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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)

    of Romeo and Iuliet.
    Doth hurry from the fatall Canons wombe.
    2795 Poti. Such mortall drugs I haue, but Mantuas lawe
    Is death to any he that vtters them.
    Ro. Art thou so bare and full of wretchednesse,
    And fearest to die, famine is in thy cheekes,
    Need and oppression starueth in thy eyes,
    2800Contempt and beggerie hangs vpon thy backe:
    The world is not thy friend, nor the worlds law,
    The world affoords no law to make thee rich:
    Then be not poore, but breake it and take this.
    Poti. My pouertie, but not my will consents.
    2805Ro. I pray thy pouertie and not thy will.
    Poti. Put this in any liquid thing you will
    And drinke it off, and if you had the strength
    Of twentie men, it would dispatch you straight.
    Ro. There is thy Gold, worse poyson to mens soules,
    Doing more murther in this loathsome world,
    Then these poore cōpounds that thou maiest not sell,
    I sell thee poyson, thou hast sold me none,
    Farewell, buy foode, and get thy selfe in flesh.
    2815Come Cordiall and not poyson, go with me
    To Iuliets graue, for there must I vse thee.
    Exeunt.
    Enter Frier Iohn to Frier Lawrence.
    Ioh. Holy Franciscan Frier, brother, ho.
    2820 Enter Lawrence.
    Law. This same should be the voyce of Frier Iohn,
    Welcome from Mantua, what sayes Romeo?
    Or if his minde be writ, giue me his Letter.
    Ioh. Going to find a barefoote brother out,
    2825One of our order to assotiate me,
    Here in this Citie visiting the sicke,
    And finding him, the Searchers of the Towne
    Suspecting that we both were in a house,
    Where the infectious pestilence did raigne,
    2830Seald vp the doores, and would not let vs forth,
    So that my speed to Mantua there was staid.
    L Law. Whe