Reading Help THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET
When presently through all thy veins shall run `
` A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse `
` Shall keep his native progress, but surcease; `
` No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; `
` The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade `
` To paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall `
` Like death when he shuts up the day of life; `
` Each part, depriv'd of supple government, `
` Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death; `
` And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death `
` Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours, `
` And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. `
` Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes `
` To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead. `
` Then, as the manner of our country is, `
` In thy best robes uncovered on the bier `
` Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault `
` Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. `
` In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, `
` Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift; `
` And hither shall he come; and he and I `
` Will watch thy waking, and that very night `
` Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. `
` And this shall free thee from this present shame, `
` If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear `
` Abate thy valour in the acting it. `
` Jul. Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! `
` Friar. Hold! Get you gone, be strong and prosperous `
` In this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed `
` To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord. `
` Jul. Love give me strength! and strength shall help afford. `
` Farewell, dear father. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. `
` Capulet's house. `
` `
` Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen, `
` two or three. `
` `
` Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ. `
` [Exit a Servingman.] `
` Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. `
` Serv. You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they can `
` lick `
` their fingers. `
` Cap. How canst thou try them so? `
` Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own `
` fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not `
` with `
` me. `
` Cap. Go, begone. `
` Exit Servingman. `
` We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time. `
` What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence? `
` Nurse. Ay, forsooth. `
` Cap. Well, be may chance to do some good on her. `
` A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. `
` `
` Enter Juliet. `
` `
` Nurse. See where she comes from shrift with merry look. `
` Cap. How now, my headstrong? Where have you been gadding? `
` Jul. Where I have learnt me to repent the sin `
` Of disobedient opposition `
` To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd `
` By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here `
` To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you! `
` Henceforward I am ever rul'd by you. `
` Cap. Send for the County. Go tell him of this. `
` I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. `
` Jul. I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell `
` And gave him what becomed love I might, `
` Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty. `
` Cap. Why, I am glad on't. This is well. Stand up. `
` This is as't should be. Let me see the County. `
` Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither. `
` Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, `
` All our whole city is much bound to him. `
` Jul. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet `
` To help me sort such needful ornaments `
` As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? `
` Mother. No, not till Thursday. There is time enough. `
` Cap. Go, nurse, go with her. We'll to church to-morrow. `
` Exeunt Juliet and Nurse. `
` Mother. We shall be short in our provision. `
` 'Tis now near night. `
` Cap. Tush, I will stir about, `
` And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife. `
` Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her. `
` I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone. `
` I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho! `
` They are all forth; well, I will walk myself `
` To County Paris, to prepare him up `
` Against to-morrow. My heart is wondrous light, `
` Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene III. `
` Juliet's chamber. `
` `
` Enter Juliet and Nurse. `
` `
` Jul. Ay, those attires are best; but, gentle nurse, `
` I pray thee leave me to myself to-night; `
` For I have need of many orisons `
` To move the heavens to smile upon my state, `
` Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin. `
` `
` Enter Mother. `
` `
` Mother. What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help? `
` Jul. No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries `
` As are behooffull for our state to-morrow. `
` So please you, let me now be left alone, `
` And let the nurse this night sit up with you; `
` For I am sure you have your hands full all `
` In this so sudden business. `
` Mother. Good night. `
` Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need. `
` Exeunt [Mother and Nurse.] `
` Jul. Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. `
` I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins `
` That almost freezes up the heat of life. `
` I'll call them back again to comfort me. `
` Nurse!- What should she do here? `
` My dismal scene I needs must act alone. `
` Come, vial. `
` What if this mixture do not work at all? `
` Shall I be married then to-morrow morning? `
` No, No! This shall forbid it. Lie thou there. `
` Lays down a dagger. `
` What if it be a poison which the friar `
` Subtilly hath minist'red to have me dead, `
` Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd `
` Because he married me before to Romeo? `
` I fear it is; and yet methinks it should not, `
` For he hath still been tried a holy man. `
` I will not entertain so bad a thought. `
` How if, when I am laid into the tomb, `
` I wake before the time that Romeo `
` Come to redeem me? There's a fearful point! `
` Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, `
` To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, `
` And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? `
` Or, if I live, is it not very like `
` The horrible conceit of death and night, `
` Together with the terror of the place- `
` As in a vault, an ancient receptacle `
` Where for this many hundred years the bones `
` Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd; `
` Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, `
` Lies fest'ring in his shroud; where, as they say, `
` At some hours in the night spirits resort- `
` Alack, alack, is it not like that I, `
` So early waking- what with loathsome smells, `
` And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth, `
` That living mortals, hearing them, run mad- `
` O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, `
` Environed with all these hideous fears, `
` And madly play with my forefathers' joints, `
` And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud., `
` And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone `
` As with a club dash out my desp'rate brains? `
` O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost `
` Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body `
` Upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay! `
` Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee. `
` `
` She [drinks and] falls upon her bed within the curtains. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. `
` Capulet's house. `
` `
` Enter Lady of the House and Nurse. `
` `
` Lady. Hold, take these keys and fetch more spices, nurse. `
` Nurse. They call for dates and quinces in the pastry. `
` `
` Enter Old Capulet. `
` `
` Cap. Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crow'd, `
` The curfew bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock. `
` Look to the bak'd meats, good Angelica; `
` Spare not for cost. `
` Nurse. Go, you cot-quean, go, `
` Get you to bed! Faith, you'll be sick to-morrow `
` For this night's watching. `
` Cap. No, not a whit. What, I have watch'd ere now `
` All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick. `
` Lady. Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time; `
` But I will watch you from such watching now. `
`
` A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse `
` Shall keep his native progress, but surcease; `
` No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; `
` The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade `
` To paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall `
` Like death when he shuts up the day of life; `
` Each part, depriv'd of supple government, `
` Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death; `
` And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death `
` Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours, `
` And then awake as from a pleasant sleep. `
` Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes `
` To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead. `
` Then, as the manner of our country is, `
` In thy best robes uncovered on the bier `
` Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault `
` Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie. `
` In the mean time, against thou shalt awake, `
` Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift; `
` And hither shall he come; and he and I `
` Will watch thy waking, and that very night `
` Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua. `
` And this shall free thee from this present shame, `
` If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear `
` Abate thy valour in the acting it. `
` Jul. Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! `
` Friar. Hold! Get you gone, be strong and prosperous `
` In this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed `
` To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord. `
` Jul. Love give me strength! and strength shall help afford. `
` Farewell, dear father. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene II. `
` Capulet's house. `
` `
` Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Servingmen, `
` two or three. `
` `
` Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ. `
` [Exit a Servingman.] `
` Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks. `
` Serv. You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if they can `
` lick `
` their fingers. `
` Cap. How canst thou try them so? `
` Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own `
` fingers. Therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes not `
` with `
` me. `
` Cap. Go, begone. `
` Exit Servingman. `
` We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time. `
` What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence? `
` Nurse. Ay, forsooth. `
` Cap. Well, be may chance to do some good on her. `
` A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is. `
` `
` Enter Juliet. `
` `
` Nurse. See where she comes from shrift with merry look. `
` Cap. How now, my headstrong? Where have you been gadding? `
` Jul. Where I have learnt me to repent the sin `
` Of disobedient opposition `
` To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd `
` By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here `
` To beg your pardon. Pardon, I beseech you! `
` Henceforward I am ever rul'd by you. `
` Cap. Send for the County. Go tell him of this. `
` I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning. `
` Jul. I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell `
` And gave him what becomed love I might, `
` Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty. `
` Cap. Why, I am glad on't. This is well. Stand up. `
` This is as't should be. Let me see the County. `
` Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither. `
` Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar, `
` All our whole city is much bound to him. `
` Jul. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet `
` To help me sort such needful ornaments `
` As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? `
` Mother. No, not till Thursday. There is time enough. `
` Cap. Go, nurse, go with her. We'll to church to-morrow. `
` Exeunt Juliet and Nurse. `
` Mother. We shall be short in our provision. `
` 'Tis now near night. `
` Cap. Tush, I will stir about, `
` And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife. `
` Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her. `
` I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone. `
` I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho! `
` They are all forth; well, I will walk myself `
` To County Paris, to prepare him up `
` Against to-morrow. My heart is wondrous light, `
` Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd. `
` Exeunt. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene III. `
` Juliet's chamber. `
` `
` Enter Juliet and Nurse. `
` `
` Jul. Ay, those attires are best; but, gentle nurse, `
` I pray thee leave me to myself to-night; `
` For I have need of many orisons `
` To move the heavens to smile upon my state, `
` Which, well thou knowest, is cross and full of sin. `
` `
` Enter Mother. `
` `
` Mother. What, are you busy, ho? Need you my help? `
` Jul. No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries `
` As are behooffull for our state to-morrow. `
` So please you, let me now be left alone, `
` And let the nurse this night sit up with you; `
` For I am sure you have your hands full all `
` In this so sudden business. `
` Mother. Good night. `
` Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need. `
` Exeunt [Mother and Nurse.] `
` Jul. Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again. `
` I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins `
` That almost freezes up the heat of life. `
` I'll call them back again to comfort me. `
` Nurse!- What should she do here? `
` My dismal scene I needs must act alone. `
` Come, vial. `
` What if this mixture do not work at all? `
` Shall I be married then to-morrow morning? `
` No, No! This shall forbid it. Lie thou there. `
` Lays down a dagger. `
` What if it be a poison which the friar `
` Subtilly hath minist'red to have me dead, `
` Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd `
` Because he married me before to Romeo? `
` I fear it is; and yet methinks it should not, `
` For he hath still been tried a holy man. `
` I will not entertain so bad a thought. `
` How if, when I am laid into the tomb, `
` I wake before the time that Romeo `
` Come to redeem me? There's a fearful point! `
` Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, `
` To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, `
` And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes? `
` Or, if I live, is it not very like `
` The horrible conceit of death and night, `
` Together with the terror of the place- `
` As in a vault, an ancient receptacle `
` Where for this many hundred years the bones `
` Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd; `
` Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, `
` Lies fest'ring in his shroud; where, as they say, `
` At some hours in the night spirits resort- `
` Alack, alack, is it not like that I, `
` So early waking- what with loathsome smells, `
` And shrieks like mandrakes torn out of the earth, `
` That living mortals, hearing them, run mad- `
` O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, `
` Environed with all these hideous fears, `
` And madly play with my forefathers' joints, `
` And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud., `
` And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone `
` As with a club dash out my desp'rate brains? `
` O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost `
` Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body `
` Upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay! `
` Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee. `
` `
` She [drinks and] falls upon her bed within the curtains. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene IV. `
` Capulet's house. `
` `
` Enter Lady of the House and Nurse. `
` `
` Lady. Hold, take these keys and fetch more spices, nurse. `
` Nurse. They call for dates and quinces in the pastry. `
` `
` Enter Old Capulet. `
` `
` Cap. Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crow'd, `
` The curfew bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock. `
` Look to the bak'd meats, good Angelica; `
` Spare not for cost. `
` Nurse. Go, you cot-quean, go, `
` Get you to bed! Faith, you'll be sick to-morrow `
` For this night's watching. `
` Cap. No, not a whit. What, I have watch'd ere now `
` All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick. `
` Lady. Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time; `
` But I will watch you from such watching now. `
`