ABSTRACT
The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet 327 That every hower now, and moment in a day, A thousand times, death bragges, as he would reave my life away? Yet such is my mishap, (0 cruell destenye) That still I live, and wish for death, but yet can never dye. So that just cause I have, to thinke (as seemeth me) That froward Fortune did of late, with cruel! death agree To lengthen lothed life, to pleasure in my payne, And tryumph in my harme, as in the greatest hoped gayne. 1590 And thou, the instrument of Fortunes cruel! will, Without whose ayde she can no way, her tyrans lust fulfill, Art not a whit ashamde, (as farre as I can see) To cast me of, when thou hast culd the better part of me. Wherby (alas) to soone, I seely wretch do prove, That all the auncient sacred Iawes, of frendship and of love, Are quelde and quenched quite, since he on whom alway, My cheefe hope, and my steady trust, was wonted still to stay, For whom I am becomme, unto my selfe a foe, Disdayneth me, his stedfast frend, and scornes my frendship
so. 16oo Nay Romeus, nay, thou mayst of two thinges choose the one: Either to see thy castaway, as soone as thou art gone, Hedlong to throw her selfe downe from the windowes haight, And so to breake her slender necke, with all the bodies waight, Or suffer her to be companion of thy payne, Where so thou goe (Fortune thee gyde) till thou retoorne agayne. So wholy into thine, transformed is my hart, That even as oft as I do thinke that thou and I shall part, So oft (me thinkes) my life withdrawes it selfe awaye, Which I retayne to no end els, but to the end I may 1610 In spite of all thy foes, thy present partes enjoye, And in distres to beare with thee, the halfe of thine annoye. Wherfore, in humble sort (Romeus) I make request, If ever tender pity yet, were lodgde in gentle brest, 0 let it now have place, to rest within thy hart; Receave me as thy servant, and the fellow of thy smart: Thy absence is my death, thy sight shall geve me life. But if perhaps thou stand in dred, to leade me as a wyfe, Art thou all counsellesse, canst thou no shift devise? What letteth, but in other weede I may my selfe disguyse? 1620 What, shall I be the first? hath none done so ere this? To scape the bondage of theyr frendes? thy selfe can aunswer yes. Or dost thou stand in doute, that I thy wife ne can By service pleasure thee as much, as may thy hyred man?
