Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The excellent Tragedie

    1830And turnd that blacke word death to banishment:
    This is meere mercie, and thou seest it not.
    Rom:Tis torture and not mercie, heauen is heere
    Where Iuliet liues: and euerie cat and dog,
    And little mouse, euerie vnworthie thing
    1835Liue here in heauen, and may looke on her,
    But Romeo may not. More validitie,
    More honourable state, more courtship liues
    In carrion flyes, than Romeo: they may seaze
    On the white wonder of faire Iuliets skinne,
    1840And steale immortall kisses from her lips;
    1845But Romeo may not, he is banished.
    Flies may doo this, but I from this must flye.
    Oh Father hadst thou no strong poyson mixt,
    No sharpe ground knife, no present meane of death,
    Though nere so meane, but banishment
    1848.1To torture me withall: ah, banished.
    O Frier, the damned vse that word in hell:
    1850Howling attends it. How hadst thou the heart,
    Being a Diuine, a ghostly Confessor,
    A sinne absoluer, and my frend profest,
    To mangle me with that word, Banishment?
    Fr:Thou fond mad man, heare me but speake a word.
    1855Rom:O, thou wilt talke againe of Banishment.
    Fr:Ile giue thee armour to beare off this word,
    Aduersities sweete milke, philosophie,
    To comfort thee though thou be banished.
    Rom:Yet Banished? hang vp philosophie,
    1860Vnlesse philosophie can make a Iuliet,
    Displant a Towne, reuerse a Princes doome,
    It helpes not, it preuailes not, talke no more.
    Fr:O, now I see that madmen haue no eares.
    Rom:How should they, when that wise men haue no
    1865eyes.
    Fr:Let me dispute with thee of thy estate.
    Rom:Thou canst not speak of what thou dost not feele.
    Wert
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC