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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.
    This is deare mercie, and thou seest it not.
    Ro. Tis torture and not mercie, heauen is here
    Where Iuliet liues, and euery cat and dog,
    And litle mouse, euery vnworthy thing
    1835Liue here in heauen, and may looke on her,
    But Romeo may not. More validitie,
    More honourable state, more courtship liues
    In carrion flies, then Romeo: they may seaze
    On the white wonder of deare Iuliets hand,
    1840And steale immortall blessing from her lips,
    Who euen in pure and vestall modestie
    Still blush, as thinking their owne kisses sin.
    This may flyes do, when I from this must flie,
    And sayest thou yet, that exile is not death?
    1845But Romeo may not, he is banished.
    1845.1Flies may do this, but I from this must flie:
    They are freemen, but I am banished.
    Hadst thou no poyson mixt, no sharpe ground knife,
    No sudden meane of death, though nere so meane,
    But banished to kill me: Banished?
    O Frier, the damned vse that word in hell:
    1850Howling attends it, how hast thou the heart
    Being a Diuine, a ghostly Confessor,
    A sin obsoluer, and my friend profest,
    To mangle me with that word banished?
    Fri. Then fond mad man, heare me a little speake.
    1855Ro. O thou wilt speake againe of banishment.
    Fri. Ile giue thee armour to keepe off that word,
    Aduersities sweete milke, Philosophie,
    To comfort thee though thou art banished.
    Ro. Yet banished? hang vp philosophie,
    1860Vnlesse Philosophie can make a Iuliet,
    Displant a towne, reuerse a Princes doome,
    It helpes not, it preuailes not, talke no more.
    Fri. O then I see, that mad man haue no eares.
    Ro. How should they when that wise men haue no eyes.
    Fri. Let
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