Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Not Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 1, 1597)


The most excellent Tragedie,

Where on the sodaine one hath wounded mee
Thats by me wounded, both our remedies
With in thy help and holy phisicke lies,
1060I beare no hatred blessed man : for loe
My intercession likewise steades my foe.
Frier: Be plaine my sonne and homely in thy drift,
Ridling confession findes but ridling shrift.
Rom: Then plainely know my harts deare loue is set
1065On the faire daughter of rich Capulet:
As mine on hers,so hers likewise on mine,
And all combind, saue what thou must combine
By holy marriage: where,and when,and how,
We met, we woo'd,and made exchange of vowes,
1070Il'e tell thee as I passe: But this I pray,
That thou consent to marrie vs to day.
Fri: Holy S.Francis, what a change is here?
Is Rosaline whome thou didst loue so deare
So soone forsooke, lo yong mens loue then lies
1075Not truelie in their harts, but in their eyes.
Iesu Maria, what a deale of brine
Hath washt thy sallow cheekes for Rosaline?
How much salt water cast away in waste,
To season loue, that of loue doth not taste.
1080The sunne not yet thy sighes from heauen cleares,
Thy old grones ring yet in my ancient eares,
And loe vpon thy cheeke the staine doth sit,
Of an old teare that is not washt off yet.
If euer thou wert thus, and these woes thine,
1085Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline,
And art thou changde, pronounce this sentence then
Women may fal, when ther's no strength in men.
Rom: Thou chidst me oft for louing Rosaline.
Frier: