ACT III

Loggia of Capulet's House

A Public Place

EnterMercutio,Benvolio, Page,andServants

Benvolio.I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire.The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,And if we meet we shall notscapea brawl;For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

Benvolio.I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire.

The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,

And if we meet we shall notscapea brawl;

For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

Mercutio.Thou art like one of those fellows thatwhen he enters the confines of a tavern clapsmehissword upon the table, and says 'God send me noneed of thee!' and by theoperationof the secondcup draws him on the drawer, when indeed there is10no need.Benvolio.Am Ilike such a fellow?Mercutio.Come, come, thou art as hot aJackinthy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to bemoody, and as soonmoodyto be moved.Benvolio.And what to?Mercutio.Nay, an there were two such, we shouldhave none shortly, for one would kill the other.Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hatha hair more, or a hair less, in his beard than thou20hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for crackingnuts, having no other reason but because thou hasthazel eyes; what eye but such an eye would spy outsuch a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels asan egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath beenbeaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling. Thouhast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street,because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lainasleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with atailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter?30with another for tying his new shoes with old riband?and yet thou wilttutor me fromquarrelling!Benvolio.An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art,any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for anhour and a quarter.Mercutio.The fee-simple! O simple!Benvolio.By my head, here come the Capulets.Mercutio.By my heel, I care not.EnterTybaltand othersTybalt.Follow me close, for I will speak to them.—Gentlemen,good den;a word with one of you.40Mercutio.And but one word with one of us?couple it with something; make it a word and ablow.Tybalt.You shall find meapt enough tothat, sir,an you will give me occasion.Mercutio.Could you not take some occasion withoutgiving?Tybalt.Mercutio, thouconsort'st withRomeo,—Mercutio.Consort! what, dost thou make usminstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to50hear nothing but discords; here's my fiddlestick,here's that shall make you dance.Zounds, consort!

Benvolio.Am Ilike such a fellow?

Mercutio.Come, come, thou art as hot aJackinthy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to bemoody, and as soonmoodyto be moved.

Benvolio.And what to?

Mercutio.Nay, an there were two such, we shouldhave none shortly, for one would kill the other.Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hatha hair more, or a hair less, in his beard than thou20hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for crackingnuts, having no other reason but because thou hasthazel eyes; what eye but such an eye would spy outsuch a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels asan egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath beenbeaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling. Thouhast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street,because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lainasleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with atailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter?30with another for tying his new shoes with old riband?and yet thou wilttutor me fromquarrelling!

Benvolio.An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art,any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for anhour and a quarter.

Mercutio.The fee-simple! O simple!

Benvolio.By my head, here come the Capulets.

Mercutio.By my heel, I care not.

EnterTybaltand others

Tybalt.Follow me close, for I will speak to them.—Gentlemen,good den;a word with one of you.

40Mercutio.And but one word with one of us?couple it with something; make it a word and ablow.

Tybalt.You shall find meapt enough tothat, sir,an you will give me occasion.

Mercutio.Could you not take some occasion withoutgiving?

Tybalt.Mercutio, thouconsort'st withRomeo,—

Mercutio.Consort! what, dost thou make usminstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to50hear 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 coldlyof your grievances,Or elsedepart; 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.EnterRomeoTybalt.Well, peace be with you, sir; here comes my man.Mercutio.But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery.60Marry, go before to field, he 'll be your follower;Your worship in that sense may call him man.Tybalt.Romeo,the hate I bear theecan affordNo better term than this,—thou art a villain.Romeo.Tybalt, the reason that I have tolovetheeDoth much excuse theappertaining rageTo such a greeting. Villain am I none,Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.Tybalt.Boy, this shall not excuse the injuriesThat thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.70Romeo.I do protest, I never injur'd thee,But love thee better than thou canst deviseTill thou shalt know the reason of my love;And so, good Capulet,—which name ItenderAs dearly as my own,—be satisfied.Mercutio.O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!A la stoccatacarries it away.—[Draws.Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

Benvolio.We talk here in the public haunt of men.Either withdraw unto some private place,Or reason coldlyof your grievances,Or elsedepart; here all eyes gaze on us.

Benvolio.We talk here in the public haunt of men.

Either withdraw unto some private place,

Or reason coldlyof your grievances,

Or elsedepart; 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.

Mercutio.Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;

I will not budge for no man's pleasure,I.

EnterRomeo

Tybalt.Well, peace be with you, sir; here comes my man.

Mercutio.But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery.60Marry, go before to field, he 'll be your follower;Your worship in that sense may call him man.

Mercutio.But I'll be hang'd, 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 hate I bear theecan affordNo better term than this,—thou art a villain.

Tybalt.Romeo,the hate I bear theecan afford

No better term than this,—thou art a villain.

Romeo.Tybalt, the reason that I have tolovetheeDoth much excuse theappertaining rageTo such a greeting. Villain am I none,Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.

Romeo.Tybalt, the reason that I have tolovethee

Doth much excuse theappertaining 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 injuriesThat thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

Tybalt.Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries

That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

70Romeo.I do protest, I never injur'd thee,But love thee better than thou canst deviseTill thou shalt know the reason of my love;And so, good Capulet,—which name ItenderAs dearly as my own,—be satisfied.

Romeo.I do protest, I never injur'd thee,

But love thee better than thou canst devise

Till thou shalt know the reason of my love;

And so, good Capulet,—which name Itender

As dearly as my own,—be satisfied.

Mercutio.O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!A la stoccatacarries it away.—[Draws.

Mercutio.O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!

A la stoccatacarries it away.—[Draws.

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

Tybalt.What wouldst thou have with me?Mercutio.Goodking of cats, nothing but one of80your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal,and, as you shall use me hereafter,dry-beatthe restof the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of hispilcherby the ears? make haste, lest mine be aboutyour ears ere it be out.Tybalt.I am for you.[Drawing.Romeo.Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.Mercutio.Come, sir, yourpassado.[They fight.

Tybalt.What wouldst thou have with me?

Mercutio.Goodking of cats, nothing but one of80your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal,and, as you shall use me hereafter,dry-beatthe restof the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of hispilcherby the ears? make haste, lest mine be aboutyour ears ere it be out.

Tybalt.I am for you.[Drawing.Romeo.Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

Mercutio.Come, sir, yourpassado.[They fight.

Romeo.Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.—Gentlemen, for shame, forbear thisoutrage!90Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hathForbid thisbandyingin Verona streets.Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio![ExeuntTybalt and his partisans.Mercutio.I am hurt.A plague o' both your houses! I amsped.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.Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.—

Gentlemen, for shame, forbear thisoutrage!

Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath

Forbid thisbandyingin Verona streets.

Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio![ExeuntTybalt and his partisans.

Mercutio.I am hurt.A plague o' both your houses! I amsped.Is he gone, and hath nothing?

Mercutio.I am hurt.

A plague o' both your houses! I amsped.

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.

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 sowide as a church-door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve;100ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me agraveman. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world.—Aplague 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, thatfights by the book ofarithmetic!—Why the devil came you between us?I was hurt under your arm.Romeo.I thought all for the best.

Romeo.Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

Mercutio.No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor sowide as a church-door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve;100ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me agraveman. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world.—Aplague 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, thatfights by the book ofarithmetic!—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!110They have made worms' meat of me. I have it,And soundly too;—your houses![Exeunt Mercutio and BenvolioRomeo.This gentleman, the prince's near ally,My very friend, hath got his mortal hurtIn my behalf; my reputation stain'dWith Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hourHath been mycousin!—O sweet Juliet,Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!Re-enterBenvolioBenvolio.O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!120That gallant spirit hathaspir'dthe clouds,Which toountimelyhere did scorn the earth.Romeo.This day's black fate on more days dothdepend;This but begins the woe others must end.Benvolio.Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.Re-enterTybaltRomeo.Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!Away to heaven,respectivelenity,And fire-eyed fury be myconductnow!—Now, Tybalt, take the villain back againThat late thou gav'st me!for Mercutio's soul130Is 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 didstconsorthim here,Shalt with him hence.Romeo.This shall determine that.[They fight; Tybalt falls.Benvolio.Romeo, away, be gone!The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.Stand not amaz'd; the prince willdoom thee deathIf thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!Romeo.O, I amfortune's fool!Benvolio.Why dost thou stay?[Exit Romeo.

Mercutio.Help me into some house, Benvolio,Or I shall faint.—A plague o' both your houses!110They have made worms' meat of me. I have it,And soundly too;—your houses![Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio

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![Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio

Romeo.This gentleman, the prince's near ally,My very friend, hath got his mortal hurtIn my behalf; my reputation stain'dWith Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hourHath been mycousin!—O sweet Juliet,Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!

Romeo.This gentleman, the prince's near ally,

My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt

In my behalf; my reputation stain'd

With Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hour

Hath been mycousin!—O sweet Juliet,

Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,

And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!

Re-enterBenvolio

Benvolio.O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!120That gallant spirit hathaspir'dthe clouds,Which toountimelyhere did scorn the earth.

Benvolio.O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!

That gallant spirit hathaspir'dthe clouds,

Which toountimelyhere did scorn the earth.

Romeo.This day's black fate on more days dothdepend;This but begins the woe others must end.

Romeo.This day's black fate on more days dothdepend;

This but begins the woe others must end.

Benvolio.Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

Re-enterTybalt

Romeo.Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!Away to heaven,respectivelenity,And fire-eyed fury be myconductnow!—Now, Tybalt, take the villain back againThat late thou gav'st me!for Mercutio's soul130Is but a little way above our heads,Staying for thine to keep him company;Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.

Romeo.Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!

Away to heaven,respectivelenity,

And fire-eyed fury be myconductnow!—

Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again

That late thou gav'st 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 didstconsorthim here,Shalt with him hence.

Tybalt.Thou, wretched boy, that didstconsorthim here,

Shalt with him hence.

Romeo.This shall determine that.[They fight; Tybalt falls.

Benvolio.Romeo, away, be gone!The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.Stand not amaz'd; the prince willdoom thee deathIf thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!

Benvolio.Romeo, away, be gone!

The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.

Stand not amaz'd; the prince willdoom thee death

If thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!

Romeo.O, I amfortune's fool!

Benvolio.Why dost thou stay?[Exit Romeo.

EnterCitizens,etc.

1401 Citizen.Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?Tybalt, that murtherer, which way ran he?Benvolio.There lies that Tybalt.1 Citizen.Up, sir, go with me;I charge thee in the prince's name, obey.EnterPrince,attended;Montague,Capulet,theirWives,and othersPrince.Where are the vile beginners of this fray?Benvolio.O noble prince, I candiscoverallThe unluckymanageof this fatal brawl.There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.Lady Capulet.Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!150O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spiltOf 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?Benvolio.Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;Romeo thatspoke him fair, bade him bethinkHownicethe quarrel was, and urg'd withalYour high displeasure. All this, utteredWith gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,160Could nottake trucewith the unruly spleenOf Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tiltsWith piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beatsCold death aside, and with the other sendsIt back to Tybalt, whose dexterityRetortsit. Romeo he cries aloud,'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and swifter than his tongue,His agile arm beats down their fatal points,170And 'twixt them rushes, underneath whose armAnenviousthrust from Tybalt hit the lifeOf stout Mercutio; and then Tybalt fled,Butby and bycomes back to Romeo,Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere ICould 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.Lady Capulet.He is a kinsman to the Montague;180Affection 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?Montague.Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;His faultconcludesbut what the law should end,The life of Tybalt.Prince.And for that offence190Immediately we doexilehim hence.I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;But I'llamerceyou with so strong a fineThat you shall all repent the loss of mine.I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;Nor tears nor prayers shallpurchase outabuses.Therefore use none; let Romeo hence in haste,Else, when he's found, thathourishis last.Bear hence this body and attend our will;200Mercy but murthers, pardoning those that kill.[Exeunt.

1401 Citizen.Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?Tybalt, that murtherer, which way ran he?

1 Citizen.Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?

Tybalt, that murtherer, which way ran he?

Benvolio.There lies that Tybalt.

1 Citizen.Up, sir, go with me;I charge thee in the prince's name, obey.

1 Citizen.Up, sir, go with me;

I charge thee in the prince's name, obey.

EnterPrince,attended;Montague,Capulet,theirWives,and others

Prince.Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

Benvolio.O noble prince, I candiscoverallThe unluckymanageof this fatal brawl.There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

Benvolio.O noble prince, I candiscoverall

The unluckymanageof this fatal brawl.

There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,

That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

Lady Capulet.Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!150O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spiltOf my dear kinsman!—Prince, as thou art true,For blood of ours shed blood of Montague.—O cousin, cousin!

Lady Capulet.Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!

O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt

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?

Benvolio.Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;Romeo thatspoke him fair, bade him bethinkHownicethe quarrel was, and urg'd withalYour high displeasure. All this, utteredWith gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,160Could nottake trucewith the unruly spleenOf Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tiltsWith piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beatsCold death aside, and with the other sendsIt back to Tybalt, whose dexterityRetortsit. Romeo he cries aloud,'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and swifter than his tongue,His agile arm beats down their fatal points,170And 'twixt them rushes, underneath whose armAnenviousthrust from Tybalt hit the lifeOf stout Mercutio; and then Tybalt fled,Butby and bycomes back to Romeo,Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere ICould 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.

Benvolio.Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;

Romeo thatspoke him fair, bade him bethink

Hownicethe quarrel was, and urg'd withal

Your high displeasure. All this, uttered

With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,

Could nottake trucewith 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

Retortsit. Romeo he cries aloud,

'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and swifter than his tongue,

His agile arm beats down their fatal points,

And 'twixt them rushes, underneath whose arm

Anenviousthrust from Tybalt hit the life

Of stout Mercutio; and then Tybalt fled,

Butby and bycomes back to Romeo,

Who had but newly entertain'd 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.

Lady Capulet.He is a kinsman to the Montague;180Affection 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.

Lady Capulet.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?

Prince.Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;

Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

Montague.Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;His faultconcludesbut what the law should end,The life of Tybalt.

Montague.Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;

His faultconcludesbut what the law should end,

The life of Tybalt.

Prince.And for that offence190Immediately we doexilehim hence.I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;But I'llamerceyou with so strong a fineThat you shall all repent the loss of mine.I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;Nor tears nor prayers shallpurchase outabuses.Therefore use none; let Romeo hence in haste,Else, when he's found, thathourishis last.Bear hence this body and attend our will;200Mercy but murthers, pardoning those that kill.[Exeunt.

Prince.And for that offence

Immediately we doexilehim hence.

I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,

My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;

But I'llamerceyou 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 shallpurchase outabuses.

Therefore use none; let Romeo hence in haste,

Else, when he's found, thathourishis last.

Bear hence this body and attend our will;

Mercy but murthers, pardoning those that kill.[Exeunt.

Capulet's Orchard

EnterJuliet

Juliet.Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,Towards Phœbus' lodging; such a waggonerAsPhaethonwould whip you to the westAnd bring in cloudy night immediately.—Spread thy close curtain, love-performing Night,That runaways' eyes may wink, and RomeoLeap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen.—Lovers can see to do their amorous ritesBy their own beauties; or, if love be blind,10It best agrees with night.—Come,civilNight,Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,Andlearnme how to lose a winning match,Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,With thy black mantle, tillstrangelove grown boldThink true love acted simple modesty.Come, Night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night,For thouwilt lie upon the wings of NightWhiter than new snow on a raven's back.Come, gentle Night, come, loving,black-brow'd Night,21Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,Take him and cut him out in little stars,And he will make the face of heaven so fineThat all the world will be in love with nightAnd pay no worship tothe garish sun.—O,I have boughtthe mansion of a love,But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,Not yet enjoy'd. So tedious is this dayAs is the night before some festival30To an impatient childthat hath new robesAnd may not wear them.—O, here comes my nurse,And she brings news; and every tongue that speaksBut Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.—EnterNurse,with cordsNow, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cordsThat Romeo bid thee fetch?Nurse.Ay, ay, the Cords.[Throws them down.Juliet.Ay me! what news? why dost thou wring thy hands?Nurse.Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead!We are undone, lady, we are undone!Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead!Juliet.Can heaven be soenvious?40Nurse.Romeo can,Though heaven cannot.—O Romeo, Romeo!—Who ever would have thought it?—Romeo!Juliet.What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus?This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.Hath Romeo slain himself? say thoubut ay,And that bare vowel I shall poison moreThan thedeath-darting eyeof cockatrice.I am not I, if there be such an I,Orthose eyesshut that make thee answer ay.50If he be slain, say ay; or if not, no.Brief soundsdetermine ofmy weal or woe.Nurse.I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes—God save the mark!—here on his manly breast;A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse,Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood,All ingore-blood; I swounded at the sight.Juliet.O, break, my heart! poorbankrupt, break at once!To prison, eyes, ne'er look on liberty!Vile earth, to earth resign; end motion here,60And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier!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 socontrary?Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?My dear-lov'd 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;70Romeo that kill'd 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!Juliet.O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face;Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!Despised substance of divinest show!Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,A damned saint, an honourable villain!80O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell,When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiendIn mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?Was ever bookcontaining such vile matterSo fairly bound?O, that deceitshould dwellIn such a gorgeous palace!Nurse.There's no trust,No faith, no honesty in men; all perjur'd,All forsworn, allnaught, all dissemblers.—Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitæ.—These griefs, these woes, these sorrows, make me old.Shame come to Romeo!90Juliet.Blister'dbe thy tongueFor such a wish! he was not born to shame;Upon his browshame is asham'd to sit,For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'dSole monarch of the universal earth.O, what a beast was I to chide at him!Nurse.Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?Juliet.Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?—Ah,poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy nameWhen I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?100But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband.Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;Your tributary drops belong to woe,Which you 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?Some word there was,worserthan Tybalt's death,That murther'd me. I would forget it fain,110But, O, it presses to my memory,Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds:'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo—banished!'That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's deathWas woe enough, if it had ended there;Or, ifsour woe delightsin fellowshipAndneedly willbe rank'd with other griefs,Why follow'd not, when she said Tybalt's dead,Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both,120Whichmodernlamentation might have mov'd?But with arearwardfollowing 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 woesound.—Where is my father, and my mother, nurse?Nurse.Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse.Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.130Juliet.Wash theyhis wounds with tears; mine shall be spent,When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.Take up those cords.—Poor ropes, you are beguil'd,Both you and I, for Romeo is exil'd;He made you for a highway to my bed,But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.Nurse.Hie to your chamber. I'll find RomeoTo comfort you; Iwotwell where he is.Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell.Juliet.O, find him! give this ring to my true knight,141And bid him come to take his last farewell.[Exeunt.

Juliet.Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,

Towards Phœbus' lodging; such a waggoner

AsPhaethonwould 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, untalk'd 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,civilNight,

Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,

Andlearnme how to lose a winning match,

Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.

Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks,

With thy black mantle, tillstrangelove grown bold

Think true love acted simple modesty.

Come, Night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night,

For thouwilt lie upon the wings of Night

Whiter than new snow on a raven's back.

Come, gentle Night, come, loving,black-brow'd Night,

Give me my Romeo; and, when he 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 tothe garish sun.—

O,I have boughtthe mansion of a love,

But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,

Not yet enjoy'd. So tedious is this day

As is the night before some festival

To an impatient childthat hath new robes

And may not wear them.—O, here comes my nurse,

And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks

But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.—

EnterNurse,with cords

Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cordsThat Romeo bid thee fetch?

Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cords

That Romeo bid thee fetch?

Nurse.Ay, ay, the Cords.[Throws them down.

Juliet.Ay me! what news? why dost thou wring thy hands?

Nurse.Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead!We are undone, lady, we are undone!Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead!

Nurse.Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead!

We are undone, lady, we are undone!

Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead!

Juliet.Can heaven be soenvious?

40Nurse.Romeo can,Though heaven cannot.—O Romeo, Romeo!—Who ever would have thought it?—Romeo!

Nurse.Romeo can,

Though heaven cannot.—O Romeo, Romeo!—

Who ever would have thought it?—Romeo!

Juliet.What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus?This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.Hath Romeo slain himself? say thoubut ay,And that bare vowel I shall poison moreThan thedeath-darting eyeof cockatrice.I am not I, if there be such an I,Orthose eyesshut that make thee answer ay.50If he be slain, say ay; or if not, no.Brief soundsdetermine ofmy weal or woe.

Juliet.What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus?

This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.

Hath Romeo slain himself? say thoubut ay,

And that bare vowel I shall poison more

Than thedeath-darting eyeof cockatrice.

I am not I, if there be such an I,

Orthose eyesshut that make thee answer ay.

If he be slain, say ay; or if not, no.

Brief soundsdetermine ofmy weal or woe.

Nurse.I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes—God save the mark!—here on his manly breast;A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse,Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood,All ingore-blood; I swounded at the sight.

Nurse.I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes—

God save the mark!—here on his manly breast;

A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse,

Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood,

All ingore-blood; I swounded at the sight.

Juliet.O, break, my heart! poorbankrupt, break at once!To prison, eyes, ne'er look on liberty!Vile earth, to earth resign; end motion here,60And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier!

Juliet.O, break, my heart! poorbankrupt, 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!

Nurse.O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had!O courteous Tybalt! honest gentleman!That ever I should live to see thee dead!

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 socontrary?Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?My dear-lov'd cousin, and my dearer lord?Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom!For who is living if those two are gone?

Juliet.What storm is this that blows socontrary?

Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead?

My dear-lov'd 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;70Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished.

Nurse.Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished;

Romeo that kill'd 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!

Juliet.O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face;Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb!Despised substance of divinest show!Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,A damned saint, an honourable villain!80O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell,When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiendIn mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?Was ever bookcontaining such vile matterSo fairly bound?O, that deceitshould dwellIn such a gorgeous palace!

Juliet.O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face;

Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?

Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical!

Dove-feather'd 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 bookcontaining such vile matter

So fairly bound?O, that deceitshould dwell

In such a gorgeous palace!

Nurse.There's no trust,No faith, no honesty in men; all perjur'd,All forsworn, allnaught, all dissemblers.—Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitæ.—These griefs, these woes, these sorrows, make me old.Shame come to Romeo!

Nurse.There's no trust,

No faith, no honesty in men; all perjur'd,

All forsworn, allnaught, all dissemblers.—

Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitæ.—

These griefs, these woes, these sorrows, make me old.

Shame come to Romeo!

90Juliet.Blister'dbe thy tongueFor such a wish! he was not born to shame;Upon his browshame is asham'd to sit,For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'dSole monarch of the universal earth.O, what a beast was I to chide at him!

Juliet.Blister'dbe thy tongue

For such a wish! he was not born to shame;

Upon his browshame is asham'd to sit,

For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd

Sole monarch of the universal earth.

O, what a beast was I to chide at him!

Nurse.Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?

Juliet.Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?—Ah,poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy nameWhen I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?100But, wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband.Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;Your tributary drops belong to woe,Which you 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?Some word there was,worserthan Tybalt's death,That murther'd me. I would forget it fain,110But, O, it presses to my memory,Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds:'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo—banished!'That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's deathWas woe enough, if it had ended there;Or, ifsour woe delightsin fellowshipAndneedly willbe rank'd with other griefs,Why follow'd not, when she said Tybalt's dead,Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both,120Whichmodernlamentation might have mov'd?But with arearwardfollowing 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 woesound.—Where is my father, and my mother, nurse?

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 kill'd 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?

Some word there was,worserthan Tybalt's death,

That murther'd me. I would forget it fain,

But, O, it presses to my memory,

Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds:

'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo—banished!'

That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'

Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death

Was woe enough, if it had ended there;

Or, ifsour woe delightsin fellowship

Andneedly willbe rank'd with other griefs,

Why follow'd not, when she said Tybalt's dead,

Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both,

Whichmodernlamentation might have mov'd?

But with arearwardfollowing 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 woesound.—

Where is my father, and my mother, nurse?

Nurse.Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse.Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.

Nurse.Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse.

Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.

130Juliet.Wash theyhis wounds with tears; mine shall be spent,When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.Take up those cords.—Poor ropes, you are beguil'd,Both you and I, for Romeo is exil'd;He made you for a highway to my bed,But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.

Juliet.Wash theyhis wounds with tears; mine shall be spent,

When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.

Take up those cords.—Poor ropes, you are beguil'd,

Both you and I, for Romeo is exil'd;

He made you for a highway to my bed,

But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.

Nurse.Hie to your chamber. I'll find RomeoTo comfort you; Iwotwell where he is.Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell.

Nurse.Hie to your chamber. I'll find Romeo

To comfort you; Iwotwell where he is.

Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.

I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell.

Juliet.O, find him! give this ring to my true knight,141And bid him come to take his last farewell.[Exeunt.

Juliet.O, find him! give this ring to my true knight,

And bid him come to take his last farewell.[Exeunt.

Friar Laurence's Cell

EnterFriar Laurence

Friar Laurence.Romeo, come forth; come forth, thoufearfulman.Affliction is enamour'd of thyparts,And thou art wedded to calamity.EnterRomeoRomeo.Father, what news? what is the prince's doom?What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,That I yet know not?Friar Laurence.ToofamiliarIs my dear son with suchsour company;I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom.Romeo.What less than doomsday is the prince's doom?10Friar Laurence.A gentler judgmentvanish'dfrom 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 Laurence.Hence 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 banish'd from the world,20And world'sexileis death. Then banishedIs death misterm'd; calling death banishmentThou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe,And smil'st upon the stroke that murthers me.Friar Laurence.O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince,Taking thy part, hathrush'd aside the law,And turn'd that black word death to banishment.This isdear mercy, and thou seest it not.Romeo.'Tis torture, and not mercy;heaven is here,30Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dogAnd little mouse, every unworthy thing,Live here in heaven and may look on her,But Romeo may not. Morevalidity,More honourable state, morecourtshiplivesIn carrion-flies than Romeo. They may seizeOn the white wonder of dear Juliet's handAnd steal immortal blessing from her lips,Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;40But Romeo may not, he is banished.This may flies do, when I from this must fly;They arefree men, but I am banished.And say'st thou yet that exile is not death?Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife,No suddenmeanof death, though ne'er so mean,But 'banished' to kill me?—Banished!O friar, the damned use that word in hell,Howlingattends it; how hast thou the heart,Being a divine, a ghostlyconfessor,50A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd,To mangle me with that word 'banished'?Friar Laurence.Thoufondmad man, hear me but speak a word.Romeo.O, thou wilt speak again of banishment.Friar Laurence.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,Displanta town, reverse a prince's doom,60It helps not, itprevailsnot; talk no more.Friar Laurence.O, then I see that madmen have no ears.Romeo.How should they,when thatwise men have no eyes?Friar Laurence.Let medisputewith 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 murthered,Doting like me and like me banished,Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,And fall upon the ground, as I do now,70Taking the measureof an unmade grave.[Knocking within.Friar Laurence.Arise; one knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself.Romeo.Not I; unless the breath of heart-sick groansMist-like infold me from the search of eyes.[Knocking.Friar Laurence.Hark, how they knock!—Who's there?—Romeo, arise;Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile!—Stand up;[Knocking.Run to my study.—By and by!—God's will,Whatsimplenessis this!—I come, I come![Knocking.Who knocks so hard? whence come you? what's your will?Nurse.[Within]Let me come in and you shall know my errand;I come from Lady Juliet.80Friar Laurence.Welcome, then.EnterNurseNurse.O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?Friar Laurence.There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.Nurse.O, he is even in my mistress' case,Just in her case!Friar Laurence.O woful sympathy!Piteous predicament!Nurse.Even so lies she,Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.—Stand up, stand up; stand, an you be a man.For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand.90Why should you fall into so deep anO?Romeo.Nurse!Nurse.Ah sir! ah sir! Well, death's the end of all.Romeo.Spak'st thou of Juliet? how is it with her?Doth she not think me anoldmurtherer,Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joyWith blood remov'd but little from her own?Where is she? and how doth she? and what saysMy conceal'd ladyto our cancell'd love?Nurse.O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;100And now falls on her bed; and then starts up,And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries,And then down falls again.Romeo.As if that name,Shot from the deadlylevelof a gun,Did murther her, as that name's cursed handMurther'd her kinsman.—O, tell me, friar, tell me,In what vile part of thisanatomyDoth my name lodge? tell me, that I may sackThe hateful mansion.[Drawing his sword.Friar Laurence.Hold thy desperate hand!Art thoua man? thy form cries out thou art;110Thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denoteThe unreasonable fury of a beast.Unseemly woman in a seeming man!Orill-beseemingbeast in seeming both!Thou hast amaz'd me; by my holy order,I thought thy dispositionbetter temper'd.Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself?And slay thy lady too that lives in thee,Bydoing damned hateupon thyself?Why rail'st thouon thy birth, the heaven, and earth?120Since birth and heaven and earth, all three do meetIn thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose.Fie, fie, thou sham'st thy shape, thy love, thywit,Which, like a usurer, abound'st in all,And usest none in that true use indeedWhich should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit.Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,Digressingfrom the valour of a man;Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;130Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love,Misshapen in the conduct of them both,Like powderin a skilless soldier's flask,Is set a-fire by thine own ignorance,And thoudismember'd 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 too.The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend140And turns it to exile; there art thou happy.A pack of blessings lights upon thy back,Happiness courts thee in her best array;But, like a misbehav'd and sullen wench,Thoupout'st uponthy fortune and thy love.Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable.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,150Where thou shalt live till we can find a timeToblazeyour marriage, reconcile your friends,Beg pardon of the prince, and call thee backWith twenty hundred thousand times more joyThan thou went'st forth inlamentation.—Go before, nurse, commend me to thy lady,And bid her hasten all the house to bed,Which heavy sorrow makes themapt unto;Romeo is coming.Nurse.O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night160To hear good counsel; O, what learning is!—My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.Romeo.Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide.Nurse.Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir;Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.[Exit.Romeo.How well my comfort is reviv'd by this!Friar Laurence.Go hence; good night; andhere standsall your state:Either be gone before the watch be set,Or by the break of day disguis'd from hence.Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man,170And he shall signify from time to timeEverygood hapto 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 partwith thee.Farewell.[Exeunt.

Friar Laurence.Romeo, come forth; come forth, thoufearfulman.Affliction is enamour'd of thyparts,And thou art wedded to calamity.

Friar Laurence.Romeo, come forth; come forth, thoufearfulman.

Affliction is enamour'd of thyparts,

And thou art wedded to calamity.

EnterRomeo

Romeo.Father, what news? what is the prince's doom?What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,That I yet know not?

Romeo.Father, what news? what is the prince's doom?

What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,

That I yet know not?

Friar Laurence.ToofamiliarIs my dear son with suchsour company;I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom.

Friar Laurence.Toofamiliar

Is my dear son with suchsour company;

I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom.

Romeo.What less than doomsday is the prince's doom?

10Friar Laurence.A gentler judgmentvanish'dfrom his lips,Not body's death, but body's banishment.

Friar Laurence.A gentler judgmentvanish'dfrom 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.

Romeo.Ha, banishment! be merciful, say death,

For exile hath more terror in his look,

Much more than death; do not say banishment.

Friar Laurence.Hence from Verona art thou banished;Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.

Friar Laurence.Hence 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 banish'd from the world,20And world'sexileis death. Then banishedIs death misterm'd; calling death banishmentThou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe,And smil'st upon the stroke that murthers me.

Romeo.There is no world without Verona walls,

But purgatory, torture, hell itself.

Hence banished is banish'd from the world,

And world'sexileis death. Then banished

Is death misterm'd; calling death banishment

Thou cutt'st my head off with a golden axe,

And smil'st upon the stroke that murthers me.

Friar Laurence.O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince,Taking thy part, hathrush'd aside the law,And turn'd that black word death to banishment.This isdear mercy, and thou seest it not.

Friar Laurence.O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!

Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince,

Taking thy part, hathrush'd aside the law,

And turn'd that black word death to banishment.

This isdear mercy, and thou seest it not.

Romeo.'Tis torture, and not mercy;heaven is here,30Where Juliet lives, and every cat and dogAnd little mouse, every unworthy thing,Live here in heaven and may look on her,But Romeo may not. Morevalidity,More honourable state, morecourtshiplivesIn carrion-flies than Romeo. They may seizeOn the white wonder of dear Juliet's handAnd steal immortal blessing from her lips,Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;40But Romeo may not, he is banished.This may flies do, when I from this must fly;They arefree men, but I am banished.And say'st thou yet that exile is not death?Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife,No suddenmeanof death, though ne'er so mean,But 'banished' to kill me?—Banished!O friar, the damned use that word in hell,Howlingattends it; how hast thou the heart,Being a divine, a ghostlyconfessor,50A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd,To mangle me with that word 'banished'?

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. Morevalidity,

More honourable state, morecourtshiplives

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.

This may flies do, when I from this must fly;

They arefree men, but I am banished.

And say'st thou yet that exile is not death?

Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife,

No suddenmeanof death, though ne'er so mean,

But 'banished' to kill me?—Banished!

O friar, the damned use that word in hell,

Howlingattends it; how hast thou the heart,

Being a divine, a ghostlyconfessor,

A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd,

To mangle me with that word 'banished'?

Friar Laurence.Thoufondmad man, hear me but speak a word.

Romeo.O, thou wilt speak again of banishment.

Friar Laurence.I'll give thee armour to keep off that word;Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy,To comfort thee, though thou art banished.

Friar Laurence.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,Displanta town, reverse a prince's doom,60It helps not, itprevailsnot; talk no more.

Romeo.Yet 'banished'? Hang up philosophy!

Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,

Displanta town, reverse a prince's doom,

It helps not, itprevailsnot; talk no more.

Friar Laurence.O, then I see that madmen have no ears.

Romeo.How should they,when thatwise men have no eyes?

Friar Laurence.Let medisputewith 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 murthered,Doting like me and like me banished,Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,And fall upon the ground, as I do now,70Taking the measureof an unmade grave.[Knocking within.

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 murthered,

Doting like me and like me banished,

Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,

And fall upon the ground, as I do now,

Taking the measureof an unmade grave.[Knocking within.

Friar Laurence.Arise; one knocks. Good Romeo, hide thyself.

Romeo.Not I; unless the breath of heart-sick groansMist-like infold me from the search of eyes.[Knocking.

Romeo.Not I; unless the breath of heart-sick groans

Mist-like infold me from the search of eyes.[Knocking.

Friar Laurence.Hark, how they knock!—Who's there?—Romeo, arise;Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile!—Stand up;[Knocking.

Friar Laurence.Hark, how they knock!—Who's there?—Romeo, arise;

Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile!—Stand up;[Knocking.

Run to my study.—By and by!—God's will,Whatsimplenessis this!—I come, I come![Knocking.

Run to my study.—By and by!—God's will,

Whatsimplenessis this!—I come, I come![Knocking.

Who knocks so hard? whence come you? what's your will?

Nurse.[Within]Let me come in and you shall know my errand;I come from Lady Juliet.

Nurse.[Within]Let me come in and you shall know my errand;

I come from Lady Juliet.

80Friar Laurence.Welcome, then.

Friar Laurence.Welcome, then.

EnterNurse

Nurse.O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?

Nurse.O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,

Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?

Friar Laurence.There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.

Nurse.O, he is even in my mistress' case,Just in her case!

Nurse.O, he is even in my mistress' case,

Just in her case!

Friar Laurence.O woful sympathy!Piteous predicament!

Friar Laurence.O woful sympathy!

Piteous predicament!

Nurse.Even so lies she,Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.—Stand up, stand up; stand, an you be a man.For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand.90Why should you fall into so deep anO?

Nurse.Even so lies she,

Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.—

Stand up, stand up; stand, an you be a man.

For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand.

Why should you fall into so deep anO?

Romeo.Nurse!

Nurse.Ah sir! ah sir! Well, death's the end of all.

Romeo.Spak'st thou of Juliet? how is it with her?Doth she not think me anoldmurtherer,Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joyWith blood remov'd but little from her own?Where is she? and how doth she? and what saysMy conceal'd ladyto our cancell'd love?

Romeo.Spak'st thou of Juliet? how is it with her?

Doth she not think me anoldmurtherer,

Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy

With blood remov'd but little from her own?

Where is she? and how doth she? and what says

My conceal'd ladyto our cancell'd love?

Nurse.O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;100And now falls on her bed; and then starts up,And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries,And then down falls again.

Nurse.O, 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.

Romeo.As if that name,Shot from the deadlylevelof a gun,Did murther her, as that name's cursed handMurther'd her kinsman.—O, tell me, friar, tell me,In what vile part of thisanatomyDoth my name lodge? tell me, that I may sackThe hateful mansion.[Drawing his sword.

Romeo.As if that name,

Shot from the deadlylevelof a gun,

Did murther her, as that name's cursed hand

Murther'd her kinsman.—O, tell me, friar, tell me,

In what vile part of thisanatomy

Doth my name lodge? tell me, that I may sack

The hateful mansion.[Drawing his sword.

Friar Laurence.Hold thy desperate hand!Art thoua man? thy form cries out thou art;110Thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denoteThe unreasonable fury of a beast.Unseemly woman in a seeming man!Orill-beseemingbeast in seeming both!Thou hast amaz'd me; by my holy order,I thought thy dispositionbetter temper'd.Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself?And slay thy lady too that lives in thee,Bydoing damned hateupon thyself?Why rail'st thouon thy birth, the heaven, and earth?120Since birth and heaven and earth, all three do meetIn thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose.Fie, fie, thou sham'st thy shape, thy love, thywit,Which, like a usurer, abound'st in all,And usest none in that true use indeedWhich should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit.Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,Digressingfrom the valour of a man;Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;130Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love,Misshapen in the conduct of them both,Like powderin a skilless soldier's flask,Is set a-fire by thine own ignorance,And thoudismember'd 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 too.The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend140And turns it to exile; there art thou happy.A pack of blessings lights upon thy back,Happiness courts thee in her best array;But, like a misbehav'd and sullen wench,Thoupout'st uponthy fortune and thy love.Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable.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,150Where thou shalt live till we can find a timeToblazeyour marriage, reconcile your friends,Beg pardon of the prince, and call thee backWith twenty hundred thousand times more joyThan thou went'st forth inlamentation.—Go before, nurse, commend me to thy lady,And bid her hasten all the house to bed,Which heavy sorrow makes themapt unto;Romeo is coming.

Friar Laurence.Hold thy desperate hand!

Art thoua 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!

Orill-beseemingbeast in seeming both!

Thou hast amaz'd me; by my holy order,

I thought thy dispositionbetter temper'd.

Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself?

And slay thy lady too that lives in thee,

Bydoing damned hateupon thyself?

Why rail'st thouon 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 sham'st thy shape, thy love, thywit,

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,

Digressingfrom the valour of a man;

Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,

Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;

Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love,

Misshapen in the conduct of them both,

Like powderin a skilless soldier's flask,

Is set a-fire by thine own ignorance,

And thoudismember'd 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 too.

The law that threaten'd death becomes thy friend

And turns it to exile; there art thou happy.

A pack of blessings lights upon thy back,

Happiness courts thee in her best array;

But, like a misbehav'd and sullen wench,

Thoupout'st uponthy fortune and thy love.

Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable.

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

Toblazeyour 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 inlamentation.—

Go before, nurse, commend me to thy lady,

And bid her hasten all the house to bed,

Which heavy sorrow makes themapt unto;

Romeo is coming.

Nurse.O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night160To hear good counsel; O, what learning is!—My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.

Nurse.O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night

To hear good counsel; O, what learning is!—

My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.

Romeo.Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide.

Nurse.Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir;Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.[Exit.

Nurse.Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir;

Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.[Exit.

Romeo.How well my comfort is reviv'd by this!

Friar Laurence.Go hence; good night; andhere standsall your state:Either be gone before the watch be set,Or by the break of day disguis'd from hence.Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man,170And he shall signify from time to timeEverygood hapto you that chances here.Give me thy hand; 'tis late: farewell; good night.

Friar Laurence.Go hence; good night; andhere standsall your state:

Either be gone before the watch be set,

Or by the break of day disguis'd from hence.

Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man,

And he shall signify from time to time

Everygood hapto 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 partwith thee.Farewell.[Exeunt.

Romeo.But that a joy past joy calls out on me,

It were a grief,so brief to partwith thee.

Farewell.[Exeunt.

A Room in Capulet's House

EnterCapulet,Lady Capulet,andParis

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