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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
    835Nor arme nor face, ô be some other name
    Belonging to a man.
    Whats in a name that which we call a rose,
    By any other word would smell as sweete,
    So Romeo would wene he not Romeo cald,
    840Retaine that deare perfection which he owes,
    Without that tytle, Romeo doffe thy name,
    And for thy name which is no part of thee,
    Take all my selfe.
    Ro. I take thee at thy word:
    845Call me but loue, and Ile be new baptizde,
    Henceforth I neuer will be Romeo.
    Iuli. What man art thou, that thus beschreend in (night
    So stumblest on my counsell?
    Ro. By a name, I know not how to tell thee who I (am:
    My name deare saint, is hatefull to my selfe,
    Because it is an enemie to thee,
    Had I it written, I would teare the word.
    Iuli. My eares haue yet not drunk a hundred words
    855Of thy tongus vttering, yet I know the sound.
    Art thou not Romeo, and a Mountague?
    Ro. Neither faire maide, if either thee dislike.
    Iuli. How camest thou hither, tel me, and wherfore?
    860The Orchard walls are high and hard to climbe,
    And the place death, considering who thou art,
    If any of my kismen find thee here.
    Ro. With loues light wings did I orepearch these (walls,
    865For stonie limits cannot hold loue out,
    And what loue can do, that dares loue attempt:
    Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
    Iu. If they do see thee, they will murther thee.
    Ro. Alack there lies more perill in thine eye,
    870Then twentie of their swords, looke thou but sweete,
    And I am proofe against their enmitie.
    Iuli. I would not for the world they saw thee here.

    Ro. I