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: ff2r - Tragedies, p. 63

Left Column


The Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet. Nur.
[1240]
This afternoone sir? well she shall be there.
Ro. And stay thou good Nurse behind the Abbey wall, Within this houre my man shall be with thee, And bring thee Cords made like a tackled staire, Which to the high top gallant of my ioy,
[1245]
Must be my conuoy in the secret night. Farewell, be trustie and Ile quite thy paines: Farewell, commend me to thy Mistresse.
Nur. Now God in heauen blesse thee: harke you sir, Rom. What saist thou my deare Nurse? Nurse.
[1250]

Is your man secret, did you nere heare say two

may keepe counsell putting one away.

Ro.

Warrant thee my man is true as steele.

Nur.

Well sir, my Mistresse is the sweetest Lady, Lord,

Lord, when 'twas a little prating thing. O there is a No­

[1255]

ble man in Towne one Paris, that would faine lay knife a­

board: but she good soule had as leeue a see Toade, a very

Toade as see him: I anger her sometimes, and tell her that

Paris is the properer man, but Ile warrant you, when I say

so, shee lookes as pale as any clout in the versall world.

[1260]

Doth not Rosemarie and Romeo begin both with a letter?

Rom.

I Nurse, what of that? Both with an R

Nur.

A mocker that's the dogs name. R. is for the no,

I know it begins with some other letter, and she hath the

prettiest sententious of it, of you and Rosemary, that it

[1265]

would do you good to heare it.

Rom.

Commend me to thy Lady.

Nur.

I a thousand times. Peter?

Pet.

Anon.

Nur.

Before and apace.

Exit Nurse and Peter.
[Act 2, Scene 5] Enter Iuliet. Iul.
[1270]
The clocke strook nine, when I did send the Nurse, In halfe an houre she promised to returne, Perchance she cannot meete him: that's not so: Oh she is lame, Loues Herauld should be thoughts, Which ten times faster glides then the Sunnes beames,
[1275]
Driuing backe shadowes ouer lowring hils. Therefore do nimble Pinion'd Doues draw Loue, And therefore hath the wind‑swift Cupid wings: Now is the Sun vpon the highmost hill Of this daies iourney, and from nine till twelue,
[1280]
I three long houres, yet she is not come. Had she affections and warme youthfull blood, She would be as swift in motion as a ball, My words would bandy her to my sweete Loue, And his to me, but old folkes,
[1285]
Many faine as they were dead, Vnwieldie, slow, heauy, and pale as lead. Enter Nurse. O God she comes, O hony Nurse what newes? Hast thou met with him? send thy man away.
Nur. Peter stay at the gate. Iul.
[1290]
Now good sweet Nurse: O Lord, why lookest thou sad? Though newes, be sad, yet tell them merrily. If good thou sham'st the musicke of sweet newes, By playing it to me, with so sower a face.
Nur.
[1295]
I am a weary, giue me leaue awhile, Fie how my bones ake, what a iaunt haue I had?
Iul. I would thou had'st my bones, and I thy newes: Nay come I pray thee speake, good good Nurse speake. Nur. Iesu what hast? can you not stay a while?
[1300]
Do you not see that I am out of breath?
Iul. How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breth To say to me, that thou art out of breath? The excuse that thou dost make in this delay,

Right Column


Is longer then the tale thou dost excuse.
[1305]
Is thy newes good or bad? answere to that, Say either, and Ile stay the circumstance: Let me be satisfied, ist good or bad?
Nur.

Well, you haue made a simple choice, you know

not how to chuse a man: Romeo, no not he though his face

[1310]

be better then any mans, yet his legs excels all mens, and

for a hand, and a foote, and a body, though they be not to

be talkt on, yet they are past compare: he is not the flower

of curtesie, but Ile warrant him as gentle a Lambe: go thy

waies wench, serue God. What haue you din'd at home?

Iul.
[1315]
No no: but all this this did I know before What saies he of our marriage? what of that?
Nur. Lord how my head akes, what a head haue I? It beates as it would fall in twenty peeces. My backe a tother side: o my backe, my backe:
[1320]
Beshrew your heart for sending me about To catch my death with iaunting vp and downe.
Iul. Ifaith: I am sorrie that thou art so well. Sweet sweet, sweet Nurse, tell me what saies my Loue? Nur. Your Loue saies like an honest Gentleman,
[1325]
And a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, And I warrant a vertuous: where is your Mother?
Iul. Where is my Mother? Why she is within, where should she be? How odly thou repli'st:
[1330]
Your Loue saies like an honest Gentleman: Where is your Mother?
Nur. O Gods Lady deare, Are you so hot? marrie come vp I trow, Is this the Poultis for my aking bones?
[1335]
Henceforward do your messages your selfe.
Iul. Heere's such a coile, come what saies Romeo? Nur. Haue you got leaue to go to shrift to day? Iul. I haue. Nur. Then high you hence to Frier Lawrence Cell,
[1340]
There staies a Husband to make you a wife: Now comes the wanton bloud vp in your cheekes, Thei'le be in Scarlet straight at any newes: Hie you to Church, I must an other way, To fetch a Ladder by the which your Loue
[1345]
Must climde a birds nest Soone when it is darke: I am the drudge, and toile in your delight: But you shall beare the burthen soone at night. Go Ile to dinner, hie you to the Cell.
Iul. Hie to high Fortune, honest Nurse, farewell. Exeunt.
[Act 2, Scene 6] Enter Frier and Romeo. Fri.
[1350]
So smile the heauens vpon this holy act, That after houres, with sorrow chide vs not.
Rom. Amen, amen, but come what sorrow can, It cannot counteruaile the exchange of ioy That one short minute giues me in her sight:
[1355]
Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then Loue‑deuouring death do what he dare, It is inough. I may but call her mine.
Fri. These violent delights haue violent endes, And in their triumph: die like fire and powder;
[1360]
Which as they kisse consume. The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his owne deliciousnesse, And in the taste confoundes the appetite. Therefore Loue moderately, long Loue doth so, Too swift arriues as tardie as too slow. Enter Iuliet.
[1365]
Here comes the Lady. Oh so light a foot Will nere weare out the euerlasting flint, ff2 A

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[Act 2, Scene 6] Enter Frier and Romeo. Fri.
[1350]
So smile the heauens vpon this holy act, That after houres, with sorrow chide vs not.
Rom. Amen, amen, but come what sorrow can, It cannot counteruaile the exchange of ioy That one short minute giues me in her sight:
[1355]
Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then Loue‑deuouring death do what he dare, It is inough. I may but call her mine.
Fri. These violent delights haue violent endes, And in their triumph: die like fire and powder;
[1360]
Which as they kisse consume. The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his owne deliciousnesse, And in the taste confoundes the appetite. Therefore Loue moderately, long Loue doth so, Too swift arriues as tardie as too slow. Enter Iuliet.
[1365]
Here comes the Lady. Oh so light a foot Will nere weare out the euerlasting flint, A Louer may bestride the Gossamours, That ydles in the wanton Summer ayre, And yet not fall, so light is vanitie.
Iul.
[1370]
Good euen to my ghostly Confessor.
Fri. Romeo shall thanke thee Daughter for vs both. Iul. As much to him, else in his thanks too much. Fri. Ah Iuliet, if the measure of thy ioy Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more
[1375]
To blason it, then sweeten with thy breath This neighbour ayre, and let rich musickes tongue, Vnfold the imagin'd happinesse that both Receiue in either, by this deere encounter.
Iul. Conceit more rich in matter then in words,
[1380]
Brags of his substance, not of Ornament: They are but beggers that can count their worth, But my true Loue is growne to such such excesse, I cannot sum vp some of halfe my wealth.
Fri. Come, come with me, & we will make short worke,
[1385]
For by your leaues, you shall not stay alone, Till holy Church incorporate two in one.
 

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<div type="scene" n="6" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 6]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Frier and Romeo.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-rom-fla">
      <speaker rend="italic">Fri.</speaker>
      <l n="1350">So smile the heauens vpon this holy act,</l>
      <l n="1351">That after houres, with sorrow chide vs not.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-rom">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rom.</speaker>
      <l n="1352">Amen, amen, but come what sorrow can,</l>
      <l n="1353">It cannot counteruaile the exchange of ioy</l>
      <l n="1354">That one short minute giues me in her sight:</l>
      <l n="1355">Do thou but close our hands with holy words,</l>
      <l n="1356">Then Loue‑deuouring death do what he dare,</l>
      <l n="1357">It is inough. I may but call her mine.</l>
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   <sp who="#F-rom-fla">
      <speaker rend="italic">Fri.</speaker>
      <l n="1358">These violent delights haue violent endes,</l>
      <l n="1359">And in their triumph: die like fire and powder;</l>
      <l n="1360">Which as they kisse consume. The sweetest honey</l>
      <l n="1361">Is loathsome in his owne deliciousnesse,</l>
      <l n="1362">And in the taste confoundes the appetite.</l>
      <l n="1363">Therefore Loue moderately, long Loue doth so,</l>
      <l n="1364">Too swift arriues as tardie as too slow.</l>
      <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Iuliet.</stage>
      <l n="1365">Here comes the Lady. Oh so light a foot</l>
      <l n="1366">Will nere weare out the euerlasting flint,</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0682-0.jpg" n="64"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="1367">A Louer may bestride the Gossamours,</l>
      <l n="1368">That ydles in the wanton Summer ayre,</l>
      <l n="1369">And yet not fall, so light is vanitie.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iul.</speaker>
      <l n="1370">Good euen to my ghostly Confessor.</l>
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   <sp who="#F-rom-fla">
      <speaker rend="italic">Fri.</speaker>
      <l n="1371">
         <hi rend="italic">Romeo</hi>shall thanke thee Daughter for vs both.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iul.</speaker>
      <l n="1372">As much to him, else in his thanks too much.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-fla">
      <speaker rend="italic">Fri.</speaker>
      <l n="1373">Ah<hi rend="italic">Iuliet</hi>, if the measure of thy ioy</l>
      <l n="1374">Be heapt like mine, and that thy skill be more</l>
      <l n="1375">To blason it, then sweeten with thy breath</l>
      <l n="1376">This neighbour ayre, and let rich musickes tongue,</l>
      <l n="1377">Vnfold the imagin'd happinesse that both</l>
      <l n="1378">Receiue in either, by this deere encounter.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-jul">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iul.</speaker>
      <l n="1379">Conceit more rich in matter then in words,</l>
      <l n="1380">Brags of his substance, not of Ornament:</l>
      <l n="1381">They are but beggers that can count their worth,</l>
      <l n="1382">But my true Loue is growne to such such excesse,</l>
      <l n="1383">I cannot sum vp some of halfe my wealth.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-rom-fla">
      <speaker rend="italic">Fri.</speaker>
      <l n="1384">Come, come with me, &amp; we will make short worke,</l>
      <l n="1385">For by your leaues, you shall not stay alone,</l>
      <l n="1386">Till holy Church incorporate two in one.</l>
   </sp>
</div>

                                
                            

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