Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • 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
    Hast thou no Letters to me from the Frier?
    Man. No my good Lord.
    Exit.
    Ro. No matter get thee gone,
    2760And hyre those horses, Ile be with thee straight.
    Well Iuliet, I will lie with thee to night:
    Lets see for meanes, O mischiefe thou art swift,
    To enter in the thoughts of desperate men.
    I do remember an Appothacarie,
    2765And here abouts a dwells which late I noted,
    In tattred weeds with ouerwhelming browes,
    Culling of simples, meager were his lookes,
    Sharpe miserie had worne him to the bones:
    And in his needie shop a tortoyes hung,
    2770An allegater stuft, and other skins
    Of ill shapte fishes, and about his shelues,
    A beggerly account of emptie boxes,
    Greene earthen pots, bladders and mustie seedes,
    Remnants of packthred, and old cakes of Roses
    2775Were thinly scattered, to make vp a shew.
    Noting this penury, to my selfe I said,
    An if a man did need a poyson now,
    Whose sale is present death in Mantua,
    Here liues a Catiffe wretch would sell it him.
    2780O this same thought did but forerun my need,
    And this same needie man must sell it me.
    As I remember this should be the house,
    Being holy day, the beggers shop is shut.
    What ho Appothecarie.
    Appo. Who calls so lowd?
    Kom. Come hither man, I see that thou art poore.
    Hold, there is fortie duckets, let me haue
    A dram of poyson, such soone speeding geare,
    2790As will dispearse it selfe through all the veines,
    That the life-wearie-taker may fall dead,
    And that the Trunke may be dischargd of breath,
    As violently, as hastie powder fierd
    Doth