# Romeo and Juliet (1917) Yale/Text/Act II

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act II. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act II begin on page 123 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT SECOND
PROLOGUE
[Enter] Chorus.
Chor. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan'd for and would die, With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair. Now Romeo is belov'd and loves again, 5 Alike bewitched by the charm of looks, But to his foe suppos'd he must complain, And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: 8 Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new-beloved any where: 12 But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, Tempering extremity with extreme sweet.
[Exit.]
Scene One
[A Lane by the wall of Capulet's Orchard]
Enter Romeo alone.
Rom. Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out.
[He climbs the wall, and leaps down within it.]
Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.
Ben. Romeo! my cousin Romeo! Romeo!
​Mer. He is wise; And, on my life, hath stol'n him home to bed. 4
Ben. He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: Call, good Mercutio.
Mer. Nay, I'll conjure too. Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: 8 Speak but one rime and I am satisfied; Cry but 'Ay me!' couple but 'love' and 'dove;' Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word. One nickname for her purblind son and heir, 12 Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so true When King Cophetua lov'd the beggar-maid. He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not; The ape is dead, and I must conjure him. 16 I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip, By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, 20 That in thy likeness thou appear to us.
Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
Mer. This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle 24 Of some strange nature, letting it there stand Till she had laid it, and conjur'd it down; That were some spite: my invocation Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name 28 I conjure only but to raise up him.
Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, To be consorted with the humorous night: ​Blind is his love and best befits the dark. 32
Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. Now will he sit under a medlar tree, And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone. O Romeo! that she were, O! that she were 37 An open et cætera, thou a poperin pear. Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep: 40 Come, shall we go?
Ben. Go, then; for 'tis in vain To seek him here that means not to be found.
Exeunt.
Scene Two
[Capulet's Orchard]
[Romeo comes forward.]
Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound. [Juliet appears above at a window.] But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, 4 Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green, 8 And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady; O! it is my love: O! that she knew she were. ​She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. 13 I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes 16 To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven 20 Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See! how she leans her cheek upon her hand: O! that I were a glove upon that hand, 24 That I might touch that cheek.
Jul. Ay me!
Rom. She speaks: O! speak again, bright angel; for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a winged messenger of heaven 28 Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-puffing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air. 32
Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. 36
Rom. [Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Jul. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, 40 Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part ​Belonging to a man. O! be some other name: What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet; 44 So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name; And for thy name, which is no part of thee, 48 Take all myself.
Rom. I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night, 52 So stumblest on my counsel?
Rom. By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee: 56 Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Jul. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound: Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 60
Rom. Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
Jul. How cam'st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who thou art, If any of my kinsmen find thee here. 65
Rom. With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt; ​Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me. 69
Jul. If they do see thee they will murder thee.
Rom. Alack! there lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, 72 And I am proof against their enmity.
Jul. I would not for the world they saw thee here.
Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes; And but thou love me, let them find me here; My life were better ended by their hate, 77 Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Rom. By Love, that first did prompt me to inquire; 80 He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, I should adventure for such merchandise. 84
Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny 88 What I have spoke: but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay;' And I will take thy word; yet, if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries, 92 They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo! If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won, I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, 96 So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world. ​In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my haviour light: But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. 101 I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou over-heard'st, ere I was ware, My true love's passion: therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, 105 Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—
Jul. O! swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, 109 That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Rom. What shall I swear by?
Jul. Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, 113 Which is the god of my idolatry, And I'll believe thee.
Rom. If my heart's dear love—
Jul. Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, 116 I have no joy of this contract to-night: It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one can say it lightens. Sweet, good-night! This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good-night, good-night! as sweet repose and rest Come to thy heart as that within my breast! 124
Rom. O! wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
​Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it; 128 And yet I would it were to give again.
Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: 132 My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. [Nurse] calls within. I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! 136 Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again. [Exit above.]
Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream, 140 Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
[Enter Juliet, above.]
Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good-night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, 144 By one that I'll procure to come to thee, Where, and what time, thou wilt perform the rite; And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay, And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Nurse. [Within.] Madam! 149
Jul. I come, anon.—But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee,—
​Nurse. [Within.] Madam!
Jul. By and by; I come:— To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: 152 To-morrow will I send.
Rom. So thrive my soul,—
Jul. A thousand times good-night! Exit.
Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books; 156 But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
[Retiring.]
Enter Juliet again.
Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist! O! for a falconer's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again. Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud, 160 Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies, And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine, With repetition of my Romeo's name.
Rom. It is my soul that calls upon my name: How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, 165 Like softest music to attending ears!
Jul. Romeo!
Rom. My dear!
Jul. At what o'clock to-morrow Shall I send to thee?
Rom. By the hour of nine. 168
Jul. I will not fail; 'tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back.
Rom. Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, 172 ​Remembering how I love thy company.
Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.
Jul. 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone; 176 And yet no further than a wanton's bird, That lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, 180 So loving-jealous of his liberty.
Rom. I would I were thy bird.
Jul. Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good-night, good-night! parting is such sweet sorrow 184 That I shall say good-night till it be morrow. Exit.
Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell, 188 His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell. Exit.
Scene Three
[Friar Laurence's Cell]
Enter Friar alone, with a basket.
Fri. L. The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night, Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light, And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye 5 ​The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, I must up-fill this osier cage of ours With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers. The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb; 9 What is her burying grave that is her womb, And from her womb children of divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find, 12 Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some, and yet all different. O! mickle is the powerful grace that lies In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities: 16 For nought so vile that on the earth doth live But to the earth some special good doth give, Nor aught so good but strain'd from that fair use Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: 20 Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied, And vice sometime's by action dignified.
Enter Romeo.
Within the infant rind of this weak flower Poison hath residence and medicine power: 24 For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; 28 And where the worser is predominant, Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
Rom. Good morrow, father!
Fri. L. Benedicite! What early tongue so sweet saluteth me? 32 Young son, it argues a distemper'd head ​So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; 36 But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign: Therefore thy earliness doth me assure Thou art up-rous'd with some distemperature; 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? 44
Rom. With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; 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, 49 Where on a sudden one hath wounded me, That's by me wounded: both our remedies Within thy help and holy physic lies: 52 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; Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift. 56
Rom. Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set On the fair daughter of rich Capulet: As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine; And all combin'd, 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, That thou consent to marry us to-day. 64
​Fri. L. Holy Saint Francis! what a change is here; Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. 68 Jesu Maria! what a deal of brine Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline; How much salt water thrown away in waste, To season love, that of it doth not taste! 72 The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears, Thy old groans yet ring in my ancient ears; Lo! here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet. 76 If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine, Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline: And art thou chang'd? pronounce this sentence then: Women may fall, when there's no strength in men. 80
Rom. Thou chidd'st me oft for loving Rosaline.
Fri. L. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
Rom. And bad'st me bury love.
Fri. L. Not in a grave, To lay one in, another out to have. 84
Rom. I pray thee, chide me not; her I love now 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 that could not spell. 88 But come, young waverer, come, go with me, In one respect I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households' rancour to pure love.
Rom. O! let us hence; I stand on sudden haste. 93
Fri. L. Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast. Exeunt.
Scene Four
[A Street]
Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.
Mer. Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came he not home to-night?
Ben. Not to his father's; I spoke with his man.
Mer. Why that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, 4 Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.
Ben. Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet, Hath sent a letter to his father's house.
Mer. A challenge, on my life. 8
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. 12
Mer. Alas! poor Romeo, he is already dead; stabbed with a white wench's black eye; run through the ear with a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft; and is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
Ben. Why, what is Tybalt? 19
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 duel- list; a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and second cause. Ah! the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the hay! 28
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-mois, who stand so much on the new form that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O, their bons, their bons! 38
Enter Romeo.
Ben. Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.
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 a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rime her; Dido a dowdy; Cleopatra a gipsy; Helen and Hero hildings and harlots; Thisbe, 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 counterfeit did I give you? 52
Mer. The slip, sir, the slip; can you not con- ceive?
Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy. 57
Mer. That's as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.
Rom. Meaning—to curtsy. 60
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. 64
Mer. Right.
Rom. Why, then, is my pump well flowered.
Mer. Sure wit! Follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out the pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular.
Rom. O single-soled jest! solely singular for the singleness. 72
Mer. Come between us, good Benvolio; my wit faints.
Rom. Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match. 76
Mer. Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am 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? 81
​Rom. Thou wast never with me for anything when thou wast not here for the goose.
Mer. I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
Rom. Nay, good goose, bite not. 85
Mer. Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most sharp sauce.
Rom. And is it not then well served in to a sweet goose? 89
Mer. O! here's a wit of cheveril, 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. 94
Mer. Why, is not this better now than groan- ing 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. 100
Ben. Stop there, stop there.
Mer. Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair.
Ben. Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large. 105
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. 109
Rom. Here's goodly gear!
Enter Nurse and her man [Peter].
A sail, a sail!
​Mer. Two, two; a shirt and a smock. 112
Nurse. Peter!
Peter. Anon!
Nurse. My fan, Peter.
Mer. Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the fairer face. 117
Nurse. God ye good morrow, gentlemen.
Mer. God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.
Nurse. Is it good den? 120
Mer. 'Tis no less, I tell you; for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon.
Nurse. Out upon you! what a man are you!
Rom. One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to mar. 125
Nurse. By my troth, it is well said; 'for him- self to mar,' quoth a'?—Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo?
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. 132
Nurse. You say well.
Mer. Yea! is the worst well? very well took, i' faith; wisely, wisely.
Nurse. If you be he, sir, I desire some con- fidence with you. 137
Ben. She will indite him to some supper.
Mer. A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! So ho!
Rom. What hast thou found? 140
Mer. No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a ​lenten pie, that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent. He walks by them and sings. 'An old hare hoar, And an old hare hoar, 144 Is very good meat in Lent: But a hare that is hoar, Is too much for a score, When it hoars ere it be spent.' Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll to dinner thither. 149
Rom. I will follow you.
Mer. Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, 'Lady, lady, lady.' 152
Exeunt Benvolio and Mercutio.
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. 158
Nurse. An a' speak anything 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 that shall. Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skeins-mates.
She turns to Peter, her man.
And thou must stand by too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure! 165
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. 170
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 bid me inquire you out; what she bid me say I will keep to myself; but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her in a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, 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. 182
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. 187
Rom. What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me.
Nurse. I will tell her, sir, that you do pro- test; which, as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer. 192
Rom. Bid her devise Some means to come to shrift this afternoon; And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell, Be shriv'd and married. Here is for thy pains.
Nurse. No, truly, sir; not a penny. 197
Rom. Go to; I say, you shall.
Nurse. This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there. 200
Rom. And stay, good nurse; behind the abbey wall: Within this hour my man shall be with thee, And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair; Which to the high top-gallant of my joy 204 Must be my convoy in the secret night. Farewell! Be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains. Farewell! Commend me to thy mistress.
Nurse. Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir. 208
Rom. What sayst thou, my dear nurse?
Nurse. Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say, Two may keep counsel, putting one away?
Rom. I warrant thee my man's as true as steel. 212
Nurse. Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady—Lord, Lord!—when 'twas a little prating thing, O! there's a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger 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 versal world. Doth not rose- mary and Romeo begin both with a letter?
Rom. Ay, nurse: what of that? both with an R. 224
Nurse. Ah! mocker; that's the dog's name. R is for the—No; I know it begins with some other letter: and she had the prettiest senten- tious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it. 229
​Rom. Commend me to thy lady.
Nurse. Ay, a thousand times. [Exit Romeo.] Peter! 232
Pet. Anon!
Nurse. Before, and apace.
Exeunt Nurse and Peter.
Scene Five
[Capulet's Garden]
Enter Juliet.
Jul. The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promis'd to return. Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so. O! she is lame: love's heralds should be thoughts, 4 Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams, Driving back shadows over lowering hills: Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw Love, And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings. Now is the sun upon the highmost hill 9 Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve Is three long hours, yet she is not come. Had she affections, and warm youthful blood, 12 She'd be as swift in motion as a ball; My words would bandy her to my sweet love, And his to me: But old folks, many feign as they were dead; 16 Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.
Enter Nurse [and Peter.]
O God! she comes. O honey nurse! what news? Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.
Nurse. Peter, stay at the gate. [Exit Peter.]
Jul. Now, good sweet nurse; O Lord, why look'st thou sad? 21 Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; If good, thou sham'st the music of sweet news By playing it to me with so sour a face. 24
Nurse. I am aweary, give me leave awhile: Fie, how my bones ache! What a jaunce have I had!
Jul. I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news. Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak. 28
Nurse. Jesu! what haste? can you not stay awhile? Do you not see that I am out of breath?
Jul. How art thou out of breath when thou hast breath To say to me that thou art out of breath? 32 The excuse that thou dost make in this delay Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse. Is thy news good, or bad? answer to that; Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance: 36 Let me be satisfied, is 't good or bad?
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. My back o' t'other side; O! my back, my back! Beshrew your heart for sending me about, 52 To catch my death with jauncing up and down.
Jul. I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love?
Nurse. Your love says, like an honest gentle- man, and a courteous, and a kind, and a hand- some, and, I warrant, a virtuous,—Where is your mother?
Jul. Where is my mother! why, she is within; 60 Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest: 'Your love says, like an honest gentleman, Where is your mother?'
Nurse. O! God's lady dear, Are you so hot? Marry, come up, I trow; 64 Is this the poultice for my aching bones? Henceforward do your messages yourself.
Jul. Here's such a coil! come, what says Romeo?
Nurse. Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? 68
Jul. I have.
Nurse. Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell, There stays a husband to make you a wife: Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks, They'll be in scarlet straight at any news. 73 Hie you to church; I must another way, To fetch a ladder, by the which your love Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark; ​I am the drudge and toil in your delight, 77 But you shall bear the burden soon at night. Go; I'll to dinner: hie you to the cell.
Jul. Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.
Exeunt.
Scene Six
[Friar Laurence's Cell]
Enter Friar and Romeo.
Fri. L. So smile the heaven upon this holy act, That after hours with sorrow chide us not!
Rom. Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy 4 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 dares; It is enough I may but call her mine. 8
Fri. L. These violent delights have violent ends, And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which, as they kiss, consume: the sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness 12 And in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
Enter Juliet.
Here comes the lady: O! so light a foot 16 Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint: A lover may bestride the gossamer That idles in the wanton summer air, And yet not fall; so light is vanity. 20
Jul. Good even to my ghostly confessor.
​Fri. L. Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
Jul. As much to him, else is his thanks too much.
Rom. Ah! Juliet, if the measure of thy joy Be heap'd like mine, and that thy skill be more 25 To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue Unfold the imagin'd happiness that both 28 Receive in either by this dear encounter.
Jul. Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Brags of his substance, not of ornament: They are but beggars that can count their worth; 32 But my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up half my sum of wealth.
Fri. L. Come, come with me, and we will make short work; For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone 36 Till holy church incorporate two in one.
Exeunt.
Footnotes to Act II
Prologue
​6 Alike: i.e., both he and she 10 use: are accustomed to
Scene One
​S. d. Orchard: garden 2 dull earth; cf. n. ​ ​34 medlar: a fruit which looks like a small, brown-skinned apple 36 Cf. n. 38 poperin: variety from Poperinghe, Flanders 39 truckle-bed: little bed 40 field-bed: a large bed; here, the ground
Scene Two
​Scene Two; cf. n. 6 maid; cf. n. 8 vestal: virgin sick: of a sickly hue ​17 spheres: orbits 31 lazy-puffing; cf. n. ​46 owes: possesses 53 counsel: secrets 61 dislike: displease 66 o'erperch: fly over ​78 prorogued: deferred 89 compliment: conventional speech 97 So: provided that ​101 strange: reserved 106 discovered: revealed 110 circled orb: circular orbit 113 gracious: godly ​131 frank: generous 141 substantial: real 143 bent: purpose 145 procure: cause ​151 By and by: immediately 159 tassel-gentle: male falcon ​179 gyves: fetters 188 ghostly: spiritual 189 dear hap: good fortune
Scene Three
​3 flecked: dappled 4 Titan's: the sun-god's ​7 osier cage: willow basket 15 mickle: great grace: efficacy 28 grace: the grace of God 30 canker: parasitic worm 31 Benedicite: God bless you 33 distemper'd: mentally or morally deranged ​37 unstuff'd: not overcharged 52 physic: healing art 54 steads: benefits 55 homely: plain 56 shrift: absolution ​86 grace: favor 88 Cf. n. 93 stand on: insist on
Scene Four
​12 dared: defied 15 pin: peg in the centre of a target 17 butt-shaft: unbarbed arrow used in shooting at targets 20 prince of cats; cf. n. 21 captain of compliments: chief observer of formal ceremonies 22 prick-song: a part written out, not improvised 23 proportion: rhythm minim: half measure (in music) ​25 silk button; cf. n. 26 house: school of fencing 27 cause: formal reason for a duel (?) 28 passado . . . hay: technical fencing terms: forward thrust, backhanded thrust, home thrust 30 the pox of: 'plague take' 31 fantasticoes: absurd persons accents: language 32 tall: valiant 34 grandsire; cf. n. 35 flies: worthless persons 36 pardonnez-mois; cf. n. 40 roe; cf. n. 41 flesh: human nature 42 Petrarch; cf. n. 46 hildings: baggages 49 slop: loose breeches counterfeit: counterfeit coins were called slips ​53 conceive: understand 61 kindly: aptly 66 well flowered; cf. n. 69 sole: here, also, 'soul' 70 sole singular: all alone 71 single-soled: contemptible, threadbare 72 singleness: triviality 75 Switch and spurs: arouse your wits 76 cry a match: say you are beaten (?) 77 wild-goose chase; cf. n. ​86 sweeting: kind of apple 90 cheveril: kid leather 94 broad: evident 99 natural: idiot 100 bauble: stick carried by a court fool 103 against the hair: against the grain 110 gear: business ​122 prick: point 126 By my troth: upon my word 136 confidence: misused for 'conference' 138 indite: consciously misused for 'invite' 141 hare: also slang for 'courtesan' ​142 hoar: mouldy 143 spent: consumed 152 Lady; cf. n. 154 merchant: fellow 155 ropery: knavery 161 Jacks: ill-mannered fellows 163 flirt-gills: loose women skeins-mates: companions to a scapegrace (?) ​184 protest: promise 189 mark: pay attention to 198 Go to: Come! ​203 tackled stair: rope-ladder 204 top-gallant: summit 205 convoy: means of going 206 quit: requite 210 secret: trustworthy 219 properer: handsomer 221 clout: rag versal: universal 222 a: the same 225 dog's name; cf. n. 227 sententious: for sentences
Scene Five
​4 heralds: messengers 7 Love: Venus 14 bandy: send (as a ball in tennis) 16 as: as if ​26 jaunce: jaunt 36 stay the circumstance: wait for the details ​52 beshrew: ill luck to 64 Marry, come up: expression of disgust 67 coil: fuss 70 hie: hasten
Scene Six
​4 countervail: equal 13 confounds: destroys 18 gossamer: spider's thread 20 vanity: vain delight ​26 blazon: describe fitly 30 Conceit: imagination