Romeo and Juliet Read online

  As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.

  47 Consort (1) to keep company with (2) company of musicians 49 fiddlestick i.e., sword 50 Zounds by God's wounds 57 man (Mercutio takes this to mean "manservant") 58 livery servant's uniform 59 field dueling field 62 villain low fellow 64 appertaining appropriate 70 devise imagine 72 tender value

  Mercutio. O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!

  Alla stoccatadeg carries it away. [Draws.]

  Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?deg

  Tybalt. What wouldst thou have with me?

  Mercutio. Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your

  nine lives. That I mean to make bold withal,deg and,

  as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beatdeg the rest of

  the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his

  pilcherdeg by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about

  your ears ere it be out.

  Tybalt. I am for you. [Draws.]

  Romeo. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

  Mercutio. Come, sir, your passado!deg [They fight.]

  Romeo. Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.

  Gentlemen, for shame! Forbear this outrage!

  Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath

  Forbid this bandyingdeg in Verona streets.

  Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

  [Tybalt under Romeo's arm thrusts Mercutio in, and flies.]

  Mercutio. I am hurt.

  A plague adeg both houses! I am sped.deg

  Is he gone and hath nothing?

  Benvolio. What, art thou hurt?

  Mercutio. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, 'tis

  enough.

  Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

  [Exit Page.]

  Romeo. Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.

  Mercutio. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide 75 Alla stoccata (a term in fencing, "At the thrust," which Mercutio uses contemptuously as a nickname for Tybalt) 76 walk step aside 79 make bold withal make bold with, take 80 dry-beat thrash 82 pilcher scabbard 86 passado lunge 90 bandying brawling 92 a on 92 sped wounded

  as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask

  for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a gravedeg

  man. I am peppered,deg I warrant, for this world. A

  plague a both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a

  mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! A braggart,

  a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arith-

  metic!deg 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 a both your houses!

  They have made worms' meat of me. I have it,deg

  And soundly too. Your houses!

  Exit [Mercutio and Benvolio].

  Romeo. This gentleman, the Prince's near ally,deg

  My verydeg friend, hath got this mortal hurt

  In my behalf--my reputation stained

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

  Hath been my cousin. O sweet Juliet,

  Thy beauty hath made me effeminate

  And in my temper soft'ned valor's steel!deg

  Enter Benvolio.

  Benvolio. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead!

  That gallant spirit hath aspireddeg the clouds,

  Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

  Romeo. This day's black fate on moedeg days doth

  depend;deg

  This but begins the woe others must end.

  [Enter Tybalt.]

  Benvolio. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

  Romeo. Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain?

  99 grave (1) extremely serious (2) ready for the grave 100 am peppered have been given a deathblow 103-04 by the book of arithmetic by formal rules 109 I have it i.e., I have received my deathblow 111 ally relative 112 very true 117 in . . . steel softened the valorous part of my character 119 aspired climbed to 121 moe more 121 depend hang over

  Away to heaven respective lenity,deg

  And fire-eyed fury be my conductdeg now!

  Now, Tybalt, take the "villain" back again

  That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul

  Is but a little way above our heads,

  Staying for thine to keep him company.

  Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.

  Tybalt. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him

  here,

  Shalt with him hence.

  Romeo. This shall determine that.

  They fight. Tybalt falls.

  Benvolio. Romeo, away, be gone!

  The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.

  Stand not amazed. The Prince will doom thee death

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

  Romeo. O, I am fortune's fool!deg

  Benvolio. Why dost thou stay?

  Exit Romeo.

  Enter Citizens.

  Citizen. Which way ran he that killed Mercutio?

  Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

  Benvolio. There lies that Tybalt.

  Citizen. Up, sir, go with me.

  I charge thee in the Prince's name obey.

  Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their Wives,

  and all.

  Prince. Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

  Benvolio. O noble Prince, I can discoverdeg all

  The unlucky managedeg of this fatal brawl.

  125 respective lenity discriminating mercifulness 126 conduct guide 138 fool plaything, dupe 144 discover reveal 145 manage course

  There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,

  That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

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

  O Prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is

  spilled

  Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,

  For blood of ours shed blood of Montague.

  O cousin, cousin!

  Prince. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?

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

  slay.

  Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink

  How nicedeg the quarrel was, and urgeddeg withal

  Your high displeasure. All this--uttered

  With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly

  bowed--

  Could not take truce with the unruly spleendeg

  Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tiltsdeg

  With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast;

  Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,

  And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats

  Cold death aside and with the other sends

  It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity

  Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud,

  "Hold, friends! Friends, part!" and swifter than his

  tongue,

  His agile arm beats down their fatal points,

  And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm

  An enviousdeg thrust from Tybalt hit the life

  Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;

  But by and by comes back to Romeo,

  Who had but newly entertaineddeg 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.

  156 nice trivial 156 urged mentioned 159 spleen ill nature 160 tilts thrusts 170 envious full of enmity 173 entertained contemplated

  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?

  Capulet. Not Romeo, Prince; he was Mercutio's friend;

  His fault concludes but what the law should end,

  The life of Tybalt.

  Prince. And for that offense

  Immediately we do exile him hence.

  I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,

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

  But I'll amercedeg you with so strong a fine

  That you shall all repent the loss of mine.

  I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;

  Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses.

  Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,

  Else, when he is found, that hour is his last.

  Bear hence this body and attend our will.deg

  Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

  Exit [with others].

  [Scene 2. Capulet's orchard.]

  Enter Juliet alone.

  Juliet. Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,deg

  Towards Phoebus' lodging!deg Such a wagoner 191 My blood (Mercutio was the Prince's relative) 192 amerce punish by fine 198 attend our will respect my decision 3.2.1 fiery-footed steeds horses of the sun god, Phoebus 2 Towards Phoebus' lodging i.e., beneath the horizon

  As Phaetondeg would whip you to the west

  And bring in cloudy night immediately.

  Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,

  That runaways'deg eyes may wink,deg and Romeo

  Leap to these arms untalked of and unseen.

  Lovers can see to do their amorous rites,

  And by their own beauties; or, if love be blind,

  It best agrees with night. Come, civil night,

  Thou sober-suited matron all in black,

  And learn me how to lose a winning match,

  Played for a pair of stainless maidenhoods.

  Hooddeg my unmanneddeg blood, batingdeg in my cheeks,

  With thy black mantle till strangedeg love grow bold,

  Think true love acted simple modesty.

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

  night;

  For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night

  Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back.

  Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-browed

  night;

  Give me my Romeo; and, when I shall die,

  Take him and cut him out in little stars,

  And he will make the face of heaven so fine

  That all the world will be in love with night

  And pay no worship to the garish sun.

  O, I have bought the mansion of a love,

  But not possessed it; and though I am sold,

  Not yet enjoyed. So tedious is this day

  As is the night before some festival

  To an impatient child that hath new robes

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

  Enter Nurse, with cords.

  And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks

  But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.

  3 Phaeton Phoebus' son, who mismanaged the horses and let them run away 6 runaways' of the horses (?) 6 wink shut 14 Hood i.e., cover with a hood, as in falconry 14 unmanned (1) untamed (2) unmated 14 bating fluttering 15 strange unfamiliar

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

  cords

  That Romeo bid thee fetch?

  Nurse. Ay, ay, the cords.

  Juliet. Ay me! What news? Why dost thou wring thy

  hands?

  Nurse. Ah, weraday!deg He's dead, he's dead, he's dead!

  We are undone, lady, we are undone!

  Alack the day! He's gone, he's killed, he's dead!

  Juliet. Can heaven be so envious?

  Nurse. Romeo can,

  Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo!

  Who ever would have thought it? Romeo!

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

  This torture should be roared in dismal hell.

  Hath Romeo slain himself? Say thou but "Ay,"

  And that bare vowel "I" shall poison more

  Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.deg

  I am not I, if there be such an "Ay,"deg

  Or those eyes' shotdeg that makes thee answer "Ay."

  If he be slain, say "Ay"; or if not, "No."

  Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe.

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

  (God save the mark!deg) here on his manly breast.

  A piteous corse,deg a bloody piteous corse;

  Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaubed in blood,

  All in gore-blood. I soundeddeg at the sight.

  Juliet. O, break, my heart! Poor bankrout,deg break at

  once!

  To prison, eyes; ne'er look on liberty!

  37 weraday wellaway, alas 47 cockatrice basilisk (a serpent fabled to have a killing glance) 48 Ay (1) I (2) eye 49 eyes' shot i.e., the Nurse's glance 53 God save the mark God avert the bad omen 54 corse corpse 56 sounded swooned 57 bankrout bankrupt

  Vile earth,deg to earth resigndeg 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!

  Juliet. What storm is this that blows so contrary?

  Is Romeo slaught'red, and is Tybalt dead?

  My dearest cousin, and my dearer lord?

  Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom!deg

  For who is living, if those two are gone?

  Nurse. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished;

  Romeo that killed him, he is banished.

  Juliet. O God! Did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's

  blood?

  Nurse. It did, it did! Alas the day, it did!

  Juliet. O serpent heart, hid with a flow'ring face!

  Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?

  Beautiful tyrant! Fiend angelical!

  Dove-feathered raven! Wolvish-ravening lamb!

  Despised substance of divinest show!

  Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st--

  A damned saint, an honorable villain!

  O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell

  When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend

  In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?

  Was ever book containing such vile matter

  So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell

  In such a gorgeous palace!

  Nurse. There's no trust,

  No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured,

  All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.

  Ah, where's my man? Give me some aqua vitae.deg

  These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me

  old.

  59 vile earth referring to her own body 59 resign return 67 dreadful . . . doom i.e., sound the trumpet of Doomsday 88 aqua vitae spirits

  Shame come to Romeo!

  Juliet Blistered be thy tongue

  For such a wish! He was not born to shame.

  Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit;

  For 'tis a throne where honor may be crowned

  Sole monarch of the universal earth.

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

  Nurse. Will you speak well of him that killed your

  cousin?

  Juliet. Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?

  Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy

  name

  When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?

  But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?

  That villain cousin would have killed my husband.

  Back, fooli
sh tears, back to your native spring!

  Your tributarydeg 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 hus-

  band.

  All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?

  Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death,

  That murd'red 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, if sour woe delights in fellowship

  And needly will be ranked withdeg other griefs,

  Why followed not, when she said "Tybalt's dead," 103 tributary contributed 117 needly . . . with must be accompanied by

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

  Which moderndeg lamentation might have moved?

  But with a rearwarddeg following Tybalt's death,

  "Romeo is banished"--to speak that word

  Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet,

  All slain, all dead. "Romeo is banished"--

  There is no end, no limit, measure, bound,

  In that word's death; no words can that woe sound.

  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.

  Juliet. Wash they his wounds with tears? Mine shall be

  spent,

  When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.

  Take up those cords. Poor ropes, you are beguiled,

  Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled.

  He made you for a highway to my bed;

  But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.

  Come, cords; come, nurse. I'll to my wedding bed;

  And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!

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

  To comfort you. I wotdeg well where he is.

  Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night.

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

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

  And bid him come to take his last farewell.

  Exit [with Nurse].

  [Scene 3. Friar Lawrence's cell.]

  Enter Friar [Lawrence].

  Friar. Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearfuldeg

  man.

  Affliction is enamored of thy parts,deg

  And thou art wedded to calamity.

  120 modern ordinary 121 rearward rear guard 139 wot know 3.3.1 fearful frightened 2 Affliction . . . parts affliction is in love with your attractive qualities

  [Enter Romeo.]

  Romeo. Father, what news? What is the Prince's doom?deg

  What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand

  That I yet know not?

  Friar. Too familiar

  Is my dear son with such sour company.

  I bring thee tidings of the Prince's doom.

  Romeo. What less than doomsdaydeg is the Prince's