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  • Title: Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)
  • Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
  • ISBN: 1-55058-299-2

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
    Peer Reviewed

    Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

    The most lamentable Tragedie
    Nur. Now God in heauen blesse thee, harke you sir.
    Ro. What saist thou my deare Nurse?
    1290 Nur. Is your man secret, did you nere here say, two may keep
    counsell putting one away.
    Ro. Warrant thee my mans as true as steele.
    Nur. Well sir, my Mistresse is the sweetest Lady, Lord, Lord,
    when twas a litle prating thing. O there is a Noble man in town
    1295one Paris, that would faine lay knife aboord: but she good soule
    had as leeue see a tode, a very tode as see him: I anger her some-
    times, and tell her that Paris is the properer man, but ile warrant
    you, when I say so, she lookes as pale as any clout in the versall
    world, doth not Rosemarie and Romeo begin both with a let-
    Ro. I Nurse, what of that? Both with an R.
    Nur. A mocker thats the dog, name R. is for the no, I know
    it begins with some other letter, and she hath the pretiest sen-
    tentious of it, of you and Rosemarie, that it would do you good
    1305to heare it.
    Ro. Commend me to thy Lady.
    Nur. I a thousand times Peter.
    Pet. Anon.
    Nur. Before and apace.
    Exit.
    1310 Enter Iuliet.
    Iu. The clocke strooke nine when I did send the Nurse,
    In halfe an houre she promised to returne,
    Perchance she cannot meete him, thats not so:
    Oh she is lame, loues heraulds should be thoughts,
    1315Which ten times faster glides then the Suns beames,
    Driuing backe shadowes ouer lowring hills.
    Therefore do nimble piniond doues draw loue,
    And therefore hath the wind swift Cupid wings:
    Now is the Sun vpon the highmost hill,
    1320Of this dayes iourney, and from nine till twelue,
    Is there long houres, yet she is not come,
    Had she affections and warme youthfull bloud,
    She