Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers,
of the house of Capulet.

SAMPSON  FTLN 0015Gregory, on my word we’ll not carry coals.
GREGORY  FTLN 0016No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0017I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.
GREGORY  FTLN 0018Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of
FTLN 00195 collar.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0020I strike quickly, being moved.
GREGORY  FTLN 0021But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0022A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
GREGORY  FTLN 0023To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to
FTLN 002410 stand. Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st
FTLN 0025 away.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0026A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I
FTLN 0027 will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.
GREGORY  FTLN 0028That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest
FTLN 002915 goes to the wall.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0030’Tis true, and therefore women, being the
FTLN 0031 weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore
FTLN 0032 I will push Montague’s men from the wall and
FTLN 0033 thrust his maids to the wall.
GREGORY  FTLN 003420The quarrel is between our masters and us
FTLN 0035 their men.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0036’Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant.
FTLN 0037 When I have fought with the men, I will be civil
FTLN 0038 with the maids; I will cut off their heads.

---

GREGORY  FTLN 003925The heads of the maids?
SAMPSON  FTLN 0040Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.
FTLN 0041 Take it in what sense thou wilt.
GREGORY  FTLN 0042They must take it in sense that feel it.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0043Me they shall feel while I am able to stand,
FTLN 004430 and ’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
GREGORY  FTLN 0045’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou
FTLN 0046 hadst been poor-john. Draw thy tool. Here comes
FTLN 0047 of the house of Montagues.

Enter Abram with another Servingman.

SAMPSON  FTLN 0048My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back
FTLN 004935 thee.
GREGORY  FTLN 0050How? Turn thy back and run?
SAMPSON  FTLN 0051Fear me not.
GREGORY  FTLN 0052No, marry. I fear thee!
SAMPSON  FTLN 0053Let us take the law of our sides; let them
FTLN 005440 begin.
GREGORY  FTLN 0055I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it
FTLN 0056 as they list.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0057Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
FTLN 0058 them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it.
He bites his thumb.
ABRAM  FTLN 005945Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON  FTLN 0060I do bite my thumb, sir.
ABRAM  FTLN 0061Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON , aside to Gregory  FTLN 0062Is the law of our side if I
FTLN 0063 say “Ay”?
GREGORY , aside to Sampson  FTLN 006450No.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0065No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir,
FTLN 0066 but I bite my thumb, sir.
GREGORY  FTLN 0067Do you quarrel, sir?
ABRAM  FTLN 0068Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
SAMPSON  FTLN 006955But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as
FTLN 0070 good a man as you.
ABRAM  FTLN 0071No better.

---

SAMPSON  FTLN 0072Well, sir.

Enter Benvolio.

GREGORY , aside to Sampson  FTLN 0073Say “better”; here comes
FTLN 007460 one of my master’s kinsmen.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0075Yes, better, sir.
ABRAM  FTLN 0076You lie.
SAMPSON  FTLN 0077Draw if you be men.—Gregory, remember
FTLN 0078 thy washing blow. They fight.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 007965Part, fools! Drawing his sword.
FTLN 0080 Put up your swords. You know not what you do.

Enter Tybalt, drawing his sword.

TYBALT 
FTLN 0081 What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
FTLN 0082 Turn thee, Benvolio; look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0083 I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
FTLN 008470 Or manage it to part these men with me.
TYBALT 
FTLN 0085 What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
FTLN 0086 As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
FTLN 0087 Have at thee, coward! They fight.

Enter three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.

CITIZENS 
FTLN 0088 Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!
FTLN 008975 Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!

Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.

CAPULET 
FTLN 0090 What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
LADY CAPULET  FTLN 0091A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a
FTLN 0092 sword?

Enter old Montague and his Wife.

---

CAPULET 
FTLN 0093 My sword, I say. Old Montague is come
FTLN 009480 And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0095 Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not; let me go.
LADY MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0096 Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.

Enter Prince Escalus with his train.

PRINCE 
FTLN 0097 Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
FTLN 0098 Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel—
FTLN 009985 Will they not hear?—What ho! You men, you beasts,
FTLN 0100 That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
FTLN 0101 With purple fountains issuing from your veins:
FTLN 0102 On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
FTLN 0103 Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground,
FTLN 010490 And hear the sentence of your movèd prince.
FTLN 0105 Three civil brawls bred of an airy word
FTLN 0106 By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
FTLN 0107 Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets
FTLN 0108 And made Verona’s ancient citizens
FTLN 010995 Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments
FTLN 0110 To wield old partisans in hands as old,
FTLN 0111 Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
FTLN 0112 If ever you disturb our streets again,
FTLN 0113 Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
FTLN 0114100 For this time all the rest depart away.
FTLN 0115 You, Capulet, shall go along with me,
FTLN 0116 And, Montague, come you this afternoon
FTLN 0117 To know our farther pleasure in this case,
FTLN 0118 To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
FTLN 0119105 Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
All but Montague, Lady Montague,
and Benvolio exit.

---

MONTAGUE , to Benvolio 
FTLN 0120 Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?
FTLN 0121 Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0122 Here were the servants of your adversary,
FTLN 0123 And yours, close fighting ere I did approach.
FTLN 0124110 I drew to part them. In the instant came
FTLN 0125 The fiery Tybalt with his sword prepared,
FTLN 0126 Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
FTLN 0127 He swung about his head and cut the winds,
FTLN 0128 Who, nothing hurt withal, hissed him in scorn.
FTLN 0129115 While we were interchanging thrusts and blows
FTLN 0130 Came more and more and fought on part and part,
FTLN 0131 Till the Prince came, who parted either part.
LADY MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0132 O, where is Romeo? Saw you him today?
FTLN 0133 Right glad I am he was not at this fray.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0134120 Madam, an hour before the worshiped sun
FTLN 0135 Peered forth the golden window of the east,
FTLN 0136 A troubled mind drove me to walk abroad,
FTLN 0137 Where underneath the grove of sycamore
FTLN 0138 That westward rooteth from this city side,
FTLN 0139125 So early walking did I see your son.
FTLN 0140 Towards him I made, but he was ’ware of me
FTLN 0141 And stole into the covert of the wood.
FTLN 0142 I, measuring his affections by my own
FTLN 0143 (Which then most sought where most might not be
FTLN 0144130 found,
FTLN 0145 Being one too many by my weary self),
FTLN 0146 Pursued my humor, not pursuing his,
FTLN 0147 And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me.
MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0148 Many a morning hath he there been seen,
FTLN 0149135 With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew,
FTLN 0150 Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs.

---

FTLN 0151 But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
FTLN 0152 Should in the farthest east begin to draw
FTLN 0153 The shady curtains from Aurora’s bed,
FTLN 0154140 Away from light steals home my heavy son
FTLN 0155 And private in his chamber pens himself,
FTLN 0156 Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,
FTLN 0157 And makes himself an artificial night.
FTLN 0158 Black and portentous must this humor prove,
FTLN 0159145 Unless good counsel may the cause remove.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0160 My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0161 I neither know it nor can learn of him.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0162 Have you importuned him by any means?
MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0163 Both by myself and many other friends.
FTLN 0164150 But he, his own affections’ counselor,
FTLN 0165 Is to himself—I will not say how true,
FTLN 0166 But to himself so secret and so close,
FTLN 0167 So far from sounding and discovery,
FTLN 0168 As is the bud bit with an envious worm
FTLN 0169155 Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air
FTLN 0170 Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
FTLN 0171 Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
FTLN 0172 We would as willingly give cure as know.

Enter Romeo.

BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0173 See where he comes. So please you, step aside.
FTLN 0174160 I’ll know his grievance or be much denied.
MONTAGUE 
FTLN 0175 I would thou wert so happy by thy stay
FTLN 0176 To hear true shrift.—Come, madam, let’s away.
Montague and Lady Montague exit.

---

BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0177 Good morrow, cousin.
ROMEO  FTLN 0178 Is the day so young?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0179165 But new struck nine.
ROMEO  FTLN 0180 Ay me, sad hours seem long.
FTLN 0181 Was that my father that went hence so fast?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0182 It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0183 Not having that which, having, makes them short.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0184170In love?
ROMEO  FTLN 0185Out—
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0186Of love?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0187 Out of her favor where I am in love.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0188 Alas that love, so gentle in his view,
FTLN 0189175 Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!
ROMEO 
FTLN 0190 Alas that love, whose view is muffled still,
FTLN 0191 Should without eyes see pathways to his will!
FTLN 0192 Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here?
FTLN 0193 Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
FTLN 0194180 Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.
FTLN 0195 Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate,
FTLN 0196 O anything of nothing first create!
FTLN 0197 O heavy lightness, serious vanity,
FTLN 0198 Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,
FTLN 0199185 Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health,
FTLN 0200 Still-waking sleep that is not what it is!
FTLN 0201 This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
FTLN 0202 Dost thou not laugh?
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0203 No, coz, I rather weep.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0204190 Good heart, at what?

---

BENVOLIO  FTLN 0205 At thy good heart’s oppression.
ROMEO  FTLN 0206Why, such is love’s transgression.
FTLN 0207 Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,
FTLN 0208 Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed
FTLN 0209195 With more of thine. This love that thou hast shown
FTLN 0210 Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.
FTLN 0211 Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs;
FTLN 0212 Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes;
FTLN 0213 Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.
FTLN 0214200 What is it else? A madness most discreet,
FTLN 0215 A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.
FTLN 0216 Farewell, my coz.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0217 Soft, I will go along.
FTLN 0218 An if you leave me so, you do me wrong.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0219205 Tut, I have lost myself. I am not here.
FTLN 0220 This is not Romeo. He’s some other where.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0221 Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?
ROMEO  FTLN 0222What, shall I groan and tell thee?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0223 Groan? Why, no. But sadly tell me who.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0224210 A sick man in sadness makes his will—
FTLN 0225 A word ill urged to one that is so ill.
FTLN 0226 In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0227 I aimed so near when I supposed you loved.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0228 A right good markman! And she’s fair I love.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0229215 A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0230 Well in that hit you miss. She’ll not be hit
FTLN 0231 With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit,
FTLN 0232 And, in strong proof of chastity well armed,

---

FTLN 0233 From love’s weak childish bow she lives uncharmed.
FTLN 0234220 She will not stay the siege of loving terms,
FTLN 0235 Nor bide th’ encounter of assailing eyes,
FTLN 0236 Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold.
FTLN 0237 O, she is rich in beauty, only poor
FTLN 0238 That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0239225 Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0240 She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;
FTLN 0241 For beauty, starved with her severity,
FTLN 0242 Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
FTLN 0243 She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,
FTLN 0244230 To merit bliss by making me despair.
FTLN 0245 She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow
FTLN 0246 Do I live dead, that live to tell it now.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0247 Be ruled by me. Forget to think of her.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0248 O, teach me how I should forget to think!
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0249235 By giving liberty unto thine eyes.
FTLN 0250 Examine other beauties.
ROMEO  FTLN 0251 ’Tis the way
FTLN 0252 To call hers, exquisite, in question more.
FTLN 0253 These happy masks that kiss fair ladies’ brows,
FTLN 0254240 Being black, puts us in mind they hide the fair.
FTLN 0255 He that is strucken blind cannot forget
FTLN 0256 The precious treasure of his eyesight lost.
FTLN 0257 Show me a mistress that is passing fair;
FTLN 0258 What doth her beauty serve but as a note
FTLN 0259245 Where I may read who passed that passing fair?
FTLN 0260 Farewell. Thou canst not teach me to forget.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0261 I’ll pay that doctrine or else die in debt.
They exit.

Enter Capulet, County Paris, and a Servingman.

CAPULET 
FTLN 0262 But Montague is bound as well as I,
FTLN 0263 In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think,
FTLN 0264 For men so old as we to keep the peace.
PARIS 
FTLN 0265 Of honorable reckoning are you both,
FTLN 02665 And pity ’tis you lived at odds so long.
FTLN 0267 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET 
FTLN 0268 But saying o’er what I have said before.
FTLN 0269 My child is yet a stranger in the world.
FTLN 0270 She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
FTLN 027110 Let two more summers wither in their pride
FTLN 0272 Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS 
FTLN 0273 Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET 
FTLN 0274 And too soon marred are those so early made.
FTLN 0275 Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;
FTLN 027615 She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
FTLN 0277 But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
FTLN 0278 My will to her consent is but a part.
FTLN 0279 And, she agreed, within her scope of choice
FTLN 0280 Lies my consent and fair according voice.
FTLN 028120 This night I hold an old accustomed feast,
FTLN 0282 Whereto I have invited many a guest
FTLN 0283 Such as I love; and you among the store,
FTLN 0284 One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
FTLN 0285 At my poor house look to behold this night
FTLN 028625 Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light.
FTLN 0287 Such comfort as do lusty young men feel
FTLN 0288 When well-appareled April on the heel
FTLN 0289 Of limping winter treads, even such delight

---

FTLN 0290 Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night
FTLN 029130 Inherit at my house. Hear all, all see,
FTLN 0292 And like her most whose merit most shall be;
FTLN 0293 Which, on more view of many, mine, being one,
FTLN 0294 May stand in number, though in reck’ning none.
FTLN 0295 Come go with me. To Servingman, giving him a list.
FTLN 029635 Go, sirrah, trudge about
FTLN 0297 Through fair Verona, find those persons out
FTLN 0298 Whose names are written there, and to them say
FTLN 0299 My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
Capulet and Paris exit.
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0300Find them out whose names are written
FTLN 030140 here! It is written that the shoemaker should
FTLN 0302 meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last, the
FTLN 0303 fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets.
FTLN 0304 But I am sent to find those persons whose names
FTLN 0305 are here writ, and can never find what names the
FTLN 030645 writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned.
FTLN 0307 In good time!

Enter Benvolio and Romeo.

BENVOLIO , to Romeo 
FTLN 0308 Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning;
FTLN 0309 One pain is lessened by another’s anguish.
FTLN 0310 Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning.
FTLN 031150 One desperate grief cures with another’s languish.
FTLN 0312 Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
FTLN 0313 And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0314 Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0315 For what, I pray thee?
ROMEO  FTLN 031655 For your broken shin.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0317Why Romeo, art thou mad?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0318 Not mad, but bound more than a madman is,

---

FTLN 0319 Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
FTLN 0320 Whipped and tormented, and—good e’en, good
FTLN 032160 fellow.
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0322God gi’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you
FTLN 0323 read?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0324 Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0325Perhaps you have learned it without
FTLN 032665 book. But I pray, can you read anything you see?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0327 Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0328You say honestly. Rest you merry.
ROMEO  FTLN 0329Stay, fellow. I can read. (He reads the letter.)
FTLN 0330 Signior Martino and his wife and daughters,
FTLN 033170 County Anselme and his beauteous sisters,
FTLN 0332 The lady widow of Vitruvio,
FTLN 0333 Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces,
FTLN 0334 Mercutio and his brother Valentine,
FTLN 0335 Mine Uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters,
FTLN 033675 My fair niece Rosaline and Livia,
FTLN 0337 Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt,
FTLN 0338 Lucio and the lively Helena.
FTLN 0339 A fair assembly. Whither should they come?
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0340Up.
ROMEO  FTLN 034180Whither? To supper?
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0342To our house.
ROMEO  FTLN 0343Whose house?
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0344My master’s.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0345 Indeed I should have asked thee that before.
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 034685Now I’ll tell you without asking. My
FTLN 0347 master is the great rich Capulet, and, if you be not
FTLN 0348 of the house of Montagues, I pray come and crush a
FTLN 0349 cup of wine. Rest you merry. He exits.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0350 At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s

---

FTLN 035190 Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves,
FTLN 0352 With all the admirèd beauties of Verona.
FTLN 0353 Go thither, and with unattainted eye
FTLN 0354 Compare her face with some that I shall show,
FTLN 0355 And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
ROMEO 
FTLN 035695 When the devout religion of mine eye
FTLN 0357 Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fire;
FTLN 0358 And these who, often drowned, could never die,
FTLN 0359 Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars.
FTLN 0360 One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun
FTLN 0361100 Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0362 Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by,
FTLN 0363 Herself poised with herself in either eye;
FTLN 0364 But in that crystal scales let there be weighed
FTLN 0365 Your lady’s love against some other maid
FTLN 0366105 That I will show you shining at this feast,
FTLN 0367 And she shall scant show well that now seems best.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0368 I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown,
FTLN 0369 But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.
They exit.

Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.

LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0370 Nurse, where’s my daughter? Call her forth to me.
NURSE 
FTLN 0371 Now, by my maidenhead at twelve year old,
FTLN 0372 I bade her come.—What, lamb! What, ladybird!
FTLN 0373 God forbid. Where’s this girl? What, Juliet!

Enter Juliet.

---

JULIET  FTLN 03745How now, who calls?
NURSE  FTLN 0375Your mother.
JULIET 
FTLN 0376 Madam, I am here. What is your will?
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0377 This is the matter.—Nurse, give leave awhile.
FTLN 0378 We must talk in secret.—Nurse, come back again.
FTLN 037910 I have remembered me, thou ’s hear our counsel.
FTLN 0380 Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age.
NURSE 
FTLN 0381 Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.
LADY CAPULET  FTLN 0382She’s not fourteen.
NURSE  FTLN 0383I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth (and yet, to my teen
FTLN 038415 be it spoken, I have but four) she’s not fourteen.
FTLN 0385 How long is it now to Lammastide?
LADY CAPULET  FTLN 0386A fortnight and odd days.
NURSE 
FTLN 0387 Even or odd, of all days in the year,
FTLN 0388 Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
FTLN 038920 Susan and she (God rest all Christian souls!)
FTLN 0390 Were of an age. Well, Susan is with God;
FTLN 0391 She was too good for me. But, as I said,
FTLN 0392 On Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen.
FTLN 0393 That shall she. Marry, I remember it well.
FTLN 039425 ’Tis since the earthquake now eleven years,
FTLN 0395 And she was weaned (I never shall forget it)
FTLN 0396 Of all the days of the year, upon that day.
FTLN 0397 For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,
FTLN 0398 Sitting in the sun under the dovehouse wall.
FTLN 039930 My lord and you were then at Mantua.
FTLN 0400 Nay, I do bear a brain. But, as I said,
FTLN 0401 When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
FTLN 0402 Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
FTLN 0403 To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug.
FTLN 040435 “Shake,” quoth the dovehouse. ’Twas no need, I
FTLN 0405 trow,

---

FTLN 0406 To bid me trudge.
FTLN 0407 And since that time it is eleven years.
FTLN 0408 For then she could stand high-lone. Nay, by th’
FTLN 040940 rood,
FTLN 0410 She could have run and waddled all about,
FTLN 0411 For even the day before, she broke her brow,
FTLN 0412 And then my husband (God be with his soul,
FTLN 0413 He was a merry man) took up the child.
FTLN 041445 “Yea,” quoth he, “Dost thou fall upon thy face?
FTLN 0415 Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,
FTLN 0416 Wilt thou not, Jule?” And, by my holidam,
FTLN 0417 The pretty wretch left crying and said “Ay.”
FTLN 0418 To see now how a jest shall come about!
FTLN 041950 I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
FTLN 0420 I never should forget it. “Wilt thou not, Jule?”
FTLN 0421 quoth he.
FTLN 0422 And, pretty fool, it stinted and said “Ay.”
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0423 Enough of this. I pray thee, hold thy peace.
NURSE 
FTLN 042455 Yes, madam, yet I cannot choose but laugh
FTLN 0425 To think it should leave crying and say “Ay.”
FTLN 0426 And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow
FTLN 0427 A bump as big as a young cock’rel’s stone,
FTLN 0428 A perilous knock, and it cried bitterly.
FTLN 042960 “Yea,” quoth my husband. “Fall’st upon thy face?
FTLN 0430 Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age,
FTLN 0431 Wilt thou not, Jule?” It stinted and said “Ay.”
JULIET 
FTLN 0432 And stint thou, too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.
NURSE 
FTLN 0433 Peace. I have done. God mark thee to his grace,
FTLN 043465 Thou wast the prettiest babe that e’er I nursed.
FTLN 0435 An I might live to see thee married once,
FTLN 0436 I have my wish.

---

LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0437 Marry, that “marry” is the very theme
FTLN 0438 I came to talk of.—Tell me, daughter Juliet,
FTLN 043970 How stands your disposition to be married?
JULIET 
FTLN 0440 It is an honor that I dream not of.
NURSE 
FTLN 0441 An honor? Were not I thine only nurse,
FTLN 0442 I would say thou hadst sucked wisdom from thy
FTLN 0443 teat.
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 044475 Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you
FTLN 0445 Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
FTLN 0446 Are made already mothers. By my count
FTLN 0447 I was your mother much upon these years
FTLN 0448 That you are now a maid. Thus, then, in brief:
FTLN 044980 The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
NURSE 
FTLN 0450 A man, young lady—lady, such a man
FTLN 0451 As all the world—why, he’s a man of wax.
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0452 Verona’s summer hath not such a flower.
NURSE 
FTLN 0453 Nay, he’s a flower, in faith, a very flower.
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 045485 What say you? Can you love the gentleman?
FTLN 0455 This night you shall behold him at our feast.
FTLN 0456 Read o’er the volume of young Paris’ face,
FTLN 0457 And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen.
FTLN 0458 Examine every married lineament
FTLN 045990 And see how one another lends content,
FTLN 0460 And what obscured in this fair volume lies
FTLN 0461 Find written in the margent of his eyes.
FTLN 0462 This precious book of love, this unbound lover,
FTLN 0463 To beautify him only lacks a cover.
FTLN 046495 The fish lives in the sea, and ’tis much pride

---

FTLN 0465 For fair without the fair within to hide.
FTLN 0466 That book in many’s eyes doth share the glory
FTLN 0467 That in gold clasps locks in the golden story.
FTLN 0468 So shall you share all that he doth possess
FTLN 0469100 By having him, making yourself no less.
NURSE 
FTLN 0470 No less? Nay, bigger. Women grow by men.
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0471 Speak briefly. Can you like of Paris’ love?
JULIET 
FTLN 0472 I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.
FTLN 0473 But no more deep will I endart mine eye
FTLN 0474105 Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

Enter Servingman.

SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0475Madam, the guests are come, supper
FTLN 0476 served up, you called, my young lady asked for, the
FTLN 0477 Nurse cursed in the pantry, and everything in
FTLN 0478 extremity. I must hence to wait. I beseech you,
FTLN 0479110 follow straight.
LADY CAPULET 
FTLN 0480 We follow thee. Servingman exits.
FTLN 0481 Juliet, the County stays.
NURSE 
FTLN 0482 Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.
They exit.

Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other
Maskers, Torchbearers, and a Boy with a drum.

ROMEO 
FTLN 0483 What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?
FTLN 0484 Or shall we on without apology?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0485 The date is out of such prolixity.

---

FTLN 0486 We’ll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf,
FTLN 04875 Bearing a Tartar’s painted bow of lath,
FTLN 0488 Scaring the ladies like a crowkeeper,
FTLN 0489 Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke
FTLN 0490 After the prompter, for our entrance.
FTLN 0491 But let them measure us by what they will.
FTLN 049210 We’ll measure them a measure and be gone.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0493 Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling.
FTLN 0494 Being but heavy I will bear the light.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0495 Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0496 Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes
FTLN 049715 With nimble soles. I have a soul of lead
FTLN 0498 So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0499 You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings
FTLN 0500 And soar with them above a common bound.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0501 I am too sore enpiercèd with his shaft
FTLN 050220 To soar with his light feathers, and so bound
FTLN 0503 I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe.
FTLN 0504 Under love’s heavy burden do I sink.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0505 And to sink in it should you burden love—
FTLN 0506 Too great oppression for a tender thing.
ROMEO 
FTLN 050725 Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
FTLN 0508 Too rude, too boist’rous, and it pricks like thorn.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0509 If love be rough with you, be rough with love.
FTLN 0510 Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.—
FTLN 0511 Give me a case to put my visage in.—
FTLN 051230 A visor for a visor. What care I
FTLN 0513 What curious eye doth cote deformities?
FTLN 0514 Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me.

---

BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0515 Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in
FTLN 0516 But every man betake him to his legs.
ROMEO 
FTLN 051735 A torch for me. Let wantons light of heart
FTLN 0518 Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels,
FTLN 0519 For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase:
FTLN 0520 I’ll be a candle holder and look on;
FTLN 0521 The game was ne’er so fair, and I am done.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 052240 Tut, dun’s the mouse, the constable’s own word.
FTLN 0523 If thou art dun, we’ll draw thee from the mire—
FTLN 0524 Or, save your reverence, love—wherein thou
FTLN 0525 stickest
FTLN 0526 Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!
ROMEO 
FTLN 052745 Nay, that’s not so.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0528 I mean, sir, in delay
FTLN 0529 We waste our lights; in vain, light lights by day.
FTLN 0530 Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits
FTLN 0531 Five times in that ere once in our five wits.
ROMEO 
FTLN 053250 And we mean well in going to this masque,
FTLN 0533 But ’tis no wit to go.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0534 Why, may one ask?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0535 I dreamt a dream tonight.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0536 And so did I.
ROMEO 
FTLN 053755 Well, what was yours?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0538 That dreamers often lie.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0539 In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0540 O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.

---

FTLN 0541 She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
FTLN 054260 In shape no bigger than an agate stone
FTLN 0543 On the forefinger of an alderman,
FTLN 0544 Drawn with a team of little atomi
FTLN 0545 Over men’s noses as they lie asleep.
FTLN 0546 Her wagon spokes made of long spinners’ legs,
FTLN 054765 The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
FTLN 0548 Her traces of the smallest spider web,
FTLN 0549 Her collars of the moonshine’s wat’ry beams,
FTLN 0550 Her whip of cricket’s bone, the lash of film,
FTLN 0551 Her wagoner a small gray-coated gnat,
FTLN 055270 Not half so big as a round little worm
FTLN 0553 Pricked from the lazy finger of a maid.
FTLN 0554 Her chariot is an empty hazelnut,
FTLN 0555 Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,
FTLN 0556 Time out o’ mind the fairies’ coachmakers.
FTLN 055775 And in this state she gallops night by night
FTLN 0558 Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love;
FTLN 0559 On courtiers’ knees, that dream on cur’sies straight;
FTLN 0560 O’er lawyers’ fingers, who straight dream on fees;
FTLN 0561 O’er ladies’ lips, who straight on kisses dream,
FTLN 056280 Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues
FTLN 0563 Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are.
FTLN 0564 Sometime she gallops o’er a courtier’s nose,
FTLN 0565 And then dreams he of smelling out a suit.
FTLN 0566 And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig’s tail,
FTLN 056785 Tickling a parson’s nose as he lies asleep;
FTLN 0568 Then he dreams of another benefice.
FTLN 0569 Sometime she driveth o’er a soldier’s neck,
FTLN 0570 And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
FTLN 0571 Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,
FTLN 057290 Of healths five fathom deep, and then anon
FTLN 0573 Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes
FTLN 0574 And, being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two
FTLN 0575 And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
FTLN 0576 That plats the manes of horses in the night

---

FTLN 057795 And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,
FTLN 0578 Which once untangled much misfortune bodes.
FTLN 0579 This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
FTLN 0580 That presses them and learns them first to bear,
FTLN 0581 Making them women of good carriage.
FTLN 0582100 This is she—
ROMEO  FTLN 0583 Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace.
FTLN 0584 Thou talk’st of nothing.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0585 True, I talk of dreams,
FTLN 0586 Which are the children of an idle brain,
FTLN 0587105 Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
FTLN 0588 Which is as thin of substance as the air
FTLN 0589 And more inconstant than the wind, who woos
FTLN 0590 Even now the frozen bosom of the north
FTLN 0591 And, being angered, puffs away from thence,
FTLN 0592110 Turning his side to the dew-dropping south.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0593 This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves.
FTLN 0594 Supper is done, and we shall come too late.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0595 I fear too early, for my mind misgives
FTLN 0596 Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
FTLN 0597115 Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
FTLN 0598 With this night’s revels, and expire the term
FTLN 0599 Of a despisèd life closed in my breast
FTLN 0600 By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
FTLN 0601 But he that hath the steerage of my course
FTLN 0602120 Direct my sail. On, lusty gentlemen.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 0603Strike, drum.
They march about the stage
and then withdraw to the side.

Servingmen come forth with napkins.

FIRST SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0604Where’s Potpan that he helps not
FTLN 0605 to take away? He shift a trencher? He scrape a
FTLN 0606 trencher?
SECOND SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0607When good manners shall lie
FTLN 06085 all in one or two men’s hands, and they unwashed
FTLN 0609 too, ’tis a foul thing.
FIRST SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0610Away with the joint stools, remove
FTLN 0611 the court cupboard, look to the plate.—
FTLN 0612 Good thou, save me a piece of marchpane, and, as
FTLN 061310 thou loves me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone
FTLN 0614 and Nell.—Anthony and Potpan!
THIRD SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0615Ay, boy, ready.
FIRST SERVINGMAN  FTLN 0616You are looked for and called for,
FTLN 0617 asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.
THIRD SERVINGMAN  FTLN 061815We cannot be here and there too.
FTLN 0619 Cheerly, boys! Be brisk awhile, and the longer liver
FTLN 0620 take all. They move aside.

Enter Capulet and his household, all the guests and
gentlewomen to Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and the
other Maskers.

CAPULET 
FTLN 0621 Welcome, gentlemen. Ladies that have their toes
FTLN 0622 Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with
FTLN 062320 you.—
FTLN 0624 Ah, my mistresses, which of you all
FTLN 0625 Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
FTLN 0626 She, I’ll swear, hath corns. Am I come near you
FTLN 0627 now?—
FTLN 062825 Welcome, gentlemen. I have seen the day
FTLN 0629 That I have worn a visor and could tell
FTLN 0630 A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear,
FTLN 0631 Such as would please. ’Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone.

---

FTLN 0632 You are welcome, gentlemen.—Come, musicians,
FTLN 063330 play. Music plays and they dance.
FTLN 0634 A hall, a hall, give room!—And foot it, girls.—
FTLN 0635 More light, you knaves, and turn the tables up,
FTLN 0636 And quench the fire; the room is grown too hot.—
FTLN 0637 Ah, sirrah, this unlooked-for sport comes well.—
FTLN 063835 Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet,
FTLN 0639 For you and I are past our dancing days.
FTLN 0640 How long is ’t now since last yourself and I
FTLN 0641 Were in a mask?
CAPULET’S COUSIN  FTLN 0642 By ’r Lady, thirty years.
CAPULET 
FTLN 064340 What, man, ’tis not so much, ’tis not so much.
FTLN 0644 ’Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio,
FTLN 0645 Come Pentecost as quickly as it will,
FTLN 0646 Some five and twenty years, and then we masked.
CAPULET’S COUSIN 
FTLN 0647 ’Tis more, ’tis more. His son is elder, sir.
FTLN 064845 His son is thirty.
CAPULET  FTLN 0649 Will you tell me that?
FTLN 0650 His son was but a ward two years ago.
ROMEO , to a Servingman 
FTLN 0651 What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
FTLN 0652 Of yonder knight?
SERVINGMAN  FTLN 065350I know not, sir.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0654 O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
FTLN 0655 It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
FTLN 0656 As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear—
FTLN 0657 Beauty too rich for use, for Earth too dear.
FTLN 065855 So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows
FTLN 0659 As yonder lady o’er her fellows shows.
FTLN 0660 The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand
FTLN 0661 And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.
FTLN 0662 Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight,
FTLN 066360 For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

---

TYBALT 
FTLN 0664 This, by his voice, should be a Montague.—
FTLN 0665 Fetch me my rapier, boy. Page exits.
FTLN 0666 What, dares the slave
FTLN 0667 Come hither covered with an antic face
FTLN 066865 To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
FTLN 0669 Now, by the stock and honor of my kin,
FTLN 0670 To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
CAPULET 
FTLN 0671 Why, how now, kinsman? Wherefore storm you so?
TYBALT 
FTLN 0672 Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,
FTLN 067370 A villain that is hither come in spite
FTLN 0674 To scorn at our solemnity this night.
CAPULET 
FTLN 0675 Young Romeo is it?
TYBALT  FTLN 0676 ’Tis he, that villain Romeo.
CAPULET 
FTLN 0677 Content thee, gentle coz. Let him alone.
FTLN 067875 He bears him like a portly gentleman,
FTLN 0679 And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
FTLN 0680 To be a virtuous and well-governed youth.
FTLN 0681 I would not for the wealth of all this town
FTLN 0682 Here in my house do him disparagement.
FTLN 068380 Therefore be patient. Take no note of him.
FTLN 0684 It is my will, the which if thou respect,
FTLN 0685 Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
FTLN 0686 An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
TYBALT 
FTLN 0687 It fits when such a villain is a guest.
FTLN 068885 I’ll not endure him.
CAPULET  FTLN 0689 He shall be endured.
FTLN 0690 What, goodman boy? I say he shall. Go to.
FTLN 0691 Am I the master here or you? Go to.
FTLN 0692 You’ll not endure him! God shall mend my soul,

---

FTLN 069390 You’ll make a mutiny among my guests,
FTLN 0694 You will set cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man!
TYBALT 
FTLN 0695 Why, uncle, ’tis a shame.
CAPULET  FTLN 0696 Go to, go to.
FTLN 0697 You are a saucy boy. Is ’t so indeed?
FTLN 069895 This trick may chance to scathe you. I know what.
FTLN 0699 You must contrary me. Marry, ’tis time—
FTLN 0700 Well said, my hearts.—You are a princox, go.
FTLN 0701 Be quiet, or—More light, more light!—for shame,
FTLN 0702 I’ll make you quiet.—What, cheerly, my hearts!
TYBALT 
FTLN 0703100 Patience perforce with willful choler meeting
FTLN 0704 Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
FTLN 0705 I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
FTLN 0706 Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.
He exits.
ROMEO , taking Juliet’s hand 
FTLN 0707 If I profane with my unworthiest hand
FTLN 0708105 This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
FTLN 0709 My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
FTLN 0710 To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET 
FTLN 0711 Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
FTLN 0712 Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
FTLN 0713110 For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
FTLN 0714 And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0715 Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET 
FTLN 0716 Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0717 O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
FTLN 0718115 They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET 
FTLN 0719 Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

---

ROMEO 
FTLN 0720 Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
He kisses her.
FTLN 0721 Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.
JULIET 
FTLN 0722 Then have my lips the sin that they have took.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0723120 Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
FTLN 0724 Give me my sin again. He kisses her.
JULIET  FTLN 0725 You kiss by th’ book.
NURSE 
FTLN 0726 Madam, your mother craves a word with you.
Juliet moves toward her mother.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0727 What is her mother?
NURSE  FTLN 0728125 Marry, bachelor,
FTLN 0729 Her mother is the lady of the house,
FTLN 0730 And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous.
FTLN 0731 I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
FTLN 0732 I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
FTLN 0733130 Shall have the chinks. Nurse moves away.
ROMEO , aside  FTLN 0734 Is she a Capulet?
FTLN 0735 O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0736 Away, begone. The sport is at the best.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0737 Ay, so I fear. The more is my unrest.
CAPULET 
FTLN 0738135 Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone.
FTLN 0739 We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.—
FTLN 0740 Is it e’en so? Why then, I thank you all.
FTLN 0741 I thank you, honest gentlemen. Good night.—
FTLN 0742 More torches here.—Come on then, let’s to bed.—
FTLN 0743140 Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late.
FTLN 0744 I’ll to my rest.
All but Juliet and the Nurse begin to exit.

---

JULIET 
FTLN 0745 Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?
NURSE 
FTLN 0746 The son and heir of old Tiberio.
JULIET 
FTLN 0747 What’s he that now is going out of door?
NURSE 
FTLN 0748145 Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.
JULIET 
FTLN 0749 What’s he that follows here, that would not dance?
NURSE  FTLN 0750I know not.
JULIET 
FTLN 0751 Go ask his name.  The Nurse goes. If he be marrièd,
FTLN 0752 My grave is like to be my wedding bed.
NURSE , returning 
FTLN 0753150 His name is Romeo, and a Montague,
FTLN 0754 The only son of your great enemy.
JULIET 
FTLN 0755 My only love sprung from my only hate!
FTLN 0756 Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
FTLN 0757 Prodigious birth of love it is to me
FTLN 0758155 That I must love a loathèd enemy.
NURSE 
FTLN 0759 What’s this? What’s this?
JULIET  FTLN 0760 A rhyme I learned even now
FTLN 0761 Of one I danced withal.
One calls within “Juliet.”
NURSE  FTLN 0762 Anon, anon.
FTLN 0763160 Come, let’s away. The strangers all are gone.
They exit.

Enter Chorus.
 
FTLN 0764 Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,
FTLN 0765 And young affection gapes to be his heir.
FTLN 0766 That fair for which love groaned for and would die,
FTLN 0767 With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair.
FTLN 07685 Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
FTLN 0769 Alike bewitchèd by the charm of looks,
FTLN 0770 But to his foe supposed he must complain,
FTLN 0771 And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks.
FTLN 0772 Being held a foe, he may not have access
FTLN 077310 To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear,
FTLN 0774 And she as much in love, her means much less
FTLN 0775 To meet her new belovèd anywhere.
FTLN 0776 But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
FTLN 0777 Temp’ring extremities with extreme sweet.
Chorus exits.

Enter Romeo alone.

ROMEO 
FTLN 0778 Can I go forward when my heart is here?
FTLN 0779 Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out.
He withdraws.

Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.

---

BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0780 Romeo, my cousin Romeo, Romeo!
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0781He is wise
FTLN 07825 And, on my life, hath stol’n him home to bed.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0783 He ran this way and leapt this orchard wall.
FTLN 0784 Call, good Mercutio.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 0785 Nay, I’ll conjure too.
FTLN 0786 Romeo! Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover!
FTLN 078710 Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh.
FTLN 0788 Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied.
FTLN 0789 Cry but “Ay me,” pronounce but “love” and
FTLN 0790 “dove.”
FTLN 0791 Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,
FTLN 079215 One nickname for her purblind son and heir,
FTLN 0793 Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so trim
FTLN 0794 When King Cophetua loved the beggar maid.—
FTLN 0795 He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not.
FTLN 0796 The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.—
FTLN 079720 I conjure thee by Rosaline’s bright eyes,
FTLN 0798 By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip,
FTLN 0799 By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh,
FTLN 0800 And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,
FTLN 0801 That in thy likeness thou appear to us.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 080225 An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0803 This cannot anger him. ’Twould anger him
FTLN 0804 To raise a spirit in his mistress’ circle
FTLN 0805 Of some strange nature, letting it there stand
FTLN 0806 Till she had laid it and conjured it down.
FTLN 080730 That were some spite. My invocation
FTLN 0808 Is fair and honest. In his mistress’ name,
FTLN 0809 I conjure only but to raise up him.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 0810 Come, he hath hid himself among these trees

---

FTLN 0811 To be consorted with the humorous night.
FTLN 081235 Blind is his love and best befits the dark.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 0813 If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
FTLN 0814 Now will he sit under a medlar tree
FTLN 0815 And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit
FTLN 0816 As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.—
FTLN 081740 O Romeo, that she were, O, that she were
FTLN 0818 An open-arse, thou a pop’rin pear.
FTLN 0819 Romeo, good night. I’ll to my truckle bed;
FTLN 0820 This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep.—
FTLN 0821 Come, shall we go?
BENVOLIO  FTLN 082245 Go, then, for ’tis in vain
FTLN 0823 To seek him here that means not to be found.
They exit.

Romeo comes forward.

ROMEO 
FTLN 0824 He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

Enter Juliet above.

FTLN 0825 But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
FTLN 0826 It is the East, and Juliet is the sun.
FTLN 0827 Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
FTLN 08285 Who is already sick and pale with grief
FTLN 0829 That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
FTLN 0830 Be not her maid since she is envious.
FTLN 0831 Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
FTLN 0832 And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
FTLN 083310 It is my lady. O, it is my love!
FTLN 0834 O, that she knew she were!
FTLN 0835 She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
FTLN 0836 Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

---

FTLN 0837 I am too bold. ’Tis not to me she speaks.
FTLN 083815 Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
FTLN 0839 Having some business, do entreat her eyes
FTLN 0840 To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
FTLN 0841 What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
FTLN 0842 The brightness of her cheek would shame those
FTLN 084320 stars
FTLN 0844 As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven
FTLN 0845 Would through the airy region stream so bright
FTLN 0846 That birds would sing and think it were not night.
FTLN 0847 See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
FTLN 084825 O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
FTLN 0849 That I might touch that cheek!
JULIET  FTLN 0850 Ay me.
ROMEO , aside  FTLN 0851 She speaks.
FTLN 0852 O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art
FTLN 085330 As glorious to this night, being o’er my head,
FTLN 0854 As is a wingèd messenger of heaven
FTLN 0855 Unto the white-upturnèd wond’ring eyes
FTLN 0856 Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
FTLN 0857 When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
FTLN 085835 And sails upon the bosom of the air.
JULIET 
FTLN 0859 O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
FTLN 0860 Deny thy father and refuse thy name,
FTLN 0861 Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
FTLN 0862 And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO , aside 
FTLN 086340 Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
JULIET 
FTLN 0864 ’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
FTLN 0865 Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
FTLN 0866 What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
FTLN 0867 Nor arm, nor face. O, be some other name
FTLN 086845 Belonging to a man.
FTLN 0869 What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

---

FTLN 0870 By any other word would smell as sweet.
FTLN 0871 So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
FTLN 0872 Retain that dear perfection which he owes
FTLN 087350 Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
FTLN 0874 And, for thy name, which is no part of thee,
FTLN 0875 Take all myself.
ROMEO  FTLN 0876 I take thee at thy word.
FTLN 0877 Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.
FTLN 087855 Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
JULIET 
FTLN 0879 What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night,
FTLN 0880 So stumblest on my counsel?
ROMEO  FTLN 0881 By a name
FTLN 0882 I know not how to tell thee who I am.
FTLN 088360 My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself
FTLN 0884 Because it is an enemy to thee.
FTLN 0885 Had I it written, I would tear the word.
JULIET 
FTLN 0886 My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
FTLN 0887 Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.
FTLN 088865 Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0889 Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
JULIET 
FTLN 0890 How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
FTLN 0891 The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
FTLN 0892 And the place death, considering who thou art,
FTLN 089370 If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0894 With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,
FTLN 0895 For stony limits cannot hold love out,
FTLN 0896 And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
FTLN 0897 Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
JULIET 
FTLN 089875 If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

---

ROMEO 
FTLN 0899 Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
FTLN 0900 Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet,
FTLN 0901 And I am proof against their enmity.
JULIET 
FTLN 0902 I would not for the world they saw thee here.
ROMEO 
FTLN 090380 I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes,
FTLN 0904 And, but thou love me, let them find me here.
FTLN 0905 My life were better ended by their hate
FTLN 0906 Than death proroguèd, wanting of thy love.
JULIET 
FTLN 0907 By whose direction found’st thou out this place?
ROMEO 
FTLN 090885 By love, that first did prompt me to inquire.
FTLN 0909 He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
FTLN 0910 I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
FTLN 0911 As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
FTLN 0912 I should adventure for such merchandise.
JULIET 
FTLN 091390 Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
FTLN 0914 Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
FTLN 0915 For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
FTLN 0916 Fain would I dwell on form; fain, fain deny
FTLN 0917 What I have spoke. But farewell compliment.
FTLN 091895 Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say “Ay,”
FTLN 0919 And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear’st,
FTLN 0920 Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries,
FTLN 0921 They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
FTLN 0922 If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.
FTLN 0923100 Or, if thou thinkest I am too quickly won,
FTLN 0924 I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
FTLN 0925 So thou wilt woo, but else not for the world.
FTLN 0926 In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
FTLN 0927 And therefore thou mayst think my havior light.
FTLN 0928105 But trust me, gentleman, I’ll prove more true

---

FTLN 0929 Than those that have more coying to be strange.
FTLN 0930 I should have been more strange, I must confess,
FTLN 0931 But that thou overheard’st ere I was ware
FTLN 0932 My true-love passion. Therefore pardon me,
FTLN 0933110 And not impute this yielding to light love,
FTLN 0934 Which the dark night hath so discoverèd.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0935 Lady, by yonder blessèd moon I vow,
FTLN 0936 That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—
JULIET 
FTLN 0937 O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon,
FTLN 0938115 That monthly changes in her circled orb,
FTLN 0939 Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0940 What shall I swear by?
JULIET  FTLN 0941 Do not swear at all.
FTLN 0942 Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
FTLN 0943120 Which is the god of my idolatry,
FTLN 0944 And I’ll believe thee.
ROMEO  FTLN 0945 If my heart’s dear love—
JULIET 
FTLN 0946 Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
FTLN 0947 I have no joy of this contract tonight.
FTLN 0948125 It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
FTLN 0949 Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
FTLN 0950 Ere one can say “It lightens.” Sweet, good night.
FTLN 0951 This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath,
FTLN 0952 May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
FTLN 0953130 Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest
FTLN 0954 Come to thy heart as that within my breast.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0955 O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET 
FTLN 0956 What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
ROMEO 
FTLN 0957 Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.

---

JULIET 
FTLN 0958135 I gave thee mine before thou didst request it,
FTLN 0959 And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0960 Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
JULIET 
FTLN 0961 But to be frank and give it thee again.
FTLN 0962 And yet I wish but for the thing I have.
FTLN 0963140 My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
FTLN 0964 My love as deep. The more I give to thee,
FTLN 0965 The more I have, for both are infinite.
Nurse calls from within.
FTLN 0966 I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu.—
FTLN 0967 Anon, good nurse.—Sweet Montague, be true.
FTLN 0968145 Stay but a little; I will come again. She exits.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0969 O blessèd, blessèd night! I am afeard,
FTLN 0970 Being in night, all this is but a dream,
FTLN 0971 Too flattering sweet to be substantial.

Reenter Juliet above.

JULIET 
FTLN 0972 Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
FTLN 0973150 If that thy bent of love be honorable,
FTLN 0974 Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
FTLN 0975 By one that I’ll procure to come to thee,
FTLN 0976 Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,
FTLN 0977 And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay
FTLN 0978155 And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
NURSE  within  FTLN 0979Madam.
JULIET 
FTLN 0980 I come anon.—But if thou meanest not well,
FTLN 0981 I do beseech thee—
NURSE  within  FTLN 0982Madam.
JULIET  FTLN 0983160By and by, I come.—
FTLN 0984 To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
FTLN 0985 Tomorrow will I send.

---

ROMEO  FTLN 0986So thrive my soul—
JULIET  FTLN 0987A thousand times good night. She exits.
ROMEO 
FTLN 0988165 A thousand times the worse to want thy light.
FTLN 0989 Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their
FTLN 0990 books,
FTLN 0991 But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Going.

Enter Juliet above again.

JULIET 
FTLN 0992 Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc’ner’s voice
FTLN 0993170 To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
FTLN 0994 Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud,
FTLN 0995 Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies
FTLN 0996 And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine
FTLN 0997 With repetition of “My Romeo!”
ROMEO 
FTLN 0998175 It is my soul that calls upon my name.
FTLN 0999 How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
FTLN 1000 Like softest music to attending ears.
JULIET 
FTLN 1001 Romeo.
ROMEO  FTLN 1002 My dear.
JULIET  FTLN 1003180 What o’clock tomorrow
FTLN 1004 Shall I send to thee?
ROMEO  FTLN 1005 By the hour of nine.
JULIET 
FTLN 1006 I will not fail. ’Tis twenty year till then.
FTLN 1007 I have forgot why I did call thee back.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1008185 Let me stand here till thou remember it.
JULIET 
FTLN 1009 I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
FTLN 1010 Rememb’ring how I love thy company.

---

ROMEO 
FTLN 1011 And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget,
FTLN 1012 Forgetting any other home but this.
JULIET 
FTLN 1013190 ’Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone,
FTLN 1014 And yet no farther than a wanton’s bird,
FTLN 1015 That lets it hop a little from his hand,
FTLN 1016 Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
FTLN 1017 And with a silken thread plucks it back again,
FTLN 1018195 So loving-jealous of his liberty.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1019 I would I were thy bird.
JULIET  FTLN 1020 Sweet, so would I.
FTLN 1021 Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
FTLN 1022 Good night, good night. Parting is such sweet
FTLN 1023200 sorrow
FTLN 1024 That I shall say “Good night” till it be morrow.
She exits.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1025 Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
FTLN 1026 Would I were sleep and peace so sweet to rest.
FTLN 1027 Hence will I to my ghostly friar’s close cell,
FTLN 1028205 His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
He exits.

Enter Friar Lawrence alone with a basket.

FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1029 The gray-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,
FTLN 1030 Check’ring the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
FTLN 1031 And fleckled darkness like a drunkard reels
FTLN 1032 From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels.
FTLN 10335 Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye,
FTLN 1034 The day to cheer and night’s dank dew to dry,

---

FTLN 1035 I must upfill this osier cage of ours
FTLN 1036 With baleful weeds and precious-juicèd flowers.
FTLN 1037 The Earth that’s nature’s mother is her tomb;
FTLN 103810 What is her burying grave, that is her womb;
FTLN 1039 And from her womb children of divers kind
FTLN 1040 We sucking on her natural bosom find,
FTLN 1041 Many for many virtues excellent,
FTLN 1042 None but for some, and yet all different.
FTLN 104315 O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies
FTLN 1044 In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities.
FTLN 1045 For naught so vile that on the Earth doth live
FTLN 1046 But to the Earth some special good doth give;
FTLN 1047 Nor aught so good but, strained from that fair use,
FTLN 104820 Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse.
FTLN 1049 Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
FTLN 1050 And vice sometime by action dignified.

Enter Romeo.

FTLN 1051 Within the infant rind of this weak flower
FTLN 1052 Poison hath residence and medicine power:
FTLN 105325 For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each
FTLN 1054 part;
FTLN 1055 Being tasted, stays all senses with the heart.
FTLN 1056 Two such opposèd kings encamp them still
FTLN 1057 In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will;
FTLN 105830 And where the worser is predominant,
FTLN 1059 Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1060 Good morrow, father.
FRIAR LAWRENCE  FTLN 1061 Benedicite.
FTLN 1062 What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?
FTLN 106335 Young son, it argues a distempered head
FTLN 1064 So soon to bid “Good morrow” to thy bed.
FTLN 1065 Care keeps his watch in every old man’s eye,
FTLN 1066 And, where care lodges, sleep will never lie;
FTLN 1067 But where unbruisèd youth with unstuffed brain

---

FTLN 106840 Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth
FTLN 1069 reign.
FTLN 1070 Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
FTLN 1071 Thou art uproused with some distemp’rature,
FTLN 1072 Or, if not so, then here I hit it right:
FTLN 107345 Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1074 That last is true. The sweeter rest was mine.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1075 God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?
ROMEO 
FTLN 1076 With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No.
FTLN 1077 I have forgot that name and that name’s woe.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 107850 That’s my good son. But where hast thou been
FTLN 1079 then?
ROMEO 
FTLN 1080 I’ll tell thee ere thou ask it me again.
FTLN 1081 I have been feasting with mine enemy,
FTLN 1082 Where on a sudden one hath wounded me
FTLN 108355 That’s by me wounded. Both our remedies
FTLN 1084 Within thy help and holy physic lies.
FTLN 1085 I bear no hatred, blessèd man, for, lo,
FTLN 1086 My intercession likewise steads my foe.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1087 Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift.
FTLN 108860 Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1089 Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set
FTLN 1090 On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.
FTLN 1091 As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine,
FTLN 1092 And all combined, save what thou must combine
FTLN 109365 By holy marriage. When and where and how
FTLN 1094 We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow
FTLN 1095 I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray,
FTLN 1096 That thou consent to marry us today.

---

FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1097 Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
FTLN 109870 Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,
FTLN 1099 So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
FTLN 1100 Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
FTLN 1101 Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine
FTLN 1102 Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!
FTLN 110375 How much salt water thrown away in waste
FTLN 1104 To season love, that of it doth not taste!
FTLN 1105 The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
FTLN 1106 Thy old groans yet ringing in mine ancient ears.
FTLN 1107 Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit
FTLN 110880 Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.
FTLN 1109 If e’er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine,
FTLN 1110 Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.
FTLN 1111 And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence
FTLN 1112 then:
FTLN 111385 Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1114 Thou chid’st me oft for loving Rosaline.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1115 For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1116 And bad’st me bury love.
FRIAR LAWRENCE  FTLN 1117 Not in a grave
FTLN 111890 To lay one in, another out to have.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1119 I pray thee, chide me not. Her I love now
FTLN 1120 Doth grace for grace and love for love allow.
FTLN 1121 The other did not so.
FRIAR LAWRENCE  FTLN 1122 O, she knew well
FTLN 112395 Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell.
FTLN 1124 But come, young waverer, come, go with me.
FTLN 1125 In one respect I’ll thy assistant be,
FTLN 1126 For this alliance may so happy prove
FTLN 1127 To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.

---

ROMEO 
FTLN 1128100 O, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 
FTLN 1129 Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.
They exit.

Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.

MERCUTIO 
FTLN 1130 Where the devil should this Romeo be?
FTLN 1131 Came he not home tonight?
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 1132 Not to his father’s. I spoke with his man.
MERCUTIO 
FTLN 1133 Why, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that
FTLN 11345 Rosaline,
FTLN 1135 Torments him so that he will sure run mad.
BENVOLIO 
FTLN 1136 Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet,
FTLN 1137 Hath sent a letter to his father’s house.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1138A challenge, on my life.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 113910Romeo will answer it.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1140Any man that can write may answer a letter.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1141Nay, he will answer the letter’s master, how
FTLN 1142 he dares, being dared.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1143Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead,
FTLN 114415 stabbed with a white wench’s black eye, run
FTLN 1145 through the ear with a love-song, the very pin of his
FTLN 1146 heart cleft with the blind bow-boy’s butt shaft. And
FTLN 1147 is he a man to encounter Tybalt?
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1148Why, what is Tybalt?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 114920More than prince of cats. O, he’s the courageous
FTLN 1150 captain of compliments. He fights as you sing
FTLN 1151 prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion.

---

FTLN 1152 He rests his minim rests, one, two, and the third in
FTLN 1153 your bosom—the very butcher of a silk button, a
FTLN 115425 duelist, a duelist, a gentleman of the very first house
FTLN 1155 of the first and second cause. Ah, the immortal
FTLN 1156 passado, the punto reverso, the hay!
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1157The what?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1158The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting
FTLN 115930 phantasimes, these new tuners of accent: “By
FTLN 1160 Jesu, a very good blade! A very tall man! A very good
FTLN 1161 whore!” Why, is not this a lamentable thing, grandsire,
FTLN 1162 that we should be thus afflicted with these
FTLN 1163 strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these “pardon-me” ’s,
FTLN 116435 who stand so much on the new form
FTLN 1165 that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O their
FTLN 1166 bones, their bones!

Enter Romeo.

BENVOLIO  FTLN 1167Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1168Without his roe, like a dried herring. O
FTLN 116940 flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the
FTLN 1170 numbers that Petrarch flowed in. Laura to his lady
FTLN 1171 was a kitchen wench (marry, she had a better love
FTLN 1172 to berhyme her), Dido a dowdy, Cleopatra a gypsy,
FTLN 1173 Helen and Hero hildings and harlots, Thisbe a gray
FTLN 117445 eye or so, but not to the purpose.—Signior Romeo,
FTLN 1175 bonjour. There’s a French salutation to your French
FTLN 1176 slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.
ROMEO  FTLN 1177Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit
FTLN 1178 did I give you?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 117950The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not conceive?
ROMEO  FTLN 1180Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was
FTLN 1181 great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain
FTLN 1182 courtesy.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1183That’s as much as to say such a case as
FTLN 118455 yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.
ROMEO  FTLN 1185Meaning, to curtsy.

---

MERCUTIO  FTLN 1186Thou hast most kindly hit it.
ROMEO  FTLN 1187A most courteous exposition.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1188Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
ROMEO  FTLN 118960“Pink” for flower.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1190Right.
ROMEO  FTLN 1191Why, then is my pump well flowered.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1192Sure wit, follow me this jest now till thou
FTLN 1193 hast worn out thy pump, that when the single sole
FTLN 119465 of it is worn, the jest may remain, after the wearing,
FTLN 1195 solely singular.
ROMEO  FTLN 1196O single-soled jest, solely singular for the
FTLN 1197 singleness.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1198Come between us, good Benvolio. My wits
FTLN 119970 faints.
ROMEO  FTLN 1200Switch and spurs, switch and spurs, or I’ll cry
FTLN 1201 a match.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1202Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I
FTLN 1203 am done, for thou hast more of the wild goose in
FTLN 120475 one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole
FTLN 1205 five. Was I with you there for the goose?
ROMEO  FTLN 1206Thou wast never with me for anything when
FTLN 1207 thou wast not there for the goose.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1208I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.
ROMEO  FTLN 120980Nay, good goose, bite not.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1210Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most
FTLN 1211 sharp sauce.
ROMEO  FTLN 1212And is it not, then, well served into a sweet
FTLN 1213 goose?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 121485O, here’s a wit of cheveril that stretches
FTLN 1215 from an inch narrow to an ell broad.
ROMEO  FTLN 1216I stretch it out for that word “broad,” which
FTLN 1217 added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a
FTLN 1218 broad goose.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 121990Why, is not this better now than groaning
FTLN 1220 for love? Now art thou sociable, now art thou
FTLN 1221 Romeo, now art thou what thou art, by art as well as

---

FTLN 1222 by nature. For this driveling love is like a great
FTLN 1223 natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his
FTLN 122495 bauble in a hole.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1225Stop there, stop there.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1226Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against
FTLN 1227 the hair.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1228Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1229100O, thou art deceived. I would have made it
FTLN 1230 short, for I was come to the whole depth of my tale
FTLN 1231 and meant indeed to occupy the argument no
FTLN 1232 longer.

Enter Nurse and her man Peter.

ROMEO  FTLN 1233Here’s goodly gear. A sail, a sail!
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1234105Two, two—a shirt and a smock.
NURSE  FTLN 1235Peter.
PETER  FTLN 1236Anon.
NURSE  FTLN 1237My fan, Peter.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1238Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s
FTLN 1239110 the fairer face.
NURSE  FTLN 1240God you good morrow, gentlemen.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1241God you good e’en, fair gentlewoman.
NURSE  FTLN 1242Is it good e’en?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1243’Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of
FTLN 1244115 the dial is now upon the prick of noon.
NURSE  FTLN 1245Out upon you! What a man are you?
ROMEO  FTLN 1246One, gentlewoman, that God hath made, himself
FTLN 1247 to mar.
NURSE  FTLN 1248By my troth, it is well said: “for himself to
FTLN 1249120 mar,” quoth he? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me
FTLN 1250 where I may find the young Romeo?
ROMEO  FTLN 1251I can tell you, but young Romeo will be older
FTLN 1252 when you have found him than he was when you
FTLN 1253 sought him. I am the youngest of that name, for
FTLN 1254125 fault of a worse.
NURSE  FTLN 1255You say well.

---

MERCUTIO  FTLN 1256Yea, is the worst well? Very well took, i’
FTLN 1257 faith, wisely, wisely.
NURSE  FTLN 1258If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with
FTLN 1259130 you.
BENVOLIO  FTLN 1260She will indite him to some supper.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1261A bawd, a bawd, a bawd. So ho!
ROMEO  FTLN 1262What hast thou found?
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1263No hare, sir, unless a hare, sir, in a Lenten
FTLN 1264135 pie that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.
Singing. FTLN 1265 An old hare hoar,
FTLN 1266 And an old hare hoar,
FTLN 1267  Is very good meat in Lent.
FTLN 1268 But a hare that is hoar
FTLN 1269140 Is too much for a score
FTLN 1270  When it hoars ere it be spent.
FTLN 1271 Romeo, will you come to your father’s? We’ll to
FTLN 1272 dinner thither.
ROMEO  FTLN 1273I will follow you.
MERCUTIO  FTLN 1274145Farewell, ancient lady. Farewell, lady, lady,
FTLN 1275 lady. Mercutio and Benvolio exit.
NURSE  FTLN 1276I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this
FTLN 1277 that was so full of his ropery?
ROMEO  FTLN 1278A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself
FTLN 1279150 talk and will speak more in a minute than he will
FTLN 1280 stand to in a month.
NURSE  FTLN 1281An he speak anything against me, I’ll take him
FTLN 1282 down, an he were lustier than he is, and twenty
FTLN 1283 such jacks. An if I cannot, I’ll find those that shall.
FTLN 1284155 Scurvy knave, I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none
FTLN 1285 of his skains-mates.  To Peter. And thou must stand
FTLN 1286 by too and suffer every knave to use me at his
FTLN 1287 pleasure.
PETER  FTLN 1288I saw no man use you at his pleasure. If I had,
FTLN 1289160 my weapon should quickly have been out. I warrant
FTLN 1290 you, I dare draw as soon as another man, if I
FTLN 1291 see occasion in a good quarrel, and the law on my
FTLN 1292 side.

---

NURSE  FTLN 1293Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every part
FTLN 1294165 about me quivers. Scurvy knave!  To Romeo. Pray
FTLN 1295 you, sir, a word. And, as I told you, my young lady
FTLN 1296 bid me inquire you out. What she bid me say, I will
FTLN 1297 keep to myself. But first let me tell you, if you
FTLN 1298 should lead her in a fool’s paradise, as they say, it
FTLN 1299170 were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say. For
FTLN 1300 the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you
FTLN 1301 should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
FTLN 1302 thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very
FTLN 1303 weak dealing.
ROMEO  FTLN 1304175Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress.
FTLN 1305 I protest unto thee—
NURSE  FTLN 1306Good heart, and i’ faith I will tell her as much.
FTLN 1307 Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
ROMEO  FTLN 1308What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not
FTLN 1309180 mark me.
NURSE  FTLN 1310I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as
FTLN 1311 I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.
ROMEO  FTLN 1312Bid her devise
FTLN 1313 Some means to come to shrift this afternoon,
FTLN 1314185 And there she shall at Friar Lawrence’ cell
FTLN 1315 Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.
Offering her money.
NURSE  FTLN 1316No, truly, sir, not a penny.
ROMEO  FTLN 1317Go to, I say you shall.
NURSE 
FTLN 1318 This afternoon, sir? Well, she shall be there.
ROMEO 
FTLN 1319190 And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall.
FTLN 1320 Within this hour my man shall be with thee
FTLN 1321 And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair,
FTLN 1322 Which to the high topgallant of my joy
FTLN 1323 Must be my convoy in the secret night.
FTLN 1324195 Farewell. Be trusty, and I’ll quit thy pains.
FTLN 1325 Farewell. Commend me to thy mistress.

---

NURSE 
FTLN 1326 Now, God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.
ROMEO  FTLN 1327What sayst thou, my dear nurse?
NURSE 
FTLN 1328 Is your man secret? Did you ne’er hear say
FTLN 1329200 “Two may keep counsel, putting one away”?
ROMEO 
FTLN 1330 Warrant thee, my man’s as true as steel.
NURSE  FTLN 1331Well, sir, my mistress is the sweetest lady. Lord,
FTLN 1332 Lord, when ’twas a little prating thing—O, there is
FTLN 1333 a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay
FTLN 1334205 knife aboard, but she, good soul, had as lief see a
FTLN 1335 toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes
FTLN 1336 and tell her that Paris is the properer man, but I’ll
FTLN 1337 warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any
FTLN 1338 clout in the versal world. Doth not rosemary and
FTLN 1339210 Romeo begin both with a letter?
ROMEO  FTLN 1340Ay, nurse, what of that? Both with an R.
NURSE  FTLN 1341Ah, mocker, that’s the dog’s name. R is for
FTLN 1342 the—No, I know it begins with some other letter,
FTLN 1343 and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you
FTLN 1344215 and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it.
ROMEO  FTLN 1345Commend me to thy lady.
NURSE  FTLN 1346Ay, a thousand times.—Peter.
PETER  FTLN 1347Anon.
NURSE  FTLN 1348Before and apace.
They exit.