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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)

    of Romeo and Iuliet.
    Ro. I haue nights cloake to hide me frō their eies,
    And but thou loue me, let them finde me here,
    875My life were better ended by their hate,
    Then death proroged wanting of thy loue.
    Iu. By whose direction foundst thou out this place?
    Ro. By loue that first did promp me to enquire,
    He lent me counsell, and I lent him eyes:
    880I am no Pylat, yet wert thou as farre
    As that vast shore washeth with the farthest sea,
    I should aduenture for such marchandise.
    Iu. Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
    Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheeke,
    885For that which thou hast heard me speake to night,
    Faine would I dwell on forme, faine, faine, denie
    What I haue spoke, but farwell complement.
    Doest thou loue me? I know thou wilt say I:
    And I will take thy word, yet if thou swearst,
    890Thou maiest proue false at louers periuries.
    They say Ioue laughes, oh gentle Romeo,
    If thou dost loue, pronounce it faithfully:
    Or if thou thinkest I am too quickly wonne,
    Ile frowne and be peruerse, and say thee nay,
    895So thou wilt wooe, but else not for the world,
    In truth faire Montague I am too fond:
    And therefore thou maiest think my behauior light,
    But trust me gentleman, ile proue more true,
    Then those that haue coying to be strange,
    900I should haue bene more strange, I must confesse,
    But that thou ouerheardst ere I was ware,
    My truloue passion, therefore pardon me,
    And not impute this yeelding to light loue,
    Which the darke night hath so discouered.
    905Ro. Lady, by yonder blessed Moone I vow,
    That tips with siluer all these frute tree tops.
    Iu. O swear not by the moone th'inconstant moone,
    That monethly changes in her circle orbe,
    D 3 Least