Rom. O let us hence; I stand on sudden haste. Fri. Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Street. Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO. Mer. Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came he not home to-night? Ben. No to his father's; I spoke with his man. Mer. Ah, hat same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, Torments him so, that he will sure run mad. Ben. Romeo will answer it. Mer. Any man, that can write, may answer a letter. Ben. Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he dares, being dared. Mer. Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead! stubbed with a white wench's black eye! shot through the ear with a love-song: the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft;4 And is he a man to encounter Tybalt? Ben. Why, what is Tybalt? Mer. More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion; rests me his minim rest one, two, and the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the very first house,-of the first and second cause: Ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the hay !7 Ben. The what? Mer. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents!-By Jesu, a very good blade!-a very tall man!-a very good whore!-Why, is not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these pardonnez-moys, who stand so much on the new form, that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O, their bons, their bons! Enter ROMEO. Mer. Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have done: for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits, than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: Was I with you there for the goose? Rom. Thou wast never with me for any thing, when thou wast not there for the goose. Mer. I will bite thee by the ear for that jest. Mer. Thy wit is a very bitter-sweeting; it is a most sharp sauce. Rom. And is it not well served in to a sweet goose? Mer. O, here's a wit of cheverel,3 that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad! Rom. I stretch it out for that word-broad: which added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose. Mer. Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this drivelling love is like a great, natural, that runs lolling up and down, to hide his bauble in a hole. Ben. Stop there, stop there. Mer. Thou desirest ine to stop in my tale against the hair. Ben. Thou wouldst clse have made thy tale large. Mer. O, thou art deceived, I would have made it short: for I was come to the whole depth of my tale; and meant, indeed, to occupy the argument no longer. Rom. Here's goodly geer! Enter Nurse and PETER. Pet. Anon? Nurse. My fan, Peter. Mer. Pr'ythee, do, good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the fairer of the two. Nurse. God ye good-morrow, gentlemen. Mer. 'Tis no less, I tell you; for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the pricks of noon. Nurse. Out upon you! what a man are you? Rom. One, gentlewoman, that God hath made himself to mar. self to mar, quoth'a !-Gentlemen, can any of you Nurse. By my troth, it is well said;-For himtell me where I may find the young Romeo? Ben. Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo. Mer. Without his roe, like a dried herring :-0 fish, flesh, how art thou fishified!-Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in: Laura, to his lady, was but a kitchen-wench;-marry, she had a better love to be-rhyme her: Dido, a dowdy; Cleopatra, a gipsy; Helen and Hero, hildings and harlots; Thisbé, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior Romeo, bon jour! There's a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night. Rom. Good-morrow to you both. What coun-i' terfeit did I give you? Mer. The slip, sir, the slip;9 Can you not conceive! Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and, in such a case as mine, a man may strain courtesy. Mer. That's as much as to say-such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. Rom. Meaning-to court'sy. Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it. Rom A most courteous exposition. Mer. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy Rom. Pink for flower. Mer. Right. Rom. Why, then is my pump' well flowered. Mer. Well said: Follow me this jest now, till thou hast worn out thy pump; that, when the single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing, solely singular. Rom. O single-soled jest, solely singular for the singleness! Mer. Come between us, good Benvolio; my wits fail. Rom. Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match. • Arrow. See the story of Reynard the fox. By notes pricked down. Terms of the fencing-school. Trowsers or pantaloons, a French fashion in Shakspeare's time. 1 Shoe. A pun on counterfeit money called slips. older when you have found him, than he was when Rom. I can tell you; but young Romeo will be you sought him: I am the youngest of that name, for 'fault of a worse. Nurse. You say well. Mer. Yea, is the worse well! very well took, faith; wisely, wisely. Nurse. If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you? Ben. She will indite him to some supper. Mer. No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie, that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent. An old hare hoar,6 And an old hare hoar, Is too much for a score, Rom. I will follow you. Mer. Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, lady, lady, lady. [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO. Nurse. Marry, farewell!-I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? Rom. A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk; and will speak more in a minute, than he will stand to in a month. Nurse. An 'a speak any thing against me, I'll take him down an 'a were lustier than he is, and twenty such Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those • An apple. Soft stretching leather. • Good-even. Hoary, mouldy. • Point. A term of disrespect, in contradistinction to gentleman. that shall.-Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirtgills; I am none of his skains-mates:-And thou must stand by too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure? Pet. I saw no man use you at his pleasure; if I had, my weapon should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a good quarrel, and the law on my side. Nurse. Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about me quivers. Scurvy knave!-Pray you, sir, a word; and, as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself: but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young: and, therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly, it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing. Rom. Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto thee, Nurse. Good heart! and, i' faith, I will tell her as much: Lord, lord, she will be a joyful woman. Rom. What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me. Nurse. I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which, as I take it, is a gentleman-like offer. Rom. Bid her devise some means to come to shrift9 This afternoon; And there she shall at friar Laurence' cell Nurse. This afternoon, sir; well, she shall be Rom. And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall: say Two may keep counsel, putting one away? Rom. I warrant thee; my man's as true as steel. Nurse. Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady-Lord, lord!-when 'twas a little prating thing,-0,-there's a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lieve see a toad, a very toad, as see him. Langer her sometimes, and tell her that Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the varsal world. Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter? Rom. Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R. Nurse. Ah, mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for the dog. No; I know it begins with some other letter; and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it. Rom. Commend me to thy lady. Nurse. Peter, take my fan, and go before. [Exit. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Capulet's Garden. Enter JULIET. ! Of this day's journey; and from nine till twelve Enter Nurse and PETER. O God, she comes!-O honey nurse, what news? Nurse. Peter, stay at the gate. [Exit PETER. Nurse. I am weary, give me leave a while;- news: Nay, come, I pray thee, speak;-good, good nurse, Do you not see that I am out of breath? Jul. How art thou out of breath, when thou hast To say to me that thou art out of breath? Nurse. Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's; and for a hand and a foot, and a body,-though they be not to be talked on, yet they are past compare: He is not the flower of courtesy, but, I'll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb.-Go thy ways, wench; serve God.-What, have you dined at home? Jul. No, no: But all this did I know before; What says he of our marriage? what of that? Nurse. Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. Nurse. Your love says, like an honest gentleman, Jul. Where is my mother?-why, she is within; Nurse. O, God's lady dear! Nurse. Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? Nurse. Then hie you hence to friar Laurence' cell Jul. The clock struck nine, when I did send To fetch a ladder, by the which your love the nurse; In half an hour she promis'd to return. A mate or companion of one wearing a skain-a short sword. Confession. The highest extremity of the mast of a ship. • Requite. Must climb a bird's nest soon, when it is dark: SCENE VI.-Friar Laurence' Cell. Drive her, as a ball struck with a bandy, i. e. a bat or battledore. • Bustle. Rom. Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy That one short minute gives me in her sight: Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare, It is enough I may but call her mine. Fri. These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die; like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume: The sweetest honey Is loath some in his own deliciousness, Here comes the lady :-0, so light a foot Jul. Good-even to my ghostly confessor. Fri. Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both. Jul. As much to him, else are his thanks too much. Rom. Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Jul. Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Fri. Come, come with me, and we will make short work; For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone, [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Public Place. Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, Page, and Servants. Ben. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire; The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. Mer. Thou art like one of those fellows, that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table, and says, God send me no need of thee! and, by the operation of the second cup, draws it on the drawer, when, indeed, there is no need. Ben. Am I like such a fellow? Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy; and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved. Ben. And what to? Mer. Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes; What eye. but such an eye, would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat; and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg, for quarrelling. Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling! Ben. An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter. Mer. The fee-simple? O simple! Enter TYBALT and others. Ben. By my head, here come the Capulets. Tyb. Follow me close, for I will speak to them.Gentlemen, good-den; a word with one of you. Mer. And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow. Tyb. You will find me apt enough to that, sir, if you will give me occasion. Mer. Could you not take some occasion without giving? Tyb. Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo,Mer. Consort? what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! Ben. We talk here in the public haunt of men: Either withdraw into some private place, Or reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. The long white filament which flies in the air. Mer. Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I. Tyb. Well, peace be with you, sir! here comes my man. Mer. But, I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Your worship in that sense may call him-man. Tyb. Romeo, the hate I bear thee, can afford No better term than this-Thou art a villain. Rom. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? [Draws. Mer. Good king of cats, nothing, but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher9 by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. Tyb. I am for you. [Drawing. Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. Beat down their weapons:-Gentlemen, for shame; Mer. I am hurt;- Ben. What, art thou hurt? Mer. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.Where is my page?-go, villain, fetch a surgeon. [Exit Page. Rom. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. Mer. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world:A plague o' both your houses!-'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! . Paint, display. The Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier. • Case or scabbard. Imagination. a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic!-Why, the devil, came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. Rom. I thought all for the best. Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint.-A plague o' both your houses! They have made worm's meat of me: I have it, and soundly too:--Your houses! [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO. Rom. 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 my kinsman:-0 sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, And in my temper soften'd valor's steel. Re-enter BENVOLIO. Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead; This but begins the woe, others must end. Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. Shalt with him hence. Rom. This shall determine that. Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled: La. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague, Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? Mon. Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt. Prin. And, for that offence, Immediately we do exile him hence: I have an interest in your hates' proceeding, SCENE II-A Room in Capulet's House. Jul. Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Towards Phoebus' mansion; such a waggoner As Phaeton would whip you to the west, [They fight; TYBALT fulls. And bring in cloudy night immediately.Ben. Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain : Stand not amaz'd:-the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken :-hence!-be gone!-away! Why dost thou stay! [Exit ROMEO. 1 Cit. Which way ran he, that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? Ben. There lies that Tybalt. 1 Cit. Up, sir, go with me; I charge thee in the prince's name, obey. Enter Prince, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Wives, and others. Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night! Lovers can see to do their amorous rites 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 Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this fray? Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-brow'd Ben. O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. La. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin!-O my brother's child! Unhappy sight! ah me, the blood is spill'd Of my dear kinsman!-Prince, as thou art true,4 Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, night, Give me my Romeo: and when he shall die, And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks That Romeo bade thee fetch? Ay, ay, the cords. [Throws them down. Jul. Ah 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 !— Hold, friends! friends, part! and, swifter than his Alack the day!-he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead! Jul. Can heaven be so envious? Though heaven cannot:-0 Romeo! Romeo! Romeo can, Grave, solemn. Gaudy, showy. Jul. What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus? This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell. Or those eyes shut, that makes thee answer, I. Nurse. I saw the wound,I saw it with mine eyes,- Jul. O break, my heart!-poor bankrupt, break at once! To prison, eyes! ne'er look on liberty! Jul. What storm is this, that blows so contrary? Nurse. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished; Romeo, that kill'd him, he is banished. Jul. O God!-did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? Nurse. It did, it did; alas the day! it did. Dove-feather'd raven! wolfish ravening lamb! Nurse. There's no trust, No faith, no honesty in men; all perjur'd, All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitæ:These griefs, these woes, these sorrows, make me old. All this is comfort; Wherefore weep I then? In Shakspeare's time the affirmative particle ay was usually written I, and here it is necessary to retain the old spelling. Which modern2 lamentation might have mov'd? Nurse. Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse; When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment. Fri. A gentler judgment vanish'd from his lips, Not body's death, but body's banishment. Rom. Ha! banishment? be merciful, say-death: For exile hath more terror in his look, Much more than death: do not say-banishment. Fri. Hence from Verona art thou banished: Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. Rom. There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence-banished is banish'd from the world, And world's exile is death :-then banishment, Is death mis-term'd: calling death-banishment, Thou cut'st my head off with a golden axe, And smil'st upon the stroke that murders me. Fri. O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness! O friar, the damned use that word in hell; A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd, Rom. O, thou wilt speak again of banishment. ⚫ Common. • Know. • Worth, value. |