Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

of Romeo and Iuliet.
And like her most, whose merit most shall bee:
Which one more view, of many, mine being one,
280May stand in number, though in reckning none.
Come go with me, go sirrah trudge about,
Through faire Verona, find those persons out,
Whose names are written there, and to them say,
My house and welcome,on their pleasure stay.
Exit.
285 Seru. Find them out whose names are written. Here it is writ-
ten, that the shoo-maker should meddle with his yard, and the
tayler with his last, the fisher with his pensill, & the painter with
his nets. But I am sent to find those persons whose names are
here writ, and can neuer find what names the writing person
290hath here writ (I must to the learned) in good time.
Enter Benuolio, and Romeo.
Ben. Tut man, one fire burnes out, an others burning,
On paine is lesned by an others anguish,
295Turne giddie, and be holpe by backward turning:
One desperate greefe, cures with an others languish:
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rancke poyson of the old will dye.
Romeo. Your Plantan leafe is excellent for that.
300Ben. For what I pray thee?
Romeo. For your broken shin.
Ben. Why Romeo, art thou mad?
Rom. Not mad, but bound more then a mad man is:
Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode,
305Whipt and tormented, and Godden good fellow.
Ser. Godgigoden, I pray sir can you read?
Rom. I mine owne fortune in my miserie.
Ser. Perhaps you haue learned it without booke:
But I pray can you read any thing you see?
310Rom. I if I know the letters and the language.
Ser. Yee say honestly, rest you merrie.
Rom. Stay fellow, I can read.

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