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Romeo and Juliet (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Not Peer Reviewed
64
The Tragedie of Romeo and Juliet.
A Louer may bestride the Gossamours,
That ydles in the wanton Summer ayre,
And yet not fall, so light is vanitie.
Iul. Good euen to my ghostly Confessor.
1415Fri. Romeo shall thanke thee Daughter for vs both.
Iul. As much to him, else in his thanks too much.
Fri. Ah Iuliet, if the measure of thy ioy
Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more
To blason it, then sweeten with thy breath
1420This neighbour ayre, and let rich musickes tongue,
Vnfold the imagin'd happinesse that both
Receiue in either, by this deere encounter.
Iul. Conceit more rich in matter then in words,
Brags of his substance, not of Ornament:
1425They are but beggers that can count their worth,
But my true Loue is growne to such such excesse,
I cannot sum vp some of halfe my wealth.
Fri. Come, come with me, & we will make short worke,
For by your leaues, you shall not stay alone,
1430Till holy Church incorporate two in one.
Enter Mercutio, Benuolio, and men.
Ben. I pray thee good Mercutio lets retire,
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad:
And if we meet, we shal not scape a brawle, for now these
1435hot dayes, is the mad blood stirring.
Mer. Thou art like one of these fellowes, that when he
enters the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his Sword vpon
the Table, and sayes, God send me no need of thee: and by
the operation of the second cup, drawes him on the Draw-
1440er, when indeed there is no need.
Ben. Am I like such a Fellow?
Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a Iacke in thy mood,
as any in Italie: and assoone moued to be moodie, and as-
soone moodie to be mou'd.
1445Ben. And what too?
Mer. Nay, and there were two such, we should haue
none shortly, for one would kill the other: thou, why thou
wilt quarrell with a man that hath a haire more, or a haire
lesse in his beard, then thou hast: thou wilt quarrell with a
1450man for cracking Nuts, hauing no other reason, but be-
cause thou hast hasell eyes: what eye, but such an eye,
would spie out such a quarrell? thy head is as full of quar-
rels, as an egge is full of meat, and yet thy head hath bin
beaten as addle as an egge for quarreling: thou hast quar-
1455rel'd with a man for coffing in the street, because he hath
wakened thy Dog that hath laine asleepe in the Sun. Did'st
thou not fall out with a Tailor for wearing his new Doub-
let before Easter? with another, for tying his new shooes
with old Riband, and yet thou wilt Tutor me from quar-
1460relling?
Ben. And I were so apt to quarell as thou art, any man
should buy the Fee-simple of my life, for an houre and a
quarter.
Mer. The Fee-simple? O simple.
1465
Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.
Ben. By my head here comes the Capulets.
Mer. By my heele I care not.
Tyb. Follow me close, for I will speake to them.
Gentlemen, Good den, a word with one of you.
1470Mer. And but one word with one of vs? couple it with
something, make it a word and a blow.
Tib. You shall find me apt inough to that sir, and you
will giue me occasion.
Mercu. Could you not take some occasion without
1475giuing?
Tib. Mercutio thou consort'st with Romeo.
Mer. Consort? what dost thou make vs Minstrels? &
thou make Minstrels of vs, looke to heare nothing but dis-
cords: heere's my fiddlesticke, heere's that shall make you
1480daunce. Come consort.
Ben. We talke here in the publike haunt of men:
Either withdraw vnto some priuate place,
Or reason coldly of your greeuances:
Or else depart, here all eies gaze on vs.
1485Mer. Mens eyes were made to looke, and let them gaze.
I will not budge for no mans pleasure I.

Enter Romeo.
Tib. Well peace be with you sir, here comes my man.
Mer. But Ile be hang'd sir if he weare your Liuery.
1490Marry go before to field, heele be your follower,
Your worship in that sense, may call him man.
Tib. Romeo, the loue I beare thee, can affoord
No better terme then this: Thou art a Villaine.
Rom. Tibalt, the reason that I haue to loue thee,
1495Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting: Villaine am I none;
Therefore farewell, I see thou know'st me not.
Tib. Boy, this shall not excuse the iniuries
That thou hast done me, therefore turne and draw.
1500Rom. I do protest I neuer iniur'd thee,
But lou'd thee better then thou can'st deuise:
Till thou shalt know the reason of my loue,
And so good Capulet, which name I tender
As dearely as my owne, be satisfied.
1505Mer. O calme, dishonourable, vile submission:
Alla stucatho carries it away.
Tybalt, you Rat-catcher, will you walke?
Tib. What woulds thou haue with me?
Mer. Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine
1510liues, that I meane to make bold withall, and as you shall
vse me hereafter dry beate the rest of the eight. Will you
pluck your Sword out of his Pilcher by the eares? Make
hast, least mine be about your eares ere it be out.
Tib. I am for you.
1515Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy Rapier vp.
Mer. Come sir, your Passado.
Rom. Draw Benuolio, beat downe their weapons:
Gentlemen, for shame forbeare this outrage,
Tibalt, Mercutio, the Prince expresly hath
1520Forbidden bandying in Verona streetes.
Hold Tybalt, good Mercutio.
Exit Tybalt.
Mer. I am hurt.
A plague a both the Houses, I am sped:
1525Is he gone and hath nothing?
Ben. What art thou hurt?
Mer. I, I, a scratch, a scratch, marry 'tis inough,
Where is my Page? go Villaine fetch a Surgeon.
Rom. Courage man, the hurt cannot be much.
1530Mer. No: 'tis not so deepe as a well, nor so wide as a
Church doore, but 'tis inough, 'twill serue: aske for me to
morrow, and you shall find me a graue man. I am pepper'd
I warrant, for this world: a plague a both your houses.
What, a Dog, a Rat, a Mouse, a Cat to scratch a man to
1535death: a Braggart, a Rogue, a Villaine, that fights by the
booke of Arithmeticke, why the deu'le came you be-
tweene vs? I was hurt vnder your arme.
Rom. I thought all for the best.
Mer. Helpe me into some house Benuolio,
1540Or I shall faint: a plague a both your houses.
They haue made wormes meat of me,
I