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  • Title: Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 1, 1597)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1597)

    of Romeo and Iuliet.

    And then dreames he of smelling out a sute,
    530And sometime comes she with a tithe pigs taile,
    Tickling a Parsons nose that lies asleepe,
    And then dreames he of another benefice:
    Sometime she gallops ore a souldiers nose,
    And then dreames he of cutting forraine throats,
    Of breaches ambuscados, countermines,
    Of healthes fiue fadome deepe, and then anon
    535Drums in his eare: at which he startes and wakes,
    And sweares a Praier or two and sleepes againe.
    This is that Mab that makes maids lie on their backes,
    And proues them women of good cariage.
    This is the verie Mab that plats the manes of Horses in (the night,
    And plats the Elfelocks in foule sluttish haire,
    Which once vntangled much misfortune breedes.
    545Rom: Peace, peace, thou talkst of nothing.
    Mer: True I talke of dreames,
    Which are the Chi dren of an idle braine,
    Begot of nothing but vaine fantasie,
    550Which is as thinne a substance as the aire,
    And more inconstant than the winde,
    Which wooes euen now the frosē bowels of the north,
    And being angred puffes away in haste,
    Turning his face to the dew-dropping south.
    555Ben: Come, come, this winde doth blow vs from our (selues.
    Supper is done and we shall come too late.
    Ro: I feare too earlie, for my minde misgiues
    Some consequence is hanging in the stars,
    Which bitterly begins his fearefull date
    560With this nights reuels, and expiers the terme
    Of a dispised life, closde in this breast,
    By some vntimelie forfet of vile death:
    C2 But