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  • Title: Romeo and Juliet (Folio 1, 1623)
  • 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
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Romeo and Juliet (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet.65
    I haue it, and soundly to your Houses. Exit.
    Rom. This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie,
    My very Friend hath got his mortall hurt
    1545In my behalfe, my reputation stain'd
    With Tibalts slaunder, Tybalt that an houre
    Hath beene my Cozin: O Sweet Iuliet,
    Thy Beauty hath made me Effeminate,
    And in my temper softned Valours steele.
    1550Enter Benuolio.
    Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, braue Mercutio's is dead,
    That Gallant spirit hath aspir'd the Cloudes,
    Which too vntimely here did scorne the earth.
    Rom. This daies blacke Fate, on mo daies doth depend,
    1555This but begins, the wo others must end.
    Enter Tybalt.
    Ben. Here comes the Furious Tybalt backe againe.
    Rom. He gon in triumph, and Mercutio slaine?
    Away to heauen respectiue Lenitie,
    1560And fire and Fury, be my conduct now.
    Now Tybalt take the Villaine backe againe
    That late thou gau'st me, for Mercutios soule
    Is but a little way aboue our heads,
    Staying for thine to keepe him companie:
    1565Either thou or I, or both, must goe with him.
    Tib. Thou wretched Boy that didst consort him here,
    Shalt with him hence.
    Rom. This shall determine that.
    They fight. Tybalt falles.
    1570Ben. Romeo, away be gone:
    The Citizens are vp, and Tybalt slaine,
    Stand not amaz'd, the Prince will Doome thee death
    If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away.
    Rom. O! I am Fortunes foole.
    1575Ben. Why dost thou stay?
    Exit Romeo.
    Enter Citizens.
    Citi. Which way ran he that kild Mercutio?
    Tibalt that Murtherer, which way ran he?
    1580Ben. There lies that Tybalt.
    Citi. Vp sir go with me:
    I charge thee in the Princes names obey.
    Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their
    Wiues and all.
    1585Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this Fray?
    Ben. O Noble Prince, I can discouer all
    The vnluckie Mannage of this fatall brall:
    There lies the man slaine by young Romeo,
    That slew thy kinsman braue Mercutio.
    1590Cap. Wi. Tybalt, my Cozin? O my Brothers Child,
    O Prince, O Cozin, Husband, O the blood is spild
    Of my deare kinsman. Prince as thou art true,
    For bloud of ours, shed bloud of Mountague.
    O Cozin, Cozin.
    1595Prin. Benuolio, who began this Fray?
    Ben. Tybalt here slaine, whom Romeo's hand did slay,
    Romeo that spoke him faire, bid him bethinke
    How nice the Quarrell was, and vrg'd withall
    Your high displeasure: all this vttered,
    1600With gentle breath, calme looke, knees humbly bow'd
    Could not take truce with the vnruly spleene
    Of Tybalts deafe to peace, but that he Tilts
    With Peircing steele at bold Mercutio's breast,
    Who all as hot, turnes deadly point to point,
    1605And with a Martiall scorne, with one hand beates
    Cold death aside, and with the other sends
    It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
    Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,
    Hold Friends, Friends part, and swifter then his tongue,
    1610His aged arme, beats downe their fatall points,
    And twixt them rushes, vnderneath whose arme,
    An enuious thrust from Tybalt, hit the life
    Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled.
    But by and by comes backe to Romeo,
    1615Who had but newly entertained Reuenge,
    And too't they goe like lightning, for ere I
    Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slaine:
    And as he fell, did Romeo turne and flie:
    This is the truth, or let Benuolio die.
    1620Cap. Wi. He is a kinsman to the Mountague,
    Affection makes him false, he speakes not true:
    Some twenty of them fought in this blacke strife,
    And all those twenty could but kill one life.
    I beg for Iustice, which thou Prince must giue:
    1625Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not liue.
    Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio,
    Who now the price of his deare blood doth owe.
    Cap. Not Romeo Prince, he was Mercutios Friend,
    His fault concludes, but what the law should end,
    1630The life of Tybalt.
    Prin. And for that offence,
    Immediately we doe exile him hence:
    I haue an interest in your hearts proceeding:
    My bloud for your rude brawles doth lie a bleeding.
    1635But Ile Amerce you with so strong a fine,
    That you shall all repent the losse of mine.
    It will be deafe to pleading and excuses,
    Nor teares, nor prayers shall purchase our abuses.
    Therefore vse none, let Romeo hence in hast,
    1640Else when he is found, that houre is his last.
    Beare hence this body, and attend our will:
    Mercy not Murders, pardoning those that kill.
    Exeunt.
    Enter Iuliet alone.
    1645Iul. Gallop apace, you fiery footed steedes,
    Towards Phoebus lodging, such a Wagoner
    As Phaeton would whip you to the west,
    And bring in Cloudie night immediately.
    Spred thy close Curtaine Loue-performing night,
    1650That run-awayes eyes may wincke, and Romeo
    Leape to these armes, vntalkt of and vnseene,
    Louers can see to doe their Amorous rights,
    And by their owne Beauties: or if Loue be blind,
    It best agrees with night: come ciuill night,
    1655Thou sober suted Matron all in blacke,
    And learne me how to loose a winning match,
    Plaid for a paire of stainlesse Maidenhoods,
    Hood my vnman'd blood bayting in my Cheekes,
    With thy Blacke mantle, till strange Loue grow bold,
    1660Thinke true Loue acted simple modestie:
    Come night, come Romeo, come thou day in night,
    For thou wilt lie vpon the wings of night
    Whiter then new Snow vpon a Rauens backe:
    Come gentle night, come louing blackebrow'd night.
    1665Giue me my Romeo, and when I shall die,
    Take him and cut him out in little starres,
    And he will make the Face of heauen so fine,
    That all the world will be in Loue with night,
    And pay no worship to the Garish Sun.
    1670O I haue bought the Mansion of a Loue,
    But not possest it, and though I am sold,
    Not yet enioy'd, so tedious is this day,
    As is the night before some Festiuall,
    ff3 To
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