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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
    That lets it hop a litle from his hand,
    Like a poore prisoner in his twisted giues,
    And with a silken threed, plucks it backe againe,
    990So louing Iealous of his libertie.
    Ro. I would I were thy bird.
    Iu. Sweete so would I,
    Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing:
    Good night, good night.
    995Parting is such sweete sorrow,
    That I shall say good night, till it be morrow.
    Iu. Sleep dwel vpon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.
    Ro. Would I were sleepe and peace so sweet to rest
    The grey eyde morne smiles on the frowning night,
    1000Checkring the Easterne Clouds with streaks of light,
    And darknesse fleckted like a drunkard reeles,
    From forth daies pathway, made by Tytans wheeles.
    Hence will I to my ghostly Friers close cell,
    His helpe to craue, and my deare hap to tell.
    Exit.
    1005 Enter Frier alone with a basket.
    Fri. The grey-eyed morne smiles on the frowning (night,
    Checking the Easterne clowdes with streaks of light:
    And fleckeld darknesse like a drunkard reeles,
    From forth daies path, and Titans burning wheeles:
    1010Now ere the sun aduance his burning eie,
    The day to cheere, and nights dancke dewe to drie,
    I must vpfill this osier cage of ours,
    With balefull weedes, and precious iuyced flowers,
    The earth that's natures mother is her tombe,
    1015What is her burying graue, that is her wombe:
    And from her wombe children of diuers kinde,
    We sucking on her naturall bosome finde:
    Many for many, vertues excellent:
    None but for some, and yet all different.
    1020O mickle is the powerfull grace that lies
    In Plants, hearbes, stones, and their true quallities:
    For