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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    On Thursday next be married to the Countie.
    2345Iul:Tell me not Frier that thou hearst of it,
    Vnlesse thou tell me how we may preuent it.
    Giue me some sudden counsell: els behold
    Twixt my extreames and me, this bloodie Knife
    Shall play the Vmpeere, arbitrating that
    Which the Commission of thy yeares and arte
    2360Could to no issue of true honour bring.
    Speake not, be briefe: for I desire to die,
    If what thou speakst, speake not of remedie.
    Fr:Stay Iuliet, I doo spie a kinde of hope,
    Which craues as desperate an execution,
    2365As that is desperate we would preuent.
    If rather than to marrie Countie Paris
    Thou hast the strength or will to slay thy selfe,
    Tis not vnlike that thou wilt vndertake
    A thing like death to chyde away this shame,
    2370That coapst with death it selfe to flye from blame.
    And if thou doost, Ile giue thee remedie.
    Iul:Oh bid me leape (rather than marrie Paris)
    From off the battlements of yonder tower:
    2375Or chaine me to some steepie mountaines top,
    2375.1Where roaring Beares and sauage Lions are:
    Or shut me nightly in a Charnell-house,
    With reekie shankes, and yeolow chaples sculls:
    2380Or lay me in tombe with one new dead:
    Things that to heare them namde haue made me tremble;
    And I will doo it without feare or doubt,
    To keep my selfe a faithfull vnstaind Wife
    To my deere Lord, my deerest Romeo.
    Fr:Hold Iuliet, hie thee home, get thee to bed,
    Let not thy Nurse lye with thee in thy Chamber:
    And when thou art alone, take thou this Violl,
    And this distilled Liquor drinke thou off:
    2390When presently through all thy veynes shall run
    A dull and heauie slumber, which shall seaze
    H3 Each