Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

The most lamentable Tragedie
3055We tooke this Mattocke and this Spade from him,
As he was comming from this Church-yards side.
Chief watch. A great suspition, stay the Frier too too.
Enter the Prince.
Prin. What misaduenture is so early vp,
3060That calls our person from our morning rest?
Enter Capels.
Ca. What should it be that is so shrike abroad?
Wife. O the people in the street crie Romeo,
Some Iuliet, and some Paris, and all runne
3065With open outcry toward our Monument.
Pr. What feare is this which startles in your eares?
Watch. Soueraine, here lies the County Paris slain,
And Romeo dead, and Iuliet dead before,
Warme and new kild.
3070 Prin. Search, seeke & know how this foule murder (comes.
Wat. Here is a Frier, and Slaughter Romeos man,
With Instruments vpon them, fit to open
These dead mens Tombes.
3075 Enter Capulet and his wife.
Ca. O heauens! O wife looke how our daughter (bleeds!
This dagger hath mistane, for loe his house
Is emptie on the back of Mountague,
And it missheathd in my daughters bosome.
3080Wife. O me, this sight of death, is as a Bell
That warnes my old age to a sepulcher.
Enter Mountague.
Prin. Come Mountague, for thou art early vp
To see thy sonne and heire, now earling downe.
3085Moun. Alas my liege, my wife is dead to night,
Griefe of my sonnes exile hath stopt her breath.
What further woe conspires against mine age?
Prin. Looke and thou shalt see.
Moun. O thou vntaught, what maners is in this,
3090To presse before thy father to a graue?
Prin. Seale vp the mouth of outrage for a while,
Till we can cleare these ambiguities,
And