Peter. Pretty too! What say you, James Soundpost?

Third Mus. Faith, I know not what to say. Peter. O! I cry you mercy; you are the singer; I will say for you. It is music with her silver sound,' because musicians have no gold for sounding:

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Then music with her silver sound

With speedy help doth lend redress. Exit. First Mus. What a pestilent knave is this same!

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In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows, And finding him, the searchers of the town, Culling of simples ; meagre were his looks, 40 Suspecting that we both were in a house Sharp misery had worn him to the bones : Where the infectious pestilence did reign, And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,

Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; An alligator stuff'd, and other skins

So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd. Of ill-shap'd fishes ; and about his shelves

Pri. Lau. Who bare my letter then to Romeo ? A beggarly account of empty boxes,

Pri. John. I could not send it, here it is again, Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses, So fearful were they of infection. Were thinly scatter'd to make up a show.

Fri. Lau. Unhappy fortune! by my brotherNoting this penury, to myself I said

hood, An if a man did need a poison now,

The letter was not nice, but full of charge Whose sale is present death in Mantra,

Of dear import; and the neglecting it Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him. May do much danger. Friar John, go hence ; 0! this same thought did but forerun my need, Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight And this same needy man must sell it me. Unto my cell. As I remember, this should be the house :

Fri. John. Brother, I'll go and bring it thee. Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut.

Erit. What, ho! apothecary !

Pri. Lau, Now must I to the monument alone;

Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake: Enter Apothecary.

She will beshrew me much that Romeo Ap.

Who calls so loud ? Hath had no notice of these accidents; Rom. Come hither, man. I see that thou art | But I will write again to Mantua, poor ;

And keep her at my cell till Romeo come: Hold, there is forty ducats; let me have Poor living corse, clos'd in a dead man's tomb! A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear

Exit. As will disperse itself through all the veins That the life-weary taker may fall dead, SCENE III.---The Same. A Churchyard ; in it a And that the trunk may be discharg'd of breath, tomb belonging to the CAPULETS. As violently as hasty powder fir'd Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb. Enter Paris, and his Page bearing flowers and Ap. Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law

a torch. Is death to any he that utters them.

Par. Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and Rom. Art thou so bare, and full of wretched- stand aloof; ness,

Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. And fear'st to die? famine is in thy cheeks,

Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along, Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes, 70 Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground : Contempt and beggary hang upon thy back ; So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread, The world is not thy friend nor the world's law: Being loose, unfirm with digging up of graves, The world affords no law to make thee rich; But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me, Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.

As signal that thou hear'st something approach. Ap. My poverty, but not my will, consents.

Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee; go. Rom. I pay thy poverty, and not thy will.

Page. I am almost afraid to stand alone Ap. Put this in any liquid thing you will, Here in the churchyard; yet I will adventure. And drink it off ; and, if you had the strength

Retires. Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight. Par. Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed Rom. There is thy gold, worse poison to men's I strew, souls,

( woe! thy canopy is dust and stones ; Doing more murders in this loathsome world

Which with sweet water nightly I will dew, Than these poor compounds that thou may'st

Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by not sell : I sell thee poison, thou hast sold me none. The obsequies that I for thee will keep Farewell ; buy food, and get thyself in flesh.

Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and

weep. Come, cordial and not poison, go with me

The Page whistles. To Juliet's grave, for there must I use thee. The boy gives warning something doth approach.

Exeunt. What cursed foot wanders this way to-night,

To cross my obsequies and true love's rite ? SCENE II.- Verona. Friar LAURENCE'S Cell.

What! with a torch ? muffle me, night, awhile. Enter Friar JOHN.

Retires. Fri. John. Holy Franciscan friar! brother! ho!

Enter ROMEO and BALTHASAR, with a torch,

mattock, etc. Enter Friar LAURENCE.

Rom. Give me that mattock and the wrenchPri. Lau. This same should be the voice of ing iron. Friar John.

Hold, take this letter ; early in the morning Welcome from Mantua : what says Romeo ? See thou deliver it to my lord and father. Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter. Give me the light : upon thy life I charge thee,

Pri. John. Going to find a bare-foot brotherout, Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof, One of our order, to associate me,

And do not interrupt me in my course. Here in this city visiting the sick,

Why I descend into this bed of death

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moans:

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no

51

Is partly to behold my lady's face,

Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd. But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger

Laying Paris in the tomb. A precious ring, a ring that I must use

How oft when men are at the point of death In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone: Have they been merry! which their keepers call But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry

A lightning before death: 0! how may ! In what I further shall intend to do,

Call this a lightning ? O my lovel my wife! By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint, Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, And strew this hungry churchyard with thy Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty : limbs.

Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet The time and my intents are savage-wild, Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, More fierce and more inexorable far

And death's pale flag is not advanced there. Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.

Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet ! Bal. I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. 0! what more favour can I do to thee, Rom. So shalt thou show me friendship. Take Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain thou that:

41 To sunder his that was thine enemy? Live, and be prosperous ; and farewell, good Forgive me, cousin! Ah! dear Juliet, fellow.

Why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe Bal. Aside. For all this same, I'll hide me That unsubstantial Death is amorous, hereabout:

And that the lean abborred monster keeps His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt. Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

Retires. For fear of that I still will stay with thee, Rom. Thou detestable maw, thou womb of And never from this palace of dim night death,

Depart again : here, here will I remain Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth, With worms that are thy chambermaids; 01 here Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,

Will I set up my everlasting rest,

Opens the tomb. And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food! From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your

Par. This is that banish'd haughty Montague, last! That murder'd my love's cousin, with which grief Arms, take your last embrace ! and, lips, O you, It is supposed the fair creature died ;

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss And here is come to do some villanous shame A dateless bargain to engrossing death! To the dead bodies : I will apprehend him. Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!

Comes forward. Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague, The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark ! Can vengeance be pursu'd further than death ? Here's to my love !

Drinks. Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee:

O true apothecary ! Obey, and go with me; for thou must die. Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. Dies Rom. I must indeed; and therefore came I Enter, at the other end of the churchyard, Friar

hither. Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man;

LAURENCE, with a lantern, crow, and spade. Fly hence and leave me : think upon these gone; Pri. Saint Francis be my speed ! how oft Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth, to-night Put not another sin upon my head

Have my old feet stumbled at graves! Who's By urging me to fury : 0! be gone:

there? By heaven, I love thee better than myself,

Bal. Here's one, a friend, and one that knows For I come hither arm'd against myself : Stay not, be gone; live, and hereafter say Fri. Bliss be upon you ! Tell me, good my A madman's mercy bade thee run away,

friend, Par. I do defy thy conjurations,

What torch is yond, that vainly lends his light And apprehend thee for a felon here.

To grubs and eyeless skulls ? as I discern, Rom. Wilt thou provoke me? then have at It burneth in the Capel's monument. thee, boy!

They fight. 70 Bal. It doth so, holy sir; and there's my Page. O Lord ! they fight: I will go call the master, watch.

Erit. One that you love. Par. O! I am slain.

Falls. Pri

Who is it?
If thou be merciful, Bal.

Romeo.
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. Dies. Fri. How long hath he been there?
Rom. In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face: Bal.

Full half an hour, 13 Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris !

Fri. Go with me to the vault. What said my man when my betossed soul

Bal.

I dare not, sir. Did not attend him as we rode? I think My master knows not but I am gone hence ; He told me Paris should have married Juliet : And fearfully did menace me with death Said he not so? or did I dream it so ?

If I did stay to look on his intents. Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet,

Fri. Stay then, I'll go alone. Fear comes To think it was so? O! give me thy hand,

upon me; One writ with me in sour misfortune's book : O! much I fear some ill unlucky thing. I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave ;

Bal. As I did sleep under this yew tree here, A grave! 0, no! a lantern, slaughter'd youth, I dreamt my master and another fought, For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes And that my master slew him. This vault a feasting presence full of light.

Fri,

Romeo! Adrances

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you well.

80

JULIET wakes.
Jul. O comfortable friar! where is my lord?
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am. Where is my Romeo?

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Noise within. Fri. I hear some noise. Lady, come from that

nest

Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:
A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents: come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too: come, I'll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming;
Come, go, good Juliet.
Noise again.
I dare no longer stay.
Jul. Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.
Exit Friar LAURENCE.
What's here? a cup clos'd in my true love's

161

hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after! I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative. Kisses him.
Thy lips are warm!

First Watch. Within. Lead, boy: which way?
Jul. Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy
dagger !
Snatching ROMEO'S dagger.
This is thy sheath;
Stabs herself.
There rest, and let me die. Dies.
Enter Watch, with the Page of PARIS.

Enter the PRINCE and Attendants.
Prince. What misadventure is so early up,
That calls our person from our morning's rest?
Enter CAPULET, Lady CAPULET, and Others.

Cap. What should it be that they so shriek abroad?

190

Lady Cap. The people in the street cry Romeo,
Some Juliet, and some Paris; and all run
With open outcry toward our monument.
Prince. What fear is this which startles in
our ears?

First Watch. Sovereign, here lies the County
Paris slain;

And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before,
Warm and new kill'd.

Prince. Search, seek, and know how this foul
murder comes.

First Watch. Here is a friar, and slaughter'd
Romeo's man,

With instruments upon them fit to open
These dead men's tombs.

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Cap. O heaven! O wife! look how our daughter bleeds.

This dagger hath mista'en, for, lo! his house
Is empty on the back of Montague,

And it mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom.
Lady Cap. O me! this sight of death is as
a bell,

That warns my old age to a sepulchre.
Enter MONTAGUE and Others.

Prince. Come, Montague; for thou art early up,
To see thy son and heir more early down.

Mon. Alas! my liege, my wife is dead to-night; Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath. What further woe conspires against mine age? Prince. Look, and thou shalt see.

213

Mon. Othou untaught! what manners is in this,
To press before thy father to a grave?
Prince. Seal up the mouth of outrage for a
while,

Till we can clear these ambiguities,

And know their spring, their head, their true descent;

And then will I be general of your woes,
And lead you even to death: meantime forbear,
And let mischance be slave to patience.
Bring forth the parties of suspicion.

Fri. I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me, of this direful murder;
And here I stand, both to impeach and purge
Myself condemned and myself excus'd.

Prince. Then say at once what thou dost know
in this.

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Re-enter some of the Watch, with BALTHASAR. Second Watch. Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard.

Fri. I will be brief, for my short date of breath Is not so long as is a tedious tale. Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet ; First Watch. Hold him in safety till the prince And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife : come hither. I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day Was Tybalt's doomsday, whose untimely death Re-enter others of the Watch, with Friar LAURENCE. Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from this Third Watch. Here is a friar, that trembles, sighs, and weeps:

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To rid her from this second marriage,

Prince. Give me the letter; I will look on it. Or in my cell there would she kill herself. Where is the county's page that rais d the Then gave I her, so tutor'd by my art,

watch? A sleeping potion ; which so took effect Sirrah, what made your master in this place ? As I intended, for it wrought on her

Page. He came with flowers to strew his lady's The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo grave, That he should hither come as this dire night, And bid me stand aloof, and so I did ; To help to take her from her borrow'd grave, Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb; Being the time the potion's force should cease. And by and by my master drew on him; But he which bore my letter, Friar John, 250 And then I ran away to call the watch. Was stay'd by accident, and yesternight

Prince. This letter doth make good the friar's Return'd my letter back. Then, all alone,

words, At the prefixed hour of her waking,

Their course of love, the tidings of her death: Came I to take her from her kindred's vault, And here he writes that he did buy a poison Meaning to keep her closely at my cell,

Of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal Till I conveniently could send to Romeo : Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet. But when I came, some minute ere the time Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montagne ! Of her awakening, here untimely lay

See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.

That heaven finds means to kill your joys with She wakes; and I entreated her come forth 260 love; And bear this work of heaven with patience ; And I, for winking at your discords too, But then a noise did scare me from the tomb, Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd. And she, too desperate, would not go with me, Cap. O brother Montague! give me thy hand; But, as it seems, did violence on herself.

This is my daughter's jointure, for no more All this I know; and to the marriage

Can I demand, Her nurse is privy : and, if aught in this

Mon.

But I can give thee more ; Miscarried by my fault, let my old life

For I will raise her statue in pure gold ; Be sacrific'd, some hour before his time,

That while Verona by that name is known, Unto the rigour of severest law.

There shall no figure at such rate be set Prince. We still have known thee for a holy | As that of true and faithful Juliet. man.

Cap. As rich shall Romeo by his lady lie ; Where's Romeo's man? what can he say to this? Poor sacrifices of our enmity! Bal. I brought my master news of Juliet's Prince. A glooming peace this morning with death;

it brings; And then in post he came from Mantua

The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head : To this same place, to this same monument. Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things : This letter he early bid me give his father, Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: And threaten'd me with death, going in the vault, For never was a story of more woe If I departed not and left him there.

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. Exeunt. 310

270