The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: ee4r - Tragedies, p. 55

Left Column


The Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet. She is too faire, too wisewi: sely wise: wisely too faire, To merit blisse by making me dispaire: She hath forsworne to loue, and in that vow Do I liue dead, that liue to tell it now. Ben.
[225]
Be rul'd by me, forget to thinke of her.
Rom. O teach me how I should forget to thinke. Ben. By giuing liberty vnto thine eyes, Examine other beauties, Ro. 'Tis the way to cal hers (exquisit) in question more,
[230]
These happy maskes that kisse faire Ladies browes, Being blacke, puts vs in mind they hide the faire: He that is strooken blind, cannot forget The precious treasure of his eye‑sight lost: Shew me a Mistresse that is passing faire,
[235]
What doth her beauty serue but as a note, Where I may read who past that passing faire. Farewell thou can'st not teach me to forget,
Ben. Ile pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. Exeunt.
[Act 1, Scene 2] Enter Capulet, Countie Paris, and the Clowne. Capu. Mountague is bound as well as I,
[240]
In penalty alike, and 'tis not hard I thinke, For men so old as wee, to keepe the peace.
Par. Of Honourable reckoning are you both, And pittie 'tis you liu'd at ods so long: But now my Lord, what say you to my sute? Capu.
[245]
But saying ore what I haue said before, My Child is yet a stranger in the world, Shee hath not seene the change of fourteene yeares, Let two more Summers wither in their pride, Ere we may thinke her ripe to be a Bride.
Pari.
[250]
Younger then she, are happy mothers made.
Capu. And too soone mar'd are those so early made: Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she, Shee's the hopefull Lady of my earth: But wooe her gentle Paris, get her heart,
[255]
My will to her consent, is but a part, And shee agree, within her scope of choise, Lyes my consent, and faire according voice: This night I hold an old accustom'd Feast, Whereto I haue inuited many a Guest,
[260]
Such as I loue, and you among the store, One more, most welcome makes my number more: At my poore house, looke to behold this night, Earth‑treading starres, that make darke heauen light, Such comfort as do lusty young men feele,
[265]
When well apparrel'd Aprill on the heele Of limping Winter treads, euen such delight Among fresh Fennell buds shall you this night Inherit at my house: heare all, all see: And like her most, whose merit most shall be:
[270]
Which one more veiw, of many, mine being one, May stand in number, though in reckning none. Come, goe with me: goe sirrah trudge about, Through faire Verona, find those persons out, Whose names are written there, and to them say,
[275]
My house and welcome, on their pleasure stay.
Exit. Ser.

Find them out whose names are written. Heere it

is written, that the Shoo‑maker should meddle with his

Yard, and the Tayler with his Last, the Fisher with his

Pensill, and the Painter with his Nets. But I am sent to

[280]

find those persons whose names are writ, & can neuer find

what names the writing person hath here writ (I must to

the learned) in good time.

Enter Benuolio, and Romeo. Ben. Tut man, one fire burnes out anothers burning, One pai e is lesned by anothers anguish:

Right Column


[285]
Turne giddie, and be holpe by backward turning: One desparate greefe, cures with anothers la nguish: Take thou some new infection to the eye, And the rank poyson of the old wil die.
Rom. Your Plantan leafe is excellent for that. Ben.
[290]
For what I pray thee?
Rom. For your broken shin. Ben. Why Romeo art thou mad? Rom. Not mad, but bound more then a mad man is: Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode,
[295]
Whipt and tormented: and Godden good fellow,
Ser. Godgigoden, I pray sir can you read? Rom. I mine owne fortune in my miserie. Ser. Perhaps you haue learn'd it without booke: But I pray can you read any thing you see? Rom.
[300]
I, if I know the Letters and the Language.
Ser. Ye say honestly, rest you merry. Rom. Stay fellow, I can read. He reades the Letter.

SEigneur Martino, and his wife and daughter: County An­

selme and his beautious sisters: the Lady widdow of Vtru­

[305]

uio, Seigneur Placentio, and his louely Neeces: Mercutio and

his brother Valentine: mine vncle Capulet his wife and daugh­

ters: my faire Neece Rosaline, Liuia, Seigneur Valentio, & his

Cosen Tybalt: Lucio and the liuely Helena.

A faire assembly, whither should they come?

Ser.
[310]

Vp.

Rom.

Whither ? to supper?

Ser.

To our house.

Rom.

Whose house?

Ser.

My Maisters.

Rom.
[315]
Indeed I should haue askt you that before.
Ser.

Now Ile tell you without asking. My maister is

the great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of

Mountagues I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest

you merry.

Exit. Ben.
[320]
At this same auncient Feast of Capulets Sups the faire Rosaline, whom thou so loues: With all the admired Beauties of Verona, Go thither and with vnattainted eye, Compare her face with some that I shall show,
[325]
And I will make thee thinke thy Swan a Crow.
Rom. When the deuout religion of mine eye Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire: And these who often drown'd could neuer die, Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers.
[330]
One fairer then my loue: the all‑seeing Sun Nere saw her match, since first the world begun.
Ben. Tut, you saw her faire, none else being by, Herselfe poys'd with herselfe in either eye: But in that Christall scales, let there be waid,
[335]
Your Ladies loue against some other Maid That I will show you, shining at this Feast, And she shew scant shell, well, that now shewes best.
Rom. Ile goe along, no such sight to be showne, But to reioyce in splendor of mine owne.
[Act 1, Scene 3] Enter Capulets Wife and Nurse. Wife.
[340]
Nurse wher's my daughter? call her forth to me.
Nurse.

Now by my Maidenhead, at twelue yeare old

I bad her come, what Lamb: what Ladi‑bird, God forbid,

Where's this Girle? what Iuliet?

Enter Iuliet. Iuliet.

How now, who calls?

Nur.
[345]

Your Mother.

Iuliet.

Madam I am heere, what is your will?

Wife.

This is the matter: Nurse giue me leaue awhile, we must

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[Act 1, Scene 3] Enter Capulets Wife and Nurse. Wife.
[340]
Nurse wher's my daughter? call her forth to me.
Nurse.

Now by my Maidenhead, at twelue yeare old

I bad her come, what Lamb: what Ladi‑bird, God forbid,

Where's this Girle? what Iuliet?

Enter Iuliet. Iuliet.

How now, who calls?

Nur.
[345]

Your Mother.

Iuliet.

Madam I am heere, what is your will?

Wife.

This is the matter: Nurse giue me leaue awhile, we

must talke in secret. Nurse come backe againe, I haue re­

membred me, thou'se heare our counsell. Thou knowest

[350]

my daughter's of a prety age.

Nurse. Faith I can tell her age vnto an houre. Wife. Shee's not fourteene. Nurse. Ile lay fourteene of my teeth, And yet to my teene be it spoken,
[355]
I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene. How long is it now to Lammas tide ?
Wife. A fortnight and odde days. Nurse.

Euen or odde, of all daies in the yeare come

Lammas Eue at night shall she be fourteene. Susan & she,

[360]

God rest all Christian soules, were of an age. Well Susan

is with God, she was too good for me. But as I said, on La­ mas Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall she ma­

rie, I remember it well. 'Tis since the Earth‑quake now

eleuen yeares, and she was wean'd I neuer shall forget it,

[365]

of all the daies of the yeare, vpon that day: for I had then

laid Worme‑wood to my Dug sitting in the Sunne vnder

the Douehouse wall, my Lord and you were then at

Mantua, nay I doe beare a braine. But as I said, when it

did tast the Worme‑wood on the nipple of my Dugge,

[370]

and felt it bitter, pretty foole, to see it teachie, and fall out

with the Dugge, Shake quoth the Doue‑house, 'twas no

neede I trow to bid mee trudge: and since that time it is

a eleuen yeares, for then she could stand alone, nay bi'th'

roode she could haue runne, & wadled all about: for euen

[375]

the day before she broke her brow, & then my Husband

God be with his soule, a was a merrie man, tooke vp the

Child, yea quoth hee, doest thou fall vpon thy face? thou

wilt fall backeward when thou hast more wit, wilt thou

not Iule? And by my holy‑dam, the pretty wretch lefte

[380]

crying, & said I: to see now how a Iest shall come about.

I warrant, & I shall liue a thousand yeares, I neuer should

forget it: wilt thou not Iulet quoth he? and pretty foole it

stinted, and said I.

Old La. Inough of this, I pray thee hold thy peace. Nurse.
[385]

Yes Madam, yet I cannot chuse but laugh, to

thinke it should leaue crying, & say I: and yet I warrant

it had vpon it brow, a bumpe as big as a young Cockrels

stone? A perilous knock, and it cryed bitterly. Yea quoth

my husband, fall'st vpon thy face, thou wilt fall back­

[390]

ward when thou commest to age: wilt thou not Iule? It

stinted: and said I.

Iule. And stint thou too, I pray thee Nurse, say I. Nur.

Peace I haue done: God marke thee too his grace

thou wast the prettiest Babe that ere I nurst, and I might

[395]

liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.

Old La. Marry that marry is the very theame I came to talke of, tell me daughter Iuliet, How stands your disposition to be Married? Iuli. It is an houre that I dreame not of. Nur.
[400]

An houre, were I not thine onely Nurse, I would

say thou had'st suckt wisedome from thy teat.

Old La. Well thinke of marriage now, yonger then you Heere in Verona, Ladies of esteeme, Are made already Mothers. By my count
[405]
I was your Mother, much vpon these yeares That you are now a Maide, thus then in briefe: The valiant Paris seekes you for his loue.
Nurse.

A man young Lady, Lady, such a man as all

the world. Why hee's a man of waxe.

Old La.
[410]
Veronas Summer hath not such a flower.
Nurse. Nay hee's a flower, infaith a very flower. Old La. What say you, can you loue the Gentleman? This night you shall behold him at our Feast, Read ore the volume of young Paris face,
[415]
And find delight, writ there with Beauties pen: Examine euery seuerall liniament, And see how one another lends content: And what obscur'd in this faire volume lies, Find written in the Margent of his eyes.
[420]
This precious Booke of Loue, this vnbound Louer, To Beautifie him, onely lacks a Couer. The fish liues in the Sea, and 'tis much pride For faire without, the faire within to hide: That Booke in manies eyes doth share the glorie,
[425]
That in Gold claspes, Lockes in the Golden storie: So shall you share all that he doth possesse, By hauing him, making your selfe no lesse.
Nurse. No lesse, nay bigger: women grow by men. Old La. Speake briefly, can you like of Paris loue? Iuli.
[430]
Ile looke to like, if looking liking moue. But no more deepe will I endart mine eye, Then your consent giues strength to make flye.
Enter a Seruing man. Ser.

Madam, the guests are come, supper seru'd vp, you

cal'd, my young Lady askt for, the Nurse cur'st in the Pan­

[435]

tery, and euery thing in extremitie: I must hence to wait, I

beseech you follow straight.

Exit. Mo. We follow thee, Iuliet, the Countie staies. Nurse. Goe Gyrle, seeke happi This i has been placed lower than the rest of the line of text.e nights to happy daies. Exeunt.
 

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 3]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Capulets Wife and Nurse.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Wife.</speaker>
      <l n="340">Nurse wher's my daughter? call her forth to me.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <p n="341">Now by my Maidenhead, at twelue yeare old
      <lb n="342"/>I bad her come, what Lamb: what Ladi‑bird, God forbid,
      <lb n="343"/>Where's this Girle? what<hi rend="italic">Iuliet</hi>?</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Iuliet.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iuliet.</speaker>
      <p n="344">How now, who calls?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nur.</speaker>
      <p n="345">Your Mother.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iuliet.</speaker>
      <p n="346">Madam I am heere, what is your will?</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Wife.</speaker>
      <p n="347">This is the matter: Nurse giue me leaue awhile, we<pb facs="FFimg:axc0674-0.jpg" n="56"/>
         <cb n="1"/>
         
      <lb n="348"/>must talke in secret. Nurse come backe againe, I haue re­
      <lb n="349"/>membred me, thou'se heare our counsell. Thou knowest
      <lb n="350"/>my daughter's of a prety age.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <l n="351">Faith I can tell her age vnto an houre.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Wife.</speaker>
      <l n="352">Shee's not fourteene.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <l n="353">Ile lay fourteene of my teeth,</l>
      <l n="354">And yet to my teene be it spoken,</l>
      <l n="355">I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene.</l>
      <l n="356">How long is it now to<hi rend="italic">Lammas</hi>tide<c rend="italic">?</c>
      </l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Wife.</speaker>
      <l n="357">A fortnight and odde days.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <p n="358">Euen or odde, of all daies in the yeare come
      <lb n="359"/>
         <hi rend="italic">Lammas</hi>Eue at night shall she be fourteene.<hi rend="italic">Susan</hi>&amp; she,
      <lb n="360"/>God rest all Christian soules, were of an age. Well<hi rend="italic">Susan</hi>
         
      <lb n="361"/>is with God, she was too good for me. But as I said, on<hi rend="italic">La­
      <lb n="362"/>mas</hi>Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall she ma­
      <lb n="363"/>rie, I remember it well. 'Tis since the Earth‑quake now
      <lb n="364"/>eleuen yeares, and she was wean'd I neuer shall forget it,
      <lb n="365"/>of all the daies of the yeare, vpon that day: for I had then
      <lb n="366"/>laid Worme‑wood to my Dug sitting in the Sunne vnder
      <lb n="367"/>the Douehouse wall, my Lord and you were then at
      <lb n="368"/>
         <hi rend="italic">Mantua</hi>, nay I doe beare a braine. But as I said, when it
      <lb n="369"/>did tast the Worme‑wood on the nipple of my Dugge,
      <lb n="370"/>and felt it bitter, pretty foole, to see it teachie, and fall out
      <lb n="371"/>with the Dugge, Shake quoth the Doue‑house, 'twas no
      <lb n="372"/>neede I trow to bid mee trudge: and since that time it is
      <lb n="373"/>a eleuen yeares, for then she could stand alone, nay bi'th'
      <lb n="374"/>roode she could haue runne, &amp; wadled all about: for euen
      <lb n="375"/>the day before she broke her brow, &amp; then my Husband
      <lb n="376"/>God be with his soule, a was a merrie man, tooke vp the
      <lb n="377"/>Child, yea quoth hee, doest thou fall vpon thy face? thou
      <lb n="378"/>wilt fall backeward when thou hast more wit, wilt thou
      <lb n="379"/>not<hi rend="italic">Iule</hi>? And by my holy‑dam, the pretty wretch lefte
      <lb n="380"/>crying, &amp; said I: to see now how a Iest shall come about.
      <lb n="381"/>I warrant, &amp; I shall liue a thousand yeares, I neuer should
      <lb n="382"/>forget it: wilt thou not<hi rend="italic">Iulet</hi>quoth he? and pretty foole it
      <lb n="383"/>stinted, and said I.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="384">Inough of this, I pray thee hold thy peace.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <p n="385">Yes Madam, yet I cannot chuse but laugh, to
      <lb n="386"/>thinke it should leaue crying, &amp; say I: and yet I warrant
      <lb n="387"/>it had vpon it brow, a bumpe as big as a young Cockrels
      <lb n="388"/>stone? A perilous knock, and it cryed bitterly. Yea quoth
      <lb n="389"/>my husband, fall'st vpon thy face, thou wilt fall back­
      <lb n="390"/>ward when thou commest to age: wilt thou not<hi rend="italic">Iule</hi>? It
      <lb n="391"/>stinted: and said I.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iule.</speaker>
      <l n="392">And stint thou too, I pray thee<hi rend="italic">Nurse</hi>, say I.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nur.</speaker>
      <p n="393">Peace I haue done: God marke thee too his grace
      <lb n="394"/>thou wast the prettiest Babe that ere I nurst, and I might
      <lb n="395"/>liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="396">Marry that marry is the very theame</l>
      <l n="397">I came to talke of, tell me daughter<hi rend="italic">Iuliet</hi>,</l>
      <l n="398">How stands your disposition to be Married?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iuli.</speaker>
      <l n="399">It is an houre that I dreame not of.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nur.</speaker>
      <p n="400">An houre, were I not thine onely Nurse, I would
      <lb n="401"/>say thou had'st suckt wisedome from thy teat.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="402">Well thinke of marriage now, yonger then you</l>
      <l n="403">Heere in<hi rend="italic">Verona</hi>, Ladies of esteeme,</l>
      <l n="404">Are made already Mothers. By my count</l>
      <l n="405">I was your Mother, much vpon these yeares</l>
      <l n="406">That you are now a Maide, thus then in briefe:</l>
      <l n="407">The valiant<hi rend="italic">Paris</hi>seekes you for his loue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <p n="408">A man young Lady, Lady, such a man as all
      <lb n="409"/>the world. Why hee's a man of waxe.</p>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="410">
         <hi rend="italic">Veronas</hi>Summer hath not such a flower.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <l n="411">Nay hee's a flower, infaith a very flower.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="412">What say you, can you loue the Gentleman?</l>
      <l n="413">This night you shall behold him at our Feast,</l>
      <cb n="2"/>
      <l n="414">Read ore the volume of young<hi rend="italic">Paris</hi>face,</l>
      <l n="415">And find delight, writ there with Beauties pen:</l>
      <l n="416">Examine euery seuerall liniament,</l>
      <l n="417">And see how one another lends content:</l>
      <l n="418">And what obscur'd in this faire volume lies,</l>
      <l n="419">Find written in the Margent of his eyes.</l>
      <l n="420">This precious Booke of Loue, this vnbound Louer,</l>
      <l n="421">To Beautifie him, onely lacks a Couer.</l>
      <l n="422">The fish liues in the Sea, and 'tis much pride</l>
      <l n="423">For faire without, the faire within to hide:</l>
      <l n="424">That Booke in manies eyes doth share the glorie,</l>
      <l n="425">That in Gold claspes, Lockes in the Golden storie:</l>
      <l n="426">So shall you share all that he doth possesse,</l>
      <l n="427">By hauing him, making your selfe no lesse.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <l n="428">No lesse, nay bigger: women grow by men.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-lac">
      <speaker rend="italic">Old La.</speaker>
      <l n="429">Speake briefly, can you like of<hi rend="italic">Paris</hi>loue?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iuli.</speaker>
      <l n="430">Ile looke to like, if looking liking moue.</l>
      <l n="431">But no more deepe will I endart mine eye,</l>
      <l n="432">Then your consent giues strength to make flye.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter a Seruing man.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-rom-ser">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ser.</speaker>
      <p n="433">Madam, the guests are come, supper seru'd vp, you
      <lb n="434"/>cal'd, my young Lady askt for, the Nurse cur'st in the Pan­
      <lb n="435"/>tery, and euery thing in extremitie: I must hence to wait, I
      <lb n="436"/>beseech you follow straight.</p>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-rom-mon">
      <speaker rend="italic">Mo.</speaker>
      <l n="437">We follow thee,<hi rend="italic">Iuliet</hi>, the Countie staies.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-nur">
      <speaker rend="italic">Nurse.</speaker>
      <l n="438">Goe Gyrle, seeke happi<note resp="#ES">This i has been placed lower than the rest of the line of text.</note>e nights to happy daies.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

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