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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
    Least that thy loue proue likewise variable.
    910Ro. What shall I sweare by?
    Iu. Do not sweare at all:
    Or if thou wilt, sweare by thy gracious selfe,
    Which is the god of my Idolatrie,
    And Ile beleeue thee.
    915Ro. If my hearts deare loue.
    Iu. Well do not sweare, although I ioy in thee:
    I haue no ioy of this contract to night,
    It is too rash, too vnaduisd, too sudden,
    Too like the lightning which doth cease to bee,
    920Ere one can say, it lightens, sweete goodnight:
    This bud of loue by Sommers ripening breath,
    May proue a bewtious floure when next we meete,
    Goodnight, goodnight, as sweete repose and rest,
    Come to thy heart, as that within my brest.
    925Ro. O wilt thou leaue me so vnsatisfied?
    Iuli. What satisfaction canst thou haue to night?
    Ro. Th'exchange of thy loues faithful vow for mine.
    Iu. I gaue thee mine before thou didst request it:
    And yet I would it were to giue againe.
    930 Ro. Woldst thou withdraw it, for what purpose loue?
    Iu. But to be franke and giue it thee againe,
    And yet I wish but for the thing I haue,
    My bountie is as boundlesse as the sea,
    935My loue as deepe, the more I giue to thee
    The more I haue, for both are infinite:
    I heare some noyse within, deare loue adue:
    Anon good nurse, sweete Mountague be true:
    940Stay but a little, I will come againe.
    Ro. O blessed blessed night, I am afeard
    Being in night, all this is but a dreame,
    Too flattering sweete to be substantiall.
    Iu. Three words deare Romeo, & goodnight indeed,
    If that thy bent of loue be honourable,
    Thy purpose marriage, send me word to morrow,
    By