K. Hen. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able to endure. spoons; you shall have [Norfolk, I have some of them in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days; besides the running banquet of two beadles, that is to come. Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Two noble partners with you; the old duchess of With a true heart, And brother-love, I do it. Man. Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here! They grow still too, from all parts they are coming, As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters, These lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand, There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these. [fellows Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall have Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies, When they pass back from the christening. Port. An 't please your honour We are but men; and what so many may do, Not being torn a pieces, we have done : An army cannot rule them. [Exe.Cham. and his Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals: Do you take the court for Parish-garden? ye rude slaves, leave your gaping. Llarder. [Within.] Good master porter, I belong to the Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hanged, you rogue: Is this a place to roar in ?-Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are but switches to them.-I'll scratch your heads: You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals? Man. Pray, sir, be patient; 't is as much impossible You did nothing, sir. Man. I am not Samson, nor sir Guy, nor Colbrand, Let me never hope to see a chine again; and that As I live, If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll [Exeunt. pick you o'er the pales else. SCENE IV.-The Palace. Enter trumpets, sounding; then Two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk, with his marshal's staff, Duke of Suffolk, Two Noblemen, bearing great standing bowls for the christening gifts; then Four Noblemen, bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, &c. Train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchioness of Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! Flourish. Enter King and Train. the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray ;- Port. I shall be with you presently, good master Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and puppy. Keep the door close, sirrah. Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock them down by the dozens? Is this Moorfields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a fry of fornication is at door! On my christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand; here will be father, godfather, and all together. Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be a brazier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in 's nose; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: That fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose discharged against me; he stands there, like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that railed upon me till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I miss'd the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cried out, clubs when I might see from far some forty truncheoneers draw to her succour, which were the hope of the Strand where she was quartered. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff to me; I defied them still; when suddenly a file of boys behind them, loose shot, delivered such a shower of pebbles, that I was fain to draw mine honour in, and let them win the work: The devil was amongst them, I think, surely. Thank you, good lord archbishop, What is her name? Cran. Elizabeth. K. Hen. Stand up, lord. [The King kisses the child. With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee! Into whose hands I give thy life. Cran. Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too proI thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, [digal: When she has so much English. Cran. Let me speak, sir, For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Let none think flattery, for they 'll find them truth. This royal infant, (heaven still move about her!) Though in her cradle, yet now promises Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Which time shall bring to ripeness: She shall be (But few now living can behold that goodness) A pattern to all princes living with her, And all that shall succeed: Saba was never More covetous of wisdom, and fair virtue, Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces, That mould up such a mighty piece as this is, With all the virtues that attend the good, Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her, Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her: She shall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own shall bless Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, [her: And hang their heads with sorrow: Good grows with her: Port. These are the youths that thunder at a play- Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one, To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a inan; never, before (When heaven shall call her from this cloud of And ye shall find me thankful. darkness,) Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, That were the servants to this chosen infant, lords; Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, EPILOGUE. 'T is ten to one, this play can never please PROLOGUE. Page to Paris. Two households, both alike in dignity, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life: Do, with their death, bury their parents' strife." remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; ACT I. SCENE I.-A public Place. Sam. Gregory, o' my word, we 'll not carry coals. An Officer. Lady MONTAGUE, wife to Mon- JULIET, daughter to Capulet. Citizens of Verona; several Men Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me. Gre. To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'st away. Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall:-therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men. Sam. 'T is all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids, and cut off their heads. Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maiden. heads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it sense, that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and 't is known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. 'T is well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes of the house of the Montagues. Enter Abram and Balthazar. Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! [begin. Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them Gre. I will frown, as I pass by; and let them take it as they list. Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? I drew to part them; in the instant came Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar'd; back thee. Gre. How? turn thy back, and run? Which, as he breath'd defiance to my ears, Sam. Fear me not. 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. La. Mon. O, where is Romeo ?-saw you him toRight glad am I, he was not at this fray. [day! Ben. Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; Where, underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from this city's side, Towards him I made; but he was 'ware of me, And stole into the covert of the wood: I, measuring his affections by my own,That most are busied when they are most alone,Pursued my humour, not pursuing his, And gladly shunn'd who gladly fied from me. Mon. Many a morning hath he there been seen, With tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew, Sam. Is the law of our side, if I say-ay? Gre. No. Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; So early walking did I see your son: but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good Abr. No better. Sam. Well, sir. Enter Benvolio, at a distance. Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs: Sam. Yes, better. kinsmen. Abr. You lie. Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know not what you do. [Beats down their swords. Enter Tybalt. Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these heartless Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. [hinds? Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me. Tyb. What, draw and talk of peace? I hate the As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: [word, [They fight. Enter several partisans of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubs. Have at thee, coward. down! 1 Cit. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues! Enter Capulet, in his gown; and Lady Capulet. Cap. What noise is this?-Give me my long sword,ho! La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch!--Why call you for a sword? Cap. My sword, I say!-Old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Enter Montague and Lady Montague. But all so soon as the all-cheering sun Enter Romeo, at a distance. Ben. See, where he comes: So please you, step I'll know his grievance, or be much denied. Mon. Thou villain Capulet !-Hold me not, let me To hear true shrift.-Come, madam, let 's away. go. La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe. Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Ben. Here were the servants of your adversary, Rom. Not having that, which, having, makes them Rom. Out of her favour, where I am in love. [here? Which thou wilt propagate, to have it press'd But sadly tell me, who. [Going. Groan? why, no; Rom. Bid 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. Ben. I aim'd so near, when I suppos'd you lov'd. Rom. A right good marksman And she 's fair I Ben. A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. [love. Rom. Well, in that hit, you miss: she 'll not be hit With 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. Ben. Then she hath sworn, that she will still live chaste? [waste; Rom, She hath, and in that sparing makes huge For beauty, starv'd with her severity, Cuts 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 vow, Do I live dead, that live to tell it now. Ben. Be rul'd by me, forget to think of her. Rom. O teach me how I should forget to think. Ben. By giving liberty unto thine eyes; Examine other beauties. Rom. 'Tis the way Enter Capulet, Paris, and Servant. Par. Younger than she are happy mothers made. Of limping winter treads, even such delight Among fresh female buds shall you this night Inherit at my house; hear all, all see, And like her most, whose merit most shall be: Which on more view of many, mine, being one, May stand in number, though in reckoning none. Come, go with me ;-Go, sirrah, trudge about Through fair Verona; find those persons out, Whose names are written there, [gives a paper,] and to them say, My house and welcome on their pleasure stay. [Exeunt Capulet and Paris. Serv. Find them out, whose names are written here? It is written-that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I am sent to find those persons, whose names are writ, and can never find what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned:-In good time. Enter Benvolio and Romeo. Ben. Tut, man! one fire burns out another's burnOne pain is lessen'd by another's anguish; [ing, Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning; One desperate grief cures with another's lanTake thou some new infection to the eye, [guish: And the rank poison of the old will die. Rom. Your plantain-leaf is excellent for that. Ben. For what, I pray thee? Rom. fellow. For your broken shin. [is: Ben. Why, Romeo, art thou mad? Rom. Not mad, but bound more than a madman Shut up in prison, kept without my food, Whipp'd, and tormented, and-Good-e'en, good [read? Serv. God gi' good e'en.-I pray, sir, can you Rom. Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. Serv. Perhaps you have learn'd it without book: But I pray, can you read anything you see? Rom. Ay, if I know the letters, and the language. Serv. Ye say honestly; Rest you merry! Rom. Stay, fellow: I can read. [Reads. Signor Martino, and his wife and daughters; County Anselme, and his beauteous sisters; the lady widow of Vitruvio; Signor Placentio, and his lovely nieces; Mercutio, and his brother Valentine; Mine uncle Capulet, his wife, and daugh ters; My fair niece Rosaline; Livia; Signor Valentio, and his cousin Tybalt; Lucio, and the lively Helena. A fair assembly; [gives back the note.] Whither should they come? Serv. Up. Rom. Whither to supper? Serv. To our house. Rom. Whose house? Serv. My master's. Rom. Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before. Serv. Now I'll tell you without asking: My master is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry. [Exit. Ben. At this same ancient feast of Capulet's Sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so lov'st; With 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. Rom. When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains 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 sun Ne'er saw her match, since first the world begun. Ben. Tut! you saw her fair, none else being by, Herself pois'd with herself in either eye: But in that crystal scales, let there be weigh'd Your lady's love against some other maid That I will show you, shining at this feast, And she shall scant show well, that now shows best. Rom. I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, But to rejoice in splendour of mine own. [Exeunt. SCENE III-A Room in Capulet's House. Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse. La Cap. Nurse, where 's my daughter? call her forth to me. fold,Nurse. Now by my maiden-head,-at twelve year Enter Abram and Balthazar. Sam. Fear me not. Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! [begin. Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them Gre. I will frown, as I pass by; and let them take it as they list. I drew to part them; in the instant came Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar'd; back thee. Gre. How? turn thy back, and run? Which, as he breath'd 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. La. Mon. O, where is Romeo?-saw you him toRight glad am I, he was not at this fray. [day! Ben. Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; Where, underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from this city's side, Sam. Ñay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Gre. No. Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; So early walking did I see your son: but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good Abr. No better. Sam. Well, sir. [a man as you. Enter Benvolio, at a distance. Towards him I made; but he was 'ware of me, Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs: kinsmen. Sam. Yes, better. Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know not what you do. [Beats down their swords. Enter Tybalt. Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these heartless Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. [hinds? Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me. Tyb. What, draw and talk of peace? I hate the As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: [word, Have at thee, coward. [They fight. Enter several partisans of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubs. 1 Cit. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues! Cap. My sword, I say!-Old Montague is come, Enter Montague and Lady Montague. go. La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe. Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, But all so soon as the all-cheering sun Enter Romeo, at a distance. Ben. See, where he comes: So please you, step I'll know his grievance, or be much denied. Ben. Good morrow, cousin. Ben. But new struck nine. Is the day so young? Ah me! sad hours seem long. Will they not hear?-what ho! you men, you beasts,--Was that my father that went hence so fast? That quench the fire of your pernicious rage Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate: Ben. Here were the servants of your adversary, Ben. It was:-What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours? Rom. Not having that, which, having, makes them Ben. In love? short. [here! O heavy lightness! serious vanity! Ben. |