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  • Title: Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)
  • 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
    Peer Reviewed

    Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

    The most lamentable Tragedie
    Ro. What Ladies that which doth enrich the hand
    615Of yonder Knight?
    Ser. I know not sir.
    Ro. O she doth teach the torches to burn bright:
    It seemes she hangs vpon the cheeke of night:
    As a rich Iewel in an Ethiops eare,
    620Bewtie too rich for vse, for earth too deare:
    So showes a snowie Doue trooping with Crowes,
    As yonder Lady ore her fellowes showes:
    The measure done, Ile watch her place of stand,
    And touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
    625Did my hart loue till now, forsweare it sight,
    For I nere saw true bewtie till this night.
    Tibal. This by his voyce, should be a Mountague.
    Fetch me my Rapier boy, what dares the slaue
    Come hither couerd with an anticque face,
    630To fleere and scorne at our solemnitie?
    Now by the stocke and honor of my kin,
    To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.
    Capu. Why how now kinsman, wherefore storme (you so?
    635Tib. Vncle, this is a Mountague our foe:
    A villaine that is hither come in spight,
    To scorne at our solemnitie this night.
    Cap. Young Romeo is it.
    Tib. Tis he, that villaine Romeo.
    640Capu. Content thee gentle Coze, let him alone,
    A beares him like a portly Gentleman:
    And to say truth, Verona brags of him,
    To be a vertuous and welgouernd youth,
    I would not for the wealth of all this Towne,
    645Here in my house do him disparagement:
    Therefore be patient, take no note of him,
    It is my will, the which if thou respect,
    Shew a faire presence, and put off these frownes,
    An illbeseeming semblance for a feast.
    650Tib. It fits when such a villaine is a guest,
    Ile