Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

The most lamentable Tragedie
He reades the Letter.
SEigneur Martino, & his wife and daughters: Countie Anselme
315and his bewtious sisters: the Lady widdow of Vtruuio, Seigneur
Placentio, and his louely Neeces: Mercutio and his brother Va-
lentine: mine Uncle Capulet his wife and daughters: my faire Neece
Rosaline, Liuia, Seigneur Valentio, and his Cosen Tybalt: Lucio
and the liuely Hellena.
320A faire assemblie, whither should they come?
Ser. Vp.
Ro. Whither to supper?
Ser. To our house.
Ro. Whose house?
325Ser. My Maisters.
Ro. Indeed I should haue askt you that before.
Ser. Now ile tell you without asking. My maister is the great
rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of Mountagues, I
pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merrie.
Ben. At this same auncient feast of Capulets,
Sups the faire Rosaline whom thou so loues:
With all the admired beauties of Verona,
Go thither, and with vnattainted eye,
335Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee thinke thy swan a crow.
Ro. When the deuout religion of mine eye.
Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fier:
And these who often drownde, could neuer die,
340Transparent Hereticques be burnt for liers.
One fairer then my loue, the all seeing Sun,
Nere saw her match, since first the world begun.
Ben. Tut you saw her faire none else being by,
Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye:
345But in that Christall scales let there be waide,
Your Ladies loue against some other maide:
That I will shew you shining at this feast,
And she shall scant shew well that now seemes best.
Ro. Ile go along no such sight to be showne,
But