Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Not Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 1, 1597)

of Romeo and Iuliet.

Rom:Art thou so bare and full of pouertie,
And doost thou feare to violate the Law?
The Law is not thy frend, nor the Lawes frend,
2801.1And therefore make no conscience of the law:
Vpon thy backe hangs ragged Miserie,
And starued Famine dwelleth in thy cheekes.
Apo:My pouertie but not my will consents.
2805Rom:I pay thy pouertie, but not thy will.
Apo:Hold take you this, and put it in anie liquid thing
you will, and it will serue had you the liues of twenty men.
Rom:Hold, take this gold, worse poyson to mens soules
Than this which thou hast giuen me. Goe hye thee hence,
Goe buy the cloathes, and get thee into flesh.
2815Come cordiall and not poyson, goe with mee
To Iuliets Graue: for there must I vse thee. Exeunt.


Enter Frier Iohn.

Iohn: What Frier Laurence, Brother, ho?
Laur:This same should be the voyce of Frier Iohn.
What newes from Mantua, what will Romeo come?
Iohn:Going to seeke a barefoote Brother out,
2825One of our order to associate mee,
Here in this Cittie visiting the sick,
Whereas the infectious pestilence remaind:
And being by the Searchers of the Towne
2830Found and examinde, we were both shut vp.
Laur:Who bare my letters then to Romeo?
Iohn:I haue them still, and here they are.
Laur:Now by my holy Order,
The letters were not nice, but of great weight.
Goe get thee hence, and get me presently
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