other quartos and folios have love. We stick with Q2 and the First Folio. DeightonRJ & KickAssGlossary
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the
To such a greeting: villain am I none;
Therefore farewell, I see thou know'st me not.
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
doth much excuse the
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting: Villaine am I none;
Therefore farewell, I see thou know'st me not.
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw.
That thou hast done me, therefore turne and draw.
I do protest, I never injured thee,
But love thee better than thou canst
And so, good Capulet -- which name I
As dearly as my own -- be satisfied.
I do protest, I never injured thee,
but love thee better than thou canst
But lou'd thee better then thou can'st deuise:
Till thou shalt know the reason of my loue,
And so good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearely as my owne, be satisfied.
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
80Draws
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Draws
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you
Alla stucatho carries it away.
Tybalt, you Rat-catcher, will you walke?
Alla stoccata, An Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier. HudsonRJ
What wouldst thou
What wouldst thou
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine
lives; that I mean to
shall use me hereafter,
eight. Will you pluck your sword out of
by the ears? make haste, lest mine be
ears ere it be out.
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine
lives; that I mean to
liues, that I meane to make bold withall, and as you shall
vse me hereafter dry beate the rest of the eight. Will you
pluck your Sword out of his Pilcher by the eares? Make
hast, least mine be about your eares ere it be out.
king of cats. 'Tybert' (sometimes 'Tibert' and 'Tibalt') is the name given to a cat in the old story of Reynard the Fox and in other stories, "Tho' you were Tybert, the Iong-tail'd prince of cats." The name became a common one for cats. DeightonRJ HudsonRJ
In other scenes there are a number references to Tybalt as a cat, many of them used tauntingly.
I am for you.
Drawing
I am for you.
Drawing
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Come sir, your
They fight
Come sir, your
They fight
Draw Benvolio;
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath
Forbidden
Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!
Draw Benvolio,
Hold, Tybalt, good Mercutio!
Gentlemen, for shame forbeare this outrage,
Tibalt, Mercutio, the Prince expresly hath
Forbidden bandying in Verona streetes.
Hold Tybalt, good Mercutio.
Exit Tybalt.
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am
Is
I am hurt.
A plague o' both your houses! I am
Is
A plague a both the Houses, I am sped:
Is he gone and hath nothing?
What, art thou hurt?
What, art thou hurt?
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my
Exit Page
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch: marry, 'tis enough.
Exit Page
Where is my Page? go Villaine fetch a Surgeon.
Courage man; the hurt cannot be much.
Courage man; the hurt cannot be much.
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for
me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I
am
both your houses!
cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a
110rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of
arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I
was hurt under your arm.
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask for
me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I
am
Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
Church doore, but 'tis inough, 'twill serue: aske for me to
morrow, and you shall find me a graue man. I am pepper'd
I warrant, for this world: a plague a both your houses.
What, a Dog, a Rat, a Mouse, a Cat to scratch a man to
death: a Braggart, a Rogue, a Villaine, that fights by the
booke of Arithmeticke, why the deu'le came you be-
tweene vs? I was hurt vnder your arme.
I thought
I thought
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,
And soundly too:
Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
they have made worms' meat of me. I have it,
and soundly too:
Exit Mercutio and Benvolio
Or I shall faint: a plague a both your houses.
They haue made wormesmeat of me,
I haue it, and soundly to your Houses.
Exit.
This gentleman, the Prince's
My
With Tybalt's slander, Tybalt, that
Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me
And in my
This gentleman, the Prince's
O sweet Juliet,
thy beauty hath made me
My very Friend hath got his mortall hurt
In my behalfe, my reputation stain'd
With Tibalts slaunder, Tybalt that an houre
Hath beene my Cozin: O Sweet Iuliet,
Thy Beauty hath made me Effeminate,
And in my temper softned Valours steele.
Enter Benvolio
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
Which too untimely
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
Enter Benuolio.
That Gallant spirit hath aspir'd the Cloudes,
Which too vntimely here did scorne the earth.
This day's black fate on
This but begins the woe others must end.
This day's black fate on
This but begins the woe others must end.
This but begins, the wo others must end.
Enter Tybalt
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
Enter Tybalt.
He gone in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven
And fire-eyed fury
Now Tybalt take the
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
He gone in triumph and Mercutio slain?
Away to heaven
Away to heauen respectiue Lenitie,
And fire and Fury, be my conduct now.
Now Tybalt take the Villaine backe againe
That late thou gau'st me, for Mercutios soule
Is but a little way aboue our heads,
Staying for thine to keepe him companie:
Either thou or I, or both, must goe with him.
Thou wretched boy, that didst
Shalt with him
Thou wretched boy, that didst
Shalt with him hence.
This shall determine that.
They fight; Tybalt falls
This shall determine that.
They fight, Tybalt falls
They fight. Tybalt falles.
Romeo, away, be gone!
The
Stand not amazed: the Prince will
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
Romeo, away, be gone.
The
The Citizens are vp, and Tybalt slaine,
Stand not amaz'd, the Prince will Doome thee death
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away.
O! I am fortune's fool.
O! I am fortune's fool.
Why dost thou stay?
Exit Romeo
Why dost thou stay?
Exit Romeo
Exit Romeo.
Enter citizens
Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
Enter Citizens.
Tibalt that Murtherer, which way ran he?
There lies that Tybalt.
There lies that Tybalt.
Up sir, go with me;
I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey.
Up sir, go with me: I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey.
I charge thee in the Princes names obey.
Enter Prince, attended; Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and others
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their
Wiues and all.
O noble Prince, I can
The unlucky
There lies the man slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
O noble Prince, I can
The vnluckie Mannage of this fatall brall:
There lies the man slaine by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman braue Mercutio.
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!
O Prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt
O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, cousin!
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!
O Prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is spilt
O Prince, O Cozin, Husband, O the blood is spild
Of my deare kinsman. Prince as thou art true,
For bloud of ours, shed bloud of Mountague.
O Cozin, Cozin.
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;
Romeo that spoke
How
Your high displeasure: all this uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,
Could not
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,
Who
And with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity,
"Hold, friends! friends, part!" and, swifter than
his tongue,
His agile arm beats down their fatal
And
An
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but
And to 't they go like lightning, for
Could
And as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay.
Romeo that spoke
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
Romeo that spoke him faire, bid him bethinke
How nice the Quarrell was, and vrg'd withall
Your high displeasure: all this vttered,
With gentle breath, calme looke, knees humbly bow'd
Could not take truce with the vnruly spleene
Of Tybalts deafe to peace, but that he Tilts
With Peircing steele at bold Mercutio's breast,
Who all as hot, turnes deadly point to point,
And with a Martiall scorne, with one hand beates
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
Hold Friends, Friends part, and swifter then his tongue,
His aged arme, beats downe their fatall points,
And twixt them rushes, vnderneath whose arme,
An enuious thrust from Tybalt, hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
But by and by comes backe to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertained Reuenge,
And too't they goe like lightning, for ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slaine:
And as he fell, did Romeo turne and flie:
This is the truth, or let Benuolio die.
Romeo he, The redundant pronoun such as the 'he' in Romeo he is not uncommon in Shakespeare. DeightonRJ
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
190Affection makes him
Some twenty of
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
He is a kinsman to the Montague:
affection makes him
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.
Affection makes him false, he speakes not true:
Some twenty of them fought in this blacke strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I beg for Iustice, which thou Prince must giue:
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not liue.
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio. Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Who now the price of his deare blood doth owe.
Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio's friend;
His
The life of Tybalt.
Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio's friend.
His
His fault concludes, but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
And for that
Immediately we do exile him
I have an interest in your
My
But I'll
That you shall all repent the loss of
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall
Therefore use none: let Romeo
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
210Mercy but murders,
Exeunt
And for that
Exeunt
Immediately we doe exile him hence:
I haue an interest in your hearts proceeding:
My bloud for your rude brawles doth lie a bleeding.
But Ile Amerce you with so strong a fine,
That you shall all repent the losse of mine.
It will be deafe to pleading and excuses,
Nor teares, nor prayers shall purchase our abuses.
Therefore vse none, let Romeo hence in hast,
Else when he is found, that houre is his last.
Beare hence his body, and attend our will:
Mercy not Murders, pardoning those that kill.
Exeunt.
Act III. Scene II. Capulet's orchard.
Enter Juliet
Gallop
Towards
As Phaethon would whip you to the west,
And bring in cloudy night immediately.
Spread thy
That runaway's eyes may wink and Romeo
Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen.
Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
By their own beauties; or, if love be blind,
10It best agrees with night. Come
Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,
And
Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods:
Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,
With thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold,
Think true love acted simple modesty.
Come, night; come, Romeo; come,
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter than new snow on a raven's back.
20Come, gentle night, come, loving,
Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out
And he will make the face of heaven so
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the
O I have bought the mansion of a love,
But not possess'd it, and, though I am
Not yet enjoy'd: so
As is the night before some festival
30To an impatient child that hath new robes
And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,
Enter Nurse, with a rope ladder
And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks
Now nurse, what news? What hast thou there?
The
Gallop
Come
Come, night; come, Romeo; come,
Come, gentle night, come, loving,
O I have bought the mansion of a love,
but not possess'd it, and, though I am
O, here comes my nurse,
Enter Nurse, with a rope ladder
And she brings news. And every tongue that speaks
Now nurse, what news? What hast thou there?
The
Enter Iuliet alone.
Towards Phoebus lodging, such a Wagoner
As Phaeton would whip you to the west,
And bring in Cloudie night immediately.
Spred thy close Curtaine Loue-performing night,
That run-awayes eyes may wincke, and Romeo
Leape to these armes, vntalkt of and vnseene,
Louers can see to doe their Amorous rights,
And by their owne Beauties: or if Loue be blind,
It best agrees with night: come ciuill night,
Thou sober suted Matron all in blacke,
And learne me how to loose a winning match,
Plaid for a paire of stainlesse Maidenhoods,
Hood my vnman'd blood bayting in my Cheekes,
With thy Blacke mantle, till strange Loue grow bold,
Thinke true Loue acted simple modestie:
Come night, come Romeo, come thou day in night,
For thou wilt lie vpon the wings of night
Whiter then new Snow vpon a Rauens backe:
Come gentle night, come louing blackebrow'd night.
Giue me my Romeo, and when I shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little starres,
And he will make the Face of heauen so fine,
That all the world will be in Loue with night,
And pay no worship to the Garish Sun.
O I haue bought the Mansion of a Loue,
But not possest it, and though I am sold,
Not yet enioy'd, so tedious is this day,
As is the night before some Festiuall,
To an impatient child that hath new robes
And may not weare them, O here comes my Nurse:
Enter Nurse with cords.
And she brings newes and euery tongue that speaks
But Romeos name, speakes heauenly eloquence:
Now Nurse, what newes? what hast thou there?
The Cords that Romeo bid thee fetch?
Phaethon, The son of Helios who tried to drive the chariot of his father.
Helios (the sun) drove his fiery chariot around the world each twenty-four hours.
Ay, ay, the cords.
Throws them down
Ay, ay, the cords.
Throws them down
Ay me, what news? why dost thou wring thy hands?
Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?
Why dost thou wring thy hands.
Ah,
We are undone lady, we are undone!
40Ah,
We are undone lady, we are undone!
We are vndone Lady, we are vndone.
Alacke the day, hee's gone, hee's kil'd, he's dead.
Can heaven be so
Can heaven be so
Romeo
Though heaven cannot: O Romeo, Romeo!
Who ever would have thought it? Romeo!
Romeo
Though heauen cannot. O Romeo, Romeo.
Who euer would haue thought it Romeo.
What devil art
This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.
Hath Romeo slain himself? say thou but 'Ay',
And that bare vowel 'Ay' shall poison more
Than the death-darting eye of
I am not I, if there be such an I;
Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer 'Ay'.
If he be slain, say 'Ay'; or if not
Brief sounds determine
What devil art
That dost torment me thus?
This torture should be roar'd in dismall hell,
Hath Romeo slaine himselfe? say thou but I,
And that bare vowell I shall poyson more
Then the death-darting eye of Cockatrice,
I am not I, if there be such an I.
Or those eyes shot, that makes thee answere I:
If he be slaine say I, or if not, no.
Briefe, sounds, determine of my weale or wo.
cockatrice, An imaginary creature, supposed to be produced from a cock's egg and to have so deadly an eye as to kill by its very look KickAssGlossary
'I' versus 'Ay', Formerly the adverb 'ay' = yes, was frequently written 'I'. DeightonRJ
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes --
God save the
A
Pale, pale as ashes, all
All in
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes --
God save the
God saue the marke, here on his manly brest,
A pitteous Coarse, a bloody piteous Coarse:
Pale, pale as ashes, all bedawb'd in blood,
All in gore blood I sounded at the sight.
O break my heart, poor
To prison eyes, ne'er look on liberty!
Vile earth, to earth
And thou and Romeo
O break my heart, poor
Poore Banckrout breake at once,
To prison eyes, nere looke on libertie.
Vile earth to earth resigne, end motion here,
And thou and Romeo presse on heauie beere.
bier, A frame of wood to convey dead bodies (or coffins) to the grave. KickAssGlossary
O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had!
O courteous Tybalt! honest gentleman!
That ever I should live to see thee dead!
O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! O courteous Tybalt honest gentleman that ever I should live to see thee dead!
O curteous Tybalt honest Gentleman,
That euer I should liue to see thee dead.
What storm is this that blows so contrary?
Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?
My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer
Then, dreadful trumpet sound the general doom!
70For who is living, if those two are gone?
What storm is this that blows so contrary?
Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?
My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer
Is Romeo slaughtred? and is Tybalt dead?
My dearest Cozen, and my dearer Lord:
Then dreadfull Trumpet sound the generall doome,
For who is liuing, if those two are gone?
Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished;
Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished.
Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished. Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished.
Romeo that kil'd him, he is banished.
O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?
O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?
Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalts blood
It did, it did, alas the day, it did.
It did, it did; alas the day, it did!
It did, it did; alas the day, it did!
O
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!
Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!
Despised substance of divinest show!
80Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,
A damned saint, an honourable villain!
O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell,
When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend
In moral paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter
In such a gorgeous palace!
O
Beautifull Tyrant, fiend Angelicall:
Rauenous Doue-feather'd Rauen,
Woluish-rauening Lambe,
Dispised substance of Diuinest show:
Iust opposite to what thou iustly seem'st,
A dimne Saint, an Honourable Villaine:
O Nature! what had'st thou to doe in hell,
When thou did'st bower the spirit of a fiend
In mortall paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was euer booke containing such vile matter
So fairely bound? O that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous Pallace.
O serpent heart ... an honourable villain, Here is what one critic thought of this passage
"Another string of elaborate, fanciful expressions all out of place, and showing alike the fertility and the immaturity of Shakespeare's mind when this play was written." HudsonRJ There are other examples of this type of writing in the play.
There's no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men; all
All
Ah, where's my man? give me some
These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old.
There's no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men; all
Ah, where's my man? Give me some
All periur'd, all forsworne, all naught, all dissemblers,
Ah where's my man? giue me some Aqua-vitae?
These griefes, these woes, these sorrowes make me old:
Shame come to Romeo.
Blister'd be thy tongue
For such a wish! he was not born to shame:
Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit;
For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd
Sole monarch of the universal earth.
O what a beast was I to
Blister'd be thy tongue
for such a wish: he was not born to shame.
Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit
for 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd
sole monarch of the universal earth.
O what a beast was I to
For such a wish, he was not borne to shame:
Vpon his brow shame is asham'd to sit;
For 'tis a throane where Honour may be Crown'd
Sole Monarch of the vniuersall earth:
O what a beast was I to chide him?
Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?
Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?
That kil'd your Cozen?
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah poor my lord,
When I,
But
That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband:
Back foolish tears, back to your native spring;
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain;
110And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband:
All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?
Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death,
That murder'd me: I would forget it
But O, it presses to my memory,
Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds:
"Tybalt is dead, and Romeo--banished;"
That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'
Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death
Was woe enough, if it had ended there:
120Or if
And
Why follow'd not, when she said "Tybalt's dead,"
Thy father or thy mother, nay or both,
Which
But with a rear-ward following Tybalt's death,
"Romeo is banished," to speak that word,
Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet,
All slain, all dead. "Romeo is banished!"
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,
130In that word's death; no words can
Where is my father and my mother, nurse?
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah poor my lord,
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain;
and Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband.
All this is comfort, wherefore weep I then?
Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death,
That murder'd me. I would forget it
"Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished."
That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'
Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death
was woe enough, if it had ended there.
Or if
But with a rear-ward following Tybalt's death,
"Romeo is banished," to speak that word
is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet,
all slain, all dead. "Romeo is banished!"
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,
in that word's death: no words can
Where is my father and my mother, nurse?
Ah poore my Lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,
When I thy three houres wife haue mangled it.
But wherefore Villaine did'st thou kill my Cozin?
That Villaine Cozin would haue kil'd my husband:
Backe foolish teares, backe to your natiue spring,
Your tributarie drops belong to woe,
Which you mistaking offer vp to ioy:
My husband liues that Tibalt would haue slaine,
And Tibalt dead that would haue slaine my husband:
All this is comfort, wherefore weepe I then?
Some words there was worser then Tybalts death
That murdered me, I would forget it feine,
But oh, it presses to my memory,
Like damned guilty deedes to sinners minds,
Tybalt is dead and Romeo banished:
That banished, that one word banished,
Hath slaine ten thousand Tibalts: Tibalts death
Was woe inough if it had ended there:
Or if sower woe delights in fellowship,
And needly will be rankt with other griefes,
Why followed not when she said Tibalts dead,
Thy Father or thy Mother, nay or both,
Which moderne lamentation might haue mou'd.
But which a rere-ward following Tybalts death
Romeo is banished to speake that word,
Is Father, Mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Iuliet,
All slaine, all dead: Romeo is banished,
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,
In that words death, no words can that woe sound.
Where is my Father and my Mother Nurse?
Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's
Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.
Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's
Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.
Wash they his wounds with tears: mine shall be spent,
When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.
Take up
Both you and I; for Romeo is exiled:
He made you for a highway to my bed;
But I, a maid,
Come, cords, come, nurse; I'll to my wedding-bed;
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!
Wash they his wounds with tears. Mine shall be spent
when theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.
Take up
When theirs are drie for Romeo's banishment.
Take vp those Cordes, poore ropes you are beguil'd,
Both you and I for Romeo is exild:
He made you for a high-way to my bed,
But I a Maid, die Maiden widowed.
Come Cord, come Nurse, Ile to my wedding bed,
And death not Romeo, take my Maiden head.
Hie to your chamber: I'll find Romeo
To comfort you: I
I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence's cell.
Hie to your chamber: I'll find Romeo
to comfort you. I
To comfort you, I wot well where he is:
Harke ye your Romeo will be heere at night,
Ile to him, he is hid at Lawrence Cell.
O find him! give this ring to my true knight,
And bid him come to take his last farewell.
Exeunt
O find him! Give this ring to my true knight and bid him come to take his last farewell.
Exeunt
And bid him come to take his last farewell.
Exit
Act III. Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.
Friar Laurence comes up with a plan and lover's hope is revived.
Enter Friar Laurence
Romeo come forth; come forth thou
Affliction is enamour'd of
And thou art
Romeo come forth, come forth thou
Enter Frier and Romeo.
Come forth thou fearfull man,
Affliction is enamor'd of thy parts
And thou art wedded to calamitie,
Enter Romeo
Father, what news? what is the Prince's
What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,
That I yet know not?
Father, what news? What is the Prince's
What is the Princes Doome?
What sorrow craues acquaintance at my hand,
That I yet know not?
Too familiar
Is my dear son with such
I bring thee
Too familiar
is my dear son with such
Is my deare Sonne with such sowre Company
I bring thee tydings of the Princes Doome.
What less than dooms-day is the Prince's doom?
What less than dooms-day is the Prince's doom?
Is the Princes Doome?
A gentler judgment
Not
A gentler judgment
Not bodies death, but bodies banishment.
Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;'
For exile hath more terror
Much more than death: do not say 'banishment.'
Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say 'death'
for exile hath more terror
For exile hath more terror in his looke,
Much more then death: do not say banishment.
Hence from Verona art thou banished:
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
Hence from Verona art thou banished:
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
There is no world
And world's exile is death: then banished,
Is death
Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe,
And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.
There is no world
But Purgatorie, Torture, hell it selfe:
Hence banished, is banisht from the world,
And worlds exile is death. Then banished,
Is death, mistearm'd, calling death banished,
Thou cut'st my head off with a golden Axe,
And smilest vpon the stroke that murders me.
O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!
Taking
And turn'd that black word
This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not.
O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness!
Thy falt our Law calles death, but the kind Prince
Taking thy part, hath rusht aside the Law,
And turn'd that blacke word death, to banishment.
This is deare mercy, and thou seest it not.
'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her;
But Romeo may not:
More honourable state, more
In
On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
But Romeo may not; he is banished:
Flies may do this, but I from this must fly:
They are free men, but I am banished.
And say'st thou
Hadst thou no poison
No
But 'banished' to kill me?--'banished'?
O friar, the damned use that word in hell;
Howlings
Being a divine, a
A sin-absolver, and my friend
To
'Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here
where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog
and little mouse, every unworthy thing,
live here in heaven and may look on her:
but Romeo may not.
Where Iuliet liues, and euery Cat and Dog,
And little Mouse, euery vnworthy thing
Liue here in Heauen and may looke on her,
But Romeo may not. More Validitie,
More Honourable state, more Courtship liues
In carrion Flies, then Romeo: they may seaze
On the white wonder of deare Iuliets hand,
And steale immortall blessing from her lips,
Who euen in pure and vestall modestie
Still blush, as thinking their owne kisses sin.
This may Flies doe, when I from this must flie,
And saist thou yet, that exile is not death?
But Romeo may not, hee is banished.
Had'st thou no poyson mixt, no sharpe ground knife,
No sudden meane of death, though nere so meane,
But banished to kill me? Banished?
O Frier, the damned vse that word in hell:
Howlings attends it, how hast then the hart
Being a Diuine, a Ghostly Confessor,
A Sin-Absoluer, and my Friend profest:
To mangle me with that word, banished?
Thou
Thou
O thou wilt speak again of banishment.
O thou wilt speak again of banishment.
I'll give thee armour to keep off that word:
To comfort thee, though thou art banished.
I'll give thee armour to keep off that word.
Aduersities sweete milke, Philosophie,
To comfort thee, though thou art banished.
Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,
60It helps not, it
Vnlesse Philosophie can make a Iuliet,
Displant a Towne, reuerse a Princes Doome,
It helpes not, it preuailes not, talke no more.
O then I see that madmen have no ears.
O then I see that madmen have no ears.
How should they, when
How should they, when
When wisemen haue no eyes?
Let me dispute with thee of thy
Let me dispute with thee of thy
Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel:
Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love,
An hour but married, Tybalt murdered,
Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,
70And fall upon the ground, as I do now,
Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel.
Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love,
an hour but married, Tybalt murdered,
Wert thou as young as Iuliet my Loue:
An houre but married, Tybalt murdered,
Doting like me, and like me banished,
Then mightest thou speake,
Then mightest thou teare thy hayre,
And fall vpon the ground as I doe now,
Taking the measure of an vnmade graue.
The Nurse knocks on the door of the Friar's cell.
Arise; one knocks; good Romeo, hide thyself.
Arise; one knocks; good Romeo, hide thyself.
Enter Nurse, and knockes.
Good Romeo hide thy selfe.
Not I; unless the breath of heartsick groans,
Mist-like
Not I. Unless the breath of heartsick groans,
mist-like
Vnlesse the breath of Hartsicke groanes
Mist-like infold me from the search of eyes.
Knocke
Knocking
Hark, how they knock! Who's there? Romeo, arise;
Thou wilt be taken. Stay awhile! Stand up;
Knocking
Run to my study. By and by! God's will,
What
Knocking
Who knocks so hard?
Hark, how they knock! Who's there? Romeo, arise: thou wilt be taken. Stay awhile! Stand up.
Knocking
Run to my study. By and by! God's will,
what
Knocking
Who knocks so hard?
(Who's there) Romeo arise,
Thou wilt be taken, stay a while, stand vp:
Knocke.
Run to my study: by and by, Gods will
What simplenesse is this: I come, I come.
Knocke.
Who knocks so hard?
Whence come you? what's your will?
Enter Nurse.
[Within]
Let me come in,
And you shall know my errand;
I come from Lady Juliet.
[Within]
Let me come in,
and you shall know my errand.
I come from Lady Juliet.
Enter Nurse.
And you shall know my errand:
I come from Lady Iuliet.
Welcome then.
Welcome then.
O holy friar, O tell me holy friar,
Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?
O holy friar, O tell me holy friar, where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?
Where's my Ladies Lord? where's Romeo?
There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.
There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.
With his owne teares made drunke.
O
Just in her case! O
Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.
Stand up, stand up; stand and you be a man:
For Juliet's sake, for her sake rise and stand;
Why should you fall into so deep
O
Iust in her case. O wofull simpathy:
Pittious predicament, euen so lies she,
Blubbring and weeping, weeping and blubbring,
Stand vp, stand vp, stand and you be a man,
For Iuliets sake, for her sake rise and stand:
Why should you fall into so deepe an O.
fall into so deep an O. Possibly: such cries 'of affliction, such depths of despair; possibly, from the words fall into, with the idea of a deep hole. DeightonRJ
Nurse!
Nurse!
Ah sir! ah sir! Well death's the end of all.
Ah sir, ah sir, well death's the end of all.
Spakest thou of Juliet? how is it with her?
Doth she not think me an old murderer,
Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy
With blood removed but little from her own?
100Where is she? and how doth she? and what says
My conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love?
Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her? Doth she not think me an old murderer now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy with blood removed but little from her own? Where is she? And how doth she? And what says my conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love?
Doth not she thinke me an old Murtherer,
Now I haue stain'd the Childhood of our ioy,
With blood remoued, but little from her owne?
Where is she? and how doth she? and what sayes
My conceal'd Lady to our conceal'd Loue?
O she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;
And now falls on her bed; and then starts up,
And
And then
O she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;
and now falls on her bed; and then starts up,
and
And now fals on her bed, and then starts vp,
And Tybalt calls, and then on Romeo cries,
And then downe falls againe.
As if that name,
Shot from the deadly level of a gun,
Did murder her; as that name's cursed hand
Murder'd her kinsman. O tell me, friar, tell me,
110In what vile part of this anatomy
Doth my name lodge? tell me, that I may
The hateful
Drawing his sword
As if that name,
shot from the deadly level of a gun,
did murder her, as that name's cursed hand
murder'd her kinsman. O tell me, friar, tell me,
in what vile part of this anatomy
doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may
Drawing his sword
Did murder her, as that names cursed hand
Murdred her kinsman. Oh tell me Frier, tell me,
In what vile part of this Anatomie
Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sacke
The hatefull Mansion.
Hold thy desperate hand:
Art thou a man? thy form
Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote
The unreasonable fury of a beast:
Unseemly woman in a seeming man!
Or ill-beseeming beast in seeming both!
Thou hast amazed me: by my holy order,
120I thought thy disposition better temper'd.
Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself?
And slay thy lady too that lives in thee,
By doing damned hate upon thyself?
Why rail'st thou on thy birth? the heaven and earth?
Since birth, and heaven, and earth, all three do meet
In thee at once; which thou at once wouldst lose.
Fie, fie, thou shamest thy
Which like a
And usest none in that true use indeed
130Which should
Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,
Digressing from the valour of a man;
Thy dear love sworn but
Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;
Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love,
Misshapen in the conduct of them both,
Like powder in a skilless soldier's flask,
Is set afire by thine own ignorance,
And thou dismember'd with thine own defence.
140What, rouse thee, man! thy Juliet is alive,
For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead;
There art thou happy: Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou slew'st Tybalt; there are thou
The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend
And turns it to exile; there art thou happy:
A pack of blessings lights up upon thy back;
Happiness courts thee in her best array;
But, like a misbehaved and sullen wench,
Thou
Take heed, take heed, for
Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed,
Ascend her chamber,
But look thou
For then thou canst not
Where thou shalt live till we can find a time
To
Beg
With twenty hundred thousand times more joy
Than thou went'st forth in lamentation.
160Go
And bid her hasten all the house to bed,
Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto:
Romeo is coming.
Hold thy desperate hand.
Art thou a man? Thy form
Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,
digressing from the valour of a man.
Thy dear love sworn but
What, rouse thee, man, thy Juliet is alive,
for whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead,
there art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee,
but thou slew'st Tybalt, there are thou
Go
Romeo is coming.
Art thou a man? thy forme cries out thou art:
Thy teares are womanish, thy wild acts denote
The vnreasonable Furie of a beast.
Vnseemely woman, in a seeming man,
And ill beseeming beast in seeming both,
Thou hast amaz'd me. By my holy order,
I thought thy disposition better temper'd.
Hast thou slaine Tybalt? wilt thou slay thy selfe?
And slay thy Lady, that in thy life lies,
By doing damned hate vpon thy selfe?
Why rayl'st thou on thy birth? the heauen and earth?
Since birth, and heauen and earth, all three do meete
In thee at once, which thou at once would'st loose.
Fie, fie, thou sham'st thy shape, thy loue, thy wit,
Which like a Vsurer abound'st in all:
And vsest none in that true vse indeed,
Which should bedecke thy shape, thy loue, thy wit:
Thy Noble shape, is but a forme of waxe,
Digressing from the Valour of a man,
Thy deare Loue sworne but hollow periurie,
Killing that Loue which thou hast vow'd to cherish.
Thy wit, that Ornament, to shape and Loue,
Mishapen in the conduct of them both:
Like powder in a skillesse Souldiers flaske,
Is set a fire by thine owne ignorance,
And thou dismembred with thine owne defence.
What, rowse thee man, thy Iuliet is aliue,
For whose deare sake thou wast but lately dead.
There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou slew'st Tybalt, there art thou happie.
The law that threatned death became thy Friend.
And turn'd it to exile, there art thou happy.
A packe or blessing light vpon thy backe,
Happinesse Courts thee in her best array,
But like a mishaped and sullen wench,
Thou puttest vp thy Fortune and thy Loue:
Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable.
Goe get thee to thy Loue as was decreed,
Ascend her Chamber, hence and comfort her:
But looke thou stay not till the watch be set,
For then thou canst not passe to Mantua,
Where thou shalt liue till we can finde a time
To blaze your marriage, reconcile your Friends,
Beg pardon of thy Prince, and call thee backe,
With twenty hundred thousand times more ioy
Then thou went'st forth in lamentation.
Goe before Nurse, commend me to thy Lady,
And bid her hasten all the house to bed,
Which heauy sorrow makes them apt vnto.
Romeo is comming.
usurer, One who lends money and charges interest for it. In Shakespeare's time lending money for profit was thought disreputable and moneylenders were looked down upon.
O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night
To hear good counsel: O, what learning is!
My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.
O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night to hear good counsel: O, what learning is! My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.
To heare good counsell: oh what learning is!
My Lord Ile tell my Lady you will come.
Do so, and bid my
Do so, and bid my
Here sir, a ring she bid me give you sir:
Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.
Exit
Here sir, a ring she bid me give you sir. Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.
Exit
Hie you, make hast, for it growes very late.
How well my
How well my
Go hence; good night; and
Either be gone before the watch be set,
Or by the break of day
Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find
And he shall
Every good hap to you that
Give me thy hand; 'tis late: farewell; good night.
Go hence; good night; and
Goodnight, and here stands all your state:
Either be gone before the watch be set,
Or by the breake of day disguis'd from hence,
Soiourne in Mantua, Ile find out your man,
And he shall signifie from time to time,
Euery good hap to you, that chaunces heere:
Giue me thy hand, 'tis late, farewell, goodnight.
But that a joy
It were a grief,
Exeunt
But that a joy
Exeunt
It were a griefe, so briefe to part with thee:
Exeunt.
Act III. Scene IV. A room in Capulet's house.
Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris
Things have fall'n out sir, so unluckily,
That we have had no time to move our daughter:
Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly,
And so did I. Well, we were born to die.
'Tis very late, she'll not come down tonight:
I promise you, but for your
I would have been a-bed an hour ago.
Things have fall'n out sir, so unluckily,
that we have had no time to move our daughter.
Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly,
and so did I. Well, we were born to die.
'Tis very late, she'll not come down tonight.
I promise you, but for your
Enter old Capulet, his Wife and Paris.
That we haue had no time to moue our Daughter:
Looke you, she Lou'd her kinsman Tybalt dearely,
And so did I. Well, we were borne to die.
'Tis very late, she'l not come downe to night:
I promise you, but for your company,
I would haue bin a bed an houre ago.
These times of
Madam, good night:
These times of
Madam goodnight, commend me to your Daughter.
I will, and know her mind early tomorrow;
Tonight she is
I will, and know her mind early tomorrow.
Tonight she is
To night, she is mewed vp to her heauinesse.
mew'd, Confined. A term in falconry. HudsonRJ
heaviness, extreme grief
Sir Paris, I will make a
Of my child's love: I think she will be ruled
In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.
Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love;
And bid her,
But
Sir Paris, I will make a
But
Of my Childes loue: I thinke she will be rul'd
In all respects by me: nay more, I doubt it not.
Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed,
Acquaint her here, of my Sonne Paris Loue,
And bid her, marke you me, on Wendsday next,
But soft, what day is this?
Monday, my lord,
Monday, my lord,
Monday! ha, ha! Well Wednesday is too soon,
O' Thursday let it be: o' Thursday, tell her,
She shall be married to this noble earl.
Will you be ready? do you like this haste?
We'll
For hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,
It may be thought we held him carelessly,
Being our kinsman, if we
Therefore we'll have some half a dozen friends,
And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?
Monday, ha, ha: Well Wednesday is too soon,
o' Thursday let it be. O' Thursday, tell her,
s
But what say you to Thursday?
A Thursday let it be: a Thursday tell her,
She shall be married to this Noble Earle:
Will you be ready? do you like this hast?
Weele keepe no great adoe, a Friend or two,
For harke you, Tybalt being slaine so late,
It may be thought we held him carelesly,
Being our kinsman, if we reuell much:
Therefore weele haue some halfe a dozen Friends,
And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?
My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.
My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.
I would that Thursday were to morrow.
Well get you gone: o' Thursday be it, then.
Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,
Prepare her wife, against this wedding-day.
Farewell my Lord.
Afore me! it is so very late,
That we may call it early
Good night.
Exeunt
Well get you gone: o' Thursday be it, then.
Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,
Prepare her wife, against this wedding-day.
Farewell my Lord.
Good night.
Exeunt
Go you to Iuliet ere you go to bed,
Prepare her wife, against this wedding day.
Farewell my Lord, light to my Chamber hoa,
Afore me, it is so late, that we may call it early by and by,
Exeunt.
Act III. Scene V. Capulet's orchard.
Enter Romeo and Juliet above, at the window
Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree:
Believe me love, it was the nightingale.
Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day:
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
Enter Romeo and Iuliet aloft.
It was the Nightingale, and not the Larke,
That pier'st the fearefull hollow of thine eare,
Nightly she sings on yond Pomgranet tree,
Beleeue me Loue, it was the Nightingale.
It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
no nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks
do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
No Nightingale: looke Loue what enuious streakes
Do lace the seuering Cloudes in yonder East:
Nights Candles are burnt out, and Iocond day
Stands tipto on the mistie Mountaines tops,
I must be gone and liue, or stay and die.
Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To
And light thee on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay
Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I.
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
to
It is some Meteor that the Sun exhales,
To be to thee this night a Torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua.
Therefore stay yet, thou need'st not be gone,
Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death;
I am content,
I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye,
20'Tis but the pale
Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat
The
I have more
Come death and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't my soul? let's talk; it is not day.
Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death:
I am content,
Come death and welcome! Juliet wills it so. How is't my soul? Let's talk, it is not day.
I am content, so thou wilt haue it so.
Ile say yon gray is not the mornings eye,
'Tis but the pale reflexe of Cinthias brow.
Nor that is not Larke whose noates do beate
The vaulty heauen so high aboue our heads,
I haue more care to stay, then will to go:
Come death and welcome, Iuliet wills it so.
How ist my soule, lets talke, it is not day.
It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division;
30This
Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes,
O now I would they had changed voices too!
Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,
Hunting thee hence with hunt's-up to the day,
O now be gone;
It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division,
this
It is the Larke that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh Discords, and vnpleasing Sharpes.
Some say the Larke makes sweete Diuision;
This doth not so: for she diuideth vs.
Some say, the Larke and loathed Toad change eyes,
O now I would they had chang'd voyces too:
Since arme from arme that voyce doth vs affray,
Hunting thee hence, with Hunts-vp to the day,
O now be gone, more light and it light growes.
Of toads and larks, The toad having fine eyes and the lark ugly ones, there was a common saying that the toad and the lark had changed eyes. The croak of the toad would have been no indication of the appearance of day, and consequently no signal for her lover's departure. HudsonRJ
The Nurse enters Juliet's room
Madam!
Madam!
Enter Madam and Nurse.
Nurse?
Nurse?
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber:
40The day
Exit
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.
The day
Exit
The day is broke, be wary, looke about.
Then window let day in, and let
Then window let day in, and let
Farewell, farewell! one kiss and I'll descend.
Romeo climbs down the wooden ladder that hangs from the balcony
Farewell, farewell, one kiss and I'll descend.
Romeo climbs down the wooden ladder that hangs from the balcony
Art thou gone so? love, lord, ay, husband, friend!
I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
For in a
O by this count I shall be much
Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay, husband, friend,
I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
for in a
I must heare from thee euery day in the houre,
For in a minute there are many dayes,
O by this count I shall be much in yeares,
Ere I againe behold my Romeo.
Farewell!
I will
That may
Farewell.
I will
I will omit no oportunitie,
That may conuey my greetings Loue, to thee.
O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?
O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?
I doubt it not; and all these
For sweet
I doubt it not, and all these
For sweet discourses in our time to come.
O God, I have
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale.
O God, I have
Me thinkes I see thee now, thou art so lowe,
As one dead in the bottome of a Tombe,
Either my eye-sight failes, or thou look'st pale.
And trust me love, in my eye so do you:
Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!
Exit
And trust me love, in my eye so do you. Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!
Exit
Drie sorrow drinkes our blood. Adue, adue.
Exit.
Dry sorrow drinks our blood, Sighs were supposed to drain the blood from the heart DeightonRJ
The belief that grieving exhausts the blood and impairs the health, is more than once alluded to by Shakespeare.HudsonRJ
O fortune, fortune! all men call thee
If
For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,
But send him back.
O fortune, fortune, all men call thee
If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him
That is renown'd for faith? be fickle Fortune:
For then I hope thou wilt not keepe him long,
But send him backe.
[Within]
Ho, daughter! are you up?
[Within]
Ho, daughter, are you up?
Enter Mother.
Who is't that calls? is it my lady mother?
Is she not down so late, or up so early?
What unaccustom'd cause
Who is't that calls? Is it my lady mother?
Is she not down so late, or up so early?
What unaccustom'd cause
Is she not downe so late, or vp so early?
What vnaccustom'd cause procures her hither?
Enter Lady Capulet
Why
Why
Madam, I am not well.
Madam, I am not well.
What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?
An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live;
Therefore
But much of grief shows still some
What wilt thou wash him from his graue with teares?
And if thou could'st, thou could'st not make him liue:
Therefore haue done, some griefe shewes much of Loue,
But much of griefe, shewes still some want of wit.
Yet let me weep for such a
Yet let me weep for such a
So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend
Which you weep for.
So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend which you weep for.
Which you weepe for.
Feeling so the loss,
80Cannot choose but ever weep the friend.
Feeling so the loss, cannot choose but ever weep the friend.
I cannot chuse but euer weepe the Friend.
Well girl, thou weep'st not so much for his death,
Well girl, thou weep'st not so much for his death,
As that the Villaine liues which slaughter'd him.
What villain madam?
What villain madam?
That same villain, Romeo.
That same villain, Romeo.
Speaking to herself
Villain and he be many miles
God Pardon him! I do with all my heart;
And yet no man like he
Speaking to herself
Villain and he be many miles
God pardon, I doe with all my heart:
And yet no man like he, doth grieue my heart.
That is because the traitor lives.
That is because the traitor lives.
Ay madam, from the reach of these my hands:
90Would none but I might
Ay madam, from the reach of these my hands:
would none but I might
Would none but I might venge my Cozins death.
We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not:
Then weep no more. I'll send
Where that same banish'd
Shall give him such an unaccustom'd
That he shall soon keep Tybalt company:
And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.
We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not.
Then weep no more. I'll send
And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.
Then weepe no more, Ile send to one in Mantua,
Where that same banisht Run-agate doth liue,
Shall giue him such an vnaccustom'd dram,
That he shall soone keepe Tybalt company:
And then I hope thou wilt be satisfied.
Indeed I never shall be satisfied
With Romeo, till I behold him. Dead
Is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd.
100Madam, if you could find out but a man
To bear a poison, I would temper it;
That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof,
Soon sleep in quiet. O how my heart abhors
To hear him named, and cannot come to him.
To
Upon his body that slaughter'd him!
Indeed I never shall be satisfied
with Romeo, till I behold him. Dead
is my poor heart for a kinsman vex'd.
Madam, if you could find out but a man
to bear a poison, I would temper it;
that Romeo should, upon receipt thereof,
soon sleep in quiet. O how my heart abhors
to hear him named, and cannot come to him.
To
With Romeo, till I behold him. Dead
Is my poore heart so for a kinsman vext:
Madam, if you could find out but a man
To beare a poyson, I would temper it;
That Romeo should vpon receit thereof,
Soone sleepe in quiet. O how my heart abhors
To heare him nam'd, and cannot come to him,
To wreake the Loue I bore my Cozin,
Vpon his body that hath slaughter'd him.
Indeed I never ... vex'd., The several interpretations of which this ambiguous speech is capable are:
1. I shall never be satisfied with Romeo.
2. I shall never be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him.
3. I shall never be satisfied with Romeo till I behold him dead.
4. Till I behold him, dead is my poor heart.
5. Dead is my poor heart, so for a kinsman vext.
DeightonRJ
Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man.
But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings girl.
Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man.
But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings girl.
But now Ile tell thee ioyfull tidings Gyrle.
And joy comes well in such a needy time:
110What are they, I beseech your ladyship?
And joy comes well in such a needy time. What are they, I beseech your ladyship?
What are they, beseech your Ladyship?
Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child;
One who, to put thee from thy heaviness,
Hath sorted out
That thou expect'st not nor I look'd not for.
Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child.
One who, to put thee from thy heaviness,
hath sorted out
One who to put thee from thy heauinesse,
Hath sorted out a sudden day of ioy,
That thou expects not, nor I lookt not for.
Madam in happy time, what day is that?
Madam in happy time, what day is that?
Marry my child, early next Thursday morn,
The gallant, young and noble gentleman,
The
Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.
Marry my child, early next Thursday morn
the gallant, young and noble gentleman,
the
The gallant, young, and Noble Gentleman,
The Countie Paris at Saint Peters Church,
Shall happily make thee a ioyfull Bride.
County, Another form of 'Count,' oftentimes used by Shakespeare and originally meaning a companion, usually to some great leader.
The modern 'county' = shire, being the portion of territory over which the Count ruled. DeightonRJ
Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too,
He shall not make me there a joyful bride.
I wonder at this haste; that I must wed
I pray you tell my lord and father, madam,
I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear
It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,
Rather than Paris. These are news indeed!
Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too,
he shall not make me there a joyful bride.
I wonder at this haste: that I must wed
He shall not make me there a ioyfull Bride.
I wonder at this hast, that I must wed
Ere he that should be Husband comes to woe:
I pray you tell my Lord and Father Madam,
I will not marrie yet, and when I doe, I sweare
It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate
Rather then Paris. These are newes indeed.
Here comes your father; tell him so yourself,
And see how he will take it at your hands.
Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself and see how he will take it at your hands.
And see how he will take it at your hands.
Enter Capulet and Nurse
When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew;
But for the
It rains downright.
How now!
Evermore showering? In one little body
Thou
For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea,
Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is,
Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs;
Who, raging with thy tears and they with them,
140Without a sudden calm, will
Thy tempest-tossed body. How now, wife!
Have you deliver'd to her our
When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew;
but for the
How now, wife!
Have you deliver'd to her our
Enter Capulet and Nurse.
But for the Sunset of my Brothers Sonne,
It raines downright.
How now? A Conduit Gyrle, what still in teares?
Euermore showring in one little body?
Thou counterfaits a Barke, a Sea, a Wind:
For still thy eyes, which I may call the Sea,
Do ebbe and flow with teares, the Barke thy body is
Sayling in this salt floud, the windes thy sighes,
Who raging with the teares and they with them,
Without a sudden calme will ouer set
Thy tempest tossed body. How now wife?
Haue you deliuered to her our decree?
conduit, 'what, are your tears still flowing like a conduit never dry'
Ay sir; but she will
I would the fool were married to her grave!
Ay sir, but she will
But she will none, she giues you thankes,
I would the foole were married to her graue.
Soft!
How! will
Is she not proud? doth she not count her
Unworthy as she is, that we have
So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?
Soft,
How, will she none? doth she not giue vs thanks?
Is she not proud? doth she not count her blest,
Vnworthy as she is, that we haue wrought
So worthy a Gentleman, to be her Bridegroome
Not proud, you have,
But thankful that you have:
Proud can I never be of what I hate;
But thankful even for hate, that is meant love.
Not proud, you have, but thankful that you have. Proud can I never be of what I hate; but thankful even for hate, that is meant love.
But thankfull that you haue:
Proud can I neuer be of what I haue,
But thankfull euen for hate, that is meant Loue.
How now, how now,
"Proud," and "I thank you," and "I thank you not;"
And yet "not proud,"
Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds,
But
To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
160Or I will drag thee on a
Out you green-sickness carrion, out you
You
How now, how now,
How now? Chopt Logicke? what is this?
Proud, and I thanke you: and I thanke you not,
And yet not proud mistresse minion you?
Thanke me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
But fettle your fine ioints 'gainst Thursday next,
To go with Paris to Saint Peters Church:
Or I will drag thee, on a Hurdle thither.
Out you greene sicknesse carrion, out you baggage,
You tallow face.
hurdle. A sled on which criminals are drawn to the place of execution. DeightonRJ
green-sickness. A disease of a hysterical nature, accompanied by a pale, livid, complexion, which afflicted females. DeightonRJ
Fie, fie! what, are you mad?
ie, fie,what, are you mad?
Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience
Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
hear me with patience
Heare me with patience, but to speake a word.
Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face:
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me;
170My fingers
That God had lent us but this only child;
But now I see this one is one too much,
And that we have a curse in having her:
Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday,
or never after look me in the face.
I tell thee what, get thee to Church a Thursday,
Or neuer after looke me in the face.
Speake not, reply not, do not answere me.
My fingers itch, wife: we scarce thought vs blest,
That God had lent vs but this onely Child,
But now I see this one is one too much,
And that we haue a curse in hauing her:
Out on her Hilding.
baggage, Worthless minx; used of a good-for-nothing woman, from the idea of an encumbrance and thence useless encumbrance, rubbish. DeightonRJ
God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame my lord to
God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame my lord to
You are too blame my Lord to rate her so.
And why
Good prudence; smatter with your
And why
good prudence. Smatter with your
Good Prudence, smatter with your gossip, go.
prudence, wisdom. Said in an ironic way
I speak no treason.
I speak no treason.
Father, O Godigoden,
May not one speake?
O,
O,
[First Folio has the above three speeches as just one spoken by the Nurse. Many modern texts follow Quarto 4 which splits the three line as shown in KickAss Shakespeare's version]
May not one speak?
May not one speak?
Peace, you mumbling fool!
Utter your
For here we need it not.
Peace, you mumbling fool!
Utter your
Vtter your grauitie ore a Gossips bowles
For here we need it not.
You are too hot.
You are too hot.
Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play,
Alone, in company, still my
To have her
A gentleman of noble parentage,
Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts,
Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man;
And then to have a wretched
A whining
To answer "I'll not wed; I cannot love,
I am too young; I pray you, pardon me."
But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you:
Look to't, think on't, I
Thursday is near; lay hand on heart,
An
And
the streets,
For by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good:
Exit
Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play,
Alone, in company, still my
To have her
A gentleman of noble parentage,
Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts,
Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man;
And then to have a wretched
A whining
To answer "I'll not wed; I cannot love,
I am too young; I pray you, pardon me."
But, as you will not wed, I'll pardon you:
Look to't, think on't, I
Thursday is near; lay hand on heart,
An
And
the streets,
For by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good:
Exit
Day, night, houre, ride, time, worke, play,
Alone in companie, still my care hath bin
To haue her matcht, and hauing now prouided
A Gentleman of Noble Parentage,
Of faire Demeanes, Youthfull, and Nobly Allied,
Stuft as they say with Honourable parts,
Proportion'd as ones thought would wish a man,
And then to haue a wretched puling foole,
A whining mammet, in her Fortunes tender,
To answer, Ile not wed, I cannot Loue:
I am too young, I pray you pardon me.
But, and you will not wed, Ile pardon you.
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me:
Looke too't, thinke on't, I do not vse to iest.
Thursday is neere, lay hand on heart, aduise,
And you be mine, Ile giue you to my Friend:
And you be not, hang, beg, starue, die in the streets,
For by my soule, Ile nere acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall neuer do thee good:
Trust too't, bethinke you, Ile not be forsworne
Exit.
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,
That sees into the bottom of my grief?
210O
Delay this marriage for a month, a week;
Or if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,
That sees into the bottom of my grief?
O
Delay this marriage for a month, a week;
Or if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that
That sees into the bottome of my griefe?
O sweet my Mother cast me not away,
Delay this marriage, for a month, a weeke,
Or if you do not, make the Bridall bed
In that dim Monument where Tybalt lies.
Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word:
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Exit
Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word:
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Exit
Do as thou wilt, for I haue done with thee.
Exit.
O God!
O nurse, how shall this be prevented?
My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven;
How shall that faith return again to earth,
220Unless that husband send it me from heaven
By leaving earth? comfort me, counsel me.
Upon so soft a subject as myself!
What say'st thou? hast thou not a word of joy?
O God!
O nurse, how shall this be prevented?
My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven;
How shall that faith return again to earth,
Unless that husband send it me from heaven
By leaving earth? comfort me, counsel me.
Upon so soft a subject as myself!
What say'st thou? hast thou not a word of joy?
O Nurse, how shall this be preuented?
My Husband is on earth, my faith in heauen,
How shall that faith returne againe to earth,
Vnlesse that Husband send it me from heauen,
By leauing earth? Comfort me, counsaile me:
Alacke, alacke, that heauen should practise stratagems
Vpon so soft a subiect as my selfe.
What saist thou? hast thou not a word of ioy?
Some comfort Nurse.
Faith here it is.
Romeo is banish'd;
That he dares ne'er come back to
Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
230Then since the case so stands as now it doth,
I think it best you married with the
O he's a lovely gentleman!
Romeo's a
Hath not so
As Paris hath.
I think you are happy in this second match,
For it excels your first: or if it did not,
Your first is dead; or 'twere as good
As living here and you no use of him.
Faith here it is.
Romeo is banish'd;
That he dares ne'er come back to
Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
Then since the case so stands as now it doth,
I think it best you married with the
O he's a lovely gentleman!
Romeo's a
Hath not so
As Paris hath.
I think you are happy in this second match,
For it excels your first: or if it did not,
Your first is dead; or 'twere as good
As living here and you no use of him.
Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing,
That he dares nere come backe to challenge you:
Or if he do, it needs must be by stealth.
Then since the case so stands as now it doth,
I thinke it best you married with the Countie,
O hee's a Louely Gentleman:
Romeos a dish-clout to him: an Eagle Madam
Hath not so greene, so quicke, so faire an eye
As Paris hath, beshrow my very heart,
I thinke you are happy in this second match,
For it excels your first: or if it did not,
Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were,
As liuing here and you no vse of him.
Speakest thou from thy heart?
Speakest thou from thy heart?
And from my soul too;
Or else
And from my soul too;
Or else
Or else beshrew them both.
Amen!
Amen!
What?
What?
Well, thou hast comforted me
Go in: and tell my
Having displeased my father, to Laurence' cell,
To make confession and to be absolved.
Well, thou hast comforted me
Go in, and tell my Lady I am gone,
Hauing displeas'd my Father, to Lawrence Cell,
To make confession, and to be absolu'd.
Marry, I will; and this is wisely done.
Exit
Marry, I will, and this is wisely done.
Exit
Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!
Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn,
Or to
Which she hath praised him with above compare
So many thousand times? Go,
I'll to the friar, to know his remedy:
If all else fail, myself have power to die.
Exit
Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend!
Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn,
or to
Exit
It is more sin to wish me thus forsworne,
Or to dispraise my Lord with that same tongue
Which she hath prais'd him with aboue compare,
So many thousand times? Go Counsellor,
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twaine:
Ile to the Frier to know his remedie,
If all else faile, my selfe haue power to die.
Exeunt.
Act IV
Act IV. Scene I. Friar Laurence's cell.
Enter Friar Laurence and Paris
On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.
On Thursday, sir? The time is very short.
Enter Frier and Countie Paris.
My
And I
My
And I am nothing slow to slack his hast.
I am nothing slow ... haste. This phrase, taken strictly, expresses just the opposite of what is evidently intended. But the language is probably elliptical: perhaps "I am not at all slow, that I should slack his haste". Or, "I am nothing backward, so as to restrain his haste." HudsonRJ
Then again who knows for sure? KickAssShake
You say you do not know the
You say you do not know the
Vneuen is the course, I like it not.
And therefore have I little talk'd of love;
For
Now sir, her father
That she doth give her sorrow so much
And in his wisdom hastes our marriage,
To stop the
Which too much
May be
And therfore haue I little talke of Loue,
For Venus smiles not in a house of teares.
Now sir, her Father counts it dangerous
That she doth giue her sorrow so much sway:
And in his wisedome, hasts our marriage,
To stop the inundation of her teares,
Which too much minded by her selfe alone,
May be put from her by societie.
Now doe you know the reason of this hast?
Look sir, here comes the lady towards my cell.
Looke sir, here comes the Lady towards my Cell.
Enter Juliet
Happily met, my lady and my wife!
Happily met, my lady and my wife!
Enter Iuliet.
That may be sir, when I may be a wife.
That may be sir, when I may be a wife.
That may be, must be, love, on Thursday next.
That may be, must be, love, on Thursday next.
What must be shall be.
What must be shall be.
Do not deny to
Do not deny to
I will confess to you that I love him.
I will confess to you that I love him.
So will ye, I am sure that you love me.
So will ye, I am sure that you love me.
If I do so, it will be
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.
If I do so, it will be
Being spoke behind your backe, then to your face.
Poor soul, thy face is much
Poor soul, thy face is much
The tears have got small victory by that;
For it was bad enough before
The tears have got small victory by that,
for it was bad enough before
For it was bad inough before their spight.
Thou wrong'st it, more than
Thou wrong'st it, more than
That is no slander sir, which is a truth;
And what I spake, I spake it to my face.
That is no slander sir, which is a truth, and what I spake, I spake it to my face.
And what I spake, I spake it to thy face.
Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it.
Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it.
It may be so, for it is not mine own.
Or shall I come to you at evening mass?
It may be so, for it is not mine own.
Are you at leisure, Holy Father now,
Or shall I come to you at euening Masse?
My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.
My lord, we must
My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.
My lord, we must
My Lord you must intreat the time alone.
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye:
Till then adieu;
Exit
Exit
Iuliet, on Thursday early will I rowse yee,
Till then adue, and keepe this holy kisse.
Exit Paris.
O shut the door, and when thou hast done so,
Come weep with
O shut the door, and when thou hast done so come weep with me: past hope, past cure, past help!
Come weepe with me, past hope, past care, past helpe.
Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief;
It strains me past the
I hear thou must, and nothing
On Thursday next be married to
Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief.
It strains me past the
It streames me past the compasse of my wits:
I heare thou must and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this Countie.
Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this,
Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it:
If in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help,
Do thou but call my resolution wise,
And with this knife I'll help it presently.
God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands;
And
Shall
Or my true heart with treacherous revolt
60Turn to
Therefore, out of thy
Give me some
'Twixt my
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that
Which the
Could to no issue of true honour bring.
Be not so long to speak; I long to die,
If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy.
Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this,
unless thou tell me how I may prevent it.
If in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help,
do thou but call my resolution wise,
Vnlesse thou tell me how I may preuent it:
If in thy wisedome, thou canst giue no helpe,
Do thou but call my resolution wise,
And with this knife, Ile helpe it presently.
God ioyn'd my heart, and Romeos, thou our hands,
And ere this hand by thee to Romeo seal'd:
Shall be the Labell to another Deede,
Or my true heart with trecherous reuolt,
Turne to another, this shall slay them both:
Therefore out of thy long experien'st time,
Giue me some present counsell, or behold
Twixt my extreames and me, this bloody knife
Shall play the vmpeere, arbitrating that,
Which the commission of thy yeares and art,
Could to no issue of true honour bring:
Be not so long to speak, I long to die,
If what thou speak'st, speake not of remedy.
Hold daughter: I do
Which
If rather than to marry County Paris,
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,
Then is it likely thou wilt undertake
A thing like death to
That
And if thou darest, I'll give thee
Hold daughter: I do
Which craues as desperate an execution,
As that is desperate which we would preuent.
If rather then to marrie Countie Paris
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thy selfe,
Then is it likely thou wilt vndertake
A thing like death to chide away this shame,
That coap'st with death himselfe, to scape fro it:
And if thou dar'st, Ile giue thee remedie.
O bid me
From off the battlements of yonder tower;
80Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;
Or shut me nightly
With
Or bid me go into a new-made grave
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;
Things that,
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live
O bid me
From of the Battlements of any Tower,
Or walke in theeuish waies, or bid me lurke
Where Serpents are: chaine me with roaring Beares
Or hide me nightly in a Charnell house,
Orecouered quite with dead mens ratling bones,
With reckie shankes and yellow chappels sculls:
Or bid me go into a new made graue,
And hide me with a dead man in his graue,
Things that to heare them told, haue made me tremble,
And I will doe it without feare or doubt,
To liue an vnstained wife to my sweet Loue.
charnel-house, A place where the bones of the dead are stored; a sepulchre. DeightonRJ
shanks. The part of the leg from the knee to the ankle.
Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent
To marry Paris: Wednesday is tomorrow:
Tomorrow night
Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
And this distilled liquor drink thou
When presently through all thy veins shall run
A cold and drowsy
Shall keep
No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;
100The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
To
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;
Each part, deprived of supple government,
Shall stiff and
And in this borrow'd likeness of
Thou shalt continue
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
Now when the bridegroom in the morning comes
To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou
Then as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the mean time,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our
And hither shall he come: and he and I
Will watch thy waking, and that very night
Shall Romeo bear thee
And this shall free thee from this present
If
Hold, then: go home, be merry, give consent
to marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow.
Tomorrow night
Now when the bridegroom in the morning comes
to rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou
To marrie Paris: wensday is to morrow,
To morrow night looke that thou lie alone,
Let not thy Nurse lie with thee in thy Chamber:
Take thou this Violl being then in bed,
And this distilling liquor drinke thou off,
When presently through all thy veines shall run,
A cold and drowsie humour: for no pulse
Shall keepe his natiue progresse, but surcease:
No warmth, no breath shall testifie thou liuest,
The Roses in thy lips and cheekes shall fade
To many ashes, the eyes windowes fall
Like death when he shut vp the day of life:
Each part depriu'd of supple gouernment,
Shall stiffe and starke, and cold appeare like death,
And in this borrowed likenesse of shrunke death
Thou shalt continue two and forty houres,
And then awake, as from a pleasant sleepe.
Now when the Bridegroome in the morning comes,
To rowse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead:
Then as the manner of our country is,
In thy best Robes vncouer'd on the Beere,
Be borne to buriall in thy kindreds graue:
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault,
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie,
In the meane time against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my Letters know our drift,
And hither shall he come, and that very night
Shall Romeo beare thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,
If no inconstant toy nor womanish feare,
Abate thy valour in the acting it.
Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!
Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!
Hold; get you gone, be strong and prosperous
In this resolve: I'll send a friar with speed
To Mantua, with my letters to
Hold, get you gone, be strong and prosperous
in this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed
to Mantua, with my letters to
In this resolue, Ile send a Frier with speed
To Mantua with my Letters to thy Lord.
Love give me strength!
and strength shall
Farewell, dear father!
Exeunt
Love give me strength,
and strength shall
Exeunt
And the strength shall helpe afford:
Farewell deare father.
Exit.
Act IV. Scene II. Hall in Capulet's house.
Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, and two Servingmen
So many guests invite as here are writ.
Exit First Servant
Sirrah, go hire me twenty
So many guests invite as here are writ.
Exit First Servant
Sirrah, go hire me twenty
Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and
Seruing men, two or three.
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning Cookes.
forsooth, in truth, certainly; used by low persons as a phrase of honest affirmation of what they say. KickAssGlossary
harlotry, harlot: A general term of reproach; not to be taken literally here. HudsonRJ
You shall have none
can lick their fingers.
You shall have none
licke their fingers.
How canst thou
How canst thou
Marry sir, 'tis
own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his
fingers goes not with me.
Marry sir, 'tis
owne fingers: therefore he that cannot licke his fingers
goes not with me.
Go, be gone.
Exit Second Servant
We shall be much
What? is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?
Go, be gone.
Exit Second Servant
We shall be much
time: what is my Daughter gone to Frier Lawrence?
Ay,
Ay,
Well he may chance to do some good on her:
A peevish self-will'd
Well he may chance to do some good on her:
a peevish self-will'd
A peeuish selfe-wild harlotry it is.
Enter Juliet
See where she comes from
See where she comes from
Enter Iuliet.
With merrie looke.
How now, my headstrong! where have you been
How now, my headstrong, where have you been
Where haue you bin gadding?
gadding, Used in a contemptuous way, going from place to place in an aimless way, as if she was not likely to have any settled or useful purpose. DeightonRJ
Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin
Of disobedient opposition:
To you and your behests, and am
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here,
And beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you!
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin
of disobedient opposition
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
Of disobedient opposition:
To you and your behests, and am enioyn'd
By holy Lawrence, to fall prostrate here,
To beg your pardon: pardon I beseech you,
Henceforward I am euer rul'd by you.
Send for
I'll have this
Send for
Ile haue this knot knit vp to morrow morning.
I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell;
And gave him what
I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell
and gave him what
And gaue him what becomed Loue I might,
Not stepping ore the bounds of modestie.
Why, I am glad on't; this is well: stand up:
This is as't should be.
Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.
Now,
Our whole city is much bound to him.
Why, I am glad on't, this is well. Stand up:
this is as't should be.
ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.
Now,
our whole city is much bound to him.
This is as't should be, let me see the County:
I marrie go I say, and fetch him hither.
Now afore God, this reueren'd holy Frier,
All our whole Cittie is much bound to him.
Nurse, will you go with me into my
To help me sort such needful
As you think fit to
Nurse, will you go with me into my
to help me sort such needful
as you think fit to
To helpe me sort such needfull ornaments,
As you thinke fit to furnish me to morrow?
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.
No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.
Go nurse, go with her: we'll to church tomorrow.
Exit Juliet and her nurse
Go nurse, go with her. We'll to church tomorrow.
Exit Juliet and her nurse
Exeunt Iuliet and Nurse.
We shall be short in our
'Tis now near night.
We shall be short in our
'Tis now neere night.
Tush, I will
And all things shall be well, I
Go thou to Juliet, help to
I'll not to bed tonight; let me alone;
I'll
To
Against tomorrow: my heart is wondrous light,
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.
Exeunt
Tush, I will
Exeunt
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee wife:
Go thou to Iuliet, helpe to decke vp her,
Ile not to bed to night, let me alone:
Ile play the huswife for this once. What ho?
They are all forth, well I will walke my selfe
To Countie Paris, to prepare him vp
Against to morrow, my heart is wondrous light,
Since this same way-ward Gyrle is so reclaim'd.
Exeunt Father and Mother.
Act IV. Scene III. Juliet's chamber.
Enter Juliet and Nurse
Ay, those attires are best: but, gentle nurse,
I pray thee, leave me to my self tonight,
For I have need of many orisons
To move the heavens to smile upon my
Which, well thou know'st, is
Ay, those attires are best. But, gentle nurse
I pray thee, leave me to my self tonight,
for I have need of many orisons
to move the heavens to smile upon my
Enter Iuliet and Nurse.
I pray thee leaue me to my selfe to night:
For I haue need of many Orysons,
To moue the heauens to smile vpon my state,
Which well thou know'st, is crosse and full of sin.
cross, any thing that thwarts, vexation, hinderance, mischance.
passing in different directions, cutting each other, zigzag
perverse. KickAssGlossary
Enter Lady Capulet
What, are you busy, ho? need you my help?
What, are you busy, ho? need you my help?
Enter Mother.
No, madam; we have
As are behoveful for our state tomorrow:
So please you, let me now be left alone,
10And let the nurse this night sit up with you;
For I am sure, you have your hands full all,
In this so sudden business.
No, madam; we have
As are behoouefull for our state to morrow:
So please you, let me now be left alone;
And let the Nurse this night sit vp with you,
For I am sure, you haue your hands full all,
In this so sudden businesse.
Good night:
Get thee to bed and rest; for thou hast need.
Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse
Good night. Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.
Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse
Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.
Exeunt.
Farewell: God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins,
That almost freezes up the heat of life:
I'll call them back again to comfort me:
Nurse! What should she do here?
20My
Come
Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?
No, no: this shall
Laying down her dagger
What if it be a poison, which the friar
Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should
For he hath still been
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to
Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul
And th
Or if I live,
The horrible
Together with the terror of the place --
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
40Where for these many hundred years, the bones
Of all my buried ancestors are packed:
Where bloody Tybalt,
Lies
At some hours in the night spirits resort --
So early waking, what with loathsome smells,
And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth,
That living mortals, hearing them, run mad --
O, if I wake,
And
And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud?
And in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone,
As with a club, dash out my desperate brains?
O look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost
Seeking out Romeo
Upon a rapier's point: stay Tybalt, stay!
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, here's drink: I drink to thee.
She falls upon her bed.
Farewell: God knows when we shall meet again.
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins,
that almost freezes up the heat of life.
I'll call them back again to comfort me.
Nurse, What should she do here?
My
Laying down her dagger
What if it be a poison, which the friar
subtly hath minister'd to have me dead,
lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
come to
Or if I live,
O, if I wake,
O look, methinks I see my cousin's ghost
seeking out Romeo
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, here's drink: I drink to thee.
She falls upon her bed.
God knowes when we shall meete againe.
I haue a faint cold feare thrills through my veines,
That almost freezes vp the heate of fire:
Ile call them backe againe to comfort me.
Nurse, what should she do here?
My dismall Sceane, I needs must act alone:
Come Viall, what if this mixture do not worke at all?
Shall I be married then to morrow morning?
No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there,
What if it be a poyson which the Frier
Subtilly hath ministred to haue me dead,
Least in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I feare it is, and yet me thinkes it should not,
For he hath still beene tried a holy man.
How, if when I am laid into the Tombe,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeeme me? There's a fearefull point:
Shall I not then be stifled in the Vault?
To whose foule mouth no healthsome ayre breaths in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes.
Or if I liue, is it not very like,
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place,
As in a Vaulte, an ancient receptacle,
Where for these many hundred yeeres the bones
Of all my buried Auncestors are packt,
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but greene in earth,
Lies festring in his shrow'd, where as they say,
At some houres in the night, Spirits resort:
Alacke, alacke, is it not like that I
So early waking, what with loathsome smels,
And shrikes like Mandrakes torne out of the earth,
That liuing mortalls hearing them, run mad.
O if I wake, shall I not be distraught,
Inuironed with all these hidious feares,
And madly play with my forefathers ioynts?
And plucke the mangled Tybalt from his shrow'd?
And in this rage, with some great kinsmans bone,
As (with a club) dash out my desperate braines.
O looke, me thinks I see my Cozins Ghost,
Seeking out Romeo that did spit his body
Vpon my Rapiers point: stay Tybalt, stay;
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, here's drinke: I drinke to thee.
scene, Shakespeare's figurative use of terms of the theater and plays is, as might be expected, very frequent; the words act, scene, stage, prologue, part, etc., being thus employed by him.
The most famous of which is:
"All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. DeightonRJ
mandrake, A plant somewhat like a carrot but was supposed to resemble a man's figure with a body and two legs, and sometimes represented with a duck's head (hence man-drake).
It was commonly supposed that when torn from the ground it uttered groans of so pernicious a nature that the person who committed the violence went mad or died. To escape that danger, it was recommended to tie one end of a string to the plant and the other to a dog, upon whom the fatal groan would then discharge its full malignity. It was also said to be especially fond of graveyards in which animals had been buried.
HudsonRJ, DeightonRJ, KickAssGlossary
Act IV. Scene IV. Hall in Capulet's house.
Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse
Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.
Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.
Enter Lady of the house, and Nurse.
They call for dates and
They call for dates and
Enter Capulet
Come,
The
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica:
Spare not for the cost.
Come,
Enter old Capulet.
The second Cocke hath Crow'd,
The Curphew Bell hath rung, 'tis three a clocke:
Looke to the bakte meates, good Angelica,
Spare not for cost.
curfew-bell, morning-bell. Possibly curfew-bell used here means that the same bell which was used for the curfew was now rung as the morning bell, i.e. as the signal to get up and light the fires. DeightonRJ
baked meats. Either meat baked in an oven or meat pies.
Angelica, Whether Angelica refers to Lady Capulet or the nurse is uncertain. DeightonRJ
Go, you
Get you to bed; faith, you'll be sick tomorrow
For
Go, you
Get you to bed, faith youle be sicke to morrow
For this nights watching.
cot-quean, A man who busies himself with women's affairs. KickAssGlossary
A busy-body in household affairs. DeightonRJ
cot-quean, A man who busies himself with women's affairs. KickAssGlossary
A busy-body in household affairs. DeightonRJ
No not
All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick.
No not
All night for lesse cause, and nere beene sicke.
Ay, you have been a
But I will watch you from such watching now.
Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse
Ay, you have been a
Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse
But I will watch you from such watching now.
Exit Lady and Nurse.
mouse-hunt, One who runs after women DeightonRJ
'Mouse' as a term of endearment for a woman is found in other plays by Shakespeare. HudsonRJ
As a cat hunts mice.
A
Enter three or four Servingmen, with spits, logs, and baskets
Now fellow, What is there?
A
Enter three or four Servingmen, with spits, logs, and baskets
Now fellow, what is there?
Now fellow, what is there?
Things for the cook, sir; but I know not what.
Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what.
Enter three or foure with spits, and logs, and baskets.
Make haste, make haste.
Exit First Servant
Sirrah, fetch drier logs:
Call Peter, he will show thee where they are.
Make haste, make haste.
Exit First Servant
Sirrah, fetch drier logs: call Peter, he will show thee where they are.
Call Peter, he will shew thee where they are.
I have a head, sir, that will find out logs,
And never trouble Peter for the matter.
I have a head, sir, that will find out logs, and never trouble Peter for the matter.
And neuer trouble Peter for the matter.
Thou shalt be logger-head. Good faith, 'tis day:
The
For so he said he would: I hear him near.
Music within
Nurse! Wife!
Enter Nurse
Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up;
I'll go and chat with Paris:
Make haste; the bridegroom he is come already:
30Make haste, I say.
Exeunt
Music within
Nurse, wife,
Enter Nurse
Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up.
I'll go and chat with Paris.
Make haste, I say.
Exeunt
Thou shalt be loggerhead; good Father, 'tis day.
Play Musicke
The Countie will be here with Musicke straight,
For so he said he would, I heare him neere,
Nurse, wife, what ho? what Nurse I say?
Enter Nurse.
Go waken Iuliet, go and trim her vp,
Ile go and chat with Paris: hie, make hast,
Make hast, the Bridegroome, he is come already:
Make hast I say.
whoreson, litterally a 'whore's son' but used here jokingly.
logger-head, A play on the word 'logger-head' meaning both a blockhead and a head that knows where to find logs.
Act IV. Scene V. Juliet's chamber.
Enter Nurse
Mistress! what, mistress! Juliet?
Why lamb! why lady! fie, you
Why love, I say! madam, sweet-heart! why bride!
What not a word? you take your
Sleep for a week; for the next night, I warrant,
The
That you shall rest but little. God forgive me,
I must needs wake her. Madam, madam, madam!
10Ay, let
He'll
Opens the curtains
What, dress'd! and in your clothes! and down again!
I must needs wake you; Lady! lady! lady!
Alas, alas! Help, help! my lady's dead!
O
Some
Mistress, what mistress? Juliet?
How sound is she asleep.
I must needs wake her. Madam, madam, madam!
Ay, let
Opens the curtains
What, dress'd, and in your clothes, and down again?
I must needs wake you. Lady, lady, lady!
Why Lambe, why Lady? fie you sluggabed,
Why Loue I say? Madam, sweet heart: why Bride?
What not a word? You take your peniworths now.
Sleepe for a weeke, for the next night I warrant
The Countie Paris hath set vp his rest,
That you shall rest but little, God forgiue me:
Marrie and Amen: how sound is she a sleepe?
I must needs wake her: Madam, Madam, Madam,
I, let the Countie take you in your bed,
Heele fright you vp yfaith. Will it not be?
What drest, and in your clothes, and downe againe?
I must needs wake you: Lady, Lady, Lady?
Alas, alas, helpe, helpe, my Ladyes dead,
Oh weladay, that euer I was borne,
Some Aqua-vitae ho, my Lord, my Lady?
slug-a-bed, slug-abed, slug in a bed, lazy creature; 'slug' being often used as a type of laziness from its sleepy motion. The word here; however, seems like a coinage of the Nurse, a compound of 'sluggard' and ' lie-abed.'
take you, catch you asleep; or you can take it as a sexual reference
aqua vitae, Any strong alcohol but especially brandy
Enter Lady Capulet
What noise is here?
What noise is here?
O lamentable day!
O lamentable day.
Enter Mother.
What is the matter?
What is the matter?
Look, look! O heavy day!
Look, look! O heavy day.
O me, O me! My child, my only life,
Help, help! Call help.
O me, O me! My child, my only life,
Reuiue, looke vp, or I will die with thee:
Helpe, helpe, call helpe.
Enter Capulet
Enter Father.
She's dead, deceased, she's dead;
She's dead, deceased, she's dead.
Ha! let me see her:
Her blood
Life and these lips have long been separated:
30Death lies on her like an untimely
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.
Ha, let me see her:
Death lies on her like an untimely
Her blood is setled and her ioynts are stiffe:
Life and these lips haue long bene seperated:
Death lies on her like an vntimely frost
Vpon the swetest flower of all the field.
O lamentable day!
O lamentable day!
O woful time!
O woful time!
Death that hath ta'en her hence to make me
Ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak.
Death that hath ta'en her hence to make me
Ties vp my tongue, and will not let me speake.
Enter Friar Laurence and Paris, with musicians
Come, is the bride ready to go to church?
Come, is the bride ready to go to church?
Enter Frier and the Countie.
Ready to go, but never to return.
O son! the night before thy wedding-day
Hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies,
40Flower as she was, deflowered by him.
Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir;
My daughter he hath wedded: I will die,
And leave him all; life, living, all is Death's.
Ready to go, but never to return. O son, the night before thy wedding-day hath Death lain with thy wife. There she lies, flower as she was, deflowered by him. Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir, my daughter he hath wedded.
I will die, and leave him all; life, living, all is Death's.
O Sonne, the night before thy wedding day,
Hath death laine with thy wife: there she lies,
Flower as she was, deflowred by him.
Death is my Sonne in law, death is my Heire,
My Daughter he hath wedded. I will die,
And leaue him all life liuing, all is deaths.
Have I
And doth it give me such a sight as this?
Have I
And doth it giue me such a sight as this?
Most miserable hour that e'er time saw
In
And cruel death hath
Most miserable houre, that ere time saw
In lasting labour of his Pilgrimage.
But one, poore one, one poore and louing Child,
But one thing to reioyce and solace in,
And cruell death hath catcht it from my sight.
O woe! O woful, woful, woful day!
Most lamentable day, most woful day,
That ever, ever, I did yet behold!
O day! O day! O day! O hateful day!
Never was seen so black a day as this:
O woful day, O woful day!
O woe, O woful, woful, woful day. Most lamentable day, most woful day, That ever, ever, I did yet behold. O day, O day, O day, O hateful day. Never was seen so black a day as this. O woful day, O woful day.
Most lamentable day, most wofull day,
That euer, euer, I did yet behold.
O day, O day, O day, O hatefull day,
Neuer was seene so blacke a day as this:
O wofull day, O wofull day.
Most detestable death, by thee
By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown!
O love! O life! not life, but love in death!
Most detestable death, by thee beguil'd,
By cruell, cruell thee, quite ouerthrowne:
O loue, O life; not life, but loue in death.
Despised,
To murder, murder our
O child! O child! my soul, and not my child!
Dead art thou! Alack! my child is dead;
And with my child my joys are buried.
Despised,
Vncomfortable time, why cam'st thou now
To murther, murther our solemnitie?
O Child, O Child; my soule, and not my Child,
Dead art thou, alacke my Child is dead,
And with my Child, my ioyes are buried.
Peace ho,
In these
Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all,
And all the better
Your part in her you could not keep from death,
But heaven keeps his part in eternal life.
The most you
For 'twas your heaven she should be advanced:
And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced
Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself?
O in this love, you love your child so
That you run mad, seeing that she is well:
80She's not well married that lives married long;
But she's best married that dies married young.
Dry up your tears, and stick your
On this fair
In all her best
For though fond nature bids us
Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment.
Peace ho,
In these confusions, heauen and your selfe
Had part in this faire Maid, now heauen hath all,
And all the better is it for the Maid:
Your part in her, you could not keepe from death,
But heauen keepes his part in eternall life:
The most you sought was her promotion,
For 'twas your heauen, she shouldst be aduan'st,
And weepe ye now, seeing she is aduan'st
Aboue the Cloudes, as high as Heauen it selfe?
O in this loue, you loue your Child so ill,
That you run mad, seeing that she is well:
Shee's not well married, that liues married long,
But shee's best married, that dies married yong.
Drie vp your teares, and sticke your Rosemarie
On this faire Coarse, and as the custome is,
And in her best array beare her to Church:
For though some Nature bids all vs lament,
Yet Natures teares are Reasons merriment.
rosemary, An herb commonly used at weddings and funerals as an emblem of immortality - as the plant is an evergreen, and of lasting affection. It is supposed to strengthen the memory of a person or event. DeightonRJ
All things that we
Turn from their
Our
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
Our solemn hymns to sullen
Our bridal flowers serve for a buried
And all things change
All things that we
Turne from their office to blacke Funerall:
Our instruments to melancholy Bells,
Our wedding cheare, to a sad buriall Feast:
Our solemne Hymnes, to sullen Dyrges change:
Our Bridall flowers serue for a buried Coarse:
And all things change them to the contrarie.
Sir go you in; and madam, go with him;
And go Sir Paris; every one prepare
To follow this fair
The heavens do
Exeunt Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence
Sir go you in, and madam go with him;
and go Sir Paris; every one prepare
to follow this fair
Exeunt Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar Laurence
And go sir Paris, euery one prepare
To follow this faire Coarse vnto her graue:
The heauens do lowre vpon you, for some ill:
Moue them no more, by crossing their high will.
Exeunt.
The heavens do lour upon you for some ill, ill = evil deed.
Spoiler alert, the evil deed is the feud between the families.
Faith, we
Faith, we
Honest goodfellows, ah, put up, put up;
For well you know, this is a pitiful
Exit
Honest goodfellows, ah put up, put up
for well you know, this is a pitiful
Exit
For well you know, this is a pitifull case.
Ay
Ay
Enter Peter
Musicians, O, musicians,
"Heart's ease, Heart's ease:" O, an you will have me live,
Musicians, O, musicians,
"Heart's ease, Heart's ease:" O, an you will have me live,
Enter Peter.
Hearts ease, hearts ease,
O, and you will haue me liue, play hearts ease.
Why "Heart's ease"?
Why "Heart's ease"?
O musicians, because my heart itself plays "My
heart is full of woe:" O, play me some merry
to comfort me.
O musicians, because my heart itself plays "My
heart is full of woe:" O, play me some merry
Because my heart it selfe plaies, my heart is full.
Not a
Not a
You will not, then?
You will not, then?
No.
No.
I will then give it you soundly.
I will then give it you soundly.
What will you give us?
What will you give us?
No money, on my faith, but the gleek;
I will
No money, on my faith, but the gleek:
I will
I will giue you the Minstrell.
Then I will
Then I will
Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on
your
I'll "fa" you; do you note me?
Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on
your
on your pate. I will carie no Crochets, Ile Re you, Ile Fa
you, do you note me?
re, fa, do re mi fa so, musical notes
An you "re" us and "fa" us, you note us.
An you "re" us and "fa" us, you note us.
Pray you, put up your dagger, and
Pray you, put up your dagger, and
And put out your wit.
Then haue at you with my wit.
Then have at you with my wit! I will
with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer
me like men:
"When griping grief the heart doth wound,
And doleful
Then music with her silver sound"--
why 'silver sound'? why 'music with her silver
sound'? What say you, Simon
Then have at you with my wit! I will
me like men:
"When griping grief the heart doth wound,
And doleful
Then music with her silver sound."
Why 'silver sound'? Why 'music with her silver
sound'? What say you, Simon
And put vp my yron Dagger.
Answere me like men:
When griping griefes the heart doth wound, then Mu-
sicke with her siluer sound.
Why siluer sound? why Musicke with her siluer sound?
what say you Simon Catling?
Catling, Catgut; the intestines of sheep from which the strings of string instruments are made.
Marry, sir, because
Marry, sir, because
Pretty! What say you, Hugh
Pretty! What say you, Hugh
Rebeck, a three-stringed fiiddle
I say "silver sound", because musicians
I say "silver sound", because musicians
Prates too! What say you, James Soundpost?
Prates too! What say you, James Soundpost?
Soundpost, Soundpost is the pillar or peg which supports the belly of a stringed instrument. HudsonRJ
Faith, I know not what to say.
Faith, I know not what to say.
O I
for you. It is "music with her silver sound",
because musicians have no gold for sounding:
"Then music with her silver sound
With speedy help doth lend
Exit
O I
Exit
I will say for you; it is Musicke with her siluer sound,
Because Musitions haue no gold for sounding:
Then Musicke with her siluer sound, with speedy helpe
doth lend redresse.
Exit.
What a
What a
mourners, and stay dinner.
Exeunt
Exeunt
M.2. Hang him Iacke, come weele in here, tarrie for
the Mourners, and stay dinner.
Exit.
Jack, 'Jack' is often used in Shakespeare and by other Elizabethan dramatists contemptuously for 'fellow.' HudsonRJ
Act V
Act V. Scene I. Mantua. A street.
Enter Romeo
If I may trust the
My dreams
And all this day an
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead
(Strange dream, that gives a dead man
to think)
And breathed such life with kisses in my lips,
10That I revived, and was an emperor.
Ah me! how sweet is love
When but love's shadows are so rich in joy!
Enter Romeo's man, Balthasar, in his riding clothes
News from Verona!--How now, Balthasar!
Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar?
How doth my lady? Is my father well?
How fares my Juliet? that I ask again;
For nothing can be ill, if she be well.
If I may trust the
Enter Romeo's man, Balthasar, in his riding clothes
News from Verona. How now, Balthasar?
Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar?
How doth my lady? Is my father well?
How fares my Juliet? That I ask again
for nothing can be ill, if she be well.
Enter Romeo.
My dreames presage some ioyfull newes at hand:
My bosomes L. sits lightly in his throne:
And all this day an vnaccustom'd spirit,
Lifts me aboue the ground with cheerefull thoughts.
I dreamt my Lady came and found me dead,
(Strange dreame that giues a dead man leaue to thinke,)
And breath'd such life with kisses in my lips,
That I reuiu'd and was an Emperour.
Ah me, how sweet is loue it selfe possest,
When but loues shadowes are so rich in ioy.
Enter Romeo's man.
Newes from Verona, how now Balthazer?
Dost thou not bring me Letters from the Frier?
How doth my Lady? Is my Father well?
How doth my Lady Iuliet? that I aske againe,
For nothing can be ill, if she be well.
Then she is well, and nothing can be ill:
Her body sleeps in
And her immortal
I saw her laid low in her
And presently
O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,
Since you did leave
Then she is well, and nothing can be ill.
Her body sleeps in
Her body sleepes in Capels Monument,
And her immortall part with Angels liue,
I saw her laid low in her kindreds Vault,
And presently tooke Poste to tell it you:
O pardon me for bringing these ill newes,
Since you did leaue it for my office Sir.
took post. Literally mounted a post-horse. 'Post' originally signified a fixed place, as a military post; then, a fixed place along a well-travelled road where horses were kept for travelling, a stage, or station; then it was applied to the person who travelled using relays of horses, and finally, to any quick traveler.
Is it
Thou know'st
And hire post-horses; I will hence tonight.
Is it
Then I denie you Starres.
Thou knowest my lodging, get me inke and paper,
And hire Post-Horses, I will hence to night.
I do beseech you, sir, have patience:
Your looks are pale and wild, and do import
30Some misadventure.
I do beseech you, sir, have patience: Your looks are pale and wild, and do import some misadventure.
Your lookes are pale and wild, and do import
Some misaduenture.
Tush, thou art
Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do.
Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?
Tush, thou art
Leaue me, and do the thing I bid thee do.
Hast thou no Letters to me from the Frier?
No, my good lord.
No, my good lord.
Exit Man.
No matter: get thee gone,
And hire those horses; I'll be with thee straight.
Exit Balthasar
Well Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.
Let's see
To enter in the thoughts of desperate men!
40I do remember an apothecary,
And hereabouts he dwells, which late I noted
In tatter'd
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones:
And in his
An alligator stuff'd, and other skins
Of
A
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds,
50Remnants of
Were thinly
Noting this
"An if a man did need a poison now,
Whose sale is
Here lives a
O this same thought did but
And this same needy man must sell it me.
As I remember, this should be the house.
No matter: get thee gone, and hire those horses. I'll be with thee straight.
Exit Balthasar
Well Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.
Let's see
And hyre those Horses, Ile be with thee straight,
Well Iuliet, I will lie with thee to night:
Lets see for meanes, O mischiefe thou art swift,
To enter in the thoughts of desperate men:
I do remember an Appothecarie,
And here abouts dwells, which late I noted
In tattred weeds, with ouerwhelming browes,
Culling of Simples, meager were his lookes,
Sharp miserie had worne him to the bones:
And in his needie shop a Tortoyrs hung,
An Allegater stuft, and other skins
Of ill shap'd fishes, and about his shelues,
A beggerly account of emptie boxes ,
Greene earthen pots, Bladders, and mustie seedes,
Remnants of packthred, and old cakes of Roses
Were thinly scattered, to make vp a shew.
Noting this penury, to my selfe I said,
An if a man did need a poyson now,
Whose sale is present death in Mantua,
Here liues a Caitiffe wretch would sell it him.
O this same thought did but fore-run my need,
And this same needie man must sell it me.
As I remember, this should be the house,
Being holy day, the beggers shop is shut.
What ho? Appothecarie?
an apothecary, One who sells drugs for medicinal use. KickAssGlossary
simple, noun. Aa single ingredient in a compound, especially in a compounded medicine
Enter Apothecary
Who calls so loud?
Who calls so loud?
Enter Appothecarie.
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor:
Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have
A dram of poison, such
As will disperse itself through all the veins
That the life-weary taker may fall dead
And that the
As violently as
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor:
hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have
a dram of poison, such
Hold, there is fortie Duckets, let me haue
A dram of poyson, such soone speeding geare,
As will disperse it selfe through all the veines,
That the life-wearie-taker may fall dead,
And that the Trunke may be discharg'd of breath,
As violently, as hastie powder fier'd
Doth hurry from the fatall Canons wombe.
Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law
Is death to any he that
Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua's law
is death to any he that
Is death to any he, that vtters them.
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes,
The world is not thy friend nor the world's law;
The world affords no law to make thee rich;
Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fear'st to die? Famine is in thy cheekes,
Need and opression starueth in thy eyes,
Contempt and beggery hangs vpon thy backe:
The world is not thy friend, nor the worlds law:
The world affords no law to make thee rich.
Then be not poore, but breake it, and take this.
My poverty, but not my will, consents.
My poverty, but not my will, consents.
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.
I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off;
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off;
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
And drinke it off, and if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.
There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls,
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and
Come,
To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.
Exeunt
There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls,
Come,
Exeunt
Worse poyson to mens soules,
Doing more murther in this loathsome world,
Then these poore compounds that thou maiest not sell.
I sell thee poyson, thou hast sold me none,
Farewell, buy food, and get thy selfe in flesh.
Come Cordiall, and not poyson, go with me
To Iuliets graue, for there must I vse thee.
Exeunt.
cordial, A medicine that raises the spirits; anything that comforts and gladdens the heart. KickAssGlossary
Holy Franciscan friar, Friar Laurence and his associates belonged to the Franciscan order of friar's. In his kindliness, his learning, and his inclination to mix with and, perhaps, control the affairs of the world he is a good representative of this distinguished order in its best days. Franciscans managed the details of every important operation or event, both in the religious and political world.
The Franciscan order trace their rule to St. Francis of Assisi. The rule originally prescribed by St. Francis was very strict, and, rigidly enforced, would have made all the members of the order pious beggars. The order soon became one of the most important of the mediaeval monastic orders, and produced a long array of distinguished theologians and churchmen. DeightonRJ
Act V. Scene II. Friar Laurence's cell.
Enter Friar John
Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho!
Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho!
Enter Frier Iohn to Frier Lawrence.
Enter Friar Laurence
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome
Or if
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome
Enter Frier Lawrence.
Welcome from Mantua, what sayes Romeo?
Or if his mind be writ, giue me his Letter.
Going to find a bare-foot brother out
One of our order, to
Here in this city visiting the sick,
Suspecting that we both were in a house
10Where the infectious pestilence did reign,
Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us
So that my speed to Mantua
Going to find a bare-foot brother out
one of our order, to
One of our order to associate me,
Here in this Citie visiting the sick,
And finding him, the Searchers of the Towne
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did raigne,
Seal'd vp the doores, and would not let vs forth,
So that my speed to Mantua there was staid.
bare-foot brother, i.e., a member of our order, who, as our rules require, goes barefooted in his walks. DeightonRJ
searchers, Those appointed to find out which houses were infected by the plague and to quarantine them. DeightonRJ
Seal'd up the doors, Put an official seal on the doors, thus marking the house as one not to be entered from the outside nor anyone inside be allowed to exit. Wikipedia
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?
I could not send it, here it is again,
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.
I could not send it, here it is again, nor get a messenger to bring it thee, so fearful were they of infection.
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearefull were they of infection.
Unhappy fortune!
The letter was not
Of
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence;
Get me an iron
Unto my cell.
Unhappy fortune!
Friar John, go hence.
Get me an iron
The Letter was not nice; but full of charge,
Of deare import; and the neglecting it
May do much danger: Frier Iohn go hence,
Get me an Iron Crow, and bring it straight
Vnto my Cell.
Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.
Exit
Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.
Exit
Exit.
Now must I to the
Within three hours will fair Juliet wake:
She will
Hath had no notice of
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my
Poor living
Exit
Now must I to the
Poor living
Exit
Within this three houres will faire Iuliet wake,
Shee will beshrew me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents:
But I will write againe to Mantua,
And keepe her at my Cell till Romeo come,
Poore liuing Coarse, clos'd in a dead mans Tombe,
Exit.
Act V. Scene III. A churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the Capulets.
Enter Paris, and his Page bearing flowers and a torch
Give me thy torch, boy:
Yet put
Under yond yew-trees
Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground;
So
Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves,
As signal that thou hear'st something approach.
Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.
Give me thy torch, boy,
Do as I bid thee, go.
Enter Paris and his Page.
Yet put it out, for I would not be seene:
Vnder yond young Trees lay thee all along,
Holding thy eare close to the hollow ground,
So shall no foot vpon the Churchyard tread,
Being loose, vnfirme with digging vp of Graues,
But thou shalt heare it: whistle then to me,
As signall that thou hearest some thing approach,
Giue me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.
Speaking to himself
I am almost afraid to stand alone
Here in the churchyard; yet I will
Retires
Speaking to himself
I am almost afraid to stand alone
here in the churchyard, yet I will
Retires
Here in the Churchyard, yet I will aduenture.
Sweet Flower with flowers thy bridal bed I strew,
O woe! thy
Which with
Or wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans:
The
Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.
The Page whistles
The boy gives warning something doth approach.
What cursed foot wanders this way tonight,
20To cross my obsequies and true love's rite?
What with a torch! muffle me, night, awhile.
Retires
Sweet Flower with flowers thy bridal bed I strew:
O woe, thy
The Page whistles
The boy gives warning something doth approach. What cursed foot wanders this way tonight, to cross my obsequies and true love's rite? What with a torch? Muffle me, night, awhile.
Retires
O woe, thy Canopie is dust and stones,
Which with sweet water nightly I will dewe,
Or wanting that, with teares destil'd by mones;
The obsequies that I for thee will keepe,
Nightly shall be, to strew thy graue, and weepe.
Whistle Boy.
The Boy giues warning, something doth approach,
What cursed foot wanders this wayes to night,
To crosse my obsequies, and true loues right?
What with a Torch? Muffle me night a while.
Enter Romeo and Balthasar, with a torch and mattock
Give me that
Hold, take this letter; early in the morning
See thou deliver it to my lord and father.
Give me the light: upon thy life, I charge thee,
Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof,
And do not interrupt me in my course.
Why I descend into this bed of death,
Is partly to behold my lady's face;
30But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger
A precious ring, a ring that I must use
In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone:
But if thou
In what I further shall intend to do,
By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint
And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs:
More fierce and more
Than
Give me that
Enter Romeo, and Peter.
Hold take this Letter, early in the morning
See thou deliuer it to my Lord and Father,
Giue me the light; vpon thy life I charge thee,
What ere thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloofe,
And do not interrupt me in my course.
Why I descend into this bed of death,
Is partly to behold my Ladies face:
But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger,
A precious Ring, a Ring that I must vse,
In deare employment, therefore hence be gone:
But if thou iealous dost returne to prie
In what I further shall intend to do,
By heauen I will teare thee ioynt by ioynt,
And strew this hungry Churchyard with thy limbs:
The time, and my intents are sauage wilde:
More fierce and more inexorable farre,
Them emptie Tygers, or the roaring Sea.
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
So shalt thou show me friendship:
Live and be prosperous: and farewell, good fellow.
So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that, live and be prosperous, and farewell, good fellow.
Liue and be prosperous, and farewell good fellow.
Live and be prosperous, 'Live long and prosper'
Spock? Is that you Spock? You crafty Vulcan you.
Speaking to himself
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
Retires
Speaking to himself
Retires
His lookes I feare, and his intents I doubt.
Thou detestable
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And in
Opens the tomb
Thou detestable
Opens the tomb
Gorg'd with the dearest morsell of the earth:
Thus I enforce thy rotten Iawes to open,
And in despight, Ile cram thee with more food.
This is that banish'd
That murder'd my love's
It is supposed, the fair
And here is come to do some villanous shame
To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.
Comes forward
Stop thy
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee:
Obey and go with me; for thou must die.
This is that banish'd
Comes forward
Stop thy
That murdred my Loues Cozin; with which griefe,
It is supposed the faire Creature died,
And here is come to do some villanous shame
To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.
Stop thy vnhallowed toyle, vile Mountague:
Can vengeance be pursued further then death?
Condemned villaine, I do apprehend thee.
Obey and go with me, for thou must die,
I
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man;
60Let them
Put not another sin upon my head,
By urging me to fury: O, be gone!
By heaven I love thee better than myself;
For I come hither
Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say,
A madman's mercy bade thee run away.
I
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man,
Flie hence and leaue me, thinke vpon those gone,
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee Youth,
Put not an other sin vpon my head,
By vrging me to furie. O be gone,
By heauen I loue thee better then my selfe,
For I come hither arm'd against my selfe:
Stay not, be gone, liue, and hereafter say,
A mad mans mercy bid thee run away.
I do defy thy
And apprehend thee for a felon here.
I do defy thy
And apprehend thee for a Fellon here.
Wilt thou provoke me? then
They fight
Wilt thou provoke me? Then
They fight
O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.
Exit
O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.
Exit
O, I am slain!
Falls
If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.
Dies
O, I am slain!
Falls
If thou be merciful, open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.
Dies
Open the Tombe, lay me with Iuliet.
In faith, I will. Let me
Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris!
What said my
Did not
He told me Paris should have married Juliet:
80Said he not so? or did I dream it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet,
To think it was so? O give me thy hand,
One
I'll bury thee in a
A grave? O no! a lantern, slaughter'd youth,
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man
Laying Paris in the tomb
How oft when men are at the point of death
90Have they been merry! which their keepers call
A lightning before death: O, how may I
Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife!
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O what more favour can I do to thee,
100Than with that hand that cut thy youth
To
Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe
That
And that
Thee here in dark to be his
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again: here, here will I remain
110With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest,
And shake the yoke of
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A
Come bitter conduct, come
Thou desperate pilot, now at once
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
120Here's to my love!
Drinks
O
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
Dies
In faith, I will. Let me
Laying Paris in the tomb
How oft when men are at the point of death
have they been merry, which their keepers call
a lightning before death. O, how may I
call this a lightning? O my love, my wife!
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
thou art not conquer'd, beauty's
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O what more favour can I do to thee,
than with that hand that cut thy youth
Drinks
O
Dies
Mercutius kinsman, Noble Countie Paris,
What said my man, when my betossed soule
Did not attend him as we rode? I thinke
He told me Paris should haue married Iuliet.
Said he not so? Or did I dreame it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talke of Iuliet,
To thinke it was so? O giue me thy hand,
One, writ with me in sowre misfortunes booke.
Ile burie thee in a triumphant graue.
A Graue; O no, a Lanthorne; slaughtred Youth:
For here lies Iuliet, and her beautie makes
This Vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death lie thou there, by a dead man inter'd,
How oft when men are at the point of death,
Haue they beene merrie? Which their Keepers call
A lightning before death? Oh how may I
Call this a lightning? O my Loue, my Wife,
Death that hath suckt the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet vpon thy Beautie:
Thou are not conquer'd: Beauties ensigne yet
Is Crymson in thy lips, and in thy cheekes,
And Deaths pale flag is not aduanced there.
Tybalt, ly'st thou there in thy bloudy sheet?
O what more fauour can I do to thee,
Then with that hand that cut thy youth in twaine,
To sunder his that was thy enemie?
Forgiue me Cozen. Ah deare Iuliet:
Why art thou yet so faire? I will beleeue,
Shall I beleeue, that vnsubstantiall death is amorous?
And that the leane abhorred Monster keepes
Thee here in darke to be his Paramour?
For feare of that, I still will stay with thee,
And neuer from this Pallace of dym night
Depart againe: come lie thou in my armes,
Heere's to thy health, where ere thou tumblest in.
O true Appothecarie!
Thy drugs are quicke. Thus with a kisse I die.
Depart againe; here, here will I remaine,
With Wormes that are thy Chambermaides: O here
Will I set vp my euerlasting rest:
And shake the yoke of inauspicious starres
From this world-wearied flesh: Eyes looke your last:
Armes take your last embrace: And lips, O you
The doores of breath, seale with a righteous kisse
A datelesse bargaine to ingrossing death:
Come bitter conduct, come vnsauory guide,
Thou desperate Pilot, now at once run on
The dashing Rocks, thy Sea-sicke wearie Barke:
Heere's to my Loue. O true Appothecary:
Thy drugs are quicke. Thus with a kisse I die.
A lightning before death A proverbial phrase, partly deduced from observation of some extraordinary effort of nature, often made by sick persons just before death; and partly from a superstitious notion of an ominous and preternatural laughter, supposed to come on at that period, without any ostensible reason. DeightonRJ
Enter, at the other end of the churchyard, Friar Laurence, with a lantern, crowbar and a spade
Saint Francis
Have my old feet stumbled at graves! Who's there?
Saint Francis
Enter Frier with a Lanthorne, Crow, and Spade.
Haue my old feet stumbled at graues? Who's there?
Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well.
Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well.
Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend,
What torch is yond that
To grubs and eyeless skulls? as I discern,
It burneth in the
Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend,
what torch is yond that
As I discern
it burneth in the
What Torch is yond that vainely lends his light
To grubs, and eyelesse Sculles? As I discerne,
It burneth in the Capels Monument.
It doth so, holy sir; and there's my master,
One that you love.
It doth so, holy sir: And there's my master, one that you love.
And there's my Master, one that you loue.
Who is it?
Who is it?
Romeo.
Romeo.
How long hath he been there?
How long hath he been there?
Full half an hour.
Full half an hour.
Go with me to the vault.
Go with me to the vault.
I dare not, sir
My master
And fearfully did
If I did stay to look on
I dare not, sir,
my master
My Master knowes not but I am gone hence,
And fearefully did menace me with death,
If I did stay to looke on his entents.
Stay, then; I'll go alone. Fear comes upon me:
O much I fear some
Stay, thenm I'll go alone. Fear comes upon me,
O much I fear some
O much I feare some ill vnluckie thing.
As I did sleep under this yew-tree here,
I dreamt my master and another fought,
And that my master slew him.
As I did sleep under this yew-tree here, I dreamt my master and another fought, and that my master slew him.
I dreamt my maister and another fought,
And that my Maister slew him.
Romeo!
Advances
Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains
The stony entrance of this sepulchre?
What mean these
To lie
Enters the tomb
Romeo, O
And steep'd in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour
Is guilty of this lamentable
The lady stirs.
Juliet wakes up
Romeo!
Advances
Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains
the stony entrance of this sepulchre?
What mean these
Enters the tomb
Romeo, O
The lady stirs.
Juliet wakes up
Alacke, alacke, what blood is this which staines
The stony entrance of this Sepulcher?
What meane these Masterlesse, and goarie Swords
To lie discolour'd by this place of peace?
Romeo, oh pale: who else? what Paris too?
And steept in blood? Ah what an vnkind houre
Is guiltie of this lamentable chance?
The Lady stirs.
O
I do remember well where I should be,
And
Noise within
O
Where is my Romeo?
Noise within
I do remember well where I should be:
And there I am, where is my Romeo?
I hear some noise. Lady, come from that
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:
160A greater power than we can
Hath thwarted our
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too. Come, I'll
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns:
Stay not to question, for the
Come, go, good Juliet,
Noise again
I dare no longer stay.
I hear some noise. Lady, come from that
Come, go, good Juliet,
Noise again
I dare no longer stay.
Of death, contagion, and vnnaturall sleepe,
A greater power then we can contradict
Hath thwarted our entents, come, come away,
Thy husband in thy bosome there lies dead:
And Paris too: come Ile dispose of thee,
Among a Sisterhood of holy Nunnes:
Stay not to question, for the watch is comming.
Come, go good Iuliet, I dare no longer stay.
Exit.
watch, One or more persons set for a guard; watchman or watchmen, sentinel, guard. DeightonRJ
Go
Exit Friar Laurence
What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand?
170Poison, I see, hath been his
O
To help me
To
Kisses him
Thy lips are warm.
Go
Exit Friar Laurence
What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his
Kisses him
Thy lips are warm.
What's here, A cup clos'd in my true loues hand?
Poyson I see hath bin his timelesse end
O churle, drinke all? and left no friendly drop,
To helpe me after, I will kisse thy lips,
Happlie some poyson yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restoratiue.
Thy lips are warme.
[Within]
Lead, boy: which way?
[Within]
Lead, boy. Which way?
Enter Boy and Watch.
Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!
Snatching Romeo's dagger
This is thy sheath;
Stabs herself
there rust, and let me die.
Falls on Romeo's body and dies
Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!
Snatching Romeo's dagger
This is thy sheath.
Stabs herself
There rust, and let me die.
Falls on Romeo's body and dies
Then ile be briefe. O happy Dagger.
'Tis in thy sheath, there rust and let me die. Kils herselfe.
Enter the guards with Paris' page
This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn.
This is the place: there, where the torch doth burn.
There where the Torch doth burne
The ground is bloody; search about the churchyard:
Go some of you, whoe'er you find
Pitiful sight! here lies the county slain,
And Juliet bleeding, warm and newly dead,
Who here hath lain these two days buried.
Go, tell the Prince: run to the Capulets:
We see the ground whereon these woes do lie;
But the true ground of all these
We cannot without
The ground is bloody, search about the churchyard.
Go some of you, whoe'er you find
Search about the Churchyard.
Go some of you, who ere you find attach.
Pittifull sight, here lies the Countie slaine,
And Iuliet bleeding, warme and newly dead
Who here hath laine these two dayes buried.
Go tell the Prince, runne to the Capulets,
Raise vp the Mountagues, some others search,
We see the ground whereon these woes do lye,
But the true ground of all these piteous woes,
We cannot without circumstance descry.
attach, apprehend; a legal term.
Enter some of the Watch, with Balthasar
Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard.
Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard.
Enter Romeo's man.
We found him in the Churchyard.
Hold him in safety, till the Prince come hither.
Hold him in safety, till the Prince come hither.
Enter others of the Watch with Friar Laurence
Here is a friar that trembles, sighs and weeps:
We took this
As he was coming from this churchyard side.
Here is a friar that trembles, sighs and weeps.
We took this
Enter Frier, and another Watchman.
We tooke this Mattocke and this Spade from him,
As he was comming from this Church-yard side.
A great suspicion:
A great suspicion:
Enter the Prince
What misadventure is so early up,
That calls our person from our morning's rest?
What misadventure is so early up that calls our person from our morning's rest?
Enter the Prince.
That calls our person from our mornings rest?
Enter Capulet and his Wife.
Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and others
What
What
The people in the street cry Romeo,
Some Juliet, and some Paris; and all run,
With open outcry toward our monument.
The people in the street cry Romeo,
some Juliet, and some Paris: and all run,
with open outcry toward our monument.
Some Iuliet, and some Paris, and all runne
With open outcry toward our Monument.
What fear is this which startles in our ears?
What fear is this which startles in our ears?
Sovereign, here lies the
And Romeo dead; and Juliet dead before,
Warm and new kill'd.
Sovereign, here lies the
and Romeo dead; and Juliet dead before,
warm and new kill'd.
And Romeo dead, and Iuliet dead before,
Warme and new kil'd.
Search, seek, and
Search, seek, and
Seeke, and know how, this foule murder comes.
Here is a friar, and slaughter'd Romeo's
With instruments upon them, fit to open
210These dead men's tombs.
Here is a friar, and slaughter'd Romeo's
With Instruments vpon them fit to open
These dead mens Tombes.
O heavens! O wife look how our daughter bleeds!
This dagger hath mista'en, for lo
Is empty on the
And it mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom!
O heavens! O wife look how our daughter bleeds,
this dagger hath mista'en, for lo
O wife looke how our Daughter bleedes!
This Dagger hath mistaine, for loe his house
Is empty on the backe of Mountague,
And is misheathed in my Daughters bosome.
O me! this sight of death is as a bell,
That
O me, this sight of death is as a bell,
that
That warnes my old age to a Sepulcher.
Enter Montague and others
Come, Montague; for thou art early up,
To see thy son and heir
Come, Montague, for thou art early up,
to see thy son and heir
Enter Mountague.
To see thy Sonne and Heire, now early downe.
Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight;
220Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath:
What further woe conspires against
Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight.
Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath.
What further woe conspires against
Griefe of my Sonnes exile hath stopt her breath:
What further woe conspires against my age?
Look: and thou shalt see.
Look: and thou shalt see.
O thou
To
O thou
To presse before thy Father to a graue?
Seal up the mouth of
Till we can
And know their
true descent;
And then will I be
And lead you even to death: meantime
And let
Bring forth the parties of
Seal up the mouth of
Bring forth the parties of
Till we can cleare these ambiguities,
And know their spring, their head, their true descent,
And then I will be generall of your woes,
And lead you euen to death? meane time forbeare,
And let mischance be slaue to patience,
Bring forth the parties of suspition.
I am the
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth
And here I stand, both to
Myself condemned and myself excused.
I am the
Yet most suspected as the time and place
Doth make against me of this direfull murther:
And heere I stand both to impeach and purge
My selfe condemned, and my selfe excus'd.
Then say at once what thou dost know in this.
Then say at once what thou dost know in this.
I will be brief, for my short
Is not so long as is
Romeo there dead, was husband to that Juliet;
And she there dead,
I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day
Was Tybalt's dooms-day, whose untimely death
Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from the city,
For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet
You, to remove that siege of grief from her,
Betroth'd and would have married her
To
And, with wild looks, bid me devise some
To
Or in my cell there would she kill herself.
Then gave I her, so tutor'd by my art,
A sleeping potion; which so took effect
As I intended, for it wrought on her
The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo,
That he should hither come as this dire night,
To help to take her from her borrow'd grave,
Being the time the potion's force should cease.
260But he which bore my letter, Friar John,
Was
Return'd my letter back. Then all alone
At the prefixed hour of her waking,
Came I to take her from her
Meaning to keep her
Till I conveniently could send to Romeo:
But when I came, some minute
Of her awaking, here untimely lay
The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.
270She wakes; and I entreated her come forth,
And bear this work of heaven with patience:
But then a noise did scare me from the tomb;
And she, too desperate, would not go with me,
But, as it seems, did violence on herself.
All this I know; and to the marriage
Her nurse is
Be sacrificed, some hour before his time,
Unto the
I will be brief, for my short
All this I know; and to the marriage
her nurse is
Is not so long as is a tedious tale.
Romeo there dead, was husband to that Iuliet,
And she there dead, that's Romeos faithfull wife:
I married them; and their stolne marriage day
Was Tybalts Doomesday: whose vntimely death
Banish'd the new-made Bridegroome from this Citie:
For whom (and not for Tybalt) Iuliet pinde.
You, to remoue that siege of Greefe from her,
Betroth'd, and would haue married her perforce
To Countie Paris. Then comes she to me,
And (with wilde lookes) bid me deuise some meanes
To rid her from this second Marriage,
Or in my Cell there would she kill her selfe.
Then gaue I her (so Tutor'd by my Art)
A sleeping Potion, which so tooke effect
As I intended, for it wrought on her
The forme of death. Meane time, I writ to Romeo,
That he should hither come, as this dyre night,
To helpe to take her from her borrowed graue,
Being the time the Potions force should cease.
But he which bore my Letter, Frier Iohn,
Was stay'd by accident; and yesternight
Return'd my Letter backe. Then all alone,
At the prefixed houre of her waking,
Came I to take her from her Kindreds vault,
Meaning to keepe her closely at my Cell,
Till I conueniently could send to Romeo.
But when I came (some Minute ere the time
Of her awaking) heere vntimely lay
The Noble Paris, and true Romeo dead.
Shee wakes, and I intreated her come foorth,
And beare this worke of Heauen, with patience:
But then, a noyse did scarre me from the Tombe,
And she (too desperate) would not go with me,
But (as it seemes) did violence on her selfe.
All this I know, and to the Marriage her Nurse is priuy:
And if ought in this miscarried by my fault,
Let my old life be sacrific'd, some houre before the time,
Vnto the rigour of seuerest Law.
Where's Romeo's man? what can he say in this?
Where's Romeo's man? What can he say to this?
I brought my master news of Juliet's death;
And then in
To this same place, to this same monument.
This letter he early bid me give his father,
And threatened me with death,
I departed not and left him there.
I brought my master news of Juliet's death;
and then in
And then in poste he came from Mantua
To this same place, to this same Monument.
This Letter he early bid me giue his Father,
And threatned me with death, going in the Vault,
If I departed not, and left him there.
Give me the letter; I will look on it.
Where is the
Sirrah, what made your master in this place?
Give me the letter, I will look on it.
Where is the
Sirrah, what made your master in this place?
Where is the Counties Page that rais'd the Watch?
Sirra, what made your Master in this place?
He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave;
And bid me stand
And by and by my master
And then I ran away to call the watch.
He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave,
and bid me stand
And bid me stand aloofe, and so I did:
Anon comes one with light to ope the Tombe,
And by and by my Maister drew on him,
And then I ran away to call the Watch.
This letter doth make good the friar's words,
Their course of love, the tidings of her death:
And here he writes that he did buy a poison
Of a poor 'pothecary, and
Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet.
Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague!
See, what a
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.
And I for
Have lost
This letter doth make good the friar's words,
their course of love, the tidings of her death.
And here he writes that he did buy a poison
of a poor 'pothecary, and
Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague,
see, what a
Their course of Loue, the tydings of her death:
And heere he writes, that he did buy a poyson
Of a poore Pothecarie, and therewithall
Came to this Vault to dye, and lye with Iuliet.
Where be these Enemies? Capulet, Mountague,
See what a scourge is laide vpon your hate,
That Heauen finds meanes to kill your ioyes with Loue;
And I, for winking at your discords too,
Haue lost a brace of Kinsmen: All are punish'd.
O brother Montague, give me thy hand:
This is my daughter's
Can I demand.
O brother Montague, give me thy hand:
this is my daughter's
This is my Daughters ioynture, for no more
Can I demand.
jointure, The property given to the wife by the husband when they are joined in marriage. DeightonRJ
But I can give thee more:
310For I will raise her statue in pure gold;
That while Verona by
There shall no
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
But I can give thee more:
for I will raise her statue in pure gold,
that while Verona by
For I will raise her Statue in pure Gold,
That whiles Verona by that name is knowne,
There shall no figure at that Rate be set,
As that of True and Faithfull Iuliet.
Poore sacrifices of our enmity.
A
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:
320For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
Exeunt
A
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
Exeunt
The Sunne for sorrow will not shew his head;
Go hence, to haue more talke of these sad things,
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished.
For neuer was a Storie of more Wo,
Then this of Iuliet, and her Romeo.
Exeunt omnes
FINIS
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