The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Newly corrected, augmented, and amended. As it hath been sundry times publicly acted, by the right honourable the Lord Chamberlain his servants.
London
Printed by Thomas Creed, for Cuthbert Burby, and are to be sold at his shop near the Exchange.
1599.
CHORUS 1 [DP:Frame] [DP:1] [BAN:Frame and Dedication] [BAN:2] [BAN:3] [BOA:1] [BOA:Sommaire] [BOA:3] [PAI:Argument] [PAI:3] [BR:Argument] [BR:4] [R&J-Q1:Prologue]The Prologue
Chorus.
CHORUS
Two households both alike in dignity,
(In fair Verona where we lay our scene)
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life,
Whose misadventur’d piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their death-marked love,
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which but their children’s end, naught could remove,
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
1.The first brawl in the street.1.a Sampson and Gregory (witty and bawdy punning). [R&J-Q1:1.a]
[1.1]
Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers, of the
house of Capulet.
SAMPSON Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.
GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON I mean, and we be in choler we’ll draw.
GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.
SAMPSON I strike quickly being moved.
GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
SAMPSON A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
GREGORY To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand:
therefore if thou art moved thou run’st away.
SAMPSON A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will
take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.
GREGORY That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes
to the wall.
SAMPSON ’Tis true, and therefore women being the weaker
vessels are ever thrust to the wall; therefore I will push.
Montague’s men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.
GREGORY The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
SAMPSON ’Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I
have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids, I will
cut off their heads.
GREGORY The heads of the maids?
SAMPSON Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.
take it in what sense thou wilt.
GREGORY They must take it in sense that feel it.
SAMPSON Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and ’tis
known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
GREGORY ’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst
been Poor John. Draw thy tool – here comes of the house of
Montagues.
1. The first brawl in the street.1.b Sampson and Gregory discuss how to start off a quarrel with the Montagues. [R&J-Q1:1.b]Enter two other Servingmen.
SAMPSON My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee.
GREGORY How, turn thy back and run?
SAMPSON Fear me not.
GREGORY No, marry, I fear thee!
SAMPSON Let us take the law of our sides: let them begin.
GREGORY I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
they list.
SAMPSON Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them,
which is disgrace to them if they bear it.
1.The first brawl in the street.1.c Sampson, Gregory and Abraham start off a quarrel. [R&J-Q1:1.c]ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON I do bite my thumb, sir.
ABRAHAM Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON Is the law of our side if I say “Ay”?
GREGORY No.
SAMPSON No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite
my thumb, sir.
GREGORY Do you quarrel, sir?
ABRAHAM Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
SAMPSON But if you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good a
man as you.
ABRAHAM No better.
SAMPSON Well, sir.
1.The first brawl in the street.1.d Enter Benvolio. They fight. Benvolio tries to part them. [R&J-Q1:1.d] Enter Benvolio.
GREGORY Say ‘better’, here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.
SAMPSON Yes, better, sir.
ABRAHAM You lie.
SAMPSON Draw if you be men. Gregory, remember thy
washing blow.
They fight.
BENVOLIO Part fools!
Put up your swords, you know not what you do.
1.The first brawl in the street.1.e Enters Tybalt. He challenges Benvolio. They fight.Enter Tybalt.
TYBALT What art thou drawn among these hartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO
I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.
TYBALT
What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward.
1.The first brawl in the street.1.f Enter Citizens. They fight.Enter three of four Citizens with Clubs or partisans.
OFFICER Clubs, bills, and partisans, strike, beat them down,
Down with the Capulets, down with the Montagues!
1. The first brawl in the street.1.g Enter Capulet and his wife. They fight.Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.
CAPULET What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?
CAPULET
My sword I say! Old Montague is come
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
1. The first brawl in the street.1.h Enter Montague. They fight.Enter old Montague and his Wife.
MONTAGUE Thou villain Capulet! Hold me not, let me go.
[MONTAGUE’S] WIFE.
Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.
2. Prince Escalus arrives and rebukes the Capulets and the Montagues. [DP:1] [BAN:4] [BOA:4] [PAI:4] [BR:5]2.a The Prince’s address to the rebellious subjects. [R&J-Q1:2.a]Enter Prince Escalus with his train.
PRINCE. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel –
Will they not hear? What ho! You men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins:
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground
And hear the sentence of your moved Prince.
2. Prince Escalus arrives and rebukes the Capulets and the Montagues. [DP:1] [BAN:4] [BOA:4] [PAI:4] [BR:5]2.b Narrative of the past three civil brawls. [R&J-Q1:1.b]Three civil brawls bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
2. Prince Escalus arrives and rebukes the Capulets and the Montagues. [DP:1] [BAN:4] [BOA:4] [PAI:4] [BR:5]2.c Threat of death sentence. Capulet and Montague are summoned to Freetown (“the common judgement place”). [BR:98] [R&J-Q1:2.c]If ever you disturb our streets again
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away.
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old Freetown, our common judgment place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. Exeunt.
[all but Montague, Montague’s Wife, and Benvolio.]
3. Benvolio’s narration of the brawl.3.a Montague enquires about who set off the quarrel. [R&J-Q1:3.a]MONTAGUE Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?
Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?
3. Benvolio’s narration of the brawl.3.b Benvolio’s narration. [R&J-Q1:3.b]BENVOLIO
Here were the servants of your adversary
And yours, close fighting ere I did approach;
I drew to part them; in the instant came
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,
Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
He swung about his head and cut the winds,
Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
Came more and more, and fought on part and part,
Till the Prince came, who parted either part.
4. Benvolio’s and Montague’s presentation of Romeo’s recent sadness and solitariness.4.a Montague’s wife enquires about Romeo. [R&J-Q1:4.a][MONTAGUE’S] WIFE.
O where is Romeo? Saw you him today?
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
4. Benvolio’s and Montague’s presentation of Romeo’s recent sadness and solitariness.4.b Benvolio’s narration of his own seeing him near a sycamore tree early in the morning. [R&J-Q1:4.b]BENVOLIO
Madam, an hour before the worshipped sun
Peered forth the golden window of the east,
A troubled mind drive me to walk abroad,
Where underneath the grove of sycamore
That westward rooteth from this city side,
So early walking did I see your son.
Towards him I made, but he was ware of me,
And stole into the covert of the wood.
I, measuring his affections by my own,
Which then most sought where most might not be found,
Being one too many by my weary self,
Pursued my humour, not pursuing his,
And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me.
4. Benvolio’s and Montague’s presentation of Romeo’s recent sadness and solitariness.4.c Montague’s narration of Romeo’s recent solitariness and sadness, and his own incapacity to unveil the cause. [BAN:10] [BOA:8] [PAI:8] [BR:10] [R&J-Q1:4.c]MONTAGUE
Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew,
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs;
But all so soon, as the all-cheering sun
Should in the farthest east begin to draw
The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,
Away from light steals home my heavy son,
And private in his chamber pens himself,
Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,
And makes himself an artificial night.
Black and portentous must this humour prove,
Unless good counsel may the cause remove.
BENVOLIO
My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
MONTAGUE
I neither know it nor can learn of him.
BENVOLIO
Have you importuned him by any means?
MONTAGUE
Both by myself and many other friends,
But he his own affection’s counsellor,
Is to himself – I will not say how true –
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the bud bit with an envious worm
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air
Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
We would as willingly give cure as know.
4. Benvolio’s and Montague’s presentation of Romeo’s recent sadness and solitariness.4.d Benvolio is entrusted with the task of discovering the cause of Romeo’s sadness. [R&J-Q2:4.d]Enter Romeo.
BENVOLIO
See where he comes. So please you step aside,
I’ll know his grievance or be much denied.
MONTAGUE
I would thou wert so happy by thy stay
To hear true shrift. – Come, Madam, let’s away. Exeunt.
5. Benvolio and Romeo talk about Romeo’s own sadness due to unrequited love.5.a Romeo and Benvolio’s talk about how Romeo’s sadness expands time. [R&J-Q1:5.a]BENVOLIO
Good morrow, cousin.
ROMEO Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO
But new struck nine.
ROMEO Ay me, sad hours seem long.
Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO
It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?
ROMEO
Not having that which, having, makes them short.
5. Benvolio and Romeo talk about Romeo’s own sadness due to unrequited love.5.b Romeo’s description of unrequited love as an oxymoronic passion, whose pain is increased by Benvolio’s own feelings of compassion. Romeo’s avowal of having lost himself. [BAN:7] [BAN:9] [BOA:7] [PAI:7] [BR:9] [R&J-Q1:5.b] BENVOLIO In love?
ROMEO Out –
BENVOLIO Of love?
ROMEO
Out of her favour where I am in love.
BENVOLIO
Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof.
ROMEO
Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
Should without eyes see pathways to his will.
Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?
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,
O anything of nothing first created;
O heavy lightness, serious vanity,
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,
Still-waking sleep that is not what it is.
This love feel I that feel no love in this.
Dost thou not laugh?
BENVOLIO No coz, I rather weep.
ROMEO
Good heart, at what?
BENVOLIO At thy good heart’s oppression.
ROMEO
Why, such is love’s transgression.
Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed
With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown
Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs,
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes,
Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers’ tears.
What is it else? A madness most discreet,
A choking gall and a preserving sweet.
Farewell my coz.
BENVOLIO Soft, I will go along:
And if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
ROMEO
Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here.
This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.
5. Benvolio and Romeo talk about Romeo’s own sadness due to unrequited love.5.c Romeo’s description of the tormenting chastity of his beloved. [BAN:7] [BOA:5] [PAI:5] [BR:7]BENVOLIO
Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?
ROMEO What, shall I groan and tell thee?
BENVOLIO
Groan? Why no; but sadly tell me who.
ROMEO
A sick man in sadness makes his will;
A word ill-urged to one that is so ill.
In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.
BENVOLIO
I aimed so near when I supposed you loved.
ROMEO
A right good markman, and she’s fair I love.
BENVOLIO
A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.
ROMEO
Well, in that hit you miss: she’ll not be hit
With Cupid’s arrow, she hath Dian’s wit,
And in strong proof of chastity well armed,
From love’s weak childish bow she lives uncharmed.
She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
Nor bide th’encounter of assailing eyes,
Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold.
Oh, she is rich in beauty, only poor
That when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
BENVOLIO
Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?
ROMEO
She hath, and in that sparing make huge waste,
For beauty starved with her severity
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,
To merit bliss by making me despair.
She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow
Do I live dead, that live to tell it now.
5. Benvolio and Romeo talk about Romeo’s own sadness due to unrequited love.5.d Benvolio’s advice to forget about his beloved by looking at other beauties. [BAN:11] [BOA:9] [PAI:9] [BR:11]BENVOLIO
Be ruled by me, forget to think of her.
ROMEO
Oh, teach me how I should forget to think.
BENVOLIO
By giving liberty unto thine eyes:
Examine other beauties.
ROMEO ’Tis the way
To call hers, exquisite, in question more.
These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows,
Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair.
He that is strucken blind cannot forget
The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.
Show me a mistress that is passing fair,
What doth her beauty serve but as a note
Where I may read who passed that passing fair?
Farewell, thou canst not teach me to forget.
BENVOLIO
I’ll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. Exeunt.
6. Capulet talks with Paris about Paris’s suit and Capulet invites him at the feast.6.a Capulet and Paris talk about the sentence the Prince has emitted and his wish to keep the peace. [R&J-Q1:6.a]
[1.2]
Enter Capulet, County Paris, and the Clown.
CAPULET
But Montague is bound as well as I,
In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think,
For men so old as we to keep the peace.
PARIS
Of honourable reckoning are you both,
And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long.
6. Capulet talks with Paris about Paris’s suit and Capulet invites him at the feast.6.b Paris reminds Capulet of his suit. Capulet claims that his daughter is too young and underlines her liberty of choice. [BAN:79] [BAN:80] [BOA:99] [BOA:100] [PAI:99] [PAI:100] [BR:141] [BR:143]But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET
But saying o’er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world,
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS
Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET
And too soon marred are those so early made.
Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;
She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,
My will to her consent is but a part;
And she agreed, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent, and fair according voice.
6. Capulet talks with Paris about Paris’s suit and Capulet invites him at the feast.6.c Capulet invites Paris to the feast and urges him to compare his daughter to the other beauties. Capulet sends the serving-man out with order of invitation of the people listed on a paper he gives him. [DP:2] [BAN:5] [BAN:13] [BOA:11] [PAI:11] [BR:14] [R&J-Q1:6.c]This night I hold an old accustomed feast,
Whereto I have invited many a guest
Such as I love; and you among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
At my poor house look to behold this night
Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light.
Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
When well-apparelled April on the heel
Of limping winter treads, even such delight
Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see,
And like her most, whose merit most shall be;
Which, on more view of many, mine being one,
May stand in number, though in reckoning none.
Come, go with me. [To Ser.] Go, sirrah, trudge about
Through fair Verona, find those persons out
Whose names are written there, and to them say
My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
[Exeunt Paris and Capulet.]
7. The serving-man can’t read the list of names. [R&J-Q1:7]SERVINGMAN Find them out whose names are written. Here
it is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard
and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil and the
painter with his nets. But I am sent to find those persons
whose names are here writ, and can never find what names
the writing person hath here writ – I must to the learned – in
good time.
8. Benvolio advises Romeo to cure one illness with another one. [BAN:11] [BOA:9] [PAI:9] [BR:11] [R&J-Q1:8]Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEO.
BENVOLIO
Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning,
One pain is lessened by another’s anguish;
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;
One desperate grief cures with another’s languish.
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO
Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO
For what, I pray thee?
ROMEO For your broken shin.
BENVOLIO
Why Romeo, art thou mad?
ROMEO
Not mad, but bound more than a madman is;
Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
Whipped and tormented, and –
9. Benvolio and Romeo meet Capulet’s serving man and are informed about the feast. [R&J-Q1:9]Good e’en, good fellow.
SERVINGMAN God gi’goode’en. I pray, sir, can you read?
ROMEO
Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
SERVINGMAN
Perhaps you have learned it without book.
But I pray, can you read anything you see?
ROMEO
Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
SERVINGMAN Ye say honestly, rest you merry.
ROMEO Stay, fellow, I can read.
He reads the letter.
“Signor Martino and his wife and daughters,
County Anselme and his beauteous sisters,
The Lady widow of Vitruvio,
Signor Placentio and his lovely nieces,
Mercutio and his brother Valentine,
Mine Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters,
My faire niece Rosaline, and Livia,
Signor Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
Lucio and the lively Helena.”
A fair assembly. Whither should they come?
SERVINGMAN Up.
ROMEO Whither to supper?
SERVINGMAN To our house.
ROMEO Whose house?
SERVINGMAN My master’s.
ROMEO Indeed I should have asked thee that before.
SERVINGMAN Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master
is the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of
Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you
merry. [Exit.]
10. Benvolio suggests that they go to the feast so that Romeo may compare Rosaline’s beauty with other beauties. [BAN:11] [BOA:9] [PAI:9] [BR:11] [R&J-Q1:10]BENVOLIO
At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s,
Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves,
With all the admired beauties of Verona.
Go thither, and with unattainted eye
Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
ROMEO
When the devout religion of mine eye
Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire;
And these who, often drowned, 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.
BENVOLIO
Tut, you saw her fair none else being by,
Herself poised with herself in either eye;
But in that crystal scales let there be weighed
Your lady’s love against some other maid
That I will show you shining at this feast,
And she shall scant show well that now seems best.
ROMEO
I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown,
But to rejoice in splendour of mine own. [Exeunt.]
11. Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ suit and asks her if she can love him.11.a Capulet’s wife asks the Nurse to call for Juliet. [R&J-Q1:11.a]
[1.3]
Enter Capulet’s Wife and Nurse.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me.
NURSE
Now by my maidenhead at twelve year old
I bade her come. What, lamb! What, ladybird!
God forbid! Where’s this girl? What, Juliet!
11. Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ suit and asks her if she can love him.11.b Nurse’s bawdy talk on Juliet’s age. [BR:60] [R&J-Q1:11.b]Enter Juliet.
JULIET
How now, who calls?
NURSE Your mother.
JULIET
Madam, I am here. What is your will?
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
This is the matter. Nurse, give leave awhile,
We must talk in secret. Nurse, come back again,
I have remembered me. Thou’s hear our counsel.
Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age.
NURSE
Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
She’s not fourteen –
NURSE I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth,
And yet to my teen be it spoken, I have but four,
She’s not fourteen. How long is it now
To Lammas-tide?
[CAPULET’S] WIFE A fortnight and odd days.
NURSE
Even or odd, of all days in the year,
Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
Susan and she – God rest all Christian souls –
Were of an age. Well Susan is with God;
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 weaned – I never shall forget it –
Of all the days of the year upon that day;
For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,
Sitting in the sun under the dovehouse wall.
My lord and you were then at Mantua –
Nay, I do bear a brain. But as I said,
When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
Of my dug, and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!
“Shake”, quoth the dovehouse. ’Twas no need, I trow,
To bid me trudge.
And since that time it is eleven years,
For then she could stand high-lone, nay, by th’rood,
She could have run and waddled all about,
For even the day before she broke her brow,
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 wit,
Wilt thou not Jule?” And by my holidam,
The pretty wretch left crying and said “Ay”.
To see now how a jest shall come about!
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
I never should forget it. “Wilt thou not, Jule?” quoth he,
And, pretty fool, it stinted and said “Ay”.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
Enough of this, I pray thee hold thy peace.
NURSE
Yes, Madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh
To think it should leave crying and say “Ay”.
And yet, I warrant, it had upon it brow
A bump as big as a young cock’rel’s stone,
A perilous knock, and it cried bitterly.
“Yea”, quoth my husband, “fall’st upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age,
Wilt thou not, Jule?” It stinted and said “Ay”.
JULIET
And stint thou too, I pray thee, Nurse, say I.
NURSE
Peace I have done. God mark thee to his grace,
Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed.
And I might live to see thee married once,
I have my wish.
11. Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ suit and asks her if she can love him.11.c Capulet’s wife broaches the issue of marriage and Paris’ proposal. [DP:46] [BAN:80] [BOA:101] [PAI:101] [BR:144] [R&J-Q1:11.c][CAPULET’S] WIFE
Marry, that “marry” is the very theme
I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,
How stands your dispositions to be married?
JULIET
It is an hour that I dream not of.
NURSE
An hour! Were not I thine only Nurse,
I would say thou hadst sucked wisdom from thy teat.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers – by my count –
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
11. Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ suit and asks her if she can love him.11.d Capulet’s wife’s description of Paris’s qualities. [DP:46] [BAN:80] [BOA:101] [PAI:101] [BR:144] [R&J-Q1:11.d]NURSE
A man, young lady, lady, such a man
As all the world – why, he’s a man of wax.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
Verona’s summer hath not such a flower.
NURSE
Nay, he’s a flower, in faith, a very flower.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
What say you, can you love the gentleman?
This night you shall behold him at our feast;
Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face
And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen;
Examine every married lineament,
And see how one another lends content;
And what obscured in this fair volume lies
Find written in the margent of his eyes.
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
To beautify him only lacks a cover.
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.
NURSE
No less? Nay, bigger. Women grow by men.
11. Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ suit and asks her if she can love him.11.e Juliet is asked if she can love Paris. [R&J-Q1:11.e][CAPULET’S] WIFE
Speak briefly, can you like of Paris’ love?
JULIET
I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.
12. The serving-man announces the arrival of the guests. [R&J-Q1:12]Enter Serving[man.]
SERVINGMAN Madam, the guests are come, supper served
up, you called, my young lady asked for, the Nurse cursed in
the pantry, and everything in extremity I must hence to wait,
I beseech you follow straight.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
We follow thee. Juliet the County stays.
NURSE
Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. Exeunt.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.a Romeo wonders what to say by way of introduction, and Benvolio replies that no self-presentation is necessary. [BAN:13] [BOA:12] [PAI:12] [R&J-Q1:13.a]
[1.4]
Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other masquers, torchbearers.
ROMEO
What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?
Or shall we on without apology?
BENVOLIO
The date is out of such prolixity.
We’ll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf,
Bearing a Tartar’s painted bow of lath,
Scaring the ladies like a crowkeeper.
Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke
After the prompter, for our entrance;
But let them measure us by what they will,
We’ll measure them a measure and be gone.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.b Romeo asks for a torch to bear and claims that he’ll be standing aside. [DP:6] [BAN:14] [BOA:13] [PAI:13] [BR:16] [R&J-Q1:13.b]ROMEO
Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling;
Being but heavy I will bear the light.
MERCUTIO
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
ROMEO
Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
With nimble soles, I have a soul of lead
So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.c Mercutio teases Romeo on his love melancholy.MERCUTIO
You are a lover; borrow Cupid’s wings
And soar with them above a common bound.
ROMEO
I am too sore empierced with his shaft
To soar with his light feathers, and so bound
I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe.
Under love’s heavy burden do I sink.
[MERCUTIO]
And to sink in it should you burden love,
Too great oppression for a tender thing.
ROMEO
Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
MERCUTIO
If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.d Mercutio asks for a visor. [DP:4] [BAN:13] [BOA:12] [PAI:12] [BR:15] [R&J-Q1:13.d]Give 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 brows shall blush for me.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.e Benvolio urges them to get in.BENVOLIO
Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in
But every man betake him to his legs.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.f Romeo again asks for a torch and is teased by Mercutio. [R&J-Q1:13.f]ROMEO
A torch for me. Let wantons light of heart
Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels,
For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase:
I’ll be a candle-holder and look on;
The game was ne’er so fair, and I am done.
MERCUTIO
Tut, dun’s the mouse, the constable’s own word.
If thou art dun, we’ll draw thee from the mire
Or – save your reverence – love, wherein thou stickest
Up to the ears.
Come, we burn daylight, ho!
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.g Mercutio urges them to get in. [R&J-Q1:13.g]ROMEO
Nay, that’s not so.
MERCUTIO I mean, sir, in delay
We waste our lights in vain, light lights by day.
Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits
Five times in that ere once in our five wits.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.h Romeo shows reluctance to go. [R&J-Q1:13.]ROMEO
And we mean well in going to this masque,
But ’tis no wit to go.
MERCUTIO Why, may one ask?
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.i Romeo mentions a dream he’s had. [R&J-Q1:13.i]ROMEO
I dreamt a dream tonight.
MERCUTIO And so did I.
ROMEO
Well, what was yours?
MERCUTIO That dreamers often lie.
ROMEO
In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.j Mercutio teases Romeo with his Queen Mab speech. [R&J-Q1:13.j]MERCUTIO
Oh, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomi
Over men’s noses as they lie asleep.
Her wagon-spokes made of long spinners’ legs,
The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
Her traces of the smallest spider web,
Her collars of the moonshine’s watery beams,
Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film;
Her wagoner, a small grey-coated gnat,
Not half so big as a round little worm
Pricked from the lazy finger of a man.
Her chariot is an empty hazelnut
Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,
Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers.
And in this state she gallops night by night
Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love;
On courtiers’ knees, that dream on curtsies straight;
O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees;
O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream,
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues
Because their breath with sweetmeats tainted are.
Sometime she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose,
And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;
And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail,
Tickling a parson’s nose as a lies asleep;
Then dreams he of another benefice.
Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck,
And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
Of breaches, ambuscados, Spanish blades,
Of healths five fathom deep, and then anon
Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,
And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two
And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
That plaits the manes of horses in the night,
And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,
Which once untangled much misfortune bodes.
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
That presses them and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage.
This is she –
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.k Romeo stops Mercutio short; Mercutio comments on dreams. [R&J-Q1:13.k]ROMEO Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace,
Thou talk’st of nothing.
MERCUTIO True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air,
And more inconstant than the wind who woos
Even now the frozen bosom of the north,
And being angered, puffs away from thence,
Turning his side to the dew-dropping south.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.l Benvolio urges them to go. [R&J-Q1:13.l]BENVOLIO
This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves.
Supper is done, and we shall come too late.
13. Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio talk before going to Capulet’s house.13.m Romeo gives voice to his bad premonitions (life voyage metaphor). [R&J-Q1:13.m]ROMEO
I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night’s revels, and expire the term
Of a despisèd life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Direct my suit. On lusty gentlemen.
BENVOLIO
Strike drum.
14. Servants prepare for the feast.
[1.5]
They march about the stage, and Servingmen come forth with napkin.
SERVINGMAN Where’s Potpan, that he helps not to take
away? He shift a trencher? He scrape a trencher?
1 [SERVINGMAN] When good manners shall lie all in one
or two men’s hands, and they unwashed too, ’tis a foul thing.
SERVINGMAN Away with the joint stools, remove the
court cupboard, look to the plate. Good thou, save me a piece
of marchpane, and as thou loves me, let the porter let in
Susan Grindstone, and Nell, Anthony and Potpan.
2 [SERVINGMAN] Ay boy, ready.
SERVINGMAN You are looked for and called for, asked for
and sought for, in the great chamber.
3 [SERVINGMAN] We cannot be here and there too.
Cheerly boys, be brisk awhile, and the longest liver take all.
Exeunt.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.a Capulet welcomes the guests. [R&JQ1:15.a]Enter all the guests and Gentlewomen to the Masquers.
1.CAPULET
Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes
Unplagued with corns will walk about with you.
Ah, my mistresses, which of you all
Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
She I’ll swear hath corns. Am I come near ye now?
Welcome, gentlemen. I have seen the day
That I have worn a visor and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear
Such as would please. ’Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone.
You are welcome, gentlemen. Come, musicians, play.
Music plays and they dance.
A hall, a hall, give room! And foot it girls.
More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up,
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.
Ah sirrah, this unlooked-for sport comes well.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.b Capulet talks with his cousin. [R&J-Q1:15.b]Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet,
For you and I are past our dancing days.
How long is’t now since last yourself and I
Were in a masque?
2. CAPULET By’r Lady, thirty years.
1. CAPULET
What man, ’tis not so much, ’tis not so much,
’Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio,
Come Pentecost as quickly as it will,
Some five-and-twenty years, and then we masked.
2. CAPULET
’Tis more, ’tis more, his son is elder, sir.
His son is thirty.
1. CAPULET Will you tell me that?
His son was but a ward two years ago.
15.c Romeo sees Juliet. [BAN:16] [BOA:16] [PAI:16] [BR:19] [R&J-Q1:15.c]ROMEO
What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?
SERVINGMAN I know not sir.
ROMEO
Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear,
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows:
The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.d Tybalt recognises Romeo and quarrels with Capulet over him. [BAN:15] [BOA:15] [PAI:15] [BR:18] [R&J-Q1:15.d]TYBALT
This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What, dares the slave
Come hither covered with an antic face
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
Now by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
CAPULET
Why, how now, kinsman, wherefore storm you so?
TYBALT
Uncle, this is a Montague our foe;
A villain that is hither come in spite
To scorn at our solemnity this night.
CAPULET
Young Romeo is it?
TYBALT ’Tis he, that villain Romeo.
CAPULET
Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone.
A bears him like a portly gentleman,
And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
I would not for the wealth of all this town
Here in my house do him disparagement.
Therefore be patient, take no note of him.
It is my will, the which if thou respect,
Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
TYBALT
It fits when such a villain is a guest.
I’ll not endure him.
CAPULET He shall be endured.
What, goodman boy, I say he shall. Go to.
Am I the master here or you? Go to.
You’ll not endure him? God shall mend my soul,
You’ll make a mutiny among my guests!
You will set cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man!
TYBALT
Why Uncle, ’tis a shame.
CAPULET Go to, go to,
You are a saucy boy. Is’t so indeed?
This trick may chance to scathe you. I know what,
You must contrary me – marry ’tis time –
Well said my hearts – you are a princox, go,
Be quiet, or – more light, more light – for shame,
I’ll make you quiet, What! –Cheerly my hearts!
TYBALT
Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting:
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall. Exit.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.e Romeo and Juliet meet (the shared sonnet and the first kiss). [DP:9] [DP:10] [BAN:22] [BOA:25] [BOA:26] [BOA:27] [PAI:25] [PAI:26] [PAI:27] [BR:27] [BR:28] [BR:29] [R&J-Q1:15.e]ROMEO
If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentler sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET
Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this,
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO
Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET
Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO
O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO
Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take. [He kisses her.]
Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.
JULIET
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO
Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again. [They kiss.]
JULIET You kiss by th’ book.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.f. The Nurse interrupts Romeo and Juliet. Romeo discovers who Juliet is. [BAN:23] [BOA:28] [PAI:28] [BR:31] [R&J-Q1:15.f]NURSE
Madam your mother craves a word with you.
ROMEO
What is her mother?
NURSE Marry, bachelor,
Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous.
I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
Shall have the chinks.
ROMEO Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.g Benvolio urges his friends to go away and they say goodbye to Capulet. [R&J-Q1:15.g]BENVOLIO
Away, be gone, the sport is at the best.
ROMEO
Ay, so I fear, the more is my unrest.
CAPULET
Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone.
We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.
Is it e’en so? Why then, I thank you all.
I thank you, honest gentlemen, good night.
More torches here, come on then, let’s to bed.
Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late.
I’ll to my rest.
15. Romeo and Juliet meet at the feast.15.h Juliet discovers who Romeo is. [DP:12] [BAN:24] [BOA:29] [PAI:29] [BR:32] [R&J-Q1:15.h]JULIET
Come hither, Nurse. What is yon gentleman?
NURSE
The son and heir of old Tiberio.
JULIET
What’s he that now is going out of door?
NURSE
Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.
JULIET
What’s he that follows here that would not dance?
NURSE. I know not.
JULIET
Go ask his name. If he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
NURSE
His name is Romeo, and a Montague,
The only son of your great enemy.
JULIET
My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me
That I must love a loathed enemy.
NURSE
What’s this? What’s this?
JULIET A rhyme I learn even now
Of one I danced withal.
One calls within: “Juliet!”
NURSE Anon, anon!
Come let’s away, the strangers all are gone. Exeunt.
CHORUS 2CHORUS
Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groaned for and would die,
With tender Juliet matched is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks.
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear,
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved anywhere:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
Temp’ring extremities with extreme sweet.
16. Romeo remains in the orchard while Benvolio and Mercutio16.a Romeo withdraws and remains in the orchard. [R&J-Q1:16.a]
[2.1]
Enter Romeo alone.
ROMEO
Can I go forward when my heart is here?
Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out.
16. Romeo remains in the orchard while Benvolio and Mercutio16.b Benvolio and Mercutio look for Romeo and tease him (mock conjuration) [R&J-Q1:16.b]Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.
BENVOLIO
Romeo, my cousin Romeo, Romeo!
MERCUTIO He is wise
And on my life hath stol’n him home to bed.
BENVOLIO
He ran this way and leapt this orchard wall.
Call, good Mercutio.
MERCUTIO Nay, I’ll conjure too.
Romeo! Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh,
Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied;
Cry but “Ay me” pronounce, but “love” and “dove”,
Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,
One nickname for her purblind son and heir,
Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so trim
When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid. –
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not,
The ape is dead, and I must conjure him. –
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 demesnes that there adjacent lie,
That in thy likeness thou appear to us.
BENVOLIO
And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
MERCUTIO
This cannot anger him. ’Twould anger him
To raise a spirit in his mistress’ circle
Of some strange nature, letting it there stand
Till she had laid it and conjured it down.
That were some spite. My invocation
Is fair and honest, in his mistress’ name
I conjure only but to raise up him.
BENVOLIO
Come, he hath hid himself among these trees
To be consorted with the humorous night.
Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.
MERCUTIO
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.
O Romeo, that she were, O that she were
An open-arse, thou a pop’rin’ pear.
Romeo, good night. I’ll to my truckle-bed;
This field bed is too cold for me to sleep.
Come, shall we go?
BENVOLIO Go then, for ’tis in vain
To seek him here that means not to be found. [Exeunt.]
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married. 17.a Romeo sees Juliet at the window and overhears her words. [R&J-Q1:17.a][2.2]
ROMEO
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
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 vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
It is my lady. Oh, it is my love!
Oh, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
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
As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing, and think it were not night.
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
JULIET Ay me.
ROMEO She speaks.
Oh speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white upturned wond’ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET
’Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm nor face[, nor any other part
Belonging to a man]. Oh, be some other name!
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.b Romeo speaks to Juliet without presenting himself. [R&J-Q1:17.b]ROMEO I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.c Juliet recognizes him by his voice. [R&J-Q1:17.c]JULIET
What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night,
So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO 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 the word.
JULIET
My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.d Juliet asks Romeo how he got there and urges him to go away, being enemy to her family; Romeo expresses his love. [DP:15] [BAN:30] [BOA:35] [PAI:35] [BR:46] [R&J-Q1:17.d]JULIET
How cam’st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
ROMEO
With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
JULIET
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
ROMEO
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
JULIET
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
ROMEO
I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes,
And but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
JULIET
By whose direction found’st thou out this place?
ROMEO
By love that first did prompt me to inquire.
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot, yet wert thou as far
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
I should adventure for such merchandise.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.e Juliet is ashamed for her own outspokenness and asks for a proof of his love. [R&J-Q1:17.e]JULIET
Thou know’st the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny
What I have spoke, but farewell compliment.
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say “Ay”,
And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear’st,
Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries
They say Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully;
Or if thou think’st I am too quickly won,
I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my behaviour light;
But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard’st, ere I was ware,
My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
ROMEO
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops –
JULIET
Oh, swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO
What shall I swear by?
JULIET Do not swear at all;
Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I’ll believe thee.
ROMEO If my heart’s dear love –
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.f Juliet is worried about the rashness of their love and wishes him good night. [R&J-Q1:17.f]JULIET
Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning which doth cease to be
Ere one can say “it lightens”. Sweet, good night.
This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart, as that within my breast.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.g Romeo does not want to part and asks for satisfaction. [DP:16] [BAN:30] [BOA:38] [PAI:38] [BR:49]ROMEO
Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET
What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
ROMEO
Th’exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
JULIET
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it,
And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO
Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
JULIET
But to be frank and give it thee again,
And yet I wish but for the thing I have.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep. The more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.h Juliet is called in by the Nurse. [R&J-Q1:17.h]I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu. –
Anon, good Nurse! – Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
ROMEO
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering sweet to be substantial.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.i Juliet asks Romeo to marry her and promises to send him somebody the following day. She is called in by the nurse. [DP:17] [BAN:31] [BOA:36] [PAI:36] [BR:47] [R&J-Q1:17.i]JULIET
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
By one that I’ll procure to come to thee,
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.
[NURSE] Madam!
JULIET
I come, anon! – But if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee –
[NURSE] Madam!
JULIET By and by, I come –
To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
Tomorrow will I send.
ROMEO So thrive my soul –
JULIET
A thousand times good night.
ROMEO
A thousand times the worse to want thy light.
Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.j Juliet comes out again and they decide to get in touch by nine the following morning. They part. [BAN:32] [BOA:37] [PAI:37] [BR:48] [R&J-Q1:17.j]Enter Juliet again.
JULIET
Hist, Romeo, hist! O for a falconer’s voice
To lure this tassel-gentle back again.
Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud,
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine
With repetition of my Romeo’s name.
ROMEO
It is my soul that calls upon my name.
How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears.
JULIET
Romeo!
ROMEO My nyas?
JULIET What o’clock tomorrow
Shall I send to thee?
ROMEO By the hour of nine.
JULIET
I will not fail. ’Tis twenty year till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
ROMEO
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
JULIET
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
ROMEO
And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
JULIET
’Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone,
And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird
That lets it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silken thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
ROMEO
I would I were thy bird.
JULIET Sweet, so would I,
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
17. The first balcony scene. Romeo and Juliet exchange vows of love and decide to married.17.k Romeo goes away at dawn and bcomments on the rising sun on his way to the Friar’s cell. [BOA:37] [PAI:37] [BR:48][ROMEO]
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest.
The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,
Checking the eastern clouds with streaks of light;
And [flecked darkness] like a drunkard reels
From forth day’s path and Titan’s burning wheels.
Hence will I to my ghostly friar’s close cell,
His help to crave and my dear hap to tell. Exit.
18. Romeo goes to the friar and asks him to marry them.18.a Friar Laurence is returning to his cell with a basket full of herbs. [DP:20] [BAN:33] [BOA:39] [PAI:39] [BR:50] [R&J-Q1:18.a]
[2.3]
Enter Friar alone with a basket.
FRIAR
Now ere the sun advance his burning eye,
The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry,
I must upfill this osier cage of ours
With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers.
The earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb;
What is her burying grave, that is her womb;
And from her womb children of divers kind
We sucking on her natural bosom find,
Many for many virtues excellent,
None but for some, and yet all different.
Oh, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities;
For naught so vile, that on the earth doth live
But to the earth some special good doth give;
Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime by action dignified.
Enter Romeo.
Within the infant rind of this weak flower
Poison hath residence and medicine power:
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part;
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
18. Romeo goes to the friar and asks him to marry them.18.b Romeo salutes the Friar and the Friar asks him if he has been up all night, supposing with Rosaline. [R&J-Q1:18.b]ROMEO
Good morrow father.
FRIAR Benedicite!
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?
Young son, it argues a distempered head
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed.
Care keeps his watch in every old man’s eye,
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
But where unbruised youth with unstuffed brain
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign.
Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art uproused with some distemperature,
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
ROMEO
That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.
FRIAR
God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?
ROMEO
With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No,
I have forgot that name and that name’s woe.
FRIAR
That’s my good son; but where hast thou been then?
ROMEO
I’ll tell thee ere thou ask it me again.
I have been feasting with mine enemy,
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me
That’s by me wounded. Both our remedies
Within thy help and holy physic lies.
I bear no hatred, blessed man: for lo,
My intercession likewise steads my foe.
FRIAR
Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.
Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.
18. Romeo goes to the friar and asks him to marry them.18.c Romeo avows his love for Juliet and asks him to marry them. [DP:21] [BAN:34] [BOA:40] [PAI:40] [BR:51] [R&J-Q1:18.c]ROMEO
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 pass, but this I pray,
That thou consent to marry us today.
18. Romeo goes to the friar and asks him to marry them.18.d The friar rebukes him for being a young waverer. [BOA:41] [PAI:41] [BR:52] [R&J-Q1:18.d]FRIAR
Holy Saint Francis what a change is here!
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
Hath washed 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 yet ring in mine ancient ears.
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.
If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.
And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then:
Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO
Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR
For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO
And bad’st me bury love.
FRIAR Not in a grave,
To lay one in another out to have.
ROMEO
I pray thee, chide me not. Her I love now
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow.
The other did not so.
FRIAR Oh, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell.
18. Romeo goes to the friar and asks him to marry them.18.e The friar eventually offers to help him and favours this alliance. He rebukes them for their hurry. [DP:22] [BAN:35] [BOA:42] [PAI:42] [BR:54] [BR:55] [BR:56] [R&J-Q1:18.e]But come, young waverer, come, go with me,
In one respect I’ll thy assistant be;
For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.
ROMEO
Oh, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste.
FRIAR
Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. [Exeunt.]
19. Benvolio tells Mercutio about Tybalt’s challenge sent to Romeo; Romeo informsthe Nurse about the plan for the secret Marriage.19.a Benvolio informs Mercutio that Tybalt has sent a challenge to Romeo. [R&J-Q1:19.a]
[2.4]
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.
MERCUTIO Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came he
not home tonight?
BENVOLIO
Not to his father’s; I spoke with his man.
MERCUTIO
Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline,
Torments him so that he will sure run mad.
BENVOLIO
Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
MERCUTIO A challenge, on my life.
BENVOLIO Romeo will answer it.
MERCUTIO Any man that can write may answer a letter.
BENVOLIO Nay, he will answer the letter’s master, how he
dares, being dared.
19. Benvolio tells Mercutio about Tybalt’s challenge sent to Romeo; Romeo informsthe Nurse about the plan for the secret Marriage.19.b Mercutio mocks Romeo and describes Tybalt as the Prince of Cats. [BAN:56] [BOA:62] [PAI:62] [BR:86] [R&J-Q1:19.b]MERCUTIO Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead, stabbed with
a white wench’s black eye, run through the ear with a
love song, the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-
boy’s butt-shaft; and is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
[BENVOLIO] Why, what is Tybalt?
MERCUTIO More than Prince of Cats. Oh, he’s the
courageous Captain of compliments. He fights as you sing
prick-song, keeps time, distance and proportion; he rests his
minim rests one two, and the third in your bosom. The very
butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist, a gentleman of
the very first house of the first and second cause. Ah, the
immortal passado, the punto reverso, the hay!
BENVOLIO The what?
MERCUTIO The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting phantasies,
these new tuners of accent! By Jesu ,a very good
blade, a very tall man, a very good whore. Why is not this a
lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted
with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these pardon-
me’s, who stand so much on the new form that they cannot sit
at ease on the old bench. O, their bones, their bones!
19. Benvolio tells Mercutio about Tybalt’s challenge sent to Romeo; Romeo informsthe Nurse about the plan for the secret Marriage.19.c Romeo joins them and they start joking around. [R&J-Q1:19.c]Enter ROMEO.
BENVOLIO Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.
MERCUTIO Without his roe, like a dried herring. O flesh,
flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers that
Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was a kitchen wench –
marry, she had a better love to berhyme her – Dido a dowdy,
Cleopatra a gypsy, Helen and Hero hildings and harlots:
Thisbe a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signor Romeo,
bonjour: there’s a French salutation to your French slop. You
gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.
ROMEO Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give
you?
MERCUTIO The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not conceive?
ROMEO Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great, and
in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.
MERCUTIO That’s as much as to say such a case as yours
constrains a man to bow in the hams.
ROMEO Meaning to curtsy.
MERCUTIO Thou hast most kindly hit it.
ROMEO A most courteous exposition.
MERCUTIO Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
ROMEO Pink for flower.
MERCUTIO Right.
ROMEO Why then is my pump well flowered.
MERCUTIO Sure wit, follow me this jest now till thou hast
worn out thy pump, that when the single sole of it is worn, the
jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular.
ROMEO O single-soled jest, solely singular for the singleness!
MERCUTIO Come between us, good Benvolio. My wits faints.
ROMEO Switch and spurs, switch and spurs, or I’ll cry a match.
MERCUTIO Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am
done, for thou hast more of the wild goose in one of thy wits
than I am sure I have in my whole five. Was I with you there
for the goose?
ROMEO Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast
not there for the goose.
MERCUTIO I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
ROMEO Nay, good goose, bite not.
MERCUTIO Thy wit is very bitter sweeting; it is a most sharp
sauce.
ROMEO And is it not then well served into a sweet goose?
MERCUTIO Oh, here’s a wit of cheveril that stretches from
an inch narrow to an ell broad.
ROMEO I stretch it out for that word ‘broad’, which, added
to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.
MERCUTIO Why, is not this better now than groaning for
love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo, now art
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature; for this
drivelling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and
down to hide his bauble in a hole.
BENVOLIO Stop there, stop there.
MERCUTIO Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the
hair.
BENVOLIO Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.
MERCUTIO Oh, thou art deceived; I would have made it short,
for I was come to the whole depth of my tale and meant indeed
to occupy the argument no longer.
ROMEO Here’s goodly gear.
19. Benvolio tells Mercutio about Tybalt’s challenge sent to Romeo; Romeo informsthe Nurse about the plan for the secret Marriage.19.d The Nurse and Peter arrive and Mercutio teases her. [R&J-Q1:19.d]
Enter Nurse and her man.
A sail, a sail!
MERCUTIO Two, two, a shirt and a smock.
NURSE Peter.
PETER Anon.
NURSE My fan, Peter.
MERCUTIO Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the
fairer face.
NURSE God ye good morrow, gentlemen.
MERCUTIO God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.
NURSE Is it good e’en?
MERCUTIO ’Tis no less, I tell ye, for the bawdy hand of the
dial is now upon the prick of noon.
NURSE Out upon you! What a man are you?
ROMEO One, gentlewoman, that God hath made, himself to
mar.
NURSE By my troth, it is well said. “For himself to mar” quoth
a? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the
young Romeo?
ROMEO I can tell you, but young Romeo will be older when
you have found him than he was when you sought him. I am
the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.
NURSE You say well.
MERCUTIO Yea, is the worst well? Very well took, i’faith
wisely, wisely.
NURSE If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you.
BENVOLIO She will indite him to some supper.
MERCUTIO A bawd, a bawd, a bawd. So ho!
ROMEO What hast thou found?
MERCUTIO No hare, sir, unless a hare, sir, in a Lenten pie,
that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.
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 to dinner thither.
ROMEO I will follow you.
MERCUTIO Farewell ancient lady, farewell lady, lady, lady.
Exeunt. [Benvolio and Mercutio.]
19. Benvolio tells Mercutio about Tybalt’s challenge sent to Romeo; Romeo informs the Nurse about the plan for the secret Marriage.19.e Romeo informs the Nurse about the plan for the secret marriage which will take place in the afternoon. Romeo offers the Nurse some money. [BAN:38] [BAN:42] [BOA:44] [BOA:45] [PAI:44] [PAI:45] [BR:59] [BR:61] [BR:64] [BR:69] [R&J-Q1:19.e]NURSE I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this that
was so full of his ropery?
ROMEO A gentleman, Nurse, that loves to hear himself talk,
and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a
month.
NURSE An a speak anything against me, I’ll take him down,
an a were lustier than he is, and twenty such jacks; and if I
cannot, I’ll find those that shall. Scurvy knave, I am none of
his flirt-gills, I am none of his skains-mates. [to her man] And
thou must stand by too and suffer every knave to use me at
his pleasure.
PETER I saw no man use you at his pleasure. If I had, my
weapon should quickly have been out. I warrant you, I dare
draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a good
quarrel, and the law on my side.
NURSE Now afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about
me quivers. Scurvy knave! 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 keep to myself. But first let me tell ye, if ye should
lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behaviour, as they say. For the gentlewoman is young;
and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were
an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak
dealing.
ROMEO Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress, I
protest unto thee –
NURSE Good heart, and i’faith I will tell her as much. Lord,
lord, she will be a joyful woman.
ROMEO What wilt thou tell her, Nurse? Thou dost not mark
me.
NURSE I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as I take
it, is a gentlemanlike offer.
ROMEO
Bid her devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon,
And there she shall at Friar Laurence’ cell
Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.
NURSE No, truly, sir, not a penny.
ROMEO Go to, I say you shall.
NURSE
This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there.
ROMEO
And stay, good Nurse, behind the abbey wall,
Within this hour my man shall be with thee
And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair,
Which to the high topgallant of my joy,
Must be my convoy in the secret night.
Farewell; be trusty, and I’ll quit thy pains.
Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.
NURSE
Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.
ROMEO
What say’st thou my dear Nurse?
NURSE
Is your man secret? Did you ne’er here say
“Two may keep counsel, putting one away”?
ROMEO
Warrant thee, my man’s as true as steel.
NURSE Well sir, my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord, Lord!
when ’twas a little prating thing – Oh, there is a nobleman in
town, one Paris, That would fain lay knife aboard, but she,
good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger
her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man, but
I’ll warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout
in the versal world. Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both
with a letter?
ROMEO Ay Nurse, what of that? Both with an “R”.
NURSE Ah, mocker, that’s the dog’s name. “R” is for the –
no, I know it begins with some other letter, and she hath the
prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would
do you good to hear it.
ROMEO Commend me to thy lady.
NURSE Ay, a thousand times. – Peter!
PETER Anon.
NURSE Before and apace. [Exeunt.]
20. The Nurse informs Juliet about the plan for the secret marriage.20.a Juliet is anxious about the Nurse who has not come back yet (it is 12 a.m). [R&J-Q1:20.a]
[2.5]
Enter Juliet.
JULIET
The clock struck nine when I did send the Nurse;
In half an hour she promised to return.
Perchance she cannot meet him. That’s not so.
Oh she is lame! Love’s heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glides then the sun’s beams,
Driving back shadows over louring hills.
Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
Of 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 feign as they were dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.
20. The Nurse informs Juliet about the plan for the secret marriage.20.b The Nurse arrives and tells Peter to stay at the gate. [R&J-Q1:20.b]
Enter Nurse. [and Peter.]
O God, she comes! – O honey Nurse, what news?
Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.
NURSE. Peter stay at the gate.
[Exit Peter.]
20. The Nurse informs Juliet about the plan for the secret marriage.20.c The Nurse praises Romeo, postpones all answer, and eventually tells Juliet about the plan for the secret marriage, and Romeo’s getting into her room at night. [BOA:49] [PAI:49] [BR:62] [BR:69] [R&J-Q1:20.c]
JULIET
Now good sweet Nurse – O Lord, why lookest 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.
NURSE
I am aweary, give me leave a while.
Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunce have I!
JULIET
I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news.
Nay come, I pray thee, speak, good good Nurse, speak.
NURSE
Jesu, what haste! Can you not stay awhile?
Do you not see that I am out of breath?
JULIET
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?
NURSE
Well, you have made a simple choice. You know not how to
choose a man. Romeo? No, not he, though his face be better
then any man’s, yet his leg excels all men’s, and for a hand and
a foot and a body, though they be not to be talked on, yet they
are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesy, but I’ll
warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench, serve
God. What, have you dined at home?
JULIET
No, no. But all this did I know before.
What says he of our marriage, what of that?
NURSE
Lord how my head aches! what a head have I!
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o’ t’other side, ah, my back, my back!
Beshrew your heart for sending me about
To catch my death with jauncing up and down.
JULIET
I’faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me what says my love?
NURSE
Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
And a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome,
And, I warrant, a virtuous – Where is your mother?
JULIET
Where is my mother? Why, she is within.
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest:
“Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
Where is your mother?”
NURSE O God’s lady dear,
Are you so hot? Marry come up, I trow.
Is this the poultice for my aching bones?
Henceforward do your messages yourself.
JULIET
Here’s such a coil. Come, what says Romeo?
NURSE
Have you got leave to go to shrift today?
JULIET I have.
NURSE
Then high you hence to Friar Laurence’ cell,
There stays a husband to make you a wife.
Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks;
They’ll be in scarlet straight at any news.
Hie you to church. I must another way,
To fetch a ladder by the which your love
Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark.
I am the drudge and toil in your delight,
But you shall bear the burden soon at night.
Go. I’ll to dinner. Hie you to the cell.
JULIET
Hie to high fortune! Honest Nurse, farewell. Exeunt.
21 The secret marriage. [DP:24] [DP:25] [BAN:48] [BAN:49] [BOA:47] [BOA:48] [PAI:47] [PAI:48] [BR:68]21.a The friar and Romeo wait for Juliet and the friar shows preoccupation. [R&J-Q1:21.]
[2.6]
Enter Friar and Romeo.
FRIAR
So smile the heavens upon this holy act
That after-hours with sorrow chide us not.
ROMEO
Amen, amen! But come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight.
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death do what he dare,
It is enough I may but call her mine.
FRIAR
These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness
And in the taste confounds the appetite.
Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
21 The secret marriage. [DP:24] [DP:25] [BAN:48] [BAN:49] [BOA:47] [BOA:48] [PAI:47] [PAI:48] [BR:68]21.b Juliet arrives. The friar invites them to go with him for the celebration of the wedding. [R&J-Q1:21.b]
Enter Juliet.
Here comes the lady. Oh so light a foot
Will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint.
A lover may bestride the gossamers
That idles in the wanton summer air,
And yet not fall, so light is vanity.
JULIET
Good even to my ghostly confessor.
FRIAR
Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
JULIET
As much to him, else is his thanks too much.
ROMEO
Ah Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more
To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath
This neighbour air, and let rich music’s tongue
Unfold the imagined happiness that both
Receive in either by this dear encounter.
JULIET
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.
FRIAR
Come, come with me, and we will make short work;
For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone
Till Holy Church incorporate two in one. [Exeunt.]
22. A new brawl erupts between Montagues and Capulets in Verona’s streets.22.a Knowing the Capulets are roaming the streets of Verona, Benvolio wants to retire. Mercutio refuses. [R&J-Q1:22.a]
[3.1]
Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and men.
BENVOLIO
I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
And if we meet we shall not scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
MERCUTIO Thou art like one of these fellows that, when he
enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the
table and says, “God send me no need of thee” and by the
operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer when
indeed there is no need.
BENVOLIO Am I like such a fellow?
MERCUTIO Come, come, thou art as hot a jack in thy mood
as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon
moody to be moved.
BENVOLIO And what to?
MERCUTIO Nay, an there were two such, we should have none
shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou – why, thou
wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in
his beard then thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for
cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast
hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a
quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat,
and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for
quarrelling. 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 ribbon? And yet thou wilt tutor me
from quarrelling?
BENVOLIO And I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.
MERCUTIO The fee simple? O simple!
22. A new brawl erupts between Montagues and Capulets in Verona’s streets.22.b Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others. Tybalt and Mercutio start quarrelling and Benvolio tries to drive them to some private place. [DP:29] [BAN:55] [BAN:56] [BOA:61] [BOA:63] [PAI:61] [PAI:63] [BR:85] [BR:87] [R&J-Q1:22.b]
Enter TYBALT, PETRUCHIO, and others.
BENVOLIO By my head, here comes the Capulets.
MERCUTIO By my heel I care not.
TYBALT
Follow me close, for I will speak to them. –
Gentlemen, good e’en. A word with one of you.
MERCUTIO And but one word with one of us? Couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.
TYBALT You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will
give me occasion.
MERCUTIO Could you not take some occasion without
giving?
TYBALT Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.
MERCUTIO Consort? What, doest thou make us minstrels?
And thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords. Here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you
dance. Zounds, consort!
BENVOLIO
We talk here in the public haunt of men.
Either withdraw unto some private place,
Or reason coldly of your grievances,
Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.
MERCUTIO
Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze.
I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.
22. A new brawl erupts between Montagues and Capulets in Verona’s streets.22.c Romeo arrives. Tybalt challenges him. [DP:30] [BAN:57] [BOA:64] [PAI:64] [BR:88] [R&J-Q1:22.c]
Enter Romeo.
TYBALT
Well, peace be with you, sir, here comes my man.
MERCUTIO
But I’ll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery.
Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower.
Your Worship in that sense may call him ‘man’.
TYBALT
Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
No better term than this: thou art a villain.
22. A new brawl erupts between Montagues and Capulets in Verona’s streets.22.d Romeo refuses to fight and protests his love for Tybalt. [BAN:58] [BOA:65] [PAI:65] [BR:89] [R&J-Q1:22.d]
ROMEO
Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting. Villain am I none.
Therefore farewell, I see thou know’st me not.
TYBALT
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.
ROMEO
I do protest I never injured thee
But love thee better then thou canst devise
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.
And so, good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.
22. A new brawl erupts between Montagues and Capulets in Verona’s streets.22.e Mercutio intervenes and fights with Tybalt. [R&J-Q1:22.e]
MERCUTIO
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccado carries it away.
Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?
TYBALT What wouldst thou have with me?
MERCUTIO Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine
lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me
hereafter dry beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your
sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be
about your ears ere it be out.
TYBALT I am for you.
23. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.23.a Romeo tries to stop the fight and Mercutio is mortally wounded by Tybalt. [R&J-Q1:23.a]
ROMEO
Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
MERCUTIO Come, sir, your “passado”.
ROMEO
Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage.
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath
Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!
23. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.23.b Tybalt and the other Capulets flee.
Away, Tybalt.
23. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.23.c Mercutio exits assisted by Benvolio (joking about his wound but eventually cursing the two households). [R&J-Q1:23.c]
MERCUTIO I am hurt.
A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped.
Is he gone and hath nothing?
BENVOLIO What, art thou hurt?
MERCUTIO
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry ’tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. [Exit Page.]
ROMEO
Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO No ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow,
and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered,
I warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both your houses!
Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death!
A braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of
arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt
under your arm.
ROMEO I thought all for the best.
MERCUTIO
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. Your houses! Exit.
23. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.23.d Romeo blames Juliet’s beauty for making him ‘effeminate’. [R&J-Q1:23.d]
ROMEO
This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally,
My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stained
With Tybalt’s slander – Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper softened valor’s steel.
23. Mercutio is killed by Tybalt.23.e Benvolio re-enters and announces Mercutio’s death. [R&J-Q1:23.e]
BENVOLIO
O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead.
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
ROMEO
This day’s black fate on more days doth depend;
This but begins the woe others must end.
24. Romeo kills Tybalt.24.a Romeo throws caution to the winds, assails Tybalt, they fight and he kills him. [DP:31] [BAN:60] [BOA:67] [PAI:67] [BR:91] [R&J-Q1:24.a]
BENVOLIO
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.
ROMEO
He gone in triumph, and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.
Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again
That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company.
Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.
TYBALT
Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.
ROMEO This shall determine that.
They fight. Tybalt falls.
24. Romeo kills Tybalt. 24.b Benvolio urges him to leave and Romeo flees away. [R&J-Q1:24.b]
BENVOLIO
Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death
If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!
ROMEO
Oh, I am fortune’s fool!
BENVOLIO Why dost thou stay?
Exit Romeo.
25. Benvolio’s narration.25.a Enter Citizens and start inquiring about Tybalt’s and Mercutio’s deaths. [BAN:61] [BOA:68] [PAI:68] [BR:93] [R&J-Q1:25.a]
CITIZEN
Which way ran he that killed Mercutio?
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?
BENVOLIO
There lies that Tybalt.
CITIZEN Up sir, go with me.
I charge thee in the Prince’s name obey.
25. Benvolio’s narration.25.b Enter the Prince, old Montague and Capulet, and their wives. The Prince asks who started the fight while Lady Capulet grieves over Tybalt’s body (her nephew). [R&J-Q1:25.b]
Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and all.
PRINCE
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
BENVOLIO
O Noble Prince, I can discover all
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl.
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
Tybalt, my cousin, O my brother’s child!
O Prince, O cousin, husband, Oh, the blood is spilled
Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
O cousin, cousin!
PRINCE
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?
25. Benvolio’s narration.25.c Benvolio’s narration of the fight. [R&J-Q1:25.c]
BENVOLIO
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay.
Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
Your high displeasure. All this uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast,
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
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 agile arm beats down their fatal points,
And ’twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertained revenge,
And to’t they go like lightning, for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain,
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.
26. The Prince’s verdict.26.a Lady Capulet asks for a death sentence to be pronounced against Romeo. [DP:32] [BAN:63] [BOA:70] [PAI:70] [BR:94] [R&J-Q1:26.a]
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true.
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
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.
PRINCE
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio.
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
26. The Prince’s verdict.26.b Old Montague defends his son. [BAN:64] [BOA:71] [PAI:71] [BR:95]
[MONTAGUE]
Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend;
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
26. The Prince’s verdict.26.c The Prince sentences Romeo to exile. [DP:32] [BAN:65] [BOA:72] [PAI:72] [BR:97] [R&J-Q1:26.c]
PRINCE And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence.
I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding;
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses.
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.
Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,
Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body and attend our will,
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. [Exeunt.]
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.a Juliet eagerly waits for her wedding night with Romeo. [BOA:53] [PAI:53] [BR:75] [R&J-Q1:27.a]
[3.2]
Enter Juliet alone.
JULIET
Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a wagoner
As Phaeton would whip you to the west
And bring in cloudy night immediately.
Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,
That runaways’ eyes may wink, and Romeo
Leap to these arms, untalked of and unseen.
Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
By their own beauties; or, if love be blind,
It best agrees with night. Come, civil night,
Thou sober-suited matron all in black,
And learn me how to lose a winning match
Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.
Hood my unmanned blood, bating in my cheeks,
With thy black mantle till strange love grow bold,
Think true love acted simple modesty.
Come, night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night,
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter then new snow upon a raven’s back.
Come, gentle night, come, loving black-browed night,
Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
Oh, I have bought the mansion of a love
But not possessed it, and though I am sold,
Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day
As is the night before some festival
To an impatient child that hath new robes
And may not wear them.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.b Enters the Nurse announcing someone’s death and Juliet understands it is Romeo’s. [R&J-Q1:27.b]
Oh, here comes my nurse,
Enter Nurse with cords.
And she brings news, and every tongue that speaks
But Romeo’s name speaks heavenly eloquence.
Now, Nurse, what news? What hast thou there?
The cords that Romeo bid thee fetch?
NURSE Ay, ay, the cords.
JULIET
Ay me, what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?
NURSE
Ah weraday, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead!
We are undone, lady, we are undone.
Alack the day, he’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead.
JULIET
Can heaven be so envious?
NURSE Romeo can,
Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo,
Whoever would have thought it? Romeo!
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.c Juliet frantically begs the Nurse to stop tormenting her and confirm whether Romeo is dead and how. [R&J-Q1:27.c]
JULIET
What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?
This torture should be roared in dismal hell.
Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but “Ay”,
And that bare vowel “I” shall poison more
Than the death darting eye of cockatrice.
I am not I if there be such an “I”,
Or those eyes shut, that makes thee answer “Ay”,
If he be slain say “Ay”, or if not, “No”.
Brief sounds determine my weal or woe.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.d The Nurse says she saw the wound and fainted. [R&J-Q1:27.d]
NURSE
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes,
God save the mark, here on his manly breast.
A piteous corpse, a bloody piteous corpse,
Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood,
All in gore blood. I swounded at the sight.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.e Juliet wishes her heart to break and be dead. [DP:34] [BAN:66] [BOA:75] [PAI:75] [BR:101] [R&J-Q1:27.e]
JULIET
Oh, break, my heart, poor bankrupt, break at once!
To prison, eyes, ne’er; look on liberty.
Vile earth to earth resign, end motion here,
And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.f The Nurse tells her that Tybalt is dead, killed by Romeo who has been therefore exiled. [R&J-Q1:27.f]
NURSE
O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had!
O courteous Tybalt, honest gentleman,
That ever I should live to see thee dead!
JULIET
What storm is this that blows so contrary?
Is Romeo slaughtered and is Tybalt dead?
My dearest cousin, and my dearer lord?
Then dreadful trumpet sound the general doom,
For who is living if those two are gone?
NURSE
Tybalt is gone and Romeo banished,
Romeo that killed him, he is banished.
JULIET
O God, did Romeo’s hand shed Tybalt’s blood?
[NURSE]
It did, it did, alas the day, it did.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.g Juliet curses Romeo’s angelic looks hiding a fiendish nature. [BOA:77] [PAI:77] [BR:103] [R&J-Q1:27.g]
[JULIET]
O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical,
Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb!
Despised substance of divinest show,
Just 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 mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? Oh, that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.h The Nurse also curses Romeo. [R&J-Q1:27.h]
NURSE There’s no trust,
No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured,
All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.
Ah, where’s my man? Give me some aqua vitae.
These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old.
Shame come to Romeo!
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.i Juliet rebukes the Nurse and repents the words she has just said against Romeo, whom she has just married. [BOA:78] [PAI:78] [BR:104] [R&J-Q1:27.i]
JULIET Blistered 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 crowned
Sole monarch of the universal earth.
Oh, what a beast was I to chide at him!
NURSE
Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?
JULIET
Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name
When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?
But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?
That villain cousin would have killed my husband.
Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring.
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy.
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?
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.l Juliet muses over Romeo’s banishment and its consequences. [R&J-Q1:27.l]
Some word there was, worser than Tybalt’s death,
That murdered me. I would forget it fain,
But oh, 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;
Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship
And needly will be ranked with other griefs,
Why followed not when she said “Tybalt’s dead”,
“Thy father” or “thy mother”, nay, or both,
Which modern lamentation might have moved?
But with a rearward 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 that woe sound.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.m Juliet asks the Nurse about her parents and she answers they are crying over Tybalt’s dead body. [R&J-Q1:27.m]
Where is my father and my mother, Nurse?
NURSE
Weeping and wailing over Tybalt’s corpse,
Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.n Since Romeo has been exiled, Juliet calls herself a ‘maiden-widow’and wishes death were her spouse. [BOA:79] [PAI:79] [BR:105] [R&J-Q1:27.n]
JULIET
Wash they his wounds with tears? Mine shall be spent,
When theirs are dry, for Romeo’s banishment.
Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguiled,
Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled.
He made you for a highway to my bed,
But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.
Come cords, come Nurse, I’ll to my wedding bed,
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.o The Nurse says she will find Romeo. [BOA:84] [PAI:84] [BR:112] [R&J-Q1:27.o]
NURSE
Hie to your chamber. I’ll find Romeo
To comfort you. I wot well where he is.
Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.
I’ll to him; he is hid at Laurence’ cell.
27. Juliet learns about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s exile.27.p Juliet gives her a ring for Romeo. [BAN:69] [BR:113] [BR:126] [R&J-Q1:27.p]
JULIET
O find him, give this ring to my true knight
And bid him come to take his last farewell. [Exeunt.]
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.a Romeo learns from the Friar that the Prince banished him from Verona and plunges into the depths of despair. [BR:120] [R&J-Q1:28.a]
[3.3]
Enter Friar and Romeo.
FRIAR
Romeo, come forth, come forth thou fearful man.
Affliction is enamoured of thy parts,
And thou art wedded to calamity.
ROMEO
Father, what news? What is the Prince’s doom?
What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,
That I yet know not?
FRIAR Too familiar
Is my dear son with such sour company.
I bring thee tidings of the Prince’s doom.
ROMEO
What less than doomsday is the Prince’s doom?
FRIAR
A gentler judgment vanished from his lips:
Not body’s death, but body’s banishment.
ROMEO
Ha, banishment? Be merciful, say “death”,
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death. Do not say “banishment”.
FRIAR
Here from Verona art thou banished.
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.
ROMEO
There is no world without Verona walls
But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
Hence “banished” is banished from the world,
And world’s exile is death. Then “banished”,
Is death mistermed. Calling death “banished”,
Thou cut’st my head off with a golden axe
And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.
FRIAR
O deadly sin, O rude unthankfulness!
Thy fault our law calls death, but the kind Prince
Taking thy part, hath rushed aside the law
And turned that black word “death” to “banishment”.
This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not.
ROMEO
’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 validity,
More honourable state, more courtship lives
In carrion flies than Romeo. They may seize
On the white wonder of dear Juliet’s hand
And steal immortal blessing from her lips,
Who even in pure and vestal modesty
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 sayest thou yet, that exile is not death?
Hadst thou no poison mixed, no sharp-ground knife,
No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,
But “banished” to kill me? “Banished”?
O Friar, the damned use that word in hell.
Howling attends it. How hast thou the heart,
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver, and my friend professed,
To mangle me with that word “banished”?
FRIAR
Thou fond mad man, hear me a little speak.
ROMEO
Oh, thou wilt speak again of banishment.
FRIAR
I’ll give thee armour to keep off that word,
Adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy,
To comfort thee though thou art banished.
ROMEO
Yet “banished”? Hang up philosophy!
Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,
Displant a town, reverse a prince’s doom,
It helps not, it prevails not, talk no more.
FRIAR
Oh, then I see that mad men have no ears.
ROMEO
How should they when that wise men have no eyes.
FRIAR
Let me dispute with thee of thy estate.
ROMEO
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,
Doting like me, and like me banished,
Then might’st thou speak, then might’st thou tear thy hair
And fall upon the ground as I do now,
Taking the measure of an unmade grave.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.b Enters the Nurse bringing Juliet’s news: the girl is also hopelessly despairing and keeps crying in her room. [R&J-Q1:28.b]
Enter Nurse, and knock.
FRIAR
Arise, one knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself.
ROMEO
Not I, unless the breath of heartsick groans,
Mistlike enfold me from the search of eyes.
They knock.
FRIAR
Hark, how they knock! – Who’s there? – Romeo, arise.
Thou wilt be taken. – Stay a while – Stand up.
Slud knock.
Run to my study. By and by, God’s will,
What simpleness is this? I come, I come.
Knock.
Who knocks so hard? Whence come you? What’s your will?
Enter Nurse.
NURSE
Let me come in, and you shall know my errand.
I come from Lady Juliet.
FRIAR Welcome then.
NURSE
O holy Friar, Oh, tell me, holy Friar,
Where’s my lady’s lord? Where’s Romeo?
FRIAR
There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.
NURSE
Oh, he is even in my mistress’ case,
Just in her case! O woeful sympathy,
Piteous predicament! Even so lies she,
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 an O?
ROMEO
Nurse –
NURSE Ah sir, ah sir, death’s the end of all.
ROMEO
Spakest thou of Juliet? How is it with her?
Doth not she think me an old murderer,
Now I have stained the childhood of our joy
With blood removed but little from her own?
Where is she, and how doth she, and what says
My concealed lady to our cancelled love?
NURSE
Oh, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps,
And now falls on her bed, and then starts up,
And Tybalt calls, and then on Romeo cries,
And then down falls again.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.c Romeo threatens to kill himself. [BR:120] [R&J-Q1:28.c]
ROMEO As if that name
Shot from the deadly level of a gun,
Did murder her, as that name’s cursed hand
Murdered her kinsman. Oh, tell me, Friar, tell me,
In what vile part of this anatomy
Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack
The hateful mansion.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.d The Friar rebukes him. [BR:122] [R&J-Q1:28.d]
FRIAR Hold thy desperate hand!
Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art.
Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote
The unreasonable fury of a beast.
Unseemly woman in a seeming man,
And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both.
Thou hast amazed me. By my holy order,
I thought thy disposition better tempered.
Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself?
And slay thy lady, that in thy life lives,
By doing damned hate upon thyself?
Why railest 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 shape, thy love, thy wit,
Which like a usurer abound’st in all
And usest none in that true use indeed
Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit.
Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,
Digressing from the valour of a man;
Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury,
Killing that love which thou hast vowed 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 dismembered with thine own defence.
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 art thou happy.
The law that threatened death becomes thy friend,
And turns it to exile; there art thou happy.
A pack of blessings light upon thy back,
Happiness courts thee in her best array,
But like a mishaved and sullen wench
Thou pouts upon thy fortune and thy love.
Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.e The Friar tells Romeo to pay one last visit to his wife and then leave for Mantua before dawn; he also says that in his absence he will try to favour his return. [BR:124] [BR:125] [R&J-Q1:28.e]
Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed;
Ascend her chamber; hence and comfort her.
But look thou stay not till the watch be set,
For then thou canst not pass to Mantua,
Where thou shalt live till we can find a time
To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends,
Beg pardon of the Prince, and call thee back
With twenty hundred thousand times more joy
Than thou went’st forth in lamentation.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.f The Friar tells the Nurse to inform Juliet about Romeo’s visit. [BOA:85] [PAI:85] [BR:118] [R&J-Q1:28.f]
Go before, Nurse, commend me to thy lady,
And bid her hasten all the house to bed,
Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto.
Romeo is coming.
NURSE
O Lord, I could have stayed here all the night
To hear good counsel. Oh, what learning is!
My lord, I’ll tell my lady you will come.
ROM.
Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.g The Nurse gives Juliet’s ring to Romeo. [R&J-Q1:28.g]
NURSE
Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir.
Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.
ROMEO
How well my comfort is revived by this.
28. Romeo goes to Friar Laurence’s cell and learns he has been exiled from Verona.28.h The Friar tells Romeo to go and leave Juliet’s house before dawn. [BR:125] [R&J-Q1:28.h]
FRIAR LAURENCE
Go hence, good night, and here stands all your state:
Either be gone before the watch be set,
Or by the break of day disguised from hence.
Sojourn in Mantua. I’ll find out your man,
And he shall signify from time to time
Every good hap to you, that chances here.
Give me thy hand. ’Tis late. Farewell, good night.
ROMEO
But that a joy past joy calls out on me,
It were a grief so brief to part with thee.
Farewell. Exeunt.
29. Capulet gives his daughter to Paris.29.a Capulet tells Paris he could not speak to Juliet because of Tybalt’s death. [R&J-Q1:29.a]
[3.4]
Enter old Capulet, his Wife and Paris.
CAPULET
Things have fallen 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 company,
I would have been abed an hour ago.
PARIS
These times of woe afford no times to woo.
Madam, good night. Commend me to your daughter.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
I will, and know her mind early tomorrow.
Tonight she’s mewed up to her heaviness.
29. Capulet gives his daughter to Paris.29.b Capulet suddenly changes his mind and sets a date (the following Thursday) for her marriage with Paris, and begs his wife to inform the girl about his decision. [DP:45] [DP:54] [BAN:79] [BAN:103] [BOA:99] [BOA:126] [BOA:127] [PAI:99] [PAI:126] [PAI:127] [BR:143] [BR:169] [BR:170] [R&J-Q1:29.b]
CAPULET
Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender
Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled
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 son Paris’ love,
And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next –
But soft, what day is this?
PARIS Monday, my lord.
CAPULET
Monday! Ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon,
A Thursday let it be. A Thursday, tell her,
She shall be married to this noble earl.
Will you be ready? Do you like this haste?
We’ll keep no great ado, a friend or two;
For hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,
It may be thought we held him carelessly,
Being our kinsman, if we revel much.
Therefore we’ll have some half a dozen friends,
And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?
PARIS
My Lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow.
CAPULET
Well, get you gone. A Thursday be it, then.
Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,
Prepare her, wife, against this wedding day. –
Farewell my lord – Light to my chamber, ho!
Afore me, it is so very late
That we may call it early by and by. Good night. Exeunt.
30. Romeo and Juliet share their last farewell.30.a The two lovers amorously bicker over which bird is singing outside Juliet’s window (aubade). [DP:27] [BAN:52] [BOA:59] [PAI:59] [BR:82] [BR:133] [R&J-Q1:30.a]
[3.5]
Enter Romeo and Juliet aloft.
JULIET
Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day:
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear.
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree.
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.
ROMEO
It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale. Look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east.
Night’s candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
JULIET
Yond light is not daylight, I know it, I.
It is some meteor that the sun exhaled
To be to thee this night a torchbearer
And light thee on thy way to Mantua.
Therefore stay yet; thou need’st not to be gone.
ROMEO
Let me be ta’en, let me be put to death;
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
I’ll say yon grey is not the morning’s eye;
’Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow.
Nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat
The vaulty heaven so high above our heads.
I have more care to stay then will to go.
Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is’t, my soul? Let’s talk. It is not day.
JULIET
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 doth not so, for she divideth us.
Some say the lark and loathed toad changed eyes;
Oh, 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. More light and light it grows.
ROMEO
More light and light, more dark and dark our woes.
30. Romeo and Juliet share their last farewell.30.b Enters the Nurse announcing Juliet’s mother is coming upstairs.
Enter Madam and Nurse.
NURSE Madam.
JULIET Nurse?
NURSE
Your lady mother is coming to your chamber.
The day is broke, be wary, look about.
30. Romeo and Juliet share their last farewell.30.c Romeo leaves from Juliet’s window: the two lovers have an ominous feeling. [DP:40] [BAN:73] [BOA:59] [BOA:60] [BOA:92] [PAI:59] [PAI:60] [PAI:92] [BR:84] [BR:133] [R&J-Q1:30.c]
JULIET
Then, window, let day in, and let life out.
ROMEO
Farewell, farewell. One kiss and I’ll descend.
JULIET
Art thou gone so? Love, lord, ay husband, friend!
I must hear from thee every day in the hour,
For in a minute there are many days.
Oh, by this count I shall be much in years
Ere I again behold my Romeo.
ROMEO
Farewell.
I will omit no opportunity
That may convey my greetings, love, to thee.
JULIET
O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again?
ROMEO
I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve
For sweet discourses in our times to come.
[JULIET]
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look’st pale.
ROMEO
And trust me, love, in my eye so do you.
Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu. Exit.
JULIET
O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle.
If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him
That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune,
For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long,
But send him back.
31. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her upcoming marriage to Paris.31.a Enters Lady Capulet and asks Juliet the reason for her protracted weeping. Juliet wishes she could revenge Tybalt’s death and her mother promises that she will send someone to Mantua in order to settle the matter. [DP:42] [BAN:76] [BOA:95] [PAI:95] [BR:137] [R&J-Q1:31.a]
Enter [Capulet’s Wife.]
[CAPULET’S WIFE] Ho, daughter, are you up?
JULIET
Who is’t that calls? It is my lady mother.
Is she not down so late or up so early?
What unaccustomed cause procures her hither?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Why, how now, Juliet?
JULIET Madam, I am not well.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?
What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears?
An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live.
Therefore have done. Some grief shows much of love,
But much of grief shows still some want of wit.
JULIET
Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend
Which you weep for.
JULIET Feeling so the loss,
I cannot choose but ever weep the friend.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Well, girl, thou weep’st not so much for his death
As that the villain lives which slaughtered him.
JULIET
What villain, Madam?
[CAPULET’S WIFE] That same villain Romeo.
JULIET
Villain and he be many miles asunder.
God pardon him. I do with all my heart;
And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
That is because the traitor murderer lives.
JULIET
Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands.
Would none but I might venge my cousin’s death.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not.
Then weep no more. I’ll send to one in Mantua,
Where that same banished runagate doth live,
Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram
That he shall soon keep Tybalt company;
And then I hope thou wilt be satisfied.
JULIET
Indeed, I never shall be satisfied
With Romeo till I behold him – dead –
Is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed.
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. Oh, how my heart abhors
To hear him named and cannot come to him
To wreak the love I bore my cousin
Upon his body that hath slaughtered him.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Find thou the means, and I’ll find such a man.
31. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her upcoming marriage to Paris.31.b Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she has joyful tidings for her: she will be married to Paris on the following Thursday. [DP:46] [BAN:80] [BOA:101] [PAI:101] [BR:144] [R&J-Q1:31.a]
But now I’ll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.
JULIET
And joy comes well in such a needy time.
What are they, beseech your ladyship?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child,
One who, to put thee from thy heaviness,
Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy
That thou expects not, nor I looked not for.
JULIET
Madam, in happy time. What day is that?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn
The gallant, young, and noble gentleman,
The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church,
Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.
31. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her upcoming marriage to Paris.31.c Juliet is upset, says that she will not be a happy bride, and appears to be especially disconcerted because Paris has not even courted her yet. [DP:47] [BAN:81] [BOA:102] [PAI:102] [BR:145] [R&J-Q1:31.c]
JULIET
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
Ere he that should be husband comes to woo.
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 then Paris. These are news indeed.
31. Lady Capulet tells Juliet about her upcoming marriage to Paris.31.d Juliet’s mother is taken aback and tells her to talk to her father. [DP:49] [BAN:81] [BOA:103] [PAI:103] [BR:146] [R&J-Q1:31.d]
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Here comes your father. Tell him so yourself,
And see how he will take it at your hands.
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.a Enters Capulet. He learns from his wife about his daughter’s refusal. [DP:49] [BAN:81] [BOA:103] [PAI:103] [BR:146] [R&J-Q1:32.a]
Enter Capulet and Nurse.
CAPULET
When the sun sets, the earth doth drizzle dew,
But for the sunset of my brother’s son
It rains downright.
How now, a conduit, girl? What, still in tears?
Evermore showering? In one little body
Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind;
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,
Without a sudden calm will overset
Thy tempest-tossed body. – How now, wife?
Have you delivered to her our decree?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Ay, sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks.
I would the fool were married to her grave.
CAPULET
Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife.
How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest,
Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.b Juliet confirms her refusal to get married to Paris. [DP:50] [BAN:83] [BOA:104] [PAI:104] [R&J-Q1:32.b]
JULIET
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.
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.c Capulet gets incensed. [DP:51] [BAN:84] [BOA:106] [PAI:106] [BR:149] [R&J-Q1:32.c]
CAPULET
How, how, how, how? Chopped logic? What is this?
“Proud”, and “I thank you”, and “I thank you not”,
And yet “not proud”? Mistress minion you?
Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
But fettle your fine joints ’gainst Thursday next
To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!
You tallow-face!
[CAPULET’S WIFE] Fie, fie, what, are you mad?
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.d Juliet begs her father to listen to her but he violently abuses her. [DP:51] [BAN:84] [BOA:106] [PAI:106] [BR:149] [R&J-Q1:32.d]
JULIET
Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience but to speak a word.
CAPULET
Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church a Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face.
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me.
My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest
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.
Out on her, hilding!
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.e Capulet is deaf to his wife’s and the Nurse’s invitations to calm down. [R&J-Q1:32.e]
NURSE God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.
CAPULET
And why, my lady Wisdom? Hold your tongue,
Good Prudence, smatter with your gossips, go.
NURSE
I speak no treason.
[CAPULET] O, God ’i’ g e’en!
[NURSE]
May not one speak?
CAPULET Peace, you mumbling fool!
Utter your gravity o’er a gossip’s bowl,
For here we need it not.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE. You are too hot.
32. Juliet confronts her father.32.f Capulet tells Juliet that she can either obey or be cut off and disowned. He exits. [DP:51] [BAN:84] [BOA:106] [PAI:106] [BR:149] [R&J-Q1:32.f]
CAPULET
God’s bread, it makes me mad! Day, night, hour, tide,
Alone, in company, still my care hath been
To have her matched; and having now provided
A gentleman of noble parentage,
Of faire demesnes, youthful and nobly ligned,
Stuffed, as they say, with honourable parts,
Proportioned as one’s thought would wish a man –
And then to have a wretched puling fool,
A whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender,
To answer “I’ll not wed, I cannot love,
I am too young, I pray you pardon me.”
But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you.
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.
Look to’t, think on’t; I do not use to jest.
Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart, advise.
An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend;
An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.
Trust to’t, bethink you, I’ll not be forsworn. Exit.
33. Juliet turns for help to her mother and to the Nurse.33.a Juliet wishes that her mother could help her, but Lady Capulet turns her down and exits. [DP:51] [BR:150] [R&J-Q1:33.a]
JULIET
Is there no pity sitting in the clouds
That sees into the bottom of my grief?
O sweet my mother, cast me not away.
Delay this marriage for a month, a week,
Or if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. Exit.
33. Juliet turns for help to her mother and to the Nurse.33.b Juliet then turns to the Nurse who advises her to marry Paris and forget about Romeo as if he were dead. [BR:171] [R&J-Q1:33.b]
JULIET
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.
Alack, alack, that heaven should practice stratagems
Upon so soft a subject as myself. 0
What sayst thou? Hast thou not a word of joy?
Some comfort, Nurse.
NURSE Faith, here it is.
Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing
That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you,
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 County,
Oh, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam,
Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye
As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,
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 he were,
As living here and you no use of him.
JULIET
Speak’st thou from thy heart?
NURSE
And from my soul too, else beshrew them both.
JULIET Amen.
NURSE What?
33. Juliet turns for help to her mother and to the Nurse.33.c Juliet pretends to appreciate the Nurse’s advice. [BR:172] [R&J-Q1:33.c]
JULIET
Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much.
Go in and tell my lady I am gone,
Having displeased my father, to Laurence’ cell
To make confession and to be absolved.
NURSE
Marry, I will; and this is wisely done. [Exit.]
33. Juliet turns for help to her mother and to the Nurse.33.d Juliet curses the Nurse for her ill advice as soon as she exits. [R&J-Q1:33.d]
JULIET
Ancient damnation! Oh most wicked fiend!
Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn,
Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue
Which she hath praised him with above compare
So many thousand times? Go, counsellor,
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.
33. Juliet turns for help to her mother and to the Nurse.33.e Juliet decides to go to Friar Laurence for help or, if he cannot help her either, kill herself. She exits. [DP:58] [BAN:89] [BAN:91] [BAN:93] [BOA:109] [PAI:109] [BR:152] [R&J-Q1:33.e]
I’ll to the friar to know his remedy,
If all else fail, myself have power to die. Exit.
34. Paris and Juliet meet at the Friar’s cell.34.a Paris discusses his marriage with Friar Laurence. Paris justifies its being so sudden by referring to Juliet’s excessive mourning over Tybalt’s death. [R&J-Q1:34.a]
[4.1]
Enter Friar and County Paris.
FRIAR
On Thursday, sir? The time is very short.
PARIS
My Father Capulet will have it so,
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.
FRIAR
You say you do not know the lady’s mind?
Uneven is the course. I like it not.
PARIS
Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt’s death,
And therefore have I little talk of love,
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.
Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous
That she do give her sorrow so much sway,
And in his wisdom hastes our marriage
To stop the inundation of her tears,
Which, too much minded by herself alone,
May be put from her by society.
Now do you know the reason of this haste.
FRIAR
I would I knew not why it should be slowed. –
Look sir, here comes the lady toward my cell.
34. Paris and Juliet meet at the Friar’s cell.34.b Enters Juliet. She tells Paris she has come for confession. Exits Paris. [R&J-Q1:34.b]
Enter Juliet.
PARIS
Happily met my lady and my wife.
JULIET
That may be, sir, when I may be a wife.
PARIS
That “may be” must be, love, on Thursday next
JULIET
What must be shall be.
FRIAR That’s a certain text.
PARIS
Come you to make confession to this Father?
JULIET
To answer that, I should confess to you.
PARIS
Do not deny to him that you love me.
JULIET
I will confess to you that I love him.
PARIS
So will ye, I am sure, that you love me.
JULIET
If I do so, it will be of more price,
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.
PARIS
Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears.
JULIET
The tears have got small victory by that
For it was bad enough before their spite.
PARIS
Thou wrong’st it more than tears with that report.
JULIET
That is no slander, sir, which is a truth,
And what I spake, I spake it to my face.
PARIS
Thy face is mine, and thou hast slandered it.
JULIET
It may be so, for it is not mine own. –
Are you at leisure, holy father, now,
Or shall I come to you at evening mass?
FRIAR
My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now. –
My Lord, we must entreat the time alone.
PARIS
God shield I should disturb devotion. –
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye.
Till then adieu, and keep this holy kiss. Exit.
35. The Friar’s ‘fake death’ plan.35.a Juliet declares that she is ready to commit suicide rather than marrying Paris. [DP:58] [BAN:93] [BOA:109] [PAI:109] [BR:152] [R&J-Q1:35.a]
JULIET
O shut the door, and when thou hast done so,
Come weep with me, past hope, past cure, past help.
FRIAR
O Juliet, I already know thy grief;
It strains me past the compass of my wits.
I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this County.
JULIET
Tell me not, Friar, that thou hearest 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 joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands,
And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s sealed,
Shall be the label to another deed,
Or my true heart with treacherous revolt
Turn to another, this shall slay them both.
Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time,
Give me some present counsel, or behold,
’Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that
Which the commission of thy years 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 speak not of remedy.
35. The Friar’s ‘fake death’ plan.35.b Laurence tells her that there is still hope; he gives her a sleeping potion, and instructs her about the ‘fake death’ plan. [DP:61] [DP:62] [BAN:98] [BAN:99] [BOA:119] [BOA:120] [BOA:121] [PAI:119] [PAI:120] [PAI:121] [BR:162] [BR:163] [BR:164] [BR:188] [R&J-Q1:35.b]
FRIAR
Hold, daughter, I do spy a kind of hope
Which craves as desperate an execution
As that is desperate which we would prevent.
If rather then 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 chide away this shame,
That cop’st with death himself to scape from it;
And if thou dar’st, I’ll give thee remedy.
JULIET
O bid me leap, rather then marry Paris,
From of the battlements of any tower,
Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk
Where serpents are. Chain me with roaring bears,
Or hide me nightly in a charnel-house,
O’recovered quite with dead men’s rattling bones,
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;
Or bid me go into a new-made grave,
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud –
Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble –
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstained wife to my sweet love.
FRIAR
Hold then, go home, be merry, give consent
To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow.
Tomorrow night look that thou lie alone;
Let not the nurse lie with thee in thy chamber.
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,
And this distilling liquor drink thou off,
When presently through all thy veins shall run
A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse
Shall keep his native progress, but surcease;
No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest;
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
To wanny ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall
Like death when he shuts up the day of life.
Each part, deprived of supple government,
Shall stiff and stark, and cold appear like death,
And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death
Thou shalt continue two and forty hours,
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 dead.
Then, as the manner of our country is,
In thy best robes, uncovered on the bier
Thou shall be borne to that same ancient vault
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the meantime, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift,
And hither shall he come, and he and I
Will watch thy waking, and that very night
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear
Abate thy valour in the acting it.
JULIET
Give me, give me! O tell not me of fear!
35. The Friar’s ‘fake death’ plan.35.c The Friar gives her the potion and tells her that he will send a friar to Mantua in order to inform Romeo about their plan. [DP:61] [DP:63] [BAN:100] [BAN:114] [BOA:120] [BOA:143] [PAI:120] [PAI:143] [BR:163]
FRIAR
H old, get you gone; Be strong and prosperous
In this resolve, I’ll send a Friar with speed
To Mantua with my letters to thy Lord.
JULIET
Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford
Farewell dear father. [Exeunt.]
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.a. Capulet discusses some details of the wedding feast with his servants. [R&J-Q1:36.a]
[4.2]
Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen, two or three.
CAPULET
So many guests invite as here are writ.
Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.
SERVINGMAN You shall have none ill sir, for I’ll try if they
can lick their fingers.
CAPULET How canst thou try them so?
SERVINGMAN Marry sir, ’tis an ill cook that cannot lick his
own fingers; therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not
with me.
CAPULET Go, be gone.
We shall be much unfurnished for this time.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.b Capulet is happy to hear that Juliet has gone to see Friar Laurence. [R&J-Q1:36.b]
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?
NURSE Ay, forsooth.
CAPULET
Well, he may chance to do some good on her.
A peevish self-willed harlotry it is.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.c Juliet comes back home and expresses her repentance to her father. [DP:64] [BAN:101] [BOA:123] [PAI:123] [BR:166] [R&J-Q1:36.c]
Enter Juliet.
NURSE
See where she comes from shrift with merry look.
CAPULET
How now, my headstrong, where have you been gadding?
JULIET
Where I have learnt me to repent the sin
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests, and am enjoined
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here,
To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you.
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.d Capulet is pleased by the news and orders that Paris be called for. [DP:65] [BAN:102] [BOA:124] [PAI:124] [BR:167] [R&J-Q1:36.d]
CAPULET
Send for the County; go tell him of this.
I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.
JULIET
I met the youthful lord at Laurence’ cell,
And gave him what becomed love I might,
Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.
CAPULET
Why, I am glad on’t. This is well. Stand up.
This is as ’t should be. Let me see the County;
Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.
Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,
All our whole city is much bound to him.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.e Juliet asks the Nurse to help her choose the ornaments for the wedding. [BAN:103] [BOA:127] [PAI:127] [BR:170] [R&J-Q1:36.e]
JULIET
Nurse, will you go with me into my closet
To help me sort such needful ornaments,
As you think fit to furnish me tomorrow?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
No, not till Thursday. There is time enough.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.f Capulet decides to move up the wedding to the following day. [R&J-Q1:36.f]
[CAPULET]
Go Nurse, go with her, we’ll to church tomorrow. Exeunt.
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.g Capulet tells his wife that he will personally attend to the organization of the wedding feast. [R&J-Q1:36.g]
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
We shall be short in our provision.
’Tis now near night.
CAPULET Tush, I will stir about,
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee wife.
Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her.
I’ll not to bed tonight. Let me alone.
I’ll play the housewife for this once. – What, ho! –
36. Juliet feigns repentance in front of her father. The wedding is moved up to the following day.36.h Capulet says that he will personally inform Paris about the good news of Juliet’s consent. [BOA:125] [PAI:125] [BR:168]
They are all forth. Well, I will walk myself
To County Paris, to prepare up him
Against tomorrow. My heart is wondrous light
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaimed. [Exeunt.]
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.a Juliet has chosen her attire for the wedding and begs both the Nurse and her mother to leave her alone for the night. [BAN:104] [BOA:129] [BOA:130] [PAI:129] [PAI:130] [BR:173] [BR:174] [BR:175] [R&J-Q1:37.a]
[4.3]
Enter Juliet and Nurse.
JULIET
Ay, those attires are best. But, gentle Nurse,
I pray thee leave me to myself tonight,
For I have need of many orisons
To move the heavens to smile upon my state,
Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin.
Enter [Capulet’s Wife.]
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
What are you busy, ho? Need you my help?
JULIET
No, madam, we have culled such necessaries
As are behooveful for our state tomorrow.
So please you, let me now be left alone,
And let the Nurse this night sit up with you,
For I am sure you have your hands full all
In this so sudden business.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE. Good night.
Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need. Exeunt.
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.b Juliet is scared and would call the Nurse back, yet. Immediately changes her mind and resolves to carry on the plan alone. [BAN:104] [BOA:131] [PAI:131] [BR:176] [R&J-Q1:37.b]
JULIET
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 dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.c Juliet is worried about the effectiveness of the potion and places a knife beside her. [BAN:107] [BOA:133] [PAI:133] [BR:178] [R&J-Q1:37.c]
What if this mixture do not work at all?
Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?
No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there.
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.d Juliet briefly calls into doubt the honourableness of the Friar’s intentions. [R&J-Q1:37.d]
What if it be a poison which the Friar
Subtly hath ministered to have me dead,
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonoured,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is; and yet me thinks it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.e Juliet fears to die anyway, either suffocated or terrified by the place she will find herself in. [BAN:106] [BOA:134] [PAI:134] [BR:179] [R&J-Q1:37.e]
How if, when I am laid into the tomb,
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? There’s a fearful point!
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?
Or, if I live, is it not very like
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place –
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where for this many hundred years the bones
Of all my buried ancestors are packed;
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth,
Lies festering in his shroud, where, as they say,
At some hours in the night, spirits resort –
Alack, alack, is it not like that I,
So early waking, what with loathsome smells,
And shrikes like mandrakes torn out of the earth,
That living mortals, hearing them, run mad –
Oh if I wake, shall I not be distraught,
Environed with all these hideous fears,
And madly play with my forefathers’ joints,
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?
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.f She thinks she sees Tybalt’s ghost. [BAN:105] [BOA:135] [PAI:135] [BR:180] [R&J-Q1:37.f]
O look! Methinks I see my cousin’s ghost,
Seeking out Romeo that did spit his body
Upon a rapier’s point. Stay, Tybalt, stay!
37. Juliet drinks the Friar’s potion and is believed to be dead.37.g Juliet eventually drinks the potion and faints. [DP:67] [DP:68] [BAN:108] [BOA:136] [PAI:136] [BR:181] [R&J-Q1:37.g]
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink to thee.
38. Capulet’s house is animated by the upcoming celebration.38.a Lady Capulet and the Nurse bicker with Old Capulet over who will be in charge of the feast. Exit the Lady and the Nurse. [R&J-Q1:38.a]
[4.4]
Enter [Capulet’s Wife] and Nurse.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, Nurse.
NURSE
They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.
Enter old Capulet.
CAPULET
Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed.
The curfew bell hath rung; ’tis three a clock.
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica,
Spare not for cost.
NURSE Go, you cotquean, go,
Get you to bed. Faith, you’ll be sick tomorrow
For this night’s watching.
CAPULET
No not a whit. What, I have watched ere now
All night for lesser cause, and ne’er been sick.
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time,
But I will watch you from such watching now.
Exit Lady and Nurse.
38. Capulet’s house is animated by the upcoming celebration.38.b Capulet gives instructions to the servingmen and urges them to be quick. [R&J-Q1:38.b]
CAPULET
A jealous hood, a jealous hood.
Enter three or four with spits and logs and baskets.
Now fellow, What is there?
[1 SERVINGMAN]
Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what.
CAPULET
Make haste, make haste. Sirrah, fetch drier logs!
Call Peter. [Exit. 1 Ser.] He will show thee where they are.
[2 SERVINGMAN] I have a head sir, that will find out logs
And never trouble Peter for the matter.
CAPULET
Mass, and well said. A merry whoreson, ha!
Thou shalt be loggerhead. Good faith, ’tis day.
Play music
38. Capulet’s house is animated by the upcoming celebration.38.c Music is being played and Capulet calls for the Nurse. He tells her to wake Juliet up and help her get ready, as the bridegroom has arrived. [R&J-Q1:38.c]
The County will be here with music straight,
For so he said he would. I hear him near.
Nurse! Wife! What ho! What, Nurse, I say!
Enter Nurse.
Go waken Juliet; go and trim her up.
I’ll go and chat with Paris. Hie, make haste,
Make haste. The bridegroom, he is come already.
Make haste I say.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.a The Nurse goes into Juliet’s room and starts to call her to wake her up. [DP:69] [BAN:109] [BOA:137] [PAI:137] [BR:182] [R&J-Q1:39.a]
[4.5]
NURSE
Mistress, what, mistress! Juliet!– Fast, I warrant her, she. –
Why lamb, why lady. Fie, you slugabed!
Why, love, I say, Madam, sweet heart, why, bride!
What, not a word? – You take your pennyworths now.
Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant,
The County Paris hath set up his rest
That you shall rest but little. – God forgive me,
Marry, and amen. How sound is she asleep!
I needs must wake her. – Madam, madam, madam!
Ay, let the County take you in your bed;
He’ll fright you up i’faith. – Will it not be?
What, dressed, and in your clothes, and down again?
I must needs wake you. Lady, lady, lady!
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.b The Nurse realizes that Juliet is dead and calls on Lady Capulet. [DP:70] [BAN:110] [BOA:138] [PAI:138] [BR:183] [R&J-Q1:39.b]
Alas, alas! Help, help! My lady’s dead. –
Oh, weraday that ever I was born!
Some aqua-vitae, ho! – My Lord! my lady!
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.c Enters Lady Capulet and when she realizes that Juliet is dead despairs. [DP:73] [BAN:111] [BOA:139] [PAI:139] [BR:184] [R&J-Q1:39.c] [acrhi]
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
What noise is here?
NURSE. O lamentable day.
[CAPULET’S] WIFE
What is the matter?
NURSE Look, look! O heavy day!
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
O me, O me, my child, my only life!
Revive, look up, or I will die with thee.
Help, help! Call help!
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.d Enters Capulet and is told that Juliet is dead.
Enter [Capulet.]
[CAPULET]
For shame, bring Juliet forth. Her Lord is come.
NURSE
She’s dead, deceased. She’s dead, alack the day!
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Alack the day, she’s dead, she’s dead, she’s dead.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.e Capulet sees for himself that Juliet is dead. [DP:71] [BAN:112] [BOA:140] [PAI:140]
[CAPULET]
Ha, let me see her. Out, alas she’s cold.
Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff.
Life and these lips have long been separated.
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.f They all start wailing. [BAN:112] [BOA:140] [PAI:140] [BR:185] [R&J-Q1:39.f] Architextuality
NURSE
O lamentable day!
[CAPULET’S WIFE] O woeful time!
[CAPULET]
Death, that hath ta’en her hence to make me wail,
Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.g Enter Laurence and Paris: Capulet tells them about Juliet’s death (death as lover motif). [R&J-Q1:39.g]
Enter Friar and the County.
FRIAR
Come, is the bride ready to go to church?
[CAPULET]
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.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.h Lady Capulet, Nurse, Paris and Juliet’s father mourn over the girl’s body. [BAN:112] [BAN:113] [BOA:142] [PAI:142] [BR:187] [R&J-Q1:39.h] Architextuality
PARIS
Have I thought long to see this morning’s face,
And doth it give me such a sight as this?
[CAPULET’S WIFE]
Accursed, unhappy, wretched hateful day!
Most miserable hour that e’er time saw
In lasting labour of his pilgrimage!
But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,
But one thing to rejoice and solace in,
And cruel death hath catched it from my sight!
NURSE
O woe, O woeful, woeful, woeful day!
Most lamentable day, most woeful 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 woeful day, O woeful day!
PARIS
Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain!
Most detestable death, by thee beguiled,
By cruel, cruel, thee quite overthrown!
O love, O life, not life, but love in death!
[CAPULET]
Despised, distressed, hated, martyred, killed!
Uncomfortable time, why cam’st thou now
To murder, murder our solemnity?
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
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.i Friar Laurence tries to comfort them saying that Juliet is now in heaven. [R&J-Q1:39.i]
FRIAR
Peace, ho for shame! Confusion’s cure lives not
In these confusions. Heaven and yourself
Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all,
And all the better is it for the maid.
Your part in her you could not keep from death,
But heaven keeps his part in eternal life.
The most you sought was her promotion,
For ’twas your heaven she should be advanced;
And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced
Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself?
Oh, in this love you love your child so ill
That you run mad, seeing that she is well.
She’s not well married that lives married long,
But she’s best married that dies married young.
Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary
On this fair corpse, and, as the custom is,
And in her best array, bear her to Church;
For though fond nature bids us all lament,
Yet nature’s tears are reason’s merriment.
39. Juliet is found (apparently) dead in her bed.39.j The marriage solemnity has been turned into funeral pomp. [DP:74] [BAN:112] [BAN:119] [BOA:140] [PAI:140] [BR:190] [R&J-Q1:39.j]
[CAPULET]
All things that we ordained festival
Turn from their office to black funeral:
Our instruments to melancholy bells,
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast,
Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change,
Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corpse,
And all things change them to the contrary.
FRIAR
Sir, go you in, and madam, go with him,
And go, Sir Paris. Everyone prepare
To follow this fair corpse unto her grave.
The heavens do lour upon you for some ill;
Move them no more by crossing their high will.
Exeunt. Manent [Musici.]
40. Enter some musicians (comic interlude).40.a Some musicians enter and ask the Nurse whether they can leave. The Nurse sends them away and leaves. [R&J-Q1:40.a]
MUSICIANS
Faith, we may put up our pipes and be gone.
NURSE
Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up,
For well you know, this is a pitiful case. [Exit Nurse.]
40. Enter some musicians (comic interlude).40.b The musicians bicker with Peter. [R&J-Q1:40.b]
FIDDLER.
Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended.
Enter Will Kemp.
PETER. Musicians, O musicians, “Hearts ease”, “Hearts ease”.
Oh, an you will have me live, play “Hearts ease”.
FIDDLER Why “Hearts ease”?
PETER O musicians, because my heart itself plays “My heart
is full”. Oh, play me some merry dump to comfort me.
MINSTREL. Not a dump, we. ’Tis no time to play now.
PETER You will not then?
MINSTREL No.
PETER I will then give it you soundly.
MINSTREL What will you give us?
PETER No money, on my faith, but the gleek. I will give you
the minstrel.
MINSTREL Then will I give you the serving-creature.
PETER Then will I lay the serving-creature’s dagger on your
pate. I will carry no crotchets; I’ll re you, I’ll fa you. Do you
note me?
MINSTREL And you re us and fa us, you note us.
2 MUSICIAN Pray you, put up your dagger and put out your
wit.
PETER Then have at you with my wit. I will dry-beat you with
an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer me like men.
“When griping grief the heart doth wound,
And doleful dumps the mind oppress,
Then music with her silver sound –
Why “silver sound”? Why “music with her silver sound”?
What say you, Simon Catling?
MINSTREL Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound.
PETER. Prates. What say you, Hugh Rebeck?
2 MUSICIAN I say “silver sound” because musicians sound
for silver.
PETER Prates too. What say you, James Soundpost?
3 MUSICIAN Faith, I know not what to say.
PETER Oh, I cry you mercy, you are the singer. I will say
for you. It is “music with her silver sound” because
musicians have no gold for sounding:
“Then music with her silver sound
With speedy help doth lend redress.”
MINSTREL What a pestilent knave is this same!
2 MUSICIAN Hang him, Jack. Come, we’ll in here, tarry for
the mourners, and stay dinner. [Exeunt.]
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.a Romeo’s dream: he was dead and was revived by Juliet’s kiss. [R&J-Q1:41.a]
[5.1]
Enter Romeo.
ROMEO
If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.
My bosom’s lord sits lightly in his throne,
And all this day an unaccustomed spirit
Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts.
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead –
Strange dream that gives a dead man leave to think! –
And breathed such life with kisses in my lips
That I revived and was an emperor.
Ah me, how sweet is love itself possessed
When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy!
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.b Balthasar arrives bringing news about Juliet’s death. He tells Romeo that she has been buried in the family tomb. [DP:77] [BAN:124] [BOA:149] [PAI:149] [BR:196] [R&J-Q1:41.b]
Enter Romeo’s man [Balthasar.]
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.
[BALTHASAR]
Then she is well and nothing can be ill.
Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument,
And her immortal part with angels lives.
I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault
And presently took post to tell it you.
Oh, pardon me for bringing these ill news,
Since you did leave it for my office, sir.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.c Romeo decides to return to Verona immediately. He asks for ink and paper and post horses [DP:80] [BAN:127] [BAN:129] [BOA:150] [BOA:155] [PAI:150] [PAI:155] [BR:197] [BR:203] [R&J-Q1:41.c]
ROMEO
Is it e’en so? Then I deny you, stars! –
Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper,
And hire post-horses. I will hence tonight.
[BALTHASAR]
I do beseech you sir, have patience.
Your looks are pale and wild and do import
Some misadventure.
ROMEO Tush, thou art deceived.
Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.d Romeo asks Balthasar whethernhe carries any messages from Friar Laurence.
Hast thou no letters to me from the Friar?
[BALTHASAR]
No, my good Lord.
ROMEO No matter. Get thee gone,
And hire those horses. I’ll be with thee straight. Exit.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.e Romeo resolves to lie with Juliet that night [DP:80] [BAN:127] [BOA:150] [PAI:150] [BR:197] [R&J-Q1:41.e]
Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.
Let’s see for means. O mischief, thou art swift
To enter in the thoughts of desperate men.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.f Romeo remembers where a poor apothecary lives (description of his shop). [BOA:151] [PAI:151] [BR:198] [R&J-Q1:41.f]
I do remember an apothecary,
And hereabouts a dwells, which late I noted
In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows,
Culling of simples. Meager were his looks;
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones;
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,
An alligator stuffed, and other skins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves
A beggarly account of empty boxes,
Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses
Were thinly scattered to make up a show.
Noting this penury, to myself I said,
“An if a man did need a poison now,
Whose sale is present death in Mantua,
Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.”
Oh, this same thought did but forerun my need,
And this same needy man must sell it me.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.g Romeo goes to the apothecary’s shop and asks for some deadly poison. [BAN:134] [BOA:151] [PAI:151] [BR:198] [R&J-Q1:41.g]
As I remember, this should be the house.
Being holiday, the beggar’s shop is shut. –
What ho, apothecary!
APOTHECARY Who calls so loud?
ROMEO
Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor.
Hold, there is forty ducats. Let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear,
As will disperse itself through all the veins,
That the life-weary taker may fall dead,
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon’s womb.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.h The apothecary says that the sale of poison is prohibited by Mantua’s laws [BR:199] [R&J-Q1:41.h]
APOTHECARY
Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua’s law
Is death to any he that utters them.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.i Convinced by Romeo’s money and his own neediness, he sells Romeo the poison. [BAN:134] [BOA:152] [PAI:152] [BR:200] [R&J-Q1:41.j]
ROMEO
Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fearest to die? Famine is in thy cheeks,
Need and oppression starveth in thy eyes,
Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back.
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.
APOTHECARY
My poverty but not my will consents.
ROMEO
I pay thy poverty and not thy will.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.j The apothecary tells Romeo about the power of the poison. [BOA:153] [PAI:153] [BR:201] [R&J-Q1:41.j]
APOTHECARY
Put this in any liquid thing you will
And drink it off, and if you had the strength
Of twenty men it would dispatch you straight.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.k Romeo says that gold is a stronger poison. [R&J-Q1:41.k]
ROMEO
There is thy gold, worse poison to men’s souls,
Doing more murder in this loathsome world
Then these poor compounds that thou mayest not sell.
I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none.
Farewell, buy food, and get thyself in flesh.
41. Romeo learns about Juliet’s death and decides to go back to Verona.41.l The poison will be for him as acordial. He will drink it at Juliet’s tomb. [R&J-Q1:41.l]
Come Cordial and not poison, go with me
To Juliet’s grave, for there must I use thee. Exeunt.
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.a Friar Laurence asks Friar John about news from Romeo. [R&J-Q1:42.a]
[5.2]
Enter Friar John to Friar Laurence.
JOHN
Holy Franciscan friar brother, ho!
Enter Laurence.
LAURENCE
This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua. What says Romeo?
Or if his mind be writ, give me his letter.
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.b Friar John tells Laurence that he has been detained in a house because of the plague. [BAN:115] [BOA:144] [PAI:144] [BR:189] [R&J-Q1:42.b]
JOHN
Going to find a barefoot brother out,
One of our order, to associate me
Here in this city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign,
Sealed up the doors, and would not let us forth,
So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed.
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.c John still carries the letter on him, as he could not deliver it. [DP:75] [R&J-Q1:42.c]
LAURENCE
Who bare my letter then to Romeo?
JOHN
I could not send it – here it is again –
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,
So fearful were they of infection.
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.d Very worried, Friar Laurence orders John to bring him an iron crow at his cell. [R&J-Q1:42.d]
LAURENCE
Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice but full of charge,
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
May do much danger: Friar John, go hence;
Get me an iron crow and bring it straight
Unto my cell.
JOHN. Brother I’ll go and bring it thee. Exit.
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.e Laurence decides to go to the Capulet monument alone: Juliet will be awake in three hours. [R&J-Q1:42.e]
LAURENCE
Now must I to the monument alone.
Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake.
She will beshrew me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
42. Friar John has failed to deliver the letter to Romeo.42.f The Friar also plans to write another letter to Romeo and to keep Juliet in his cell while waiting for him.
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come –
Poor living corpse, closed in a dead man’s tomb. Exit.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.a Paris arrives with his page at the Capulet monument; Paris tells his page to keep watch and warn him of any noise. [R&J-Q1:43.a]
[5.3]
Enter Paris and his Page.
PARIS
Give me thy torch, boy. Hence and stand aloof.
Yet put it out, for I would not be seen.
Under yond yew trees lay thee all along,
Holding thy ear close to the hollow ground.
So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread,
Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves,
But thou shalt hear it. Whistle then to me
As signal that thou hearest something approach.
Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.
PAGE
I am almost afraid to stand alone,
Here in the churchyard, yet I will adventure.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.b Paris strews flowers over the tomb. [R&J-Q1:43.b]
PARIS
Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew –
O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones! –
Which with sweet water nightly I will dew,
Or wanting that, with tears distilled by moans.
The obsequies that I for thee will keep
Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.c Paris’ page whistles to signal that someone is coming; Paris hides himself. [R&J-Q1:43.c]
Whistle Boy.
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.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.d Romeo and his man (Balthasar) arrive at the tomb; Romeo instructs him and them dismisses him. [DP:81] [BAN:131] [BOA:156] [PAI:156] [BR:204] [R&J-Q1:43.d]Enter Romeo and [Balthasar.]
ROMEO
Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron.
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 hearest 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,
But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger
A precious ring, a ring that I must use
In dear employment. Therefore hence, begone.
But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry
In what I farther shall intend to do,
By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint
And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs.
The time and my intents are savage-wild,
More fierce and more inexorable far
Then empty tigers or the roaring sea.
[BALTHASAR]
I will be gone, sir, and not trouble ye.
ROMEO
So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou that.
Live and be prosperous, and farewell, good fellow.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.e Balthasar does not leave, but hides himself. [BOA:157] [PAI:157] [BR:205] [R&J-Q1:43.e]
[BALTHASAR]
For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout,
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.f Romeo opens the tomb. [DP:83] [BAN:132] [BOA:158] [PAI:158] [BR:206] [R&J-Q1:43.f]
ROMEO
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.g Paris sees Romeo, recognizes him and tries to apprehnd him. [R&J-Q1:43.g]
PARIS
This is that banished haughty Montague
That murdered my love’s cousin, with which grief
It is supposed the fair creature died,
And here is come to do some villainous shame
To the dead bodies. I will apprehend him.
Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague!
Can vengeance be pursued further than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee.
Obey and go with me, for thou must die.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.h Romeo begs him to leave for his own good. [R&J-Q1:43.h]
ROMEO
I must indeed, and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man.
Fly hence and leave me. Think upon these gone;
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head
By urging me to fury. Oh, begone,
By heaven, I love thee better then myself,
For I come hither armed against myself.
Stay not, begone; live, and hereafter say
A madman’s mercy bid thee run away.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.i Paris refuses to leave and Romeo and Paris fight.
PARIS
I do defy thy [conjuration] ,
And apprehend thee for a felon here.
ROMEO
Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.j Paris’s page calls the watch. [R&J-Q1:43.j]
[PAGE]
O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.
43. Romeo kills Paris at the Capulet tomb43.k Paris is wounded and,before dying, begs Romeo to be buried with Juliet. [R&J-Q1:43.k]
PARIS
Oh, I am slain. If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.a Romeo looks at the man he has just killed, realizes that it is Paris, and vows to grant him his last will [R&J-Q1:44.a]
ROMEO
In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face.
Mercutio’s kinsman, noble County Paris!
What said my man when my betossed soul
Did not attend him as we rode? I think
He told me Paris should have married Juliet.
Said he not so? Or did I dream it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet,
To think it was so? Oh, give me thy hand,
One writ with me in sour misfortune’s book.
I’ll bury thee in a triumphant grave.
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.b Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, and wonders at her still incorrupt beauty. [DP:84] [BAN:132] [BOA:158] [PAI:158] [BR:206] [R&J-Q1:44.b]
A grave? O no! A lantern, slaughtered youth,
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interred.
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry which their keepers call
A light’ning before death. Oh, how may I
Call this a light’ning? O my Love, my wife!
Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty
Thou art not conquered, beauty’s ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death’s pale flag is not advanced there.
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.c Romeo sees Tybalt’s body and asks for forgiveness [BAN:141] [BOA:160] [PAI:160] [BR:208]
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
Oh, what more favour can I do to thee
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
To sunder his that was thine enemy?
Forgive me, cousin.
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.d Romeo wishes to be with Juliet to snatch her away from Death’s embrace. [R&J-Q1:44.d]
Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous,
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
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
With worms that are thy chambermaids. Oh, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh.
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.e Romeo’s farewell to Juliet.
Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace: And lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
44. Romeo enters the monument, sees Juliet, drinks the poison and dies.44.f Romeo, drinks the poison, kissesJuliet and dies [DP:85] [DP:97] [BAN:133] [BAN:148] [BOA:159] [BOA:162] [PAI:159] [PAI:162] [BR:207] [BR:210] [R&J-Q1:44.f]
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide,
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark.
Here’s to my love. O true apothecary,
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.a Friar Laurence gets to the monument and meets Balthasar. [DP:95] [BAN:145] [BOA:163] [PAI:163] [BR:211] [R&J-Q1:45.a]
Enter Friar with lantern, crow, and spade.
FRIAR
Saint Francis be my speed! How oft tonight
Have my old feet stumbled at graves. Who’s there?
[BALTHASAR]
Here’s one, a friend, and one that knows you well.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.b Balthasar tells the Friar that Romeo is also there. [BOA:164] [PAI:164] [BR:212] [R&J-Q1:45.b]
FRIAR
Bliss be upon you. Tell me, good my friend,
What torch is yond that vainly lends his light
To grubs and eyeless skulls? As I discern,
It burneth in the Capels’ monument.
[BALTHASAR]
It doth so, holy sir, and there’s my master,
One that you love.
FRIAR. Who is it?
[BALTHASAR] Romeo.
FRIAR
How long hath he been there?
[BALTHASAR] Full half an hour.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.c The Friar wants Balthasar to go with him. [R&J-Q1:45.c]
FRIAR
Go with me to the Vault.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.d Balthasar will not disobey Romeo’s orders. [R&J-Q1:45.d]
[BALTHASAR] I dare not, sir.
My Master knows not but I am gone hence,
And fearfully did menace me with death
If I did stay to look on his intents.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.e The Friar says that he will go alone, even though he starts to fear some adversity at hand [R&J-Q1:45.e]
FRIAR
Stay then, I’ll go alone. Fear comes upon me.
Oh, much I fear some ill unthrifty thing.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.f Balthasar, who has fallen asleep under a nearby tree, says that he dreamt about a fight.
[BALTHASAR]
As I did sleep under this yew tree here
I dreamt my master and another fought,
And that my master slew him.
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.g The Friar goes alone and sees blood at the entrance of the monument. He finds Romeo’s and Paris’ dead bodies. [DP:96] [BAN:147] [BOA:165] [PAI:165] [BR:213] [R&J-Q1:45.g]
FRIAR LAURENCE Romeo!
Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains
The stony entrance of the sepulchre?
What mean these masterless and gory swords
To lie discoloured by this place of peace?
Romeo! Oh pale! Who else? What, Paris too?
And steeped in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour
Is guilty of this lamentable chance!
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.h Juliet wakes up and asks for Romeo [DP:87] [DP:96] [BAN:136] [BOA:166] [PAI:166] [BR:214] [R&J-Q1:45.h]
The Lady stirs.
JULIET
O comfortable Friar, where is my Lord?
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my Romeo?
45. Juliet wakes up in the tomb.45.i The Friar hears some noise and begs Juliet to go with him: he will hide her in aconvent. He then leaves. [DP:99] [BAN:152] [BOA:167] [BOA:169] [PAI:167] [PAI:169] [BR:215] [BR:217] [R&J-Q1:45.i]
FRIAR
I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep.
A greater power then we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away,
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead,
And Paris, too. Come, I’ll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming.
Come, go good Juliet. I dare no longer stay. Exit.
46. Juliet commits suicide.46.a Juliet refuses the Friar’s offer to follow him to a convent, stays with Romeo and kisses him [DP:101] [BAN:151] [BOA:168] [PAI:168] [BR:216] [R&J-Q1:46.a]
JULIET
Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.
What’s here? A cup, closed in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.
O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative.
Thy lips are warm.
46. Juliet commits suicide.46.b Enters the chief watchman with Paris’ page. [DP:103] [BAN:154] [BOA:171] [PAI:171] [BR:219] [R&J-Q1:46.b]
Enter Boy and Watch.
[CHIEF] WATCH. Lead, boy. Which way?
46. Juliet commits suicide.46.c Juliet stabs herself and dies. [DP:102] [BAN:153] [BOA:170] [PAI:170] [BR:218] [R&J-Q1:46.c]
JULIET
Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger
This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.a The watchman starts the investigation [R&J-Q1:47.a]
[PAGE]
This is the place, there where the torch doth burn.
[CHIEF] WATCH
The ground is bloody. Search about the churchyard.
Go, some of you, whoe’er you find attach.
Pitiful sight! Here lies the County slain,
And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead,
Who here hath lain this two days buried.
Go tell the Prince. Run to the Capulets,
Raise up the Montagues. Some others search.
We see the ground whereon these woes do lie,
But the true ground of all these piteous woes
We cannot without circumstance descry.
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.b Balthasar and the Friar are apprehended. [DP:103] [BAN:155] [BOA:171] [PAI:171] [BR:219] [R&J-Q1:47.b]
Enter Romeo’s man.
[2] WATCH
Here’s Romeo’s man. We found him in the churchyard.
CHIEF WATCH
Hold him in safety till the Prince come hither.
Enter Friar [Laurence] and another Watchman.
3 WATCH
Here is a Friar that trembles, sighs, and weeps.
We took this mattock and this spade from him
As he was coming from this churchyard’s side.
CHIEF WATCH
A great suspicion. Stay the friar too.
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.c Waked by the shrieks and the general racket, the Prince, Capulet and Lady Capulet arrive at the tomb [DP:104] [BAN:156] [BAN:157] [BOA:172] [PAI:172] [BR:220] [ R&J-Q1:47.c]
Enter the Prince.
PRINCE
What misadventure is so early up
That calls our person from our morning rest?
Enter [Capulet and his Wife].
CAPULET
What should it be that is so shrieked abroad?
CAPULET’S WIFE
Oh, the people in the street cry “Romeo”,
Some “Juliet”, and some “Paris”, and all run
With open outcry toward our monument.
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.d The Prince asks what happened and the chief watchman describes what and whom he has found at the monument [DP:104] [BAN:156] [BOA:172] [PAI:172] [BR:220] [R&J-Q1:47.d]
PRINCE
What fear is this which startles in your ears?
[CHIEF] WATCHMAN
Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain,
And Romeo dead, and Juliet, dead before,
Warm and new killed.
PRINCE
Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes.
[CHIEF] WATCHMAN
Here is a Friar, and slaughtered Romeo’s man,
With instruments upon them fit to open
These dead men’s tombs.
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.e Capulet and Lady Capulet see their daughter dead and covered in blood. [R&J-Q1:47.e]
Enter Capulet and his Wife.
CAPULET
O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds!
This dagger hath mista’en, for, lo, his house
Is empty on the back of Montague,
And it mis-sheathed in my daughter’s bosom.
CAPULET’S WIFE
O me, this sight of death, is as a bell
That warns my old age to a sepulchre.
Enter Montague.
PRINCE
Come Montague, for thou art early up
To see thy son and heir, now early down.
MONTAGUE
Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight.
Grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath.
What further woe conspires against mine age?
47. Everybody (Guards, Citizens, the Prince, the Capulets and old Montague) gets at the tomb.47.f Montague sees his dead son. [R&J-Q1:47.f]
PRINCE
Look, and thou shalt see.
MONTAGUE
O thou untaught! What manners is in this,
To press before thy father to a grave?
48. The final recapitulation.48.a The Prince wants to investigate what happened and summons the suspects. [DP:105] [BAN:156] [BOA:173] [PAI:173] [BR:221] [R&J-Q1:48.a]
PRINCE
Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while,
Till we can clear these ambiguities
And know their spring, their head, their true descent,
And then will I be general of your woes
And lead you even to death. Meantime, forbear,
And let mischance be slave to patience.
Bring forth the parties of suspicion.
48. The final recapitulation.48.b The Friar comes forth and speaks for himself. [DP:107] [BAN:156] [BOA:174] [PAI:174] [BR:222] [R&J-Q1:48.b]
FRIAR
I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me of this direful murder;
And here I stand both to impeach and purge
Myself condemned and myself excused.
48. The final recapitulation.48.c At the Prince’s request, Laurence recapitulates the events. [DP:107] [BAN: 156] [BOA:174] [PAI:174] [BR:222] [R&J-Q1:48.c]
PRINCE
Then say at once what thou dost know in this.
FRIAR
I will be brief, for my short date of breath
Is not so long as is a tedious tale.
Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet,
And she, there dead, that’s Romeo’s faithful wife.
I married them, and their stol’n marriage day
Was Tybalt’s doomsday, whose untimely death
Banished the new-made bridegroom from this city,
For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined.
You, to remove that siege of grief from her,
Betrothed and would have married her perforce
To County Paris. Then comes she to me,
And with wild looks bid me devise some means
To rid her from this second marriage,
Or in my Cell there would she kill herself.
Then gave I her – so tutored 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 borrowed grave,
Being the time the potion’s force should cease.
But he which bore my letter, Friar John,
Was stayed by accident, and yesternight
Returned my letter back. Then all alone
At the prefixed hour of her waking
Came I to take her from her kindred’s vault,
Meaning to keep her closely at my cell
Till I conveniently could send to Romeo.
But when I came, some minute ere the time
Of her awakening, here untimely lay
The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.
She 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 privy; and if ought in this
Miscarried by my fault, let my old life
Be sacrificed some hour before his time
Unto the rigor of severest law.
48. The final recapitulation.48.d The Prince believes the Friar and asks Balthasar to give his version. [R&J-Q1:48.d]
PRINCE
We still have known thee for a holy man.
Where’s Romeo’s man? What can he say to this?
48. The final recapitulation.48.e Balthasar tells about Rome’s return from Mantua after he informed him about Juliet’s death. [BAN:156] [BOA:175] [PAI:175] [BR:223] [R&J-Q1:48.e]
BALTHASAR
I brought my master news of Juliet’s death,
And then in post he came from Mantua
To this same place, to this same monument.
48. The final recapitulation.48.f Balthasar gives the Prince the letter Romeo wrote to his father [BOA:175] [PAI:175] [BR:223] [R&J-Q1:48.f]
This letter he early bid me give his father,
And threatened me with death, going in the vault,
If I departed not, and left him there.
PRINCE
Give me the letter; I will look on it.
48. The final recapitulation.48.g Asked by the Prince, Paris’ page gives his own version of what has just happened at the tomb. [R&J-Q1:48.g]
Where is the County’s page that raised the watch?
Sirrah, what made your master in this place?
[PAGE]
He came with flowers to strew his lady’s grave,
And bid me stand aloof, and so I did.
Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb,
And by and by my master drew on him,
And then I ran away to call the Watch.
48. The final recapitulation.48.h Romeo’s letter, read by the Prince,confirms the testimonials. [DP:110] [R&J-Q1:48.h]
PRINCE
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 therewithall,
Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.a The Prince admonishes both families and considers the young people’s deaths as God’s punishment. [R&J-Q1:49.a]
Where be these enemies? Capulet, Montague,
See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.b The Prince also blames himself for having been too indulgent.
And I, for winking at your discords too
Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.c Capulet shakes Montague’s hand and reconciles with him.Thisis his daughter’s jointure. [DP:109] [BAN:159] [BOA:178] [PAI:178] [BR:226] [R&J-Q1:49.c]
CAPULET
O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more
Can I demand.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.d Montague promises to raise a golden statue of Juliet to eternize her and Verona’s name. [DP:110] [BAN:160] [BOA:179] [PAI:179] [BR:227] [R&J-Q1:49.d]
MONTAGUE But I can give thee more,
For I will raise her statue in pure gold,
That whiles Verona by that name is known
There shall no figure at such rate be set
As that of true and faithful Juliet.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.e Capulet declares that he will do the same for Romeo [DP:110] [BAN:158] [BAN:160] [BOA:179] [PAI:179] [BR:227] [R&J-Q1:49.e]
CAPULET
As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie,
Poor sacrifices of our enmity.
49. The final reconciliation between the feuding families.49.f The Prince invites all to leave and talk about these sad events. [BOA:176] [PAI:176] [BR:224] [R&J-Q1:49.f]
PRINCE
A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun for sorrow will not show his head.
Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.
Some shall be pardoned, and some punished;
For never was a story of more woe
Then this of Juliet and her Romeo.
FINIS