Never, never.- Oh that black, icy water! Oh that bottomless-! If it were only over! Now he has it; he's reading it. Oh, no, no, no, not yet. Torvald, good-bye-! Good-bye, my little ones-! She is rushing out by the hall; at the same moment HELMER flings his door open, and stands there with an open letter in his hand. HELMER. Nora! NORA. Shrieks. Ah-! HELMER. What is this? Do you know what is in this letter? NORA. Yes, I know. Let me go! Let me pass! HELMER. Holds her back. Where do you want to go? NORA. Tries to break away from him. You shall not save me, Torvald. HELMER. Falling back. True! Is what he writes true? No, no, it is impossible that this can be true. NORA. It is true. I have loved you beyond all else in the world. HELMER. Pshaw- no silly evasions! NORA. A step nearer him. Torvald-! HELMER. Wretched woman- what have you done! NORA. Let me go- you shall not save me! You shall not take my guilt upon yourself! HELMER. I don't want any melodramatic airs. Locks the outer door. Here you shall stay and give an account of yourself. Do you understand what you have done? Answer! Do you understand it? NORA. Looks at him fixedly, and says with a stiffening expression. Yes; now I begin fully to understand it. HELMER. Walking up and down. Oh! What an awful awakening! During all these eight years- she who was my pride and my joy- a hypocrite, a liar- worse, worse- a criminal. Oh, the unfathomable hideousness of it all! Ugh! Ugh! NORA says nothing, and continues to look fixedly at him. HELMER. I ought to have known how it would be. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father's want of principle- be silent!- all your father's want of principle you have inherited- no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him!


I ought to have foreseen it. All your father's want of principle- be silent!- all your father's want of principle you have inherited- no religion, no morality, no sense of duty. How I am punished for screening him! I did it for your sake; and you reward me like this. NORA. Yes- like this. HELMER. You have destroyed my whole happiness. You have ruined my-40- future. Oh, it's frightful to think of! I am in the power of a scoundrel; he can do whatever he pleases with me, demand whatever he chooses; he can domineer over me as much as he likes, and I must submit. And all this disaster and ruin is brought upon me by an unprincipled woman! NORA. When I am out of the world, you will be free. HELMER. Oh, no fine phrases. Your father, too, was always ready with them. What good would it do me, if you were "out of the world," as you say? No good whatever! He can publish the story all the same; I might even be suspected of collusion. People will think I was at the bottom of it all and egged you on. And for all this I have you to thank- you whom I have done nothing but pet and spoil during our whole married life. Do you understand now what you have done to me? NORA. With cold calmness. Yes. HELMER. The thing is so incredible, I can't grasp it. But we must come to an understanding. Take that shawl off. Take it off, I say! I must try to pacify him in one way or another- the matter must be hushed up, cost what it may.- As for you and me, we must make no outward change in our way of life- no outward change, you understand. Of course, you will continue to live here. But the children cannot be left in your care. I dare not trust them to you.- Oh, to have to say this to one I have loved so tenderly- whom I still-! But that must be a thing of the past. Henceforward there can be no question of happiness, but merely of saving the ruins, the shreds, the show- A ring; HELMER starts. What's that? So late! Can it be the worst? Can he-?


So late! Can it be the worst? Can he-? Hide yourself, Nora; say you are ill. NORA stands motionless. HELMER goes to the door and opens it. ELLEN. Half dressed, in the hall. Here is a letter for you, ma'am. HELMER. Give it to me. Seizes the letter and shuts the door. Yes, from him. You shall not have it. I shall read it. NORA. Read it? HELMER. By the lamp. I have hardly the courage to. We may both be lost, both you and I. Ah! I must know. Hastily tears the letter open; reads a few lines, looks at an enclosure; with a cry of joy. Nora! Nora looks inquiringly at him. HELMER. Nora!- Oh! I must read it again.- Yes, yes, it is so. I am saved! Nora, I am saved! NORA. And I? HELMER. You too, of course; we are both saved, both of us. Look here- he sends you back your promissory note. He writes that he regrets and apologises, that a happy turn in his life- Oh, what matter what he writes. We are saved, Nora! No one can harm you. Oh, Nora, Nora-; but first to get rid of this hateful thing. I'll just see- Glances at the I.O.U. No, I will not look at it; the whole thing shall be nothing but a dream to me. Tears the I.O.U. and both letters in pieces. Throws them into the fire and watches them burn. There! It's gone!- He said that ever since Christmas Eve- Oh, Nora, they must have been three terrible days for you! NORA. I have fought a hard fight for the last three days. HELMER. And in your agony you saw no other outlet but- No; we won't think of that horror. We will only rejoice and repeat- it's over, all over! Don't you hear, Nora? You don't seem able to grasp it. Yes, it's over. What is this set look on your face? Oh, my poor Nora, I understand; you cannot believe that I have forgiven you. But I have, Nora; I swear it. I have forgiven everything.


Oh, my poor Nora, I understand; you cannot believe that I have forgiven you. But I have, Nora; I swear it. I have forgiven everything. I know that what you did was all for love of me. -41- NORA. That is true. HELMER. You loved me as a wife should love her husband. It was only the means that, in your inexperience, you misjudged. But do you think I love you the less because you cannot do without guidance? No, no. Only lean on me; I will counsel you, and guide you. I should be no true man if this very womanly helplessness did not make you doubly dear in my eyes. You mustn't dwell upon the hard things I said in my first moment of terror, when the world seemed to be tumbling about my ears. I have forgiven you, Nora- I swear I have forgiven you. NORA. I thank you for your forgiveness. Goes out, to the right. HELMER. No, stay-! Looking through the doorway. What are you going to do? NORA. Inside. To take off my masquerade dress. HELMER. In the doorway. Yes, do, dear. Try to calm down, and recover your balance, my scared little song-bird. You may rest secure. I have broad wings to shield you. Walking up and down near the door. Oh, how lovely- how cosy our home is, Nora! Here you are safe; here I can shelter you like a hunted dove whom I have saved from the claws of the hawk. I shall soon bring your poor beating heart to rest; believe me, Nora, very soon. To-morrow all this will seem quite different- everything will be as before. I shall not need to tell you again that I forgive you; you will feel for yourself that it is true. How could you think I could find it in my heart to drive you away, or even so much as to reproach you? Oh, you don't know a true man's heart, Nora. There is something indescribably sweet and soothing to a man in having forgiven his wife- honestly forgiven her, from the bottom of his heart. She becomes his property in a double sense. She is as though born again; she has become, so to speak, at once his wife and his child.


There is something indescribably sweet and soothing to a man in having forgiven his wife- honestly forgiven her, from the bottom of his heart. She becomes his property in a double sense. She is as though born again; she has become, so to speak, at once his wife and his child. That is what you shall henceforth be to me, my bewildered, helpless darling. Don't be troubled about anything, Nora; only open your heart to me, and I will be both will and conscience to you. NORA enters in everyday dress. Why, what's this? Not gone to bed You have changed your dress? NORA. Yes, Torvald; now I have changed my dress. HELMER. But why now, so late-? NORA. I shall not sleep to-night. HELMER. But, Nora dear- NORA. Looking at her watch. It's not so late yet. Sit down, Torvald; you and I have much to say to each other. She sits at one side of the table. HELMER. Nora- what does this mean? Your cold, set face- NORA. Sit down. It will take some time. I have much to talk over with you. HELMER sits at the other side of the table. HELMER. You alarm me, Nora. I don't understand you. NORA. No, that is just it. You don't understand me; and I have never understood you- till to-night. No, don't interrupt. Only listen to what I say.- We must come to a final settlement, Torvald. HELMER. How do you mean? NORA. After a short silence. Does not one thing strike you as we sit here? HELMER. What should strike me? NORA. We have been married eight years. Does it not strike you that this is the first time we two, you and I, man and wife, have talked together seriously? HELMER. Seriously! What do you call seriously? NORA. During eight whole years, and more- ever since the day we-42- first met- we have never exchanged one serious word about serious things. HELMER. Was I always to trouble you with the cares you could not help me to bear? NORA. I am not talking of cares. I say that we have never yet set ourselves seriously to get to the bottom of anything.


NORA. I am not talking of cares. I say that we have never yet set ourselves seriously to get to the bottom of anything. HELMER. Why, my dearest Nora, what have you to do with serious things? NORA. There we have it! You have never understood me.- I have had great injustice done me, Torvald; first by father, and then by you. HELMER. What! By your father and me?- By us, who have loved you more than all the world? NORA. Shaking her head. You have never loved me. You only thought it amusing to be in love with me. HELMER. Why, Nora, what a thing to say! NORA. Yes, it is so, Torvald. While I was at home with father, he used to tell me all his opinions, and I held the same opinions. If I had others I said nothing about them, because he wouldn't have liked it. He used to call me his doll-child, and played with me as I played with my dolls. Then I came to live in your house- HELMER. What an expression to use about our marriage! NORA. Undisturbed. I mean I passed from father's hands into yours. You arranged everything according to your taste; and I got the same tastes as you; or I pretended to- I don't know which- both ways, perhaps; sometimes one and sometimes the other. When I look back on it now, I seem to have been living here like a beggar, from hand to mouth. I lived by performing tricks for you, Torvald. But you would have it so. You and father have done me a great wrong. It is your fault that my life has come to nothing. HELMER. Why, Nora, how unreasonable and ungrateful you are! Have you not been happy here? NORA. No, never. I thought I was; but I never was. HELMER. Not- not happy! NORA. No; only merry. And you have always been so kind to me. But our house has been nothing but a play-room. Here I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I used to be papa's doll-child. And the children, in their turn, have been my dolls. I thought it fun when you played with me, just as the children did when I played with them.


Here I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I used to be papa's doll-child. And the children, in their turn, have been my dolls. I thought it fun when you played with me, just as the children did when I played with them. That has been our marriage, Torvald. HELMER. There is some truth in what you say, exaggerated and overstrained though it be. But henceforth it shall be different. Play-time is over; now comes the time for education. NORA. Whose education? Mine, or the children's? HELMER. Both, my dear Nora. NORA. Oh, Torvald, you are not the man to teach me to be a fit wife for you. HELMER. And you can say that? NORA. And I- how have I prepared myself to educate the children? HELMER. Nora! NORA. Did you not say yourself, a few minutes ago, you dared not trust them to me? HELMER. In the excitement of the moment! Why should you dwell upon that? NORA. No- you were perfectly right. That problem is beyond me. There is another to be solved first- I must try to educate myself. You are not the man to help me in that. I must set about it alone. And that is why I am leaving you. HELMER. Jumping up. What- do you mean to say-? NORA. I must stand quite alone if I am ever to know myself and my surroundings; so I cannot stay with you. -43- HELMER. Nora! Nora! NORA. I am going at once. I daresay Christina will take me in for to-night- HELMER. You are mad! I shall not allow it! I forbid it! NORA. It is of no use your forbidding me anything now. I shall take with me what belongs to me. From you I will accept nothing, either now or afterwards. HELMER. What madness this is! NORA. To-morrow I shall go home- I mean to what was my home. It will be easier for me to find some opening there. HELMER. Oh, in your blind inexperience- NORA. I must try to gain experience, Torvald. HELMER. To forsake your home, your husband, and your children!


I must try to gain experience, Torvald. HELMER. To forsake your home, your husband, and your children! And you don't consider what the world will say. NORA. I can pay no heed to that. I only know that I must do it. HELMER. This is monstrous! Can you forsake your holiest duties in this way? NORA. What do you consider my holiest duties? HELMER. Do I need to tell you that? Your duties to your husband and your children. NORA. I have other duties equally sacred. HELMER. Impossible! What duties do you mean? NORA. My duties towards myself. HELMER. Before all else you are a wife and a mother. NORA. That I no longer believe. I believe that before all else I am a human being, just as much as you are- or at least that I should try to become one. I know that most people agree with you, Torvald, and that they say so in books. But henceforth I can't be satisfied with what most people say, and what is in books. I must think things out for myself, and try to get clear about them. HELMER. Are you not clear about your place in your own home? Have you not an infallible guide in questions like these? Have you not religion? NORA. Oh, Torvald, I don't really know what religion is. HELMER. What do you mean? NORA. I know nothing but what Pastor Hansen told me when I was confirmed. He explained that religion was this and that. When I get away from all this and stand alone, I will look into that matter too. I will see whether what he taught me is right, or, at any rate, whether it is right for me. HELMER. Oh, this is unheard of! And from so young a woman! But if religion cannot keep you right, let me appeal to your conscience- for I suppose you have some moral feeling? Or, answer me: perhaps you have none? NORA. Well, Torvald, it's not easy to say. I really don't know- I am all at sea about these things. I only know that I think quite differently from you about them. I hear, too, that the laws are different from what I thought: but I can't believe that they can be right.


I really don't know- I am all at sea about these things. I only know that I think quite differently from you about them. I hear, too, that the laws are different from what I thought: but I can't believe that they can be right. It appears that a woman has no right to spare her dying father, or to save her husband's life! I don't believe that. HELMER. You talk like a child. You don't understand the society in which you live. NORA. No, I do not. But now I shall try to learn. I must make up my mind which is right- society or I. HELMER. Nora, you are ill; you are feverish; I almost think you are out of your senses. NORA. I have never felt so much clearness and certainty as to-night. HELMER. You are clear and certain enough to forsake husband and children? NORA. Yes, I am. -44- HELMER. Then there is only one explanation possible. NORA. What is that? HELMER. You no longer love me. NORA. No; that is just it. HELMER. Nora!- Can you say so! NORA. Oh, I'm so sorry, Torvald; for you've always been so kind to me. But I can't help it. I do not love you any longer. HELMER. Mastering himself with difficulty. Are you clear and certain on this point too? NORA. Yes, quite. That is why I will not stay here any longer. HELMER. And can you also make clear to me how I have forfeited your love? NORA. Yes, I can. It was this evening, when the miracle did not happen; for then I saw you were not the man I had imagined. HELMER. Explain yourself more clearly; I don't understand NORA. I have waited so patiently all these eight years. For of course I saw clearly enough that miracles don't happen every day. When this crushing blow threatened me, I said to myself so confidently, "Now comes the miracle!". When Krogstad's letter lay in the box, it never for a moment occurred to me that you would think of submitting to that man's conditions. I was convinced that you would say to him, "Make it known to all the world"; and that then- HELMER. Well?


To part- to part from you! No, Nora, no; I can't grasp the thought. NORA. Going into room on the right. The more reason for the thing to happen. She comes back with out-door things and a small travelling-bag, which she places on a chair. HELMER. Nora, Nora, not now! Wait till to-morrow. NORA. Putting on cloak. I can't spend the night in a strange man's house. -45- HELMER. But can we not live here, as brother and sister-? NORA. Fastening her hat. You know very well that wouldn't last long. Puts on the shawl. Good-bye, Torvald. No. I won't go to the children. I know they are in better hands than mine. As I now am, I can be nothing to them. HELMER. But some time, Nora- some time-? NORA. How can I tell? I have no idea what will become of me. HELMER. But you are my wife, now and always! NORA. Listen, Torvald- when a wife leaves her husband's house, as I am doing, I have heard that in the eyes of the law he is free from all duties towards her. At any rate, I release you from all duties. You must not feel yourself bound, any more than I shall. There must be perfect freedom on both sides. There, I give you back your ring. Give me mine. HELMER. That too? NORA. That too. HELMER. Here it is. NORA. Very well. Now it is all over. I lay the keys here. The servants know about everything in the house- better than I do. To-morrow, when I have started, Christina will come to pack up the things I brought with me from home. I will have them sent after me. HELMER. All over! All over! Nora, will you never think of me again? NORA. Oh, I shall often think of you, and the children, and this house. HELMER. May I write to you, Nora? NORA. No- never. You must not. HELMER. But I must send you- NORA. Nothing, nothing. HELMER. I must help you if you need it. NORA. No, I say.


I must help you if you need it. NORA.No, I say. I take nothing from strangers. HELMER.Nora- can I never be more than a stranger to you?NORA. Taking her travelling-bag. Oh, Torvald, then the miracle of miracles would have to happen- HELMER.What is the miracle of miracles?NORA.Both of us would have to change so that- Oh, Torvald, I no longer believe in miracles. HELMER.But I will believe. Tell me!We must so change that-?NORA.That communion between us shall be a marriage. Good-bye. She goes out by the hall door. HELMER. Sinks into a chair by the door with his face in his hands. Nora!Nora! He looks round and rises. Empty. She is gone. A hope springs up in him. Ah!The miracle of miracles-?! From below is heard the reverberation of a heavy door closing. THE END.


Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html 1 18 2007 12:23 PMRomeo and Juliet ACT I PROLOGUE Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. SCENE I. Verona. A public place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, armed with swords and bucklers SAMPSON Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals. GREGORY No, for then we should be colliers. SAMPSON I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike.


GREGORY Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar. SAMPSON I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMSAMPSONA dog of the house of Montague moves me. GREGORYTo move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand:therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away. SAMPSONA dog of that house shall move me to stand: I willtake the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. GREGORYThat shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goesto the wall. SAMPSONTrue; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will pushMontague's men from the wall, and thrust his maidsto the wall. GREGORYThe quarrel is between our masters and us their men. SAMPSON'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when Ihave fought with the men, I will be cruel with themaids, and cut off their heads. GREGORYThe heads of the maids?SAMPSONAy, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;take it in what sense thou wilt. GREGORYThey must take it in sense that feel it. SAMPSONMe they shall feel while I am able to stand: and'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORY'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thouhadst been poor John. Draw thy tool! Here comestwo of the house of the Montagues. SAMPSONMy naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. GREGORYHow! Turn thy back and run?SAMPSONFear me not. GREGORYNo, marry; I fear thee!SAMPSONLet us take the law of our sides; let them begin. GREGORYI will frown as I pass by, and let them take it asthey list. SAMPSONNay, as they dare.


Draw thy tool! Here comestwo of the house of the Montagues. SAMPSONMy naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. GREGORYHow! Turn thy back and run?SAMPSONFear me not. GREGORYNo, marry; I fear thee!SAMPSONLet us take the law of our sides; let them begin. GREGORYI will frown as I pass by, and let them take it asthey list. SAMPSONNay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASARABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSONI do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON Aside to GREGORY Is the law of our side, if I sayay? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORYNo. SAMPSONNo, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but Ibite my thumb, sir. GREGORYDo you quarrel, sir?ABRAHAMQuarrel sir! No, sir. SAMPSONIf you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. ABRAHAMNo better. SAMPSONWell, sir. GREGORYSay 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. SAMPSONYes, better, sir. ABRAHAMYou lie. SAMPSONDraw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. They fightEnter BENVOLIOBENVOLIOPart, fools!Put up your swords; you know not what you do. Beats down their swords Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMEnter TYBALTTYBALTWhat, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. BENVOLIOI do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,Or manage it to part these men with me. TYBALTWhat, drawn, and talk of peace!


I will bite my thumb at them;which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASARABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSONI do bite my thumb, sir. ABRAHAMDo you bite your thumb at us, sir?SAMPSON Aside to GREGORY Is the law of our side, if I sayay? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMGREGORYNo. SAMPSONNo, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but Ibite my thumb, sir. GREGORYDo you quarrel, sir?ABRAHAMQuarrel sir! No, sir. SAMPSONIf you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. ABRAHAMNo better. SAMPSONWell, sir. GREGORYSay 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen. SAMPSONYes, better, sir. ABRAHAMYou lie. SAMPSONDraw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. They fightEnter BENVOLIOBENVOLIOPart, fools!Put up your swords; you know not what you do. Beats down their swords Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMEnter TYBALTTYBALTWhat, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. BENVOLIOI do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,Or manage it to part these men with me. TYBALTWhat, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:Have at thee, coward!They fightEnter, several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubsFirst CitizenClubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULETCAPULETWhat noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!LADY CAPULETA crutch, a crutch!


Beat them down!Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULETCAPULETWhat noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!LADY CAPULETA crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?CAPULETMy sword, I say! Old Montague is come,And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUEMONTAGUEThou villain Capulet,--Hold me not, let me go. LADY MONTAGUEThou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe. Enter PRINCE, with AttendantsPRINCE Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMRebellious subjects, enemies to peace,Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-Will they not hear? What, ho!


Why call you for a sword?CAPULETMy sword, I say! Old Montague is come,And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUEMONTAGUEThou villain Capulet,--Hold me not, let me go. LADY MONTAGUEThou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe. Enter PRINCE, with AttendantsPRINCE Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMRebellious subjects, enemies to peace,Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-Will they not hear? What, ho! You men, you beasts,That quench the fire of your pernicious rageWith purple fountains issuing from your veins,On pain of torture, from those bloody handsThrow your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,And hear the sentence of your moved prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,And made Verona's ancient citizensCast by their grave beseeming ornaments,To wield old partisans, in hands as old,Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate:If ever you disturb our streets again,Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away:You Capulet; shall go along with me:And, Montague, come you this afternoon,To know our further pleasure in this case,To old Free-town, our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart. Exeunt all but MONTAGUE, LADY MONTAGUE, and BENVOLIOMONTAGUEWho set this ancient quarrel new abroach?Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?BENVOLIOHere were the servants of your adversary,And yours, close fighting ere I did approach:I drew to part them: in the instant cameThe fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,He swung about his head and cut the winds,Who nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn:While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,Came more and more and fought on part and part,Till the prince came, who parted either part. LADY MONTAGUEO, where is Romeo?


Come, madam, let's away. Exeunt MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUEBENVOLIOGood-morrow, cousin. ROMEOIs the day so young?BENVOLIOBut new struck nine. ROMEOAy me! Sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?BENVOLIOIt was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?ROMEONot having that, which, having, makes them short. BENVOLIOIn love?ROMEOOut-BENVOLIOOf love?ROMEOOut of her favour, where I am in love. BENVOLIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMAlas, that love, so gentle in his view,Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!ROMEOAlas, that love, whose view is muffled still,Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!O any thing, of nothing first create!O heavy lightness! Serious vanity!Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire,sick health!Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh?BENVOLIONo, coz, I rather weep. ROMEOGood heart, at what?BENVOLIOAt thy good heart's oppression. ROMEOWhy, such is love's transgression. Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prestWith more of thine: this love that thou hast shownDoth add more grief to too much of mine own. Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;Being vex'd a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:What is it else? A madness most discreet,A choking gall and a preserving sweet. Farewell, my coz. BENVOLIOSoft!


Why, no. But sadly tell me who. ROMEOBid a sick man in sadness make his will:Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill!In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman. BENVOLIOI aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved. ROMEOA right good mark-man! And she's fair I love. BENVOLIOA right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. ROMEOWell, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hitWith Cupid's arrow; she hath Dian's wit;And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd,From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd. She will not stay the siege of loving terms,Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold:O, she is rich in beauty, only poor,That when she dies with beauty dies her store. BENVOLIOThen she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?ROMEOShe hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste,For beauty starved with her severity Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMCuts beauty off from all posterity. She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,To merit bliss by making me despair:She hath forsworn to love, and in that vowDo I live dead that live to tell it now. BENVOLIOBe ruled by me, forget to think of her. ROMEOO, teach me how I should forget to think. BENVOLIOBy giving liberty unto thine eyes;Examine other beauties. ROMEO'Tis the wayTo call hers exquisite, in question more:These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' browsBeing black put us in mind they hide the fair;He that is strucken blind cannot forgetThe precious treasure of his eyesight lost:Show me a mistress that is passing fair,What doth her beauty serve, but as a noteWhere I may read who pass'd that passing fair?Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget. BENVOLIOI'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. ExeuntSCENE II. A street. Enter CAPULET, PARIS, and ServantCAPULETBut Montague is bound as well as I,In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think,For men so old as we to keep the peace. PARISOf honourable reckoning are you both;And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMCAPULETBut saying o'er what I have said before:My child is yet a stranger in the world;She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,Let two more summers wither in their pride,Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. PARISYounger than she are happy mothers made. CAPULETAnd too soon marr'd are those so early made. The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,She is the hopeful lady of my earth:But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,My will to her consent is but a part;An she agree, within her scope of choiceLies my consent and fair according voice. This night I hold an old accustom'd feast,Whereto I have invited many a guest,Such as I love; and you, among the store,One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house look to behold this nightEarth-treading stars that make dark heaven light:Such comfort as do lusty young men feelWhen well-apparell'd April on the heelOf limping winter treads, even such delightAmong fresh female buds shall you this nightInherit at my house; hear all, all see,And like her most whose merit most shall be:Which on more view, of many mine being oneMay stand in number, though in reckoning none,Come, go with me. To Servant, giving a paperGo, sirrah, trudge aboutThrough fair Verona; find those persons outWhose names are written there, and to them say,My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. Exeunt CAPULET and PARISServantFind them out whose names are written here! It iswritten, that the shoemaker should meddle with hisyard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher withhis pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I amsent to find those persons whose names are here Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMwrit, and can never find what names the writingperson hath here writ.


And she's fair I love. BENVOLIOA right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. ROMEOWell, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hitWith Cupid's arrow; she hath Dian's wit;And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd,From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd. She will not stay the siege of loving terms,Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold:O, she is rich in beauty, only poor,That when she dies with beauty dies her store. BENVOLIOThen she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?ROMEOShe hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste,For beauty starved with her severity Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMCuts beauty off from all posterity. She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,To merit bliss by making me despair:She hath forsworn to love, and in that vowDo I live dead that live to tell it now. BENVOLIOBe ruled by me, forget to think of her. ROMEOO, teach me how I should forget to think. BENVOLIOBy giving liberty unto thine eyes;Examine other beauties. ROMEO'Tis the wayTo call hers exquisite, in question more:These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' browsBeing black put us in mind they hide the fair;He that is strucken blind cannot forgetThe precious treasure of his eyesight lost:Show me a mistress that is passing fair,What doth her beauty serve, but as a noteWhere I may read who pass'd that passing fair?Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget. BENVOLIOI'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. ExeuntSCENE II. A street. Enter CAPULET, PARIS, and ServantCAPULETBut Montague is bound as well as I,In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think,For men so old as we to keep the peace. PARISOf honourable reckoning are you both;And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMCAPULETBut saying o'er what I have said before:My child is yet a stranger in the world;She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,Let two more summers wither in their pride,Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. PARISYounger than she are happy mothers made. CAPULETAnd too soon marr'd are those so early made. The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,She is the hopeful lady of my earth:But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,My will to her consent is but a part;An she agree, within her scope of choiceLies my consent and fair according voice. This night I hold an old accustom'd feast,Whereto I have invited many a guest,Such as I love; and you, among the store,One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house look to behold this nightEarth-treading stars that make dark heaven light:Such comfort as do lusty young men feelWhen well-apparell'd April on the heelOf limping winter treads, even such delightAmong fresh female buds shall you this nightInherit at my house; hear all, all see,And like her most whose merit most shall be:Which on more view, of many mine being oneMay stand in number, though in reckoning none,Come, go with me. To Servant, giving a paperGo, sirrah, trudge aboutThrough fair Verona; find those persons outWhose names are written there, and to them say,My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. Exeunt CAPULET and PARISServantFind them out whose names are written here! It iswritten, that the shoemaker should meddle with hisyard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher withhis pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I amsent to find those persons whose names are here Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMwrit, and can never find what names the writingperson hath here writ. I must to the learned.--In good time. Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEOBENVOLIOTut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish;Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;One desperate grief cures with another's languish:Take thou some new infection to thy eye,And the rank poison of the old will die. ROMEOYour plaintain-leaf is excellent for that. BENVOLIOFor what, I pray thee?ROMEOFor your broken shin. BENVOLIOWhy, Romeo, art thou mad?ROMEONot mad, but bound more than a mad-man is;Shut up in prison, kept without my food,Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow. ServantGod gi' god-den.


A street. Enter CAPULET, PARIS, and ServantCAPULETBut Montague is bound as well as I,In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think,For men so old as we to keep the peace. PARISOf honourable reckoning are you both;And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit? Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMCAPULETBut saying o'er what I have said before:My child is yet a stranger in the world;She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,Let two more summers wither in their pride,Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride. PARISYounger than she are happy mothers made. CAPULETAnd too soon marr'd are those so early made. The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,She is the hopeful lady of my earth:But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,My will to her consent is but a part;An she agree, within her scope of choiceLies my consent and fair according voice. This night I hold an old accustom'd feast,Whereto I have invited many a guest,Such as I love; and you, among the store,One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house look to behold this nightEarth-treading stars that make dark heaven light:Such comfort as do lusty young men feelWhen well-apparell'd April on the heelOf limping winter treads, even such delightAmong fresh female buds shall you this nightInherit at my house; hear all, all see,And like her most whose merit most shall be:Which on more view, of many mine being oneMay stand in number, though in reckoning none,Come, go with me. To Servant, giving a paperGo, sirrah, trudge aboutThrough fair Verona; find those persons outWhose names are written there, and to them say,My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. Exeunt CAPULET and PARISServantFind them out whose names are written here! It iswritten, that the shoemaker should meddle with hisyard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher withhis pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I amsent to find those persons whose names are here Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMwrit, and can never find what names the writingperson hath here writ. I must to the learned.--In good time. Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEOBENVOLIOTut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish;Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;One desperate grief cures with another's languish:Take thou some new infection to thy eye,And the rank poison of the old will die. ROMEOYour plaintain-leaf is excellent for that. BENVOLIOFor what, I pray thee?ROMEOFor your broken shin. BENVOLIOWhy, Romeo, art thou mad?ROMEONot mad, but bound more than a mad-man is;Shut up in prison, kept without my food,Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow. ServantGod gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?ROMEOAy, mine own fortune in my misery. ServantPerhaps you have learned it without book: but, Ipray, can you read any thing you see?ROMEOAy, if I know the letters and the language. Servant Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMYe say honestly: rest you merry!ROMEOStay, fellow; I can read. Reads'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the ladywidow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovelynieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mineuncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair nieceRosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousinTybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.'. A fairassembly: whither should they come?ServantUp. ROMEOWhither?ServantTo supper; to our house. ROMEOWhose house?ServantMy master's. ROMEOIndeed, I should have ask'd you that before. ServantNow I'll tell you without asking: my master is thegreat rich Capulet; and if you be not of the houseof Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!ExitBENVOLIOAt this same ancient feast of Capulet'sSups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMWith all the admired beauties of Verona:Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,Compare her face with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEOWhen the devout religion of mine eyeMaintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;And these, who often drown'd could never die,Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!One fairer than my love!


It iswritten, that the shoemaker should meddle with hisyard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher withhis pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I amsent to find those persons whose names are here Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMwrit, and can never find what names the writingperson hath here writ. I must to the learned.--In good time. Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEOBENVOLIOTut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish;Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;One desperate grief cures with another's languish:Take thou some new infection to thy eye,And the rank poison of the old will die. ROMEOYour plaintain-leaf is excellent for that. BENVOLIOFor what, I pray thee?ROMEOFor your broken shin. BENVOLIOWhy, Romeo, art thou mad?ROMEONot mad, but bound more than a mad-man is;Shut up in prison, kept without my food,Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow. ServantGod gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?ROMEOAy, mine own fortune in my misery. ServantPerhaps you have learned it without book: but, Ipray, can you read any thing you see?ROMEOAy, if I know the letters and the language. Servant Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMYe say honestly: rest you merry!ROMEOStay, fellow; I can read. Reads'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the ladywidow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovelynieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mineuncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair nieceRosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousinTybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.'. A fairassembly: whither should they come?ServantUp. ROMEOWhither?ServantTo supper; to our house. ROMEOWhose house?ServantMy master's. ROMEOIndeed, I should have ask'd you that before. ServantNow I'll tell you without asking: my master is thegreat rich Capulet; and if you be not of the houseof Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!ExitBENVOLIOAt this same ancient feast of Capulet'sSups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMWith all the admired beauties of Verona:Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,Compare her face with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEOWhen the devout religion of mine eyeMaintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;And these, who often drown'd could never die,Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sunNe'er saw her match since first the world begun. BENVOLIOTut, you saw her fair, none else being by,Herself poised with herself in either eye:But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'dYour lady's love against some other maidThat I will show you shining at this feast,And she shall scant show well that now shows best. ROMEOI'll go along, no such sight to be shown,But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. ExeuntSCENE III.


I must to the learned.--In good time. Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEOBENVOLIOTut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish;Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;One desperate grief cures with another's languish:Take thou some new infection to thy eye,And the rank poison of the old will die. ROMEOYour plaintain-leaf is excellent for that. BENVOLIOFor what, I pray thee?ROMEOFor your broken shin. BENVOLIOWhy, Romeo, art thou mad?ROMEONot mad, but bound more than a mad-man is;Shut up in prison, kept without my food,Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow. ServantGod gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?ROMEOAy, mine own fortune in my misery. ServantPerhaps you have learned it without book: but, Ipray, can you read any thing you see?ROMEOAy, if I know the letters and the language. Servant Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMYe say honestly: rest you merry!ROMEOStay, fellow; I can read. Reads'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the ladywidow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovelynieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mineuncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair nieceRosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousinTybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.'. A fairassembly: whither should they come?ServantUp. ROMEOWhither?ServantTo supper; to our house. ROMEOWhose house?ServantMy master's. ROMEOIndeed, I should have ask'd you that before. ServantNow I'll tell you without asking: my master is thegreat rich Capulet; and if you be not of the houseof Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!ExitBENVOLIOAt this same ancient feast of Capulet'sSups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMWith all the admired beauties of Verona:Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,Compare her face with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEOWhen the devout religion of mine eyeMaintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;And these, who often drown'd could never die,Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sunNe'er saw her match since first the world begun. BENVOLIOTut, you saw her fair, none else being by,Herself poised with herself in either eye:But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'dYour lady's love against some other maidThat I will show you shining at this feast,And she shall scant show well that now shows best. ROMEOI'll go along, no such sight to be shown,But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. ExeuntSCENE III. A room in Capulet's house. Enter LADY CAPULET and NurseLADY CAPULETNurse, where's my daughter?


I pray, sir, can you read?ROMEOAy, mine own fortune in my misery. ServantPerhaps you have learned it without book: but, Ipray, can you read any thing you see?ROMEOAy, if I know the letters and the language. Servant Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMYe say honestly: rest you merry!ROMEOStay, fellow; I can read. Reads'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters;County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the ladywidow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovelynieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mineuncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair nieceRosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousinTybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.'. A fairassembly: whither should they come?ServantUp. ROMEOWhither?ServantTo supper; to our house. ROMEOWhose house?ServantMy master's. ROMEOIndeed, I should have ask'd you that before. ServantNow I'll tell you without asking: my master is thegreat rich Capulet; and if you be not of the houseof Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!ExitBENVOLIOAt this same ancient feast of Capulet'sSups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMWith all the admired beauties of Verona:Go thither; and, with unattainted eye,Compare her face with some that I shall show,And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. ROMEOWhen the devout religion of mine eyeMaintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;And these, who often drown'd could never die,Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sunNe'er saw her match since first the world begun. BENVOLIOTut, you saw her fair, none else being by,Herself poised with herself in either eye:But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'dYour lady's love against some other maidThat I will show you shining at this feast,And she shall scant show well that now shows best. ROMEOI'll go along, no such sight to be shown,But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. ExeuntSCENE III. A room in Capulet's house. Enter LADY CAPULET and NurseLADY CAPULETNurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me. NurseNow, by my maidenhead, at twelve year old,I bade her come.


The all-seeing sunNe'er saw her match since first the world begun. BENVOLIOTut, you saw her fair, none else being by,Herself poised with herself in either eye:But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'dYour lady's love against some other maidThat I will show you shining at this feast,And she shall scant show well that now shows best. ROMEOI'll go along, no such sight to be shown,But to rejoice in splendor of mine own. ExeuntSCENE III. A room in Capulet's house. Enter LADY CAPULET and NurseLADY CAPULETNurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me. NurseNow, by my maidenhead, at twelve year old,I bade her come. What, lamb! What, ladybird!God forbid! Where's this girl? What, Juliet!Enter JULIETJULIETHow now! Who calls?NurseYour mother. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMJULIETMadam, I am here. What is your will?LADY CAPULETThis is the matter:--Nurse, give leave awhile,We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again;I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age. NurseFaith, I can tell her age unto an hour. LADY CAPULETShe's not fourteen. NurseI'll lay fourteen of my teeth,-And yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four-She is not fourteen.


Where's this girl? What, Juliet!Enter JULIETJULIETHow now! Who calls?NurseYour mother. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMJULIETMadam, I am here. What is your will?LADY CAPULETThis is the matter:--Nurse, give leave awhile,We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again;I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age. NurseFaith, I can tell her age unto an hour. LADY CAPULETShe's not fourteen. NurseI'll lay fourteen of my teeth,-And yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four-She is not fourteen. How long is it nowTo Lammas-tide?LADY CAPULETA fortnight and odd days. NurseEven or odd, of all days in the year,Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!-Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;She was too good for me: but, as I said,On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;That shall she, marry; I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,-Of all the days of the year, upon that day:For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;My lord and you were then at Mantua:-Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said,When it did taste the wormwood on the nippleOf my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!Shake quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow,To bid me trudge:And since that time it is eleven years; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMFor then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood,She could have run and waddled all about;For even the day before, she broke her brow:And then my husband--God be with his soul!A' was a merry man--took up the child:'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. And, by my holidame,The pretty wretch left crying and said 'Ay. 'To see, now, how a jest shall come about!I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?'. Quoth he;And, pretty fool, it stinted and said 'Ay. 'LADY CAPULETEnough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. NurseYes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay. 'And yet, I warrant, it had upon its browA bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly:'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. It stinted and said 'Ay. 'JULIETAnd stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.NursePeace, I have done.


What, Juliet!Enter JULIETJULIETHow now! Who calls?NurseYour mother. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMJULIETMadam, I am here. What is your will?LADY CAPULETThis is the matter:--Nurse, give leave awhile,We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again;I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age. NurseFaith, I can tell her age unto an hour. LADY CAPULETShe's not fourteen. NurseI'll lay fourteen of my teeth,-And yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four-She is not fourteen. How long is it nowTo Lammas-tide?LADY CAPULETA fortnight and odd days. NurseEven or odd, of all days in the year,Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!-Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;She was too good for me: but, as I said,On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;That shall she, marry; I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,-Of all the days of the year, upon that day:For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;My lord and you were then at Mantua:-Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said,When it did taste the wormwood on the nippleOf my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!Shake quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow,To bid me trudge:And since that time it is eleven years; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMFor then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood,She could have run and waddled all about;For even the day before, she broke her brow:And then my husband--God be with his soul!A' was a merry man--took up the child:'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. And, by my holidame,The pretty wretch left crying and said 'Ay. 'To see, now, how a jest shall come about!I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?'. Quoth he;And, pretty fool, it stinted and said 'Ay. 'LADY CAPULETEnough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. NurseYes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay. 'And yet, I warrant, it had upon its browA bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly:'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. It stinted and said 'Ay. 'JULIETAnd stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.NursePeace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace!Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:An I might live to see thee married once,I have my wish. LADY CAPULETMarry, that 'marry' is the very themeI came to talk of.


Who calls?NurseYour mother. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMJULIETMadam, I am here. What is your will?LADY CAPULETThis is the matter:--Nurse, give leave awhile,We must talk in secret:--nurse, come back again;I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age. NurseFaith, I can tell her age unto an hour. LADY CAPULETShe's not fourteen. NurseI'll lay fourteen of my teeth,-And yet, to my teeth be it spoken, I have but four-She is not fourteen. How long is it nowTo Lammas-tide?LADY CAPULETA fortnight and odd days. NurseEven or odd, of all days in the year,Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!-Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;She was too good for me: but, as I said,On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;That shall she, marry; I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,-Of all the days of the year, upon that day:For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;My lord and you were then at Mantua:-Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said,When it did taste the wormwood on the nippleOf my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!Shake quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow,To bid me trudge:And since that time it is eleven years; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMFor then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood,She could have run and waddled all about;For even the day before, she broke her brow:And then my husband--God be with his soul!A' was a merry man--took up the child:'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. And, by my holidame,The pretty wretch left crying and said 'Ay. 'To see, now, how a jest shall come about!I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?'. Quoth he;And, pretty fool, it stinted and said 'Ay. 'LADY CAPULETEnough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. NurseYes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay. 'And yet, I warrant, it had upon its browA bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly:'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. It stinted and said 'Ay. 'JULIETAnd stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.NursePeace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace!Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:An I might live to see thee married once,I have my wish. LADY CAPULETMarry, that 'marry' is the very themeI came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,How stands your disposition to be married?JULIETIt is an honour that I dream not of. NurseAn honour!


How long is it nowTo Lammas-tide?LADY CAPULETA fortnight and odd days. NurseEven or odd, of all days in the year,Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen. Susan and she--God rest all Christian souls!-Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;She was too good for me: but, as I said,On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;That shall she, marry; I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;And she was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,-Of all the days of the year, upon that day:For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;My lord and you were then at Mantua:-Nay, I do bear a brain:--but, as I said,When it did taste the wormwood on the nippleOf my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug!Shake quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow,To bid me trudge:And since that time it is eleven years; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMFor then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood,She could have run and waddled all about;For even the day before, she broke her brow:And then my husband--God be with his soul!A' was a merry man--took up the child:'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. And, by my holidame,The pretty wretch left crying and said 'Ay. 'To see, now, how a jest shall come about!I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?'. Quoth he;And, pretty fool, it stinted and said 'Ay. 'LADY CAPULETEnough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. NurseYes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay. 'And yet, I warrant, it had upon its browA bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly:'Yea,' quoth my husband,'fall'st upon thy face?Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;Wilt thou not, Jule?'. It stinted and said 'Ay. 'JULIETAnd stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.NursePeace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace!Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:An I might live to see thee married once,I have my wish. LADY CAPULETMarry, that 'marry' is the very themeI came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,How stands your disposition to be married?JULIETIt is an honour that I dream not of. NurseAn honour! Were not I thine only nurse, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMI would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat. LADY CAPULETWell, think of marriage now; younger than you,Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,Are made already mothers: by my count,I was your mother much upon these yearsThat you are now a maid.


God mark thee to his grace!Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:An I might live to see thee married once,I have my wish. LADY CAPULETMarry, that 'marry' is the very themeI came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,How stands your disposition to be married?JULIETIt is an honour that I dream not of. NurseAn honour! Were not I thine only nurse, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMI would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat. LADY CAPULETWell, think of marriage now; younger than you,Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,Are made already mothers: by my count,I was your mother much upon these yearsThat you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. NurseA man, young lady! Lady, such a manAs all the world--why, he's a man of wax. LADY CAPULETVerona's summer hath not such a flower. NurseNay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower. LADY CAPULETWhat say you? Can you love the gentleman?This night you shall behold him at our feast;Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face,And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;Examine every married lineament,And see how one another lends contentAnd what obscured in this fair volume liesFind written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love, this unbound lover,To beautify him, only lacks a cover:The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much prideFor fair without the fair within to hide:That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;So shall you share all that he doth possess,By having him, making yourself no less. NurseNo less!


Thus then in brief:The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. NurseA man, young lady! Lady, such a manAs all the world--why, he's a man of wax. LADY CAPULETVerona's summer hath not such a flower. NurseNay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower. LADY CAPULETWhat say you? Can you love the gentleman?This night you shall behold him at our feast;Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face,And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;Examine every married lineament,And see how one another lends contentAnd what obscured in this fair volume liesFind written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love, this unbound lover,To beautify him, only lacks a cover:The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much prideFor fair without the fair within to hide:That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;So shall you share all that he doth possess,By having him, making yourself no less. NurseNo less! Nay, bigger; women grow by men. LADY CAPULETSpeak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?JULIETI'll look to like, if looking liking move: Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBut no more deep will I endart mine eyeThan your consent gives strength to make it fly. Enter a ServantServantMadam, the guests are come, supper served up, youcalled, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed inthe pantry, and every thing in extremity. I musthence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. LADY CAPULETWe follow thee. Exit ServantJuliet, the county stays. NurseGo, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. ExeuntSCENE IV.


Can you love the gentleman?This night you shall behold him at our feast;Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face,And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;Examine every married lineament,And see how one another lends contentAnd what obscured in this fair volume liesFind written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love, this unbound lover,To beautify him, only lacks a cover:The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much prideFor fair without the fair within to hide:That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;So shall you share all that he doth possess,By having him, making yourself no less. NurseNo less! Nay, bigger; women grow by men. LADY CAPULETSpeak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?JULIETI'll look to like, if looking liking move: Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBut no more deep will I endart mine eyeThan your consent gives strength to make it fly. Enter a ServantServantMadam, the guests are come, supper served up, youcalled, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed inthe pantry, and every thing in extremity. I musthence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. LADY CAPULETWe follow thee. Exit ServantJuliet, the county stays. NurseGo, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. ExeuntSCENE IV. A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and othersROMEOWhat, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?Or shall we on without a apology?BENVOLIOThe date is out of such prolixity:We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf,Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath,Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spokeAfter the prompter, for our entrance:But let them measure us by what they will;We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. ROMEOGive me a torch: I am not for this ambling;Being but heavy, I will bear the light. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMNay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. ROMEONot I, believe me: you have dancing shoesWith nimble soles: I have a soul of leadSo stakes me to the ground I cannot move. MERCUTIOYou are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,And soar with them above a common bound. ROMEOI am too sore enpierced with his shaftTo soar with his light feathers, and so bound,I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:Under love's heavy burden do I sink. MERCUTIOAnd, to sink in it, should you burden love;Too great oppression for a tender thing. ROMEOIs love a tender thing?


Nay, bigger; women grow by men. LADY CAPULETSpeak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?JULIETI'll look to like, if looking liking move: Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBut no more deep will I endart mine eyeThan your consent gives strength to make it fly. Enter a ServantServantMadam, the guests are come, supper served up, youcalled, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed inthe pantry, and every thing in extremity. I musthence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. LADY CAPULETWe follow thee. Exit ServantJuliet, the county stays. NurseGo, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. ExeuntSCENE IV. A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and othersROMEOWhat, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?Or shall we on without a apology?BENVOLIOThe date is out of such prolixity:We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf,Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath,Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spokeAfter the prompter, for our entrance:But let them measure us by what they will;We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. ROMEOGive me a torch: I am not for this ambling;Being but heavy, I will bear the light. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMNay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. ROMEONot I, believe me: you have dancing shoesWith nimble soles: I have a soul of leadSo stakes me to the ground I cannot move. MERCUTIOYou are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,And soar with them above a common bound. ROMEOI am too sore enpierced with his shaftTo soar with his light feathers, and so bound,I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:Under love's heavy burden do I sink. MERCUTIOAnd, to sink in it, should you burden love;Too great oppression for a tender thing. ROMEOIs love a tender thing? It is too rough,Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. MERCUTIOIf love be rough with you, be rough with love;Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in:A visor for a visor!


I musthence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. LADY CAPULETWe follow thee. Exit ServantJuliet, the county stays. NurseGo, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. ExeuntSCENE IV. A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and othersROMEOWhat, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?Or shall we on without a apology?BENVOLIOThe date is out of such prolixity:We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf,Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath,Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spokeAfter the prompter, for our entrance:But let them measure us by what they will;We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. ROMEOGive me a torch: I am not for this ambling;Being but heavy, I will bear the light. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMNay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. ROMEONot I, believe me: you have dancing shoesWith nimble soles: I have a soul of leadSo stakes me to the ground I cannot move. MERCUTIOYou are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,And soar with them above a common bound. ROMEOI am too sore enpierced with his shaftTo soar with his light feathers, and so bound,I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:Under love's heavy burden do I sink. MERCUTIOAnd, to sink in it, should you burden love;Too great oppression for a tender thing. ROMEOIs love a tender thing? It is too rough,Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. MERCUTIOIf love be rough with you, be rough with love;Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in:A visor for a visor! What care IWhat curious eye doth quote deformities?Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. BENVOLIOCome, knock and enter; and no sooner in,But every man betake him to his legs. ROMEOA torch for me: let wantons light of heartTickle the senseless rushes with their heels,For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;I'll be a candle-holder, and look on. The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMTut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mireOf this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'stUp to the ears.


A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and othersROMEOWhat, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?Or shall we on without a apology?BENVOLIOThe date is out of such prolixity:We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf,Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath,Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spokeAfter the prompter, for our entrance:But let them measure us by what they will;We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. ROMEOGive me a torch: I am not for this ambling;Being but heavy, I will bear the light. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMNay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. ROMEONot I, believe me: you have dancing shoesWith nimble soles: I have a soul of leadSo stakes me to the ground I cannot move. MERCUTIOYou are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,And soar with them above a common bound. ROMEOI am too sore enpierced with his shaftTo soar with his light feathers, and so bound,I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:Under love's heavy burden do I sink. MERCUTIOAnd, to sink in it, should you burden love;Too great oppression for a tender thing. ROMEOIs love a tender thing? It is too rough,Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. MERCUTIOIf love be rough with you, be rough with love;Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in:A visor for a visor! What care IWhat curious eye doth quote deformities?Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. BENVOLIOCome, knock and enter; and no sooner in,But every man betake him to his legs. ROMEOA torch for me: let wantons light of heartTickle the senseless rushes with their heels,For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;I'll be a candle-holder, and look on. The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMTut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mireOf this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'stUp to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!ROMEONay, that's not so. MERCUTIOI mean, sir, in delayWe waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgment sitsFive times in that ere once in our five wits. ROMEOAnd we mean well in going to this mask;But 'tis no wit to go. MERCUTIOWhy, may one ask?ROMEOI dream'd a dream to-night. MERCUTIOAnd so did I.ROMEOWell, what was yours?MERCUTIOThat dreamers often lie. ROMEOIn bed asleep, while they do dream things true. MERCUTIOO, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comesIn shape no bigger than an agate-stoneOn the fore-finger of an alderman,Drawn with a team of little atomiesAthwart men's noses as they lie asleep;Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMThe cover of the wings of grasshoppers,The traces of the smallest spider's web,The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,Not so big as a round little wormPrick'd from the lazy finger of a maid;Her chariot is an empty hazel-nutMade by the joiner squirrel or old grub,Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. And in this state she gallops night by nightThrough lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,O'er ladies ' lips, who straight on kisses dream,Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are:Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tailTickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,Then dreams, he of another benefice:Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anonDrums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,And being thus frighted swears a prayer or twoAnd sleeps again.


It is too rough,Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. MERCUTIOIf love be rough with you, be rough with love;Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in:A visor for a visor! What care IWhat curious eye doth quote deformities?Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. BENVOLIOCome, knock and enter; and no sooner in,But every man betake him to his legs. ROMEOA torch for me: let wantons light of heartTickle the senseless rushes with their heels,For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;I'll be a candle-holder, and look on. The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMTut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mireOf this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'stUp to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!ROMEONay, that's not so. MERCUTIOI mean, sir, in delayWe waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgment sitsFive times in that ere once in our five wits. ROMEOAnd we mean well in going to this mask;But 'tis no wit to go. MERCUTIOWhy, may one ask?ROMEOI dream'd a dream to-night. MERCUTIOAnd so did I.ROMEOWell, what was yours?MERCUTIOThat dreamers often lie. ROMEOIn bed asleep, while they do dream things true. MERCUTIOO, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comesIn shape no bigger than an agate-stoneOn the fore-finger of an alderman,Drawn with a team of little atomiesAthwart men's noses as they lie asleep;Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMThe cover of the wings of grasshoppers,The traces of the smallest spider's web,The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,Not so big as a round little wormPrick'd from the lazy finger of a maid;Her chariot is an empty hazel-nutMade by the joiner squirrel or old grub,Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. And in this state she gallops night by nightThrough lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,O'er ladies ' lips, who straight on kisses dream,Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are:Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tailTickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,Then dreams, he of another benefice:Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anonDrums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,And being thus frighted swears a prayer or twoAnd sleeps again. This is that very MabThat plats the manes of horses in the night,And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,That presses them and learns them first to bear,Making them women of good carriage:This is she-ROMEOPeace, peace, Mercutio, peace!Thou talk'st of nothing. MERCUTIOTrue, I talk of dreams,Which are the children of an idle brain,Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,Which is as thin of substance as the airAnd more inconstant than the wind, who wooesEven now the frozen bosom of the north,And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence,Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBENVOLIOThis wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;Supper is done, and we shall come too late. ROMEOI fear, too early: for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful dateWith this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course,Direct my sail!


What care IWhat curious eye doth quote deformities?Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. BENVOLIOCome, knock and enter; and no sooner in,But every man betake him to his legs. ROMEOA torch for me: let wantons light of heartTickle the senseless rushes with their heels,For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;I'll be a candle-holder, and look on. The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. MERCUTIO Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMTut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mireOf this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'stUp to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!ROMEONay, that's not so. MERCUTIOI mean, sir, in delayWe waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgment sitsFive times in that ere once in our five wits. ROMEOAnd we mean well in going to this mask;But 'tis no wit to go. MERCUTIOWhy, may one ask?ROMEOI dream'd a dream to-night. MERCUTIOAnd so did I.ROMEOWell, what was yours?MERCUTIOThat dreamers often lie. ROMEOIn bed asleep, while they do dream things true. MERCUTIOO, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comesIn shape no bigger than an agate-stoneOn the fore-finger of an alderman,Drawn with a team of little atomiesAthwart men's noses as they lie asleep;Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMThe cover of the wings of grasshoppers,The traces of the smallest spider's web,The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,Not so big as a round little wormPrick'd from the lazy finger of a maid;Her chariot is an empty hazel-nutMade by the joiner squirrel or old grub,Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. And in this state she gallops night by nightThrough lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,O'er ladies ' lips, who straight on kisses dream,Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are:Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tailTickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,Then dreams, he of another benefice:Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anonDrums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,And being thus frighted swears a prayer or twoAnd sleeps again. This is that very MabThat plats the manes of horses in the night,And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,That presses them and learns them first to bear,Making them women of good carriage:This is she-ROMEOPeace, peace, Mercutio, peace!Thou talk'st of nothing. MERCUTIOTrue, I talk of dreams,Which are the children of an idle brain,Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,Which is as thin of substance as the airAnd more inconstant than the wind, who wooesEven now the frozen bosom of the north,And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence,Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBENVOLIOThis wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;Supper is done, and we shall come too late. ROMEOI fear, too early: for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful dateWith this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course,Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. BENVOLIOStrike, drum. ExeuntSCENE V.


Come, we burn daylight, ho!ROMEONay, that's not so. MERCUTIOI mean, sir, in delayWe waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgment sitsFive times in that ere once in our five wits. ROMEOAnd we mean well in going to this mask;But 'tis no wit to go. MERCUTIOWhy, may one ask?ROMEOI dream'd a dream to-night. MERCUTIOAnd so did I.ROMEOWell, what was yours?MERCUTIOThat dreamers often lie. ROMEOIn bed asleep, while they do dream things true. MERCUTIOO, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife, and she comesIn shape no bigger than an agate-stoneOn the fore-finger of an alderman,Drawn with a team of little atomiesAthwart men's noses as they lie asleep;Her wagon-spokes made of long spiders' legs, Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMThe cover of the wings of grasshoppers,The traces of the smallest spider's web,The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,Not so big as a round little wormPrick'd from the lazy finger of a maid;Her chariot is an empty hazel-nutMade by the joiner squirrel or old grub,Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. And in this state she gallops night by nightThrough lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,O'er ladies ' lips, who straight on kisses dream,Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are:Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tailTickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,Then dreams, he of another benefice:Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anonDrums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,And being thus frighted swears a prayer or twoAnd sleeps again. This is that very MabThat plats the manes of horses in the night,And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,That presses them and learns them first to bear,Making them women of good carriage:This is she-ROMEOPeace, peace, Mercutio, peace!Thou talk'st of nothing. MERCUTIOTrue, I talk of dreams,Which are the children of an idle brain,Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,Which is as thin of substance as the airAnd more inconstant than the wind, who wooesEven now the frozen bosom of the north,And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence,Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBENVOLIOThis wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;Supper is done, and we shall come too late. ROMEOI fear, too early: for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful dateWith this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course,Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. BENVOLIOStrike, drum. ExeuntSCENE V. A hall in Capulet's house. Musicians waiting.


This is that very MabThat plats the manes of horses in the night,And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,That presses them and learns them first to bear,Making them women of good carriage:This is she-ROMEOPeace, peace, Mercutio, peace!Thou talk'st of nothing. MERCUTIOTrue, I talk of dreams,Which are the children of an idle brain,Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,Which is as thin of substance as the airAnd more inconstant than the wind, who wooesEven now the frozen bosom of the north,And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence,Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMBENVOLIOThis wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;Supper is done, and we shall come too late. ROMEOI fear, too early: for my mind misgivesSome consequence yet hanging in the starsShall bitterly begin his fearful dateWith this night's revels and expire the termOf a despised life closed in my breastBy some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course,Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. BENVOLIOStrike, drum. ExeuntSCENE V. A hall in Capulet's house. Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen with napkinsFirst ServantWhere's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? Heshift a trencher? He scrape a trencher!Second ServantWhen good manners shall lie all in one or two men'shands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing. First ServantAway with the joint-stools, remove thecourt-cupboard, look to the plate.


Enter Servingmen with napkinsFirst ServantWhere's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? Heshift a trencher? He scrape a trencher!Second ServantWhen good manners shall lie all in one or two men'shands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing. First ServantAway with the joint-stools, remove thecourt-cupboard, look to the plate. Good thou, saveme a piece of marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, letthe porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell. Antony, and Potpan!Second ServantAy, boy, ready. First ServantYou are looked for and called for, asked for andsought for, in the great chamber. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMSecond ServantWe cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys; bebrisk awhile, and the longer liver take all. Enter CAPULET, with JULIET and others of his house, meeting the Guests and MaskersCAPULETWelcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toesUnplagued with corns will have a bout with you. Ah ha, my mistresses! Which of you allWill now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the dayThat I have worn a visor and could tellA whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians, play. A hall, a hall! Give room! And foot it, girls. Music plays, and they danceMore light, you knaves; and turn the tables up,And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot. Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well. Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet;For you and I are past our dancing days:How long is't now since last yourself and IWere in a mask?Second CapuletBy'r lady, thirty years. CAPULETWhat, man!


Come, musicians, play. A hall, a hall! Give room! And foot it, girls. Music plays, and they danceMore light, you knaves; and turn the tables up,And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot. Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well. Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet;For you and I are past our dancing days:How long is't now since last yourself and IWere in a mask?Second CapuletBy'r lady, thirty years. CAPULETWhat, man! '. Tis not so much, 'tis not so much:'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio,Come pentecost as quickly as it will,Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd. Second Capulet'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir;His son is thirty. CAPULETWill you tell me that?His son was but a ward two years ago. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMROMEO To a Servingman What lady is that, which dothenrich the handOf yonder knight?ServantI know not, sir. ROMEOO, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. TYBALTThis, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. CAPULETWhy, how now, kinsman!


'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio,Come pentecost as quickly as it will,Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd. Second Capulet'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir;His son is thirty. CAPULETWill you tell me that?His son was but a ward two years ago. Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMROMEO To a Servingman What lady is that, which dothenrich the handOf yonder knight?ServantI know not, sir. ROMEOO, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!It seems she hangs upon the cheek of nightLike a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. TYBALTThis, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. CAPULETWhy, how now, kinsman! Wherefore storm you so?TYBALTUncle, this is a Montague, our foe,A villain that is hither come in spite,To scorn at our solemnity this night. CAPULETYoung Romeo is it?TYBALT'Tis he, that villain Romeo. CAPULETContent thee, gentle coz, let him alone;He bears him like a portly gentleman; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMAnd, to say truth, Verona brags of himTo be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:I would not for the wealth of all the townHere in my house do him disparagement:Therefore be patient, take no note of him:It is my will, the which if thou respect,Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. TYBALTIt fits, when such a villain is a guest:I'll not endure him. CAPULETHe shall be endured:What, goodman boy!


Forswear it, sight!For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. TYBALTThis, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slaveCome hither, cover'd with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. CAPULETWhy, how now, kinsman! Wherefore storm you so?TYBALTUncle, this is a Montague, our foe,A villain that is hither come in spite,To scorn at our solemnity this night. CAPULETYoung Romeo is it?TYBALT'Tis he, that villain Romeo. CAPULETContent thee, gentle coz, let him alone;He bears him like a portly gentleman; Romeo and Juliet: Entire Playhttp: www-tech.mit.edu Shakespeare romeo juliet full.html1 18 2007 12:23 PMAnd, to say truth, Verona brags of himTo be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:I would not for the wealth of all the townHere in my house do him disparagement:Therefore be patient, take no note of him:It is my will, the which if thou respect,Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. TYBALTIt fits, when such a villain is a guest:I'll not endure him. CAPULETHe shall be endured:What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;Am I the master here, or you? Go to. You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!You'll make a mutiny among my guests!You will set cock-a-hoop! You'll be the man!TYBALTWhy, uncle, 'tis a shame. CAPULETGo to, go to;You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:You must contrary me! Marry, 'tis time. Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame!I'll make you quiet.