![The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9] cover](/books/content/47715/OEBPS/3302079346510739149_cover.jpg)
Rom. Good morrow, father.
Fri. L. Benedicite![544]
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?[545]
Young son, it argues a distemper'd head[546]
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed:
Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, 35
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;[547]
But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain[548]
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:
Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art up-roused by some distemperature;[549] 40
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night.
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?[545]
Young son, it argues a distemper'd head[546]
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed:
Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, 35
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;[547]
But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain[548]
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:
Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art up-roused by some distemperature;[549] 40
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night.
Rom. That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.
Fri. L. God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?
Rom. With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; 45
I have forgot that name and that name's woe.
I have forgot that name and that name's woe.
Fri. L. That's my good son: but where hast thou been then?
Rom. I'll tell thee ere thou ask it me again.
I have been feasting with mine enemy;
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me, 50
That's by me wounded: both our remedies[550]
Within thy help and holy physic lies:
I bear no hatred, blessed man, for, lo,
My intercession likewise steads my foe.
I have been feasting with mine enemy;
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me, 50
That's by me wounded: both our remedies[550]
Within thy help and holy physic lies:
I bear no hatred, blessed man, for, lo,
My intercession likewise steads my foe.
Fri. L. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift;[551] 55
Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.
Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.
Rom. Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet:[552]
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combined, save what thou must combine 60
By holy marriage: when, and where, and how,
We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray,[553]
That thou consent to marry us to-day.
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet:[552]
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combined, save what thou must combine 60
By holy marriage: when, and where, and how,
We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray,[553]
That thou consent to marry us to-day.
Fri. L. Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here![554] 65
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,[555]
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine[556]
Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline![557] 70
How much salt water thrown away in waste,[558]
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in mine ancient ears;[559]
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit[560] 75
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then:[561]
Women may fall when there's no strength in men. 80
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,[555]
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine[556]
Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline![557] 70
How much salt water thrown away in waste,[558]
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in mine ancient ears;[559]
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit[560] 75
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then:[561]
Women may fall when there's no strength in men. 80
Rom. Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.
Fri. L. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
Rom. And bad'st me bury love.
Rom. I pray thee, chide not: she whom I love now[563] 85
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow;
The other did not so.
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow;
The other did not so.
Fri. L. O, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.[564]
But come, young waverer, come, go with me,[565]
In one respect I'll thy assistant be; 90
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.[566]
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.[564]
But come, young waverer, come, go with me,[565]
In one respect I'll thy assistant be; 90
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.[566]
Rom. O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.
Fri. L. Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.
[Exeunt.
Scene IV. A street.[567]
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.
Ben. Not to his father's; I spoke with his man.[569]
Mer. Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline,[570][571]
Torments him so that he will sure run mad.[571] 5
Torments him so that he will sure run mad.[571] 5
Mer. A challenge, on my life.
Ben. Romeo will answer it.
Mer. Any man that can write may answer a letter. 10
Ben. Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he
dares, being dared.
dares, being dared.
Mer. Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead! stabbed
with a white wench's black eye; shot thorough the ear with[574]
a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind 15
bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
with a white wench's black eye; shot thorough the ear with[574]
a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind 15
bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
Mer. More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he's[576][577]
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you
sing prick-song, keeps time, distance and proportion;[578] 20
rests me his minim rest, one, two, and the third in your[579]
bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist;[580]
a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and
second cause: ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso!
the hai![581] 25
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you
sing prick-song, keeps time, distance and proportion;[578] 20
rests me his minim rest, one, two, and the third in your[579]
bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist;[580]
a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and
second cause: ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso!
the hai![581] 25
Ben. The what?
Mer. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes;[582][583]
these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu, a very good[583][584]
blade! a very tall man! a very good whore!' Why, is
not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be 30
thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers,
these perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form[585]
that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O, their[586]
bones, their bones![587]
these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu, a very good[583][584]
blade! a very tall man! a very good whore!' Why, is
not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be 30
thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers,
these perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form[585]
that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O, their[586]
bones, their bones![587]
Enter Romeo.
Ben. Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.[588] 35
Mer. Without his roe, like a dried herring: O flesh,
flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers
that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench;[589]
marry, she had a better love to be-rhyme her; Dido,
a dowdy; Cleopatra, a gipsy; Helen and Hero, hildings and[590] 40
harlots; Thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose.[591]
Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your[592]
French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.[593]
flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers
that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench;[589]
marry, she had a better love to be-rhyme her; Dido,
a dowdy; Cleopatra, a gipsy; Helen and Hero, hildings and[590] 40
harlots; Thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose.[591]
Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your[592]
French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.[593]
Mer. The slip, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?[594]
Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great;[594][595]
and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.[594][596]
and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.[594][596]
Mer. That's as much as to say, Such a case as yours[594]
constrains a man to bow in the hams.[594] 50
constrains a man to bow in the hams.[594] 50
Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it.[594]
Mer. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.[594]
Rom. Pink for flower.[594] 55
Mer. Right.[594]
Rom. Why, then is my pump well flowered.[594]
Mer. Well said: follow me this jest now, till thou hast[594][599]
worn out thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn,[594]
the jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular.[594][600] 60
worn out thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn,[594]
the jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular.[594][600] 60
Mer. Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have[594][605][606]
done; for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy[594][606]
wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with[594]
you there for the goose?[594]
done; for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy[594][606]
wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with[594]
you there for the goose?[594]
Rom. Thou wast never with me for any thing when[594][607] 70
thou wast not there for the goose.[594]
thou wast not there for the goose.[594]
Mer. I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.[594]
Rom. Nay, good goose, bite not.[594]
Rom. I stretch it out for that word 'broad;' which added[594]
to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.[594][611] 80
to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.[594][611] 80
Mer. Why, is not this better now than groaning for[594][612]
love? now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art[594][613]
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this[594]
drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up[594]
and down to hide his bauble in a hole.[594][614] 85
love? now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art[594][613]
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this[594]
drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up[594]
and down to hide his bauble in a hole.[594][614] 85
Ben. Stop there, stop there.[594]
Ben. Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.[594]
Mer. O, thou art deceived; I would have made it[594] 90
short: for I was come to the whole depth of my tale, and[594][615]
meant indeed to occupy the argument no longer.[594]
short: for I was come to the whole depth of my tale, and[594][615]
meant indeed to occupy the argument no longer.[594]
Rom. Here's goodly gear![616]
Enter Nurse and Peter.
Mer. A sail, a sail![617]
Ben. Two, two; a shirt and a smock.[618] 95
Nurse. Peter!
Peter. Anon?
Nurse. My fan, Peter.
Nurse. God ye good morrow, gentlemen.
Mer. God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.[622]
Nurse. Is it good den?[623]
Mer. 'Tis no less, I tell you; for the bawdy hand of[624]
the dial is now upon the prick of noon. 105
the dial is now upon the prick of noon. 105
Nurse. Out upon you! what a man are you!
Rom. One, gentlewoman, that God hath made himself[625]
to mar.
to mar.
Nurse. By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to[626]
mar,' quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where[627] 110
I may find the young Romeo?[628]
mar,' quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where[627] 110
I may find the young Romeo?[628]
Rom. I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older
when you have found him than he was when you sought
him: I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.
when you have found him than he was when you sought
him: I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.
Nurse. You say well. 115
Mer. Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith;
wisely, wisely.
wisely, wisely.
Nurse. If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with[629]
you.
you.
Ben. She will indite him to some supper.[630] 120
Mer. A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! So ho!
Rom. What hast thou found?[631]
Mer. No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie,[631]
that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.[631][632] [Sings.
An old hare hoar,[631][633] 125
And an old hare hoar,[631][633]
Is very good meat in lent:[631][633]
But a hare that is hoar,[631][633]
Is too much for a score,[631][633]
When it hoars ere it be spent.[631][633] 130
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll to dinner thither.
that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.[631][632] [Sings.
An old hare hoar,[631][633] 125
And an old hare hoar,[631][633]
Is very good meat in lent:[631][633]
But a hare that is hoar,[631][633]
Is too much for a score,[631][633]
When it hoars ere it be spent.[631][633] 130
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll to dinner thither.
Rom. I will follow you.
Mer. Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, [singing] 'lady,[634]
lady, lady.' [Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.[635] 135
lady, lady.' [Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.[635] 135
Nurse. Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy[636]
merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?[637]
merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?[637]
Rom. A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself[638]
talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month.[639] 140
talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month.[639] 140
Nurse. An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take[640]
him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such[641]
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall. Scurvy
knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates.[642]
[Turning to Peter] And thou must stand by too,[643] 145
and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?
him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such[641]
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall. Scurvy
knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates.[642]
[Turning to Peter] And thou must stand by too,[643] 145
and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?
Peter. I saw no man use you at his pleasure; if I had,
my weapon should quickly have been out, I warrant you:
I dare draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a
good quarrel and the law on my side. 150
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. 150
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[644]
you out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself: but[644]
first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise,[645]155
as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as
they say: for the gentlewoman is young, and therefore, if[646]
you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak[647]
dealing. 160
part about me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a
word: and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire[644]
you out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself: but[644]
first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise,[645]155
as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as
they say: for the gentlewoman is young, and therefore, if[646]
you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak[647]
dealing. 160
Nurse. Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as
much: Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
much: Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
Rom. What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not 165
mark me.[650]
mark me.[650]
Nurse. I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which,
as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.[651]
as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.[651]
Rom. Bid her devise[652]
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon;[652] 170
And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell[653]
Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon;[652] 170
And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell[653]
Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.
Nurse. No, truly, sir; not a penny.
Rom. Go to; I say you shall.
Nurse. This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there. 175
Rom. And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey-wall:[654]
Within this hour my man shall be with thee,
And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair;[655]
Which to the high top-gallant of my joy
Must be my convoy in the secret night. 180
Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:[656]
Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.[657]
Within this hour my man shall be with thee,
And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair;[655]
Which to the high top-gallant of my joy
Must be my convoy in the secret night. 180
Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:[656]
Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.[657]
Nurse. Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.
Rom. What say'st thou, my dear nurse?[658]
Nurse. Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say,[659][660]185
Two may keep counsel, putting one away?[659][661]
Two may keep counsel, putting one away?[659][661]
Rom. I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel.[662]
Nurse. Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady—Lord,[663]
Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing—O, there is[663]
a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife[663] 190
aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very[663][664]
toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes, and tell her that[663][665]
Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I[663]
say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world.[663][666]
Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?[663] 195
Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing—O, there is[663]
a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife[663] 190
aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very[663][664]
toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes, and tell her that[663][665]
Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I[663]
say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world.[663][666]
Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?[663] 195
Rom. Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.[663]
[Exeunt.
Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[675]
Enter Juliet.