ABSTRACT
TheTragicallHistoryeofRomeusandJuliet35I Hishonesthart;withteareshesaweherlodgedunderground. And,forhehadbeensenttoVeroneforaspye, ThedoyngesoftheCapiletsbywisdometodescrye,2530 Andforheknewherdeathdydtoochhismaistermost, (Alas)toosoone,withheavyneweshehyedawayinpost, AndinhishousehefoundhismaisterRomeus, Wherehe,besprentwithmanyteares,begantospeakehimthus. Syr,untoyouoflateischauncedsogreataharme, Thatsure,exceptwithconstancyyouseekeyourselfetoarme, Ifearethatstrayghtyouwillbretheoutyourlatterbreath, AndI,mostwretchedwight,shalbethoccasionofyourdeath. Knowsyrthatyesterdaymyladyandyourwyfe, Iwotnotbywhatsodaingrefe,hathmadeexchaungeof
life,2540 Andforbecauseonearth,shefoundnoughtbutunrest, Inheavenhathshesoughttofyndeaplaceofquietrest. Andwiththesewepingeyesmyselfehavesceneherlayde WithinthetombeofCapilets:andherewithallhestayde. Thissodaynemessagesoundesentforthwithsighesandteares, OurRomeusreceavedtoosoonewithopenlisteningcares, Andthcrbyhathsonkeinsuchsorowinhishart, ThatJoe,hisspriteannoyedsorewithtormentandwithsmart, Wasliketobreakeoutofhisprisonhouseperforce, Andthathemightflyeafterhers,wouldleavethemassy
corse.2550 Butearnestlovethatwillnotfaylehimtillhisende, Thisfondandsodainfantasyintohisheaddydsende: Thatifnereuntoherheoffreduphisbreath, Thatthenanhundredthousandpartsmoregloriouswerehis
death; Ekeshouldhispainful!hartagreatdealemorebeeased, Andmorealso(hevainelythought)hisladybetterpleased. Wherfore,whenhehisfacehathwashtwithwatercleene, Lestthatthestaynesofdryedtearesmightonhischeekesbe
scene, Andsohissorowshouldofeveryonebespyde, Whichhewithallhiscaredydseekefromeveryoneto
hyde,2560 Straight,weryofthehouse,hewalkethforthabrade: Hisservaunt,atthemaistershest,inchamberstyliabode. Andthenfrostreatetostreate,hewandrethupanddowne, Toseeifheinanyplacemayfynde,inallthetowne, Asalvemeeteforhissore,anoylefitteforhiswounde,
352 Romeo and Juliet And seeking long (alack too soone) the thing he sought, he founde. An Apothecary sate unbusied at his doore, Whom by his heavy countenaunce he gessed to be poore, And in his shop he saw his boxes were but fewe, And in his window (of his wares) there was so small a
shew, 2570 Wherfore our Romeus assuredly hath thought, What by no frendship could be got, with money should be bought; For nedy lacke .is lyke the poore man to compell To sell that which the cities !awe forbiddeth him to sell. Then by the hand he drew the nedy man apart, And with the sight of glittring gold inflamed hath his hart: Take fiftie crownes of gold (quoth he) I geve them thee, So that, before I part from hence, thou straight deliver me Somme poyson strong, that may, in lesse then halfe an howre, Kill him whose wretched hap shalbe the potion to devowre. 2580 The wretch by covetise is wonne, and doth assent To sell the thing, whose sale ere long, too late, he doth repent. In hast he poyson sought, and closely he it bounde, And then began with whispering voyce thus in his eare to rounde: Fayre syr (quoth he) be sure, this is the speeding gere, And more there is then you shall nede, for halfe of that is there Will serve, I under take, in Jesse then half an howre, To kill the strongest man alive; such is the poysons power.
