"There is beyonde the Alps, a towne of auncient fameWhose bright renoune yet shineth cleare, Verona men it name:Bylt in an happy time, bylt on a fertile soyle:Maynteined by the heauenly fates, and by the townish toyle.The fruitefull hilles aboue, the pleasant vales belowe,The siluer streame with chanell depe, that through the towne doth flow:The store of springes that serue for vse, and eke for ease:And other moe commodities, which profite may and please;Eke many certaine signes of thinges betyde of olde,To fyll the houngry eyes of those that curiously beholde:Doe make this towne to be preferde aboue the restOf Lumbard townes, or at the least compared with the best."
"There is beyonde the Alps, a towne of auncient fameWhose bright renoune yet shineth cleare, Verona men it name:Bylt in an happy time, bylt on a fertile soyle:Maynteined by the heauenly fates, and by the townish toyle.The fruitefull hilles aboue, the pleasant vales belowe,The siluer streame with chanell depe, that through the towne doth flow:The store of springes that serue for vse, and eke for ease:And other moe commodities, which profite may and please;Eke many certaine signes of thinges betyde of olde,To fyll the houngry eyes of those that curiously beholde:Doe make this towne to be preferde aboue the restOf Lumbard townes, or at the least compared with the best."
"There is beyonde the Alps, a towne of auncient fameWhose bright renoune yet shineth cleare, Verona men it name:Bylt in an happy time, bylt on a fertile soyle:Maynteined by the heauenly fates, and by the townish toyle.The fruitefull hilles aboue, the pleasant vales belowe,The siluer streame with chanell depe, that through the towne doth flow:The store of springes that serue for vse, and eke for ease:And other moe commodities, which profite may and please;Eke many certaine signes of thinges betyde of olde,To fyll the houngry eyes of those that curiously beholde:Doe make this towne to be preferde aboue the restOf Lumbard townes, or at the least compared with the best."
"There is beyonde the Alps, a towne of auncient fame
Whose bright renoune yet shineth cleare, Verona men it name:
Bylt in an happy time, bylt on a fertile soyle:
Maynteined by the heauenly fates, and by the townish toyle.
The fruitefull hilles aboue, the pleasant vales belowe,
The siluer streame with chanell depe, that through the towne doth flow:
The store of springes that serue for vse, and eke for ease:
And other moe commodities, which profite may and please;
Eke many certaine signes of thinges betyde of olde,
To fyll the houngry eyes of those that curiously beholde:
Doe make this towne to be preferde aboue the rest
Of Lumbard townes, or at the least compared with the best."
6.Star-cross'd.For the astrological allusion, cf. i. 4. 104, v. 1. 24, and v. 3. 111 below. The title of one of Richard Braithwaite's works, published in 1615, is "Love's Labyrinth: or the True Lover's Knot, including the disastrous falls of two Star-crost lovers Pyramus and Thisbe."
8.Doth.The reading of the quartos, changed by most of the modern editors to "Do." Ulrici considers it the old third person plural in -th. He adds that S. mostly uses it only where it has theforce of the singular, namely, where the sense is collective, as inoverthrowshere. Cf. v. 1. 70 below.
12.Two hours.Cf.Hen. VIII.prol. 13: "may see away their shilling Richly in two short hours."
1.Carry coals."Endure affronts" (Johnson). According to Nares, the phrase got this meaning from the fact that the carriers of wood and coals were esteemed the very lowest of menials. Cf.Hen. V.iii. 2. 49, where there is a play upon the expression. Steevens quotes Nash,Have With You, etc.: "We will bear no coles, I warrant you;" Marston,Antonio and Mellida, part ii.: "He has had wrongs; and if I were he I would bear no coles," etc. Dyce cites Cotgrave,Fr. Dict.: "Il a du feu en la teste.Hee is very chollericke, furious, or couragious; he will carrie no coales." He might have added from Sherwood's English-French supplement to Cotgrave (ed. 1632): "That will carrie no coales,Brave."
3.Colliers.The preceding note explains howcollierscame to be a term of abuse. TheNew Eng. Dict.adds that it may have been due to "the evil repute of the collier for cheating." Steevens comparesT.N.iii. 4. 130: "hang him, foul collier!"
4.Choler.For the play upon the word, cf. Jonson,Every Man in his Humour, iii. 2:—
"Cash.Why, how now, Cob? what moves thee to this cholar, ha?Cob.Collar, master Thomas? I scorn your collar, I sir; I am none of your cart-horse, though I carry and draw water."
"Cash.Why, how now, Cob? what moves thee to this cholar, ha?
Cob.Collar, master Thomas? I scorn your collar, I sir; I am none of your cart-horse, though I carry and draw water."
15.Take the wall.Claim the right of passing next the wall when meeting a person on the street; a right valued in old-fashioned streets with narrow sidewalks or none at all. Togive the wallwas an act of courtesy; totake the wallmight be an insult.
17.The weakest goes to the wall.A familiar proverb.
28.Here comes two,etc. Halliwell-Phillipps remarks that the partisans of the Montagues wore a token in their hats to distinguish them from the Capulets; hence throughout the play they are known at a distance. Cf. Gascoigne,Devise of a Masque, written for Viscount Montacute, 1575:—
"And for a further proofe, he shewed in hys hatThys token which theMountacutesdid beare alwaies, for thatThey covet to be knowne fromCapels, where they pass,For ancient grutch whych long ago 'tweene these two houses was."
"And for a further proofe, he shewed in hys hatThys token which theMountacutesdid beare alwaies, for thatThey covet to be knowne fromCapels, where they pass,For ancient grutch whych long ago 'tweene these two houses was."
"And for a further proofe, he shewed in hys hatThys token which theMountacutesdid beare alwaies, for thatThey covet to be knowne fromCapels, where they pass,For ancient grutch whych long ago 'tweene these two houses was."
"And for a further proofe, he shewed in hys hat
Thys token which theMountacutesdid beare alwaies, for that
They covet to be knowne fromCapels, where they pass,
For ancient grutch whych long ago 'tweene these two houses was."
39.I will bite my thumb at them.An insult explained by Cotgrave,Fr. Dict.(ed. 1632): "Nique, faire la nique, to threaten or defie, by putting the thumbe naile into the mouth, and with a ierke (from th' upper teeth) make it to knocke."
44.Of our side.On our side (on = of, as often).
55.Here comes one,etc. "Gregory may mean Tybalt, who enters directly after Benvolio, but on a different part of the stage. The eyes of the servant may be directed the way he sees Tybalt coming, and in the mean time Benvolio enters on the opposite side" (Steevens).
60.Swashing blow.A dashing or smashing blow (Schmidt). Cf. Jonson,Staple of News, v. 1: "I do confess a swashing blow." Cf. alsoswash= bully, bluster; as inA.Y.L.i. 3. 122: "I'll have a martial and a swashing outside."
63.Art thou drawn?Cf.Temp.ii. 1. 308: "Why are you drawn?"Heartless= cowardly, spiritless; as inR. of L.471, 1392.
69.Have at thee.Cf. iv. 5. 119 below; alsoC. of E.iii. 1. 51, etc.
70.Clubs.The cry ofClubs! in a street affray is of English origin, as thebite my thumbis of Italian. It was the rallying-cry of the London apprentices. Cf.Hen. VIII.v. 4. 53,A.Y.L.v. 2. 44, etc.Billswere the pikes or halberds formerly carried by the English infantry and afterwards by watchmen. Thepartisanwas "a sharp two-edged sword placed on the summit of a staff for thedefence of foot-soldiers against cavalry" (Fairholt). Cf.Ham.i. 1. 140: "Shall I strike at it with my partisan?"
71.EnterCapuletin his gown.Cf.Ham.(quarto) iii. 4. 61: "Enter the ghost in his night gowne;" that is, his dressing-gown. See alsoMacb.ii. 2. 70: "Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us And show us to be watchers;" andId.v. 1. 5: "I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her," etc. It is early morning, and Capulet comes out before he is dressed.
72.Long sword.The weapon used in active warfare; a lighter and shorter one being worn for ornament (seeA.W.ii. 1. 32: "no sword worn But one to dance with"). Cf.M.W.ii. 1. 236: "with my long sword I would have made you four tall fellows skip like rats."
73.A crutch, a crutch!The lady's sneer at her aged husband. For her own age, see on i. 3. 51 below.
75.In spite.In scornful defiance. Cf. 3Hen. VI.i. 3. 158,Cymb.iv. 1. 16, etc.
79.Neighbour-stained.Because used in civil strife.
84.Mistemper'd.Tempered to an ill end (Schmidt). Steevens explains it as = angry. The word occurs again inK. John, v. 1. 12: "This inundation of mistemper'd humour."
85.Moved.That is, "mov'd to wrath" (T.A.i. 1. 419). Cf.L. L. L.v. 2. 694,J.C.iv. 3. 58, etc.
89.Ancient.Not of necessity old in years, but long settled there and accustomed to peace and order (Delius).
90.Grave beseeming.Grave and becoming. Cf.Ham.iv. 7. 79:—
"for youth no less becomesThe light and careless livery that it wears,Than settled age his sables and his weeds,Importing health and graveness."
"for youth no less becomesThe light and careless livery that it wears,Than settled age his sables and his weeds,Importing health and graveness."
"for youth no less becomesThe light and careless livery that it wears,Than settled age his sables and his weeds,Importing health and graveness."
"for youth no less becomes
The light and careless livery that it wears,
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,
Importing health and graveness."
92.Canker'd with peace,etc.Canker'd(= corroded) is applied literally to the partisans long disused, and figuratively to their owners. Cf.K. John, ii. 1. 194: "A canker'd grandam's will."
99.Freetown.S. takes the name from Brooke's poem. It translates theVilla Francaof the Italian story.
101.S. usesset abroachonly in a bad sense. Cf. 2Hen. IV.iv. 2. 14: "Alack, what mischiefs might be set abroach;" andRich. III.i. 3. 325: "The secret mischiefs that I set abroach."
109.Nothing hurt withal.Nowise harmed by it.Who= which; as often.
110.While we,etc. This line, with the change ofwetothey, is found in the 1st quarto in iii. 1, where Benvolio describes the brawl in which Mercutio and Tybalt are slain (Daniel).
113.Saw you him to-day?This use of the past tense is not allowable now, but was common in Elizabethan English. Cf.Cymb.iv. 2. 66: "I saw him not these many years," etc.
115.The worshipp'd sun.Cf. iii. 2. 25 below: "And pay no worship to the garish sun." See alsoLear, i. 1. 111: "the sacred radiance of the sun;" andCymb.iv. 4. 41: "the holy sun." It is remarkable that no German commentator has tried to make S. a Parsee.
116.Forth.Cf.M.N.D.i. 1. 164: "Steal forth thy father's house," etc.
118.Sycamore.According to Beisly and Ellacombe, theAcer pseudo-platanus, which grows wild in Italy. It had been introduced into England before the time of S. He mentions it also inL. L. L.v. 2. 89 andOth.iv. 3. 41.
119.Rooteth.Cf.W.T.i. 1. 25: "there rooted betwixt them such an affection," etc.
121.Ware.Aware; but not to be printed as a contraction of that word. Cf. ii. 2. 103 below.
123.Affections.Feelings, inclinations. Cf.Ham.iii. 1. 170: "Love! his affections do not that way tend," etc.
124.Which then,etc. "The plain meaning seems to be that Benvolio, like Romeo, was indisposed for society, and sought to be most where most people were not to be found, being one too many,even when by himself" (Collier). Some editors follow Pope in reading (from 1st quarto) "That most are busied when they're most alone."
127.Who.Him who; the antecedent omitted, as often when it is easily supplied.
131.All so soon.Allis often used in this "intensive" way.
134.Heavy.S. is fond of playing onheavyandlight.Cf.R. of L.1574,T.G. of V.i. 2. 84,M. of V.v. 1. 130, etc.
142.Importun'd.Accented on the second syllable, as regularly in S.
148.With.By; as often of the agent or cause.
150.Sun.The early eds. all have "same." The emendation is due to Theobald and is almost universally adopted.
156.To hear.Asto hear; a common ellipsis.
157.Is the day so young?Is it not yet noon?Good morroworgood daywas considered proper only before noon, after whichgood denwas the usual salutation. Cf. i. 2. 57 below.
158.New.Often used by S. in this adverbial way = just, lately. Cf. v. 3. 197 below. ForAy me!see on ii. 1. 10.
166.In his view.In appearance; opposed toproof= experience. Cf.Ham.iii. 2. 179: "What my love is, proof hath made you know," etc.
168.Alas, that love, whose view,etc. Alas "that love, though blindfolded, should see how to reach the lover's heart" (Dowden).Viewhere = sight, or eyes.
172.Here's much,etc. Romeo means that the fray has much to do with the hate between the rival houses, yet affects him more, inasmuch as his Rosaline is of the Capulet family.
173-178.O brawling love!etc. Cf. iii. 2. 73 fol. below.
187.Rais'd.The reading of the 1st quarto, adopted by the majority of editors. The other early eds. have "made."
188.Purg'd.That is, from smoke.
191.A choking gall,etc. That is, "love kills and keeps alive, is a bane and an antidote" (Dowden).
195.Some other where.Cf.C. of E.iv. 1. 30: "How if your husband start some other where?"
196.Sadness.Seriousness. Cf.A.W.iv. 3. 230: "In good sadness, I do not know," etc. Sosadlyjust below = seriously, as inMuch Ado, ii. 3. 229.
203.Mark-man.The 3d and 4th folios have "marks-man." S. uses the word nowhere else.
206.Dian's wit.Her way of thinking, her sentiments. S. has many allusions to Diana's chastity, and also to her connection with the moon.
207.Proof.Used technically of armour. Cf.Rich. II.i. 3. 73: "Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers;"Ham.ii. 2. 512: "Mars's armour forg'd for proof eterne," etc.
209.The siege,etc. Cf.V. and A.423:—
"Remove your siege from my unyielding heart;To love's alarm it will not ope the gate."
"Remove your siege from my unyielding heart;To love's alarm it will not ope the gate."
"Remove your siege from my unyielding heart;
To love's alarm it will not ope the gate."
See alsoR. of L.221,A.W.iii. 7. 18,Cymb.iii. 4. 137, etc.
213.That when she dies,etc. "She is rich in beauty, andonly poorin being subject to the lot of humanity, thather store, or riches,can be destroyed by death, who shall, by the same blow, put an end to beauty" (Johnson); or, as Mason puts it, "she is poor because she leaves no part of her store behind her."Her storemay mean "beauty's store," as Dowden suggests. Cf.V. and A.1019: "For he, being dead, with him is beauty slain."
215.In that sparing makes huge waste.Cf.Sonn.1. 12: "And, tender churl, makes waste in niggarding."
216.Starv'd.The early eds. (except the 4th folio) have "sterv'd," the old form of the word, found in several other passages in the folio (M. of V.iv. 1. 138,Cor.iv. 2. 51, etc.) and rhyming withdeserveinCor.ii. 3. 120. Cf. Spenser,F.Q.iv. 1. 4:—
"Untill such time as noble BritomartReleased her, that else was like to sterveThrough cruell knife that her deare heart did kerve."
"Untill such time as noble BritomartReleased her, that else was like to sterveThrough cruell knife that her deare heart did kerve."
"Untill such time as noble BritomartReleased her, that else was like to sterveThrough cruell knife that her deare heart did kerve."
"Untill such time as noble Britomart
Released her, that else was like to sterve
Through cruell knife that her deare heart did kerve."
There it means to die (its original sense), as inHen. VII.v. 3. 132.
226.To call hers, exquisite."That is, to call hers, which is exquisite, the more into my remembrance and contemplation" (Heath); or "to make her unparalleled beauty more the subject of thought and conversation" (Malone). Forquestion= conversation, cf.A.Y.L.iii. 4. 39, v. 4. 167, etc. But why may notquestionrepeat the idea ofexamine? Benvolio says, "Examine other beauties;" Romeo replies, in substance, that the result of the examination will only be to prove her beauty superior to theirs and therefore the more extraordinary.
227.These happy masks.Steevens took this to refer to "the masks worn by female spectators of the play;" but it is probably = the masks worn nowadays. They are calledhappyas "being privileged to touch the sweet countenances beneath" (Clarke).
229.Strucken.The early eds. have "strucken" or "strooken." S. also usesstruck(orstrook) andstrickenas the participle.
231.Passing.Often used adverbially but only before adjectives and adverbs. Cf.L. L. L.iv. 3. 103,Much Ado, ii. 1. 84, etc.
235.Pay that doctrine.Give that instruction. Cf.L. L. L.iv. 3. 350: "From women's eyes this doctrine I derive;"A. and C.v. 2. 31:—
"I hourly learnA doctrine of obedience," etc.
"I hourly learnA doctrine of obedience," etc.
"I hourly learnA doctrine of obedience," etc.
"I hourly learn
A doctrine of obedience," etc.
4.Reckoning.Estimation, reputation.
9.Fourteen years.In Brooke's poem her father says, "Scarce saw she yet full xvi. yeres;" and in Paynter's novel "as yet shee is not attayned to the age of xviii. yeares."
13.Made.The 1st quarto has "maried," which is followed by some editors. The antithesis ofmakeandmaris a very common one in S. Cf. ii. 4. 110 below: "that God hath made for himself to mar." See alsoL. L. L.iv. 3. 191,M.N.D.i. 2. 39,A.Y.L.i. 1. 34,T. of S.iv. 3. 97,Macb.ii. 3. 36,Oth.v. 1. 4, etc. On the other hand, examples of the opposition ofmarriedandmarredare not uncommon in Elizabethan writers. Cf.A.W.ii. 3. 315: "A young man married is a man that's marr'd."
14.All my hopes but she.Capulet seems to imply here that he has lost some children; but cf. iii. 5. 163 below.
15.My earth.My world or my life; rather than my lands, my landed property, as some explain it. It was apparently suggested by theearthof the preceding line.
17.My will,etc. My will is subordinate to her consent. The old man talks very differently in iii. 5 below.
25.Dark heaven.The darkness of night. Cf. i. 5. 47 below.
26.Young men.Malone comparesSonn.98. 2:—
"When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trimHath put a spirit of youth in every thing."
"When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trimHath put a spirit of youth in every thing."
"When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trimHath put a spirit of youth in every thing."
"When proud-pied April dress'd in all his trim
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing."
29.Female.The quartos (except the 1st) and 1st folio have the curious misprint "fennell."
30.Inherit.Possess; as inTemp.iv. 1. 154,Rich. II.ii. 1. 83,Cymb.iii. 2. 63, etc.
32.Which on more view,etc. A perplexing line for which many emendations have been suggested. With the reading in the text the meaning seems to be:which one(referring toher of most merit), after your further inspection of the many, my daughter (who is one of the number) may prove to be,—one in number, though one is no number. The quibble at the end alludes to the old proverb that "one is no number." Cf.Sonn.136. 8: "Among a number one is reckon'd none." Dowden points thus: "Which on more view of, many—mine being one—May," etc., and explains thus: "On more view of whom (that is, the lady of most merit), many (other ladies)—and my daughter among them—may stand in a count of heads, but in estimation (reckoning, with a play on the word) none can hold a place." The general sense of the passage is clear, whatever reading or analysis we adopt. Capulet says in substance: Come to my house to-night, and decide whom you like best of the beauties gathered there; if Julietbe the one, well and good. He has already told Paris that she shall be his if he can gain her love, but discreetly suggests that he look more carefully at the "fresh female buds" of Verona before plucking one to wear on his heart.
36.Written there.Cf. Brooke's poem:—
"No Lady fayre or fowle was in Verona towne:No knight or gentleman of high or lowe renowne:But Capilet himselfe hath byd vnto his feast:Or by his name in paper sent, appoynted as a geast."
"No Lady fayre or fowle was in Verona towne:No knight or gentleman of high or lowe renowne:But Capilet himselfe hath byd vnto his feast:Or by his name in paper sent, appoynted as a geast."
"No Lady fayre or fowle was in Verona towne:No knight or gentleman of high or lowe renowne:But Capilet himselfe hath byd vnto his feast:Or by his name in paper sent, appoynted as a geast."
"No Lady fayre or fowle was in Verona towne:
No knight or gentleman of high or lowe renowne:
But Capilet himselfe hath byd vnto his feast:
Or by his name in paper sent, appoynted as a geast."
46.One fire,etc. Alluding to the old proverb that "fire drives out fire." Cf.J.C.iii. 1. 171: "As fire drives out fire, so pity pity;"Cor.iv. 7. 54: "One fire drives out one fire; one nail, one nail," etc.
48.Holp.Used by S. oftener thanhelped, for both the past tense and the participle.
49.Cures with.Is cured by. S. does not elsewhere usecureintransitively.Languishoccurs again as a noun inA. and C.v. 2. 42: "That rids our dogs of languish." On the passage cf. Brooke:—
"Ere long the townishe dames together will resort:Some one of bewty, favour, shape, and of so lovely porte:With so fast fixed eye, perhaps thou mayst beholde:That thou shalt quite forget thy loue, and passions past of olde.* * * * * * * *The proverbe saith vnminded oft are they that are vnseene.And as out of a planke a nayle a nayle doth drive:So novell love out of the minde the auncient loue doth rive."
"Ere long the townishe dames together will resort:Some one of bewty, favour, shape, and of so lovely porte:With so fast fixed eye, perhaps thou mayst beholde:That thou shalt quite forget thy loue, and passions past of olde.* * * * * * * *The proverbe saith vnminded oft are they that are vnseene.And as out of a planke a nayle a nayle doth drive:So novell love out of the minde the auncient loue doth rive."
"Ere long the townishe dames together will resort:Some one of bewty, favour, shape, and of so lovely porte:With so fast fixed eye, perhaps thou mayst beholde:That thou shalt quite forget thy loue, and passions past of olde.
"Ere long the townishe dames together will resort:
Some one of bewty, favour, shape, and of so lovely porte:
With so fast fixed eye, perhaps thou mayst beholde:
That thou shalt quite forget thy loue, and passions past of olde.
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
The proverbe saith vnminded oft are they that are vnseene.And as out of a planke a nayle a nayle doth drive:So novell love out of the minde the auncient loue doth rive."
The proverbe saith vnminded oft are they that are vnseene.
And as out of a planke a nayle a nayle doth drive:
So novell love out of the minde the auncient loue doth rive."
52.Your plantain-leaf.The common plantain (Plantago major), which still holds a place in the domesticmateria medica. For its use in healing bruises, cf.L. L. L.iii. 1. 74:—
"Moth.A wonder, master! here's a costard broken in a shin.* * * * * * * *Costard.O sir, plantain, a plain plantain! ... no salve, sir, but a plantain!"
"Moth.A wonder, master! here's a costard broken in a shin.* * * * * * * *Costard.O sir, plantain, a plain plantain! ... no salve, sir, but a plantain!"
"Moth.A wonder, master! here's a costard broken in a shin.
"Moth.A wonder, master! here's a costard broken in a shin.
* * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
Costard.O sir, plantain, a plain plantain! ... no salve, sir, but a plantain!"
Costard.O sir, plantain, a plain plantain! ... no salve, sir, but a plantain!"
Steevens quotesAlbumazar: "Bring a fresh plantain leaf, I've broke my shin."A broken shin, like abroken head(M.W.i. 125,T.N.v. 1. 178, etc.) is one that is bruised, so that the blood runs, not one that is fractured. The plantain was supposed to have other virtues. Halliwell-Phillipps quotes Withals,Little Dictionarie for Children, 1586: "The tode being smitten of the spyder in fighte, and made to swell with hir poyson, recovereth himselfe with plantaine."
55.Not mad, but bound,etc. An allusion to the old-time treatment of the insane. Cf.C. of E.iv. 4. 97: "They must be bound and laid in some dark room;" andA.Y.L.iii. 2. 420: "Love is merely a madness, and, I tell you, deserves as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do."
57.Good-den.Printed "godden" and "gooden" in the early eds., and a corruption ofgood e'en, orgood evening.God gi' good-denin the next line is printed "Godgigoden" in the quartos and first three folios, "God gi' Good-e'en" in the 4th folio. This salutation was used as soon as noon was past. See on i. 1. 157 above, and cf. ii. 4. 105 fol. below.
64.Rest you merry!For the full form,God rest you merry! (= God keep you merry), cf.A.Y.L.v. 1. 65, etc. It was a common form of salutation at meeting, and oftener at parting. Here the servant is about to leave, thinking that Romeo is merely jesting with him. Cf. 79 below.
66-69.Signior Martino,etc. Probably meant to be prose, but some editors make bad verse of it.
69.Mercutio.Mercutio here figures among the invited guests, although we find him always associating with the young men of the Montague family. He is the prince's "kinsman," and apparently on terms of acquaintance with both the rival houses, though more intimate with the Montagues than with the Capulets.
71.Rosaline.This shows that Rosaline is a Capulet.
74.Up.Dowden plausibly prints "Up—," assuming that "Romeo eagerly interrupts the servant, who would have said 'Up to our house.'"
82.Crush a cup,etc. A common expression in the old plays. We still say "crack a bottle."
87.Unattainted.Unprejudiced, impartial; used by S. only here.
91.Fires.The early eds. have "fire," which White retains as an admissible rhyme in Shakespeare's day.
92.Who often drown'd,etc. Alluding to the old notion that if a witch were thrown into the water she would not sink. King James, in hisDæmonology, says: "It appeares that God hath appointed for a supernatural signe of the monstrous impietie of witches, that the water shall refuse to receive them in her bosom that have shaken off them the sacred water of baptism, and wilfully refused the benefit thereof."
98.That crystal scales.The reading of the early eds., changed by some to "those," etc.; butscalesmay be used for the entire machine. Dyce says it was often so used by writers of the time.
99.Lady's love.Some substitute "lady-love," which S. does not use elsewhere. Clarke suggests thatyour lady's lovemay mean "the little love Rosaline bears you," weighed against that of some possiblemaid.
101.Scant.Not elsewhere used adverbially by S.Scantlyoccurs only inA. and C.iii. 4. 6.
1.On the characterof the Nurse Mrs. Jameson says:—
"She is drawn with the most wonderful power and discrimination. In the prosaic homeliness of the outline, and the magical illusion of the colouring, she reminds us of some of the marvellous Dutch paintings, from which, with all their coarseness, we start back as from a reality. Her low humour, her shallow garrulity, mixed with the dotage and petulance of age—her subserviency, her secrecy, and her total want of elevated principle, or even common honesty—are brought before us like a living and palpable truth....
"Among these harsh and inferior spirits is Juliet placed; her haughty parents, and her plebeian nurse, not only throw into beautiful relief her own native softness and elegance, but are at once the cause and the excuse of her subsequent conduct. She trembles before her stern mother and her violent father, but, like a petted child, alternately cajoles and commands her nurse. It is her old foster-mother who is the confidante of her love. It is the woman who cherished her infancy who aids and abets her in her clandestine marriage. Do we not perceive how immediately our impression of Juliet's character would have been lowered, if Shakespeare had placed her in connection with any commonplace dramatic waiting-woman?—even with Portia's adroit Nerissa, or Desdemona's Emilia? By giving her the Nurse for her confidante, the sweetness and dignity of Juliet's character are preserved inviolate to the fancy, even in the midst of all the romance and wilfulness of passion."
Cf. Coleridge: "The character of the Nurse is the nearest of anything in Shakspeare to a direct borrowing from mere observation; and the reason is, that as in infancy and childhood the individual in nature is a representative of a class—just as in describing one larch-tree, you generalize a grove of them—so it is nearly as much so in old age. The generalization is done to the poet's hand. Here you have the garrulity of age strengthened by the feelings of a long-trusted servant, whose sympathy with the mother's affections gives her privileges and rank in the household; and observe the mode of connection by accidents of time and place, and the childlike fondness of repetition in a second childhood, and also that happy, humble ducking under, yet constant resurgence against, the check of her superiors!"
2.Maidenhead.Etymologically the same word asmaidenhood. Solustihead= lustihood,livelihead= livelihood (as in Spenser,F.Q.ii. 2. 2: "for porcion of thy livelyhed"), etc. Cf.Godhead, etc.
4.God forbid!Staunton suggests that the Nurse useslady-birdas a term of endearment; but, recollecting its application to a woman of loose life, checks herself—God forbidher darling should prove such a one! Dyce explains it: "God forbid that any accident should keep her away!" This seems to me more probable.
7.Give leave awhile.Leave us alone; a courteous form of dismissal. Cf.T.G. of V.iii. 1. 1: "Sir Thurio, give us leave, I pray, awhile;"M.W.ii. 2. 165: "Give us leave, drawer," etc.
9.I have remember'd me.For the reflexive use, cf.1 Hen. IV.ii. 4. 468: "and now I remember me, his name is Falstaff," etc.
Thou's.Cf.Lear, iv. 6. 246. The early eds. have "thou 'se"; most modern ones substitute "thou shalt."
12.Lay.Wager. Cf.L. L. L.i. 1. 310,T. and C.iii. 1. 95, etc.
13.Teen.Sorrow; used here for the play onfourteen. Cf.V. and A.808: "My face is full of shame, my heart of teen;"Temp.i. 2. 64: "the teen I have turn'd you to;"L. L. L.iv. 3. 164: "Of sighs and groans, of sorrow and of teen," etc.
15.Lammas-tide.The 1st of August.Tide= time, as ineven-tide,springtide, etc. Cf.K. John, iii. 1. 86:—