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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
    Enter Mercutio, Benuolio, and men.
    Ben. I pray thee good Mercutio lets retire,
    The day is hot, the Capels abroad:
    And if we meete we shall not scape a brawle, for now these hot
    1435daies, is the mad blood stirring.
    Mer. Thou art like one of these fellowes, that when he enters
    the confines of a Tauerne, claps me his sword vpon the table,
    and sayes, God send me no need of thee: and by the operation
    of the second cup, draws him on the drawer, when indeed there
    1440is no need.
    Ben. Am I like such a fellow?
    Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a Iacke in thy moode as
    any in Italie: and assoone moued to be moodie, and assoone
    moodie to be moued.
    1445Ben. And what too?
    Mer. Nay and there were two such, we should haue none
    shortly, for one would kill the other: thou, why thou wilt
    quarell with a man that hath a haire more, or a haire lesse in his
    beard, then thou hast: thou wilt quarell with a man for cracking
    1450Nuts, hauing no other reason, but because thou hast hasel eyes:
    what eye, but such an eye wold spie out such a quarrel? thy head
    is as full of quarelles, as an egge is full of meate, and yet thy
    head hath bene beaten as addle as an egge for quarelling: thou
    hast quareld with a man for coffing in the streete, because hee
    1455hath wakened thy dogge that hath laine asleep in the sun. Didst
    thou not fall out with a taylor for wearing his new doublet be-
    fore Easter, with an other for tying his new shooes with olde ri-
    band, and yet thou wilt tuter me from quarelling?
    Ben. And I were so apt to quarell as thou art, any man should
    buy the fee-simple of my life for an houre and a quarter.
    Mer. The fee-simple, ô simple.
    1465 Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.
    Ben. By my head here comes the Capulets.
    Mer. By my heele I care not.
    Tybalt. Follow me close, for I will speake to them.
    Gentlemen, Good den, a word with one of you.
    Mer.