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Title: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]

Author: William Shakespeare

Editor: William George Clark

William Aldis Wright

Release date: December 20, 2014 [eBook #47715]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Richard Tonsing, Jonathan Ingram and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE [CAMBRIDGE EDITION] [VOL. 7 OF 9] ***

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

[Pg i]

THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

[Pg ii]

CAMBRIDGE:
PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A.
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

[Pg iii]

THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

EDITED BY

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.

FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE;

AND WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A.

LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

VOLUME VII.

Cambridge and London
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1865.

[Pg iv]
[Pg v]

CONTENTS.

	PAGE
The Preface	vii
Romeo and Juliet	3
Notes to Romeo and Juliet	136
An Excellent Conceited Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet	143
Timon of Athens	201
Notes to Timon of Athens	307
Julius Cæsar	319
Notes to Julius Cæsar	416
Macbeth	421
Notes to Macbeth	521

[Pg vi]
[Pg vii]

PREFACE.

1. The first edition of Romeo and Juliet was published in 1597, with the following title:

After Sig. D, a smaller type is used for the rest of the play, and the running title is changed from 'The most excellent Tragedie, of Romeo and Iuliet' to 'The excellent Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet.'

The text of this first Quarto differs so widely from that of later and more perfect editions, that it is impossible to record the results of a collation in footnotes: we have therefore reprinted it. When we refer to it in the notes, it is designated as (Q₁), the marks of parenthesis being used as in similar cases previously.

An opinion has been entertained by some critics that in this earliest Quarto we have a fairly accurate version of the play as it was at first written; and that in the interval between the publication of the first and second Quartos, the play was revised and recast by its author into the form in which it appears in the edition of 1599. A careful examination of the earlier text will, we think, prove this notion to be untenable. Not to speak of minor errors, it is impossible that Shakespeare should ever have given to the world a composition containing so many instances of imperfect sense, halting metre, bad grammar, and abrupt dialogue. We believe that the play, as at first written, was substantially the same as that given in the later[Pg viii] editions; and that the defects of the first impression are due, not to the author, but to the writer of the manuscript from which that first impression was printed. That manuscript was, in all probability, obtained from notes taken in short-hand during the representation: a practice which we know to have been common in those days. It is true that the text of (Q₁) is more accurate on the whole than might have been expected from such an origin; but the short-hand writer may have been a man of unusual intelligence and skill, and may have been present at many representations in order to correct his work; or possibly some of the players may have helped him either from memory, or by lending their parts in manuscript. But the examples of omission and conjectural insertion are too frequent and too palpable to allow of the supposition that the earliest text is derived from a bona fide transcript of the author's MS. The unusual precision of some stage directions in (Q₁) tends to confirm our view of its origin; a view which is supported by the high authority of M. Tycho Mommsen. The portions of the play omitted in (Q₁), though necessary to its artistic completeness and to its effect as a poem, are for the most part passages which might be spared without disturbing the consecutive and intelligible developement of the action. It is possible therefore that the play as seen by the short-hand writer was curtailed in the representation.

The second Quarto was in all likelihood an edition authorized by Shakespeare and his 'fellows,' and intended to supersede the surreptitious and imperfect edition of 1597. The play so published, we believe, as we have said, to be substantially identical with the play as at first composed; it seems however to have been revised by the author. Here and there a passage appears to have been rewritten. Compare, for example, (Q₁) Sc. 10, lines 11-30 (p. 169 of the reprint) with the corresponding passages of the later editions, Act II. Sc. 6, lines 16-36. In this place assuredly the change must be attributed to the author; but we know of no other passage of equal length where the same can be affirmed with certainty. The words 'newly corrected, augmented, and amended,' found on the[Pg ix] title-page of the second Quarto, may be accepted as the statement of a fact, when thus confirmed by internal evidence. Otherwise we know that the assertions in titlepages or prefaces of that time are not to be relied on, nor in this case would the words necessarily mean more than that this second edition was more correct and more complete than the first. In fact, the added matter amounts nearly to a quarter of the whole.

The title-page of the second Quarto, Q₂, is as follows:

This is unquestionably our best authority; nevertheless in determining the text, (Q₁) must in many places be taken into account. For it is certain that Q₂ was not printed from the author's MS., but from a transcript, the writer of which was not only careless, but thought fit to take unwarrantable liberties with the text. In passing through his hands, many passages were thus transmuted from poetry to prose. Pope felt this strongly, too strongly indeed, for he adopted the text of the first Quarto in many places where Capell and all subsequent editors have judiciously recurred to the second. Nevertheless there is no editor who has not felt it necessary occasionally to call in the aid of the first. We think that M. Tycho Mommsen rates the authority of the second Quarto too highly. Any rare form of word or strange construction found in this edition alone, and corrected in all that follow, may more probably be assigned to the transcriber (or in some cases to the printer) than to Shakespeare, whose language is singularly free from archaisms and provincialisms.

The third Quarto, Q₃, was published in 1609, with the following title-page:

It was printed from Q₂, from which it differs by a few corrections, and more frequently by additional errors.

The next Quarto has no date.

Its title-page bears for the first time the name of the author. After the word 'GLOBE' and in a separate line we find the words: 'Written by W. Shake-speare.' Otherwise, except in some slight variations of type and spelling, the title-page of the undated Quarto does not differ from that of Q₃. It was also printed 'for Iohn Smethwicke,' without the mention of the printer's name.

Though this edition has no date, internal evidence conclusively proves that it was printed from Q₃ and that the Quarto of 1637 was printed from it. We therefore call it Q₄.

It contains some very important corrections of the text, none however that an intelligent reader might not make conjecturally and without reference to any other authority. Indeed had the corrector been able to refer to any such authority, he would not have left so many obviously corrupt passages untouched.

The title-page of the fifth Quarto, our Q₅, is substantially identical with that of Q₄, except that it is said to be printed 'by R. Young for John Smethwicke,' and dated, 1637.

It is printed, as we have said, from Q₄. The punctuation has been carefully regulated throughout, and the spelling in many cases made uniform.

The symbol Qq signifies the agreement of Q₂, Q₃, Q₄, and Q₅.

The text of the first Folio is taken from that of the third Quarto. As usual there are a number of changes, some accidental, some deliberate, but all generally for the worse, excepting the changes in punctuation and in the stage-directions. The punctuation, as a rule, is more correct, and the stage-directions are more complete, in the Folio.

[Pg xi]

The text of the second Folio is printed of course from the first. In this play there are found in it a considerable number of conjectural emendations, not generally happy, and perhaps more than the usual number of errors.

A careful study of the text of Romeo and Juliet will show how little we can rely upon having the true text, as Shakespeare wrote it, in those plays for which the Folio is our earliest authority.

M. Tycho Mommsen published in 1859 a reprint of the first and second Quartos on opposite pages, and in the footnotes a collation of the remaining Quartos (not quite complete in the case of the fourth and fifth), the four Folios, Rowe's first edition, and the new readings of Mr Collier's MS. corrector. The volume is preceded by learned and valuable 'Prolegomena,' and the collation, which we have tested, is done with great care and accuracy. If our collation, so far as it occupies the same ground, may claim to be not less accurate, it must be remembered, first, that we have not endeavoured to record every minute variation of typography, but only such as were in our judgement significant or otherwise noteworthy; secondly, that we have had in all cases the original editions to refer to; and thirdly, that we have had the advantage of comparing our collation with his, and, wherever we found a discrepancy, verifying by a reference to the old copies.

Of the many alterations of Romeo and Juliet we have only had occasion to quote Otway's Caius Marius.

2. Timon of Athens was printed for the first time in the Folio of 1623. It is called The Life of Tymon of Athens; in the running titles, Timon of Athens; and occupies twenty-one pages, from 80 to 98 inclusive, 81 and 82 being numbered twice over. After 98 the next page is filled with The Actors Names, and the following page is blank. The next page, the first of Julius Cæsar, is numbered 109, and instead of beginning as it should signature ii, the signature is kk. From this it may be inferred that for some reason the printing of Julius Cæsar was commenced before that of Timon was finished. It[Pg xii] may be that the manuscript of Timon was imperfect, and that the printing was stayed till it could be completed by some playwright engaged for the purpose. This would account for the manifest imperfections at the close of the play. But it is difficult to conceive how the printer came to miscalculate so widely the space required to be left.

The well-known carelessness of the printers of the Folio in respect of metre will not suffice to account for the deficiencies of Timon. The original play, on which Shakespeare worked, must have been written, for the most part, either in prose or in very irregular verse.

3. Julius Cæsar was published for the first time in the Folio of 1623. It is more correctly printed than any other play, and may perhaps have been (as the preface falsely implied that all were) printed from the original manuscript of the author.

The references to Jennens in the notes are to his edition of Julius Cæsar, 'collated with the old and modern editions', and published in 1774.

4. Macbeth, which follows next in order, was also printed for the first time in that volume. Except that it is divided into scenes as well as acts, it is one of the worst printed of all the plays, especially as regards the metre, and not a few passages are hopelessly corrupt.

'Davenant's version,' quoted in our notes, was published in 1673. Jennen's edition was printed in 1773. The edition of Macbeth by Harry Rowe is attributed to Dr A. Hunter, and as such we have quoted it. Of this we may remark that it is not always quite certain whether the editor is in jest or earnest. 'Shakespeare restored' by Mr Hastings Elwin is an edition of Macbeth with introduction and notes, which was anonymously and privately printed at Norwich in 1853.

W. G. C.
W. A. W.

[Pg xiii]

ADDENDA.

Romeo and Juliet:
I. 1. 178.	sick health] sicknes, helth 'England's Parnassus.'
I. 1. 191.	discreet] distrest 'England's Parnassus.'
II. 3. 2.	Chequering] Cheering 'England's Parnassus.'
II. 6. 20.	fall; so] full so 'England's Parnassus.'
III. 5. 10.	mountain tops] mountaines top 'England's Parnassus.'
Timon of Athens:
I. 1. 56.	creatures] creature Maginn conj.
I. 1. 235.	no angry wit] no argument Bullock conj.
I. 2. (stage direction)	like himself.] by himself. Maginn conj.
I. 2. 68.	sin] dine Bullock conj.
I. 2. 69, 70.	Much ... Tim.] Tim. Such food doth thy heart good. Bullock conj.
II. 2. 143.	hear ... late—] are now too late— Bullock conj.
III. 1. 40.	solidares] saludores (i.e. saluts-d'or) Maginn conj.
III. 3. 8.	Has Ventidius] Lucius, Ventidius Lloyd conj.
III. 3. 11, 12.	His ... Thrive, give] His ... Shrink, give Bullock conj. Three friends like physicians Give Lloyd conj., ending lines 9, 10 at shows ... must I.
III. 4. 111.	So fitly?] So, fitly: Lloyd conj.
III. 6. 78.	are. The ... fees] are—the worst of your foes Bullock conj.
IV. 3. 133.	whores, a bawd] whores abound Bullock conj.
V. 2. 8.	a particular] up articular Bullock conj.
Julius Cæsar:
III. 1. 263.	men] Rome Bullock conj.
IV. 1. 44.	our means stretch'd] our means, our plans, sketch'd out Bullock conj.
IV. 3. 9.	Let] But let Lloyd conj.
IV. 3. 106.	For Sheath read Sheathe.

[Pg xiv]
[Pg 1]

[Pg 2]

[Pg 3]

ROMEO AND JULIET.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [1].

Escalus, prince of Verona.
Paris, a young nobleman, kinsman to the prince.
Montague,	heads of two houses at variance with each other.
Capulet,	heads of two houses at variance with each other.
An old man, of the Capulet family.
Romeo, son to Montague.
Mercutio, kinsman to the prince, and friend to Romeo.
Benvolio, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo.
Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet.
Friar Laurence, a Franciscan.
Friar John, of the same order.
Balthasar, Servant to Romeo.
Sampson,	servants to Capulet.
Gregory,	servants to Capulet.
Peter, servant to Juliet's nurse.
Abraham, servant to Montague.
An Apothecary.
Three Musicians.
Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer.

Lady Montague, wife to Montague.
Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet.
Juliet, daughter to Capulet.
Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; kinsfolk of both houses; Maskers, Guards,
Watchmen, and Attendants.

Chorus.

Scene: Verona: Mantua.

THE TRAGEDY OF
ROMEO AND JULIET.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Dramatis Personæ. First given, imperfectly, by Rowe.

PROLOGUE.

Enter Chorus.[2]

Chor. Two households, both alike in dignity,[3]
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,[3]
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,[3]
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.[3]
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes[3] 5
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;[3]
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows[3]
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.[3][4]
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,[3]
And the continuance of their parents' rage,[3] 10
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,[3]
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;[3]
The which if you with patient ears attend,[3]
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.[3][5]

[Pg 4]

FOOTNOTES:

[2] Prologue. Enter Chorus. Chor.] (Q₁). The Prologue. Corus. Q₂. The Prologue. Chorus. Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. om. Ff.

[3] Two ... mend.] Omitted in Ff and Rowe.

[4] Do] Pope. Doth Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[5] here] heare Q₂.

ACT I.

Scene I. Verona. A public place.[6]

Enter Sampson and Gregory, of the house of Capulet, with swords and bucklers.

Sam. Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.[7]

Gre. No, for then we should be colliers.

Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw.[8][9]

Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the[8][10]
collar.[8] 5

Sam. I strike quickly, being moved.

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:[11]
therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.[11] 10

Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I [12][13]
will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.[13]

Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest [14]
goes to the wall.

Sam. 'Tis true; and therefore women, being the weaker [15][16]15
vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push[16]
Montague's men from the wall and thrust his maids to
[Pg 5] the wall.

Gre. The quarrel is between our masters and us their [17]
men. 20

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I
have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids;[18]
I will cut off their heads.[19]

Gre. The heads of the maids?[20]

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;[21] 25
take it in what sense thou wilt.

Gre. They must take it in sense that feel it.[22]

Sam. Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and [23]
'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.[23]

Gre. 'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou 30
hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of [24]
the house of Montagues.[25]

Enter Abraham and Balthasar.

Sam. My naked weapon is out: quarrel; I will back
thee.

Gre. How! turn thy back and run?[26] 35

Sam. Fear me not.

Gre. No, marry; I fear thee![27]

Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.

Gre. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
they list. 40

Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.[28]

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
[Pg 6]

Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? 45

Sam. [Aside to Gre.] Is the law of our side, if I say ay?[29]

Gre. No.

Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but
I bite my thumb, sir.

Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? 50

Abr. Quarrel, sir! no, sir.[30]

Sam. But if you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good [31]
a man as you.

Abr. No better.[32]

Sam. Well, sir.[33] 55

Enter Benvolio.

Gre. [Aside to Sam.] Say 'better': here comes one of [34]
my master's kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, sir.[35]

Abr. You lie.

Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy 60
swashing blow.[36] [They fight.

Ben. Part, fools![37][38] [Beating down their weapons.
Put up your swords; you know not what you do.[37]

Enter Tybalt.

Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?[39]
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.[39] 65

Ben. I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.
[Pg 7]

Tyb. What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,[40]
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward![41] [They fight. 70

Enter several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens and Peace-officers, with clubs.

First Off. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down![42]
Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues![43]

Enter old 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?[44]

Cap. My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,[45] 75
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.[46]

Enter old Montague and Lady Montague.

Mon. Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not, let me go.[47]

La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.[48]

Enter Prince Escalus, with his train.

Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,—[49] 80
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
[Pg 8] That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands [50]
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,[51] 85
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,[52]
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's ancient citizens [53] 90
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,[54]
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,[55]
Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate:[55][56]
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. 95
For this time, all the rest depart away:
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,[57]
To old Free-town, our common judgement-place. 100
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.[58]

[Exeunt all but Montague, Lady Montague, and Benvolio.

Mon. Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?[59]
Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?

Ben. Here were the servants of your adversary
And yours close fighting ere I did approach: 105
I drew to part them: in the instant came
[Pg 9] The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared;
Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
He swung about his head, and cut the winds,[60]
Who, nothing hurt withal, hiss'd him in scorn:[61] 110
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,[62]
Came more and more, and fought on part and part,
Till the prince came, who parted either part.[63]

La. Mon. O, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day?[64]
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.[65] 115

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:[66]
Where, underneath the grove of sycamore [67]
That westward rooteth from the city's side,[68] 120
So early walking did I see your son:
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,
Which then most sought where most might not be found,[69] 125
Being one too many by my weary self,[70]
Pursued my humour, not pursuing his,[71]
And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.[72]

Mon. Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew,[73] 130
[Pg 10] Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs:[74]
But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
Should in the farthest east begin to draw [75]
The shady curtains from Aurora's bed,
Away from light steals home my heavy son, 135
And private in his chamber pens himself,
Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out
And makes himself an artificial night:
Black and portentous must this humour prove,[76]
Unless good counsel may the cause remove. 140

Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause?[77]

Mon. I neither know it nor can learn of him.

Ben. Have you importuned him by any means?[78]

Mon. Both by myself and many other friends:
But he, his own affections' counsellor,[79] 145
Is to himself—I will not say how true—
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,[80]
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air, 150
Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.[81]
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow,
We would as willingly give cure as know.[82]

Enter Romeo.

Ben. See, where he comes: so please you, step aside;
I'll know his grievance, or be much denied. 155

Mon. I would thou wert so happy by thy stay,
To hear true shrift. Come, madam, let's away.[83]

[Exeunt Montague and Lady.

[Pg 11]

Ben. Good morrow, cousin.

Rom. Is the day so young?

Ben. But new struck nine.

Rom. Ay me! sad hours seem long.[84]
Was that my father that went hence so fast?[85] 160

Ben. It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?

Rom. Not having that which, having, makes them short.

Ben. In love?[86]

Rom. Out—[87]

Ben. Of love?[88] 165

Rom. Out of her favour, where I am in love.

Ben. Alas, that love, so gentle in his view,
Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!

Rom. Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still,
Should without eyes see pathways to his will![89] 170
Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
Here's much to do with hate, but more with love:
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O any thing, of nothing first create![90] 175
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms![91]
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this. 180
Dost thou not laugh?

Ben. No, coz, I rather weep.

Rom. Good heart, at what?[92]

Ben. At thy good heart's oppression.

Rom. Why, such is love's transgression.
Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast;[93]
[Pg 12] Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest [94] 185
With more of thine: this love that thou hast shown
Doth add more grief to too much of mine own.[95]
Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs;[96]
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;[97]
Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with lovers' tears:[98] 190
What is it else? a madness most discreet,
A choking gall and a preserving sweet.
Farewell, my coz.

Ben. Soft! I will go along:[99]
An if you leave me so, you do me wrong.[100]

Rom. Tut, I have lost myself; I am not here;[101] 195
This is not Romeo, he's some other where.

Ben. Tell me in sadness, who is that you love.[102]

Rom. What, shall I groan and tell thee?[103]

Ben. Groan! why, no;[103]
But sadly tell me who.[104]

Rom. Bid a sick man in sadness make his will:[105] 200
Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill![106]
In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman.

Ben. I aim'd so near when I supposed you loved.
[Pg 13]

Rom. A right good mark-man! And she's fair I love.[107]

Ben. A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit. 205

Rom. Well, in that hit you miss: she'll not be hit [108]
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.[109]
She will not stay the siege of loving terms, 210
Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes,[110]
Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold:[111]
O, she is rich in beauty, only poor
That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store.[112]

Ben. Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste? 215

Rom. She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste;[113]
For beauty, starved with her severity,[114]
Cuts beauty off from all posterity.
She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,[115]
To merit bliss by making me despair: 220
She hath forsworn to love; and in that vow
Do I live dead, that live to tell it now.

Ben. Be ruled by me, forget to think of her.

Rom. O, teach me how I should forget to think.

Ben. By giving liberty unto thine eyes;[116] 225
Examine other beauties.[117]

Rom. 'Tis the way[117][118]
To call hers, exquisite, in question more:[119]
These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows,[120]
Being black, put us in mind they hide the fair;
He that is strucken blind cannot forget [121] 230
[Pg 14] The precious treasure of his eyesight lost:
Show me a mistress that is passing fair,
What doth her beauty serve but as a note [122]
Where I may read who pass'd that passing fair?[123]
Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget. 235

Ben. I'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt. [Exeunt.

Scene II. A street.[124]

Enter Capulet, Paris, and Servant.[125]

Cap. But Montague is bound as well as I,[126][127]
In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think,[127][128]
For men so old as we to keep the peace.[129]

Par. Of honourable reckoning are you both;
And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. 5
But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?

Cap. But saying o'er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years:
Let two more summers wither in their pride 10
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.

Par. Younger than she are happy mothers made.[130]

Cap. And too soon marr'd are those so early made.[131]
The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,[132]
She is the hopeful lady of my earth:[133] 15
[Pg 15] But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
My will to her consent is but a part;
An she agree, within her scope of choice [134]
Lies my consent and fair according voice.[135]
This night I hold an old accustom'd feast, 20
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
Such as I love; and you among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.[136]
At my poor house look to behold this night
Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light:[137] 25
Such comfort as do lusty young men feel [138]
When well-apparell'd April on the heel
Of limping winter treads, even such delight
Among fresh female buds shall you this night [139]
Inherit at my house; hear all, all see, 30
And like her most whose merit most shall be:
Which on more view, of many mine being one [140]
May stand in number, though in reckoning none.[141]
Come, go with me. Go, sirrah, trudge about
Through fair Verona; find those persons out 35
Whose names are written there and to them say,[142]
My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.[143]
[Pg 16]

[Exeunt Capulet and Paris.

Serv. Find them out whose names are written here![144]
It is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his[144]
yard and the tailer with his last, the fisher with his pencil 40
and the painter with his nets; but I am sent to find those
persons whose names are here writ, and can never find [145]
what names the writing person hath here writ. I must to [146]
the learned. In good time.[146]

Enter Benvolio and Romeo.

Ben. Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning,[147] 45
One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish;[148]
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;[149]
One desperate grief cures with another's languish:[150]
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,[151]
And the rank poison of the old will die. 50

Rom. Your plantain-leaf is excellent for that.

Ben. For what, I pray thee?

Rom. For your broken shin.

Ben. Why, Romeo, art thou mad?

Rom. Not mad, but bound more than a madman is;
Shut up in prison, kept without my food, 55
Whipt and tormented and—God-den, good fellow.[152]

Serv. God gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?[153]

Rom. Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.

Serv. Perhaps you have learned it without book: but,[154][155]
I pray, can you read any thing you see?[154] 60
[Pg 17]

Rom. Ay, if I know the letters and the language.

Serv. Ye say honestly: rest you merry!

Rom. Stay, fellow; I can read.[156] [Reads.

'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters; County [157][158]
Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the lady widow of[157][159] 65
Vitruvio; Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces; Mercutio[157]
and his brother Valentine; mine uncle Capulet, his wife,[157]
and daughters; my fair niece Rosaline; Livia; Signior[157][160]
Valentio and his cousin Tybalt; Lucio and the lively[157][161]
Helena.'[157] 70

A fair assembly: whither should they come?[162]

Serv. Up.[163]

Rom. Whither?[164]

Serv. To supper; to our house.[164][165]

Rom. Whose house? 75

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 [166] 80
you merry![167] [Exit.

Ben. At this same ancient feast of Capulet's [168]
Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest,[169]
With all the admired beauties of Verona:
Go thither, and with unattainted eye 85
Compare her face with some that I shall show,
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.[170]
[Pg 18]

Rom. When the devout religion of mine eye
Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;[171]
And these, who, often drown'd, could never die,[172] 90
Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!
One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun [173]
Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.

Ben. Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by,[174]
Herself poised with herself in either eye: 95
But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd [175]
Your lady's love against some other maid [176]
That I will show you shining at this feast,
And she shall scant show well that now seems best.[177]

Rom. I'll go along, no such sight to be shown,[178] 100
But to rejoice in splendour of mine own.[179] [Exeunt.

Scene III. A room in Capulet's house.[180]

Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.[181]

La. Cap. Nurse, where's my daughter? call her forth to me.[182]

Nurse. Now, by my maidenhead at twelve year old,[183][184]
I bade her come. What, lamb! what, lady-bird!—[183][185]
[Pg 19] God forbid!—Where's this girl? What, Juliet![183]

Enter Juliet.

Jul. How now! who calls?[186] 5

Nurse. Your mother.[186]

Jul. Madam, I am here. What is your will?[186][187]

La. Cap. This is the matter. Nurse, give leave awhile,[182][188]
We must talk in secret:—nurse, come back again;[188]
I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel.[188][189] 10
Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age.[188][190]

Nurse. Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.

La. Cap. She's not fourteen.[182]

Nurse. I'll lay fourteen of my teeth,—[191][192]
And yet, to my teen be it spoken, I have but four,—[191][193]
She is not fourteen. How long is it now[191][194] 15
To Lammas-tide?[191]

La. Cap. A fortnight and odd days.[182][195][196]

Nurse. Even or odd, of all days in the year,[195][197]
Come Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen.[195]
Susan and she—God rest all Christian souls!—[195]
Were of an age: well, Susan is with God;[195] 20
She was too good for me:—but, as I said,[195]
On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen;[195]
That shall she, marry; I remember it well.[195][198]
[Pg 20] 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years;[195]
And she was wean'd,—I never shall forget it—[195] 25
Of all the days of the year, upon that day:[195][199]
For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,[195]
Sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall;[195][196]
My lord and you were then at Mantua:—[195]
Nay, I do bear a brain:—but, as I said,[195] 30
When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple[195]
Of my dug, and felt it bitter, pretty fool,[195]
To see it tetchy, and fall out with the dug![195][200]
Shake, quoth the dove-house: 'twas no need, I trow,[195]
To bid me trudge.[195] 35
And since that time it is eleven years;[195][201]
For then she could stand high-lone; nay, by the rood,[195][202]
She could have run and waddled all about;[195]
For even the day before, she broke her brow:[195]
And then my husband,—God be with his soul![195][203] 40
A' was a merry man—took up the child:[195]
'Yea,' quoth he, 'dost thou fall upon thy face?[195]
Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit;[195]
Wilt thou not, Jule?' and, by my holidame,[195][204]
The pretty wretch left crying, and said 'Ay.'[195] 45
To see now how a jest shall come about![195]
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,[195][205]
I never should forget it: 'Wilt thou not, Jule?' quoth he;[195][206]
And, pretty fool, it stinted, and said 'Ay.'[195]

La. Cap. Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace.[207] 50
[Pg 21]

Nurse. Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh,[208]
To think it should leave crying, and say 'Ay:'[208]
And yet, I warrant, it had upon it brow[208][209]
A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone;[208]
A perilous knock; and it cried bitterly:[208][210] 55
'Yea,' quoth my husband, 'fall'st upon thy face?[208]
Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age;[208]
Wilt thou not, Jule?' it stinted, and said 'Ay.'[208][211]

Jul. And stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I.[212]

Nurse. Peace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace![213][214]60
Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed:[213][215]
An I might live to see thee married once,[213][216]
I have my wish.[213]

La. Cap. Marry, that 'marry' is the very theme[207][217]
I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet,[218] 65
How stands your disposition to be married?[219]

Jul. It is an honour that I dream not of.[220][221]

Nurse. An honour! were not I thine only nurse,[221][222][223]
I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat.[222][224]

La. Cap. Well, think of marriage now; younger than you[207] 70
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,[225]
Are made already mothers. By my count,[226]
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief;
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. 75
[Pg 22]

Nurse. A man, young lady! lady, such a man [227]
As all the world—why, he's a man of wax.[227][228]

La. Cap. Verona's summer hath not such a flower.[207]

Nurse. Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower.

La. Cap. What say you? can you love the gentleman?[207][229]80
This night you shall behold him at our feast:[229]
Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face,[229][230]
And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;[229]
Examine every married lineament,[229][231]
And see how one another lends content;[229] 85
And what obscured in this fair volume lies[229]
Find written in the margent of his eyes.[229]
This precious book of love, this unbound lover,[229]
To beautify him, only lacks a cover:[229]
The fish lives in the sea; and 'tis much pride[229][232] 90
For fair without the fair within to hide:[229][233]
That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,[229][234]
That in gold clasps locks in the golden story:[229]
So shall you share all that he doth possess,[229]
By having him making yourself no less.[229] 95

Nurse. No less! nay, bigger: women grow by men.[229][235]

La. Cap. Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?[207]

Jul. I'll look to like, if looking liking move:
But no more deep will I endart mine eye [236]
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.[237] 100

Enter a Servingman.

Serv. Madam, the guests are come, supper served up,
you called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in
the pantry, and every thing in extremity. I must hence to
[Pg 23] wait; I beseech you, follow straight.

La. Cap. We follow thee. [Exit Servingman.] Juliet,[238]
the county stays.[239][240] 105

Nurse. Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.[239]

[Exeunt.

Scene IV. A street.

Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six other Maskers, and Torch-bearers.[241]

Rom. What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?[242]
Or shall we on without apology?

Ben. The date is out of such prolixity:[243]
We'll have no Cupid hoodwink'd with a scarf,
Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, 5
Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;[244]
Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke [245][246]
After the prompter, for our entrance:[245][247]
But, let them measure us by what they will,
We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. 10

Rom. Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling;
Being but heavy, I will bear the light.[248]

Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.[249]
[Pg 24]

Rom. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes
With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead [250] 15
So stakes me to the ground, I cannot move.

Mer. You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,[251]
And soar with them above a common bound.[251]

Rom. I am too sore enpierced with his shaft[251][252]
To soar with his light feathers, and so bound,[251][253] 20
I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe:[251]
Under love's heavy burthen do I sink.[251][254]

Mer. And, to sink in it, should you burthen love;[251][255]
Too great oppression for a tender thing.[251]

Rom. Is love a tender thing? it is too rough,[251] 25
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.[251][256]

Mer. If love be rough with you, be rough with love;[251]
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.[251][257]
Give me a case to put my visage in:[258]
A visor for a visor! what care I [259] 30
What curious eye doth quote deformities?[260]
Here are the beetle-brows shall blush for me.

Ben. Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in [261]
But every man betake him to his legs.[261][262]

Rom. A torch for me: let wantons light of heart 35
Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels;
For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase;
I'll be a candle-holder, and look on.[263]
The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done.[264][265]
[Pg 25]

Mer. Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word:[264] 40
If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire[264][266]
Of this sir-reverence love, wherein thou stick'st[264][267]
Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho.[264][268]

Rom. Nay, that's not so.[264]

Mer. I mean, sir, in delay[264][269]
We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day.[264][270] 45
Take our good meaning, for our judgement sits[264][271]
Five times in that ere once in our five wits.[264][272]

Rom. And we mean well, in going to this mask;[264]
But 'tis no wit to go.[264]

Mer. Why, may one ask?

Rom. I dreamt a dream to-night.

Mer. And so did I. 50

Rom. Well, what was yours?

Mer. That dreamers often lie.

Rom. In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.[273]

Mer. O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.[274]
She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes [275]
In shape no bigger than an agate-stone[274][276] 55
[Pg 26] On the fore-finger of an alderman,[274]
Drawn with a team of little atomies[274][277]
Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep:[274][278]
Her waggon-spokes made of long spinners' legs;[274][279]
The cover, of the wings of grasshoppers;[274] 60
Her traces, of the smallest spider's web;[274][280]
Her collars, of the moonshine's watery beams;[274][281]
Her whip, of cricket's bone; the lash, of film;[274][282]
Her waggoner, a small grey-coated gnat,[274][283]
Not half so big as a round little worm[274] 65
Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid:[274][284]
Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut,[274][285]
Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,[274][285]
Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers.[274][285][286]
And in this state she gallops night by night[274] 70
Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;[274]
O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight;[274][287]
O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees;[274][288]
O'er ladies' lips, who straight on kisses dream,[274][289]
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,[274] 75
Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are:[274][290]
Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,[274][291]
[Pg 27] And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;[274][292]
And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tail[274][293][294]
Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,[274][295] 80
Then he dreams of another benefice:[274][296]
Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,[274][293]
And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,[274]
Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,[274]
Of healths five fathom deep; and then anon[274][297] 85
Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes,[274][298]
And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two,[274]
And sleeps again. This is that very Mab[274]
That plats the manes of horses in the night[274]
And bakes the elf-locks in foul sluttish hairs,[274][299] 90
Which once untangled much misfortune bodes:[274][300]
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
That presses them and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she—

Rom. Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace![301] 95
Thou talk'st of nothing.

Mer. True, I talk of dreams;
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air,
And more inconstant than the wind, who wooes [302] 100
Even now the frozen bosom of the north,
[Pg 28] And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence,
Turning his face to the dew-dropping south.[303]

Ben. This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves;
Supper is done, and we shall come too late. 105

Rom. I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,[304]
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date
With this night's revels, and expire the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast,[305] 110
By some vile forfeit of untimely death:
But He, that hath the steerage of my course,[306][307]
Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen.[307][308]

Ben. Strike, drum.[309] [Exeunt.

Scene V. A hall in Capulet's house.[310]

Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen, with napkins.[311]

First Serv. Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take [312][313]
away? he shift a trencher! he scrape a trencher![313]

Sec. Serv. When good manners shall lie all in one or [314][315][316]
two men's hands, and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing.[315]
[Pg 29]

First Serv. Away with the joint-stools, remove the[312][317] 5
court-cupboard, look to the plate. Good thou, save me a [318]
piece of marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, let the porter [319]
let in Susan Grindstone and Nell. Antony, and Potpan![320]

Sec. Serv. Ay, boy, ready.[321]

First Serv. You are looked for and called for, asked[312][322]10
for and sought for, in the great chamber.

Third Serv. We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly,[323][324]
boys; be brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.[324][325]

[They retire behind.

Enter Capulet, with Juliet and others of his house, meeting the Guests and Maskers.

Cap. Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes [326]
Unplagued with corns will have a bout with you:[327] 15
Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all [328]
Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty,
She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?[329]
Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day [330]
That I have worn a visor, and could tell 20
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:
[Pg 30] You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians, play.[331][332]
A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls.[331][333]

[Music plays, and they dance.

More light, you knaves; and turn the tables up,[334] 25
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.
Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well.
Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet;
For you and I are past our dancing days:
How long is't now since last yourself and I 30
Were in a mask?[335]

Sec. Cap. By'r lady, thirty years.[336]

Cap. What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:
'Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio,[337]
Come Pentecost as quickly as it will,
Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd. 35

Sec. Cap. 'Tis more, 'tis more: his son is elder, sir;
His son is thirty.[338]

Cap. Will you tell me that?[339]
His son was but a ward two years ago.[340]

Rom. [To a Servingman] What lady's that, which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight? 40

Serv. I know not, sir.[341]

Rom. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night [342]
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;[343]
[Pg 31] Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! 45
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,[344]
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.[345]
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! 50
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.[346]

Tyb. This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave [347]
Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,[348]
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? 55
Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.[349]

Cap. Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?[350]

Tyb. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe;
A villain, that is hither come in spite, 60
To scorn at our solemnity this night.

Cap. Young Romeo is it?[351]

Tyb. 'Tis he, that villain Romeo.

Cap. Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone,
He bears him like a portly gentleman;[352]
And, to say truth, Verona brags of him 65
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all this town [353]
Here in my house do him disparagement:
Therefore be patient, take no note of him:
It is my will, the which if thou respect, 70
Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.
[Pg 32]

Tyb. It fits, when such a villain is a guest:[354]
I'll not endure him.

Cap. He shall be endured:
What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;[355] 75
Am I the master here, or you? go to.[355][356]
You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul,[355]
You'll make a mutiny among my guests![355][357]
You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man![355][358]

Tyb. Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.[355]

Cap. Go to, go to;[355] 80
You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?[355][359]
This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:[355]
You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time.[360]
Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:[360]
Be quiet, or—More light, more light! For shame![361] 85
I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!

Tyb. Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.[362] [Exit. 90

Rom. [To Juliet] If I profane with my unworthiest hand [363]
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this,[364]
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand [365]
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
[Pg 33]

Jul. Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,[366] 95
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,[367]
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

Rom. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

Jul. Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. 100

Rom. O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Jul. Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.[368][369]

Rom. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.[368][370]
Thus from my lips by thine my sin is purged.[368][371] 105

[Kissing her.

Jul. Then have my lips the sin that they have took.[368][372]

Rom. Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged![368]
Give me my sin again.[368][373]

Jul. You kiss by the book.

Nurse. Madam, your mother craves a word with you.

Rom. What is her mother?

Nurse. Marry, bachelor,[374] 110
Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous:
I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal;
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her [375]
Shall have the chinks.

Rom. Is she a Capulet?[376] 115
O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.[377]
[Pg 34]

Ben. Away, be gone; the sport is at the best.

Rom. Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.[378]

Cap. Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone;
We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.[379] 120
Is it e'en so? why, then, I thank you all;
I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night.
More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.[380]
Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late:[381]
I'll to my rest. [Exeunt all but Juliet and Nurse.[382]125

Jul. Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?[383]

Nurse. The son and heir of old Tiberio.

Jul. What's he that now is going out of door?[384]

Nurse. Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.[385]

Jul. What's he that follows there, that would not dance?[386]130

Nurse. I know not.

Jul. Go, ask his name. If he be married,
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.[387]

Nurse. His name is Romeo, and a Montague,
The only son of your great enemy.[388] 135

Jul. My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late![389]
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.

Nurse. What's this? what's this?[390]

Jul. A rhyme I learn'd even now [391]140
Of one I danced withal. [One calls within 'Juliet.'
[Pg 35]

Nurse. Anon, anon!
Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone.[392] [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] Act i. Scene i.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

Verona. A public Place.] Capell. A Street in Verona. Rowe.

of the ... bucklers.] with ... bucklers, of ... Capulet. Qq Ff. See note (1).

[7] on] Qq. A F₁ F₂ F₃. a F₄. o' Capell.

[8] Sam. I ... draw. Gre. Ay ... collar.] Omitted by Pope.

[9] an] Theobald. and Qq. if Ff.

[10] out o' the] out o' th F₁ F₂. out o' th' F₃ F₄. out of Q₂ Q₃. out of the Q₄ Q₅.

[11] To ... away.] As prose first by Pope. Two lines, the first ending stand: in Qq Ff.

[12] A ... stand:] Prose by Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[13] I ... Montague's] As prose in Q₂. One line in the rest.

[14] a weak slave] weake slave F₂. weak slave F₃. weak, slave F₄.

[15] 'Tis true] Q₅. Tis true Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. True Ff.

[16] weaker vessels] weakest vessels F₃ F₄. weakest Warburton.

[17] us] not us Martley conj.

[18] cruel] cruell Q₄ Q₅. ciuil Q₂. ciuill Q₃ F₁. civill F₂. civil F₃ F₄.

[19] I will cut] Qq. and cut Ff.

[20] maids?] Ff. maids. Q₂ Q₃. maides. Q₄. maids! Q₅.

[21] their] the Warburton, from (Q₁).

[22] in] (Q₁) Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. om. Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[23] Me ... flesh] Prose in Qq. Two lines, the first ending stand: in Ff.

[24] comes two of] Malone, from (Q₁). comes of Qq Ff.

[25] house of] Qq. house of the Ff.

Enter....] Rowe. Enter two other servingmen. Qq Ff. Transferred to follow line 42 by Dyce.

[26] run?] run. F₁ F₂.

[27] thee!] Q₅. thee. The rest.

[28] a] om. Q₂.

[29] [Aside....] First marked by Capell.

of] on Q₅.

[30] sir! no,] sir, no Qq. sir? no Ff.

[31] But if] Qq. If Ff.

[32] better.] Qq. better? Ff.

[33] Enter....] Transferred to line 61 by Dyce.

[34] [Aside....] First marked by Capell.

[35] sir] Qq. om. Ff.

[36] swashing] Q₄ Q₅. washing Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[37] Part ... do.] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Qq Ff.

[38] [Beating ... weapons.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[39] What ... death.] Divided as in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[40] drawn] drawne Qq. draw Ff.

[41] thee] the Q₃ F₂.

[They fight.] Fight. Ff. om. Qq.

Enter....] Capell, substantially. Enter three or foure Citizens with Clubs or partysons. Qq (partisans Q₅). Enter three or foure Citizens with Clubs. Ff.

[42] First Off.] Offi. Qq Ff. Cit. Steevens. 1 Cit. Malone.

Down....] Citizens. Down.... Edd. conj.

[43] and Lady Capulet.] Rowe. and his wife. Qq Ff.

[44] La. Cap.] Rowe. Wife. Qq Ff.

crutch (bis)] Ff Q₅. crowch Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[45] My sword] A sword F₄.

[46] and Lady Montague.] Rowe. and his wife. Qq Ff.

[47] Capulet!—Hold] Capulet. Hold Ff. Capulet, hold Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Capulet: hold Q₅.

let me go] let go S. Walker conj.

[48] La. Mon.] Rowe. M. Wife. 2. Qq. 2. Wife. Ff.

one] Qq. a Ff.

Escalus,] Edd. Eskales, Qq Ff.

[49] steel,—] steel— Rowe. steele, or steel, Qq Ff.

[50] torture, from ... hands] torture from those bloudie hands, Q₂ Q₃ F₄ (bloudy Q₃. bloody F₄). torture, from those bloody hands, Q₄.

those] these F₂ F₃ F₄.

[51] mistemper'd] Ff Q₅. mistempered Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[52] brawls] brawles Qq. broyles Ff.

airy] angry Collier MS.

[53] made] make F₂.

Verona's] Neronas Q₂.

[54] grave beseeming] grave-beseeming S. Walker conj.

ornaments] ornament F₂ F₃.

[55] To wield ... hate] Put in the margin by Pope.

[56] Canker'd ... hate] Omitted by Hanmer.

part your] party our Q₄.

[57] farther] Q₂ Q₄. further Q₅. Fathers Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃. Father's F₄.

[58] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Qq Ff. Exeunt Prince and Capulet. &c. Rowe.

[59] Scene II. Pope.

Mon.] Qq Ff. M. wife. (Q₁). La. Moun. Rowe.

[60] swung] swoong Q₂. swong The rest.

[61] Who ... scorn] Omitted by Pope.

hiss'd] kiss'd Rowe (ed. 2).

[62] thrusts] thrust Q₄.

[63] who ... part] Omitted by Pope.

[64] La. Mon.] Rowe. Wife Qq Ff.

saw ... to-day?] Omitted by Pope.

[65] I am] Q₂. am I The rest.

[66] drave] drive Q₂.

drave ... abroad] drew me from company (Q₁) Pope. drew me to walk abroad Theobald. drew me from canopy Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

[67] sycamore] Q₅. syramour Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. sycamour Ff.

[68] the city's] Malone, from (Q₁). this citie Q₂. this city The rest. the city Warburton. this city Capell. the city' Steevens.

[69] Which ... found] Q₅. Which ... sought, where ... found The rest. That most are busied, when they're most alone Pope, from (Q₁).

[70] Being ... self] Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[71] humour] Q₄ Q₅. humor Q₂. honour The rest.

his] him Theobald (Thirlby conj.).

[72] shunn'd] Ff Q₅. shunned Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

who] what Seymour conj.

[73] morning's] mornings Qq F₁
F₂. morning F₃ F₄.

[74] Adding ... sighs] Omitted by Pope.

[75] Should] Does Seymour conj.

[76] portentous] F₂ F₃ F₄. portendous Q₂ Q₃ F₁ Q₅. protendous Q₄.

[77] learn] learn it Rowe.

[78] other] others F₁.

[79] his] is Q₂.

[80] discovery,] After this Johnson conjectures that some lines are lost.

[81] sun] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). same Qq Ff.

[82] Enter Romeo.] Qq Ff. Enter Romeo, at a distance. Capell. Transferred by Dyce to follow line 157.

[83] [Exeunt ...] Capell. Exeunt. Qq Ff.

[84] struck] Rowe. strooke Qq F₁ F₂. strook F₃ F₄.

Ay] Ah Rowe.

[85] hence] henec F₁.

[86] In love?] Q₅. In love. The rest.

[87] Out—] Rowe. Out. Qq Ff.

[88] Of love?] Q₅. Of love. The rest.

[89] see ... will] set pathways to our will Staunton conj.

will] ill Hanmer.

[90] create] (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. created The rest.

[91] well-seeming] welseeing Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[92] Why, such is] Why such is, merely, Seymour conj. Why such, Benvolio, is Collier (Collier MS.). Why, such, Benvolio, such is Mommsen conj. Why, gentle cousin, such is Keightley.]

Why ... transgression] Omitted by Pope.

[93] mine] my Q₄ Q₅.

[94] if] them (Q₁) Pope.

[95] to too] too too Q₂.

[96] raised] rais'd Pope, from (Q₁). made Qq Ff.

[97] purged] urg'd Singer, ed. 1, (Johnson conj). puff'd Collier. (Collier MS.).

sparkling] sparling F₄.

[98] Before or after this line Johnson conjectured that a line is omitted.

lovers'] lovers (Q₁) Pope. loving Qq Ff.

After this Keightley marks a line omitted.

[99] coz] cousin Pope. Cox Rowe (ed. 2).

I will] I'll Pope.

[100] An] Hanmer. And Qq Ff.

[101] Tut] But F₃ F₄.

[102] who is that] who she is Pope. whom she is (Q₁) Boswell.

[103] Groan ... who] As in Hanmer. One line in Qq Ff.

[104] But ... who] But pry'thee tell me sadly who she is Seymour conj. But sadly tell me, truly tell me who or But sadly tell me, gentle cousin, who Taylor conj. MS. But ... who she is you love Keightley.

[105] Bid ... make] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. A sicke man in sadnesse makes Q₂ Q₃ F₁. A sicke man in good sadnesse makes F₂ F₃ F₄.

[106] Ah, word] (Q₁) Malone. A word Qq F₁. O. word F₂ F₃ F₄.

[107] mark-man] marks-man F₃ F₄.

[108] Well] Qq Ff. But (Q₁) Pope.

[109] From ... unharm'd] 'Gainst ... encharm'd Grant White conj.

unharm'd] (Q₁) Pope. uncharmd Qq Ff. encharm'd Collier (Collier MS.).

[110] bide] Qq F₃ F₄. bid F₁ F₂.

[111] ope] open F₁.

saint-seducing] saint-seucing F₂.

[112] she] om. Q₄.

with ... store] with her dies beauty's store Theobald. with her dies beauty store Keightley.

[113] makes] make Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[114] starved] starv'd F₄. sterv'd The rest.

[115] is too] is to Q₄.

wise, wisely too] Qq F₃ F₄. wisewi: sely too F₁. wise wisely too F₂. wise; too wisely Hanmer.

[116] Ben.] Q₂ Q₅ Ff. Ro. Q₃ Q₄.

[117] 'Tis ... more] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[118] in question] to question Keightley.

[119] These] Those F₃ F₄.

[120] put] Q₅ F₃ F₄. puts Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂.

[121] strucken] Q₅ F₃ F₄. strooken The rest.

[122] What] How Seymour conj.

serve but as] serve for, but Seymour conj.

[123] fair?] Pope. faire. or fair. Qq Ff.

[124] Scene II.] Capell. Scene III. Pope.

A street.] Capell.

[125] Enter ...] Enter Capulet, Countie Paris, and the Clowne. Qq Ff.

[126] But] Q₂. om. Q₃ Ff. And Q₄ Q₅.

[127] I, In penalty alike] I, alike In penalty S. Walker conj.

[128] I think,] om. Pope.

[129] as we] om. Taylor conj. MS., reading I think ... peace, as one line.

[130] happy] married Seymour conj.

[131] made] married (Q₁) Singer (ed. 2).

[132] The earth] Q₄ Q₅. Earth Q₂ Q₃ F₁. Earth up F₂ F₃ F₄.

The earth hath swallow'd] Earth hath up-swallow'd Seymour conj.

swallow'd] Q₅. swallowed The rest.

she] her Hanmer.

[133] She is ... earth] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope. She is the hope and stay of my full years Johnson conj.

She is] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. Shees Q₂ Q₃. Shee's F₁.

earth] fee Keightley.

[134] An] Capell. And Qq Ff. If Rowe (ed. 2).

agree] agreed Q₂.

[135] fair according] fair-according Nicholson conj.

[136] One] Once Rowe.

most welcome] o' th' welcome Hanmer.

makes] make Capell conj.

[137] make ... heaven light] make ... heaven's light Theobald. make ... even light Warburton. mask ... heaven's light Jackson conj.

[138] young men] yeomen Johnson conj.

[139] female] (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. fennell Qq F₁.

[140] Which on more] Q₄ Q₅. Which one more Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Such amongst (Q₁) Steevens. Within your Johnson conj. On which more Capell. Search among Steevens conj. Whilst on more Dyce, ed. 2 (Mason conj.). Which one, o'er Jackson conj.

Which ... view, of] Such, amongst few; of Badham conj. Which one may vie with Bullock conj. Which one more, few or Id. conj. (withdrawn).

view, of many] view, of many, Q₂ F₂ F₃ F₄. veiw, of many, Q₃ F₁. view of many, Q₄ Q₅.

[141] May] My F₂.

[142] [Gives a paper. Malone.

[143] [Exeunt ...] Rowe. Exit. Qq Ff.

[144] written here! It] written here? It Rowe. written. Here it Qq F₃ F₄. written. Heere it F₁. written. Heert it F₂. written here! [turns and twists the notes about.] Here [tapping his head] it Nicholson conj.

[145] persons] persons out Capell.

here writ] Q₂ Q₃ Q₅. heee writ Q₄. writ Ff.

[146] I ... learned] Put in parenthesis in Qq Ff.

[147] out] out, Q₂.

[148] One] On Q₂.

[149] holp] help'd Pope.

[150] desperate] desparate F₁ F₂.

cures] cure Pope.

[151] thy eye] Q₂. the eye The rest.

[152] and—God-den] and—Good-e'en Rowe. and Godden Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. and Good-e'en F₄.

[153] God gi' god-den] Godgigoden Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. God gi' Good-e'en F₄.

[154] Perhaps ... see?] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Qq Ff.

[155] learned] Qq. learn'd Ff.

[156] [Reads.] He reades the Letter. Qq Ff. He reads the list. Johnson.

[157] Signior ... Helena.] As nine lines of verse, Dyce, ed. 2 (Capell conj.).

[158] daughters] Qq. daughter Ff.

County] Count Rowe.

[159] Anselme] Qq F₁ F₂. Anselm
F₃ F₄. Anselmo Dyce, ed. 2 (Capell conj.).

[160] Livia] Livio Rowe (ed. 2). gentle Livia Capell conj. and Livia Dyce, ed. 2 (Courtenay conj.).

[161] lively] lovely Rowe.

[162] [giving back the Note. Capell.

[163] Up] To sup Staunton conj.

[164] Whither? Serv. To ... supper; to] Theobald (Warburton). Whether to supper? Ser: To (Q₁). Whither to supper? Ser. To Q₂. Whither to supper. Ser.? To Q₃. Whither to supper. Ser. To Q₄. Whither? to supper? Ser. To Ff Q₅.

[165] To supper] om. Capell.

[166] crush] crash Hanmer.

[167] [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[168] Capulet's] Cupalets F₂.

[169] lovest] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. loves (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[170] thee] the Q₅.

[171] fires] Pope. fire (Q₁) Qq Ff.

[172] these] those Hanmer.

[173] love!] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. love, (Q₁) Q₂. love? Q₃ Q₄. love: F₁.

[174] Tut] Qq F₁. Tut Tut F₂. Tut, tut F₂ F₃ F₄.

[175] that] those Rowe.

scales] scale S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[176] lady's love] lady-love Theobald. lady and love Keightley.

[177] she shall scant show well] (Q₁) Qq. she shew scant shell, well, F₁. shele shew scant, well, F₂. she'l shew scant well, F₃ F₄. she will shew scant well, Rowe (ed. 2).

seems] seemes (Q₁) Q₂. shewes Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. shews F₃ F₄.

[178] sight] light Anon. conj.

[179] [Exeunt.] Pope (ed. 2). om. Qq Ff.

[180] Scene III.] Capell. Scene II. Rowe. Scene IV. Pope.

A room ...] Capell. Capulet's House. Rowe.

[181] Lady Capulet] Rowe. Capulets Wife. Qq Ff.

[182] La. Cap.] Rowe. Wife. Qq Ff.

[183] Now ... Juliet!] As verse first by Johnson. Prose in Qq Ff. The Nurse's speeches are printed in italics in Qq.

[184] year] yeeres Q₅. years F₄.

[185] bade her come,] bad her come, Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Ff. had her, come, Q₄. had her: come, Q₅.

[186] How ... will?] As in Qq Ff. Two lines, the first ending here, in Capell.

[187] What is your will?] om. Seymour conj.

[188] This ... age.] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Qq Ff.

[189] thou's] thou'se Qq Ff. thous' Rowe. thou shalt Pope.

our] my F₄.

[190] know'st] Q₅. knowest The rest.

[191] I'll ... Lammas-tide?] Arranged as in Steevens (1793). I'll ... fourteen as prose, How ... tide? as one line, in Qq. Four lines, ending teeth, ... spoken, ... fourteen, Lammas-tide? in Ff. Three lines, ending teeth, ... four, ... Lammas-tide? in Capell.

[192] of my] o' my Capell.

[193] teen] teeth F₂ F₃ F₄.

[194] She is] Steevens (1793). Shees or Shee's or She's Qq Ff.

is it] is't Capell.

[195] Even ... 'Ay.'] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Qq Ff.

[196] in] i' Capell.

[197] shall] stal Q₂.

[198] That] then Q₄ Q₅.

[199] of the year] in the year Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[200] with] wi' Capell.

[201] eleven] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. a leauen (Q₁). a leuen Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. a eleuen F₁.

years] yeare (Q₁).

[202] she could] could Iuliet (Q₁).

high-lone] high lone (Q₁). hylone Q₂. a lone Q₃. alone The rest.

by the] (Q₁). byth Q₂. bi'th Q₃ Q₄. bi' th' F₁ F₂ F₃. byth' Q₅ F₁.

[203] with] om. Rowe (ed. 1).

[204] Jule] Juliet (Q₁) F₄. Julet F₂ F₃. Julé Hanmer. Juli' Capell.

[205] an] Pope. and Qq F₃ F₄. & F₁ F₂. if (Q₁).

should] (Q₁) F₃ F₄. shall The rest.

[206] Jule] Julet F₁ F₂ F₃. Juliet F₄. Julé Hanmer.

[207] La. Cap.] Rowe. Old La. Qq Ff.

[208] Yes, ... 'Ay.'] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Qq Ff.

[209] upon] on Q₅.

it] Qq F₁ F₂. its F₃ F₄.

[210] perilous] par'lous Capell.

[211] Jule] Julet F₂ F₃. Juliet F₄. Julé, Hanmer. Juli' Capell.

[212] stint thou] stent thou F₃. stint thee F₄.

thee,] the F₂.

[213] Peace ... wish.] As verse first by Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[214] to] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. too Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[215] wast] wert (Q₁). was F₂.

[216] An] Pope. and Qq Ff.

[217] Marry, that 'marry'] And that same marriage Pope, from (Q₁).

[218] Juliet] Julet F₂ F₃.

[219] disposition] Ff. dispositions Qq.

[220] It is] 'Tis F₃ F₄.

[221] honour] Pope, from (Q₁). houre Qq F₁ F₂. hour F₃ F₄.

[222] An ... teat.] As verse first by Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[223] thine] om. Q₄ Q₅.

[224] I would say] I would say that F₃ F₄. I'd say Pope.

wisdom] thy wisdome Q₄ Q₅.

[225] Verona] Varona F₂.

[226] mothers. By] Ff. mothers by Qq.

[227] A man ... wax.] As verse first in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[228] world—] F₄. world. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. world, (Q₁) Q₅.

[229] La. Cap. What ... men.] Omitted by Pope, following (Q₁).

[230] Paris'] Paris's F₄.

[231] married] Q₂. severall The rest.

[232] sea] shell Rann (Mason conj.).

[233] fair within] faire, within Q₂.

[234] many's] many Q₅.

[235] bigger: women] Ff. bigger women Qq.

[236] endart] engage (Q₁). ingage Pope.

[237] it] (Q₁) Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. om. Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

Enter a Servingman.] Ff. Enter Serving. Qq. Enter Clowne. (Q₁).

[238] straight] om. Pope.

[239] La. Cap. We ... days.] Omitted by Pope.

[240] La. Cap.] Rowe. Mo. Qq Ff.

[Exit Servingman.] Exit. Ff, after line 105. om. Qq.

[241] Scene IV.] Steevens. Scene V. Pope. Act ii. Scene i. Capell.

A street.] Capell. A street before Capulet's house. Theobald.

Mercutio,] Mercurio, Q₄.

and] om. Qq Ff.

Torch-bearers.] Torchbearers, and drums. Theobald. Torch-bearers, and Drummers. Hanmer. Torchbearers, and others. Steevens.

[242] Rom.] Ben. Capell conj.

[243] Ben.] Mer. Capell conj.

[244] crow-keeper] cow-keeper Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald conj. withdrawn).

[245] Nor no ... entrance:] Inserted by Pope from (Q₁). Omitted in Qq Ff.

[246] Nor no] (Q₁). Nor a Pope.

[247] for] 'fore Hanmer.

entrance] (Q₁). enterance Pope.

[248] Being ... light.] Omitted by Pope.

[249] Mer.] Ben. Capell conj.

[250] soul] soule Qq. soale F₁. sole F₂ F₃ F₄.

[251] Mer. You ... love down.] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope.

[252] enpierced] enpearced Qq F₁. impearced F₂ F₃. impierced F₄. empierced S. Walker conj.

[253] so bound,] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. to bound: F₁ F₄. to bond: F₂ F₃. so bound. Q₅.

[254] burthen] birthen Q₂.

[255] Mer.] Q₅. Mercu. Q₄. Horatio. Q Q₃. Hora. Ff.

should you] you should Capell conj.

love;] love? Steevens, 1773 (Heath conj.).

[256] and] om. F₃ F₄.

[257] beat love] love beat Rowe.

[258] Give ...] Mer. Give ... (Q₁) Pope.

in:] in? [Pulling off his Mask. Theobald. in? [Putting on his Mask. Johnson. in. [taking one from an Att. Capell.

[259] visor!] visor! [throwing it away. Capell.

[260] quote] coate (Q₁). cote Q₂.

[261] Ben. Come ... legs.] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope.

[262] betake] betakes Q₃.

[263] candle-holder] candle lighter Rowe.

[264] The game ... ask?] Put in the margin by Pope.

[265] done] (Q₁) F₁ F₂ F₃. dum Q₂. dun Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₄.

[266] mire] mire. Ff.

[267] Of this sir-reverence love] Singer, from (Q₁). Or save you reverence love Qq. Or save your reverence love F₁ F₂ F₃. Or, save your reverence, love F₄. O! save your reverence, love Johnson conj. Of this (save reverence) love Malone and Rann. Of this (sir-reverence) love Dyce (ed. 1).

stick'st] Capell. stickst (Q₁). stickest The rest.

[268] the] thine Theobald.

[269] Nay] om. Q₄ Q₅.

sir, in delay] sir in delay Q₂ Q₃. sir in delay, (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. sir I delay, F₁. sir I, delay, F₂. sir I, delay. F₃. sir, I delay. F₄. sir, we delay. Rowe.

[270] We ... day] Capell. We burne our lights by night, like Lampes by day (Q₁). We waste our lights in vaine, lights lights by day Qq (wast Q₃). We wast our lights in vaine, lights, lights, by day Ff. We burn our lights by light, and lamps by day Theobald. We waste our lights in vain, like lights by day Johnson. We waste our lights in vain, light lights by day Nicholson conj.

[271] sits] fits Rowe. hits Collier MS.

[272] our five] Malone (Wilbraham conj.). our fine Qq Ff.

[273] After this line Keightley inserts from (Q₁), Ben. Queen Mab! what's she?

[274] fairies'] Steevens. fairies (Q₁). Fairies Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Ff (Fayries F₃). Fairis Q₄. Fancy's Theobald (Warburton). fairy Warton conj.

[275] She is ... bodes:] As verse by Pope, following (Q₁). Prose in Qq Ff.

[276] In shape no] In shade; no Warburton conj.

an] om. F₁ F₂.

[277] atomies] Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. Atomi (Q₁). ottamie Q₂.

[278] Athwart] (Q₁) Pope. over Qq Ff.

[279] made of long] are made of (Q₁) Seymour conj.

[280] Her traces] Qq F₁. her trace F₃ F₄. The traces (Q₁) Pope.

spider's] spider Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[281] Her collar] The collars (Q₁) Pope.

collars] coullers F₁.

[282] film] filme F₂ F₃ F₄. Philome Qq F₁. filmes (Q₁).

[283] waggoner,] waggoner's Seymour conj.

[284] Prick'd] Pickt (Q₁). Pick'd Collier MS.

lazy finger] Lazie-finger F₁. Lazy finger F₂ F₃.

maid] (Q₁) Pope. man Qq F₁. woman F₂ F₃ F₄. milkmaid Collier MS.

[285] Her ... coachmakers] Transferred to follow line 58, Lettsom conj.

[286] o' mind] Capell. amind Q₂. a mind Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. of mind Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[287] O'er] Hanmer. O're (Q₁). On Qq Ff.

O'er ... straight;] om. Seymour conj.

courtiers'] Countries F₂ F₃ F₄. counties' Tyrwhitt conj.

court'sies] cursies Qq Ff.

[288] dream] dreamt F₁.

[289] on] one Q₂.

[290] breaths] Rowe. breathes (Q₁). breath Qq Ff.

[291] Sometime] sometimes Q₅.

courtier's] lawyer's Pope, from (Q₁). taylor's Theobald conj. counsellor's Collier MS.

courtier's nose] lawyer's lip Seymour conj.

[292] dreams] dreame Q₃.

[293] sometime] sometimes Rowe.

[294] a] om. F₁.

[295] a parson's nose] a parson Pope (ed. 1). the parson Pope (ed. 2).

parson's] Persons Q₂.

a'] Capell. a Qq F₁. he F₂ F₃ F₄.

[296] he dreams] dreams he (Q₁) Pope.

[297] Of healths] Of delves Thirlby conj. Trenches Keightley conj.

[298] ear] eare (Q₁)Qq. eares F₁ F₂ F₃. ears F₄.

[299] bakes] cakes Pope. makes Collier MS.

elf-locks] Elklocks Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[300] untangled] entangled F₃. intangled F₄.

misfortune] misfortunes Rowe.

[301] This] This, this Hanmer. And this Capell.

she—] F₂ F₃ F₄. she. Q₂ Q₃ F₁. shee. Q₄ Q₅. she that ... Keightley.

[302] inconstant] unconstant Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[303] his face] (Q₁) Pope. his side Qq Ff. his tide Collier MS. aside Anon. conj.

[304] yet] is (Q₁). still Rowe.

[305] breast] breath Collier MS.

[306] steerage] (Q₁) Q₅ F₄. stirrage The rest.

[307] course ... sail] fate ... course Capell conj.

[308] sail] (Q₁) Steevens. sute Qq Ff. fate Anon. conj.

[309] [Exeunt.] Drum. Exeunt. Capell. They march about the Stage, and Exeunt. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[310] Scene V.] Steevens. Scene VI. Hanmer. Pope continues the scene. Act ii. Scene ii. Capell.

A hall ...] Theobald. Musicians waiting.] Capell.

[311] Enter ...] They march about the Stage, and Servingmen come forth with Napkins. Enter Romeo. Qq. They march ... their napkins. Enter Servant. Ff.

[312] First Serv.] 1 Ser. Rowe. Ser. Qq Ff.

[313] Where's ... trencher!] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Qq Ff.

[314] Sec. Serv.] 2 Ser. Rowe. 1. Qq Ff.

[315] When ... thing.] Two lines in Q₂. Prose in the rest.

[316] lie] ye Rowe (ed. 1).

all] Qq. om. Ff.

[317] joint-stools] Rowe. ioynstooles Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. join-stooles Q₅. joynstooles F₃. joyn-stools F₄.

[318] court-cupboard] Q₅ F₄. court-cubbert Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. court-cubbord F₁ F₂ F₃.

[319] lovest] Ff. loves Qq.

[320] Nell.] Theobald. Nell, Qq Ff.

Antony] Authonie F₂.

Antony, and Potpan!] Antony! Potpan! Capell. Antony Potpan! Dyce (ed. 2).

[321] Sec. Serv.] 2 Ser. Rowe. 2. Qq Ff. 3. S. Capell (corrected in MS.).

[322] and] om. F₃ F₄.

[323] Third Serv.] 3. Qq. 1. Ff. 2 Ser. Rowe.

[324] We ... all.] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Qq Ff.

[325] [They retire behind.] Malone. Exeunt. Qq Ff. om. Capell.

Enter ...] Enter all the guests and gentlewomen to the Maskers. Qq Ff.

[326] Scene VI. Pope. Scene VII. Hanmer.

Welcome, gentlemen] Gentlemen, welcome Hanmer. You're welcome, gentlemen Lettsom conj.

Welcome ... toes] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

their toes] your feet Pope.

[327] will have a bout] Capell. will have about (Q₁). will walke about Qq Ff. we'll have a bout Pope.

[328] Ah ha, my] (Q₁) Capell. Ah my Qq F₁. Ah me, F₂ F₃ F₄. Ah me, my Rowe.

[329] She,] om. Pope. Transferred to the end of line 17 by Steevens.

[330] Welcome] You're welcome Lettsom conj.

gentlemen] all gentlemen Pope. you too, gentlemen Capell.

[Enter other guests. Nicholson conj.

I have] I've Pope.

[331] You are ... girls] Omitted by Pope.

[332] gentlemen! Come,] gentlemen come, Q₂.

[Enter more guests. Nicholson conj.

[333] A hall, a hall!] A ball, a ball. Johnson.

a hall] hall F₂ F₃ F₄.

[Music ...] Qq Ff (after line 23). Musick. Dance forming. Capell (after line 23).

[334] you] ye F₂ F₃ F₄.

[335] mask] make Q₅.

By'r lady] F₄. Berlady The rest.

[336] Cap.] Capell. I. Capu. Qq. Ff.

[337] Lucentio,] (Q₁) F₁ F₃ F₄. Lucientio: Q₂ Q₅. Lucientio, Q₃ Q₄. Lucentio. F₂.

[338] Cap.] 1 Capu. Qq. 3 Cap. Ff.

[339] two] 2. Q₂. three (Q₁).

[Juliet is taken out. Capell. After this line Keightley inserts from (Q₁), Good youths, i' faith! Oh, youth's a jolly thing!

[340] [To a Servingman.] to a Servant. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

lady's] ladies Q₂. ladie is Q₃ Q₄ F₁. lady is F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[341] [Company dance. Capell.

[342] It seems she] (Q₁) Qq F₁. Her beauty F₂ F₃ F₄.

[343] Like] (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. As Qq F₁.

[344] snowy] snowe Q₄.

[345] blessed] happy (Q₁) Pope.

[346] For I ne'er] For I nere Qq (ne're Q₅). For I never Ff. I never (Q₁) Pope.

[347] What dares] what? dares Q₅.

[348] hither] hether Q₃ Q₄.

antic] antick Rowe. antique Qq Ff.

[349] it] in F₂.

[350] Why ... so?] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[351] Romeo is it?] Ff. Romeo is it. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Romeo, is it? Q₅. Romeo, is't? Pope.

'Tis he] om. Pope.

villain] villian F₂.

[352] He] (Q₁) Rowe. A Qq Ff.

[353] this] Qq. the Ff.

[354] for] of Rowe.

[355] What ... know what:] Put in the margin by Pope.

[356] Am ... go to] Go to. Am ... you? Collier MS.

[357] my guests!] Theobald. my guests: Qq. the guests: Ff.

[358] set] set a Q₄ Q₅.

[359] is't] 'tis F₂ F₃ F₄.

[360] You ... go:] Omitted by Pope.

[361] or—More ... shame!] or—More ... light.—For shame! Knight. or (more ... shame) Q₅. or more ... light for shame, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. or more light, for shame, F₂ F₃ F₄. or more light, for shame; Rowe.

[362] Now seeming] Now-seeming Lettsom conj.

bitterest] bittrest Q₂. bitter The rest.

[Exit.] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[Dance ends. Juliet retires to her Seat. Capell.

[363] [To Juliet] Rowe. drawing up to her, and taking her Hand. Capell.

unworthiest] unworthy (Q₁) Pope.

[364] fine] Theobald (Warburton). sin Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Sinne (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅.

is this] be this Hammer.

[365] two] to F₁.

ready] (Q₁) F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. did ready Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ (readie Q₂).

[366] Good ... much,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[367] hands that] Q₅. hands, that Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. hands, the F₃ F₄. hands—the Rowe.

hands do] hand, doe F₂. hand, do F₃ F₄.

[368] Saints ... book.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[369] Saints ... sake.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

though] yet Pope.

[370] prayer's effect I take] Capell. prayers effect I take (Q₁) Qq F₁. prayers effect doe take F₂ F₃ F₄.

[371] thine] yours (Q₁) Capell.

[Kissing her.] Rowe.

[372] that they have] that late they Pope.

[373] sin] kiss Capell.

[Kissing her again. Capell.

by the] (Q₁). bith Qq. by' th' F₁ F₂. by th' F₃ F₄.

[374] [To her Nurse. Pope.

[375] talk'd] talkt (Q₁) Qq F₁. talke F₂. talk F₃ F₄.

[376] chinks] chincke Rowe (ed 2). chink Pope.

Capulet] Mountague (Q₁). Catulet Q₃.

[377] debt] thrall (Q₁). See note (II).

[378] [Going. Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).

[379] [Maskers excuse themselves with a Bow. Capell.

[380] on then,] on, then, Dyce. on, then Qq Ff.

[381] [to his Cousin. Capell.

[382] [Exeunt ... Nurse.] Malone. Exeunt. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁. Company retire. Capell.

[383] Come ... gentleman?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

yond] yond' F₄. yon Pope.

[384] of] of the Q₄ Q₅.

[385] Marry ... be] That as I think is (Q₁) Pope.

be] to be F₃ F₄.

[386] there] (Q₁) Capell. here Qq Ff.

[387] wedding] wedded F₁.

[388] your] our F₂ F₃ F₄.

[389] unknown] unknow F₂.

[390] [Going and returning. Collier (ed. 2).

[391] this ... this] Ff. tis ... tis Qq.

learn'd] learne F₁.

even] e'en Pope.

[392] all are] are all Q₄.

ACT II.

PROLOGUE.

Enter Chorus.[393]

Chor. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,[394]
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,[395]
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.[396]
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 5
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; 10
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.[397] [Exit.

Scene I. A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.[398]

Enter Romeo, alone.

Rom. Can I go forward when my heart is here?
Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out.
[Pg 36]

[He climbs the wall, and leaps down within it.

Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.

Ben. Romeo! my cousin Romeo![399]

Mer. He is wise;[400][401]
And, on my life, hath stol'n him home to bed.[401]

Ben. He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: 5
Call, good Mercutio.

Mer. Nay, I'll conjure too.[402]
Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover![403]
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:[404]
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied;[405]
Cry but 'ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;'[406] 10
Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,[407]
One nick-name for her purblind son and heir,[408]
Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim [409][410]
When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid![410]
[Pg 37] He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not;[411] 15
The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.[412]
I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,[413]
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh,
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, 20
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!

Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.[414]

Mer. This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him
To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle [415]
Of some strange nature, letting it there stand [416] 25
Till she had laid it and conjured it down;
That were some spite: my invocation [417]
Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name[415][417][418]
I conjure only but to raise up him.

Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,[419] 30
To be consorted with the humorous night:
Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.

Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Now will he sit under a medlar-tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit [420] 35
As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.[421]
O, Romeo, that she were, O, that she were [422][423]
An open et cetera, thou a poperin pear![423][424]
Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed;
[Pg 38] This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep:[425] 40
Come, shall we go?[426]

Ben. Go then, for 'tis in vain[426][427]
To seek him here that means not to be found. [Exeunt.

Scene II. Capulet's orchard.[428]

Enter Romeo.[429]

Rom. He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

[Juliet appears above at a window.

But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?[430]
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief, 5
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:[431]
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,[432]
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady; O, it is my love![433] 10
O, that she knew she were![433][434]
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,[435] 15
Having some business, do intreat her eyes [436]
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
[Pg 39] What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven [437] 20
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.[438]
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!

Jul. Ay me!

Rom. She speaks:[439] 25
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,[440]
As is a winged messenger of heaven [441]
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes [442]
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him, 30
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds [443]
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?[444]
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 35
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Rom. [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?[445]

Jul. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.[446]
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,[447] 40
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part [448]
[Pg 40] Belonging to a man. O, be some other name![448][449]
What's in a name? that which we call a rose [450]
By any other name would smell as sweet;[451]
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,[452] 45
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,[453]
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,[454]
Take all myself.

Rom. I take thee at thy word:[455]
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; 50
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night,[456]
So stumblest on my counsel?

Rom. By a name [457]
I know not how to tell thee who I am:[457]
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, 55
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.

Jul. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words [458]
Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound:[459]
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 60

Rom. Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.[460]
[Pg 41]

Jul. How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?[461]
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.[462] 65

Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls,[463]
For stony limits cannot hold love out:
And what love can do, that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.[464]

Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 70

Rom. Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.

Jul. I would not for the world they saw thee here.

Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes;[465] 75
And but thou love me, let them find me here:[466]
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.

Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place?

Rom. By love, that first did prompt me to inquire;[467] 80
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far [468]
As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,[469]
I would adventure for such merchandise.[470]

Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,[471] 85
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
[Pg 42] What I have spoke: but farewell compliment![472]
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'[473] 90
And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false: at lovers' perjuries,[474]
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,[475]
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,[476] 95
I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond;
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light:[477]
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true 100
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.[478]
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,[479]
And not impute this yielding to light love, 105
Which the dark night hath so discovered.

Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,[480]
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—[481]

Jul. O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,[482]
That monthly changes in her circled orb,[483] 110
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Rom. What shall I swear by?
[Pg 43]

Jul. Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.

Rom. If my heart's dear love—[484] 115

Jul. Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,[485]
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,[486]
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night![487] 120
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,[488]
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? 125

Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?

Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.[489]

Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.

Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?[490] 130

Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. 135
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu![491]

[Nurse calls within.

Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.[492] [Exit.
[Pg 44]

Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard,[493]
Being in night, all this is but a dream, 140
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.[494]

Re-enter Juliet, above.

Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.[495]
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee, 145
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,[496]
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.[497]

Nurse. [Within] Madam![498]

Jul. I come, anon.—But if thou mean'st not well,[499] 150
I do beseech thee—[498]

Nurse. [Within] Madam!

Jul. By and by, I come:—
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:[500]
To-morrow will I send.

Rom. So thrive my soul,—[501]

Jul. A thousand times good night! [Exit.[502]

Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.[503] 155
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.[504]

[Retiring slowly.

[Pg 45]

Re-enter Juliet, above.

Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!—O, for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again![505]
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;[506] 160
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine [507][508]
With repetition of my Romeo's name.[508][509]
Romeo![510]

Rom. It is my soul that calls upon my name:[511] 165
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!

Jul. Romeo!

Rom. My dear?[512]

Jul. At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?

Rom. At the hour of nine.[513]

Jul. I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.[514] 170
I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Rom. Let me stand here till thou remember it.

Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,[515]
Remembering how I love thy company.

Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, 175
Forgetting any other home but this.[516]

Jul. 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,[517]
[Pg 46] Who lets it hop a little from her hand,[518]
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, 180
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,[519]
So loving-jealous of his liberty.[520]

Rom. I would I were thy bird.

Jul. Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow [521] 185
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.[521][522] [Exit.

Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast![521]
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest![521]
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,[521][523]
His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.[521] [Exit.190

Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.[524]

Enter Friar Laurence, with a basket.[525]

Fri. L. The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,[526]
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light;[526][527]
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels[526][528]
From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels:[526][529]
Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, 5
[Pg 47] The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry,
I must up-fill this osier cage of ours [530]
With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers.[531]
The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb;[532]
What is her burying grave, that is her womb: 10
And from her womb children of divers kind
We sucking on her natural bosom find,
Many for many virtues excellent,[533]
None but for some, and yet all different.
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies 15
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities:[534]
For nought so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give;[535]
Nor aught so good, but, strain'd from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:[536] 20
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime's by action dignified.[537]
Within the infant rind of this small flower [538]
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:[539]
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part,[540] 25
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.[541]
Two such opposed kings encamp them still [542]
In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;
[Pg 48] And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.[543] 30

Enter Romeo.

Rom. Good morrow, father.

Fri. L. Benedicite![544]
What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?[545]
Young son, it argues a distemper'd head [546]
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed:
Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, 35
And where care lodges, sleep will never lie;[547]
But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain [548]
Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign:
Therefore thy earliness doth me assure
Thou art up-roused by some distemperature;[549] 40
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night.

Rom. That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.

Fri. L. God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?

Rom. With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; 45
I have forgot that name and that name's woe.

Fri. L. That's my good son: but where hast thou been then?

Rom. I'll tell thee ere thou ask it me again.
I have been feasting with mine enemy;
Where on a sudden one hath wounded me, 50
That's by me wounded: both our remedies [550]
Within thy help and holy physic lies:
I bear no hatred, blessed man, for, lo,
[Pg 49] My intercession likewise steads my foe.

Fri. L. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift;[551] 55
Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.

Rom. Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet:[552]
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combined, save what thou must combine 60
By holy marriage: when, and where, and how,
We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray,[553]
That thou consent to marry us to-day.

Fri. L. Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here![554] 65
Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear,[555]
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine [556]
Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline![557] 70
How much salt water thrown away in waste,[558]
To season love, that of it doth not taste!
The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,
Thy old groans ring yet in mine ancient ears;[559]
Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit [560] 75
Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet:
If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline:
And art thou changed? pronounce this sentence then:[561]
Women may fall when there's no strength in men. 80

Rom. Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.

Fri. L. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.

Rom. And bad'st me bury love.

Fri. L. Not in a grave,
To lay one in, another out to have.[562]
[Pg 50]

Rom. I pray thee, chide not: she whom I love now [563] 85
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow;
The other did not so.

Fri. L. O, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell.[564]
But come, young waverer, come, go with me,[565]
In one respect I'll thy assistant be; 90
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.[566]

Rom. O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste.

Fri. L. Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

[Exeunt.

Scene IV. A street.[567]

Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.

Mer. Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came [568][569]
he not home to-night?[569]

Ben. Not to his father's; I spoke with his man.[569]

Mer. Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline,[570][571]
Torments him so that he will sure run mad.[571] 5
[Pg 51]

Ben. Tybalt, the kinsman to old Capulet,[572][573]
Hath sent a letter to his father's house.[572]

Mer. A challenge, on my life.

Ben. Romeo will answer it.

Mer. Any man that can write may answer a letter. 10

Ben. Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he
dares, being dared.

Mer. Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead! stabbed
with a white wench's black eye; shot thorough the ear with [574]
a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind 15
bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to encounter Tybalt?

Ben. Why, what is Tybalt?[575][576]

Mer. More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he's[576][577]
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you
sing prick-song, keeps time, distance and proportion;[578] 20
rests me his minim rest, one, two, and the third in your [579]
bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist;[580]
a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and
second cause: ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso!
the hai![581] 25

Ben. The what?

Mer. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes;[582][583]
these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu, a very good[583][584]
blade! a very tall man! a very good whore!' Why, is
[Pg 52] not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be 30
thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers,
these perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form [585]
that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench? O, their [586]
bones, their bones![587]

Enter Romeo.

Ben. Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.[588] 35

Mer. Without his roe, like a dried herring: O flesh,
flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers
that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench;[589]
marry, she had a better love to be-rhyme her; Dido,
a dowdy; Cleopatra, a gipsy; Helen and Hero, hildings and [590] 40
harlots; Thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose.[591]
Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your [592]
French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.[593]

Rom. Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit [594]
did I give you?[594] 45

Mer. The slip, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?[594]

Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great;[594][595]
and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.[594][596]

Mer. That's as much as to say, Such a case as yours[594]
constrains a man to bow in the hams.[594] 50

Rom. Meaning, to court'sy.[594][597]
[Pg 53]

Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it.[594]

Rom. A most courteous exposition.[594][598]

Mer. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.[594]

Rom. Pink for flower.[594] 55

Mer. Right.[594]

Rom. Why, then is my pump well flowered.[594]

Mer. Well said: follow me this jest now, till thou hast[594][599]
worn out thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn,[594]
the jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular.[594][600] 60

Rom. O single-soled jest, solely singular for the[594][601]
singleness![594][601]

Mer. Come between us, good Benvolio; my wits faint.[594][602]

Rom. Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a[594][603][604]
match.[594][603] 65

Mer. Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have[594][605][606]
done; for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy[594][606]
wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with[594]
you there for the goose?[594]

Rom. Thou wast never with me for any thing when[594][607] 70
thou wast not there for the goose.[594]

Mer. I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.[594]

Rom. Nay, good goose, bite not.[594]

Mer. Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most[594][608][609]
sharp sauce.[594][608] 75

Rom. And is it not well served in to a sweet goose?[594][610]
[Pg 54]

Mer. O, here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an[594]
inch narrow to an ell broad![594]

Rom. I stretch it out for that word 'broad;' which added[594]
to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.[594][611] 80

Mer. Why, is not this better now than groaning for[594][612]
love? now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art[594][613]
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this[594]
drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up[594]
and down to hide his bauble in a hole.[594][614] 85

Ben. Stop there, stop there.[594]

Mer. Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the[594]
hair.[594]

Ben. Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.[594]

Mer. O, thou art deceived; I would have made it[594] 90
short: for I was come to the whole depth of my tale, and[594][615]
meant indeed to occupy the argument no longer.[594]

Rom. Here's goodly gear![616]

Enter Nurse and Peter.

Mer. A sail, a sail![617]

Ben. Two, two; a shirt and a smock.[618] 95

Nurse. Peter!

Peter. Anon?

Nurse. My fan, Peter.

Mer. Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the [619][620]
fairer of the two.[620][621] 100

Nurse. God ye good morrow, gentlemen.

Mer. God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.[622]

Nurse. Is it good den?[623]
[Pg 55]

Mer. 'Tis no less, I tell you; for the bawdy hand of [624]
the dial is now upon the prick of noon. 105

Nurse. Out upon you! what a man are you!

Rom. One, gentlewoman, that God hath made himself [625]
to mar.

Nurse. By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to [626]
mar,' quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where [627] 110
I may find the young Romeo?[628]

Rom. I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older
when you have found him than he was when you sought
him: I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.

Nurse. You say well. 115

Mer. Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith;
wisely, wisely.

Nurse. If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with [629]
you.

Ben. She will indite him to some supper.[630] 120

Mer. A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! So ho!

Rom. What hast thou found?[631]

Mer. No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie,[631]
that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.[631][632] [Sings.
An old hare hoar,[631][633] 125
And an old hare hoar,[631][633]
Is very good meat in lent:[631][633]
But a hare that is hoar,[631][633]
Is too much for a score,[631][633]
When it hoars ere it be spent.[631][633] 130
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll to dinner thither.
[Pg 56]

Rom. I will follow you.

Mer. Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, [singing] 'lady,[634]
lady, lady.' [Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.[635] 135

Nurse. Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy [636]
merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?[637]

Rom. A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself [638]
talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month.[639] 140

Nurse. An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take [640]
him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such [641]
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall. Scurvy
knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates.[642]
[Turning to Peter] And thou must stand by too,[643] 145
and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?

Peter. I saw no man use you at his pleasure; if I had,
my weapon should quickly have been out, I warrant you:
I dare draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a
good quarrel and the law on my side. 150

Nurse. Now, afore God, I am so vexed that every
part about me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a
word: and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire [644]
you out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself: but[644]
first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise,[645]155
as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as
they say: for the gentlewoman is young, and therefore, if [646]
you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill
thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak [647]
[Pg 57] dealing. 160

Rom. Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress.[648]
I protest unto thee—[649]

Nurse. Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as
much: Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.

Rom. What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not 165
mark me.[650]

Nurse. I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which,
as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.[651]

Rom. Bid her devise [652]
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon;[652] 170
And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell [653]
Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.

Nurse. No, truly, sir; not a penny.

Rom. Go to; I say you shall.

Nurse. This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there. 175

Rom. And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey-wall:[654]
Within this hour my man shall be with thee,
And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair;[655]
Which to the high top-gallant of my joy
Must be my convoy in the secret night. 180
Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:[656]
Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.[657]

Nurse. Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.

Rom. What say'st thou, my dear nurse?[658]

Nurse. Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say,[659][660]185
Two may keep counsel, putting one away?[659][661]
[Pg 58]

Rom. I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel.[662]

Nurse. Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady—Lord,[663]
Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing—O, there is[663]
a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife[663] 190
aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very[663][664]
toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes, and tell her that[663][665]
Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I[663]
say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world.[663][666]
Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?[663] 195

Rom. Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.[663]

Nurse. Ah, mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for[663][667][668]
the—No; I know it begins with some other letter—and[663][668][669]
she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary,[663]
that it would do you good to hear it.[663][670] 200

Rom. Commend me to thy lady.[663][671]

Nurse. Ay, a thousand times. [Exit Romeo.] Peter![663][672]

Pet. Anon![663][673]

Nurse. Peter, take my fan, and go before, and apace.[663][674]

[Exeunt.

[Pg 59]

Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[675]

Enter Juliet.

Jul. The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse;
In half an hour she promised to return.[676]
Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so.
O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts,[677]
Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams [678] 5
Driving back shadows over louring hills:[679]
Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love,[680]
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.[681]
Now is the sun upon the highmost hill
Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve 10
Is three long hours; yet she is not come.[682]
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She would be as swift in motion as a ball;[683]
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me:[684][685] 15
But old folks, many feign as they were dead;[685][686]
Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.[687]

[Pg 60]

Enter Nurse, with Peter.[688]

O God, she comes! O honey nurse, what news?[689]
Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away.

Nurse. Peter, stay at the gate.[690] [Exit Peter.20

Jul. Now, good sweet nurse,—O Lord, why look'st thou sad?[691]
Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily;[692][693]
If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news[692][694]
By playing it to me with so sour a face.[692]

Nurse. I am a-weary; give me leave awhile.[695] 25
Fie, how my bones ache! what a jaunce have I had![696]

Jul. I would thou hadst my bones and I thy news:
Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak.[697]

Nurse. Jesu, what haste? can you not stay awhile?[698][699]
Do you not see that I am out of breath?[699][700] 30

Jul. How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath[699]
To say to me that thou art out of breath?[699]
The excuse that thou dost make in this delay[699]
Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.[699]
Is thy news good, or bad? answer to that;[701] 35
Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance:
Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad?

Nurse. Well, you have made a simple choice; you know [702]
not how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his face[702]
be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's; and[702][703]40
[Pg 61] for a hand, and a foot, and a body, though they be not to be[702][704]
talked on, yet they are past compare: he is not the flower of[702]
courtesy, but, I'll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy[702][705]
ways, wench; serve God. What, have you dined at home?[702]

Jul. No, no: but all this did I know before.[706] 45
What says he of our marriage? what of that?

Nurse. Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I!
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o' t' other side,—ah, my back, my back![707]
Beshrew your heart for sending me about, 50
To catch my death with jauncing up and down![708]

Jul. I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.[709]
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love?

Nurse. Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and [710]
a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a[710] 55
virtuous,—Where is your mother?[710]

Jul. Where is my mother! why, she is within;[711]
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest![711]
'Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
Where is your mother?'

Nurse. O God's lady dear![712] 60
Are you so hot? marry, come up, I trow;
Is this the poultice for my aching bones?
Henceforward do your messages yourself.
[Pg 62]

Jul. Here's such a coil! come, what says Romeo?

Nurse. Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day? 65

Jul. I have.

Nurse. Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell;[713]
There stays a husband to make you a wife:
Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks,
They'll be in scarlet straight at any news.[714] 70
Hie you to church; I must another way,
To fetch a ladder, by the which your love
Must climb a bird's nest soon when it is dark:[715]
I am the drudge, and toil in your delight;
But you shall bear the burthen soon at night. 75
Go; I'll to dinner; hie you to the cell.

Jul. Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell. [Exeunt.

Scene VI. Friar Laurence's cell.[716]

Enter Friar Laurence and Romeo.[717]

Fri. L. So smile the heavens upon this holy act
That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!

Rom. Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight: 5
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death do what he dare,[718]
It is enough I may but call her mine.[719]
[Pg 63]

Fri. L. These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder [720] 10
Which as they kiss consume: the sweetest honey [721]
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness [722]
And in the taste confounds the appetite:
Therefore, love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 15

Enter Juliet.

Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint.
A lover may bestride the gossamer [723]
That idles in the wanton summer air,[723]
And yet not fall; so light is vanity. 20

Jul. Good even to my ghostly confessor.

Fri. L. Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.

Jul. As much to him, else is his thanks too much.[724]

Rom. Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy [725]
Be heap'd like mine, and that thy skill be more 25
To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath
This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue [726]
Unfold the imagined happiness that both
Receive in either by this dear encounter.

Jul. Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, 30
Brags of his substance, not of ornament:
They are but beggars that can count their worth;
But my true love is grown to such excess,[727]
I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.[728]
[Pg 64]

Fri. L. Come, come with me, and we will make short work; 35
For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone
Till holy church incorporate two in one.[729] [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[393] Act ii. Prologue. Enter Chorus. Chor.] Edd. Chorus. Qq Ff. Act ii. Scene i. Chorus. Rowe. Enter Chorus. Theobald.

[394] in] on Pope.

[395] for which] which Steevens (1793).]

groan'd for] groned Q₅. groan'd sore Rowe.

[396] match'd] match Q₂.

[397] Tempering] Tempring Qq. Temp'ring F₁. Temp'ting F₂. Tempting F₃ F₄.

[Exit.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[398] Scene I.] Edd. Scene II. Rowe. Act ii. Theobald. Act ii. Scene i. Hanmer. Scene III. Capell.

A lane ...] Edd. The Street. Rowe. Wall of Capulet's Garden. Capell. An open Place, adjoining Capulet's garden. Malone.

[399] thy] Qq F₁. my F₂ F₃ F₄.

centre] center Qq F₁ F₄. centour F₂. centor F₃.

[He ... it.] Steevens (1793). om. Qq Ff. Exit. Rowe. Leaps the Wall. Capell. He climbs the wall, and leaps down. Malone.

[400] my] why, Capell.

cousin Romeo] (Q₁) Pope. cozen Romeo, Romeo Qq Ff.

[401] He ... bed.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[402] Nay ... too.] Given to Mercutio by (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅ and Rowe. Continued to Benvolio in Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[403] Romeo!] Capell. Romeo. Q₄. Romeo, Q₅. Mer. Romeo, Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂. Mer. Romeo F₃ F₄. Why, Romeo! Pope. Hear, Romeo! Mommsen, conj.

humours!... lover!] humour's-madman! passion-lover Singer (ed. 2).

[404] sigh] fight F₂ F₃ F₄.

[405] one rhyme] one rime (Q₁) Q₃ Q₄ F₁. on rime Q₂. one time F₂ F₃ F₄. one ryme Q₅.

[406] Cry but 'ay me!'] Crie but ay me, Q₂. Cry but ay me, Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Cry me but ay me, F₁. Cry me but ayme, F₂ F₃. Cry me but aim, F₄. Cry but Ah me! Theobald (ed. 2).

pronounce] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. prouaunt, Q₂ Q₃. Prouant, F₁. Couply F₂ F₃ F₄. couple Rowe.

dove (Q₁) Pope. day Q₂ Q₃ Ff. die Q₄. dye Q₅.

[407] gossip] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅ F₄. goship Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃.

word] wor F₂.

[408] for] to Q₅.

heir] heire (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. her Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[409] Adam Cupid] Steevens, 1778 (Upton conj.). Abraham: Cupid (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃. Abraham Cupid Q₄ Ff Q₅. auburn Cupid Dyce, ed. 1 (Theobald conj.). abram Cupid Dyce conj.

trim] (Q₁) Steevens true Qq Ff. See note (III).

[410] Young ... maid] "Young Abraham"—"Cupid ... maid" Hunter conj.

[411] he stirreth] he striveth Q₃. stirreth Steevens (1793).

moveth] moves Hanmer.

[412] and] om. F₁.

[413] thee] the Q₃.

[414] An] An' Theobald (ed. 2). And Qq Ff.

[415] mistress'] mistress's F₄.

[416] there] om. F₁.

[417] That ... name] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending spight, in Qq Ff.

[418] Is fair and honest] is Honest and fair Pope, reading That ... is as one line.

and in] in Q₂.

[419] these] those (Q₁) Capell.

[420] that] such Capell.

[421] As] Which Rowe.

medlars] medless Q₄.

[422] O, ... O,] Ah, ... ah, Capell.

[423] O, Romeo ... pear!] Omitted by Pope.

[424] open et cetera, thou] (Q₁) Malone. open, or thou Q₂ Q₃ Ff. open & catera, and thou Q₄. open and catera, and thou Q₅. open—or thou Rowe. open—, and thou Capell.

[425] too] to Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[426] Go ... found.] Arranged as by Pope. Two lines, the first ending here, in Qq Ff.

[427] [Exeunt.] Q₄ Ff Q₅. Exit. Q₂ Q₃.

[428] Scene II.] Hanmer. Scene III. Rowe. Scene IV. Capell.

Capulet's orchard.] A garden. Rowe. Capulet's garden. Theobald.

[429] Enter Romeo.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff. See note (IV).

[430] [Juliet ...] Rowe (after line 3). Enter Juliet, above. Capell.

[431] art] at Q₄.

[432] sick] pale (Q₁) Dyce (ed. 2). white Collier (Collier MS.).

[433] It is ... were] As in Johnson. One line in Qq Ff. Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[434] were] is Seymour conj.

[435] in all] of all Rowe.

[436] do] to Q₂.

[437] eyes] (Q₁) Pope. eye Qq Ff.

[438] were] was Seymour conj.

[439] Ay] Ah Rowe.

[440] night] sight Theobald.

[441] of] from Rowe.

[442] white-upturned] Theobald (ed. 2). white upturned Qq Ff.

[443] lazy-pacing] Pope. lasie pacing (Q₁). lazie puffing Qq Ff (lazy F₂ F₃ F₄). lazy passing Collier conj.

[444] Romeo?] Montague? Anon. conj.

[445] [Aside] Rowe.

hear] here F₂.

[446] Thou ... Montague] Qq Ff. Omitted in (Q₁) Pope. Thou'rt not thy self so, though a Mountague Hanmer. Thou art thyself, then not a Montague Johnson conj. Thou art thyself though, not a Montague Malone. Thou art thyself, although a Montague or Thou art thyself, though yet a Montague Ritson conj. Thou art thyself, thought not a Montague Jackson conj. Thou art thyself, thou; not a Montague Anon. conj.

[447] nor hand] not hand F₄.

[448] nor any ... name!] Malone. nor any other part. (Q₁) Pope. O be some other name Belonging to a man. Qq Ff.

[449] Belonging to a] 'Longing to Steevens conj. 'Longing t' a S. Walker conj. Belonging Taylor conj. MS.

[450] What's in a name?] Q₄ Q₅ F₃ F₄. Whats in a name? (Q₁) F₂. Whats in a name Q₂. What's in a name Q₃. What? in a names F₁.

[451] name] (Q₁) Pope. word Qq Ff.

[452] were] wene Q₂.

[453] title. Romeo,] title: Romeo Q₅. title; Romeo, F₄. title, Romeo Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. title Romeo (Q₁). title Romeo, F₁ F₂ F₃.

doff] Qq Ff. part (Q₁). quit Pope.

[454] thy name] Qq Ff. that name (Q₁) Rowe.

[455] [raising his Voice, and showing himself. Capell. Starting forward. Collier (Collier MS.).

[456] night] nigh F₂.

[457] By ... am:] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[458] yet not] Qq Ff. not yet (Q₁) Capell.

[459] thy ... uttering] Qq Ff. that ... utterance (Q₁) Malone. that ... uttering Pope.

[460] maid ... dislike] Qq Ff. saint ... displease (Q₁) Pope. saint ... dislike Theobald. maid ... mislike Anon. conj.

[461] How ... wherefore?] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[462] kinsmen] kismen Q₂.

[463] With ... walls] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[464] let] (Q₁) Capell. stop Qq Ff.

[465] eyes] Qq Ff. sight (Q₁) Capell.

[466] And] An Anon. conj.

[467] love] Love's Keightley.

that] who (Q₁) Capell.

prompt] (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. promp Qq F₁.

[468] pilot] Pylat Q₂. Pylot Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂.

[469] vast shore wash'd] vast shore washt Q₄ Q₅. vast shore, washt (Q₁). vast shore washeth Q₂. vast shore washet Q₃. vast-shore-washet F₁. vast-shore: washd F₂. vast-shore: wash'd F₃. vast-shore, wash'd F₄.

farthest] Qq Ff. furthest (Q₁) Steevens (1793).

[470] would] (Q₁) Pope. should Qq Ff.

[471] know'st] Q₅. knowst (Q₁). knowest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

on] one F₃.

[472] compliment] complement Qq F₁. complements (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄.

[473] love me? I] Qq. Love? I F₁. Love? O I F₂ F₃. Love? O, I F₄.

[474] mayst] maist Q₅. maiest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. mayest F₃. may'st F₄.]

false: at ... perjuries,] false: at ... perjuries F₁ Q₅. false at ... perjuries. Q₂. false, at ... perjuries Q₃ F₃. false; at ... perjuries Q₄ F₄. false at ... perjuries F₂.

[475] laughs] laught F₁.

[476] think'st] Q₅. thinkest The rest. think (Q₁) Pope.

[477] mayst] maist Q₅ F₃. maiest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. mayest F₂ F₄.]

'haviour] Rowe. haviour (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. behaviour Qq F₁ (behavior Q₂).

[478] more cunning] (Q₁) Pope. coying Q₂ Q₃ F₁. more coying Q₄ Q₅. more coyning F₂ F₃ F₄.

[479] true love's] true loves (Q₁) Ff Q₅. truloue Q₂. trueloue Q₃. true loue Q₄.

[480] blessed] (Q₁) Qq. om. Ff.]

swear] (Q₁) Malone. vow Qq Ff.

[481] tops,—] tops— Rowe. tops. Qq Ff.

[482] inconstant] unconstant F₃ F₄.

[483] circled] circle Q₂.

[484] heart's dear] true heart's (Q₁) Pope.

love—] F₂ F₃ F₄. love. Qq F₁.

[485] swear: although ... thee,] swear—although ... thee, Rowe. sweare, although ... thee: Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. sweare, although ... thee, Q₅. sweare although ... thee, F₂ F₃ F₄.

[486] sudden] sodden F₂.

[487] lightens.] Rowe. lightens: Q₅. lightens, The rest.

[488] breath,] breath. F₂.

[489] for mine] Qq F₁. of mine F₂ F₃ F₄.

[490] Wouldst ... love?] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[491] [Nurse calls within.] Rowe. Cals within. Ff (Calls F₄). Omitted in Qq.

[492] [Exit.] Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[493] afeard] afraid Rowe.

[494] flattering-sweet] Theobald. flattering sweet Qq Ff.]

Re-enter Juliet, above.] Rowe. Enter. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.

[495] Three ... indeed.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[496] rite] F₃ F₄. right Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂. rights Q₄. rites Q₅.

[497] my lord] (Q₁) Ff. my L. Q₂ Q₃. my Love Q₄ Q₅.

[498] Nurse [Within.] Capell. Within: Ff. om. Qq. Madam being put in the margin.

[499] mean'st] Pope. meanst Q₅. meanest The rest.

[500] suit] Q₅. sute Q₄. strife Q₂ Q₃ Ff. See note (V).

[501] soul,—] Theobald. soule. Qq F₁ F₂. soul. F₃ F₄.

[502] [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[503] light] sight Q₄ Q₅.

[504] toward] Qq. towards Ff.

[Retiring slowly.] Malone. retires slowly. Capell, after line 156.

Re-enter ...] Malone. Enter Juliet againe. Qq Ff.]

[505] tassel-gentle] Hanmer. Tassel gentle Qq Ff.

[506] not] om. Q₄.

[507] tongue] voice (Q₁) Collier.

[508] than mine With] Q₅. then myne With Q₄. then With Q₂ Q₃ F₁. then with The F₂ F₃. than with The F₄.

[509] Romeo's name] (Q₁) Steevens. Romeo Qq Ff.

[510] Romeo!] Edd. from (Q₁). om. Qq Ff.

[511] my soul] my love Q₄ Q₅.

[returns to the Window. Capell.

[512] My dear?] My Deere. Q₄ Q₅. Madame. (Q₁) Malone. My Neece. Q₂ Q₃ F₁. My sweete. F₂. My sweet. F₃ F₄. My novice? Jackson conj. My—Nurse. [Within.] Madam. Knight.

At what] (Q₁) Pope. What Qq Ff.

o'] Theobald. a Qq Ff.

[513] At] (Q₁) Capell. By Qq Ff.

[514] years] yeare Q₂.

[515] I shall ... stand] I shall forget still, to have thee stand Capell. I'll still forget, to have thee still stand Rann.

forget, to] Q₃ Q₄ Ff. forget to Q₂ Q₅.

thee] the Q₃ F₂.

[516] home] name F₂ F₃ F₄.

[517] farther] Qq. further (Q₁) Ff.

[518] Who ... her] (Q₁) Capell. That his Qq Ff. That ... her Pope.

a] om. Q₄.

[519] silk thread plucks it back again] Pope. silke thred puts it backe againe (Q₁). silken thred plucks it backe againe Qq F₁ (threed, Q₂). silken thred plucks it againe F₂ F₃ F₄.

[520] loving-jealous] Theobald. loving jealous Qq Ff.

[521] Good night ... tell.] See note (VI).

[522] [Exit.] Pope. F₂ F₃ F₄ after line 186. om. Qq F₁.

[523] father's cell] (Q₁) Capell. Friers close cell Qq F₃ F₄. Fries close cell F₁ F₂.

[524] Scene iii] Hanmer. Scene iv Rowe. Scene V. Capell.

Friar Laurence's cell.] Malone. A Monastery. Rowe. Fields near a Convent. Capell.

[525] Enter....] Rowe. Enter Frier alone with a basket. Qq Ff. Enter Frier Francis. (Q₁).

[526] The ... wheels:] Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄. See note (VI).

[527] Chequering] Checking Q₂.

[528] flecked darkness] Steevens, from (Q₁). fleckeld darknesse Qq. fleckled darknesse F₁. darkness flecker'd Pope. flecker'd darkness Capell.

[529] path ... fiery] (Q₁) Boswell. path, and Titans burning Qq F₁. path-way made by Titan's Pope.

[530] up-fill] fill up Pope.

[531] baleful] haleful Brae conj.

precious-juiced] Pope. precious juiced Qq Ff.

[532] mother is] mother in Q₄ Q₅.

[533] virtues] vertures Q₄.

[534] herbs, plants] (Q₁) Capell. plants, hearbes Qq F₁ F₃ F₄. plaints, hearbs F₂. herbs, stems or herbs, flowers Theobald conj.

[535] to] to't Hanmer.

[536] from ... stumbling] to vice, and stumbles (Q₁) Pope. from's true birth stumbling Hanmer.

[537] sometime's by action] Capell. sometimes by action (Q₁). sometime by action Qq Ff. sometime by action's Theobald.

[538] small] (Q₁) Pope. weake Qq Ff.

[539] medicine] medic'nal Warburton. med'cine's Capell conj.

[540] smelt, with that part] Ff. smelt with that part, Qq. smelt, with that sense Pope. smelt, with that act Collier (Collier MS.). smelt to, with that Anon. conj., from (Q₁).

[541] slays] staies Q₂.

senses] Q₅ F₄. sences Q₂ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. sence Q₃.

[542] opposed] oppos'd F₃ F₄.

kings] kinds Rowe (ed. 2). foes (Q₁) Pope. kin Warburton. things Anon. conj.

[543] Enter Romeo.] Pope. Qq Ff after line 22.

[544] Benedicite] Benedicitie Q₂. Benedecite F₁. Continued to Romeo by Rann (Anon. conj. Gent. Mag. LX. 681).

[545] sweet] soon (Q₁) Boswell.

saluteth me] (Q₁) Qq F₁. salute thine F₂. salute them F₃ F₄. salutes mine ear Rowe.

[546] distemper'd] Q₅ F₄. distempered The rest.

[547] lodges] Qq F₁. lodgeth (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄.

[548] unbruised] unbusied Collier MS.

[549] by some] (Q₁) Pope. with some Qq Ff.

[550] wounded: both] Ff. wounded, both (Q₁) Q₃ Q₄. wounded both, Q₂. wounded; both Q₅.

[551] and] Qq. rest Ff.

[552] daughter] daunger F₂.

[553] thee] the F₂ F₄.

[554] Saint] F₄. S. The rest.

[555] that] whom (Q₁) Pope.

[556] Jesu Maria] Holy Saint Francis Johnson.

[557] sallow] fallow F₂ F₃ F₄.

[558] thrown] throne Q₄.

[559] ring yet] (Q₁) Pope. yet ringing Q₂ Q₃ F₁. yet ring Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

mine] Q₂ Q₅. my (Q₁) Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

[560] cheek] check F₃.

[561] this] this: Q₅.

sentence] sedtence F₂.

[562] in, another] in an other Q₂. in another F₂.

[563] thee] the F₂.

chide not: she whom I] chide not, she whom I (Q₁) Pope. chide me not, her I Qq Ff.

[564] and could] (Q₁) Pope. that could Qq Ff.

[565] go] and goe Q₄ Q₅.

[566] households' rancour] Capell. housholds rancor Qq. houshould rancor F₁. houshold rancord F₂ F₃. houshold-rancour F₄.

[567] Scene IV.] Hanmer. Scene V. Rowe. Act iii. Scene I. Capell.

A street.] Capell. The street. Rowe.

[568] Where] Why, where Capell, reading as verse, and ending the lines be?... father's; ... man.

devil] F₃ F₄. deule Q₂. deu'le Q₃ Q₄. deu le F₁. devile F₂. dev'll Q₅.

[569] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Steevens.

[570] Ah] (Q₁) Malone. Why Qq Ff. Ay Capell.

[571] Ah ... mad] Verse in (Q₁) Qq. Prose in Ff.

[572] Tybalt ... house] Verse in (Q₁) Theobald. Prose in Qq Ff.

[573] kinsman] kisman Q₂.

to] of (Q₁) Capell.

[574] shot] (Q₁) Capell. runne or run Qq Ff.

thorough] (Q₁) Capell. through Qq Ff.

[575] Ben.] (Q₁) Ff. Ro. or Rom. Qq.

[576] Why ... you. O] Capell, from (Q₁). Why ... Tybalt? Mer. More ... cats. Oh Qq Ff. Why ... Tybalt? Mer. More ... cats? Oh Theobald. Why ... Tybalt more ... cats? Mer. O Rann.

[577] prince] the prince Johnson (1771).

he's] he is (Q₁) Capell.

[578] prick-song] pricksongs F₄. prick'd songs Johnson.

[579] rests ... rest] Malone, from (Q₁). he rests, his minum rests Q₂. he rests his minum rests Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. he rests his minum Ff. rests his minum Rowe (ed. 2).

[580] very] wery F₂.

duellist] F₄. dualist The rest.

[581] the hai!] the Hay. Qq Ff. the, hay!— Theobald. the—hay! Capell.

[582] affecting] affected Pope.

[583] fantasticoes] (Q₁) Capell. phantacies Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. phantasies Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[584] tuners] turners Rowe.

accents] (Q₁) Q₅. accent Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

By Jesu] (Q₁) Qq. Jesu Ff. om. Johnson.

[585] perdona-mi's] Edd. (Globe ed.). pardona' mees Q₄ Q₅. pardonmees (Q₁). pardons mees Q₂. pardon mees Q₃. pardon-mee's F₁ F₂. pardon-me's F₃ F₄. pardonnez-moy's Theobald.

[586] they] the F₂.

[587] bones, their bones] Qq Ff. bon's, their bon's Theobald. buon's, their buon's Anon. conj.

Enter Romeo.] Qq Ff. Transferred by Dyce to follow purpose, line 41.

[588] Here comes Romeo] Once only in (Q₁) Pope.

[589] Petrarch] Petrach Q₂.

was but] (Q₁) Pope. was Qq Ff.

[590] hildings] hildinsgs F₁ F₂.

[591] so, but not] so: but now Hanmer (Warburton).

[592] bon jour] Bonieur Q₂ Q₄. Bonieur Q₃.

[593] slop] stop Pope.

You gave ... night] Put in the margin by Pope.

[594] What counterfeit ... no longer] Put in the margin by Pope.

[595] good] Qq. om. Ff.

[596] courtesy] coursie F₂ F₃.

[597] court'sy] courtesie F₂ F₃ F₄. cursie Qq F₁.

[598] courteous] curtuous Q₂.

[599] Well said:] Capell, from (Q₁). Sure wit Q₂. Sure wit, The rest. Sure wit— Rowe. Sir wit, Anon. conj. Sheer wit! Malone conj.

[600] solely] solie (Q₁). soly Qq. sole— Ff. sole Dyce (ed. 1).

[601] O ... singleness] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[602] wits faint] Q₅. wits faints Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. wit faints F₂ F₃ F₄. wits fail (Q₁) Steevens.

[603] Switch ... match] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[604] Switch ... switch] Pope. Swits ... swits Qq Ff. Switches ... switches Anon. conj.

or I'll] or—I'll Johnson. for I Capell.

[605] thy wits] (Q₁) Capell. our wits Qq Ff.

I have] (Q₁) Capell. I am Qq Ff.

[606] wild-goose] wild goats Grey conj.

[607] Thou wast] Qq F₁. Thou wert (Q₁). Thou was F₂ F₃ F₄.

[608] Thy ... sauce] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[609] bitter sweeting] Qq. bitter-sweeting Ff.

[610] well] then well Q₂.

in to] (Q₁) Qq. into Ff.

[611] thee] the F₂ F₃ F₄.

a broad] (Q₁) Qq. abroad Ff. broad Rowe (ed. 2). abroad, Farmer conj. abroad— Collier.

[612] now] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[613] art thou sociable] thou art sociable Rowe (ed. 2).

[614] hide] hid F₁.

bauble] F₄. bable The rest.

[615] for] (Q₁) Qq F₄. or F₁ F₂ F₃.

[616] Enter ...] Enter Nurse and her man. Qq Ff (after longer, line 92).

[617] Mer. A sail, a sail!] Mer. A sail, a sail, a sail! (Q₁) Capell. A sayle, a sayle. Qq Ff (continued to Romeo).

[618] Ben.] (Q₁) Capell. Mer. Qq Ff.

[619] Good] Do good Pope, from (Q₁).

[620] Good ... face.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff, and elsewhere.

[621] fairer of the two] (Q₁) Pope. fairer face Qq Ff.

[622] gentlewoman] gentlewomen F₂ F₃.

[623] Is it] It is F₂. Is is Rowe (ed. 1).

[624] you] yee Q₂.

[625] himself] for himself (Q₁) Collier.

[626] well said] (Q₁) Qq. said F₁ F₂ F₃. sad F₄.

[627] quoth a'] quath a Q₃ Q₄. quatha F₁. quotha F₂ F₃ F₄.

Gentlemen] Gentleman F₂ F₃.

[628] the] om. (Q₁) Pope.

[629] If you] If thou Q₄ Q₅.

[630] indite] endite Qq F₁. invite (Q₁) F₃ F₄. envite F₂.

some] om. (Q₁) Capell.

[631] Rom. What ... spent] Put in the margin by Pope.

[632] [Sings.] Singing. Capell. om. Qq Ff. He walkes by them, and sings. (Q₁).

[633] An old ... spent.] As in Capell. Two lines in Qq Ff. Four in (Q₁) Collier.

[634] [singing] Dyce (Farmer conj.).

[635] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Qq. Exit. Mercutio, Benvolio. Ff.

[636] Marry, farewell!] (Q₁) Malone. om. Qq Ff.

[637] ropery] roguery F₄. roperipe (Q₁).

[638] hear] here F₂.

[639] to] too Q₂.

[640] An] Pope. And Qq Ff.

[641] an] Pope. & F₁. and The rest.

[642] his] her Q₅.

flirt-gills] flurt-gills (Q₁). flurt gills Q₂. flurt gils Q₃. flurt-gils Ff. gil-flurts Q₄ Q₅.

skains-mates] F₄. skaines mates (Q₁) Qq F₁ F₂. skains mates F₃. scurvy mates S. Walker conj. stews-mates Bubier conj.

[643] [Turning to Peter.] Edd. She turnes to Peter her man. (Q₁). om. Qq Ff. To her man. Rowe.

[644] bade ... bade] bad ... bad (Q₁) Capell. bid ... bid Qq Ff.

[645] into a] (Q₁) Theobald. in a Qq Ff. into Rowe (ed. 2).

[646] gentlewoman] gentlewomen F₂.

[647] weak] wicked Collier (Collier MS.).

[648] Rom.] Nur. F₁.

Nurse,] om. Rowe.

[649] thee—] F₂ F₃ F₄. thee. Qq F₁.

unto] onto F₂.

[650] me.] mee. Q₅. me? or mee? The rest.

[651] a] om. Q₄.

[652] Bid ... afternoon;] Edd. One line in Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Prose in Q₄ Q₅. Capell ends the first line at shrift, reading as verse.

[653] Laurence'] Lawrence Qq Ff. Lawrence's Rowe.

[654] stay] Qq. stay thou Ff.

nurse, behind ... wall:] nurse: behind ... wall Anon. conj.

[655] thee] the F₂ F₃.

tackled] tackling Q₅.

[656] quit] Q₂. quite The rest.

[657] Farewell ... mistress.] Omitted by Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson.

mistress] mistress, nurse Martley conj.

[658] say'st] sayest Pope.

[659] Is ... away?] Verse by Rowe. Prose in Qq Ff.

[660] hear] F₃ F₄. here Qq. heare F₁ F₂.

[661] away?] Q₅ F₄. away. The rest.

[662] I warrant] F₂ F₃ F₄. Warrant Qq Ff.

man's] Rowe. mans Qq. man Ff.

[663] As verse by Capell.

[664] lief] leeve Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. liefe Q₅. live F₄.

see a] a see F₁.

[665] I anger] I do anger Capell.

anger her] angerer Q₄.

[666] versal] varsal Hanmer.

[667] Ah,] Rowe. A Qq Ff.

dog's name;] dog, name Q₂. dog's; or dog's letter, Farmer conj.

[668] R is for the—No;] Edd. (Ritson conj.). R. is for the no, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. R. is for the no. Q₅. R. is for thee? No; Theobald (Warburton). R. is not for thee, Hanmer. R is for the nonce; Steevens, 1773 (Johnson conj.). R for thee? no; Capell. R is for the dog. No; Steevens, 1778 (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[669] some] no Rowe.

[670] that it would] 'Twould Capell.

[671] lady.] lady— Pope.

[672] Ay] I Qq Ff. om. Rowe.

times. [Exit Romeo] Peter!] Dyce. times Peter. Q₂. times· Peter? Q₃. times Peter? Q₄. times. Peter? Ff. times. Peter. Q₅. times. Peter,— Theobald.

[Exit Romeo.] Rowe after line 201. om. Qq Ff.

[673] Anon!] Anon. Qq Ff. Anon? Theobald.

[674] Peter ... apace.] Edd. Peter, take my fan, and go before. (Q₁) Steevens. Before and apace. Qq Ff (Before, F₄). Take my fan, and go before. Pope. Before; and walk apace Capell.

[Exeunt.] Rowe. Ex. omnes. (Q₁). Exit. Qq. Exit Nurse and Peter. Ff (Ex. F₄).

[675] Scene V.] Hanmer. Scene VI. Rowe. Act iii. Scene ii. Capell.

Capulet's orchard.] Capulet's House. Rowe. Capulet's Garden. Capell.

[676] promised] promis'd Q₅.

[677] heralds] (Q₁) Q₅. heraulds Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₄. herauld F₁ F₃. herauid F₂.

[678] glide] F₄. glides The rest.

sun's beams] sun-beams Rowe.

[679] back] black Collier MS.

louring] lowring Qq Ff.

[680] nimble-pinion'd] Pope inserted the hyphen.

[681] wind-swift] Q₃ Ff. wind swift Q₂. winde swift Q₄. winde-swift Q₅.

[682] Is three] Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Is there Q₂. I three Ff. Ay three Rowe. Are three Hanmer.

yet] and yet Rowe.

[683] She would be as] Qq F₁. She'ld be as F₂ F₃ F₄. She would be Anon. conj.

[684] And his to me:] And his to me would send her back again. Seymour conj. And his to me would bandy her again Keightley.

[685] And ... dead;] Arranged as in Rowe. See note (VII).

[686] many feign] marry, feign Johnson. marry, seem Keightley. marry, fare Grant White. tarry, faith, Bullock conj. move, i'faith, Dyce conj.

[687] pale] dull Keightley (Collier MS.).

[688] Enter Nurse, with Peter.] Theobald. Enter Nurse. Qq Ff.

[689] O God] O good Johnson.

O honey nurse] om. Pope.

[690] [Exit Peter.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[691] Now ... sad?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

look'st] Q₄ Q₅ F₄. lookest Q₂ Q₃ F₁. lookes F₂. looks F₃.

[692] Though ... face.] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope.

[693] news be] F₄. newes be Q₂ Q₅. newes, be Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. news, be F₃.

[694] shamest] Q₂ Q₃. sham'st Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[695] give me leave] let me rest (Q₁) Pope.

[696] jaunce] iaunce Q₂ Q₃. jaunt The rest.

had] om. Q₂.

[697] thee] the F₂.

good, good] good F₂ F₃ F₄.

[698] Jesu] om. Johnson.

[699] Jesu ... excuse.] Give me some Aqua vitæ. Pope, from (Q₁).

[700] that] Qq F₁. om. F₂. how F₃ F₄.

[701] Is] Jul. Is Pope.

[702] Well ... home?] As verse by Capell.

[703] better than any] no better than another Warburton conj.

leg excels] Qq. legs excels F₁ F₂ F₃. legs excell F₄.

[704] a body] Q₂ Q₃ F₁. body Q₄ Q₅. a bawdy F₂ F₃ F₄. a baudie (Q₁). baw-dy Rowe. bo-dy Pope.

[705] I'll] I F₂ F₃ F₄.

gentle as a] Qq. gentle a Ff.

[706] this] this this F₁.

[707] My back ... side,—] My back!—o' t'other side,— Lloyd conj.

o' t' other] a tother Qq Ff.

ah] Q₅. a Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. o F₁. O F₂ F₃ F₄.

[708] jauncing] jaunsing Q₂ Q₃. jaunting The rest.

[709] not well] Qq. so well F₁. so ill F₂ F₃ F₄.

[710] Your ... mother?] Prose by Edd. Three lines, ending gentleman, ... handsome, ... mother? in Qq Ff. Capell ends the second line at warrant: Steevens at handsome, and.

[711] Where ... repliest!] As in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending be?, in Qq. Three, ending mother?... be?... repliest, in Ff.

[712] your mother] Qq F₁. my mother F₂ F₃ F₄.

O ... dear!] Omitted by Johnson.

[713] hie] Q₅ F₄. high The rest.

Laurence'] Lawrence Qq Ff. Lawrence's Rowe.

[714] They'll ... any] They'll be in scarlet straitway at my Hanmer. They'll be in scarlet straight at my next S. Walker conj. They will be straight in scarlet at my Keightley.

[715] climb] climde Q₃ F₁.

[716] Scene VI.] Hanmer. Scene VII. Rowe. Act iii. Scene iii. Capell.

Friar Laurence's cell.] Capell. The Monastery. Rowe.

[717] Enter Frier Laurence....] Rowe. Enter Friar.... Qq Ff.

[718] love-devouring] Hyphen omitted in F₂ F₃.

death do what he] death, do what thou Seymour conj.

[719] enough I] inough. I F₁ F₂. enough. I F₃.

[720] triumph] triumph: F₁.

[721] kiss] meet Pope.

[722] loathsome] lothsomnesse Q₄ Q₅.

his] its Rowe (ed. 2).

[723] gossamer ... idles] gossamour ... idles F₄. gossamours ... ydeles Q₂. gossamours ... ydles Q₃ F₁ F₂. gossamours ... idles Q₄ Q₅ F₃. gossamours ... idle Malone.

[724] else is] Q₂ Q₃ F₄. else in Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅ F₃. else are Rowe.

[725] Rom.] Fri. F₁.

[726] music's] musicke Q₂ Q₃.

[727] such] such such F₁.

[728] sum up sum of half my] Q₂ Q₃. summe up some of halfe my Q₄ Q₅. sum up some of halfe my Ff. sum up one half of my Pope. sum up sums of half my Johnson. sum up half my sum of Capell. sum the sum of half my Anon. conj. ap. Rann.

[729] [Exeunt.] F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.

ACT III.

Scene I. A public place.[730]

Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Servants.[731]

Ben. I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,[732]
And, if we meet, we shall not 'scape a brawl;[733][734]
For now these hot days is the mad blood stirring.[734]

Mer. Thou art like one of those fellows that when he [735] 5
enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the
table, and says 'God send me no need of thee!' and by the
operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when [736]
indeed there is no need.

Ben. Am I like such a fellow? 10

Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood
as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody and as
soon moody to be moved.

Ben. And what to?[737]

Mer. Nay, an there were two such, we should have [738] 15
none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou
wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair
less, in his beard than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a
man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because
[Pg 65] thou hast hazel eyes; what eye, but such an eye, would spy 20
out such a quarrel? thy head is as full of quarrels as an
egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as
addle as an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with
a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened
thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun: didst thou not 25
fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before
Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old
riband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling![739]

Ben. An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man [740]
should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a 30
quarter.

Mer. The fee-simple! O simple!

Enter Tybalt and others.

Ben. By my head, here come the Capulets.[741]

Mer. By my heel, I care not.[742]

Tyb. Follow me close, for I will speak to them. 35
Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.

Mer. And but one word with one of us? couple it with [743]
something; make it a word and a blow.

Tyb. You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you [744]
will give me occasion.[745] 40

Mer. Could you not take some occasion without giving?

Tyb. Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,—[746]

Mer. Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an [747]
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords:
[Pg 66] here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you 45
dance. 'Zounds, consort![748]

Ben. We talk here in the public haunt of men:
Either withdraw unto some private place,
Or reason coldly of your grievances,[749]
Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. 50

Mer. Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

Enter Romeo.

Tyb. Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.

Mer. But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery:
Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower;[750] 55
Your worship in that sense may call him man.

Tyb. Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford [751]
No better term than this,—thou art a villain.

Rom. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee [752]
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage [753] 60
To such a greeting: villain am I none;[754]
Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.[755]

Tyb. Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries [756]
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

Rom. I do protest, I never injured thee,[757] 65
But love thee better than thou canst devise [758]
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
And so, good Capulet,—which name I tender
As dearly as mine own,—be satisfied.[759]

Mer. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission![760] 70
Alla stoccata carries it away.[761] [Draws.
Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?[762]
[Pg 67]

Tyb. What wouldst thou have with me?[763]

Mer. Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine
lives, that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall 75
use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you [764]
pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? make [765]
haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

Tyb. I am for you.[766] [Drawing.

Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. 80

Mer. Come, sir, your passado.[767] [They fight.

Rom. Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.[768][769]
Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage![769]
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath[769][770]
Forbid this bandying in Verona streets:[769][771][772][773] 85
Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio![769][772][774]

[Tybalt under Romeo's arm stabs Mercutio and flies with his followers.

Mer. I am hurt;[775]
A plague o' both your houses! I am sped:
Is he gone, and hath nothing?

Ben. What, art thou hurt?

Mer. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.[776] 90
[Pg 68]

[Exit Page.

Rom. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

Mer. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow,
and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered,
I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your [777] 95
houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a [778]
man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by
the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between [779]
us? I was hurt under your arm.

Rom. I thought all for the best. 100

Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses![780]
They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,[781][782]
And soundly too: your houses![781][783]

[Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.[784]

Rom. This gentleman, the prince's near ally,[785] 105
My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt [786]
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd [787]
With Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman: O sweet Juliet,[788]
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, 110
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel![789]

[Pg 69]

Re-enter Benvolio.

Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead![790]
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

Rom. This day's black fate on more days doth depend;[791] 115
This but begins the woe others must end.[792][793]

Re-enter Tybalt.

Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

Rom. Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain![794]
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now![795] 120
Now, Tybalt, take the 'villain' back again
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.[796] 125

Tyb. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
Shalt with him hence.

Rom. This shall determine that.

[They fight; Tybalt falls.

Ben. Romeo, away, be gone!
The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain:
Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death 130
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!

Rom. O, I am fortune's fool!

Ben. Why dost thou stay?

[Exit Romeo.

[Pg 70]

Enter Citizens, &c.

First Cit. Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?[797]
Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?[798][799]

Ben. There lies that Tybalt.

First Cit. Up, sir, go with me;[799][800]135
I charge thee in the prince's name, obey.[801]

Enter Prince, attended; Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and others.

Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this fray?[802]

Ben. O noble prince, I can discover all [803]
The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, 140
That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.[804]

La. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child![805]
O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt [806]
Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. 145
O cousin, cousin![807]

Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?[808]

Ben. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;
Romeo that spoke him fair, bid him bethink [809]
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal 150
Your high displeasure: all this uttered
[Pg 71] With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,[810]
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen [811]
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts [812]
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast; 155
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud,[813] 160
'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue,
His agile arm beats down their fatal points,[814]
And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled: 165
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,[815]
And to't they go like lightning: for, ere I [816]
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain;
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly;[817] 170
This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.

La. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague,[804][818]
Affection makes him false, he speaks not true:
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
And all those twenty could but kill one life. 175
I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.

Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?[819]

Mon. Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;[820] 180
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
[Pg 72]

Prin. And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,[821]
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; 185
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine,
That you shall all repent the loss of mine:
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;[822]
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:[823]
Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste, 190
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.[824]
Bear hence this body, and attend our will:
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. [Exeunt.[825]

Scene II. Capulet's orchard.[826]

Enter Juliet.[827]

Jul. Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phœbus' lodging: such a waggoner [828]
As Phaethon would whip you to the west,[829]
And bring in cloudy night immediately.
Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, 5
That runaway's eyes may wink, and Romeo [830]
Leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen.[831]
[Pg 73] Lovers can see to do their amorous rites [832]
By their own beauties; or, if love be blind,[833]
It best agrees with night. Come, civil night, 10
Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,[834]
And learn me how to lose a winning match,
Play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods:[835]
Hood my unmann'd blood bating in my cheeks [836]
With thy black mantle, till strange love grown bold [837] 15
Think true love acted simple modesty.[838]
Come, night, come, Romeo, come, thou day in night;
For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
Whiter than new snow on a raven's back.[839]
Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow'd night, 20
Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,[840]
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night [841]
And pay no worship to the garish sun. 25
O, I have bought the mansion of a love,
But not possess'd it, and, though I am sold,
Not yet enjoy'd; so tedious is this day
As is the night before some festival
To an impatient child that hath new robes 30
And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,
[Pg 74] And she brings news, and every tongue that speaks
But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence.

Enter Nurse, with cords.[842]

Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cords [843]
That Romeo bid thee fetch?[844]

Nurse. Ay, ay, the cords.[844][845] 35

[Throws them down.

Jul. Ay me! what news? why dost thou wring thy hands?[846]

Nurse. Ah, well-a-day! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead.[847]
We are undone, lady, we are undone.
Alack the day! he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead.[848]

Jul. Can heaven be so envious?

Nurse. Romeo can, 40
Though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo!
Who ever would have thought it? Romeo!

Jul. What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?[849]
This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell.
Hath Romeo slain himself? say thou but 'I,'[850] 45
And that bare vowel 'I' shall poison more[850]
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice:[851]
I am not I, if there be such an I,[852][853][854][855]
Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer 'I.'[852][853][855][856]
If he be slain, say 'I;' or if not, no:[852][855] 50
Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe.[852][857]
[Pg 75]

Nurse. I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes—
God save the mark!—here on his manly breast:
A piteous corse, a bloody piteous corse;
Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood,[858] 55
All in gore blood: I swounded at the sight.[859]

Jul. O, break, my heart! poor bankrupt, break at once![860]
To prison, eyes, ne'er look on liberty!
Vile earth, to earth resign, end motion here,[861]
And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier![862] 60

Nurse. O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had!
O courteous Tybalt! honest gentleman![863]
That ever I should live to see thee dead!

Jul. What storm is this that blows so contrary?[864]
Is Romeo slaughter'd, and is Tybalt dead? 65
My dear-loved cousin, and my dearer lord?[865]
Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom![866]
For who is living, if those two are gone?

Nurse. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished:[867]
Romeo that kill'd him, he is banished. 70

Jul. O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?[868]

Nurse. It did, it did; alas the day, it did![869]

Jul. O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face![870]
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?[870]
Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! 75
[Pg 76] Dove-feather'd raven! wolvish-ravening lamb![871][872]
Despised substance of divinest show![872][873][874]
Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,[872][873]
A damned saint, an honourable villain![872][873][875]
O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell, 80
When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend [876]
In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!

Nurse. There's no trust,[877] 85
No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured,[877]
All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.[877][878]
Ah, where's my man? give me some aqua vitæ:
These griefs, these woes, these sorrows make me old.
Shame come to Romeo!

Jul. Blister'd be thy tongue [879] 90
For such a wish! he was not born to shame:
Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit;
For 'tis a throne where honour may be crown'd
Sole monarch of the universal earth.
O, what a beast was I to chide at him![880] 95

Nurse. Will you speak well of him that kill'd your cousin?[881]

Jul. Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,
[Pg 77] When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?
But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? 100
That villain cousin would have kill'd my husband:
Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring;
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you mistaking offer up to joy.[882]
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; 105
And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband:[883]
All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?
Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death,[884]
That murder'd me: I would forget it fain;[885]
But, O, it presses to my memory, 110
Like damned guilty deeds to sinners' minds:
'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished;'
That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,'
Hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death
Was woe enough, if it had ended there: 115
Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship
And needly will be rank'd with other griefs,[886]
Why follow'd not, when she said 'Tybalt's dead,'[887]
Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both,
Which modern lamentation might have moved?[888] 120
But with a rear-ward following Tybalt's death,[889]
'Romeo is banished:' to speak that word,[890]
Is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet,
All slain, all dead. 'Romeo is banished.'
There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, 125
In that word's death; no words can that woe sound.
Where is my father, and my mother, nurse?
[Pg 78]

Nurse. Weeping and wailing over Tybalt's corse:[891]
Will you go to them? I will bring you thither.

Jul. Wash they his wounds with tears: mine shall be spent,[892]130
When theirs are dry, for Romeo's banishment.
Take up those cords: poor ropes, you are beguiled,[893][894]
Both you and I; for Romeo is exiled:[893][895]
He made you for a highway to my bed;[893][896]
But I, a maid, die maiden-widowed.[893][897] 135
Come, cords; come, nurse; I'll to my wedding-bed;[893][898]
And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead![893]

Nurse. Hie to your chamber: I'll find Romeo
To comfort you: I wot well where he is.
Hark ye, your Romeo will be here at night:[899] 140
I'll to him; he is hid at Laurence' cell.

Jul. O, find him! give this ring to my true knight,
And bid him come to take his last farewell.[900] [Exeunt.

Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.[901]

Enter Friar Laurence.[902]

Fri. L. Romeo, come forth; come forth, thou fearful man:[903]
Affliction is enamour'd of thy parts,[904]
And thou art wedded to calamity.

[Pg 79]

Enter Romeo.[905]

Rom. Father, what news? what is the prince's doom?[906]
What sorrow craves acquaintance at my hand,[907] 5
That I yet know not?

Fri. L. Too familiar
Is my dear son with such sour company:[908]
I bring thee tidings of the prince's doom.

Rom. What less than dooms-day is the prince's doom?[909]

Fri. L. A gentler judgement vanish'd from his lips,[910] 10
Not body's death, but body's banishment.

Rom. Ha, banishment! be merciful, say 'death;'
For exile hath more terror in his look,
Much more than death: do not say 'banishment.'[911]

Fri. L. Here from Verona art thou banished:[912] 15
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.

Rom. There is no world without Verona walls,[913]
But purgatory, torture, hell itself.[914]
Hence banished is banish'd from the world,[915]
And world's exile is death: then 'banished'[916][917][918] 20
Is death mis-term'd: calling death 'banished,'[917][919]
Thou cut'st my head off with a golden axe
And smilest upon the stroke that murders me.[920]

Fri. L. O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness!
Thy fault our law calls death; but the kind prince, 25
Taking thy part, hath rush'd aside the law,[921]
And turn'd that black word death to banishment:
[Pg 80] This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not.[922]

Rom. 'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog 30
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Live here in heaven and may look on her,[923]
But Romeo may not: more validity,
More honourable state, more courtship lives
In carrion-flies than Romeo: they may seize 35
On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand,
And steal immortal blessing from her lips;[924]
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,[925][926]
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;[926][927]
But Romeo may not; he is banished:[926][928] 40
This may flies do, but I from this must fly:[926][928]
They are free men, but I am banished:[926][928]
And say'st thou yet, that exile is not death?[926][928]
Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife,[926][929]
No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean,[926] 45
But 'banished' to kill me?—'Banished'?[926]
O friar, the damned use that word in hell;
Howling attends it: how hast thou the heart,[930]
Being a divine, a ghostly confessor,
A sin-absolver, and my friend profess'd,[931] 50
To mangle me with that word 'banished'?[932]

Fri. L. Thou fond mad man, hear me but speak a word.[933]

Rom. O, thou wilt speak again of banishment.
[Pg 81]

Fri. L. I'll give thee armour to keep off that word;[934]
Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy, 55
To comfort thee, though thou art banished.

Rom. Yet 'banished'? Hang up philosophy!
Unless philosophy can make a Juliet,
Displant a town, reverse a prince's doom,
It helps not, it prevails not: talk no more.[935] 60

Fr. L. O, then I see that madmen have no ears.[936]

Rom. How should they, when that wise men have no eyes?[937]

Fr. L. Let me dispute with thee of thy estate.[938]

Rom. Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel:[939]
Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love,[940] 65
An hour but married, Tybalt murdered,[941]
Doting like me, and like me banished,
Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,[942]
And fall upon the ground, as I do now,
Taking the measure of an unmade grave.[943] [Knocking within.70

Fri. L. Arise; one knocks; good Romeo, hide thyself.[944]

Rom. Not I; unless the breath of heart-sick groans [945][946]
Mist-like infold me from the search of eyes.[945][947] [Knocking.

Fri. L. Hark, how they knock! Who's there? Romeo, arise;[945][948]
Thou wilt be taken.—Stay awhile!—Stand up;[949] [Knocking.75
[Pg 82] Run to my study.—By and by! God's will,
What simpleness is this!—I come, I come![950] [Knocking.
Who knocks so hard? whence come you? what's your will?[951]

Nurse. [Within] Let me come in, and you shall know my errand;[952]
I come from Lady Juliet.

Fri. L. Welcome, then.[953] 80

Enter Nurse.

Nurse. O holy friar, O, tell me, holy friar,
Where is my lady's lord, where's Romeo?[954]

Fri. L. There on the ground, with his own tears made drunk.[955]

Nurse. O, he is even in my mistress' case,[956]
Just in her case!

Fr. L. O woeful sympathy![957] 85
Piteous predicament![957]

Nurse. Even so lies she,[958]
Blubbering and weeping, weeping and blubbering.
Stand up, stand up; stand, an you be a man:[959][960]
For Juliet's sake, for her sake, rise and stand;[959]
Why should you fall into so deep an O?[961] 90
[Pg 83]

Rom. Nurse![961]

Nurse. Ah sir! ah sir! Well, death's the end of all.[962]

Rom. Spakest thou of Juliet? how is it with her?[963]
Doth she not think me an old murderer,[964]
Now I have stain'd the childhood of our joy [965] 95
With blood removed but little from her own?
Where is she? and how doth she? and what says [966]
My conceal'd lady to our cancell'd love?[967]

Nurse. O, she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps;
And now falls on her bed; and then starts up, 100
And Tybalt calls; and then on Romeo cries,[968]
And then down falls again.

Rom. As if that name,[969]
Shot from the deadly level of a gun,[969][970]
Did murder her; as that name's cursed hand
Murder'd her kinsman. O, tell me, friar, tell me,[971] 105
In what vile part of this anatomy [972]
Doth my name lodge? tell me, that I may sack
The hateful mansion.[973] [Drawing his sword.

Fri. L. Hold thy desperate hand:
Art thou a man? thy form cries out thou art:
Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote [974] 110
The unreasonable fury of a beast:
Unseemly woman in a seeming man![975]
Or ill-beseeming beast in seeming both![975][976]
[Pg 84] Thou hast amazed me: by my holy order,
I thought thy disposition better temper'd. 115
Hast thou slain Tybalt? wilt thou slay thyself?
And slay thy lady that in thy life lives,[977]
By doing damned hate upon thyself?[978]
Why rail'st thou on thy birth, the heaven and earth?[978][979]
Since birth and heaven and earth, all three do meet[978][980] 120
In thee at once, which thou at once wouldst lose.[978][120][981]
Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit;[978]
Which, like a usurer, abound'st in all,[978][982]
And usest none in that true use indeed[978]
Which should bedeck thy shape, thy love, thy wit:[978] 125
Thy noble shape is but a form of wax,[978]
Digressing from the valour of a man;[978][983]
Thy dear love sworn, but hollow perjury,[978]
Killing that love which thou hast vow'd to cherish;[978]
Thy wit, that ornament to shape and love,[978] 130
Mis-shapen in the conduct of them both,[978]
Like powder in a skilless soldier's flask,[978][984]
Is set a-fire by thine own ignorance,[978][985]
And thou dismember'd with thine own defence.[978]
What, rouse thee, man! thy Juliet is alive, 135
For whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead;
There art thou happy: Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou slew'st Tybalt; there art thou happy too:[986]
The law, that threaten'd death, becomes thy friend,[987]
And turns it to exile; there art thou happy:[988] 140
A pack of blessings lights upon thy back;[989]
[Pg 85] Happiness courts thee in her best array;
But, like a misbehaved and sullen wench,[990]
Thou pout'st upon thy fortune and thy love:[991]
Take heed, take heed, for such die miserable. 145
Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed,
Ascend her chamber, hence and comfort her:
But look thou stay not till the watch be set,
For then thou canst not pass to Mantua;
Where thou shalt live till we can find a time 150
To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends,
Beg pardon of the prince and call thee back [992]
With twenty hundred thousand times more joy
Than thou went'st forth in lamentation.
Go before, nurse: commend me to thy lady, 155
And bid her hasten all the house to bed,
Which heavy sorrow makes them apt unto:
Romeo is coming.

Nurse. O Lord, I could have stay'd here all the night [993]
To hear good counsel: O, what learning is![994] 160
My lord, I'll tell my lady you will come.

Rom. Do so, and bid my sweet prepare to chide.

Nurse. Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir:[995]
Hie you, make haste, for it grows very late.[996] [Exit.

Rom. How well my comfort is revived by this! 165

Fri. Go hence; good night; and here stands all your state:[997][998]
Either be gone before the watch be set,[997]
[Pg 86] Or by the break of day disguised from hence:[997][999]
Sojourn in Mantua; I'll find out your man,
And he shall signify from time to time 170
Every good hap to you that chances here:
Give me thy hand; 'tis late: farewell; good night.

Rom. But that a joy past joy calls out on me,
It were a grief, so brief to part with thee:
Farewell.[1000] [Exeunt. 175

Scene IV. A room in Capulet's house.[1001]

Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris.[1002]

Cap. Things have fall'n out, sir, so unluckily
That we have had no time to move our daughter.[1003]
Look you, she loved her kinsman Tybalt dearly,
And so did I. Well, we were born to die.
'Tis very late; she'll not come down to-night: 5
I promise you, but for your company,[1004]
I would have been a-bed an hour ago.[1004][1005]

Par. These times of woe afford no time to woo.[1006]
Madam, good night: commend me to your daughter.

La. Cap. I will, and know her mind early to-morrow;[1007] 10
To-night she's mew'd up to her heaviness.[1007][1008]

Cap. Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender [1009]
Of my child's love: I think she will be ruled [1010]
In all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it not.[1011]
[Pg 87] Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed; 15
Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love;[1012]
And bid her, mark you me, on Wednesday next—[1013][1014]
But, soft! what day is this?

Par. Monday, my lord.

Cap. Monday! ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is too soon;[1014]
O' Thursday let it be: o' Thursday, tell her,[1015][1016] 20
She shall be married to this noble earl.[1015]
Will you be ready? do you like this haste?[1015]
We'll keep no great ado; a friend or two;[1017]
For, hark you, Tybalt being slain so late,
It may be thought we held him carelessly, 25
Being our kinsman, if we revel much:
Therefore we'll have some half-a-dozen friends,
And there an end. But what say you to Thursday?[1018]

Par. My lord, I would that Thursday were to-morrow.[1019]

Cap. Well, get you gone: o' Thursday be it then.[1020] 30
Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,[1021]
Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day.
Farewell, my lord. Light to my chamber, ho!
Afore me, it is so very very late,[1022]
That we may call it early by and by:[1022][1023] 35
Good night.[1024] [Exeunt.

[Pg 88]

Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[1025]

Enter Romeo and Juliet, above, at the window.[1026]

Jul. Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:[1027]
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear;
Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate-tree:[1028]
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale. 5

Rom. It was the lark, the herald of the morn,[1029]
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day [1030]
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops:[1031] 10
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

Jul. Yond light is not day-light, I know it, I:[1032]
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,[1033]
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua: 15
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone.[1034]

Rom. Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death;[1035]
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.[1035]
I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye,[1035][1036]
[Pg 89] 'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow;[1035][1037] 20
Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat[1035][1038]
The vaulty heaven so high above our heads:[1035][1039]
I have more care to stay than will to go:[1035][1040]
Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't, my soul? let's talk: it is not day.[1041] 25

Jul. It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division;
This doth not so, for she divideth us: 30
Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes;[1042]
O, now I would they had changed voices too![1043]
Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,[1044]
Hunting thee hence with hunts-up to the day.[1044][1045]
O, now be gone; more light and light it grows.[1046] 35

Rom. More light and light: more dark and dark our woes![1047]

Enter Nurse, to the chamber.[1048]

Nurse. Madam!

Jul. Nurse?[1049]

Nurse. Your lady mother is coming to your chamber:
The day is broke; be wary, look about.[1050] [Exit. 40

Jul. Then, window, let day in, and let life out.[1051]
[Pg 90]

Rom. Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend.[1052]

[Descends.[1053]

Jul. Art thou gone so? my lord, my love, my friend![1054]
I must hear from thee every day in the hour,[1055]
For in a minute there are many days: 45
O, by this count I shall be much in years
Ere I again behold my Romeo!

Rom. Farewell![1056]
I will omit no opportunity[1056]
That may convey my greetings, love, to thee. 50

Jul. O, think'st thou we shall ever meet again?[1057]

Rom. I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve
For sweet discourses in our time to come.[1058]

Jul. O God! I have an ill-divining soul.[1059]
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,[1060] 55
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb:[1061]
Either my eyesight fails or thou look'st pale.[1062]

Rom. And trust me, love, in my eye so do you:[1063]
Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu![1064] [Exit.

Jul. O fortune, fortune! all men call thee fickle:[1065] 60
If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him
That is renown'd for faith? Be fickle, fortune;[1066]
For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long,
But send him back.[1067]
[Pg 91]

La. Cap. [Within] Ho, daughter! are you up?

Jul. Who is't that calls? it is my lady mother![1068] 65
Is she not down so late, or up so early?[1069]
What unaccustom'd cause procures her hither?[1070]

Enter Lady Capulet.[1071]

La. Cap. Why, how now, Juliet![1072]

Jul. Madam, I am not well.

La. Cap. Evermore weeping for your cousin's death?
What, wilt thou wash him from his grave with tears? 70
An if thou couldst, thou couldst not make him live;[1073][1074]
Therefore have done: some grief shows much of love.[1073]
But much of grief shows still some want of wit.[1073]

Jul. Yet let me weep for such a feeling loss.

La. Cap. So shall you feel the loss, but not the friend [1075][1076]75
Which you weep for.[1076]

Jul. Feeling so the loss,[1076]
I cannot choose but ever weep the friend.[1076][1077]

La. Cap. Well, girl, thou weep'st not so much for his death
As that the villain lives which slaughter'd him.[1078]

Jul. What villain, madam?

La. Cap. That same villain, Romeo.[1079] 80

Jul. [Aside] Villain and he be many miles asunder.[1080]
God pardon him! I do, with all my heart;[1081][1082]
And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.[1081]

La. Cap. That is because the traitor murderer lives.[1081][1083]
[Pg 92]

Jul. Ay, madam, from the reach of these my hands:[1081] 85
Would none but I might venge my cousin's death![1081]

La. Cap. We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not:[1081]
Then weep no more. I'll send to one in Mantua,[1081]
Where that same banish'd runagate doth live,[1081]
Shall give him such an unaccustom'd dram[1081][1084] 90
That he shall soon keep Tybalt company:[1081]
And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied.[1081]

Jul. Indeed, I never shall be satisfied[1081]
With Romeo, till I behold him—dead—[1081][1085]
Is my poor heart so for a kinsman vex'd.[1081][1086] 95
Madam, if you could find out but a man[1081]
To bear a poison, I would temper it,[1081][1087]
That Romeo should, upon receipt thereof,[1081]
Soon sleep in quiet. O, how my heart abhors[1081]
To hear him named, and cannot come to him,[1081] 100
To wreak the love I bore my cousin[1081][1088]
Upon his body that hath slaughter'd him![1081][1089]

La. Cap. Find thou the means, and I'll find such a man.[1081][1090]
But now I'll tell thee joyful tidings, girl.[1081][1091]

Jul. And joy comes well in such a needy time:[1092] 105
What are they, I beseech your ladyship?[1093]

La. Cap. Well, well, thou hast a careful father, child;
One who, to put thee from thy heaviness,
Hath sorted out a sudden day of joy,
That thou expect'st not, nor I look'd not for.[1094] 110

Jul. Madam, in happy time, what day is that?[1095]
[Pg 93]

La. Cap. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn,
The gallant, young, and noble gentleman,
The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church,[1096]
Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.[1097] 115

Jul. Now, by Saint Peter's Church, and Peter too,[1098]
He shall not make me there a joyful bride.
I wonder at this haste; that I must wed
Ere he that should be husband comes to woo.[1099]
I pray you, tell my lord and father, madam, 120
I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear,[1100]
It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,
Rather than Paris. These are news indeed![1101]

La. Cap. Here comes your father; tell him so yourself,[1102]
And see how he will take it at your hands.[1103] 125

Enter Capulet and Nurse.[1104]

Cap. When the sun sets, the air doth drizzle dew;[1105][1106]
But for the sunset of my brother's son[1105]
It rains downright.[1105][1107]
How now! a conduit, girl? what, still in tears?[1107]
Evermore showering? In one little body [1108] 130
Thou counterfeit'st a bark, a sea, a wind:[1109]
For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea,
Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is,[1110]
[Pg 94] Sailing in this salt flood; the winds, thy sighs;
Who raging with thy tears, and they with them,[1111] 135
Without a sudden calm will overset
Thy tempest-tossed body. How now, wife![1112]
Have you deliver'd to her our decree?[1113]

La. Cap. Ay, sir; but she will none, she gives you thanks.[1114]
I would the fool were married to her grave! 140

Cap. Soft! take me with you, take me with you, wife.
How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks?[1115]
Is she not proud? doth she not count her blest,
Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?[1116] 145

Jul. Not proud, you have, but thankful that you have:[1117]
Proud can I never be of what I hate;[1118]
But thankful even for hate that is meant love.[1119]

Cap. How, how! how, how! chop-logic! What is this?[1120]
'Proud,' and 'I thank you,' and 'I thank you not;'[1121] 150
And yet 'not proud:' mistress minion, you,[1121][1122]
Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next,[1123]
To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. 155
[Pg 95] Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage![1124][1125]
You tallow-face![1124][1126]

La. Cap. Fie, fie! what, are you mad?

Jul. Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience but to speak a word.

Cap. Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch![1127] 160
I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday,[1128]
Or never after look me in the face:
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me;
My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest [1129]
That God had lent us but this only child,[1130] 165
But now I see this one is one too much
And that we have a curse in having her:[1131]
Out on her, hilding!

Nurse. God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.[1132]

Cap. And why, my lady wisdom? hold your tongue,[1127] 170
Good prudence; smatter with your gossips, go.[1133]

Nurse. I speak no treason.[1134]

Cap. O, God ye god-den.[1127]

Nurse. May not one speak?

Cap. Peace, you mumbling fool![1135]
Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl;[1136]
For here we need it not.

La. Cap. You are too hot. 175
[Pg 96]

Cap. God's bread! it makes me mad:[1127][1137][1138]
Day, night, hour, tide, time, work, play,[1137][1138][1139]
Alone, in company, still my care hath been[1137]
To have her match'd: and having now provided
A gentleman of noble parentage,[1140] 180
Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly train'd,[1141]
Stuff'd, as they say, with honourable parts,
Proportion'd as one's thought would wish a man;[1142]
And then to have a wretched puling fool,
A whining mammet, in her fortune's tender,[1143] 185
To answer 'I'll not wed; I cannot love,
I am too young; I pray you, pardon me.'
But, an you will not wed, I'll pardon you:[1144]
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me:
Look to't, think on't, I do not use to jest. 190
Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise:
An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend;[1145]
An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,[1145][1146]
For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good:[1147] 195
Trust to't, bethink you; I'll not be forsworn. [Exit.

Jul. Is there no pity sitting in the clouds,
That sees into the bottom of my grief?
O, sweet my mother, cast me not away!
Delay this marriage for a month, a week; 200
[Pg 97] Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.[1148]

La. Cap. Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word:
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee. [Exit.

Jul. O God!—O nurse, how shall this be prevented?[1149] 205
My husband is on earth, my faith in heaven;[1150]
How shall that faith return again to earth,[1150]
Unless that husband send it me from heaven[1150]
By leaving earth? comfort me, counsel me.[1150]
Alack, alack, that heaven should practise stratagems [1151] 210
Upon so soft a subject as myself!
What say'st thou? hast thou not a word of joy?[1152]
Some comfort, nurse.[1152]

Nurse. Faith, here it is.[1153]
Romeo is banish'd, and all the world to nothing,[1153][1154]
That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you; 215
Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth.[1155]
Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,
I think it best you married with the county.[1156]
O, he's a lovely gentleman![1157]
Romeo's a dishclout to him: an eagle, madam, 220
Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye [1158]
As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,[1159]
I think you are happy in this second match,
For it excels your first: or if it did not,
Your first is dead, or 'twere as good he were 225
As living here and you no use of him.[1160]
[Pg 98]

Jul. Speakest thou from thy heart?[1161]

Nurse. And from my soul too; else beshrew them both.[1162]

Jul. Amen!

Nurse. What?[1163] 230

Jul. Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much.
Go in, and tell my lady I am gone,
Having displeased my father, to Laurence' cell,
To make confession and to be absolved.[1164]

Nurse. Marry, I will, and this is wisely done.[1165] [Exit.235

Jul. Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend![1166]
Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn,[1167]
Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue
Which she hath praised him with above compare
So many thousand times? Go, counsellor; 240
Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain.[1168]
I'll to the friar, to know his remedy:
If all else fail, myself have power to die.[1169] [Exit.

FOOTNOTES:

[730] Act iii. Scene i.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff. Act iii. Scene iv. Capell.

A public place.] Capell. The street. Rowe.

[731] Enter....] Capell. Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and men. Qq Ff.

[732] Capulets] Q₄ Q₅ Ff. Capels are (Q₁). Capels Q₂ Q₃.

[733] And, if] An if S. Walker conj.

[734] And ... stirring] As in Rowe. Prose in Qq Ff.

[735] those] (Q₁) F₄. these Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.

[736] of the] of a Rowe.

it] (Q₁) Pope. him Qq Ff.

[737] to] Pope. too Qq Ff.

[738] an] Pope. and Qq Ff.

[739] from] for Q₅.

[740] An] Capell. And Qq Ff. If Pope.

[741] Enter....] Capell. Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others. Qq Ff. Transferred by Collier to follow line 33, by Dyce to follow line 34.

[742] come the Capulets] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. comes a Capolet (Q₁). comes the Capulets Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[743] us?] us, Q₂.

[744] an] Capell. and Qq Ff. if Pope.

[745] will] shall Q₅.

[746] consort'st] Ff. consortest Qq. consorts (Q₁).

Romeo,—] Romeo— Rowe. Romeo. Qq F₁ F₃ F₄. Romeo, F₂.

[747] an] Capell. &. Q₃ F₁. and The rest. if Pope.

[748] 'Zounds,] Zounds Qq. Come Ff.

[Laying his Hand on his Sword. Rowe.

[749] Or] Qq Ff. And Capell.

[750] before] first Pope.

[751] love] Qq Ff. hate (Q₁) Pope.

[752] that] om. Capell.

[753] excuse] exceed Collier MS.

[754] villain am I none] villaine I am none Q₅. Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[755] know'st] knowest Q₂ Q₃.

[756] injuries] iniures F₂.

[757] injured] iniuried Q₂.

[758] love] (Q₁) Qq. lov'd Ff.

devise] devise, Q₅. devise: Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. devise; F₄.

[759] mine] Q₂. my The rest.

[760] calm, dishonourable,] calme dishonourable, Q₄ Q₅.

[761] Alla stoccata] Knight. Alla stucatho Qq F₁. Allastucatho F₂ F₃ F₄. Ah! la Stoccata Theobald. Ha! la stoccata Hanmer. A la stoccata Capell.

carries it away.] carry it away! Lettsom conj.

it] is F₂.

[Draws.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[762] you rat-catcher,] you, rat-catcher Rowe.

will] come, will Hanmer.

[763] wouldst] Q₂ Q₅ F₄. woulds The rest.

[764] me hereafter,] me, hereafter Rowe.

dry-beat] Hyphened first in Rowe.

[765] pilcher] pilche Warburton. pitcher Singer conj. pilch, sir, Staunton conj.

[766] [Drawing.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[767] [They fight.] Capell. Mer. and Tyb. fight. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[768] [draws and runs between. Capell.

[769] Draw ... good Mercutio!] Arranged as in Qq Ff. Capell ends the lines Benvolio; ... shame, ... Mercutio ... bandying ... good Mercutio.

[770] [striving to part them. Capell.

[771] Forbid this] Q₂. Forbid Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Forbidden Ff.

[772] in Verona streets: Hold, Tybalt!] Here in Verona:—Tybalt;—Seymour conj.

[773] Verona] Verona's Q₅.

[774] [Tybalt ...] Edd. (Globe ed.). Tibalt vnder Romeos arme thrusts Mercutio, in and flyes. (Q₁). Away Tybalt. Qq. Exit Tybalt. Ff.

[775] o' both your] Dyce. a both Qq. a both the F₁. of both the F₂ F₃ F₄. on your(Q₁). o' both the Capell.

[776] [Exit Page.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[777] o' both] Capell. a both Qq F₁. of both F₂ F₃ F₄. on both Johnson.

[778] 'Zounds] Q₅. sounds Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. What Ff.

[779] devil] Rowe. deule Q₂. deu'le Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. dev'll Q₅. dev'l F₃. div'l F₄.

[780] o' both] F₄. a both The rest. on both Johnson.

[781] I have it ... houses] Arranged as by Dyce. One line in Qq Ff.

[782] have it] ha't Capell.

[783] soundly too: your houses!] soundly too—your houses. Rowe. soundly, to your houses. Q₂. soundly to your houses. Q₃ F₁. soundly to your houses— Q₄ Q₅. soundly too your houses. F₂. soundly too, your houses. F₃ F₄. soundly too. Plague o' your houses! Theobald.

[784] [Exeunt ...] Ex. Mer. Ben. Rowe. Exit. Qq Ff. Exeunt. (Q₁).

[785] Scene II. Pope.

[786] got this] Q₂. tane this (Q₁). gott his Q₃. got his Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[787] reputation] reputation's S. Walker conj.

[788] kinsman] (Q₁) Capell. cozen Q₂ F₃ F₄. cozin Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. cousin Q₅.

[789] Re-enter ...] Re-enter ... hastily. Capell. Enter ... Qq Ff.

[790] Mercutio's] F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. Mercutio is Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Mercutio's is F₁.

[791] more] (Q₁) Qq F₁. mo Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃. moe Q₄.

doth] (Q₁) Qq F₁. doe F₂. do F₃. does F₄.

[792] begins the woe] Q₅. begins, the wo Q₂ Q₃ F₁. begins, the woe Q₄ F₂ F₃. begins the woe, F₄.

[793] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... (Q₁) Ff. Omitted in Qq. Transferred by Dyce to follow line 120.

[794] Alive, in triumph!] Pope, from (Q₁). He gan in triumph Q₂. He gon in triumph Q₃ Q₄. He gon in triumph, F₁ F₂. He gone in triumph, Q₅ F₃ F₄. Again? in triumph? Capell.

[795] fire-eyed] Pope from (Q₁). fier end Q₂. fier and Q₃. fire and Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. fire, and F₃ F₄.

[796] Either] Or (Q₁) Pope.

[797] Enter Citizens, &c.] Enter Citizens, Officers, &c. Capell. Enter Citizens. Qq Ff.

[798] Scene III. Pope.

[799] First Cit.] 1 Cit. Malone. Citti. or Citi. or Cit. Qq Ff. 1. O. Capell.

[800] Up] You Collier MS.

[801] name] names F₁.

Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Prince, olde Mountague, Capulet, their wives and all. Qq Ff.

[802] vile] vild F₂ F₃.

[803] all] (Q₁) Ff Q₅. all: Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[804] kinsman] kisman Q₂.

[805] La. Cap.] Rowe. Capu. Wi. or Cap. Wi. Qq Ff (and elsewhere).

[806] O prince!... husband! O,] O Prince, O Cozen, husband, O Qq Ff. Unhappy sight! alas Pope, from (Q₁). Prince, O—cousin—husband—O— Johnson. O prince!—O husband!—O, Capell, corrected to O cousin!—husband!—O, in Notes and MS. Unhappy sight! ah me, Malone, from (Q₁).

[807] O cousin, cousin!] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope.

[808] Benvolio] om. Collier MS.

bloody] Qq. om. Ff.

[809] bid] (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. bad Q₅. bade Malone.

[810] bow'd] Ff. bowed Qq.

[811] take] make Capell conj.

[812] Tybalt] Tybalts F₁.

[813] it] it home Collier (Collier MS.).

[814] agile] agill (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. aged Q₂ Q₃ F₁. able F₂ F₃ F₄.

[815] entertain'd] (Q₁) Q₅. entertaind Q₂. entertayn'd Q₄. entertained Q₃ Ff.

[816] And] An F₃ F₄.

to't] F₃ F₄. toote Q₂ Q₃. too't Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅.

[817] and] to Rowe.

[818] Montague] Mountagues Q₅.

[819] owe?] Q₃. owe. The rest.

[820] Mon.] Moun. Q₄. Mou. Q₅. Capu. Q₂. Cap. Q₃ Ff. La. Cap. Rowe. La. Mont. Theobald.

[821] I have ... proceeding] I had no interest in your heats preceding Johnson conj.

hate's] Knight. hates' Capell. hates (Q₁). hearts Qq Ff. heats' Hanmer. hearts' Johnson.

[822] I will] It will Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[823] out] Qq. our Ff. for (Q₁).

[824] he's] Theobald. he is Qq Ff.

his] the Q₅.

[825] but] not F₁.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exeunt omnes. (Q₁). Exit. Qq.

[826] Scene II.] Rowe. Scene IV. Pope. Scene V. Capell.

Capulet's orchard.] Capulet's Garden. Capell. An Apartment in Capulet's House. Rowe.

[827] Enter Juliet.] Enter Juliet alone. Qq Ff.

[828] Towards] Qq F₁. Toward F₂ F₃ F₄. To (Q₁) Pope.

lodging] mansion (Q₁) Pope.

[829] Phaethon] Phaetan Q₂. Phaeton The rest.

[830] runaway's] runnawayes Q₂ Q₃. run-awayes Q₄ F₁ Q₅. run-awaies F₂ F₃. run-aways F₄. th' Run-away's Theobald (Warburton). rumour's Hudson (Heath conj.). run-away so quoted by Blackstone. Renomy's Mason conj. unawares Knight, ed. 1, and Collier, ed. 1 (Jackson conj.). Luna's Mitford conj. runagates' Muirson conj. rumourers' Singer (ed. 2). rumourous Singer conj. (withdrawn). Cynthia's S. Walker conj. enemies' Collier, ed. 2 (Collier MS.). rude day's Dyce. soon day's or roving Dyce conj. run-aways' Staunton. sunny day's Clarke conj. (sun away) or unwary or runagate or run-astray Taylor MS. conj. noonday's Anon. ap. Grant White conj. yonder Leo conj. run-abouts' Keightley. Titan's Bullock conj. sun-awake's Brady conj. wary ones' Anon. conj. ribalds' Anon. conj. Uranus' Anon. conj. roaming Anon. conj.

wink,] weep, So quoted by Knight.

[831] Leap] Leapt F₂ F₃.

unseen.] Rowe. unseene: Q₅. unseene, or unseen, The rest.

[832] rites] F₄. rights Qq F₁ F₂ F₃.

[833] By] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. And by Q₁ Q₃ F₁.

if love be] of love to Q₄. of love too Q₅.

[834] sober-suited] Hyphen inserted in F₄.

[835] maidenhoods] Q₂ Q₃ F₁. maidenheads The rest.

[836] bating] Steevens. bayting Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃. baiting Q₄ Q₅ F₄.

[837] grown] Rowe. grow Qq Ff.

[838] Think] Thinks Rowe.

[839] new snow on] F₂ F₃ F₄. new snow upon Q₂ Q₃ F₁. snow upon Q₄ Q₅.

[840] he] Q₄ Q₅. I Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[841] will be] shall be Q₅.

[842] Enter....] Qq Ff, after line 31. Enter Nurse at a distance. Capell, after line 31. Transferred by Dyce.

[843] Romeo's name] Q₅ F₄. Romeos, name F₁ F₂ F₃. Romeos name Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[844] the cords ... fetch] As in Hanmer. One line in Qq Ff.

[845] [Throws....] Throwing.... Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[846] Ay] Ah Hanmer.

Ay ... hands?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[847] Ah] Pope. A Qq Ff.

well-a-day] welady Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. weraday Q₂.

he's dead] Thrice in Qq. Twice in Ff.

[848] he's gone] hees is gone Q₃.

[849] What ... thus?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[850] 'I' ... 'I'] ay ... ay Rowe.

[851] death-darting] death arting Q₂.

[852] I ... woe.] Omitted by Pope.

[853] Johnson would transpose these lines, reading shot in the second.

[854] an I,] Q₅. an I. The rest.

[855] an I ... 'I' ... 'I'] an Ay ... Ay ... Ay Rowe.

[856] shut] Capell. shot Qq Ff.]

make thee] Steevens, 1778 (Johnson conj.). makes thee Qq F₁. makes the F₂ F₃ F₄.

[857] Brief sounds] F₄. Briefe sounds Q₅. Briefe, sounds, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. Brief, sounds F₃.

of] Ff Q₅. om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. or Collier (Collier MS.).

[858] bedaub'd] bedawde Q₄. bedeaw'd Q₅.

[859] swounded] (Q₁). swouned Q₅. swooned F₄. sounded The rest.

[860] O ... once!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

bankrupt] Q₅ F₄. banckrout or bankrout The rest.

[861] to] too Q₂.

[862] one] on Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

bier] Rowe. beare Q₂ Q₃. beere Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. beer F₃ F₄.

[863] gentleman] gentlemen F₂.

[864] blows] bowes F₂ F₃.

[starting up. Capell.

[865] dear-loved] (Q₁) Pope. dearest Qq Ff.

dearer] dearest (Q₁).

[866] Then] The F₄.

dreadful trumpet] let the trumpet (Q₁) Pope.

[867] gone] dead (Q₁) Pope.

[868] O God!] As in Qq. As a separate line in Ff.

did] Nur. Did F₂ F₃.

[869] Nurse.] (Q₁) Q₅ F₄. Omitted in the rest.

[870] Jul. O serpent ... Did] F₂. Q₃ F₃ F₄. Nur. O serpent ... Iv. Did Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[871] Dove-feather'd raven] Theobald. Ravenous dou featherd Rauen Q₂ Q₃ F₁. Ravenous dove, feathred Raven Q₄ Q₅ F₂ F₃ F₄.

wolvish-ravening lamb] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

[872] Dove-feather'd ... villain!] Put in the margin by Pope.

[873] Despised ... villain!] Omitted by Hanmer.

[874] Despised] Detested Long MS.

[875] damned] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. dimme Q₂ Q₃. dimne F₁.

villain] vallaine F₂.

[876] bower] power Q₄. poure Q₅.

[877] There's ... dissemblers] As in Capell (following Pope). Two lines, the first ending men, in Qq Ff.

[878] All ... dissemblers] All, all forsworn; ... and all dissemblers Pope. All are forsworn, all false, all are dissemblers Seymour conj. All naught, all forsworn, all dissemblers Anon. conj.

[879] Blister'd] Blistered Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[880] at him] Qq. him F₁. him so F₂ F₃ F₄.

[881] Will ... cousin?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[882] you] your F₂ F₃ F₄.

[883] Tybalt's] Tibalt or Tybalt Ff.

slain] Qq F₁. kil'd F₂. kill'd F₃ F₄.

[884] word there was] Q₂ F₂ F₃ F₄. words there was Q₃ Q₄ F₁. words there were Q₅.

[885] murder'd] murdered Q₄ F₁ F₃ F₄.

[886] rank'd] wrankt Q₃ Q₄.

[887] follow'd] Q₅. followed The rest.

[888] Which ... moved?] Omitted by Pope.

modern] moderate Long MS.

[889] with] which F₁.

rear-ward] rear-word Collier conj.

[890] banished: to] Q₂ Q₅. banished to Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃. banished, to F₄.

[891] corse] Q₄. course Q₂ Q₃. coarse (Q₁) Ff Q₅.

[892] tears:] teares: or tears: Q₃ Q₄ Ff. teares? Q₂. teares, Q₅.

[893] Take ... maidenhead!] Omitted by Pope.

[894] ropes] rops F₂.

[895] I;] I, Q₅ F₃ F₄. I The rest.

[896] a] an F₄.

[897] maiden-widowed] The hyphen inserted by Rowe.

[898] cords] cordes Q₂. cord The rest.

[899] here] heare Q₃ Q₄.

[900] [Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Qq Ff.

[901] Scene III.] Rowe. Scene V. Pope. Scene VI. Capell.

Friar....] Capell. The Monastery. Rowe.

[902] Enter Friar Laurence.] Capell. Enter Frier. (Q₁). Enter Frier and Romeo. Qq Ff.

[903] Romeo ... man:] One line in (Q₁) Qq. Two in Ff.

man:] man; [Enter Romeo. Capell.

[904] Affliction] Aiffletion F₃.

[905] Enter Romeo.] (Q₁) Dyce.

[906] Father ... doom?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[907] acquaintance] admittance F₄.

[908] with] in Rowe.

[909] What ... doom?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[910] gentler] gentle F₄.

vanish'd] vanisht (Q₁) Qq Ff. even'd Warburton. issued Heath conj.

[911] Much ... death] Than death itself (Q₁) Pope.

[912] Here] Hence (Q₁) Hanmer.

[913] Verona] Verona's Pope.

[914] torture, hell] torturing hell Hanmer. Tartar, hell Warburton.

[915] banished] banish'd Rowe.

banish'd] blanisht Q₂. banished Rowe.

[916] world's exile] world exilde (Q₁). world-exil'd Pope.

[917] then ... mis-term'd:] Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[918] then] that Theobald.

banished] banishment Hanmer.

[919] banished] banishment (Q₁) Pope.

[920] smilest] smil'st Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[921] rush'd] push'd Capell conj. and Long MS. brush'd Collier MS.

[922] This] That Rowe.

dear] meere (Q₁). meer Pope.

[923] Live] Lives Rowe.

[924] blessing] blessings F₄.

[925] Who] Which Pope.

[926] Who ... 'banished'?] Put in the margin by Pope. See note (VIII).

[927] as] and Rowe (ed. 2).

[928] But ... death?] See note (IX).

[929] sharp-ground] Hyphen inserted in F₄. sharpt ground F₂.

[930] Howling attends] (Q₁) Qq. Howlings attends F₁. Howlings attend F₂ F₃ F₄.

[931] sin-absolver] Ff. sin (or sinne) obsolver Qq.

[932] 'banished'] banishment (Q₁) Pope.

[933] Thou ... word] (Q₁) Malone. Then fond mad man, heare me a little speake Q₂ Q₃. Thou ... a little speake Q₄ Q₅. Then fond mad man, heare me speake F₁. Fond mad man, heare me speake F₂ F₃ F₄ (mad-man F₄).

[934] thee] the F₂.

keep off that] beare off this (Q₁). bear off that Pope.

[935] more.] more: F₂ F₃ F₄. more—Rowe.

[936] madmen] mad man Q₂.

[937] How ... eyes?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

that] Q₂. om. Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

wise men] Qq. wisemen F₁ F₂. wise-men F₃ F₄.

[938] dispute] (Q₁) Qq. dispaire F₁ F₂. despair F₃ F₄.

[939] thou] [y^u] F₁. thō F₂.

[940] Wert thou as young] If thou wert young Seymour conj.

as I, Juliet thy] (Q₁) Qq. as Juliet my Ff.

[941] murdered] murdered (Q₁) F₂.

[942] Then ... hair] One line in (Q₁) Rowe. Two in Qq Ff.

mightst ... mightst] (Q₁) Q₅. mightest ... mightst Q₂. mightest ... mightest Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. might'st ... might'st F₃ F₄. (milh'st F₄).

[943] [Knocking within.] Throwing himself on the ground. Knock within. Rowe. Enter Nurse, and knocke. Q₂. Enter Nurse, and knockes. Q₃ Ff. Nurse knocks. Q₄ Q₅.

[944] Arise ... thyself] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[945] Rom. Not I ... arise;] Omitted by Pope.

[946] Not I] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[947] [Knocking.] They knocke. Q₂ Q₃. Knocke. Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[948] Hark ... arise] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Who's] whose Q₂ Q₃.

[949] [Knocking.] Sludknock. Q₂. Slud knock. Q₃. Knocke againe. Q₄ Q₅. Knocke. Ff.

[950] simpleness] wilfulness (Q₁) Pope.

[Knocking.] Knocke. Qq Ff.

[951] Who ... will?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[952] Nurse [Within] Rowe. Nur. Qq Ff.

Let ... errand] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

errand] errant Q₂ Q₃.

[953] Enter Nurse.] As in Rowe. Inserted after line 78 in Qq Ff.

[954] Where is] (Q₁) Rowe. Wheres Q₂ Q₃. Where's Q₄ F₁ Q₅ F₃. Wher's F₂ F₄.

[955] There ... drunk] One line in (Q₁) Pope. Two in Qq Ff.

[956] mistress'] Pope. mistresse or mistress Qq Ff. mistress's Rowe.

case] cause F₂ F₃.

[957] O woeful ... predicament] Given to 'Friar' by Steevens (Farmer conj.). Continued to 'Nurse' in Qq Ff.

[958] lies] liles F₂.

[959] Stand up ... stand;] Omitted by Pope.

[960] an you] Rowe (ed. 2). and you Qq Ff.

[961] an O? Rom. Nurse] an—Rom. Oh nurse Hanmer.

[962] Well, death's] (Q₁) Malone. deaths Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃. death's Q₄ F₄. death is Q₅.

[963] Spakest] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Spak'st Q₅. Speak'st Ff.

is it] ist Q₅. is't F₄.

[964] she not] (Q₁) Q₅. not she Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

[965] I have] have I Rowe (ed. 2).

childhood] child-head Q₅.

[966] doth] does F₄.

[967] conceal'd] conseal'd Warburton.

our cancell'd] our canceld (Q₁) Qq. our conceal'd Ff.

[968] calls ... cries] cries ... calls (Q₁) Pope.

on] om. F₃ F₄.

[969] As if ... gun] As in Rowe. One line in (Q₁) Qq Ff.

[970] dead'y] dead F₁.

[971] Murder'd] Murdered F₃ F₄.

O] om. Pope.

[972] anatomy] anotamy F₂.

[973] [Drawing his sword.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff. He offers to stab himselfe, and Nurse snatches the dagger away. (Q₁).

hand:] hand. [wresting the Dagger from him. Capell.

[974] denote] (Q₁) Q₄ F₁ Q₅. denote Q₂ Q₃. doe note F₂. do note F₃ F₄.

[975] Unseemly ... both!] Omitted by Pope.

[976] Or] (Q₁) Steevens. And Qq Ff. An Warburton.

both] groth Warburton (? for growth).

[977] lady ... lives.] F₄. lady, that in thy life lies, Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. lady too, that lives in thee? (Q₁) Pope.

[978] By doing ... defence] Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[979] rail'st] raylest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[980] do meet In thee at once] so meet, In thee atone Warburton.

[981] lose] Q₅ F₃ F₄. loose The rest.

[982] Which] Who Rowe (ed. 2).

a] an Q₅ F₄.

[983] Digressing] Disgressing Q₃ Q₄.

[984] in a] in the Capell (corrected in Errata).

[985] a-fire] Dyce. afire Collier. a fier Q₂ Q₃. a fire Q₄ Ff. on fire Q₅.

[986] slew'st ... too] (Q₁) F₂ F₃ F₄. slewest Tibalt, there art thou happie Qq. slew'st ... happie F₁. slew'st Tybalt; there thou'rt happy too Pope.

[987] becomes] Qq. became Ff.

[988] turns] turnes Q₂ Q₄ Q₅. turne Q₃. turn'd Ff.

[989] of blessings] of blessing Q₃. or blessing F₁.

lights] (Q₁) Q₄. light Q₂ Q₃ Ff Q₅.

[990] misbehaved and] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. mishaued and Q₂ Q₃. mishaped and F₁. mis-shaped and a F₂ F₃. misshapen and a F₄. mis-hav'd and a Rowe.

[991] pout'st upon] powts upon Q₄. poutst upon Q₅. puts up Q₂ Q₃. puttest up Ff. frownst upon (Q₁). poutest up Nicholson conj.

[992] the prince] Q₂ Q₄ Q₅. thy prince Q₃ Ff.

[993] all the night] Qq. all night Ff. all night long Pope.

[994] learning] learaing Q₄.

[995] Here sir] Here is (Q₁) Collier (ed. 2).

bid] Q₂ Q₃ Ff. bids Q₄ Q₅.

[996] [Exit.] Capell, after good night, line 166. om. Qq Ff. Exit Nurse. (Q₁).

[997] Go hence ... hence:] Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[998] Go hence] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[999] disguised] disguise Q₂.

[1000] Farewell] om. Pope.

[1001] Scene IV.] Rowe. Scene VI. Pope. Scene VII. Capell.

A room ...] Capell. Capulet's House. Rowe.

[1002] Enter ...] Rowe. Enter old Capulet, his wife and Paris. Qq Ff.

[1003] had] om. F₃ F₄.

[1004] I promise ... ago] Omitted by Pope.

[1005] a-bed] Rowe (ed. 2). a bed Qq Ff.

[1006] time] (Q₁) Rowe. times Qq Ff.

woo] woe Q₄.

[1007] I will ... heaviness] Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

[1008] she's mew'd] Theobald. shees mewed Q₂. she is mewed Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. she is mew'd Rowe.

[1009] [calling him back. Capell.

desperate] separate Hanmer (Warburton).

[1010] be] me Q₂.

[1011] nay ...not] nay, I not doubt it Hanmer.

[1012] here of] Q₄ F₃ F₄. here, of Q₂ F₁ F₂. hereof, Q₃. here with Q₅. there with Keightley.

[1013] next—] Rowe. next, Qq Ff.

[1014] Wednesday] Q₅ F₃ F₄. Wendsday Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. Wensday F₂.

[1015] O' Thursday ... haste?] On Thursday let it be: you shall be marry'd. (Q₁) Pope.

[1016] O' ... o'] Capell. A ...a Qq Ff. On ... o' Theobald.

[1017] We'll keep] Well, keep Q₂.

[1018] there] there's Rowe.

[1019] My lord] As in (Q₁) Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[1020] o'] Capell. a Qq Ff. on Pope.

[1021] [To Lady Capulet. Rowe.

[1022] Afore ... so very very late ... by] (Q₁) Dyce. Afore ... so very late ... by Qq (in one line). Afore ... so late ... by Ff (in one line). Omitted by Pope. 'Fore me ... so very late ... by Theobald (ending the lines we ... night). 'Fore me ... so late ... by Johnson (ending the first line at call). Now, afore ... so very late ... by Capell, ending line 34 at late.

[1023] it] ir F₁.

[1024] Good night] Goodight F₂.

[Exeunt.] Qq Ff. Exeunt, severally. Theobald.

[1025] Scene V.] Rowe. Scene VII. Pope. Act iv. Scene i. Capell.

Capulet's orchard.] The Garden. Rowe. Juliet's Chamber looking to the Garden. Theobald. Anti-room of Juliet's Chamber. Capell.

[1026] Enter ... above, at the window.] Enter ... aloft. Qq Ff. Enter ... at the window. (Q₁). Enter ... above, at a Window; a Ladder of Ropes set. Rowe.

[1027] it ... day:] Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1028] yond] Qq Ff. yon (Q₁) Warburton.

[1029] of the] of F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1030] jocund] F₄. iocand Q₂. iocond or jocond The rest.

[1031] mountain] mountaines Q₃ Q₄ F₁ Q₅.

[1032] Yond] Yon (Q₁) F₄.

it, I] it well Pope. it Johnson.

[1033] sun] fen or fens Anon. conj.

exhales] exhale Q₂ Q₅.

[1034] Therefore ... gone.] Then stay a while, thou need'st not go so soon Pope, from (Q₁).

stay yet; thou] stay yet, thou Qq F₁ F₂ F₃. stay yet thou F₄. stay, yet thou Rowe.

need'st not to be] needest not be Q₅.

[1035] Let me ... to go.] Put, with line 16, in the margin by Pope, giving in the text the corresponding lines of (Q₁).

[1036] yon] Qq Ff.

the] the the Q₂.

[1037] brow] bow Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.).

[1038] the] om. F₁.

[1039] heaven] heavens F₃ F₄.

[1040] care ... will] will ... care Johnson conj.

[1041] How ... soul?] What says my love? (Q₁) Pope.

talk:] talke Q₂ Q₃. talke, or talk The rest.

[1042] loathed] loaded Warburton (a misprint).

change] chang'd Rowe (ed. 2).

[1043] would they had] wot they have Hanmer. wot they had Warburton (a misprint for have).

[1044] Since ... day.] Omitted by Pope.

[1045] hence] up Johnson.

[1046] light it] Qq. itli ght F₁. it light F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1047] Rom. More ... woes!] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope, who inserts instead l. 42, Farewell ... descend.

light: more] light, more Qq Ff. light?—More Theobald.

[1048] Enter ... chamber.] Edd. Enter Madame and Nurse. Qq Ff. Enter Nurse. Rowe. Enter Nurse, to the door. Capell.

[1049] Nurse?] Theobald. Nurse. Qq Ff.

[1050] [Exit.] Exit Nurse. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1051] Then ... out] Omitted by Pope. [opening it. Capell.

[1052] Rom. Farewell ... descend] Transferred to follow line 35 by Pope.

[1053] [Descends.] Romeo descends. Theobald. He goeth downe. (Q₁). om. Qq Ff. Kisses her, and goes out of it. Capell.

[1054] my ... friend] (Q₁) Boswell. love, Lord, ay husband, friend Qq F₁. Love, Lord ah Husband, Friend F₂ F₃ F₄. my love! my lord! my friend Malone. love, lord! my husband, friend Grant White conj.

[1055] day in the hour] hour in the day Collier (Collier MS.).

[Romeo comes down by the Ladder into the Garden. Rowe.

[1056] Farewell ... opportunity] As in Qq Ff. One line in Pope.

[1057] think'st] thinkst Q₂ Q₅. thinkest The rest.

[1058] our time] our times Q₂. the time (Q₁).

[1059] Jul.] Ro. Q₂ Q₃.

[1060] thee, now] Pope. thee now, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. thee now Q₅.

below] (Q₁) Pope. so lowe Qq Ff.

[1061] [Romeo descends. Pope.

[1062] look'st] lookest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1063] my] mine Rowe (ed. 2).

[1064] [Exit.] Exeunt. Rowe (ed. 2).

[1065] Scene VI. Juliet's Chamber. Enter Juliet. Rowe. Scene VIII. Pope.

[1066] renown'd] renowmd Q₂ Q₃. renowm'd Q₄.

[1067] La. Cap. [within] L. C. [within. Capell. La. or Lad. Qq Ff.

[1068] it is] Qq. is it Ff.

mother!] mother. Qq. mother? Ff.

[1069] Is ... early?] Omitted by Pope.

[1070] procures] provokes Hanmer.

hither] either Q₃. hether Q₄.

[1071] Enter Lady Capulet.] Capell. Enter Mother. Qq Ff (after line 64).

[1072] I am] I'm Pope.

[1073] An if ... wit.] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope.

[1074] An] Theobald. And Qq Ff.

couldst ... couldst] wouldst ... couldst Collier MS.

[1075] La. Cap.] Rowe. La. or Lad. Qq Ff (and elsewhere).

[1076] La. Cap. So ... friend.] Omitted by Pope.

[1077] weep] do weep Theobald.

Feeling] But feeling or In feeling Mommsen conj.

[1078] slaughter'd] slaughtered Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1079] same] om. Hanmer.

[1080] [Aside] Hanmer.

be] are (Q₁) Pope.

[1081] God ... girl.] See note (X).

[1082] pardon] padon Q₂.

him] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. om. Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

with all] withall Q₂ Q₃.

[1083] murderer] Q₂. om. Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1084] Shall ... dram] That shall bestow on him so sure a draught Steevens, from (Q₁).

unaccustom'd] accustom'd Q₄.

[1085] him—dead—] Theobald. him. Dead Qq Ff. him—Dead Rowe.

[1086] vex'd] vext Johnson.

[1087] I would] I'd so Anon. apud Rann conj.

[1088] love] tender love Anon. conj.

bore] ever bore Lettsom conj. bore unto Anon. conj.

cousin] Qq F₁. cousin, Tybalt F₂ F₃ F₄. slaughter'd cousin Theobald. murder'd cousin Malone conj.

[1089] slaughter'd] slaughtered Q₃ Q₄.

[1090] La. Cap.] Rowe. Mo. Qq Ff (and elsewhere).

[1091] tidings] tiding Q₄.

[1092] needy] needful (Q₁) Pope.

[1093] I beseech] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. beseech Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[1094] expect'st] Rowe (ed. 2). expects Qq Ff.

look'd] F₄. lookt Qq F₁ F₃. looke F₂.

[1095] that] Qq. this F₁ Ff.

[1096] County] Count of Rowe (ed. 2).

Saint] St. F₄.

[1097] happily] happly Q₃ Q₄.

there] Qq. om. Ff.

[1098] Saint] S. Q₂.

[1099] should] must Q₅.

woo] Q₄. wooe Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ F₄. woe F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1100] I swear,] Omitted by Pope, from (Q₁).

[1101] These ... indeed!] Given to Lady Capulet by Collier (Collier MS.).

[1102] La. Cap.] Mer. Q₄.

[1103] your] you F₂.

[1104] Enter....] Enter Capulet, at a Distance; Nurse following. Capell, after line 123.

[1105] When ... downright.] Omitted by Pope.

[1106] air] ayre Q₄. aire Q₅. earth Q₂ Q₃ Ff.]

dew] daew F₁.

[1107] It ... tears?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1108] showering? In ... body] Q₅. showring in ... body? Q₂ Q₃ Ff. showring: In ... body? Q₄.

[1109] Thou counterfeit'st a] Q₅. Thou countefaits. A Q₂. Thou counterfaits. A Q₃. Thou counterfeits, a Q₄. Thou counterfaits a F₁. Thou counterfeits a F₂. Thy counterfeits a F₃. Thy Counterfeit's a F₄.

[1110] is] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1111] Who] Which Pope.

thy] Qq. the Ff.

[1112] wife] wise Q₄.

[1113] deliver'd] Rowe (ed. 2). delivered Qq Ff.

[1114] Ay, sir] Arranged as in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

gives] give Q₂.

thanks.] thankes. Q₅. thanks? F₄. thankes, Q₂ Q₃ F₁ F₂. thanks, F₃.

[1115] How!] How? Q₅. How Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. How, Ff.

[1116] bridegroom] Bride Q₂.

[1117] Not ... that you have] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[1118] hate] Qq. have Ff.

[1119] that is meant] that's meant in Q₅.

[1120] How ... this?] As one line in Qq. Two in Ff. Omitted in (Q₁) Pope.

How, how! how, how!] Capell. How, how, howhow, Q₂. How now, how now, Q₃ Q₄. How now? How now? Ff Q₅.

chop-logic] Steevens (1793). chop logicke (Q₁). chopt lodgick Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. chopt logicke F₁ F₂. chopt logick Q₅ F₃ F₄. chop logick Theobald.

[1121] 'I thank ... proud:'] yet not proud, ... And yet, I thank you, Lettsom conj.

[1122] And ... you,] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

proud:] Q₄ Q₅. proud Q₂ Q₃.

mistress] why, mistress Theobald. come, mistress Anon. conj.

[1123] fettle] (Q₁) Qq F₁. settle F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1124] Out ... tallow-face] Omitted by Pope.

[1125] green-sickness] Hyphened in F₄.

[1126] You] Out you F₄.

tallow face] Hyphened in F₄.

[1127] Cap.] Fa. Qq Ff.

[1128] thee] the F₂.

o'] Theobald. a Qq Ff.

[1129] itch. Wife,] itch: Wife, Q₅. itch, wife, Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. itch, wife: Ff.

[1130] lent] sent (Q₁) Pope.

[1131] curse] crosse (Q₁). cross Grant White conj.

[1132] to blame] too blame Q₃ F₁ F₂.

[1133] gossips,] Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. gossips Q₂. gossip, Ff.

[1134] Cap. O, God ye god-den.] Cap. O, God-ye-good-den? Capell. Cap: Oh goddegodden. (Q₁). Fa. O Godigeden. Q₄ Q₅. Father, ô Godigeden, Q₂ Q₃ (as part of the Nurse's speech). Father, O Godigoden, F₁. O Godigoden, F₂ F₃. O God gi' goode'en F₄.

[1135] Nurse.] Q₄ Q₅. om. Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

Peace] Peace, peace Theobald.

mumbling] old mumbling Seymour conj.

[1136] gossip's] goships Q₂.

bowl] bowles F₁.

[1137] God's bread ... company] Qq Ff. God's ... work and play ... company Rowe (ed. 2). God's ... mad: day, night, late, early, At home, abroad; alone, in company, Waking or sleeping, Pope, from (Q₁). Malone, reading early, late, follows Pope. As God's my friend! it makes me mad: Day, night, hundreds of times, at work at play, Alone, in company Bullock conj.

[1138] Johnson reads It makes ... play as one line, omitting God's bread and time.

[1139] tide] ride F₁.

time] om. Keightley, reading God's ... provided as three lines, ending tide, ... care ... provided.

[1140] noble] princely (Q₁) Capell.

[1141] demesnes] demeans F₄. demeanes The rest.

train'd] (Q₁) Capell. allied Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. liand Q₂. 'lianc'd Capell conj. lined or loin'd Mommsen conj.

[1142] Proportion'd] Proportioned Q₃ Q₄.

thought would] heart could] (Q₁) Capell.

[1143] fortune's] Theobald. fortunes Qq Ff.

[1144] an] Capell. and Qq Ff. if Pope.

[1145] An] Capell. And Qq Ff. If Pope.

[1146] starve] strave F₁.

in the] i' th' Pope.

[1147] never] ever Q₄ Q₅.

[1148] dim] dun Johnson (1771).

[1149] O God] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[1150] My ... me] Omitted by Pope.

[1151] Alack, alack,] Hlacke, alacke F₁. Alack! Hanmer.

[1152] What ... nurse.] Omitted by Pope.

[1153] Faith ... nothing] As in Ff. One line in Qq. Capell ends the first line at Romeo, reading 'tis and banished.

[1154] and] om. Pope.

[1155] by] my Q₄.

[1156] county] count F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1157] O, he's] Oh, 'faith, he is Hanmer.

gentleman!] gentleman! Romeo! Capell. gentleman in sooth! Keightley. lovely gentleman! Anon. conj.

[1158] green] keen Hanmer.

[1159] beshrew] Q₅ F₄. beshrow The rest.

[1160] here] hence Hanmer. there Anon. conj.

[1161] Speakest] Speakst Q₂.

[1162] And ... else ... both] Q₂. And ... or else ... both Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. And ... Or else ... both Ff (to, F₄), as two lines.

from] om. Capell conj.

too] om. Hanmer.

beshrew] (Q₁) Qq Ff.

[1163] What?] To what? Hanmer. What say you? Dyce conj.

[1164] absolved] obsolu'd Q₂.

[1165] [Exit.] om. Q₂ Q₃ F₁. She lookes after Nurse. (Q₁).

[1166] wicked] wither'd S. Walker conj. wrinkled Id. conj. (withdrawn).

[1167] Is it] It is F₁.

[1168] henceforth] henchforth F₁ F₂.

[1169] [Exit.] Qq. Exeunt. Ff.

ACT IV.

Scene I. Friar Laurence's cell.[1170]

Enter Friar Laurence and Paris.[1171]

Fri. L. On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.

Par. My father Capulet will have it so;
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.[1172]

Fri. L. You say you do not know the lady's mind:
Uneven is the course; I like it not.[1173] 5
[Pg 99]

Par. Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,
And therefore have I little talk'd of love,[1174]
For Venus smiles not in a house of tears.
Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous
That she doth give her sorrow so much sway,[1175] 10
And in his wisdom hastes our marriage,
To stop the inundation of her tears,
Which, too much minded by herself alone,
May be put from her by society:
Now do you know the reason of this haste.[1176] 15

Fri. L. [Aside] I would I knew not why it should be slow'd.[1177]
Look, sir, here comes the lady toward my cell.[1178]

Enter Juliet.

Par. Happily met, my lady and my wife![1179]

Jul. That may be, sir, when I may be a wife.

Par. That may be must be, love, on Thursday next. 20

Jul. What must be shall be.

Fri. L. That's a certain text.

Par. Come you to make confession to this father?

Jul. To answer that, I should confess to you.[1180]

Par. Do not deny to him that you love me.

Jul. I will confess to you that I love him. 25

Par. So will ye, I am sure, that you love me.[1181]

Jul. If I do so, it will be of more price,
Being spoke behind your back, than to your face.[1182]

Par. Poor soul, thy face is much abused with tears.

Jul. The tears have got small victory by that; 30
For it was bad enough before their spite.
[Pg 100]

Par. Thou wrong'st it more than tears with that report.

Jul. That is no slander, sir, which is a truth,[1183]
And what I spake, I spake it to my face.[1184]

Par. Thy face is mine, and thou hast slander'd it. 35

Jul. It may be so, for it is not mine own.
Are you at leisure, holy father, now;
Or shall I come to you at evening mass?

Fri. L. My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.
My lord, we must entreat the time alone.[1185] 40

Par. God shield I should disturb devotion![1186]
Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye:[1187]
Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss.[1187][1188] [Exit.

Jul. O, shut the door, and when thou hast done so,[1189]
Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help![1190] 45

Fri. L. Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief;[1191]
It strains me past the compass of my wits:[1192]
I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it,
On Thursday next be married to this county.[1193]

Jul. Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this,[1194] 50
Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it:
If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help,
Do thou but call my resolution wise,
And with this knife I'll help it presently.[1195]
God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; 55
And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo's seal'd,[1196]
Shall be the label to another deed,
[Pg 101] Or my true heart with treacherous revolt
Turn to another, this shall slay them both:
Therefore, out of thy long-experienced time,[1197] 60
Give me some present counsel; or, behold,
'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife
Shall play the umpire, arbitrating that [1198]
Which the commission of thy years and art [1199]
Could to no issue of true honour bring. 65
Be not so long to speak; I long to die,[1200]
If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy.

Fr. L. Hold, daughter: I do spy a kind of hope,
Which craves as desperate an execution [1201]
As that is desperate which we would prevent. 70
If, rather than to marry County Paris,
Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,[1202]
Then is it likely thou wilt undertake [1203]
A thing like death to chide away this shame,
That copest with death himself to 'scape from it;[1204] 75
And, if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy.[1205]

Jul. O, bid me leap, rather than many Paris,
From off the battlements of yonder tower;[1206]
Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me lurk [1207]
Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears;[1207] 80
Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,[1208]
O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones,[1209]
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;[1210]
[Pg 102] Or bid me go into a new-made grave,
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;[1211] 85
Things that to hear them told, have made me tremble;[1212]
And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstain'd wife to my sweet love.[1213]

Fri. L. Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent [1214]
To marry Paris: Wednesday is to-morrow;[1214][1215] 90
To-morrow night look that thou lie alone,[1214]
Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:[1214][1216]
Take thou this vial, being then in bed,[1214]
And this distilled liquor drink thou off:[1217]
When presently through all thy veins shall run 95
A cold and drowsy humour; for no pulse [1218]
Shall keep his native progress, but surcease:[1218]
No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;[1219]
The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade [1220]
To paly ashes; thy eyes' windows fall,[1221] 100
Like death, when he shuts up the day of life;[1222]
Each part, deprived of supple government,[1223]
Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:[1223]
And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death [1224]
Thou shalt continue two and forty hours, 105
And then awake as from a pleasant sleep.
Now, when the bridegroom in the morning comes
To rouse thee from thy bed, there art thou dead:[1225]
Then, as the manner of our country is,
[Pg 103] In thy best robes uncover'd on the bier [1226] 110
Thou shalt be borne to that same ancient vault [1227]
Where all the kindred of the Capulets lie.
In the mean time, against thou shalt awake,
Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift;
And hither shall he come: and he and I [1228] 115
Will watch thy waking, and that very night[1228]
Shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.
And this shall free thee from this present shame,[1229]
If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear [1230]
Abate thy valour in the acting it. 120

Jul. Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear![1231]

Fri. L. Hold; get you gone, be strong and prosperous
In this resolve: I'll send a friar with speed
To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord.

Jul. Love give me strength! and strength shall help afford.[1232]125
Farewell, dear father![1233] [Exeunt.

Scene II. Hall in Capulet's house.[1234]

Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, Nurse, and two Servingmen.[1235]

Cap. So many guests invite as here are writ.[1236]

[Exit First Servant.

[Pg 104]

Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.[1237]

Sec. Serv. You shall have none ill, sir, for I'll try if [1238][1239]
they can lick their fingers.[1239]

Cap. How canst thou try them so?[1239] 5

Sec. Serv. Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick[1238][1239]
his own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers[1239]
goes not with me.[1239]

Cap. Go, be gone.[1239][1240][1241] [Exit Sec. Servant.
We shall be much unfurnish'd for this time.[1241] 10
What, is my daughter gone to Friar Laurence?[1241]

Nurse. Ay, forsooth.

Cap. Well, he may chance to do some good on her:
A peevish self-will'd harlotry it is.[1242]

Enter Juliet.

Nurse. See where she comes from shrift with merry look.[1243]15

Cap. How now, my headstrong! where have you been gadding?[1244]

Jul. Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin [1245]
Of disobedient opposition
To you and your behests, and am enjoin'd [1246]
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, 20
To beg your pardon: pardon, I beseech you![1247]
Henceforward I am ever ruled by you.

Cap. Send for the county; go tell him of this:[1248]
I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning.
[Pg 105]

Jul. I met the youthful lord at Laurence' cell, 25
And gave him what becomed love I might,[1249]
Not stepping o'er the bounds of modesty.

Cap. Why, I am glad on't; this is well: stand up:
This is as't should be. Let me see the county;[1250]
Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.[1251] 30
Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,[1252]
All our whole city is much bound to him.[1253]

Jul. Nurse, will you go with me into my closet,
To help me sort such needful ornaments
As you think fit to furnish me to-morrow? 35

La. Cap. No, not till Thursday; there is time enough.[1254]

Cap. Go, nurse, go with her: we'll to church to-morrow.[1255]

[Exeunt Juliet and Nurse.

La. Cap. We shall be short in our provision:[1256]
'Tis now near night.

Cap. Tush, I will stir about,
And all things shall be well, I warrant thee, wife: 40
Go thou to Juliet, help to deck up her;
I'll not to bed to-night; let me alone;
I'll play the housewife for this once. What, ho!
They are all forth: well, I will walk myself
To County Paris, to prepare him up [1257] 45
Against to-morrow: my heart is wondrous light,[1258]
Since this same wayward girl is so reclaim'd.[1259] [Exeunt.

[Pg 106]

Scene III. Juliet's chamber.[1260]

Enter Juliet and Nurse.

Jul. Ay, those attires are best: but, gentle nurse,
I pray thee, leave me to myself to-night;
For I have need of many orisons
To move the heavens to smile upon my state,
Which, well thou know'st, is cross and full of sin.[1261] 5

Enter Lady Capulet.[1262]

La. Cap. What, are you busy, ho? need you my help?[1263][1264]

Jul. No, madam; we have cull'd such necessaries
As are behoveful for our state to-morrow:[1265]
So please you, let me now be left alone,
And let the nurse this night sit up with you, 10
For I am sure you have your hands full all
In this so sudden business.

La. Cap. Good night:
Get thee to bed and rest, for thou hast need.

[Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1266]

Jul. Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again.[1267]
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, 15
That almost freezes up the heat of life:[1268]
I'll call them back again to comfort me.[1269]
Nurse!—What should she do here?[1270]
My dismal scene I needs must act alone.
Come, vial.[1271][1272] 20
[Pg 107] What if this mixture do not work at all?[1271]
Shall I be married then to-morrow morning?[1273]
No, no: this shall forbid it. Lie thou there [1274]

[Laying down a dagger.

What if it be a poison, which the friar
Subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, 25
Lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd,
Because he married me before to Romeo?
I fear it is: and yet, methinks, it should not,
For he hath still been tried a holy man.[1275]
How if, when I am laid into the tomb, 30
I wake before the time that Romeo
Come to redeem me? there's a fearful point.[1276]
Shall I not then be stifled in the vault,[1277]
To whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in,[1278]
And there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?[1279] 35
Or, if I live, is it not very like,[1280]
The horrible conceit of death and night,
Together with the terror of the place,[1281]
As in a vault, an ancient receptacle,
Where for this many hundred years the bones [1282] 40
Of all my buried ancestors are pack'd;
Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth,
Lies festering in his shroud; where, as they say,
At some hours in the night spirits resort;
Alack, alack, is it not like that I [1283] 45
So early waking, what with loathsome smells
[Pg 108] And shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth,[1284]
That living mortals hearing them run mad:
O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught,[1285]
Environed with all these hideous fears?[1286] 50
And madly play with my forefathers' joints?[1287]
And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud?
And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone,[1288]
As with a club, dash out my desperate brains?
O, look! methinks I see my cousin's ghost 55
Seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body [1289]
Upon a rapier's point: stay, Tybalt, stay![1289][1290]
Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee.[1291]

[She falls upon her bed, within the curtains.[1292]

Scene IV. Hall in Capulet's house.[1293]

Enter Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1294]

La. Cap. Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.[1295]

Nurse. They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.[1296]

[Pg 109]

Enter Capulet.[1297]

Cap. Come, stir, stir, stir! the second cock hath crow'd,[1298]
The curfew-bell hath rung, 'tis three o'clock:[1299]
Look to the baked meats, good Angelica: 5
Spare not for cost.[1300][1301]

Nurse. Go, you cot-quean, go,[1301]
Get you to bed; faith, you'll be sick to-morrow
For this night's watching.

Cap. No, not a whit: what! I have watch'd ere now [1302]
All night for lesser cause, and ne'er been sick.[1303] 10

La. Cap. Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time;
But I will watch you from such watching now.

[Exeunt Lady Capulet and Nurse.[1304]

Cap. A jealous-hood, a jealous-hood![1305][1306]

Enter three or four Servingmen, with spits, and logs, and baskets.

Now, fellow,
What's there?[1305][1307]

First Serv. Things for the cook, sir, but I know not what.[1308]15

Cap. Make haste, make haste. [Exit First Serv.] Sirrah, fetch drier logs:[1309]
Call Peter, he will show thee where they are.

Sec. Serv. I have a head, sir, that will find out logs,[1310]
And never trouble Peter for the matter.
[Pg 110]

Cap. Mass, and well said; a merry whoreson, ha! 20
Thou shalt be logger-head. [Exit Sec. Serv.] Good faith, 'tis day:[1311]
The county will be here with music straight,
For so he said he would. [Music within] I hear him near.[1312]
Nurse! Wife! What, ho! What, nurse, I say![1313]

Re-enter Nurse.

Go waken Juliet, go and trim her up; 25
I'll go and chat with Paris: hie, make haste,
Make haste: the bridegroom he is come already:[1314][1315]
Make haste, I say.[1315][1316] [Exeunt.

Scene V. Juliet's chamber.[1317]

Enter Nurse.[1318]

Nurse. Mistress! what, mistress! Juliet! fast, I warrant her, she:[1319]
Why, lamb! why, lady! fie, you slug-a-bed!
Why, love, I say! madam! sweet-heart! why, bride!
What, not a word? you take your pennyworths now;[1320]
Sleep for a week; for the next night, I warrant, 5
The County Paris hath set up his rest
That you shall rest but little. God forgive me,[1321]
Marry, and amen, how sound is she asleep!
[Pg 111] I needs must wake her. Madam, madam, madam![1322]
Ay, let the county take you in your bed; 10
He'll fright you up, i' faith. Will it not be?[1323]

[Undraws the curtains.[1324]

What, dress'd! and in your clothes! and down again!
I must needs wake you. Lady! lady! lady![1325]
Alas, alas! Help, help! my lady's dead!
O, well-a-day, that ever I was born![1326] 15
Some aqua-vitæ, ho! My lord! my lady![1327]

Enter Lady Capulet.

La. Cap. What noise is here?

Nurse. O lamentable day!

La. Cap. What is the matter?

Nurse. Look, look! O heavy day![1328]

La. Cap. O me, O me! My child, my only life,
Revive, look up, or I will die with thee. 20
Help, help! call help.[1329]

Enter Capulet.

Cap. For shame, bring Juliet forth; her lord is come.

Nurse. She's dead, deceased, she's dead; alack the day!

La. Cap. Alack the day, she's dead, she's dead, she's dead![1330]

Cap. Ha! let me see her. Out, alas! she's cold; 25
Her blood is settled and her joints are stiff;
Life and these lips have long been separated.
Death lies on her like an untimely frost
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.
[Pg 112]

Nurse. O lamentable day![1331]

La. Cap. O woeful time![1332] 30

Cap. Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail,[1332]
Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak.[1332][1333]

Enter Friar Laurence and Paris, with Musicians.

Fri. L. Come, is the bride ready to go to church?[1334]

Cap. Ready to go, but never to return.
O son, the night before thy wedding-day [1335] 35
Hath death lain with thy wife: see, there she lies,[1336]
Flower as she was, deflowered by him.[1337]
Death is my son-in-law, death is my heir;[1338]
My daughter he hath wedded: I will die,[1338]
And leave him all; life, living, all is Death's.[1338][1339] 40

Par. Have I thought long to see this morning's face,[1340]
And doth it give me such a sight as this?

La. Cap. Accurst, unhappy, wretched, hateful day!
Most miserable hour that e'er time saw [1341]
In lasting labour of his pilgrimage! 45
But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,[1342]
But one thing to rejoice and solace in,
And cruel death hath catch'd it from my sight![1343]

Nurse. O woe! O woeful, woeful, woeful day!
Most lamentable day, most woeful day, 50
That ever, ever, I did yet behold![1344]
[Pg 113] O day! O day! O day! O hateful day!
Never was seen so black a day as this:
O woeful day, O woeful day!

Par. Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain![1345] 55
Most detestable death, by thee beguiled,[1345]
By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown![1345]
O love! O life! not life, but love in death![1345]

Cap. Despised, distressed, hated, martyr'd, kill'd![1345]
Uncomfortable time, why camest thou now[1345] 60
To murder, murder our solemnity?[1345]
O child! O child! my soul, and not my child![1345]
Dead art thou! Alack, my child is dead;[1345][1346]
And with my child my joys are buried![1345]

Fri. L. Peace, ho, for shame! confusion's cure lives not [1347][1348]65
In these confusions. Heaven and yourself[1347]
Had part in this fair maid; now heaven hath all,[1347]
And all the better is it for the maid:[1347]
Your part in her you could not keep from death;[1347]
But heaven keeps his part in eternal life.[1347] 70
The most you sought was her promotion,[1347]
For 'twas your heaven she should be advanced:[1347][1349]
And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced[1347]
Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself?[1347][1350]
O, in this love, you love your child so ill,[1347] 75
That you run mad, seeing that she is well:[1347]
She's not well married that lives married long,[1347]
But she's best married that dies married young.[1347][1351]
Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary[1347]
On this fair corse, and, as the custom is,[1347] 80
In all her best array bear her to church:[1347][1352]
For though fond nature bids us all lament,[1347]
[Pg 114] Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment.[1347][1353]

Cap. All things that we ordained festival,[1354]
Turn from their office to black funeral: 85
Our instruments to melancholy bells;
Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast;[1355]
Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change;
Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse,
And all things change them to the contrary.[1356] 90

Fri. L. Sir, go you in; and, madam, go with him;[1356]
And go, Sir Paris; every one prepare[1356]
To follow this fair corse unto her grave:[1356]
The heavens do lour upon you for some ill;[1356]
Move them no more by crossing their high will.[1356][1357] 95

[Exeunt Capulet, Lady Capulet, Paris, and Friar.

First Mus. Faith, we may put up our pipes, and be gone.[1358]

Nurse. Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up;
For, well you know, this is a pitiful case.[1359] [Exit.

First Mus. Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended.[1360]

Enter Peter.

Pet. Musicians, O, musicians, 'Heart's ease, Heart's [1361][1362][1363]100
ease:' O, an you will have me live, play 'Heart's ease.'[1362][1364]
[Pg 115]

First Mus. Why 'Heart's ease'?[1365]

Pet. O, musicians, because my heart itself plays 'My
heart is full of woe:' O, play me some merry dump, to [1366][1367]
comfort me.[1367] 105

First Mus. Not a dump we; 'tis no time to play now.[1368]

Pet. You will not then?

First Mus. No.[1369]

Pet. I will then give it you soundly.

First Mus. What will you give us? 110

Pet. No money, on my faith, but the gleek; I will [1370][1371]
give you the minstrel.[1370][1371][1372]

First Mus. Then will I give you the serving-creature.[1371]

Pet. Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on[1371][1373]
your pate. I will carry no crotchets: I'll re you, I'll fa[1371][1374]115
you; do you note me?[1374]

First Mus. An you re us and fa us, you note us.[1375]

Sec. Mus. Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out [1376]
your wit.[1376]

Pet. Then have at you with my wit! I will dry-beat [1377][1378]120
you with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer[1378][1379]
me like men:
'When griping grief the heart doth wound [1380][1381]
And doleful dumps the mind oppress,[1380][1382]
Then music with her silver sound'—[1380] 125
[Pg 116] why 'silver sound'? why 'music with her silver sound'?—
What say you, Simon Catling?

First Mus. Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound.[1383]

Pet. Pretty! What say you, Hugh Rebeck?[1384]

Sec. Mus. I say, 'silver sound,' because musicians 130
sound for silver.

Pet. Pretty too! What say you, James Soundpost?[1385]

Third Mus. Faith, I know not what to say.

Pet. O, I cry you mercy; you are the singer: I will [1386]
say for you. It is 'music with her silver sound,' because[1386] 135
musicians have no gold for sounding:[1386][1387]
'Then music with her silver sound [1388]
With speedy help doth lend redress.'[1388][1389] [Exit.

First Mus. What a pestilent knave is this same![1390]

Sec. Mus. Hang him, Jack! Come, we'll in here; tarry [1391] 140
for the mourners, and stay dinner. [Exeunt.[1392]

[Pg 117]

FOOTNOTES:

[1170] Act iv. Scene i.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

Friar Laurence's cell.] Capell. The Monastery. Rowe.

[1171] Enter....] Rowe. Enter Frier and Countie Paris. Qq Ff (Count F₂ F₃ F₄).

[1172] nothing] something Collier conj.

slow to slack his] slacke to slow his (Q₁). slow to back Johnson conj. slack,—too slow's his Jackson conj.

[1173] is] in Warburton.

[1174] talk'd] talkt Q₅. talke Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. talk F₃ F₄.

[1175] doth] (Q₁) Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. do Q₂. should F₃ F₄.

sway] way Collier MS.

[1176] haste.] Q₂. hast. (Q₁). hast? or haste? The rest.

[1177] [Aside] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1178] toward] Q₂. towards The rest.

[1179] Happily met] Welcome my love (Q₁) Pope.

my wife] my life Johnson conj.

[1180] I should] were to (Q₁) Pope.

[1181] ye] you Capell.

[1182] Being] Benig F₁.

[1183] no] om. Q₄.]

slander ... a truth] wrong, sir, that is but a truth Capell, from (Q₁). wrong, sir, that that is a truth Jackson conj.

a truth] (Q₁) Qq F₁. truth F₂ F₃ F₄. but truth Rowe.

[1184] spake, I spake] speak, I speak F₄.

my] thy F₄

[1185] we] (Q₁) Qq. you F₁. I F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1186] God shield I] Q₄. Godshield, I Q₂ Q₃ Q₅. Godsheild: I F₁ F₂. God shield: I F₃. God shield, I F₄.

[1187] Juliet ... kiss] Juliet farewel, and keep this holy kiss. (Q₁) Pope.

[1188] [Exit.] Qq. Exit Paris. Ff.

[1189] O,] Go (Q₁) Pope.

[1190] cure] (Q₁) Q₅. care Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

[1191] Ah] (Q₁) Capell. O Qq Ff.

thy] your Pope.

[1192] It ... wits] Omitted by Pope.

strains] streames F₁.

[1193] county] count F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1194] hear'st] Q₅. hearest The rest.

[1195] with this] with' his F₁. with' this F₂.

[1196] Romeo's] Q₅. Romeos Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Romeo Ff.

[1197] long-experienced] long-experienc'd Pope. long experienst Q₂ Q₃. long experien'st Q₄ F₂ F₃. long expetiens't F₁. long experienc't Q₅. long experienc'd F₄.

[1198] umpire] umpeere Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[1199] thy] my F₃ F₄.

[1200] Be ... die] Speak not, be brief; for I desire to die (Q₁) Pope. Speak now, be brief; for I desire to die Hanmer.

[1201] an] om. S. Walker conj.

[1202] of will] or will (Q₁) Pope.

slay] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅ F₃ F₄. stay Q₂ Q₃ F₁. lay F₂.

[1203] is it] it is F₃ F₄.

[1204] copest] coapst (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃. coop'st Q₄ Q₅. coap'st F₁ F₂ F₃. cop'st F₄. copes Hanmer.

from] fro F₁ F₂ F₃.

it;] it. (Q₁) Qq. it: Ff.

[1205] And, if] An if Delius conj.

[1206] off] (Q₁) Q₅ F₃ F₄. of The rest.

yonder] (Q₁) Pope. any Qq Ff.

[1207] Or walk ... bears] Or chain me to some sleepy mountain's top Where roaring bears and savage lions roam Pope, from (Q₁). Or chain ... top Where savage bears and roaring lions roam Johnson conj.

[1208] shut] (Q₁) Pope. hide Qq Ff.

[1209] O'er-covr'd] Orecoverd Q₂. Orecovered Q₃ F₁ F₂. Ore covered Q₄ Q₅. Ore-covered F₃. O're-covered F₄.

[1210] reeky] reekie Qq. reckie F₁. recky F₂ F₃ F₄.

yellow] Q₄ Q₅ Ff. yeolow (Q₁). yealow Q₂ Q₃.

chapless] chapels Q₂. chappels Q₃ F₁.

[1211] shroud] Q₄ Q₅. grave Ff. Omitted in Q₂ Q₃. tomb Malone conj.

[1212] told] nam'd (Q₁) Pope.

[1213] unstain'd] unstained F₁.

[1214] Hold ... bed] For these lines Pope substitutes three lines Hold ... vial from (Q₁).

[1215] Wednesday] Q₅ F₄. wendsday Q₂. wensday Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1216] thy nurse] the nurse Q₂.

[1217] distilled] (Q₁) Pope. distilling Qq Ff.

[1218] for ... surcease] which shall seize Each vital spirit; for no pulse shall keep His nat'ral progress, but surcease to beat (Q₁) Pope.

[1219] breath] breast Q₂.

[1220] fade] fade: Q₂.

[1221] To paly] Q₅. Too paly Q₄. Too many Q₂ Q₃. To many F₁. To mealy F₂ F₃ F₄.

thy] Q₂ Q₅. the Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

[1222] shuts] shut F₁.

[1223] Each part ... like death] Omitted by Pope.

[1224] borrow'd] Q₅. borrowed The rest.

[1225] thee] the F₂.

[1226] In] Is Q₂.

uncover'd] uncovered Q₂.

bier] Hanmer. beere, Be borne to buriall in thy kindreds grave: Qq Ff. (beer ... born F₃ F₄). See note (IX).

[1227] shalt] shall Q₂.

[1228] and ... waking] Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. an ... walking Q₂. Omitted in Ff.

[1229] And ... shame] Omitted by Pope.

[1230] inconstant] unconstant F₃ F₄.

toy] ioy Q₄. joy Q₅.

[1231] Give ... not me] Give me, oh give me, tell not me Pope. Give me, oh give me, tell me not Theobald. O, give 't me, give 't me! tell not me Lettsom conj.

fear] care F₁.

[Taking the vial. Pope.

[1232] Love ... afford] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1233] [Exeunt.] Q₄ Q₅. Exit. Q₂ Q₃ Ff. om. Rowe.

[1234] Scene II.] Rowe. Scene III. Capell.

Hall....] Capell. Capulet's House. Rowe.

[1235] Enter....] Enter Father Capulet, Mother, Nurse, and Serving men, two or three. Qq Ff. Enter ... Servant. Malone.

[1236] [Exit....] to a Servant, who goes out. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1237] twenty] dainty Jackson conj.

[1238] Sec. Serv.] Ser. Qq Ff. 1. S. Capell. 2. Serv. Malone.

[1239] Sec. Serv. You ... gone.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1240] [Exit....] Exit Servant. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1241] Go ... Laurence?] As in Theobald. Two lines, the first ending time in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[1242] self-will'd] selfewield Q₂. selfe willde Q₃. selfe-will'd Q₄ Q₅. selfewild F₁ F₂. self-wild F₃ F₄.

[1243] See ... look.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending shrift, in Ff.

shrift ... look] her confession Pope, from (Q₁).

[1244] How ... gadding?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1245] me] om. Q₄ Q₅.

[1246] enjoin'd] injoin'd Q₅.

[1247] To beg] And beg Pope.

[1248] county] count F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1249] becomed] Ff. becomd Q₂ Q₃. becommed Q₄ Q₅. becoming Rowe.

[1250] as't] ast Q₂ Q₃.

[1251] hither] hether Q₃.

[1252] reverend holy] holy reverent (Q₁). holy reverend Q₅.

[1253] to him] to hymn Warburton conj. unto (Q₁) Steevens conj.

[1254] there is] there's F₁.

[1255] Go ... to-morrow.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

to-morrow.] to-Morrow? Rowe (ed. 2).

[Exeunt ... Nurse.] Ff. Exeunt. Qq.

[1256] provision] privision Q₅.

[1257] him up] Ff. up him Qq.

[1258] heart is] heart's Pope.

[1259] [Exeunt.] Q₄ Q₅. Exit. Q₂ Q₃. Exeunt Father and Mother. Ff.

[1260] Scene III.] Rowe. Scene IV. Capell.

Juliet's chamber.] Rowe.

[1261] know'st] Ff Q₅. knowest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1262] Enter Lady Capulet.] Rowe. Enter Mother. Qq Ff.

[1263] La. Cap.] Mo. Qq Ff.

[1264] ho? need you] do you need (Q₁) Pope.

[1265] behoveful] F₄. behoofefull Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. behoovefull F₁ F₂ Q₅. behooveful F₃.

[1266] [Exeunt ... Nurse.] Capell. Exeunt. Qq Ff.

[1267] Farewell!] As in Qq. As a separate line in Ff.

[1268] life] Qq. fire Ff.

[1269] again] om. F₄.

[1270] Nurse!—] Hanmer. Nurse— Rowe. Nurse; Q₅. Nurse, The rest.

[1271] Come, vial! What] As in Hanmer. In the same line in Qq Ff. Come, phial, come! Keightley, reading Nurse ... come! as two lines, the first ending scene.

[1272] vial] F₄. violl Q₂. viall The rest.

[1273] Shall ... morning] Shall I of force be marry'd to the Count Pope, from (Q₁).

then] om. F₄.

[1274] it. Lie] it:—knife, lie Lettsom conj. from (Q₁).

[Laying ...] Johnson. Pointing to a Dagger. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1275] a holy] an holy Q₅.

man.] man: I will not entertain so bad a thought. (Q₁) Steevens.

[1276] Come] Comes Pope.

[1277] stifled] stiffled Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1278] mouth] month Rowe.

[1279] And ... comes?] Omitted by Pope.

die] be Theobald.

[1280]. is it] it is Rowe.

[1281] Together] Togither Q₂.

[1282] this] Q₂. these The rest.

[1283] Alack, alack] Alas, alas! Pope.

[1284] shrieks] F₄. shrikes The rest.

mandrakes'] Malone (Capell's Errata). mandrakes Qq Ff. mandrake's Johnson.

[1285] O, if I wake] Hanmer. O if I walke Q₂ Q₃ F₁. Or if I wake Q₄ Q₅. Or if I walke F₂. Or if I walk F₃ F₄.

[1286] Environed] Inviron'd F₄. Invironed The rest.

[1287] joints] ioynes Q₄.

[1288] great kinsman's] great-kinsman's Delius conj.

[1289] that ... point] Omitted by Pope, from (Q₁).

[1290] a] Qq. my F₁. his F₂ F₃ F₄.

stay!] stay Romeo,— or stay,—Romeo, Nicholson conj.

[1291] Romeo, ... thee] (Q₁) Pope. Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, heeres drinke, I drinke to thee. Qq Ff, substantially, (Rome, Romeo, Romeo, F₂). Romeo, here's drink! Romeo, I drink to thee. Johnson. Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, I drink to thee. Knight (Stratford Ed.). See note (XI).

I come, this do] Romeo, here's drink Nicholson conj.

[1292] She ... curtains.] (Q₁) Edd. She throws herself on the bed. Pope. Omitted in Qq Ff. Exit. Rowe. Drinks; throws away the Vial, and casts herself upon the Bed. Scene closes. Capell.

[1293] Scene IV.] Rowe. Scene V. Capell.

Hall ...] A Hall. Rowe. Capulet's Hall. Theobald.

[1294] Lady Capulet] Rowe. Lady of the house, Qq Ff.

[1295] Hold,] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

[1296] [Exit Nurse. Singer.

[1297] Enter Capulet.] Rowe. Enter old Capulet. Qq Ff. Enter Capulet, hastily. Capell.

[1298] Come ... crow'd] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

crow'd] Ff. crowed Qq.

[1299] rung] roong Q₂. roung Q₃ Q₄.

o'clock] Theobald. a clock Qq Ff.

[1300] Nurse.] La. Cap. Singer.

Go] Go, go Theobald.

[1301] go, Get] go.—[To Cap.] Get Hunter conj.

[1302] what!] om. F₄.

[1303] lesser] Q₂. lesse Q₃ Q₄ F₁ Q₅. a lesse F₂ F₃. a less F₄.

[1304] [Exeunt ...] Exit Lady and Nurse. Qq Ff. Exit Lady Capulet. Singer.

[1305] A ... there?] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Qq. Two, the second beginning Now, in Ff.

[1306] jealous-hood] Hyphen inserted in F₄.

Servingmen] om. Qq Ff.

[1307] What's] whats F₂. what's F₃ F₄. what is Qq. what F₁.

[1308] First Ser.] 1. S. Capell. Fel. Qq Ff. Ser. Rowe.

[1309] haste. [Exit ...] haste. [Exit Ser. Capell. haste Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. haste, Ff. haste; Q₅.

[1310] Sec. Ser.] 2. S. Capell. Fel. Qq Ff. Ser. Rowe.

[1311] [Exit Sec. Serv.] Edd. Exit. Capell (after line 19). om. Qq Ff.

faith] Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. father Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

[1312] [Music within.] Capell, after line 22. Play Musicke. (after line 21) Qq Ff. Play Musick. (after line 23) Hanmer.

[1313] Re-enter Nurse.] Dyce. Enter Nurse. Qq Ff.

[1314] Make ... already:] Omitted by Rowe and Pope.

[1315] Make ... say.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1316] [Exeunt.] Capell. Ex. Capulet and Nurse, severally. Theobald. Exit Capulet. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[1317] Scene V.] Pope. Scene VI. Capell.

Juliet's Chamber.] Juliet's Chamber, Juliet on a bed. Theobald. Scene draws and discovers Juliet on a Bed. Rowe. Anti-room of Juliet's Chamber. Door of the Chamber open, and Juliet upon her Bed. Capell.

[1318] Enter Nurse.] Hanmer. Re-enter Nurse. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1319] she] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1320] pennyworths] penniworth Q₅.

[1321] shall] should Rowe.

little. God ... me,] little: ... me Q₅. little, ... me. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. little, ... me: Ff.

[1322] needs must] Q₂. must needs The rest.

[goes towards the Bed. Capell.

[1323] fright] ferret Long MS.

[1324] [Undraws the curtains.] Capell.

[1325] wake] awake Rowe.

[shaking her. Capell.

[1326] well-a-day] wereaday Q₂. weleaday Q₃. weary day Anon. conj.

[1327] Enter Lady Capulet.] Enter Mother. (Q₁) Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1328] Look, look] Look Pope.

[1329] Enter Capulet.] Rowe. Enter Father. Qq Ff.

[1330] La. Cap. Alack ... dead!] Omitted by Pope.

[1331] all] om. Rowe.

field.] field. Accursed time! unfortunate old man! Pope, from (Q₁).

[1332] Nurse. O ... speak.] Omitted by Pope.

[1333] Enter ...] Enter Frier and the Countie, with the Musitians. Q₄. Enter ... County, with Musicians. Q₅. Enter Frier and the Countie. Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[1334] Fri. L.] Par. (Q₁) Staunton.

[1335] thy] the Rowe (ed. 2).

[1336] wife] bride (Q₁) Steevens (1778).

see] F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁. See note (XII).

[1337] deflowered] Steevens (1793). deflowred Qq F₁. deflowred now F₂. deflowr'd now F₃ F₄. deflowered now Johnson.

[1338] death is my heir ... Death's] Omitted by Pope.

[1339] all; life, living.] Collier. all life living, Q₂ Q₃ Ff. all, life, living, Q₄ Q₅. all; live leaving, Capell.

[1340] long] loue Q₂.

[1341] e'er time] time e'er Rowe (ed. 2).

[1342] one poor and] one dear and S. Walker conj.

loving] living Johnson (1771).

[1343] catch'd] snatch'd Capell conj.

[1344] behold] bedold Q₂.

[1345] Par. Beguiled ... buried] Omitted by Pope.

[1346] Dead art thou!] Dead art thou! dead; Theobald. Dead, dead, art thou! Malone conj.

[1347] See note (XIII).

[1348] confusion's cure] Theobald. confusions care Q₂. confusions, care Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. confusions: care Ff. confusions? care Rowe.

lives] lies Lettsom conj.

[1349] she] that she F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1350] itself] himselfe Q₅.

[1351] But ... young] Omitted in Johnson (1771).

dies married] dies unmarried Theobald conj.

[1352] In all] Capell, from (Q₁). And in Qq Ff. All in Rowe.

[1353] fond] F₂ F₃ F₄. some Qq F₁.

us all] Qq. all us Ff.

[1354] ordained] ordain'd for Anon. conj.

[1355] burial] funerall Q₅.

[1356]. And all ... will.] Omitted by Pope.

[1357] [Exeunt....] Theobald. Exeunt manet. Q₂ Q₃. Exeunt manent Musici. Q₄. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt. Manent Musici. Q₅. They all but the Nurse goe foorth, casting Rosemary on her and shutting the Curtens. Enter Musitions. (Q₁).

[1358] Scene VI. Pope.

First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Musi. Qq. Mu. Ff.

[1359] pitiful] piteous Steevens conj.

[Exit.] Exit Nurse. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1360] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Fid. Qq. Mu. Ff.

by my] my my Q₂.

[Exit omnes. Q₂. Exeunt omnes. Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

Enter Peter.] Q₄ Ff Q₅. Enter Will Kemp. Q₂. Enter Will Kempe. Q₃. Enter Servingman. (Q₁). Enter another Servant. Capell.

[1361] Pet.] Q₄ Ff. Peter. Q₂ Q₃. Pe. Q₅. Ser. Capell.

[1362] Musicians ... ease.] Prose by Pope. Two lines in Qq. Three in Ff.

[1363] Heart's ... Heart's] harts ... harts Q₂ Q₃. hatts ... harts Q₄.

[1364] an you] Pope. and you Qq Ff.

play] why, play Johnson.

Heart's] harts Q₂.

[1365] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Fidler. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Mu. Ff. Fid. Q₅.

[1366] of woe] Q₄ Q₅. Omitted in Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[1367] O ... comfort me.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1368] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Minstrels. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Mu. Ff. Min. Q₅.

[1369] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Minst. Q₂. Min. Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Mu. Ff, and similarly in 110, 113, 117.

[1370] No ... minstrel.] Prose first by Theobald. Two lines in Qq Ff.

[1371] but ... crotchets:] Omitted by Pope.

[1372] minstrel] ministrell F₂ F₃. ministrel F₄.

[1373] lay] say Q₄.

[1374] I will ... note me?] Prose in Q₄ Ff. Two lines, the first ending fa, in Q₂ Q₃. Two lines, the first ending fa you, in Q₅.

[1375] An] Pope. And Ff.

[1376] Pray ... your wit.] Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[1377] Then ... wit!] Given to Peter in Q₄ Q₅. Continued to Sec. Mus. in Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[1378] I will ... dagger.] Omitted by Pope.

[1379] an iron wit] my iron wit Collier MS.

[1380] When ... sound—] Verse in (Q₁). Prose in Qq Ff.

[1381] grief] Hanmer. griefe (Q₁). griefes Qq F₁ F₂. griefs F₃ F₄.

[1382] And ... oppress,] (Q₁) Capell. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[1383] First Mus.] 1. (Q₁). 1. Mus. Johnson. Minst. Q₂. Min. Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Mu. Ff.

[1384] Pretty!] Pope. Pretie, (Q₁). Prates, Q₂. Pratest, Q₃ Ff. Pratee, Q₄ Q₅. Pratest? Rowe. Thou pratest: Collier (Collier MS.).

Rebeck] Rowe. Rebick Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₃ F₄. Rebicke F₁ F₂ Q₅.

[1385] Pretty too!] Pope, from (Q₁). Prates to, Q₂. Pratest to, Q₃ F₁ F₂. Pratee to, Q₄. Pratee too: Q₅. Pratest too, F₃ F₄. Thou pratest too: Collier (Collier MS.).

James Soundpost] Samuel Sound-board Pope.

[1386] O ... sounding:] Prose in Pope. Three lines in Qq Ff.

[1387] musicians] such fellows as you (Q₁) Pope.

no gold] seldom gold (Q₁) Capell.

[1388] Then ... redress.] Omitted by (Q₁) Pope. Two lines by Johnson. One in Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Prose in Ff Q₅. The music ... sound Doth lend redress. Theobald.

[1389] [Exit.] Exit, singing. Theobald.

[1390] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Min. Qq. Mu. Ff.

[1391] him, Jack!] Hanmer. him Iacke, or him Jack, Qq Ff. him.—Jack, Johnson.

[1392] [Exeunt.] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. Exit. The rest.

ACT V.

Scene I. Mantua. A street.[1393]

Enter Romeo.

Rom. If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,[1394]
My dreams presage some joyful news at hand:
My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne,[1395]
And all this day an unaccustom'd spirit [1396]
Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts. 5
I dreamt my lady came and found me dead—
Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!—[1397]
And breathed such life with kisses in my lips
That I revived and was an emperor.
Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd, 10
When but love's shadows are so rich in joy![1398]

Enter Balthasar, booted.

News from Verona! How now, Balthasar!
Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar?
How doth my lady? Is my father well?
How fares my Juliet? that I ask again;[1399] 15
For nothing can be ill, if she be well.
[Pg 118]

Bal. Then she is well, and nothing can be ill:[1400]
Her body sleeps in Capels' monument,[1401]
And her immortal part with angels lives.[1402]
I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault, 20
And presently took post to tell it you:
O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,
Since you did leave it for my office, sir.[1403]

Rom. Is it e'en so? then I defy you, stars![1404]
Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper,[1405] 25
And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night.

Bal. I do beseech you, sir, have patience:[1400][1406]
Your looks are pale and wild, and do import
Some misadventure.

Rom. Tush, thou art deceived:
Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do. 30
Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?

Bal. No, my good lord.[1400][1407]

Rom. No matter: get thee gone,[1408]
And hire those horses; I'll be with thee straight.

[Exit Balthasar.

Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee to-night.
Let's see for means:—O mischief, thou art swift 35
To enter in the thoughts of desperate men![1409]
I do remember an apothecary,
And hereabouts a' dwells, which late I noted [1410]
In tatter'd weeds, with overwhelming brows,
Culling of simples; meagre were his looks; 40
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones:
And in his needy shop a tortoise hung,[1411]
[Pg 119] An alligator stuff'd and other skins
Of ill-shaped fishes; and about his shelves
A beggarly account of empty boxes,[1412] 45
Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds,
Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses,
Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show.[1413]
Noting this penury, to myself I said,
An if a man did need a poison now,[1414] 50
Whose sale is present death in Mantua,[1415]
Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.
O, this same thought did but forerun my need,
And this same needy man must sell it me.
As I remember, this should be the house: 55
Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut.
What, ho! apothecary![1416]

Enter Apothecary.

Ap. Who calls so loud?

Rom. Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor;
Hold, there is forty ducats: let me have
A dram of poison; such soon-speeding gear [1417] 60
As will disperse itself through all the veins,
That the life-weary taker may fall dead,
And that the trunk may be discharged of breath
As violently as hasty powder fired
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb. 65

Ap. Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law
Is death to any he that utters them.

Rom. Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness,
And fear'st to die? famine is in thy cheeks,[1418]
Need and oppression starveth in thy eyes,[1419] 70
[Pg 120] Contempt and beggary hangs upon thy back,[1420]
The world is not thy friend, nor the world's law:
The world affords no law to make thee rich;
Then be not poor, but break it, and take this.

Ap. My poverty, but not my will, consents. 75

Rom. I pay thy poverty and not thy will.[1421]

Ap. Put this in any liquid thing you will,
And drink it off; and, if you had the strength
Of twenty men, it would dispatch you straight.

Rom. There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls,[1422] 80
Doing more murder in this loathsome world,[1423]
Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell:[1424]
I sell thee poison, thou hast sold me none.
Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.[1425]
Come, cordial and not poison, go with me 85
To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee. [Exeunt.

Scene II. Friar Laurence's cell.[1426]

Enter Friar John.[1427]

Fri. J. Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho![1428]

Enter Friar Laurence.

Fri. L. This same should be the voice of Friar John.
Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo?
[Pg 121] Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.[1429]

Fri. J. Going to find a bare-foot brother out, 5
One of our order, to associate me,
Here in this city visiting the sick,[1430]
And finding him, the searchers of the town,[1430]
Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reign, 10
Seal'd up the doors and would not let us forth;
So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.[1431]

Fri. L. Who bare my letter then to Romeo?[1432]

Fri. J. I could not send it,—here it is again,—[1433]
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, 15
So fearful were they of infection.

Fri. L. Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice, but full of charge [1434]
Of dear import, and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence; 20
Get me an iron crow and bring it straight
Unto my cell.

Fri. J. Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.[1435] [Exit.

Fri. L. Now must I to the monument alone;
Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake:[1436] 25
She will beshrew me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come:
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man's tomb! [Exit.30

[Pg 122]

Scene III. A churchyard; in it a monument belonging to the Capulets.[1437]

Enter Paris and his Page, bearing flowers and a torch.[1438]

Par. Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof:[1439]
Yet put it out, for I would not be seen.
Under yond yew-trees lay thee all along,[1440]
Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground;[1441]
So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread, 5
Being loose, unfirm, with digging up of graves,
But thou shalt hear it: whistle then to me,
As signal that thou hear'st something approach.[1442]
Give me those flowers. Do as I bid thee, go.

Page. [Aside] I am almost afraid to stand alone [1443] 10
Here in the churchyard; yet I will adventure.[1444] [Retires.

Par. Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew,—[1445][1446]
O woe! thy canopy is dust and stones;—[1446][1447]
Which with sweet water nightly I will dew,[1447][1448]
Or, wanting that, with tears distill'd by moans:[1447] 15
The obsequies that I for thee will keep[1447]
Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.[1447][1449]

[The Page whistles.

[Pg 123]

The boy gives warning something doth approach.
What cursed foot wanders this way to-night,[1450]
To cross my obsequies and true love's rite?[1451] 20
What, with a torch! Muffle me, night, awhile.[1452] [Retires.

Enter Romeo and Balthasar, with a torch, mattock, &c.[1453]

Rom. Give me that mattock and the wrenching iron.[1454]
Hold, take this letter; early in the morning
See thou deliver it to my lord and father.
Give me the light: upon thy life, I charge thee, 25
Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof,[1455]
And do not interrupt me in my course.
Why I descend into this bed of death
Is partly to behold my lady's face,
But chiefly to take thence from her dead finger 30
A precious ring, a ring that I must use
In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone:
But if thou, jealous, dost return to pry
In what I farther shall intend to do,[1456]
By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint 35
And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs:
The time and my intents are savage-wild,[1457]
More fierce and more inexorable far
Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.

Bal. I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.[1458][1459] 40

Rom. So shalt thou show me friendship. Take thou [1460]
that:
Live, and be prosperous: and farewell, good fellow.[1458]
[Pg 124]

Bal. [Aside] For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout:[1461]
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.[1462] [Retires.

Rom. Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,[1463] 45
Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth,
Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open,
And in despite I'll cram thee with more food.[1464]

[Opens the tomb.

Par. This is that banish'd haughty Montague
That murder'd my love's cousin, with which grief,[1465] 50
It is supposed, the fair creature died,
And here is come to do some villanous shame
To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.[1466]

[Comes forward.

Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague![1467]
Can vengeance be pursued further than death? 55
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee:[1468]
Obey, and go with me; for thou must die.

Rom. I must indeed, and therefore came I hither.
Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man;[1469]
Fly hence and leave me: think upon these gone;[1470] 60
Let them affright thee. I beseech thee, youth,
Put not another sin upon my head,[1471]
By urging me to fury: O, be gone!
By heaven, I love thee better than myself,
For I come hither arm'd against myself: 65
Stay not, be gone: live, and hereafter say,[1472]
A madman's mercy bid thee run away.[1472][1473]

Par. I do defy thy conjurations [1474]
And apprehend thee for a felon here.
[Pg 125]

Rom. Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy![1475] 70

[They fight.

Page. O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch.[1476]

[Exit.

Par. O, I am slain! [Falls.] If thou be merciful,[1477]
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.[1478] [Dies.

Rom. In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face:[1479]
Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris![1480] 75
What said my man, when my betossed soul
Did not attend him as we rode? I think
He told me Paris should have married Juliet:
Said he not so? or did I dream it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, 80
To think it was so? O, give me thy hand,
One writ with me in sour misfortune's book!
I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave;
A grave? O, no, a lantern, slaughter'd youth;[1481]
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes [1482] 85
This vault a feasting presence full of light.[1482]
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd.[1482][1483]

[Laying Paris in the monument.

How oft when men are at the point of death[1482]
Have they been merry! which their keepers call[1482]
A lightning before death: O, how may I[1482][1484] 90
Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife![1482]
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,[1485]
[Pg 126] Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet [1486]
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, 95
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O, what more favour can I do to thee
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
To sunder his that was thine enemy?[1487] 100
Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe [1488]
That unsubstantial death is amorous,[1488]
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour? 105
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night [1489]
Depart again: here, here will I remain [1490]
With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest, 110
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last![1491]
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death! 115
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide![1492]
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark.[1493]
Here's to my love! [Drinks.] O true apothecary![1494]
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.[1495] [Dies.120

[Pg 127]

Enter, at the other end of the churchyard, Friar Laurence, with a lantern, crow, and spade.[1496]

Fri. L. Saint Francis be my speed! how oft to-night [1497]
Have my old feet stumbled at graves! Who's there?[1498]

Bal. Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well.[1499]

Fri. L. Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend,
What torch is yond that vainly lends his light 125
To grubs and eyeless skulls? as I discern,[1500]
It burneth in the Capels' monument.[1501]

Bal. It doth so, holy sir; and there's my master,[1502]
One that you love.[1502][1503]

Fri. L. Who is it?

Bal. Romeo.[1502]

Fri. L. How long hath he been there?[1502]

Bal. Full half an hour.[1502]130

Fri. L. Go with me to the vault.[1502]

Bal. I dare not, sir:
My master knows not but I am gone hence;
And fearfully did menace me with death,
If I did stay to look on his intents.[1504]

Fri. L. Stay, then; I'll go alone: fear comes upon me;[1505]135
O, much I fear some ill unlucky thing.[1506]

Bal. As I did sleep under this yew-tree here,[1502][1507][1508]
I dreamt my master and another fought,[1507]
And That my master slew him.[1507]
[Pg 128]

Fri. L. Romeo![1509] [Advances.
Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains 140
The stony entrance of this sepulchre?
What mean these masterless and gory swords
To lie discolour'd by this place of peace?[1510] [Enters the tomb.
Romeo! O, pale! Who else? what, Paris too?
And steep'd in blood? Ah, what an unkind hour [1511] 145
Is guilty of this lamentable chance!
The lady stirs.[1512] [Juliet wakes.

Jul. O comfortable friar! where is my lord?[1513]
I do remember well where I should be,
And there I am: where is my Romeo?[1514] [Noise within.150

Fri. L. I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest [1515]
Of death, contagion and unnatural sleep:
A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents: come, come away:[1516]
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; 155
And Paris too: come, I'll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns:
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming;
Come, go, good Juliet; I dare no longer stay.[1517]

Jul. Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.[1518] 160

[Exit Fri. L.

What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand?[1519]
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:
O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop [1520]
[Pg 129] To help me after? I will kiss thy lips;
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, 165
To make me die with a restorative. [Kisses him.[1521]
Thy lips are warm.

First Watch. [Within] Lead, boy: which way?[1522]

Jul. Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger![1523]

[Snatching Romeo's dagger.

This is thy sheath [Stabs herself]; there rust, and let me die.

[Falls on Romeo's body, and dies.[1524]

Enter Watch, with the Page of Paris.[1525]

Page. This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn.[1526]170

First Watch. The ground is bloody; search about the churchyard:[1527]
Go, some of you, whoe'er you find attach.[1528]
Pitiful sight! here lies the county slain;
And Juliet bleeding, warm, and newly dead,
Who here hath lain this two days buried.[1529] 175
[Pg 130] Go, tell the prince: run to the Capulets:
Raise up the Montagues: some others search:[1530][1531]
We see the ground whereon these woes do lie;[1530][1532]
But the true ground of all these piteous woes[1530][1532]
We cannot without circumstance descry.[1532][1533] 180

Re-enter some of the Watch, with Balthasar.

Sec. Watch. Here's Romeo's man; we found him in the churchyard.[1534]

First Watch. Hold him in safety, till the prince come hither.[1535][1536]

Re-enter Friar Laurence, and another Watchman.

Third Watch. Here is a friar, that trembles, sighs and weeps:
We took this mattock and this spade from him,
As he was coming from this churchyard's side.[1537] 185

First Watch. A great suspicion: stay the friar too.[1535][1538]

Enter the Prince and Attendants.

Prince. What misadventure is so early up,[1539]
That calls our person from our morning rest?[1540]

[Pg 131]

Enter Capulet, Lady Capulet, and others.[1541]

Cap. What should it be that they so shriek abroad?[1542]

La. Cap. The people in the street cry Romeo,[1543][1544] 190
Some Juliet, and some Paris, and all run
With open outcry toward our monument.[1545]

Prince. What fear is this which startles in our ears?[1546]

First Watch. Sovereign, here lies the County Paris slain;[1547]
And Romeo dead; and Juliet, dead before, 195
Warm and new kill'd.

Prince. Search, seek, and know how this foul murder comes.[1548]

First Watch. Here is a friar, and slaughter'd Romeo's man,[1547][1549]
With instruments upon them fit to open
These dead men's tombs.[1550] 200

Cap. O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds![1551]
This dagger hath mista'en, for, lo, his house [1552]
Is empty on the back of Montague,[1552]
And it mis-sheathed in my daughter's bosom![1552][1553]

La. Cap. O me! this sight of death is as a bell 205
That warns my old age to a sepulchre.

Enter Montague and others.[1554]

Prince. Come, Montague; for thou art early up,
To see thy son and heir more early down.[1555]
[Pg 132]

Mon. Alas, my liege, my wife is dead to-night;
Grief of my son's exile hath stopp'd her breath:[1556] 210
What further woe conspires against mine age?[1557]

Prince. Look, and thou shalt see.[1558]

Mon. O thou untaught! what manners is in this,[1559]
To press before thy father to a grave?

Prince. Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while,[1560] 215
Till we can clear these ambiguities
And know their spring, their head, their true descent;
And then will I be general of your woes
And lead you even to death: meantime forbear,
And let mischance be slave to patience. 220
Bring forth the parties of suspicion.

Fri. L. I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me, of this direful murder;[1561]
And here I stand, both to impeach and purge [1562] 225
Myself condemned and myself excused.

Prince. Then say at once what thou dost know in this.

Fri. L. I will be brief, for my short date of breath
Is not so long as is a tedious tale.
Romeo, there dead, was husband to that Juliet; 230
And she, there dead, that Romeo's faithful wife:[1563]
I married them; and their stol'n marriage-day
Was Tybalt's dooms-day, whose untimely death [1564]
Banish'd the new-made bridegroom from this city;
For whom, and not for Tybalt, Juliet pined. 235
You, to remove that siege of grief from her,
Betroth'd and would have married her perforce
To County Paris: then comes she to me,
[Pg 133] And with wild looks bid me devise some mean [1565]
To rid her from this second marriage, 240
Or in my cell there would she kill herself.
Then gave I her, so tutor'd by my art,
A sleeping potion; which so took effect
As I intended, for it wrought on her
The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo,[1566] 245
That he should hither come as this dire night,[1567]
To help to take her from her borrow'd grave,[1568]
Being the time the potion's force should cease.
But he which bore my letter, Friar John,
Was stay'd by accident, and yesternight 250
Return'd my letter back. Then all alone [1569]
At the prefixed hour of her waking [1570]
Came I to take her from her kindred's vault,
Meaning to keep her closely at my cell
Till I conveniently could send to Romeo: 255
But when I came, some minute ere the time [1571]
Of her awaking, here untimely lay [1572]
The noble Paris and true Romeo dead.
She wakes, and I entreated her come forth,[1573]
And bear this work of heaven with patience: 260
But then a noise did scare me from the tomb,[1574]
And she too desperate would not go with me,
But, as it seems, did violence on herself.
All this I know; and to the marriage [1575]
Her nurse is privy: and, if aught in this[1575][1576] 265
Miscarried by my fault, let my old life[1575]
Be sacrificed some hour before his time[1575][1577]
[Pg 134] Unto the rigour of severest law.

Prince. We still have known thee for a holy man.[1578]
Where's Romeo's man? what can he say in this?[1579] 270

Bal. I brought my master news of Juliet's death,[1580]
And then in post he came from Mantua
To this same place, to this same monument.[1581]
This letter he early bid me give his father,
And threaten'd me with death, going in the vault,[1582] 275
If I departed not and left him there.[1583]

Prince. Give me the letter; I will look on it.
Where is the county's page, that raised the watch?
Sirrah, what made your master in this place?

Page. He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave;[1584] 280
And bid me stand aloof, and so I did:
Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb;
And by and by my master drew on him;
And then I ran away to call the watch.

Prince. This letter doth make good the friar's words, 285
Their course of love, the tidings of her death:
And here he writes that he did buy a poison
Of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal
Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet.
Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! 290
See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!
And I, for winking at your discords too,
Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd.[1585]

Cap. O brother Montague, give me thy hand: 295
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand.

Mon. But I can give thee more:[1586]
For I will raise her statue in pure gold;
That whiles Verona by that name is known,[1587]
[Pg 135] There shall no figure at such rate be set [1588] 300
As that of true and faithful Juliet.[1589]

Cap. As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie;[1590]
Poor sacrifices of our enmity!

Prince. A glooming peace this morning with it brings;[1591]
The sun for sorrow will not show his head: 305
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon'd and some punished:[1592]
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. [Exeunt.[1593]

FOOTNOTES:

[1393] Act v. Scene i.] Rowe.

Mantua.] Rowe.

A street.] Capell.

[1394] flattering truth of] Qq Ff. flattering eye of (Q₁) Malone. flattery of Pope (Otway's version). flattering ruth of Warburton. flattering eye off Jackson conj. flattering death of Collier (Collier MS.). flattering soother, Singer conj. flattering sooth of Grant White. flattering signs of Bailey conj.

[1395] lord] L. Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

in] on Q₅.

[1396] this day an] Qq. thisan day an F₁. this winged F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1397] dream, that gives] dreames that gives Q₄. dreams that give Q₅.

[1398] Enter....] Enter Balthasar his man booted. (Q₁). Enter Romeos man. Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Enter Romeos man Balthazer. Q₄ Q₅.

[1399] fares my Juliet] (Q₁) Steevens. doth my Lady Juliet Qq Ff. doth my Juliet Pope.

[1400] Bal.] Theobald. Man. Qq Ff.

[1401] Capels'] Malone. Capels Qq Ff. Capulet's F₄. Capulets' Warburton.

[1402] lives] live F₁.

[1403] Since ... sir.] Omitted by Pope.

[1404] Is ... stars!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

e'en] in Q₂. even The rest.

defy you,] Pope. defie my (Q₁).

denie you Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. deny you F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1405] know'st] Q₅. knowest The rest.

[1406] I ... patience:] Pardon me sir, I dare not leave you thus. Pope, from (Q₁). Pardon me, sir, I will not leave you thus. Steevens (1793).

[1407] my good] good my Rowe.

No matter] Mo matter F₁.

[1408] [Exit....] Exit Man. Rowe. Exit man, after lord, line 32, Qq Ff.

[1409] thoughts] thought Rowe.

[1410] a'] a Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. om. F₁. he F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

which] whom Pope, from (Q₁).

[1411] tortoise] tortoyrs F₁.

[1412] beggarly] braggartly Warburton conj.

[1413] scatter'd] Theobald (ed. 2). scattered Qq Ff.

[1414] An if] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂. And if (Q₁) Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1415] present] persent F₁.

[1416] Enter Apothecary.] (Q₁) Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1417] soon-speeding] F₄. soon speeding F₃. soone spreading Q₅. soone speeding The rest.

[1418] fear'st] Ff Q₅. fearest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1419] starveth in] stareth in Rowe, ed. 2 (Otway's version). stare within Pope. stayeth in Jackson conj. starteth in Anon. conj.

thy] thine Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1420] Contempt ... back,] Upon thy back hangs ragged misery (Q₁) Malone.

hangs upon] hang on F₂ F₃ F₄. hang upon Q₅.

[1421] pay] (Q₁) Q₄ Q₅. pray Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[1422] There is] Qq. There's Ff.

There ... souls,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1423] murder] murthers Q₄. murders Q₅.

[1424] mayst] maiest Q₂ Q₃ F₁. mai'st Q₄. mayest F₂. maist Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1425] thyself in] thee into (Q₁) Pope.

[1426] Scene ii.] Rowe.

Friar Laurence's cell.] Capell. The Monastery near Verona. Rowe.

[1427] Enter Friar John.] Theobald. Enter Friar John to Friar Laurence. Qq Ff.

[1428] Enter Friar Laurence.] Omitted by Rowe.

[1429] if his mind] if mind F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1430] Here ... sick, And ... town,] And ... town, Here ... sick, Malone conj. (withdrawn).

[1431] my] may Q₄.

[1432] bare] bore Pope.

[1433] could] cold Q₄.

[1434] nice] ice Jackson conj.

[1435] it thee.] it. Hanmer.

[1436] this] these Q₅.

[1437] Scene III.] Rowe.

A churchyard; ...] A Churchyard, in it, a noble Monument ... Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1438] Enter ...] Enter Countie Paris and his Page with flowers and sweete water. (Q₁). Enter Paris and his Page. Qq Ff. Enter Paris and his Page, with a Light. Rowe.

[1439] aloof] F₄. aloofe Qq. aloft F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1440] yond yew-trees] Pope. this Ewtree (Q₁). yond young trees Qq Ff (yong Q₄).

[1441] Holding thine] Capell. Keeping thine (Q₁). Holding thy Qq F₁ F₂. Laying thy F₃ F₄.

[1442] hear'st] Rowe (ed. 2). hearest Qq Ff.

[1443] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

stand alone] stand along F₂. stay alone Collier (Collier MS.).

[1444] [Retires.] Capell. Exit. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.

[1445] [going up to the Tomb. Capell.

[1446] strew,— ... stones;—] strew,—(O woe, ... stones!) Staunton. strew: O woe, ... stones! Capell. strew: ... stones, Qq Ff.

[1447] O woe ... weep.] See note (XIV).

[1448] dew] new Q₅.

[1449] [The Page whistles.] The Boy whistles. Rowe. Whistle Boy. Qq Ff.

[1450] way] wayes F₁.

[1451] rite] Pope (ed. 2). right Qq Ff. rites (Q₁) Pope (ed. 1).

[1452] Muffle me, night,] Rowe. muffle me night Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. night muffle me Q₅.

[Retires.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1453] Enter ... mattock, &c.] Malone, following Capell. Enter Romeo, and Peter. Q₂ Q₃ Ff. Enter Romeo and Balthaser his man. Q₄ Q₅.

[1454] Scene IV. Pope.

that] Q₂ Ff. the Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1455] hear'st] Ff Q₅. hearest Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1456] farther] Qq. further Ff.

[1457] savage-wild] The hyphen inserted by Steevens.

[1458] Balt. or Bal.] Q₄ Q₅. Pet. The rest.

[1459] you] ye Q₂.

[1460] show me friendship] win my favour (Q₁) Pope.

[1461] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[1462] [Retires.] Balthasar retires. Hanmer. Exit. F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.

[1463] detestable maw] maw detestable Hanmer.

[fixing his Mattock in the Tomb. Capell.

[1464] despite] requite Keightley conj.

[Opens the tomb.] Breaking open the Monument. Rowe, after line 47.

[1465] murder'd] murdred Qq Ff. murthered Rowe.

[1466] [Comes forward.] Draws, and rushes forward. Capell, after line 54. om. Qq Ff.

[1467]. unhallow'd] Pope. unhallowed Qq Ff. unhollowed Rowe (ed. 2).

[1468] villain] vallaine F₁.

[1469] Good gentle] Go, gentle Anon. conj.

[1470] these] Qq. those Ff.

[1471] Put] Pull Rowe. Pluck Capell conj. Heap (Q₁) Malone.

[1472] Stay ... away.] Omitted by Pope.

[1473] bid] bad Q₅.

[1474] thy conjurations] (Q₁) Malone. thy commiration Q₂. thy commisseration Q₃ F₁. thy commiseration Q₄ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. thy conjuration Capell. commiseration Collier MS. thy commination Mommsen conj.

[1475] [They fight.] (Q₁). They Fight, Paris falls. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1476] Page.] Q₄ Q₅. Boy. (Q₁). om. Q₂ Q₃. Pet. Ff. Page [without. Hanmer.

O Lord, ... watch.] Printed in italics in Q₂ Q₃.

the] thee Rowe (ed. 1).

[Exit.] Exit Page. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1477] [Falls.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1478] [Dies.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1479] In ... face:] Let me peruse this face:—In faith I will;— Seymour conj.

[1480] Mercutio's] Mercutius Q₃ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1481] A grave ... youth;] Omitted by Pope.

[1482] and her ... lightning?] Omitted by Pope.

[1483] Death] Dead Dyce, ed. 2 (Lettsom conj.).

lie] be F₃ F₄.

[Laying ...] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1484] how] now Johnson conj.

[1485] suck'd] suck F₂.

[1486] art] are F₁ F₂.

[1487] thine] Qq. thy Ff.

[1488] shall ... amorous] Theobald. I will beleeve, Shall I beleeve that unsubstantiall death is amorous Qq Ff. I will believe That ... amorous Pope.

[1489] palace] pallat Q₂.

night] night. Q₂.

[1490] Depart again] See note (XV).

[throwing himself by her. Capell.

[1491] world-wearied] Q₃ Q₄ F₁ Q₅. world wearied Q₂. worlds wearied F₂ F₃ F₄. world's wearied Rowe.

[1492] [pours it into a Cup. Capell.

[1493] thy] my Pope.

[1494] [Drinks.] Drinks the poison. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1495] [Dies.] Theobald. Kisses her, and expires. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1496] Enter ...] Malone, after Capell. Enter Frier with Lanthorne, Crowe, and Spade. Qq Ff.

[1497] Saint] Q₄ Q₅. S. Q₂. St. Q₃ Ff.

Francis] Frances Q₂.

[1498] After this line Steevens, from (Q₁), inserts Who is it that consorts, so late, the dead?

[1499] Bal.] Balt. Q₄ Q₅. Man. Q₂ Q₃ Ff.

[1500] I] om. F₂ F₃.

[1501] Capels'] Capulet's F₄. Capulets' Theobald.

[1502] It doth ... love.] As in Johnson. One line in Qq. Two, the first ending sir, in Ff.

[1503] that you] you dearly Pope.

[1504] intents] Q₅ F₃ F₄. entents Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂.

[1505] Stay, then;] Stay then, Q₅. Stay then Q₂. Stay, then Q₃ Q₄ Ff.

fear comes] Qq. feares comes F₁. feares come F₂ F₃ F₄ (fears F₃ F₄).

[1506] unlucky] unthriftie Q₂.

[1507] As ... him.] om. Seymour conj.

[1508] yew-tree] Pope. yong tree Q₂. young tree Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1509] Romeo!] Rowe. Romeo. Qq Ff. Romeo?— Capell.

[Advances.] Malone. leaves him, and goes forward. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1510] [Enters ...] enters the Monument. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1511] unkind] vn knd F₁. unkn'd F₂.

[1512] [Juliet wakes.] Juliet awaking. Pope. Juliet rises. (Q₁). Juliet awakes, and looks about her. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1513] where is] Qq. where's Ff.

[1514] [Noise within.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1515] noise. Lady,] noise! Lady, Pope. noyse Lady, Qq Ff. noise, Lady, Rowe.

[1516] intents] entents Q₃ F₁ F₂.

[1517] Come ... stay] Omitted by Pope.

[Noise again. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

no longer stay] stay no longer Capell.

[1518] not away] notuaway F₁.

[Exit Fri. L.] Dyce. Exit. Qq Ff (after line 159). Exit, hastily, Capell (after line 159).

[1519] love's] loves F₁.

[1520] drunk ... left] drunke ... left Q₂. drinke ... left Q₃ Q₄ Ff (lest F₁). drinke ... leave (Q₁) Q₅.

[1521] To ... restorative.] Omitted by Pope.

[Kisses him.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1522] First Watch. [Within] Capell. Watch. Qq Ff.

way?] way. Q₂.

[1523] Yea, noise?] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[Snatching ...] Steevens. taking Romeo's. Capell. Finding a dagger. Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[1524] This is] Q₂ Q₄ Q₅. Tis is Q₃. 'Tis in Ff.

[Stabs herself] Kils herselfe. Ff (at the end of the line). om. Qq. She stabs herselfe and falles. (Q₁).

rust] Qq Ff. rest Singer, from (Q₁).

[Falls ...] Malone. throws herself upon her Lover, and expires. Capell.

[1525] Enter Watch ...] Enter Watch, and the Page. Capell, from (Q₁). Enter Boy and Watch. Qq Ff (after warm, line 167).

[1526] Page.] Capell. Watch boy. Q₂ Q₃. Boy. Q₄ Q₅ Ff.

This ... burn] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[1527] First Watch.] 1. W. Capell. Watch. Qq Ff (and elsewhere).

The ... churchyard] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

about the churchyard] the church-yard, about Hanmer.

[1528] whoe'er] whom e'er Pope.

[Exeunt some of the Watch. Hanmer. Exeunt some of the Watch, the rest enter the Tomb. Capell.

[1529] this] Q₂. these Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1530] search ... these piteous woes] go ... this piteous woe Johnson conj.

[1531] [Exeunt other Watch. Capell.

After this S. Walker conjectures that a line is omitted.

[1532] We see ... descry.] Omitted by Pope.

[1533] Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter ... Rowe. Enter Romeos man. Qq Ff.

[1534] Sec. Watch.] Rowe. Watch. Qq. Wat. Ff.

Here's ... churchyard] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[1535] First Watch.] Rowe. Chief. watch. Qq. Con. Ff.

[1536] come] comes F₂ F₃ F₄.

Re-enter ...] Enter Frier, and another Watchman. Qq Ff.

[1537] churchyard's] churchyards Q₂. church-yard The rest.

[1538] too] too too Q₂. too, too Q₃ Q₄.

Enter ...] Rowe. Enter the Prince. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. Enter Prince. Q₅.

[1539] Scene V. Pope.

[1540] morning] Q₂ Q₃. mornings Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1541] Enter....] Capell (substantially). Enter Capels. Q₂ Q₃. Enter Capulet and his Wife. Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1542] they so shriek] is so shrike Q₂. is so shriek'd Edd. conj.

shriek] F₄. shrike The rest.

[1543] La. Cap.] Rowe. Wife. Qq Ff.

[1544] The people] Pope. O the people Qq Ff.

[1545] toward] to ward Q₃ Q₄.

our] out F₁.

[1546] our] Capell (Johnson and Heath conj.). your Qq Ff.

[1547] First Watch.] 1. W. Capell. Watch. Qq. Wat. Ff.

[1548] Search] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[1549] slaughter'd] Slaughter Q₂.

[1550] Enter Capulet and his wife. Q₂ Q₃.

[1551] O heavens!] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

heavens] Q₂. heaven The rest.

[1552] his house ... And it] the sheath Lies ... The point Pope.

[1553] it] Q₂. is The rest.

mis-sheathed] F₄. misheathed F₁ F₂ Q₅ F₃. missheathd Q₂. missheath'd Q₃ Q₄. mi-sheath'd Jackson conj.

it mis-sheathed] it is missheath'd Mommsen conj.

[1554] Enter ... and others.] Capell. Enter Mountague. Qq Ff.

[1555] more early down] (Q₁) Steevens. now early downe Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. now earling downe Q₂. now early fallen Pope.

[1556] After this line Ritson would insert, from (Q₁), And young Benvolio is deceased too.

[1557] mine] Q₂. my The rest.

[1558] Look] Look in this monument Steevens conj. Look here Keightley. Look there Dyce conj. Look, look Anon. conj.

[showing Romeo. Capell.

[1559] is in] in is F₁ F₂.

[1560] mouth] moneth Q₄.

outrage] outcry Collier (Collier MS.).

[1561] Doth] Doe Q₅.

[1562] here] heare Q₃ Q₄.

[1563] that] Q₄ Q₅. thats Q₂ Q₃. that's Ff.

[1564] Tybalt's] Taybalts F₂.

[1565] mean] meane Q₂. meanes The rest.

[1566] writ] write Rowe (ed. 2).

[1567] as] at Keightley.

[1568] borrow'd] Capell. borrowed Qq Ff.

[1569] Return'd] Returned Q₃ Q₄.

[1570] hour] F₃ F₄. hower Q₂ Q₃. houre The rest.

waking] awaking Rowe (ed. 2).

[1571] minute] minutes Hanmer.

[1572] awaking] awakening Q₂. a waking F₂.

[1573] entreated her] intreat her to F₄.

[1574] scare] Qq F₃ F₄. scarre F₁ F₂.

[1575] All this ... time] Arranged as by Pope. Three lines, ending privie: ... fault, ... time, in Qq Ff.

[1576] Her nurse] the nurse Q₅.

and] om. Rowe. but Pope.

[1577] his] Q₂. the The rest. its Pope.

[1578] a] an F₄.

[1579] in this] (Q₁) Capell. to this Qq Ff.

[1580] Bal.] Q₅. Balth. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Boy. Ff. Peter. Rowe.

[1581] place, to ... monument.] place. To ... monument Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1582] in] to Pope.

[1583] left] leaft Q₃.

[1584] Page.] Ff. Boy. Qq.

[1585] brace] brase Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1586] raise] raie Q₂ Q₃.

[1587] whiles] Qq Ff. while Rowe.

[1588] such] Q₂. that The rest.

[1589] true] fair Collier MS.

[1590] Romeo's ... lady's] Romeos ... Ladies Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Romeo ... Lady (Q₁) Ff. Romeo's ... Ladies Q₅. Romeo's ... lady Theobald.

[1591] glooming] gloomie (Q₁). gloomy F₄. gloaming Taylor conj. MS.

[1592] pardon'd] Ff. pardoned Qq.

[1593] [Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff. om. Qq.

[Pg 136]

NOTES.

Note I.

I. 1. There is no division into Acts and Scenes in the Quartos, nor any trace of division in the Folios, except the 'Actus Primus, Scæna Prima' at the beginning of the play.

We wish to remind our readers that the symbol Qq signifies the agreement of the second, third, fourth, and fifth Quartos.

Note II.

I. 2. 116. The first Quarto here has 'thrall,' the others 'debt,' which though it makes a rhyme does not improve the sense. The next two lines are not in the first Quarto. As, unlike the immediate context, they also rhyme, while they are not particularly forcible, we incline to think that some other hand than Shakespeare's inserted them.

Note III.

II. 1. 13. Pope was the first commentator who called attention to the ballad which is alluded to in this passage, and it is remarkable that with all his partiality for the first Quarto he did not adopt the reading 'trim,' found both there and in the ballad. Percy, in a note to the ballad printed in his Reliques, conjectured that Shakespeare had written 'trim,' not 'true,' apparently without knowing that the word was found in the first Quarto. Capell, in his note, says that he had retained 'true' in his text, owing to his not having observed the authority for the other reading.

[Pg 137]

Note IV.

II. 2. As there is no indication given in the Quartos and Folios of Romeo's entrance here, it is not impossible that in the old arrangement of the scene the wall was represented as dividing the stage, so that the audience could see Romeo on one side and Mercutio on the other. If this were the case it would tend to justify Capell's arrangement of Hen. VIII. v. 2, though in the present instance he makes no allusion to it. It is clear from the first line of Romeo's speech that he overhears what Mercutio says, and though we have not altered the usual arrangement, we cannot but feel that there is an awkwardness in thus separating the two lines of a rhyming couplet.

Note V.

II. 2. 152. Malone erroneously attributes the reading 'suit' to the Quarto of 1597. The words, 'To cease thy suit,' are found in Brooke's Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Iuliet, p. 21 of the reprint in Mr Collier's Shakespeare's Library.

Note VI.

II. 2. 184-II. 3. 5. This passage was printed substantially right in the Quarto of 1597. The Quarto of 1599 inserted after the first line of Romeo's speech the first four of the Friar's, repeating them in their proper place. In Juliet's speech, the same edition by printing one line as two, and mistaking the stage directions gave rise to a further corruption in the Quarto of 1609.

In Q₂ (1599) the passage stands:

'Good night, good night.
Parting is such sweete sorrow,
That I shall say good night, till it be morrow.

Iu. Sleep dwel vpon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.

Ro. Would I were sleepe and peace so sweet to rest
The grey eyde morne smiles on the frowning night,
Checkring the Easterne Clouds with streaks of light,
And darknesse fleckted like a drunkard reeles,
From forth daies pathway, made by Tytans wheeles.
Hence will I to my ghostly Friers close cell,
His helpe to craue, and my deare hap to tell.

Exit.

[Pg 138]

Enter Frier alone with a basket.

Fri. The grey-eyed morne smiles on the frowning night,
Checking the Easterne clowdes with streaks of light:
And fleckeld darknesse like a drunkard reeles,
From forth daies path, and Titans burning wheeles:
Now ere &c.'

In Q₃(1609) we read:

'Good night, good night.

Ro. Parting is such sweete sorrow,
That I shall say goodnight, till it be morrow.

Iu. Sleepe dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.

Rom. Would I were sleepe and peace so sweete to rest
The gray-eyde morne, &c.'

For the rest Q₃ follows Q₂ without any material variation, except that it reads 'fleckeld' for 'fleckted,' in the eighth line.

The fourth Quarto, undated, has ejected the intruding lines and distributed the dialogue right. One error alone remains, viz. that 'Good night, good night ... sorrow' is divided still into two lines. The fifth Quarto follows the fourth.

The first Folio follows the third Quarto as usual without any variation of importance.

The second Folio, followed by the third and fourth, inserts, 'Exit' after the word 'breast,' adopts the reading of the first down to the end of Romeo's speech, and makes the Friar's begin at line 5, thus:

'Fri. Now ere the Sun advance his burning eye, &c.'

Pope restored the true arrangement. In the fourth line of the Friar's speech he introduced 'pathway made by Titan's wheels' from the passage as first given in Q₂ Q₃ F₁.

Note VII.

II. 5. 15, 16. The second Quarto reads here:

'M. And his to me, but old folks, many fain as they wer dead,
Vnwieldie, slowe, heauie, and pale as lead.'

And this is followed with slight variations of spelling by the third.

The fourth and fifth omit the M., as do the Folios, which give the passage thus:

'And his to me, but old folkes,
Many faine as they were dead,
Vnwieldie, slow, heauy, and pale as lead.'

[Pg 139]

Pope omits the lines 'But old folks ... lead,' thinking probably that they are due to interpolation, a supposition which the unmeaning 'M.' in the earlier Quartos seems to confirm.

Mr Collier's MS. corrector has (Shakespeare, Ed. 2, Note ad loc.):

'As his to me: but old folks seem as dead,
Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and dull as lead.'

This is not mentioned in his Notes and Emendations.

For 'many' Johnson substitutes 'marry;'

'But old folks, marry, feign as they were dead, &c.'

Note VIII.

III. 3. 38-46. Instead of the lines which he put in the margin, Pope inserted the following, copied with some alterations from the first Quarto:

'But Romeo may not, he is banished!
O father, hadst thou no strong poison mixt,
No sharp ground knife, no present means of death,
But banishment to torture me withal?'

Note IX.

III. 3. 40-43. The Quarto of 1599 reads as follows:

'This may flyes do, when I from this must flie,
And sayest thou yet, that exile is not death?
But Romeo may not, he is banished.
Flies may do this, but I from this must flie:
They are freemen, but I am banished.'

The same order is followed in the subsequent Quartos. The reading of the first Quarto will be seen in the reprint which follows the play. The first Folio gives:

'This may Flies doe, when I from this must flie,
And saist thou yet, that exile is not death?
But Romeo may not, hee is banished.'

This reading is followed by the other Folios, Rowe, Theobald, Warburton, and Johnson. Hanmer follows Pope in his text (see Note VIII), omitting altogether the lines which Pope put in the margin.

[Pg 140]

Capell has:

'Flies may do this, but I from this must fly;
They are free men, but I am banished.'

Steevens (1773) reads:

'Flies may do this, when I from this must fly;
They are free men, but I am banished.
And say'st thou yet, that exile is not death?
But Romeo may not;—he is banished.'

In his note on the passage, in the edition of 1778, he conjectured that the line 'But Romeo ... banished' should be inserted after 'their own kisses sin;' an arrangement which was adopted by Malone and by Steevens himself in his edition of 1793. Capell suggests that the lines he retains 'were second thoughts of the poet, and their original was meant for expunction.' This may possibly be true, but we have adopted the reading given in our text because it retains, without manifest absurdity, lines which are all undoubtedly Shakespeare's. For a similar instance see Note XVIII. on Love's Labour's Lost.

In IV. I. III, of the present play we have omitted a line which occurs in all the Quartos, except the first, and all the Folios, because it could not be retained without absolute detriment to the sense.

Note X.

III. 5. 82-104. Instead of this passage Pope, printing, as he says, 'more agreeably to the first edition,' gave as follows:

'La. Cap. Content thee girl. If I could find a man, I soon would send to Mantua where he is, And give him such an unaccustom'd dram That he should soon keep Tybalt company.

Jul. Find you the means, and I'll find such a man, For while he lives, my heart shall ne'er be light 'Till I behold him—dead—is my poor heart, Thus for a kinsman vext?

La. Cap. Well, let that pass. I come to bring thee joyful tidings, girl.'

In this arbitrary change, he is followed, as usual, by Hanmer, except that the latter puts a full stop at 'vext.'

Note XI.

IV. 3. 58. Mr Dyce conjectured that 'here's drink' was the corruption of a stage direction, 'here drink.'

[Pg 141]

Note XII.

IV. 5. 36. Although 'see' was doubtless a conjectural insertion of the editor of the second Folio in order to complete the metre, like his addition of 'now' in the next line, yet, as the word occurs in the corresponding passage of the first Quarto, we have decided on the whole to retain it.

Note XIII.

IV. 5. 65-83. Instead of this speech Pope has the following:

'Fri. Oh peace for shame—
Your daughter lives in peace and happiness,
And it is vain to wish it otherwise.
Heav'n and yourself had part in this fair maid,
Now heav'n hath all—
Come stick your rosemary on this fair corpse,
And as the custom of our country is,
In all her best and sumptuous ornaments
Convey her where her ancestors lie tomb'd.'

The last three lines are verbatim from the Quarto of 1597. Hanmer follows Pope, with a different arrangement in the first lines, which he prints thus:

'Oh peace for shame—your daughter lives in peace
And happiness, and it is vain to wish
It otherwise. Heav'n and yourself had part
In this fair maid, now heaven hath her all—
Come &c.'

Note XIV.

V. 3. 13-17. Instead of these five lines Pope inserts the four following, from the first Quarto:

'Fair Juliet, that with angels dost remain,
Accept this latest favour at my hand,
That living honour'd thee, and being dead
With fun'ral obsequies adorn thy tomb.'

For lines 12-17 Steevens (1773) substituted the corresponding lines of the first Quarto, except that he follows Pope in reading 'hand' for 'hands.'

[Pg 142]

Note XV.

V. 3. 108. The quarto of 1599 here reads:

'Depart againe, come lye thou in my arme,
Heer's to thy health, where ere thou tumblest in.
O true Appothecarie!
Thy drugs are quicke. Thus with a kisse I die.
Depart againe, here, here, will I remaine,
With wormes &c.'

The third Quarto has the same reading, putting a semi-colon after 'againe' in the fifth line, and is followed by the first Folio, except that 'armes' is substituted for 'arme' in the first line. The later Folios make no material change. The reading in our text is substantially that of the fourth and fifth Quartos. Rowe follows the Folios, and Pope prints:

'Depart again: come lye thou in my arms,
Here's to thy health.—O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Here, here will I remain,
With worms &c.'

Note XVI.

Mr Lionel Booth has been kind enough to furnish us with the following variations which he has found in different copies of the first Folio:

Page 57, col. 1, line 35: oft the angry.
oft a the angry.

Page 59, col. 2, line 12 from bottom: this place.
thy place.

Page 62, col. 2, line 5: that Gentlemen.
tha Gentlemen.
qua- tha: Gentlemen (in Capell's copy).

Page 71, col. 1, line 8: Holy Father now.
Holy Father own.

Page 71, col. 2, line 36: Cookes.
Cockes.

[Pg 143]

EXCELLENT

CONCEITED TRAGEDIE

ROMEO AND IULIET.

[Pg 144]

The Prologue.

Two houshold Frends alike in dignitie,
(In faire Verona, where we lay our Scene)
From ciuill broyles broke into enmitie,
Whose ciuill warre makes ciuill hands vncleane.
From forth the fatall loynes of these two foes, 5
A paire of starre-crost Louers tooke their life:
Whose misaduentures, piteous ouerthrowes,
(Through the continuing of their Fathers strife,
And death-markt passage of their Parents rage)
Is now the two howres traffique of our Stage. 10
The which if you with patient eares attend,
What here we want wee'l studie to amend.

[Pg 145]

The most excellent Tragedie of
Romeo and Iuliet.

[Sc. I.]

Enter 2. Seruingmen of the Capolets.

Gregorie, of my word Ile carrie no coales.

2 No, for if you doo, you should be a Collier.

1 If I be in choler, Ile draw.

2 Euer while you liue, drawe your necke out of the the collar.5

1 I strike quickly being moou'd.

2 I, but you are not quickly moou'd to strike.

1 A Dog of the house of the Mountagues moues me.

2 To mooue is to stirre, and to bee valiant is to stand
to it: therefore (of my word) if thou be mooud thou't 10
runne away.

1 There's not a man of them I meete, but Ile take
the wall of.

2 That shewes thee a weakling, for the weakest goes
to the wall. 15

1 Thats true, therefore Ile thrust the men from the
wall, and thrust the maids to to the walls: nay, thou shalt
see I am a tall peece of flesh.

2 Tis well thou art not fish, for if thou wert thou
wouldst be but poore Iohn. 20

1 Ile play the tyrant, Ile first begin with the maids, &
off with their heads.

2 The heads of the maids?

1 I the heades of their Maides, or the Maidenheades,
take it in what sence thou wilt. 25

2 Nay let them take it in sence that feele it, but heere
comes two of the Mountagues.

[Pg 146]

Enter two Seruingmen of the Mountagues.

1 Nay feare not me I warrant thee.

2 I feare them no more than thee, but draw.

1 Nay let vs haue the law on our side, let them begin 30
first. Ile tell thee what Ile doo, as I goe by ile bite my
thumbe, which is disgrace enough if they suffer it.

2 Content, goe thou by and bite thy thumbe, and ile
come after and frowne.

1 Moun: Doo you bite your thumbe at vs? 35

1 I bite my thumbe.

2 Moun: I but i'st at vs?

1 I bite my thumbe, is the law on our side?

2 No.

1 I bite my thumbe. 40

1 Moun: I but i'st at vs? Enter Beneuolio.

2 Say I, here comes my Masters kinsman.

They draw, to them enters Tybalt, they fight, to them the Prince, old Mountague, and his wife, old Capulet and his wife, and other Citizens and part them.

Prince: Rebellious subiects enemies to peace,
On paine of torture, from those bloody handes
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground. 45
Three Ciuell brawles bred of an airie word,
By the old Capulet and Mountague,
Haue thrice disturbd the quiet of our streets.
If euer you disturbe our streets againe,
Your liues shall pay the ransome of your fault: 50
For this time euery man depart in peace.
Come Capulet come you along with me,
And Mountague, come you this after noone,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old free Towne our common iudgement place, 55
Once more on paine of death each man depart.
Exeunt.

M: wife. Who set this auncient quarrel first abroach?
Speake Nephew, were you by when it began?

Benuo: Here were the seruants of your aduersaries,
And yours close fighting ere I did approch. 60

Wife: Ah where is Romeo, saw you him to day?
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.

Ben: Madame, an houre before the worshipt sunne
Peept through the golden window of the East,
[Pg 147] A troubled thought drew me from companie:
Where vnderneath the groue Sicamoure,
That Westward rooteth from the Citties side,
So early walking might I see your sonne.
I drew towards him, but he was ware of me,
And drew into the thicket of the wood: 70
I noting his affections by mine owne,
That most are busied when th' are most alone,
Pursued my honor, not pursuing his.

Moun: Black and portentious must this honor proue,
Vnlesse good counsaile doo the cause remooue. 75

Ben: Why tell me Vncle do you know the cause?

Enter Romeo.

Moun: I neyther know it nor can learne of him.

Ben: See where he is, but stand you both aside,
Ile know his grieuance, or be much denied.

Mount: I would thou wert so happie by thy stay 80
To heare true shrift. Come Madame lets away.

Benuo: Good morrow Cosen.

Romeo: Is the day so young?

Ben: But new stroke nine.

Romeo: Ay me, sad hopes seeme long. 85
Was that my Father that went hence so fast?

Ben: It was, what sorrow lengthens Romeos houres?

Rom: Not hauing that, which hauing makes them short.

Ben: In loue.

Ro: Out. 90

Ben: Of loue.

Ro: Out of her fauor where I am in loue.

Ben: Alas that loue so gentle in her view,
Should be so tyrranous and rough in proofe.

Ro: Alas that loue whose view is muffled still, 95
Should without lawes giue path-waies to our will:
Where shall we dine? Gods me, what fray was here?
Yet tell me not for I haue heard it all,
Heres much to doe with hate, but more with loue.
Why then, O brawling loue, O louing hate, 100
O anie thing, of nothing first create!
O heauie lightnes serious vanitie!
Mishapen Caos of best seeming thinges,
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sicke health,
Still waking sleepe, that is not what it is: 105
This loue feele I, which feele no loue in this.
Doest thou not laugh?

Ben: No Cose I rather weepe.
[Pg 148]

Rom: Good hart at what?

Ben: At thy good hearts oppression. 110

Ro: Why such is loues transgression,
Griefes of mine owne lie heauie at my hart,
Which thou wouldst propagate to haue them prest
With more of thine, this griefe that thou hast showne,
Doth ad more griefe to too much of mine owne: 115
Loue is a smoke raisde with the fume of sighes
Being purgde, a fire sparkling in louers eyes:
Being vext, a sea raging with a louers teares.
What is it else? A madnes most discreet,
A choking gall, and a preseruing sweet. Farewell Cose. 120

Ben: Nay Ile goe along.
And if you hinder me you doo me wrong.

Ro: Tut I haue lost my selfe I am not here,
This is not Romeo, hee's some other where.

Ben: Tell me in sadnes whome she is you loue? 125

Ro: What shall I grone and tell thee?

Ben: Why no, but sadly tell me who.

Ro: Bid a sickman in sadnes make his will.
Ah word ill vrgde to one that is so ill.
In sadnes Cosen I doo loue a woman. 130

Ben: I aimde so right, when as you said you lou'd.

Ro: A right good mark-man, and shee's faire I loue.

Ben: A right faire marke faire Cose is soonest hit.

Ro: But in that hit you misse, shee'le not be hit
With Cupids arrow, she hath Dianaes wit, 135
And in strong proofe of chastitie well arm'd:
Gainst Cupids childish bow she liues vnharm'd,
Shee'le not abide the siedge of louing tearmes,
Nor ope her lap to Saint seducing gold,
Ah she is rich in beautie, only poore, 140
That when she dies with beautie dies her store. Exeu.

[Sc. II.]

Enter Countie Paris, old Capulet.

Of honorable reckoning are they both,
And pittie tis they liue at ods so long:
But leauing that, what say you to my sute?

Capu: What should I say more than I said before,
My daughter is a stranger in the world, 5
Shee hath not yet attainde to fourteene yeares:
Let two more sommers wither in their pride,
Before she can be thought fit for a Bride.

Paris: Younger than she are happie mothers made.

Cap: But too soone marde are these so early maried: 10
But wooe her gentle Paris, get her heart,
[Pg 149] My word to her consent is but a part.
This night I hold an old accustom'd Feast,
Whereto I haue inuited many a guest,
Such as I loue: yet you among the store, 15
One more most welcome makes the number more.
At my poore house you shall behold this night,
Earth treadding stars, that make darke heauen light:
Such comfort as doo lusty youngmen feele,
When well apparaild Aprill on the heele 20
Of lumping winter treads, euen such delights
Amongst fresh female buds shall you this night
Inherit at my house, heare all, all see,
And like her most, whose merite most shalbe.
Such amongst view of many myne beeing one, 25
May stand in number though in reckoning none.

Enter Servingman.

Where are you sirra, goe trudge about
Through faire Verona streets, and seeke them out:
Whose names are written here and to them say,
My house and welcome at their pleasure stay. Exeunt. 30

Ser: Seeke them out whose names are written here,
and yet I knowe not who are written here: I must to
the learned to learne of them, that's as much to say, as
the Taylor must meddle with his Laste, the Shoomaker
with his needle, the Painter with his nets, and the Fisher 35
with his Pensill, I must to the learned.

Enter Benuolio and Romeo.

Ben: Tut man one fire burnes out anothers burning,
One paine is lessned with anothers anguish:
Turne backward, and be holp with backward turning.
One desperate griefe cures with anothers languish. 40
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the ranke poyson of the old will die.

Romeo: Your Planton leafe is excellent for that.

Ben: For what?

Romeo: For your broken shin. 45

Ben: Why Romeo art thou mad?

Rom: Not mad, but bound more than a mad man is.
Shut vp in prison, kept without my foode,
Whipt and tormented, and Godden good fellow.

Ser: Godgigoden, I pray sir can you read? 50

Rom: I mine owne fortune in my miserie.

Ser: Perhaps you haue learned it without booke:
but I pray can you read any thing you see?
[Pg 150]

Rom: I if I know the letters and the language.

Seru: Yee say honestly, rest you merrie. 55

Rom: Stay fellow I can read.

He reads the Letter.

Seigneur Martino and his wife and daughters, Countie
Anselme and his beauteous sisters, the Ladie widdow of
Vtruuio, Seigneur Placentio, and his louelie Neeces,
Mercutio and his brother Valentine, mine vncle Capulet60
his wife and daughters, my faire Neece Rosaline and
Liuia, Seigneur Valentio and his Cosen Tibalt, Lucio
and the liuelie Hellena.

A faire assembly, whether should they come?

Ser: Vp. 65

Ro: Whether to supper?

Ser: To our house.

Ro: Whose house?

Ser: My Masters.

Ro: Indeed I should haue askt thee that before. 70

Ser: Now il'e tel you without asking. My Master 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 merrie.

Ben: At this same auncient feast of Capulets, 75
Sups the faire Rosaline whom thou so loues:
With all the admired beauties of Verona,
Goe thither and with vnattainted eye,
Compare her face with some that I shall shew,
And I will make thee thinke thy swan a crow. 80

Ro: When the deuout religion of mine eye
Maintaines such falshood, then turne teares to fire,
And these who often drownde could neuer die,
Transparent Heretiques be burnt for liers.
One fairer than my loue, the all seeing sonne 85
Nere saw her match, since first the world begun.

Ben: Tut you saw her faire none els being by,
Her selfe poysd with her selfe in either eye:
But in that Cristall scales let there be waide,
Your Ladyes loue, against some other maide 90
That I will shew you shining at this feast,
And she shall scant shew well that now seemes best.

Rom: Ile goe along no such sight to be showne,
But to reioyce in splendor of mine owne.

[Sc. III.]

Enter Capulets wife and Nurce.

Wife: Nurce wher's my daughter call her forth to mee.
[Pg 151]

Nurce: Now by my maiden head at twelue yeare old I
bad her come, what Lamb, what Ladie bird, God forbid.
Wher's this girle? what Iuliet. Enter Iuliet. 5

Iuliet: How now who cals?

Nurce: Your Mother.

Iul: Madame I am here, what is your will?

W: This is the matter. Nurse giue leaue a while, we
must talke in secret. Nurce come back again I haue remembred 10
me, thou'se heare our counsaile. Thou knowest
my daughters of a prettie age.

Nurce: Faith I can tell her age vnto a houre.

Wife: Shee's not fourteene.

Nurce: I'll lay fourteene of my teeth, and yet to my 15
teene be it spoken, I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene.
How long is it now to Lammas-tide?

Wife: A fortnight and odde dayes.

Nurce: Euen or odde, of all dayes in the yeare come
Lammas Eue at night shall she be fourteene. Susan and she20
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 Lammas
Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall shee marie
I remember it well. Tis since the Earth-quake nowe eleauen
yeares, and she was weand I neuer shall forget it, of 25
all the daies of the yeare vpon that day: for I had then laid
wormewood to my dug, sitting in the sun vnder the Doue-house
wall. My Lord and you were then at Mantua, nay I
do beare a braine: But as I said, when it did tast the wormwood
on the nipple of my dug, & felt it bitter, pretty foole 30
to see it teachie and fall out with Dugge. Shake quoth the
Doue-house twas no need I trow to bid me trudge, and since
that time it is a leauen yeare: for then could Iuliet stande
high lone, nay by the Roode, shee could haue wadled vp and
downe, for euen the day before shee brake her brow, and then 35
my husband God be with his soule, hee was a merrie man:
Dost thou fall forward Iuliet? thou wilt fall backward when
thou hast more wit: wilt thou not Iuliet? and by my hollidam,
the pretty foole left crying and said I. To see how a
ieast shall come about, I warrant you if I should liue a hundred40
yeare, I neuer should forget it, wilt thou not Iuliet?
and by my troth she stinted and cried I.

Iuliet: And stint thou too, I prethee Nurce say I.

Nurce: Well goe thy waies, God marke thee for his
grace, thou wert the prettiest Babe that euer I nurst, might 45
I but liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.

Wife: And that same marriage Nurce, is the Theame
[Pg 152] I meant to talke of: Tell me Iuliet, howe stand you affected
to be married?

Iul: It is an honor that I dreame not off. 50

Nurce: An honor! were not I thy onely Nurce, I
would say thou hadst suckt wisedome from thy Teat.

Wife: Well girle, the Noble Countie Paris seekes
thee for his Wife.

Nurce: A man young Ladie, Ladie such a man as all 55
the world, why he is a man of waxe.

Wife: Veronaes Summer hath not such a flower.

Nurce: Nay he is a flower, in faith a very flower.

Wife: Well Iuliet, how like you of Paris loue.

Iuliet: Ile looke to like, if looking liking moue, 60
But no more deepe will I engage mine eye,
Then your consent giues strength to make it flie.

Enter Clowne.

Clowne: Maddam you are cald for, supper is readie,
the Nurce curst in the Pantrie, all thinges in extreamitie,
make hast for I must be gone to waite. 65

[Sc. IV.]

Enter Maskers with Romeo and a Page.

Ro: What shall this speech bee spoke for our excuse?
Or shall we on without Apologie.

Benuoleo: The date is out of such prolixitie,
Weele haue no Cupid hudwinckt with a Scarfe,
Bearing a Tartars painted bow of lath, 5
Scaring the Ladies like a crow-keeper:
Nor no withoutbooke Prologue faintly spoke
After the Prompter, for our entrance.
But let them measure vs by what they will,
Weele measure them a measure and be gone. 10

Rom: A torch for me I am not for this aumbling,
Being but heauie I will beare the light.

Mer: Beleeue me Romeo I must haue you daunce.

Rom: Not I beleeue me you haue dancing shooes
With nimble soles, I haue a soule of lead 15
So stakes me to the ground I cannot stirre.

Mer: Giue me a case to put my visage in,
A visor for a visor, what care I
What curious eye doth coate deformitie.

Rom: Giue me a Torch, let wantons light of hart 20
Tickle the senceles rushes with their heeles:
For I am prouerbd with a Grandsire phrase,
Ile be a candleholder and looke on,
The game was nere so faire and I am done.

Mer: Tut dun's the mouse, the Cunstables old word, 25
[Pg 153] If thou beest Dun, weele draw thee from the mire
Of this surreuerence loue wherein thou stickst.
Leaue this talke, we burne day light here.

Rom: Nay thats not so. Mer: I meane sir in delay,
We burne our lights by night, like Lampes by day, 30
Take our good meaning for our iudgement sits
Three times a day, ere once in her right wits.

Rom: So we meane well by going to this maske:
But tis no wit to goe.

Mer: Why Romeo may one aske? 35

Rom: I dreamt a dreame to night.

Mer: And so did I. Rom: Why what was yours?

Mer: That dreamers often lie.

Rom: In bed a sleepe while they doe dreame things true.

Mer: Ah then I see Queene Mab hath bin with you. 40

Ben: Queene Mab whats she?
She is the Fairies Midwife and doth come
In shape no bigger than an Aggat stone
On the forefinger of a Burgomaster,
Drawne with a teeme of little Atomi, 45
A thwart mens noses when they lie a sleepe.
Her waggon spokes are made of spinners webs,
The couer, of the winges of Grashoppers,
The traces are the Moone-shine watrie beames,
The collers crickets bones, the lash of filmes, 50
Her waggoner is a small gray coated flie,
Not halfe so big as is a little worme,
Pickt from the lasie finger of a maide,
And in this sort she gallops vp and downe
Through Louers braines, and then they dream of loue: 55
O're Courtiers knees: who strait on cursies dreame
O're Ladies lips, who dreame on kisses strait:
Which oft the angrie Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breathes with sweet meats tainted are:
Sometimes she gallops ore a Lawers lap, 60
And then dreames he of smelling out a sute,
And sometime comes she with a tithe pigs taile,
Tickling a Parsons nose that lies a sleepe,
And then dreames he of another benefice:
Sometime she gallops ore a souldiers nose, 65
And then dreames he of cutting forraine throats,
Of breaches ambuscados, countermines,
Of healthes fiue fadome deepe, and then anon
Drums in his eare: at which he startes and wakes,
And sweares a Praier or two and sleepes againe. 70
[Pg 154] This is that Mab that makes maids lie on their backes,
And proues them women of good cariage.
This is the verie Mab that plats the manes of Horses in the night,
And plats the Elfelocks in foule sluttish haire,
Which once vntangled much misfortune breedes. 75

Rom: Peace, peace, thou talkst of nothing.

Mer: True I talke of dreames,
Which are the Children of an idle braine,
Begot of nothing but vaine fantasie,
Which is as thinne a substance as the aire, 80
And more inconstant than the winde,
Which wooes euen now the frosē bowels of the north,
And being angred puffes away in haste,
Turning his face to the dew-dropping south.

Ben: Come, come, this winde doth blow vs from ourselues. 85
Supper is done and we shall come too late.

Ro: I feare too earlie, for my minde misgiues
Some consequence is hanging in the stars,
Which bitterly begins his fearefull date
With this nights reuels, and expiers the terme 90
Of a dispised life, closde in this breast,
By some vntimelie forfet of vile death:
But he that hath the steerage of my course
Directs my saile, on lustie Gentlemen.

[Sc. V.]

Enter old Capulet with the ladies.

Capu: Welcome Gentlemen, welcome Gentlemen,
Ladies that haue their toes vnplagud with Corns
Will haue about with you, ah ha my Mistresses,
Which of you all will now refuse to dance?
Shee that makes daintie, shee Ile sweare hath Corns. 5
Am I come neere you now, welcome Gentlemen, welcome,
More lights you knaues, & turn these tables vp,
And quench the fire the roome is growne too hote.
Ah sirra, this vnlookt for sport comes well,
Nay sit, nay sit, good Cosen Capulet: 10
For you and I are past our standing dayes,
How long is it since you and I were in a Maske?

Cos: By Ladie sir tis thirtie yeares at least.

Cap: Tis not so much, tis not so much.
Tis since the mariage of Lucentio, 15
Come Pentecost as quicklie as it will,
Some fiue and twentie yeares, and then we maskt.

Cos: Tis more, tis more, his sonne is elder far.

Cap: Will you tell me that it cannot be so,
[Pg 155] His sonne was but a Ward three yeares agoe,
Good youths I faith. Oh youth's a iolly thing.

Rom: What Ladie is that that doth inrich the hand
Of yonder Knight? O shee doth teach the torches to burne bright!
It seemes she hangs vpon the cheeke of night,
Like a rich iewell in an Aethiops eare, 25
Beautie too rich for vse, for earth too deare:
So shines a snow-white Swan trouping with Crowes,
As this faire Ladie ouer her fellowes showes.
The measure done, ile watch her place of stand,
And touching hers, make happie my rude hand. 30
Did my heart loue till now? Forsweare it sight,
I neuer saw true beautie till this night.

Tib: This by his voice should be a Mountague,
Fetch me my rapier boy. What dares the slaue
Come hither couer'd with an Anticke face, 35
To scorne and ieere at our solemnitie?
Now by the stocke and honor of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it for no sin.

Ca: Why how now cosen, wherfore storme you so.

Ti: Vncle this is a Mountague our foe, 40
A villaine that is hether come in spight,
To mocke at our solemnitie this night.

Ca: Young Romeo, is it not?

Ti: It is that villaine Romeo.

Ca: Let him alone, he beares him like a portly gentleman, 45
And to speake truth, Verona brags of him,
As of a vertuous and well gouern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all this towne,
Here in my house doo him disparagement:
Therefore be quiet take no note of him, 50
Beare a faire presence, and put off these frownes,
An ill beseeming semblance for a feast.

Ti: It fits when such a villaine is a guest,
Ile not indure him.

Ca: He shalbe indured, goe to I say, he shall. 55
Am I the Master of the house or you?
You'le not indure him? God shall mend my soule
You'le make a mutenie amongst my guests.
You'le set Cocke a hoope, you'le be the man.

Ti: Vncle tis a shame. 60

Ca: Goe too, you are a saucie knaue.
This tricke will scath you one day I know what.
Well said my hartes. Be quiet:
[Pg 156] More light Ye knaue, or I will make you quiet.

Tibalt: Patience perforce with wilfull choller meeting, 65
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greetings:
I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, conuert to bitter gall.

Rom: If I prophane with my vnworthie hand,
This holie shrine, the gentle sinne is this: 70
My lips two blushing Pilgrims ready stand,
To smooth the rough touch with a gentle kisse.

Iuli: Good Pilgrime you doe wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly deuotion shewes in this:
For Saints haue hands which holy Palmers touch, 75
And Palme to Palme is holy Palmers kisse.

Rom: Haue not Saints lips, and holy Palmers too?

Iuli: Yes Pilgrime lips that they must vse in praier.

Ro: Why then faire saint, let lips do what hands doo,
They pray, yeeld thou, least faith turne to dispaire. 80

Iu: Saints doe not mooue though: grant nor praier forsake.

Ro: Then mooue not till my praiers effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours my sin is purgde.

Iu: Then haue my lips the sin that they haue tooke.

Ro: Sinne from my lips, O trespasse sweetly vrgde! 85
Giue me my sinne againe.

Iu: You kisse by the booke.

Nurse: Madame your mother calles.

Rom: What is her mother?

Nurse: Marrie Batcheler her mother is the Ladie of the 90
house, and a good Lady, and a wise, and a vertuous. I nurst
her daughter that you talkt withall, I tell you, he that can
lay hold of her shall haue the chinkes.

Rom: Is she a Mountague? Oh deare account,
My life is my foes thrall. 95

Ca: Nay gentlemen prepare not to be gone,
We haue a trifling foolish banquet towards.

They whisper in his eare.

I pray you let me intreat you. Is it so?
Well then I thanke you honest Gentlemen,
I promise you but for your company, 100
I would haue bin a bed an houre agoe:
Light to my chamber hoe. Exeunt.

Iul: Nurse, what is yonder Gentleman?

Nur: The sonne and heire of old Tiberio.

Iul: Whats he that now is going out of dore? 105
[Pg 157]

Nur: That as I thinke is yong Petruchio.

Iul: Whats he that followes there that would not dance?

Nur: I know not.

Iul: Goe learne his name, if he be maried,
My graue is like to be my wedding bed. 110

Nur: His name is Romeo and a Mountague, the onely
sonne of your great enemie.

Iul: My onely Loue sprung from my onely hate,
Too early seene vnknowne, and knowne too late:
Prodigious birth of loue is this to me, 115
That I should loue a loathed enemie.

Nurse: Whats this? whats that?

Iul: Nothing Nurse but a rime I learnt euen now of oue I dancst with.

Nurse: Come your mother staies for you, Ile goe a long
with you. Exeunt.

[Sc. VI.]

Enter Romeo alone.

Ro: Shall I goe forward and my heart is here?
Turne backe dull earth and finde thy Center out.

Enter Benuolio Mercutio.

Ben: Romeo, my cosen Romeo.

Mer: Doest thou heare he is wise,
Vpon my life he hath stolne him home to bed. 5

Ben: He came this way, and leapt this Orchard wall.
Call good Mercutio.

Mer: Call, nay Ile coniure too.

Romeo, madman, humors, passion, liuer, appeare thou in
likenes of a sigh: speek but one rime & I am satisfied, cry 10
but ay me. Pronounce but Loue and Doue, speake to
my gossip Venus one faire word, one nickname for her
purblinde sonne and heire young Abraham: Cupid hee
that shot so trim when young King Cophetua loued the
begger wench. Hee heares me not. I coniure thee by 15
Rosalindes bright eye, high forehead, and scarlet lip, her
prettie foote, straight leg, and quiuering thigh, and the
demaines that there adiacent lie, that in thy likenesse
thou appeare to vs.

Ben: If he doe heare thee thou wilt anger him. 20

Mer: Tut this cannot anger him, marrie if one shuld
raise a spirit in his Mistris circle of some strange fashion,
making it there to stand till she had laid it, and coniurde
it downe, that were some spite. My inuocation is faire
and honest, and in his Mistris name I coniure onely but 25
to raise vp him.
[Pg 158]

Ben: Well he hath hid himselfe amongst those trees,
To be consorted with the humerous night,
Blinde in his loue, and best befits the darke.

Mer: If loue be blind, loue will not hit the marke, 30
Now will he sit vnder a Medler tree,
And wish his Mistris were that kinde of fruite,
As maides call Medlers when they laugh alone.
Ah Romeo that she were, ah that she were
An open Et cætera, thou a poprin Peare. 35
Romeo God night, il'e to my trundle bed:
This field bed is too cold for mee.
Come lets away, for tis but vaine,
To seeke him here that meanes not to be found.

Ro: He iests at scars that neuer felt a wound: 40
But soft, what light forth yonder window breakes?
It is the East, and Iuliet is the Sunne,
Arise faire Sunne, and kill the enuious Moone
That is alreadie sicke, and pale with griefe:
That thou her maid, art far more faire than she. 45
Be not her maide since she is enuious,
Her vestall liuerie is but pale and greene,
And none but fooles doe weare it, cast it off.
She speakes, but she sayes nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourseth, I will answere it. 50
I am too bold, tis not to me she speakes,
Two of the fairest starres in all the skies,
Hauing some busines, doe entreat her eyes
To twinckle in their spheares till they returne.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head, 55
The brightnes of her cheekes would shame those stars:
As day-light doth a Lampe, her eyes in heauen,
Would through the airie region streame so bright,
That birdes would sing, and thinke it were not night.
Oh now she leanes her cheekes vpon her hand, 60
I would I were the gloue to that same hand,
That I might kisse that cheeke.

Iul: Ay me.

Rom: She speakes, Oh speake againe bright Angell:
For thou art as glorious to this night beeing ouer my head, 65
As is a winged messenger of heauen
Vnto the white vpturned woondring eyes,
Of mortals that fall backe to gaze on him,
When he bestrides the lasie pacing cloudes,
And sailes vpon the bosome of the aire. 70

Iul: Ah Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
[Pg 159] Denie thy Father, and refuse thy name,
Or if thou wilt not be but sworne my loue,
And il'e no longer be a Capulet.

Rom: Shall I heare more, or shall I speake to this? 75

Iul: Tis but thy name that is mine enemie.
Whats Mountague? It is nor hand nor foote,
Nor arme, nor face, nor any other part.
Whats in a name? That which we call a Rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet: 80
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo cald,
Retaine the diuine perfection he owes:
Without that title Romeo part thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee,
Take all I haue. 85

Rom: I take thee at thy word,
Call me but loue, and il'e be new Baptisde,
Henceforth I neuer will be Romeo.

Iu: What man art thou, that thus beskrind in night,
Doest stumble on my counsaile? 90

Ro: By a name I know not how to tell thee.
My name deare Saint is hatefull to my selfe,
Because it is an enemie to thee.
Had I it written I would teare the word.

Iul: My eares haue not yet drunk a hundred words 95
Of that tongues vtterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Mountague?

Ro: Neyther faire Saint, if eyther thee displease.

Iu: How camst thou hether, tell me and wherfore?
The Orchard walles are high and hard to clime, 100
And the place death considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen finde thee here.

Ro: By loues light winges did I oreperch these wals,
For stonie limits cannot hold loue out,
And what loue can doo, that dares loue attempt, 105
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.

Iul: If they doe finde thee they will murder thee.

Ro: Alas there lies more perrill in thine eyes,
Then twentie of their swords, looke thou but sweete,
And I am proofe against their enmitie. 110

Iul: I would not for the world they shuld find thee here.

Ro: I haue nights cloak to hide thee from their sight,
And but thou loue me let them finde me here:
For life were better ended by their hate,
Than death proroged wanting of thy loue. 115

Iul: By whose directions foundst thou out this place.
[Pg 160]

Ro: By loue, who first did prompt me to enquire,
I he gaue me counsaile and I lent him eyes.
I am no Pilot: yet wert thou as farre
As that vast shore, washt with the furthest sea, 120
I would aduenture for such Marchandise.

Iul: Thou knowst the maske of night is on my face,
Els would a Maiden blush bepaint my cheeks:
For that which thou haste heard me speake to night,
Faine would I dwell on forme, faine faine denie, 125
What I haue spoke: but farewell complements.
Doest thou loue me? Nay I know thou wilt say I,
And I will take thy word: but if thou swearst,
Thou maiest proue false:
At Louers periuries they say Ioue smiles. 130
Ah gentle Romeo, if thou loue pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou thinke I am too easely wonne,
Il'e frowne and say thee nay and be peruerse,
So thou wilt wooe: but els not for the world,
In truth faire Mountague, I am too fond, 135
And therefore thou maiest thinke my hauiour light:
But trust me gentleman Ile proue more true,
Than they that haue more cunning to be strange.
I should haue bin strange I must confesse,
But that thou ouer-heardst ere I was ware 140
My true loues Passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yeelding to light loue,
Which the darke night hath so discouered.

Ro: By yonder blessed Moone I sweare,
That tips with siluer all these fruit trees tops. 145

Iul: O sweare not by the Moone the vnconstant Moone,
That monthlie changeth in her circled orbe,
Least that thy loue proue likewise variable.

Ro: Now by

Iul: Nay doo not sweare at all, 150
Or if thou sweare, sweare by thy glorious selfe,
Which art the God of my Idolatrie,
And il'e beleeue thee.

Ro: If my true harts loue

Iul: Sweare not at al, though I doo ioy in thee, 155
I haue small ioy in this contract to night,
It is too rash, too sodaine, too vnaduisde,
Too like the lightning that doth cease to bee
Ere one can say it lightens. I heare some comming,
Deare loue adew, sweet Mountague be true, 160
Stay but a little and il'e come againe.

Ro: O blessed blessed night, I feare being night,
[Pg 161] All this is but a dreame I heare and see,
Too flattering true to be substantiall.

Iul: Three wordes good Romeo and good night indeed. 165
If that thy bent of loue be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to morrow
By one that il'e procure to come to thee:
Where and what time thou wilt performe that right,
And al my fortunes at thy foote il'e lay, 170
And follow thee my Lord through out the world.

Ro: Loue goes toward loue like schoole boyes from their bookes,
But loue from loue, to schoole with heauie lookes.

Iul: Romeo, Romeo, O for a falkners voice,
To lure this Tassell gentle backe againe: 175
Bondage is hoarse and may not crie aloud,
Els would I teare the Caue where Eccho lies
And make her airie voice as hoarse as mine,
With repetition of my Romeos name.
Romeo? 180

Ro: It is my soule that calles vpon my name,
How siluer sweet sound louers tongues in night.

Iul: Romeo?

Ro: Madame.

Iul: At what a clocke to morrow shall I send? 185

Ro: At the houre of nine.

Iul: I will not faile, tis twentie yeares till then.
Romeo I haue forgot why I did call thee backe.

Rom: Let me stay here till you remember it.

Iul: I shall forget to haue thee still staie here, 190
Remembring how I loue thy companie.

Rom: And il'e stay still to haue thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.

Iu: Tis almost morning I would haue thee gone,
But yet no further then a wantons bird, 195
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a pore prisoner in his twisted giues,
And with a silke thred puls it backe againe,
Too louing iealous of his libertie.

Ro: Would I were thy bird. 200

Iul: Sweet so would I,
Yet I should kill thee with much cherrishing thee.
Good night, good night, parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Rom: Sleepe dwell vpon thine eyes, peace on thy breast, 205
I would that I were sleep and peace of sweet to rest.
Now will I to my Ghostly fathers Cell,
[Pg 162] His help to craue, and my good hap to tell.

[Sc. VII.]

Enter Frier Francis.

Frier: The gray ey'd morne smiles on the frowning night,
Checkring the Easterne clouds with streakes of light,
And flecked darkenes like a drunkard reeles,
From forth daies path, and Titans fierie wheeles:
Now ere the Sunne aduance his burning eye, 5
The world to cheare, and nights darke dew to drie.
We must vp fill this oasier Cage of ours,
With balefull weeds, and precious iuyced flowers.
Oh mickle is the powerfull grace that lies
In hearbes, plants, stones, and their true qualities: 10
For nought so vile, that vile on earth doth liue,
But to the earth some speciall good doth giue:
Nor nought so good, but straind from that faire use,
Reuolts to vice and stumbles on abuse:
Vertue it selfe turnes vice being misapplied, 15
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
Within the infant rinde of this small flower,
Poyson hath residence, and medecine power:
For this being smelt too, with that part cheares ech hart,
Being tasted slaies all sences with the hart. 20
Two such opposed foes incampe them still,
In man as well as herbes, grace and rude will,
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soone the canker death eats vp that plant.

Rom: Good morrow to my Ghostly Confessor. 25

Fri: Benedicite, what earlie tongue so soone saluteth me?
Yong sonne it argues a distempered head,
So soone to bid good morrow to my bed.
Care keepes his watch in euerie old mans eye,
And where care lodgeth, sleep can neuer lie: 30
But where vnbrused youth with vnstuft braines
Doth couch his limmes, there golden sleepe remaines:
Therefore thy earlines doth me assure,
Thou art vprows'd by some distemperature.
Or if not so, then here I hit it right 35
Our Romeo hath not bin a bed to night.

Ro: The last was true, the sweeter rest was mine.

Fr: God pardon sin, wert thou with Rosaline?

Ro: With Rosaline my Ghostly father no,
I haue forgot that name, and that names woe. 40

Fri: Thats my good sonne: but where hast thou bin then?

Ro: I tell thee ere thou aske it me againe,
I haue bin feasting with mine enemie:
Where on the sodaine one hath wounded mee
[Pg 163] Thats by me wounded, both our remedies
With in thy help and holy phisicke lies,
I beare no hatred blessed man: for loe
My intercession likewise steades my foe.

Frier: Be plaine my sonne and homely in thy drift,
Ridling confession findes but ridling shrift. 50

Rom: Then plainely know my harts deare loue is set
On the faire daughter of rich Capulet:
As mine on hers, so hers likewise on mine,
And all combind, saue what thou must combine
By holy marriage: where, and when, and how, 55
We met, we woo'd, and made exchange of vowes,
Il'e tell thee as I passe: But this I pray,
That thou consent to marrie vs to day.

Fri: Holy S. Francis, what a change is here?
Is Rosaline whome thou didst loue so deare 60
So soone forsooke, lo yong mens loue then lies
Not truelie in their harts, but in their eyes.
Iesu Maria, what a deale of brine
Hath washt thy sallow cheekes for Rosaline?
How much salt water cast away in waste, 65
To season loue, that of loue doth not taste.
The sunne not yet thy sighes from heauen cleares,
Thy old grones ring yet in my ancient eares,
And loe vpon thy cheeke the staine doth sit,
Of an old teare that is not washt off yet. 70
If euer thou wert thus, and these woes thine,
Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline,
And art thou changde, pronounce this sentence then
Women may fal, when ther's no strength in men.

Rom: Thou chidst me oft for louing Rosaline. 75

Fr: For doating, not for louing, pupill mine.

Rom: And badst me burie loue.

Fr: Not in a graue,
To lay one in another out to haue.

Rom: I pree thee chide not, she whom I loue now 80
Doth grace for grace, and loue for loue allow:
The other did not so.

Fr: Oh she knew well
Thy loue did read by rote, and could not spell.
But come young Wauerer, come goe with mee, 85
In one respect Ile thy assistant bee:
For this alliaunce may so happie proue,
To turne your Housholds rancour to pure loue. Exeunt.

[Pg 164]

[Sc. VIII.]

Enter Mercutio, Benuolio.

Mer: Why whats become of Romeo? came he not home to night?

Ben: Not to his Fathers, I spake with his man.

Mer: Ah that same pale hard hearted wench, that Rosaline,
Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.

Mer: Tybalt the Kinsman of olde Capolet 5
Hath sent a Letter to his Fathers House:
Some Challenge on my life.

Ben: Romeo will answere it.

Mer: I, anie man that can write may answere a letter.

Ben: Nay, he will answere the letters master if hee bee challenged.10

Mer: Who, Romeo? why he is alreadie dead: stabd
with a white wenches blacke eye, shot thorough the eare
with a loue song, the verie pinne of his heart cleft with the
blinde bow-boyes but-shaft. And is he a man to encounter
Tybalt? 15

Ben: Why what is Tybalt?

Mer: More than the prince of cattes I can tell you. Oh
he is the couragious captaine of complements. Catso, he
fightes as you sing pricke-song, keepes time dystance and
proportion, rests me his minum rest one two and the thirde 20
in your bosome, the very butcher of a silken button, a Duellist
a Duellist, a gentleman of the very first house of the first
and second cause, ah the immortall Passado, the Punto reuerso,
the Hay.

Ben: The what? 25

Me: The Poxe of such limping antique affecting fantasticoes
these new tuners of accents. By Iesu a very good
blade, a very tall man, a very good whoore. Why graundsir
is not this a miserable case that we should be stil afflicted
with these strange flies: these fashionmongers, these pardonmees, 30
that stand so much on the new forme, that they
cannot sitte at ease on the old bench. Oh their bones, theyr
bones.

Ben. Heere comes Romeo.

Mer: Without his Roe, like a dryed Hering. O flesh flesh 35
how art thou fishified. Sirra now is he for the numbers that
Petrarch flowdin: Laura to his Lady was but a kitchin
drudg, yet she had a better loue to berime her: Dido a dowdy
Cleopatra a Gypsie, Hero and Hellen hildings and harletries:
Thisbie a gray eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior 40
Romeo bon iour, there is a French curtesie to your French
slop: yee gaue vs the counterfeit fairely yesternight.
[Pg 165]

Rom: What counterfeit I pray you?

Me: The slip the slip, can you not conceiue?

Rom: I cry you mercy my busines was great, and in such 45
a case as mine, a man may straine curtesie.

Mer: Oh thats as much to say as such a case as yours wil
constraine a man to bow in the hams.

Rom: A most curteous exposition.

Me: Why I am the very pinke of curtesie. 50

Rom: Pinke for flower?

Mer: Right.

Rom: Then is my Pumpe well flour'd:

Mer: Well said, follow me nowe that iest till thou hast
worne out thy Pumpe, that when the single sole of it is worn 55
the iest may remaine after the wearing solie singuler.

Rom: O single soald iest solie singuler for the singlenes.

Me: Come between vs good Benuolio, for my wits faile.

Rom: Swits and spurres, swits & spurres, or Ile cry a match.

Mer: Nay if thy wits runne the wildgoose chase, I haue 60
done: for I am sure thou hast more of the goose in one of
thy wits, than I haue in all my fiue: Was I with you there for
the goose?

Rom: Thou wert neuer with me for any thing, when
thou wert not with me for the goose. 65

Me: Ile bite thee by the eare for that iest.

Rom: Nay good goose bite not.

Mer: Why thy wit is a bitter sweeting, a most sharp sauce

Rom: And was it not well seru'd in to a sweet goose?

Mer: Oh heere is a witte of Cheuerell that stretcheth 70
from an ynch narrow to an ell broad.

Rom: I stretcht it out for the word broad, which added to
the goose, proues thee faire and wide a broad goose.

Mer: Why is not this better now than groning for loue?
why now art thou sociable, now art thou thy selfe, nowe art 75
thou what thou art, as wel by arte as nature. This driueling
loue is like a great naturall, that runs vp and downe to hide
his bable in a hole.

Ben: Stop there.

Me: Why thou wouldst haue me stopp my tale against 80
the haire.

Ben: Thou wouldst haue made thy tale too long?

Mer: Tut man thou art deceiued, I meant to make it
short, for I was come to the whole depth of my tale? and
meant indeed to occupie the argument no longer. 85

Rom: Heers goodly geare.

[Pg 166]

Enter Nurse and her man.

Mer: A saile, a saile, a saile.

Ben: Two, two, a shirt and a smocke.

Nur: Peter, pree thee giue me my fan.

Mer: Pree thee doo good Peter, to hide her face: for 90
her fanne is the fairer of the two.

Nur: God ye goodmorrow Gentlemen.

Mer: God ye good den faire Gentlewoman.

Nur: Is it godyegooden I pray you.

Mer: Tis no lesse I assure you, for the baudie hand of 95
the diall is euen now vpon the pricke of noone.

Nur: Fie, what a man is this?

Rom: A Gentleman Nurse, that God hath made for
himselfe to marre.

Nur: By my troth well said: for himselfe to marre 100
quoth he? I pray you can anie of you tell where one maie
finde yong Romeo?

Rom: I can: but yong Romeo will bee elder when you
haue found him, than he was when you sought him. I am
the yongest of that name for fault of a worse. 105

Nur: Well said.

Mer: Yea, is the worst well? mas well noted, wisely,
wisely.

Nu: If you be he sir, I desire some conference with ye.

Ben: O, belike she meanes to inuite him to supper. 110

Mer: So ho. A baud, a baud, a baud.

Rom: Why what hast found man?

Mer: No hare sir, vnlesse it be a hare in a lenten pye,
that is somewhat stale and hoare ere it be eaten.

He walkes by them, and sings.

And an olde hare hore, and an olde hare hore 115
is verie good meate in Lent:
But a hare thats hoare is too much for a score,
if it hore ere it be spent.

Youl come to your fathers to supper?

Rom: I will. 120

Mer: Farewell ancient Ladie, farewell sweete Ladie.

Exeunt Benuolio, Mercutio.

Nur: Marry farewell. Pray what saucie merchant was
this that was so full of his roperipe?

Rom: A gentleman Nurse that loues to heare himselfe
talke, and will speake more in an houre than hee will stand
to in a month. 125

Nur: If he stand to anie thing against mee, Ile take
him downe if he were lustier than he is: if I cannot take him
[Pg 167] downe, Ile finde them that shall: I am none of his flurtgills,
I am none of his skaines mates. 130

She turnes to Peter her man.

And thou like a knaue must stand by, and see euery Iacke
vse me at his pleasure.

Pet: I see no bodie vse you at his pleasure, if I had, I
would soone haue drawen: you know my toole is as soone
out as anothers if I see time and place. 135

Nur: Now afore God he hath so vext me, that euerie
member about me quiuers: scuruie Iacke. But as I said, my
Ladie bad me seeke ye out, and what shee bad me tell yee,
that Ile keepe to my selfe: but if you should lead her into a
fooles paradice as they saye, it were a verie grosse kinde of 140
behauiour as they say, for the Gentlewoman is yong. Now
if you should deale doubly with her, it were verie weake
dealing, and not to be offered to anie Gentlewoman.

Rom: Nurse, commend me to thy Ladie, tell her I
protest. 145

Nur: Good heart: yfaith Ile tell her so: oh she will be
a ioyfull woman.

Rom: Why, what wilt thou tell her?

Nur: That you doo protest: which (as I take it) is a
Gentlemanlike proffer. 150

Rom: Bid her get leaue to morrow morning
To come to shrift to Frier Laurence cell:
And stay thou Nurse behinde the Abbey wall,
My man shall come to thee, and bring along
The cordes, made like a tackled staire, 155
Which to the high top-gallant of my ioy
Must be my conduct in the secret night.
Hold, take that for thy paines.

Nur: No, not a penie truly.

Rom: I say you shall not chuse. 160

Nur: Well, to morrow morning she shall not faile.

Rom: Farewell, be trustie, and Ile quite thy paine. Exit.

Nur: Peter, take my fanne, and goe before. Ex. omnes.

[Sc. IX.]

Enter Iuliet.

Jul: The clocke stroke nine when I did send my Nursse
In halfe an houre she promist to returne.
Perhaps she cannot finde him. Thats not so.
Oh she is lazie, Loues heralds should be thoughts,
And runne more swift, than hastie powder fierd, 5
Doth hurrie from the fearfull Cannons mouth.

Enter Nurse.

Oh now she comes. Tell me gentle Nurse,
What sayes my Loue?
[Pg 168]

Nur: Oh I am wearie, let mee rest a while. Lord how
my bones ake. Oh wheres my man? Giue me some aqua 10
vitæ.

Iul: I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy newes.

Nur: Fie, what a iaunt haue I had: and my backe a tother
side. Lord, Lord, what a case am I in.

Jul: But tell me sweet Nurse, what sayes Romeo? 15

Nur: Romeo, nay, alas you cannot chuse a man. Hees
no bodie, he is not the Flower of curtesie, he is not a proper
man: and for a hand, and a foote, and a baudie, wel go thy
way wench, thou hast it ifaith. Lord, Lord, how my head
beates? 20

Iul: What of all this? tell me what sayes he to our
mariage?

Nur: Marry he sayes like an honest Gentleman, and a
kinde, and I warrant a vertuous: wheres your Mother?

Iul: Lord, Lord, how odly thou repliest? He saies like a 25
kinde Gentleman, and an honest, and a vertuous; wheres
your mother?

Nur: Marry come vp, cannot you stay a while? is this
the poultesse for mine aking boanes? next arrant youl haue
done, euen doot your selfe. 30

Iul: Nay stay sweet Nurse, I doo intreate thee now,
What sayes my Loue, my Lord, my Romeo?

Nur: Goe, hye you straight to Friar Laurence Cell,
And frame a scuse that you must goe to shrift:
There stayes a Bridegroome to make you a Bride. 35
Now comes the wanton blood vp in your cheekes,
I must prouide a ladder made of cordes,
With which your Lord must clime a birdes nest soone.
I must take paines to further your delight,
But you must beare the burden soone at night. 40
Doth this newes please you now?

Iul: How doth her latter words reuiue my hart.
Thankes gentle Nurse, dispatch thy busines,
And Ile not faile to meete my Romeo. Exeunt.

[Sc. X.]

Enter Romeo, Frier.

Rom: Now Father Laurence, in thy holy grant
Consists the good of me and Iuliet.

Fr: Without more words I will doo all I may,
To make you happie if in me it lye.

Rom: This morning here she pointed we should meet, 5
And consumate those neuer parting bands,
Witnes of our harts loue by ioyning hands.
[Pg 169] And come she will.

Fr: I gesse she will indeed,
Youths loue is quicke, swifter than swiftest speed. 10

Enter Iuliet somewhat fast, and embraceth Romeo.

See where she comes.
So light of foote nere hurts the troden flower:
Of loue and ioy, see see the soueraigne power.

Iul: Romeo.

Rom: My Iuliet welcome. As doo waking eyes 15
(Cloasd in Nights mysts) attend the frolicke Day,
So Romeo hath expected Iuliet,
And thou art come.

Jul: I am (if I be Day)
Come to my Sunne: shine foorth, and make me faire. 20

Rom: All beauteous fairnes dwelleth in thine eyes.

Iul: Romeo from thine all brightnes doth arise.

Fr: Come wantons, come, the stealing houres do passe
Defer imbracements till some fitrer time,
Part for a while, you shall not be alone, 25
Till holy Church haue ioynd ye both in one.

Rom: Lead holy Father, all delay seemes long.

Iul: Make hast, make hast, this lingring doth vs wrong.

Fr: O, soft and faire makes sweetest worke they say.
Hast is a common hindrer in crosse way. Exeunt omnes. 30

[Sc. XI.]

Enter Benuolio, Mercutio.

Ben: I pree thee good Mercutio lets retire,
The day is hot, the Capels are abroad.

Mer: Thou art like one of those, that when hee comes
into the confines of a tauerne, claps me his rapier on the
boord, and sayes, God send me no need of thee: and by 5
the operation of the next cup of wine, he drawes it on the
drawer, when indeed there is no need.

Ben: Am I like such a one?

Mer: Go too, thou art as hot a Iacke being mooude,
and as soone mooude to be moodie, and as soone moodie to 10
be mooud.

Ben: And what too?

Mer: Nay, and there were two such, wee should haue
none shortly. Didst not thou fall out with a man for cracking
of nuts, hauing no other reason, but because thou hadst 15
hasill eyes? what eye but such an eye would haue pickt out
such a quarrell? With another for coughing, because hee
wakd thy dogge that lay a sleepe in the Sunne? With a
Taylor for wearing his new dublet before Easter: and
[Pg 170] with another for tying his new shoes with olde ribands.
And yet thou wilt forbid me of quarrelling.

Ben: By my head heere comes a Capolet.

Enter Tybalt.

Mer: By my heele I care not.

Tyb: Gentlemen a word with one of you.

Mer: But one word with one of vs? You had best couple 25
it with somewhat, and make it a word and a blow.

Tyb: I am apt enough to that if I haue occasion.

Mer: Could you not take occasion?

Tyb: Mercutio thou consorts with Romeo?

Mer: Consort. Zwounes consort? the slaue wil make fidlers 30
of vs. If you doe sirra, look for nothing but discord: For
heeres my fiddle-sticke.

Enter Romeo.

Tyb: Well peace be with you, heere comes my man.

Mer: But Ile be hanged if he weare your lyuery: Mary
go before into the field, and he may be your follower, so in 35
that sence your worship may call him man.

Tyb: Romeo the hate I beare to thee can affoord no better
words then these, thou art a villaine.

Rom: Tybalt the loue I beare to thee, doth excuse the
appertaining rage to such a word: villaine am I none, therfore 40
I well perceiue thou knowst me not.

Tyb: Bace boy this cannot serue thy turne, and therefore
drawe.

Ro: I doe protest I neuer iniured thee, but loue thee better
than thou canst deuise, till thou shall know the reason of 45
my loue.

Mer: O dishonorable vile submission. Allastockado caries
it away. You Ratcatcher, come backe, come backe.

Tyb: What wouldest with me?

Mer: Nothing King of Cates, but borrow one of your 50
nine liues, therefore come drawe your rapier out of your
scabard, least mine be about your eares ere you be aware.

Rom: Stay Tibalt, hould Mercutio: Benuolio beate
downe their weapons.

Tibalt vnder Romeos arme thrusts Mercutio, in and flyes.

Mer: Is he gone, hath hee nothing? A poxe on your 55
houses.

Rom: What art thou hurt man, the wound is not deepe.

Mer: Noe not so deepe as a Well, nor so wide as a
[Pg 171] barne doore, but it will serue I warrant. What meant you to
come betweene vs? I was hurt vnder your arme. 60

Rom: I did all for the best.

Mer: Apoxe of your houses, I am fairely drest. Sirra
goe fetch me a Surgeon.

Boy: I goe my Lord.

Mer: I am pepperd for this world, I am sped yfaith, he 65
hath made wormes meate of me, & ye aske for me to morrow
you shall finde me a graue-man. A poxe of your houses,
I shall be fairely mounted vpon foure mens shoulders: For
your house of the Mountegues and the Capolets: and then
some peasantly rogue, some Sexton, some base slaue shall 70
write my Epitapth, that Tybalt came and broke the Princes
Lawes, and Mercutio was slaine for the first and second
cause. Wher's the Surgeon?

Boy: Hee's come sir.

Mer: Now heele keepe a mumbling in my guts on the 75
other side, come Benuolio, lend me thy hand: a poxe of
your houses. Exeunt.

Rom: This Gentleman the Princes neere Alie.
My very frend hath tane this mortall wound
In my behalfe, my reputation staind 80
With Tibalts slaunder, Tybalt that an houre
Hath beene my kinsman. Ah Iuliet
Thy beautie makes me thus effeminate,
And in my temper softens valors steele.

Enter Benuolio.

Ben: Ah Romeo Romeo braue Mercutio is dead, 85
That gallant spirit hath a spir'd the cloudes,
Which too vntimely scornd the lowly earth.

Rom: This daies black fate, on more daies doth depend
This but begins what other dayes must end.

Enter Tibalt.

Ben: Heere comes the furious Tibalt backe againe. 90

Rom: A liue in tryumph and Mercutio slaine?
Away to heauen respectiue lenity:
And fier eyed fury be my conduct now.
Now Tibalt take the villaine backe againe,
Which late thou gau'st me: for Mercutios soule, 95
Is but a little way aboue the cloudes,
And staies for thine to beare him company.
Or thou, or I, or both shall follow him.

Fight, Tibalt falles.

Ben: Romeo away, thou seest that Tibalt's slaine,
[Pg 172] The Citizens approach, away, begone
Thou wilt be taken.

Rom: Ah I am fortunes slaue.

Exeunt.

Enter Citizens.

Watch: Wher's he that slue Mercutio, Tybalt that villaine?

Ben: There is that Tybalt. 105
Vp sirra goe with vs [1594].

Enter Prince, Capolets wife.

Pry: Where be the vile beginners of this fray?

Ben: Ah Noble Prince I can discouer all
The most vnlucky mannage of this brawle.
Heere lyes the man slaine by yong Romeo, 110
That slew thy kinsman braue Mercutio.

M: Tibalt, Tybalt, O my brothers child,
Vnhappie sight? Ah the blood is spilt
Of my deare kinsman, Prince as thou art true:
For blood of ours, shed bloud of Mountagew. 115

Pry: Speake Benuolio who began this fray?

Ben: Tibalt heere slaine whom Romeos hand did slay.
Romeo who spake him fayre bid him bethinke
How nice the quarrell was.
But Tibalt still persisting in his wrong, 120
The stout Mercutio drewe to calme the storme,
Which Romeo seeing cal'd stay Gentlemen,
And on me cry'd, who drew to part their strife,
And with his agill arme yong Romeo,
As fast as tung crydepeace, sought peace to make. 125
While they were enterchanging thrusts and blows,
Vnder yong Romeos laboring arme to part,
The furious Tybalt cast an enuious thrust,
That rid the life of stout Mercutio.
With that he fled, but presently return'd, 130
And with his rapier braued Romeo:
That had but newly entertain'd reuenge.
And ere I could draw forth my rapyer
To part their furie, downe did Tybalt fall,
And this way Romeo fled. 135

Mo: He is a Mountagew and speakes partiall,
Some twentie of them fought in this blacke strife:
And all those twenty could but kill one life.
I doo intreate sweete Prince thoult iustice giue,
[Pg 173] Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo may not liue. 140

Prin: And for that offence
Immediately we doo exile him hence.
I haue an interest in your hates proceeding,
My blood for your rude braules doth lye a bleeding.
But Ile amerce you with so large a fine, 145
That you shall all repent the losse of mine.
I will be deafe to pleading and excuses,
Nor teares nor prayers shall purchase for abuses.
Pittie shall dwell and gouerne with vs still:
Mercie to all but murdrers, pardoning none that kill. 150

Exeunt omnes.

[Sc. XII.]

Enter Iuliet.

Iul: Gallop apace you fierie footed steedes
To Phœbus mansion, such a Waggoner
As Phaeton, would quickly bring you thether,
And send in cloudie night immediately.

Enter Nurse wringing her hands, with the ladder of cordes in her lap.

But how now Nurse: O Lord, why lookst thou sad? 5
What hast thou there, the cordes?

Nur: I, I, the cordes: alacke we are vndone,
We are vndone, Ladie we are vndone.

Iul: What diuell art thou that torments me thus?

Nurs: Alack the day, hees dead, hees dead, hees dead. 10

Jul: This torture should be roard in dismall hell.
Can heauens be so enuious?

Nur: Romeo can if heauens cannot.
I saw the wound, I saw it with mine eyes.
God saue the sample, on his manly breast: 15
A bloodie coarse, a piteous bloodie coarse,
All pale as ashes, I swounded at the sight.

Iul: Ah Romeo, Romeo, what disaster hap
Hath seuerd thee from thy true Juliet?
Ah why should Heauen so much conspire with Woe, 20
Or Fate enuie our happie Marriage,
So soone to sunder vs by timelesse Death?

Nur: O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best frend I had,
O honest Tybalt, curteous Gentleman.

Iul: What storme is this that blowes so contrarie, 25
Is Tybalt dead, and Romeo murdered:
My deare loude cousen, and my dearest Lord.
Then let the trumpet sound a generall doome
[Pg 174] These two being dead, then liuing is there none.

Nur: Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished, 30
Romeo that murdred him is banished.

Iul: Ah heauens, did Romeos hand shed Tybalts blood?

Nur: It did, it did, alacke the day it did.

Iul: O serpents hate, hid with a flowring face:
O painted sepulcher, including filth. 35
Was neuer booke containing so foule matter,
So fairly bound. Ah, what meant Romeo?

Nur: There is no truth, no faith, no honestie in men:
All false, all faithles, periurde, all forsworne.
Shame come to Romeo. 40

Iul: A blister on that tung, he was not borne to shame:
Vpon his face Shame is ashamde to sit.
But wherefore villaine didst thou kill my Cousen?
That villaine Cousen would haue kild my husband.
All this is comfort. But there yet remaines 45
Worse than his death, which faine I would forget:
But ah, it presseth to my memorie,
Romeo is banished. Ah that word Banished
Is worse than death. Romeo is banished,
Is Father, Mother, Tybalt, Iuliet, 50
All killd, all slaine, all dead, all banished.
Where are my Father and my Mother Nurse?

Nur: Weeping and wayling ouer Tybalts coarse.
Will you goe to them?

Iul: I, I, when theirs are spent, 55
Mine shall he shed for Romeos banishment.

Nur: Ladie, your Romeo will be here to night,
Ile to him, he is hid at Laurence Cell.

Iul: Doo so, and beare this Ring to my true Knight,
And bid him come to take his last farewell. Exeunt.60

[Sc. XIII.]

Enter Frier.

Fr: Romeo come forth, come forth thou fearfull man,
Affliction is enamourd on thy parts,
And thou art wedded to Calamitie.

Enter Romeo.

Rom: Father what newes, what is the Princes doome,
What Sorrow craues acquaintance at our hands, 5
Which yet we know not.

Fr: Too familiar
Is my yong sonne with such sowre companie:
I bring thee tidings of the Princes doome.

Rom: What lesse than doomes day is the Princes doome? 10

Fr: A gentler iudgement vanisht from his lips,
[Pg 175] Not bodies death, but bodies banishment.

Rom: Ha, Banished? be mercifull, say death:
For Exile hath more terror in his lookes,
Than death it selfe, doo not say Banishment. 15

Fr: Hence from Verona art thou banished:
Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.

Rom: There is no world without Verona walls,
But purgatorie, torture, hell it selfe.
Hence banished, is banisht from the world: 20
And world exilde is death. Calling death banishment,
Thou cutst my head off with a golden axe,
And smilest vpon the stroke that murders me.

Fr: Oh monstrous sinne, O rude vnthankfulnes:
Thy fault our law calls death, but the milde Prince 25
(Taking thy part) hath rushd aside the law,
And turnd that blacke word death to banishment:
This is meere mercie, and thou seest it not.

Rom: Tis torture and not mercie, heauen is heere
Where Iuliet liues: and euerie cat and dog, 30
And little mouse, euerie vnworthie thing
Liue here in heauen, and may looke on her,
But Romeo may not. More validitie,
More honourable state, more courtship liues
In carrion flyes, than Romeo: they may seaze 35
On the white wonder of faire Iuliets skinne,
And steale immortall kisses from her lips;
But Romeo may not, he is banished.
Flies may doo this, but I from this must flye.
Oh Father hadst thou no strong poyson mixt, 40
No sharpe ground knife, no present meane of death,
Though nere so meane, but banishment
To torture me withall: ah, banished.
O Frier, the damned vse that word in hell:
Howling attends it. How hadst thou the heart, 45
Being a Diuine, a ghostly Confessor,
A sinne absoluer, and my frend profest,
To mangle me with that word, Banishment?

Fr: Thou fond mad man, heare me but speake a word.

Rom: O, thou wilt talke againe of Banishment. 50

Fr: Ile giue thee armour to beare off this word,
Aduersities sweete milke, philosophie,
To comfort thee though thou be banished.

Rom: Yet Banished? hang vp philosophie,
Vnlesse philosophie can make a Juliet, 55
Displant a Towne, reuerse a Princes doome,
It helpes not, it prevailes not, talke no more.
[Pg 176]

Fr: O, now I see that madmen haue no eares.

Rom: How should they, when that wise men haue no eyes.

Fr: Let me dispute with thee of thy estate. 60

Rom: Thou canst not speak of what thou dost not feele.
Wert thou as young as I, Iuliet thy Loue,
An houre but married, Tybalt murdred.
Doting like me, and like me banished,
Then mightst thou speake, then mightst thou teare thy hayre. 65
And fall vpon the ground as I doe now,
Taking the measure of an vnmade graue.

Nurse knockes.

Fr: Romeo arise, stand vp thou wilt be taken,
I heare one knocke, arise and get thee gone.

Nu: Hoe Fryer. 70

Fr: Gods will what wilfulnes is this?

Shee knockes againe.

Nur: Hoe Fryer open the doore,

Fr: By and by I come. Who is there?

Nur: One from Lady Iuliet.

Fr: Then come neare. 75

Nur: Oh holy Fryer, tell mee oh holy Fryer,
Where is my Ladies Lord? Wher's Romeo?

Fr: There on the ground, with his owne teares made
drunke.

Nur: Oh he is euen in my Mistresse case. 80
Iust in her case. Oh wofull simpathy,
Pitteous predicament, euen so lyes shee,
Weeping and blubbring, blubbring and weeping:
Stand vp, stand vp, stand and you be a man.
For Iuliets sake, for her sake rise and stand, 85
Why should you fall into so deep an O.

He rises.

Romeo: Nurse.

Nur: Ah sir, ah sir. Wel death's the end of all.

Rom: Spakest thou of Iuliet, how is it with her?
Doth she not thinke me an olde murderer, 90
Now I haue stainde the childhood of her ioy,
With bloud remou'd but little from her owne?
Where is she? and how doth she? And what sayes
My conceal'd Lady to our canceld loue?

Nur: Oh she saith nothing, but weepes and pules, 95
And now fals on her bed, now on the ground,
And Tybalt cryes, and then on Romeo calles.
[Pg 177]

Rom: As if that name shot from the deadly leuel of a gun
Did murder her, as that names cursed hand
Murderd her kinsman. Ah tell me holy Fryer 100
In what vile part of this Anatomy
Doth my name lye? Tell me that I may sacke
The hatefull mansion?

He offers to stab himselfe, and Nurse snatches the dagger away.

Nur: Ah?

Fr: Hold, stay thy hand: art thou a man? thy forme 105
Cryes out thou art, but thy wilde actes denote
The vnresonable furyes of a beast.
Vnseemely woman in a seeming man,
Or ill beseeming beast in seeming both.
Thou hast amaz'd me. By my holy order, 110
I thought thy disposition better temperd,
Hast thou slaine Tybalt? wilt thou slay thy selfe?
And slay thy Lady too, that liues in thee?
Rouse vp thy spirits, thy Lady Iuliet liues,
For whose sweet sake thou wert but lately dead: 115
There art thou happy. Tybalt would kill thee,
But thou sluest Tybalt, there art thou happy too.
A packe of blessings lights vpon thy backe,
Happines Courts thee in his best array:
But like a misbehaude and sullen wench 120
Thou frownst vpon thy Fate that smilles on thee.
Take heede, take heede, for such dye miserable.
Goe get thee to thy loue as was decreed:
Ascend her Chamber Window, hence and comfort her,
But looke thou stay not till the watch be set: 125
For then thou canst not passe to Mantua.
Nurse prouide all things in a readines,
Comfort thy Mistresse, haste the house to bed,
Which heauy sorrow makes them apt vnto.

Nur: Good Lord what a thing learning is. 130
I could haue stayde heere all this night
To heare good counsell. Well Sir,
Ile tell my Lady that you will come.

Rom: Doe so and bidde my sweet prepare to childe,
Farwell good Nurse. 135

Nurse offers to goe in and turnes againe.

Nur: Heere is a Ring Sir, that she bad me giue you,

Rom: How well my comfort is reuiud by this.

Exit Nurse.

[Pg 178]

Fr: Soiorne in Mantua, Ile finde out your man,
And he shall signifie from time to time:
Euery good hap that doth befall thee heere. 140
Farwell.

Rom: But that a ioy, past ioy cryes out on me,
It were a griefe so breefe to part with thee.

[Sc. XIV.]

Enter olde Capolet and his Wife, with County Paris.

Cap: Thinges haue fallen out Sir so vnluckⁱly,
That we haue had no time to moue my daughter.
Looke yee Sir, she lou'd her kinsman dearely,
And so did I. Well, we were borne to dye,
Wife wher's your daughter, is she in her chamber? 5
I thinke she meanes not to come downe to night.

Par: These times of woe affoord no time to wooe,
Maddam farwell, commend me to your daughter.

Paris offers to goe in, and Capolet calles him againe.

Cap: Sir Paris? Ile make a desperate tender of my child.
I thinke she will be rulde in all respectes by mee: 10
But soft what day is this?

Par: Munday my Lord.

Cap: Oh then Wensday is too soone,
On Thursday let it be: you shall be maried.
Wee'le make no great a doe, a frend or two, or so: 15
For looke ye Sir, Tybalt being slaine so lately,
It will be thought we held him care leslye:
If we should reuell much, therefore we will haue
Some halfe a dozen frends and make no more adoe.
But what say you to Thursday. 20

Par: My Lorde I wishe that Thursday were to morrow.

Cap: Wife goe you to your daughter, ere you goe to bed.
Acquaint her with the County Paris loue,
Fare well my Lord till Thursday next.
Wife gette you to your daughter. Light to my Chamber. 25
Afore me it is so very very late,
That we may call it earely by and by.

Exeunt.

[Sc. XV.]

Enter Romeo and Iuliet at the window.

Iul: Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet nere day,
[Pg 179] It was the Nightingale and not the Larke
That pierst the fearfull hollow of thine eare:
Nightly she sings on yon Pomegranate tree,
Beleeue me loue, it was the Nightingale. 5

Rom: It was the Larke, the Herald of the Morne,
And not the Nightingale. See Loue what enuious strakes
Doo lace the seuering clowdes in yonder East.
Nights candles are burnt out, and iocond Day
Stands tiptoes on the mystie mountaine tops. 10
I must be gone and liue, or stay and dye.

Jul: Yon light is not day light, I know it I:
It is some Meteor that the Sunne exhales,
To be this night to thee a Torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua. 15
Then stay awhile, thou shalt not goe soone.

Rom: Let me stay here, let me be tane, and dye:
If thou wilt haue it so, I am content.
Ile say yon gray is not the Mornings Eye,
It is the pale reflex of Cynthias brow. 20
Ile say it is the Nightingale that beates
The vaultic heauen so high aboue our heads,
And not the Larke the Messenger of Morne.
Come death and welcome, Iuliet wils it so.
What sayes my Loue? lets talke, tis not yet day. 25

Jul: It is, it is, begone, flye hence away.
It is the Larke that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh Discords and vnpleasing Sharpes.
Some say, the Larke makes sweete Diuision:
This doth not so: for this diuideth vs. 30
Some say the Larke and loathed Toad change eyes,
I would that now they had changd voyces too:
Since arme from arme her voyce doth vs affray,
Hunting thee hence with Huntsvp to the day.
So now be gone, more light and light it growes. 35

Rom: More light and light, more darke and darke our woes.
Farewell my Loue, one kisse and Ile descend.

He goeth downe.

Jul: Art thou gone so, my Lord, my Loue, my Frend?
I must heare from thee euerie day in the hower:
For in an hower there are manie minutes, 40
Minutes are dayes, so will I number them:
Oh, by this count I shall be much in yeares,
Ere I see thee againe.

Rom: Farewell, I will omit no opportunitie
[Pg 180] That may conueigh my greetings loue to thee.

Iul: Oh, thinkst thou we shall euer meete againe.

Rom: No doubt, no doubt, and all this woe shall serue
For sweete discourses in the time to come.

Jul: Oh God, I have an ill diuining soule.
Me thinkes I see thee now thou art below 50
Like one dead in the bottome of a Tombe:
Either mine ey-sight failes, or thou lookst pale.

Rom: And trust me Loue, in my eye so doo you,
Drie sorrow drinkes our blood: adieu, adieu. Exit.

Enter Nurse hastely.

Nur: Madame beware, take heed the day is broke, 55
Your Mother's comming to your Chamber, make all sure.

She goeth downe from the window.

Enter Iuliets Mother, Nurse.

Moth: Where are you Daughter?

Nur: What Ladie, Lambe, what Iuliet?

Iul: How now, who calls?

Nur: It is your Mother. 60

Moth: Why how now Juliet?

Iul: Madam, I am not well.

Moth: What euermore weeping for your Cosens death:
I thinke thoult wash him from his graue with teares.

Iul: I cannot chuse, hauing so great a losse. 65

Moth: I cannot blame thee.
But it greeues thee more that Villaine liues.

Iul: What Villaine Madame?

Moth: That Villaine Romeo.

Iul: Villaine and he are manie miles a sunder. 70

Moth: Content thee Girle, if I could finde a man
I soone would send to Mantua where he is,
That should bestow on him so sure a draught,
As he should soone beare Tybalt companie.

Iul: Finde you the meanes, and Ile finde such a man: 75
For whilest he liues, my heart shall nere be light
Till I behold him, dead is my poore heart.
Thus for a Kinsman vext?

Moth: Well let that passe. I come to bring thee ioyfull newes?

Iul: And ioy comes well in such a needfull time. 80

Moth: Well then, thou hast a carefull Father Girle,
And one who pittying thy needfull state,
Hath found thee out a happie day of ioy.

Iul: What day is that I pray you?

Moth: Marry my Childe, 85
[Pg 181] The gallant, yong and youthfull Gentleman,
The Countie Paris at Saint Peters Church,
Early next Thursday morning must prouide,
To make you there a glad and ioyfull Bride.

Iul: Now by Saint Peters Church and Peter too, 90
He shall not there make mee a ioyfull Bride.
Are these the newes you had to tell me of?
Marrie here are newes indeed. Madame I will not marrie yet.
And when I doo, it shalbe rather Romeo whom I hate,
Than Countie Paris that I cannot loue. 95

Enter olde Capolet.

Moth: Here comes your Father, you may tell him so.

Capo: Why how now, euermore showring?
In one little bodie thou resemblest a sea, a barke, a storme:
For this thy bodie which I tearme a barke,
Still floating in thy euerfalling teares, 100
And tost with sighes arising from thy hart:
Will without succour shipwracke presently.
But heare you Wife, what haue you sounded her, what saies she to it?

Moth: I haue, but she will none she thankes ye:
Would God that she were married to her graue. 105

Capo: What will she not, doth she not thanke vs, doth
she not wexe proud?

Iul: Not proud ye haue, but thankfull that ye haue:
Proud can I neuer be of that I hate,
But thankfull euen for hate that is ment loue. 110

Capo: Proud and I thanke you, and I thanke you not,
And yet not proud. Whats here, chop logicke.
Proud me no prouds, nor thanke me no thankes,
But fettle your fine ioynts on Thursday next
To goe with Paris to Saint Peters Church, 115
Or I will drag you on a hurdle thether.
Out you greene sicknes baggage, out you tallow face.

Iu: Good father heare me speake?

She kneeles downe.

Cap: I tell thee what, eyther resolue on thursday next
To goe with Paris to Saint Peters Church: 120
Or henceforth neuer looke me in the face.
Speake not, reply not, for my fingers ytch.
Why wife, we thought that we were scarcely blest
That God had sent vs but this onely chyld:
But now I see this one is one too much, 125
[Pg 182] And that we haue a crosse in hauing her.

Nur: Mary God in heauen blesse her my Lord,
You are too blame to rate her so.

Cap. And why my Lady wisedome? hold your tung,
Good prudence smatter with your gossips, goe. 130

Nur: Why my Lord I speake no treason.

Cap: Oh goddegodden.
Vtter your grauity ouer a gossips boule,
For heere wee need it not.

Mo: My lord ye are too hotte. 135

Cap: Gods blessed mother wife it mads me,
Day, night, early, late, at home, abroad,
Alone, in company, waking or sleeping,
Still my care hath beene to see her matcht.
And hauing now found out a Gentleman, 140
Of Princely parentage, youthfull, and nobly trainde.
Stuft as they say with honorable parts,
Proportioned as ones heart coulde wish a man:
And then to haue a wretched whyning foole,
A puling mammet in her fortunes tender, 145
To say I cannot loue, I am too young, I pray you pardon mee?
But if you cannot wedde Ile pardon you.
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.
Looke to it, thinke out, I doe not vse to iest.
I tell yee what, Thursday is neere, 150
Lay hand on heart, aduise, bethinke your selfe,
If you be mine, Ile giue you to my frend:
If not, hang, drowne, starue, beg,
Dye in the streetes: for by my Soule
Ile neuer more acknowledge thee, 155
Nor what I haue shall euer doe thee good,
Thinke ont, looke toot, I doe not vse to iest. Exit.

Iul: Is there no pitty hanging in the cloudes,
That lookes into the bottom of my woes?
I doe beseech you Madame, cast me not away, 160
Defer this mariage for a day or two,
Or if you cannot, make my mariage bed
In that dimme monument where Tybalt lyes.

Moth: Nay be assured I will not speake a word.
Do what thou wilt for I haue done with thee. Exit. 165

Iul: Ah Nurse what comfort? what counsell canst thou giue me.

Nur: Now trust me Madame, I know not what to say:
Your Romeo he is banisht, and all the world to nothing
He neuer dares returne to challendge you.
[Pg 183] Now I thinke good you marry with this County,
Oh he is a gallant Gentleman, Romeo is but a dishclout
In respect of him. I promise you
I thinke you happy in this second match.
As for your husband he is dead:
Or twere as good he were, for you haue no vse of him. 175

Iul: Speakst thou this from thy heart?

Nur: I and from my soule, or els beshrew them both.

Iul: Amen.

Nur: What say you Madame?

Iul: Well, thou hast comforted me wondrous much, 180
I pray thee goe thy waies vnto my mother
Tell her I am gone hauing displeasde my Father.
To Fryer Laurence Cell to confesse me,
And to be absolu'd.

Nur: I will, and this is wisely done. 185

She lookes after Nurse.

Iul: Auncient damnation, O most cursed fiend.
Is it more sinne to wish me thus forsworne,
Or to dispraise him with the selfe same tongue
That thou hast praisde him with aboue compare
So many thousand times? Goe Counsellor, 190
Thou and my bosom henceforth shalbe twaine.
Ile to the Fryer to know his remedy,
If all faile els, I haue the power to dye.

Exit.

[Sc. XVI.]

Enter Fryer and Paris.

Fr: On Thursday say ye: the time is very short,

Par: My Father Capolet will haue it so,
And I am nothing slacke to slow his hast.

Fr: You say you doe not know the Ladies minde?
Vneuen is the course, I like it not. 5

Par: Immoderately she weepes for Tybalts death,
And therefore haue I little talkt of loue.
For Venus smiles not in a house of teares,
Now Sir, her father thinkes it daungerous:
That she doth giue her sorrow so much sway. 10
And in his wisedome hasts our mariage,
To stop the inundation of her teares.
Which too much minded by her selfe alone
May be put from her by societie.
Now doe ye know the reason of this hast. 15

Fr: I would I knew not why it should be slowd.

[Pg 184]

Enter Paris.

Heere comes the lady to my cell,

Par: Welcome my loue, my Lady and my wife:

Iu: That may be sir, when I may be a wife,

Par: That may be, must be loue, on thursday next. 20

Iu: What must be shalbe.

Fr: Thats a certaine text.

Par: What come ye to confession to this Fryer.

Iu: To tell you that were to confesse to you.

Par: Do not deny to him that you loue me. 25

Iul: I will confesse to you that I loue him,

Par: So I am sure you will that you loue me.

Iu: And if I doe, it wilbe of more price,
Being spoke behinde your backe, than to your face.

Par: Poore soule that face is much abus'd with teares. 30

Iu: The teares haue got small victory by that,
For it was bad enough before their spite.

Par: Thou wrongst it more than teares by that report.

Iu: That is no wrong sir, that is a truth:
And what I spake I spake it to my face. 35

Par: Thy face is mine and thou hast slaundred it.

Iu: It may be so, for it is not mine owne.
Are you at leasure holy Father now:
Or shall I come to you at euening Masse?

Fr: My leasure serues me pensive daughter now. 40
My Lord we must entreate the time alone.

Par: God sheild I should disturbe deuotion,
Iuliet farwell, and keep this holy kisse.

Exit Paris.

Iu: Goe shut the doore and when thou hast done so,
Come weepe with me that am past cure, past help, 45

Fr: Ah Iuliet I already know thy griefe,
I heare thou must and nothing may proroge it,
On Thursday next be married to the Countie.

Iul: Tell me not Frier that thou hearst of it,
Vnlesse thou tell me how we may preuent it. 50
Giue me some sudden counsell: els behold
Twixt my extreames and me, this bloodie Knife
Shall play the Vmpeere, arbitrating that
Which the Commission of thy yeares and arte
Could to no issue of true honour bring. 55
Speake not, be briefe: for I desire to die,
If what thou speakst, speake not of remedie.

Fr: Stay Juliet, I doo spie a kinde of hope,
Which craues as desperate an execution,
[Pg 185] As that is desperate we would preuent.
If rather than to marrie Countie Paris
Thou hast the strength or will to slay thy selfe,
Tis not vnlike that thou wilt vndertake
A thing like death to chyde away this shame,
Thou coapst with death it selfe to flye from blame. 65
And if thou doost, Ile giue thee remedie.

Jul: Oh bid me leape (rather than marrie Paris)
From off the battlements of yonder tower:
Or chaine me to some steepie mountaines top,
Where roaring Beares and sauage Lions are: 70
Or shut me nightly in a Charnell-house,
With reekie shankes, and yeolow chaples sculls:
Or lay me in tombe with one new dead:
Things that to heare them namde haue made me tremble;
And I will doo it without feare or doubt, 75
To keep my selfe a faithfull vnstaind Wife
To my deere Lord, my deerest Romeo.

Fr: Hold Iuliet, hie thee home, get thee to bed,
Let not thy Nurse lye with thee in thy Chamber:
And when thou art alone, take thou this Violl, 80
And this distilled Liquor drinke thou off:
When presently through all thy veynes shall run
A dull and heauie slumber, which shall seaze
Each vitall spirit: for no Pulse shall keepe
His naturall progresse, but surcease to beate: 85
No signe of breath shall testifie thou liust.
And in this borrowed likenes of shrunke death,
Thou shall remaine full two and fortie houres.
And when thou art laid in thy Kindreds Vault,
Ile send in hast to Mantua to thy Lord, 90
And he shall come and take thee from thy graue.

Iul: Frier I goe, be sure thou send for my deare Romeo.

Exeunt.

[Sc. XVII.]

Enter olde Capolet, his Wife, Nurse, and Seruingman.

Capo: Where are you sirra?

Ser: Heere forsooth.

Capo: Goe, prouide me twentie cunning Cookes.

Ser: I warrant you Sir, let me alone for that. Ile knowe
them by licking their fingers. 5

Capo: How canst thou know them so?

Ser: Ah sir, tis an ill Cooke cannot licke his owne fingers.

Capo: Well get you gone.

Exit Seruingman.

[Pg 186]

But wheres this Head-strong?

Moth: Shees gone (my Lord) to Frier Laurence Cell
To be confest.

Capo: Ah, he may hap to doo some good of her,
A headstrong selfewild harlotrie it is.

Enter Iuliet.

Moth: See here she commeth from Confession, 15

Capo: How now my Head-strong, where haue you bin
gadding?

Iul: Where I haue learned to repent the sin
Of froward wilfull opposition
Gainst you and your behests, and am enioynd 20
By holy Laurence to fall prostrate here,
And craue remission of so foule a fact.

She kneeles downe.

Moth: Why thats well said.

Capo: Now before God this holy reuerent Frier
All our whole Citie is much bound vnto. 25
Goe tell the Countie presently of this,
For I will haue this knot knit vp to morrow.

Jul: Nurse, will you go with me to my Closet,
To sort such things as shall be requisite
Against to morrrow, 30

Moth: I pree thee doo, good Nurse goe in with her,
Helpe her to sort Tyres, Rebatoes, Chaines,
And I will come vnto you presently,

Nur: Come sweet hart, shall we goe:

Iul: I pree thee let vs. 35

Exeunt Nurse and Iuliet.

Moth: Me thinks on Thursday would be time enough.

Capo: I say I will haue this dispatcht to morrow,
Goe one and certefie the Count thereof.

Moth: I pray my Lord, let it be Thursday.

Capo: I say to morrow while shees in the mood. 40

Moth: We shall be short in our prouision.

Capo: Let me alone for that, goe get you in,
Now before God my heart is passing light,
To see her thus conformed to our will. Exeunt.

[Sc. XVIII.]

Enter Nurse, Iuliet.

Nur: Come, come, what need you anie thing else?

Iul: Nothing good Nurse, but leaue me to my selfe:
For I doo meane to lye alone to night.
[Pg 187]

Nur: Well theres a cleane smocke vnder your pillow,
and so good night. Exit.

Enter Mother.

Moth: What are you busie, doo you need my helpe?

Iul: No Madame, I desire to lye alone,
For I haue manie things to thinke vpon.

Moth: Well then good night, be stirring Iuliet,
The Countie will be earlie here to morrow. Exit. 10

Iul: Farewell, God knowes when wee shall meete againe.
Ah, I doo take a fearfull thing in hand.
What if this Potion should not worke at all.
Must I of force be married to the Countie?
This shall forbid it. Knife, lye thou there. 15
What if the Frier should giue me this drinke
To poyson mee, for feare I should disclose
Our former marriage? Ah, I wrong him much,
He is a holy and religious Man:
I will not entertaine so bad a thought. 20
What if I should be stifled in the Toomb?
Awake an houre before the appointed time:
Ah then I feare I shall be lunaticke,
And playing with my dead forefathers bones,
Dash out my franticke braines. Me thinkes I see 25
My Cosin Tybalt weltring in his bloud,
Seeking for Romeo: stay Tybalt stay.
Romeo I come, this doe I drinke to thee.

She fals vpon her bed within the Curtaines.

[Sc. XIX.]

Enter Nurse with hearbs, Mother.

Moth: Thats well said Nurse, set all in redines,
The Countie will be heere immediatly.

Enter Oldeman.

Cap: Make hast, make hast, for it is almost day,
The Curfewe bell hath rung, t'is foure a clocke,
Looke to your bakt meates good Angelica.

Nur: Goe get you to bed you cotqueane. I faith you
will be sicke anone.

Cap: I warrant thee Nurse I haue ere now watcht all
night, and haue taken no harme at all.

Moth: I you haue beene a mouse hunt in your time. 10

Enter Seruingman with Logs & Coales.

Cap: A Ielous hood, a Ielous hood: How now sirra?
What haue you there?
[Pg 188]

Ser: Forsooth Logs.

Cap: Goe, goe choose dryer. Will will tell thee where
thou shalt fetch them. 15

Ser: Nay I warrant let me alone, I haue a heade I troe to
choose a Log.

Exit.

Cap: Well goe thy way, thou shalt be logger head.
Come, come, make hast call vp your daughter,
The Countie will be heere with musicke straight. 20
Gods me hees come, Nurse call vp my daughter.

Nur: Goe, get you gone. What lambe, what Lady
birde? fast I warrant. What Iuliet? well, let the County take
you in your bed: yee sleepe for a weeke now, but the next
night, the Countie Paris hath set vp his rest that you shal rest25
but little. What lambe I say, fast still: what Lady, Loue,
whatbride, what Iuliet? Gods me how sound she sleeps? Nay
then I see I must wake you indeed. Whats heere, laide on
your bed, drest in your cloathes and down, ah me, alack the
day, some Aqua vitæ hoe. 30

Enter Mother.

Moth: How now whats the matter?

Nur: Alack the day, shees dead, shees dead, shees dead.

Moth: Accurst, vnhappy, miserable time.

Enter Oldeman.

Cap: Come, come, make hast, wheres my daughter?

Moth: Ah shees dead, shees dead. 35

Cap: Stay, let me see, all pale and wan.
Accursed time, vnfortunate olde man.

Enter Fryer and Paris.

Par: What is the bride ready to goe to Church?

Cap: Ready to goe, but neuer to returne.
O Sonne the night before thy wedding day, 40
Hath Death laine with thy bride, flower as she is,
Deflowerd by him, see, where she lyes,
Death is my Sonne in Law, to him I giue all that I haue,

Par: Haue I thought long to see this mornings face,
And doth it now present such prodegies? 45
Accurst, vnhappy, miserable man,
Forlorne, forsaken, destitute I am:
Borne to the world to be a slaue in it.
Distrest, remediles, and vnfortunate.
O heauens, O nature, wherefore did you make me, 50
To liue so vile, so wretched as I shall.
[Pg 189]

Cap: O heere she lies that was our hope, our ioy,
And being dead, dead sorrow nips vs all.

All at once cry out and wring their hands.

All cry: And all our ioy, and all our hope is dead,
Dead, lost, vndone, absented, wholy fled. 55

Cap: Cruel, vniust, impartiall destinies,
Why to this day haue you preseru'd my life?
To see my hope, my stay, my ioy, my life,
Depriude of sence, of life, of all by death,
Cruell, vniust, impartiall destinies. 60

Cap: O sad fac'd sorrow map of misery,
Why this sad time haue I desird to see.
This day, this vniust, this impartiall day
Wherein I hop'd to see my comfort full,
To be depriude by suddaine destinie. 65

Moth: O woe, alacke, distrest, why should I liue?
To see this day, this miserable day.
Alacke the time that euer I was borne.
To be partaker of this destinie.
Alacke the day, alacke and welladay. 70

Fr: O peace for shame, if not for charity.
Your daughter liues in peace and happines,
And it is vaine to wish it otherwise.
Come sticke your Rosemary in this dead coarse,
And as the custome of our Country is, 75
In all her best and sumptuous ornaments,
Conuay her where her Ancestors lie tomb'd,

Cap: Let it be so, come wofull sorrow mates,
Let vs together taste this bitter fate.

They all but the Nurse goe foorth, casting Rosemary on her and shutting the Curtens.

Enter Musitions.

Nur: Put vp, put vp, this is a wofull case. Exit.80

1. I by my troth Mistresse is it, it had need be mended.

Enter Seruingman.

Ser: Alack alack what shal I doe, come Fidlers play me
some mery dumpe.

1. A sir, this is no time to play.

Ser: You will not then? 85

1. No marry will wee.

Ser: Then will I giue it you, and soundly to.

1. What will you giue vs?
[Pg 190]

Ser: The fidler, Ile re you, Ile fa you, Ile sol you.

1. If you re vs and fa vs, we will note you. 90

Ser: I will put vp my Iron dagger, and beate you with
my wodden wit. Come on Simon found Pot, Ile pose you,

1. Lets heare.

Ser: When griping griefe the heart doth wound,
And dolefull dumps the minde oppresse: 95
Then musique with her siluer sound,
Why siluer sound? Why siluer sound?

1. I thinke because musicke hath a sweet sound.

Ser: Pretie, what say you Mathew minikine?

2. I thinke because Musitions sound for siluer. 100

Ser: Prettie too: come, what say you?

3. I say nothing.

Ser: I thinke so, Ile speake for you because you are the
Singer. I saye Siluer sound, because such Fellowes as you
haue sildome Golde for sounding. Farewell Fidlers, 105
farewell. Exit.

1. Farewell and be hangd: come lets goe. Exeunt.

[Sc. XX.]

Enter Romeo.

Rom: If I may trust the flattering Eye of Sleepe,
My Dreame presagde some good euent to come.
My bosome Lord sits chearfull in his throne,
And I am comforted with pleasing dreames.
Me thought I was this night alreadie dead: 5
(Strange dreames that giue a dead man leaue to thinke)
And that my Ladie Iuliet came to me,
And breathd such life with kisses in my lips,
That I reuiude and was an Emperour.

Enter Balthasar his man booted.

Newes from Verona. How now Balthasar, 10
How doth my Ladie? Is my Father well?
How fares my Juliet? that I aske againe:
If she be well, then nothing can be ill.

Balt: Then nothing can be ill, for she is well,
Her bodie sleepes in Capels Monument, 15
And her immortall parts with Angels dwell.
Pardon me Sir, that am the Messenger of such bad tidings.

Rom: Is it euen so? then I defie my Starres.
Goe get me incke and paper, hyre post horse,
I will not stay in Mantua to night. 20

Balt: Pardon me Sir, I will not leaue you thus,
Your lookes are dangerous and full of feare:
I dare not, nor I will not leaue you yet.
[Pg 191]

Rom: Doo as I bid thee, get me incke and paper,
And hyre those horse: stay not I say. 25

Exit Balthasar.

Well Iuliet, I will lye with thee to night.
Lets see for meanes. As I doo remember
Here dwells a Pothecarie whom oft I noted
As I past by, whose needie shop is stufft
With beggerly accounts of emptie boxes: 30
And in the same an Aligarta hangs,
Olde endes of packthred, and cakes of Roses,
Are thinly strewed to make vp a show.
Him as I noted, thus with my selfe I thought:
And if a man should need a poyson now, 35
(Whose present sale is death in Mantua)
Here he might buy it. This thought of mine
Did but forerunne my need: and here about he dwels.
Being Holiday the Beggers shop is shut.
What ho Apothecarie, come forth I say. 40

Enter Apothecarie.

Apo: Who calls, what would you sir?

Rom: Heeres twentie duckates,
Giue me a dram of some such speeding geere,
As will dispatch the wearie takers life,
As suddenly as powder being fierd 45
From forth a Cannons mouth.

Apo: Such drugs I haue I must of force confesse,
But yet the law is death to those that sell them.

Rom: Art thou so bare and full of pouertie,
And doost thou feare to violate the Law? 50
The Law is not thy frend, nor the Lawes frend,
And therefore make no conscience of the law:
Vpon thy backe hangs ragged Miserie,
And starued Famine dwelleth in thy cheekes.

Apo: My pouertie but not my will consents. 55

Rom: I pay thy pouertie, but not thy will.

Apo: Hold take you this, and put it in anie liquid thing
you will, and it will serue had you the liues of twenty men.

Rom: Hold, take this gold, worse poyson to mens soules
Than this which thou hast giuen me. Goe hye thee hence, 60
Goe buy the cloathes, and get thee into flesh.
Come cordiall and not poyson, goe with mee
To Iuliets Graue: for there mvst I vse thee. Exeunt.

[Pg 192]

[Sc. XXI.]

Enter Frier Iohn.

John: What Frier Laurence, Brother, ho?

Laur: This same should be the voyce of Frier Iohn.
What newes from Mantua, what will Romeo come?

Iohn: Going to seeke a barefoote Brother out,
One of our order to associate mee, 5
Here in this Cittie visiting the sick,
Whereas the infectious pestilence remaind:
And being by the Searchers of the Towne
Found and examinde, we were both shut vp.

Laur: Who bare my letters then to Romeo? 10

Iohn: I haue them still, and here they are.

Laur: Now by my holy Order,
The letters were not nice, but of great weight.
Goe get thee hence, and get me presently
A spade and mattocke. 15

Iohn: Well I will presently go fetch thee them. Exit.

Laur: Now must I to the Monument alone,
Least that the Ladie should before I come
Be wakde from sleepe. I will hye
To free her from that Tombe of miserie. Exit. 20

[Sc. XXII.]

Enter Countie Paris and his Page with flowers and sweete water.

Par: Put out the torch, and lye thee all along
Vnder this Ew-tree, keeping thine eare close to the hollow ground.
And if thou heare one tread within this Churchyard,
Staight giue me notice. 5

Boy: I will my Lord.

Paris strewes the Tomb with flowers.

Par: Sweete Flower, with flowers I strew thy Bridale bed:
Sweete Tombe that in thy circuite dost containe,
The perfect modell of eternitie:
Faire Iuliet that with Angells dost remaine, 10
Accept this latest fauour at my hands,
That liuing honourd thee, and being dead
With funerall praises doo adorne thy Tombe.

Boy whistles and calls. My Lord.

Enter Romeo and Balthasar, with a torch, a mattocke, and a crow of yron.

Par: The boy giues warning, something doth approach. 15
What cursed foote wanders this was to night,
[Pg 193] To stay my obsequies and true loues rites?
What with a torch, muffle me night a while.

Rom: Giue mee this mattocke, and this wrentching Iron.
And take these letters, early in the morning, 20
See thou deliuer them to my Lord and Father.
So get thee gone and trouble me no more.
Why I descend into this bed of death,
Is partly to behold my Ladies face,
But chiefly to take from her dead finger, 25
A precious ring which I must vse
In deare imployment: but if thou wilt stay,
Further to prie in what I vndertake,
By heauen Ile teare thee ioynt by ioynt,
And strewe thys hungry churchyard with thy lims 30
The time and my intents are sauage, wilde.

Balt: Well, Ile be gone and not trouble you.

Rom: So shalt thou win my fauour, take thou this,
Commend me to my Father, farwell good fellow.

Balt: Yet for all this will I not part from hence. 35

Romeo opens the tombe.

Rom: Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death,
Gorde with the dearest morsell of the earth.
Thus I enforce thy rotten iawes to ope.

Par: This is that banisht haughtie Mountague,
That murderd my loues cosen, I will apprehend him. 40
Stop thy vnhallowed toyle vile Mountague.
Can vengeance be pursued further then death?
I doe attach thee as a fellon heere.
The Law condemnes thee, therefore thou must dye,

Rom: I must indeed, and therefore came I hither, 45
Good youth be gone, tempt not a desperate man.
Heape not another sinne vpon my head
By sheding of thy bloud, I doe protest
I loue thee better then I loue my selfe:
For I come hyther armde against my selfe, 50

Par: I doe defie thy coniurations:
And doe attach thee as a fellon heere.

Rom: What dost thou tempt me, then haue at thee boy.

They fight.

Boy: O Lord they fight, I will goe call the watch.

Par: Ah I am slaine, if thou be mercifull 55
Open the tombe, lay me with Iuliet.

Rom: Yfaith I will, let me peruse this face,
Mercutios kinsman, noble County Paris?
[Pg 194] What said my man, when my betossed soule
Did not regard him as we past a long.
Did he not say Paris should have maried
Iuliet? eyther he said so, or I dreamd it so.
But I will satisfie thy last request,
For thou hast prizd thy loue aboue thy life.
Death lye thou there, by a dead man interd, 65
How oft have many at the houre of death
Beene blith and pleasant? which their keepers call
A lightning before death But how may I
Call this a lightning. Ah deare Iuliet,
How well thy beauty doth become this graue? 70
O I beleeue that vnsubstanciall death,
Is amorous, and doth court my loue.
Therefore will I, O heere, O euer heere,
Set vp my euerlasting rest
With wormes, that are thy chamber mayds. 75
Come desperate Pilot now at once runne on
The dashing rockes thy sea-sicke weary barge.
Heers to my loue. O true Apothecary:
Thy drugs are swift: thus with a kisse I dye. Falls.

Enter Fryer with a Lanthorne.

How oft to night haue these my aged feete 80
Stumbled at graues as I did passe along.
Whose there?

Man. A frend and one that knowes you well.

Fr: Who is it that consorts so late the dead,
What light is yon? if I be not deceiued, 85
Me thinkes it burnes in Capels monument?

Man. It doth so holy Sir, and there is one
That loues you dearly.

Fr. Who is it?

Man: Romeo. 90

Fr: How long hath he beene there?

Man: Full halfe an houre and more.

Fr: Goe with me thether.

Man: I dare not sir, he knowes not I am heere:
On paine of death he chargde me to be gone, 95
And not for to disturbe him in his enterprize.

Fr: Then must I goe: my minde presageth ill.

Fryer stoops and lookes on the blood and weapons.

What bloud is this that staines the entrance
Of this marble stony monument?
[Pg 195] What meanes these maisterles and goory weapons?
Ah me I doubt, whose heere? what Romeo dead?
Who and Paris too? what vnluckie houre
Is accessary to so foule a sinne?

Iuliet rises.

The Lady sturres.[1595]
Ah comfortable Fryer. 105
I doe remember well where I should be,
And what we talkt of: but yet I cannot see
Him for whose sake I vndertooke this hazard.

Fr: Lady come foorth, I heare some noise at hand,
We shall be taken, Paris he is slaine, 110
And Romeo dead: and if we heere be tane
We shall be thought to be as accessarie.
I will prouide for you in some close Nunery.

Iul: Ah leaue me, leaue me, I will not from hence.

Fr: I heare some noise, I dare not stay, come, come. 115

Iul: Goe get thee gone.
Whats heere a cup closde in my louers hands?
Ah churle drinke all, and leaue no drop for me.

Enter watch.

Watch: This way, this way.

Iul: I, noise? then must I be resolute. 120
O happy dagger thou shalt end my feare,
Rest in my bosome, thus I come to thee.

She stabs herselfe and falles.

Enter watch.

Cap: Come looke about, what weapons haue we heere?
See frends where Iuliet two daies buried,
New bleeding wounded, search and see who's neare, 125
Attach and bring them to vs presently.

Enter one with the Fryer.

1. Captaine heers a Fryer with tooles about him,
Fitte to ope a tombe.

Cap: A great suspition, keep him safe.

Enter one with Romeos man.

1. Heeres Romeos Man. 130

Capt: Keepe him to be examinde.

Enter Prince with others.

Prin: What early mischiefe calls vs vp so soone.
[Pg 196]

Capt: O noble Prince, see here
Where Juliet that hath lyen intoombd two dayes,
Warme and fresh bleeding, Romeo and Countie Paris 135
Likewise newly slaine.

Prin: Search seeke about to finde the murderers.

Enter olde Capolet and his Wife.

Capo: What rumor's this that is so early vp?

Moth: The people in the streetes crie Romeo,
And some on Iuliet: as if they alone 140
Had been the cause of such a mutinie.

Capo: See Wife, this dagger hath mistooke:
For (loe) the backe is emptie of yong Mountague,
And it is sheathed in our Daughters breast.

Enter olde Montague.

Prin: Come Mountague, for thou art early vp, 145
To see thy Sonne and Heire more early downe.

Mount: Dread Souereigne, my Wife is dead to night,
And yong Benuolio is deceased too:
What further mischiefe can there yet be found?

Prin: First come and see, then speake. 150

Mount: O thou vntaught, what manners is in this
To presse before thy Father to a graue.

Prin: Come seale your mouthes of outrage for a while,
And let vs seeke to finde the Authors out
Of such a hainous and seld seene mischaunce. 155
Bring forth the parties in suspition.

Fr: I am the greatest able to doo least.
Most worthie Prince, heare me but speake the truth.
And Ile informe you how these things fell out.
Juliet here slaine was married to that Romeo, 160
Without her Fathers or her Mothers grant:
The Nurse was priuie to the marriage.
The balefull day of this vnhappie marriage,
Was Tybalts doomesday: for which Romeo
Was banished from hence to Mantua. 165
He gone, her Father sought by foule constraint
To marrie her to Paris: But her Soule
(Loathing a second Contract) did refuse
To giue consent; and therefore did she vrge me
Either to finde a meanes she might auoyd 170
What so her Father sought to force her too:
Or els all desperately she threatned
Euen in my presence to dispatch her selfe.
Then did I giue her, (tutord by mine arte)
A potion that should make her seeme as dead: 175
[Pg 197] And told her that I would with all post speed
Send hence to Mantua for her Romeo,
That he might come and take her from the Toombe.
But he that had my Letters (Frier John)
Seeking a Brother to associate him, 180
Whereas the sicke infection remaind,
Was stayed by the Searchers of the Towne,
But Romeo vnderstanding by his man,
That Iuliet was deceasde, returnde in post
Vnto Verona for to see his loue. 185
What after happened touching Paris death,
Or Romeos is to me vnknowne at all.
But when I came to take the Lady hence,
I found them dead, and she awakt from sleep:
Whom faine I would haue taken from the tombe, 190
Which she refused seeing Romeo dead.
Anone I heard the watch and then I fled,
What after happened I am ignorant of.
And if in this ought haue miscaried.
By me, or by my meanes let my old life 195
Be sacrificd some houre before his time.
To the most strickest rigor of the Law.

Pry: We still haue knowne thee for a holy man,
Wheres Romeos man, what can he say in this?

Balth: I brought my maister word that shee was dead, 200
And then he poasted straight from Mantua,
Vnto this Toombe. These Letters he deliuered me,
Charging me early giue them to his Father.

Prin: Lets see the Letters, I will read them ouer.
Where is the Counties Boy that calld the Watch? 205

Boy: I brought my Master vnto Juliets graue,
But one approaching, straight I calld my Master.
At last they fought, I ran to call the Watch.
And this is all that I can say or know.

Prin: These letters doe make good the Fryers wordes, 210
Come Capolet, and come olde Mountagewe.
Where are these enemies? see what hate hath done.

Cap: Come brother Mountague giue me thy hand,
There is my daughters dowry: for now no more
Can I bestowe on her, thats all I haue. 215

Moun: But I will giue them more, I will erect
Her statue of pure golde:
That while Verona by that name is knowne.
There shall no statue of such price be set,
As that of Romeos loued Iuliet. 220

Cap: As rich shall Romeo by his Lady lie.
[Pg 198] Poore Sacrifices to our Enmitie.

Prin: A gloomie peace this day doth with it bring.
Come, let vs hence,
To haue more talke of these sad things. 225
Some shall be pardoned and some punished:
For nere was heard a Storie of more woe,
Than this of Iuliet and her Romeo.

FINIS.

[Pg 199]

FOOTNOTES:

[1594] Watch: is omitted in the text but 'Watch: Vp' is the catchword of the previous page.

[1595] Here again the stage direction is omitted, but 'Iul:' is the catchword of the previous page.

[Pg 200]

[Pg 201]

TIMON OF ATHENS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [1596].

Timon, a noble Athenian.
Lucius,	flattering lords.
Lucullus,
Sempronius,
Ventidius, one of Timon's false friends.
Alcibiades, an Athenian captain.
Apemantus, a churlish philosopher.
Flavius, steward to Timon.
Poet, Painter, Jeweller, and Merchant.
An old Athenian.
Flaminius,	servants to Timon.
Lucilius,
Servilius,
Caphis,	servants to Timon's creditors and to the Lords.
Philotus,
Titus,
Hortensius,
And others,
A Page. A Fool. Three Strangers.

Phrynia,	mistresses to Alcibiades.
Timandra,	mistresses to Alcibiades.

Cupid and Amazons in the mask.

Other Lords, Senators, Officers, Banditti, and Attendants.

Scene: Athens, and the neighbouring woods.

THE LIFE OF

TIMON OF ATHENS.

FOOTNOTES:

[1596] Dramatis Personæ.] The Actors Names, at the end of the Play in F₁ F₂ F₃, prefixed to the Play in F₄. See note (I).

ACT I.

Scene I. Athens. A hall in Timon's house.[1597]

Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors.[1598]

Poet. Good day, sir.[1599][1600]

Pain. I am glad you're well.[1599]

Poet. I have not seen you long: how goes the world?[1601]

Pain. It wears, sir, as it grows.

Poet. Ay, that's well known:
But what particular rarity? what strange,[1602]
Which manifold record not matches? See,[1603][1604] 5
Magic of bounty! all these spirits thy power[1604]
Hath conjured to attend. I know the merchant.[1605]

Pain. I know them both; th' other's a jeweller.
[Pg 202]

Mer. O, 'tis a worthy lord!

Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd.

Mer. A most incomparable man, breathed, as it were,[1606] 10
To an untirable and continuate goodness:[1607]
He passes.[1607][1608]

Jew. I have a jewel here—[1609]

Mer. O, pray, let's see't: for the Lord Timon, sir?[1610]

Jew. If he will touch the estimate: but, for that— 15

Poet. [Reciting to himself] 'When we for recompense have praised the vile,[1611]
It stains the glory in that happy verse
Which aptly sings the good.'

Mer. [Looking on the jewel] 'Tis a good form.[1612]

Jew. And rich: here is a water, look ye.[1613] 20

Pain. You are rapt, sir, in some work, some dedication [1614][1615]
To the great lord.[1614][1616]

Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me.
Our poesy is as a gum, which oozes [1617]
From whence 'tis nourish'd: the fire i' the flint
Shows not till it be struck; our gentle flame [1618] 25
Provokes itself, and, like the current, flies [1619]
Each bound it chafes. What have you there?[1619][1620][1621]
[Pg 203]

Pain. A picture, sir. When comes your book forth?[1621][1622]

Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment, sir.[1621]
Let's see your piece.[1621] 30

Pain. 'Tis a good piece.[1621][1623]

Poet. So 'tis: this comes off well and excellent.[1624]

Pain. Indifferent.

Poet. Admirable: how this grace [1625]
Speaks his own standing! what a mental power[1625]
This eye shoots forth! how big imagination 35
Moves in this lip! to the dumbness of the gesture
One might interpret.

Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life.
Here is a touch; is't good?

Poet. I will say of it,[1626]
It tutors nature: artificial strife 40
Lives in these touches, livelier than life.[1627]

Enter certain Senators, and pass over.

Pain. How this lord is follow'd![1628]

Poet. The senators of Athens: happy man![1629]

Pain. Look, moe![1630]

Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. 45
I have, in this rough work, shaped out a man,
Whom this beneath world doth embrace and hug [1631]
With amplest entertainment: my free drift
Halts not particularly, but moves itself [1632]
In a wide sea of wax: no levell'd malice [1633] 50
Infects one comma in the course I hold;[1634]
[Pg 204] But flies an eagle flight, bold and forth on,[1635]
Leaving no tract behind.[1636]

Pain. How shall I understand you?

Poet. I will unbolt to you.[1637]
You see how all conditions, how all minds, 55
As well of glib and slippery creatures as [1638]
Of grave and austere quality, tender down
Their services to Lord Timon: his large fortune,[1639]
Upon his good and gracious nature hanging,
Subdues and properties to his love and tendance 60
All sorts of hearts; yea, from the glass-faced flatterer
To Apemantus, that few things loves better
Than to abhor himself: even he drops down [1640]
The knee before him, and returns in peace
Most rich in Timon's nod.

Pain. I saw them speak together.[1641] 65

Poet. Sir, I have upon a high and pleasant hill [1642]
Feign'd Fortune to be throned: the base o' the mount [1643]
Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures,
That labour on the bosom of this sphere
To propagate their states: amongst them all, 70
Whose eyes are on this sovereign lady fix'd,
One do I personate of Lord Timon's frame,[1644]
Whom Fortune with her ivory hand wafts to her;
Whose present grace to present slaves and servants [1645]
Translates his rivals.

Pain. 'Tis conceived to scope.[1646] 75
This throne, this Fortune, and this hill, methinks,
With one man beckon'd from the rest below,
[Pg 205] Bowing his head against the steepy mount
To climb his happiness, would be well express'd
In our condition.

Poet. Nay, sir, but hear me on.[1647] 80
All those which were his fellows but of late,
Some better than his value, on the moment [1648]
Follow his strides, his lobbies fill with tendance,[1649]
Rain sacrificial whisperings in his ear,[1650]
Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him 85
Drink the free air.

Pain. Ay, marry, what of these?

Poet. When Fortune in her shift and change of mood
Spurns down her late beloved, all his dependants
Which labour'd after him to the mountain's top [1651]
Even on their knees and hands, let him slip down,[1652] 90
Not one accompanying his declining foot.

Pain. 'Tis common:
A thousand moral paintings I can show,[1653]
That shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's [1654]
More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well 95
To show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen [1655]
The foot above the head.

Trumpets sound. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himself courteously to every suitor; a Messenger from Ventidius talking with him; Lucilius and other servants following.[1656]

Tim. Imprison'd is he, say you?
[Pg 206]

Mess. Ay, my good lord: five talents is his debt;[1657]
His means most short, his creditors most strait:
Your honourable letter he desires 100
To those have shut him up; which failing,[1658]
Periods his comfort.

Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well,[1659]
I am not of that feather to shake off
My friend when he must need me. I do know him [1660]
A gentleman that well deserves a help: 105
Which he shall have: I'll pay the debt and free him.

Mess. Your lordship ever binds him.[1657][1661]

Tim. Commend me to him: I will send his ransom;
And, being enfranchised, bid him come to me:
'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, 110
But to support him after. Fare you well.

Mess. All happiness to your honour![1657][1662] [Exit.

Enter an old Athenian.

Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak.

Tim. Freely, good father.

Old Ath. Thou hast a servant named Lucilius.

Tim. I have so: what of him? 115

Old Ath. Most noble Timon, call the man before thee.[1663]

Tim. Attends he here, or no? Lucilius![1664]

Luc. Here, at your lordship's service.[1665]

Old Ath. This fellow here, Lord Timon, this thy creature,[1666]
By night frequents my house. I am a man 120
That from my first have been inclined to thrift,
[Pg 207] And my estate deserves an heir more raised
Than one which holds a trencher.

Tim. Well, what further?

Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin else,
On whom I may confer what I have got: 125
The maid is fair, o' the youngest for a bride,[1667]
And I have bred her at my dearest cost
In qualities of the best. This man of thine
Attempts her love: I prithee, noble lord,[1668]
Join with me to forbid him her resort; 130
Myself have spoke in vain.

Tim. The man is honest.[1669]

Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon:[1669][1670]
His honesty rewards him in itself;[1669]
It must not bear my daughter.

Tim. Does she love him?

Old Ath. She is young and apt:[1671] 135
Our own precedent passions do instruct us
What levity's in youth.[1672]

Tim. [To Lucilius] Love you the maid?[1673]

Luc. Ay, my good lord; and she accepts of it.

Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be missing,
I call the gods to witness, I will choose [1674] 140
Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world,
And dispossess her all.[1675]

Tim. How shall she be endow'd,
If she be mated with an equal husband?[1676]
[Pg 208]

Old Ath. Three talents on the present; in future, all.

Tim. This gentleman of mine hath served me long:[1677] 145
To build his fortune I will strain a little,
For 'tis a bond in men. Give him thy daughter:
What you bestow, in him I'll counterpoise,
And make him weigh with her.

Old Ath. Most noble lord,
Pawn me to this your honour, she is his. 150

Tim. My hand to thee; mine honour on my promise.[1678]

Luc. Humbly I thank your lordship: never may
That state or fortune fall into my keeping,
Which is not owed to you![1679]

[Exeunt Lucilius and Old Athenian.[1680]

Poet. Vouchsafe my labour, and long live your lordship![1681]155

Tim. I thank you; you shall hear from me anon:
Go not away. What have you there, my friend?

Pain. A piece of painting, which I do beseech
Your lordship to accept.[1682]

Tim. Painting is welcome.
The painting is almost the natural man;[1683] 160
For since dishonour traffics with man's nature,
He is but outside: these pencill'd figures are [1684]
Even such as they give out. I like your work,
And you shall find I like it: wait attendance
Till you hear further from me.

Pain. The gods preserve ye![1685] 165

Tim. Well fare you, gentleman: give me your hand;[1686]
We must needs dine together. Sir, your jewel
[Pg 209] Hath suffer'd under praise.

Jew. What, my lord! dispraise?[1687]

Tim. A mere satiety of commendations.[1688]
If I should pay you for 't as 'tis extoll'd, 170
It would unclew me quite.[1689]

Jew. My lord, 'tis rated
As those which sell would give: but you well know,
Things of like value, differing in the owners,
Are prized by their masters: believe 't, dear lord,[1690]
You mend the jewel by the wearing it.[1691] 175

Tim. Well mock'd.

Mer. No, my good lord; he speaks the common tongue,
Which all men speak with him.

Tim. Look, who comes here: will you be chid?[1692]

Enter Apemantus.[1693]

Jew. We'll bear, with your lordship.

Mer. He'll spare none.[1694]180

Tim. Good morrow to thee, gentle Apemantus![1695]

Apem. Till I be gentle, stay thou for thy good morrow;[1696]
When thou art Timon's dog, and these knaves honest.[1697]
[Pg 210]

Tim. Why dost thou call them knaves? thou know'st them not.

Apem. Are they not Athenians?[1698] 185

Tim. Yes.

Apem. Then I repent not.

Jew. You know me, Apemantus?[1699]

Apem. Thou know'st I do; I call'd thee by thy name.

Tim. Thou art proud, Apemantus.[1700] 190

Apem. Of nothing so much as that I am not like Timon.[1701]

Tim. Whither art going?[1702]

Apem. To knock out an honest Athenian's brains.

Tim. That's a deed thou'lt die for.[1703]

Apem. Right, if doing nothing be death by the law. 195

Tim. How likest thou this picture, Apemantus?[1704]

Apem. The best, for the innocence.[1705]

Tim. Wrought he not well that painted it?[1706]

Apem. He wrought better that made the painter; and
yet he's but a filthy piece of work. 200

Pain. You're a dog.[1707]

Apem. Thy mother's of my generation: what's she, if [1708]
I be a dog?

Tim. Wilt dine with me, Apemantus?

Apem. No; I eat not lords. 205

Tim. An thou shouldst, thou'ldst anger ladies.[1709]

Apem. O, they eat lords; so they come by great [1710]
bellies.[1710]

Tim. That's a lascivious apprehension.
[Pg 211]

Apem. So thou apprehend'st it: take it for thy labour.[1711]210

Tim. How dost thou like this jewel, Apemantus?

Apem. Not so well as plain-dealing, which will not cost [1712]
a man a doit.

Tim. What dost thou think 'tis worth?

Apem. Not worth my thinking. How now, poet![1713] 215

Poet. How now, philosopher!

Apem. Thou liest.

Poet. Art not one?[1714]

Apem. Yes.

Poet. Then I lie not. 220

Apem. Art not a poet?

Poet. Yes.

Apem. Then thou liest: look in thy last work, where
thou hast feigned him a worthy fellow.[1715]

Poet. That's not feigned; he is so. 225

Apem. Yes, he is worthy of thee, and to pay thee for [1716]
thy labour: he that loves to be flattered is worthy o' the
flatterer. Heavens, that I were a lord!

Tim. What wouldst do then, Apemantus?

Apem. E'en as Apemantus does now; hate a lord with 230
my heart.

Tim. What, thyself?

Apem. Ay.

Tim. Wherefore?

Apem. That I had no angry wit to be a lord. Art not [1717][1718]235
thou a merchant?[1718]
[Pg 212]

Mer. Ay, Apemantus.

Apem. Traffic confound thee, if the gods will not!

Mer. If traffic do it, the gods do it.

Apem. Traffic's thy god; and thy god confound thee![1719] 240

Trumpet sounds. Enter a Messenger.

Tim. What trumpet's that?[1720]

Mess.'Tis Alcibiades, and some twenty horse,
All of companionship.

Tim. Pray, entertain them; give them guide to us.[1721]

[Exeunt some Attendants.

You must needs dine with me: go not you hence 245
Till I have thank'd you: when dinner's done,[1722]
Show me this piece. I am joyful of your sights.[1723]

Enter Alcibiades, with the rest.[1724]

Most welcome, sir!

Apem. So, so, there![1725][1726]
Aches contract and starve your supple joints![1725][1726][1727]
That there should be small love 'mongst these sweet knaves,[1725][1728]250
And all this courtesy! The strain of man's bred out[1725][1729]
Into baboon and monkey.[1725][1729]
[Pg 213]

Alcib. Sir, you have saved my longing, and I feed [1730]
Most hungerly on your sight.[1731]

Tim. Right welcome, sir!
Ere we depart, we'll share a bounteous time [1732] 255
In different pleasures. Pray you, let us in.[1733]

[Exeunt all but Apemantus.[1734]

Enter two Lords.[1735]

First Lord. What time o' day is't, Apemantus?[1736]

Apem. Time to be honest.

First Lord. That time serves still.[1737]

Apem. The most accursed thou, that still omitt'st it.[1738] 260

Sec. Lord. Thou art going to Lord Timon's feast?[1739]

Apem. Ay, to see meat fill knaves and wine heat fools.

Sec. Lord. Fare thee well, fare thee well.[1740]

Apem. Thou art a fool to bid me farewell twice.

Sec. Lord. Why, Apemantus? 265

Apem. Shouldst have kept one to thyself, for I mean to [1741]
give thee none.

First Lord. Hang thyself!

Apem. No, I will do nothing at thy bidding: make thy [1742]
requests to thy friend.[1742] 270

Sec. Lord. Away, unpeaceable dog, or I'll spurn thee[1742][1743]
hence![1742]

Apem. I will fly, like a dog, the heels o' the ass. [Exit.[1744]
[Pg 214]

First Lord. He's opposite to humanity. Come, shall we in,[1745][1746]
And taste Lord Timon's bounty? he outgoes[1745][1747] 275
The very heart of kindness.[1745]

Sec. Lord. He pours it out; Plutus, the god of gold,
Is but his steward: no meed, but he repays
Sevenfold above itself; no gift to him,
But breeds the giver a return exceeding 280
All use of quittance.[1748]

First Lord. The noblest mind he carries
That ever govern'd man.[1749]

Sec. Lord. Long may he live in fortunes! Shall we in?[1749]

First Lord. I'll keep you company.[1749][1750] [Exeunt.

Scene II. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.[1751]

Hautboys playing loud music. A great banquet served in; Flavius and others attending; and then enter Lord Timon, Alcibiades, Lords, Senators, and Ventidius. Then comes, dropping after all, Apemantus, discontentedly, like himself.[1752]

Ven. Most honour'd Timon,[1753][1754]
It hath pleased the gods to remember my father's age,[1753]
And call him to long peace.[1753]
He is gone happy, and has left me rich:
[Pg 215] Then, as in grateful virtue I am bound 5
To your free heart, I do return those talents,
Doubled with thanks and service, from whose help [1755]
I derived liberty.

Tim. O, by no means,
Honest Ventidius; you mistake my love:[1756]
I gave it freely ever; and there's none 10
Can truly say he gives, if he receives:
If our betters play at that game, we must not dare [1757][1758]
To imitate them; faults that are rich are fair.[1758][1759]

Ven. A noble spirit![1760][1761]

Tim. Nay, my lords, ceremony was but devised at first[1760][1762]15
To set a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes,[1760]
Recanting goodness, sorry ere 'tis shown;
But where there is true friendship, there needs none.
Pray, sit; more welcome are ye to my fortunes [1763]
Than my fortunes to me.[1764] [They sit. 20

First Lord. My lord, we always have confess'd it.[1765]

Apem. Ho, ho, confess'd it! hang'd it, have you not?[1766]

Tim. O, Apemantus, you are welcome.[1767]

Apem. No;[1768]
You shall not make me welcome:[1768]
I come to have thee thrust me out of doors. 25
[Pg 216]

Tim. Fie, thou'rt a churl; ye've got a humour there [1769]
Does not become a man; 'tis much to blame.
ey say, my lords, 'ira furor brevis est;' but yond man [1770][1771][1772]
is ever angry. Go, let him have a table by himself; for he[1770][1772][1773]
does neither affect company, nor is he fit for't indeed.[1770][1774]30

Apem. Let me stay at thine apperil, Timon:[1775][1776]
I come to observe; I give thee warning on't.[1775]

Tim. I take no heed of thee; thou'rt an Athenian,[1777][1778]
therefore welcome: I myself would have no power; prithee,[1777][1779]
let my meat make thee silent.[1777] 35

Apem. I scorn thy meat; 'twould choke me, for I [1780][1781]
should ne'er flatter thee. O you gods, what a number of[1780][1781]
men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me to see[1780][1782]
so many dip their meat in one man's blood; and all the[1780][1783]
madness is, he cheers them up too.[1780][1784] 40
I wonder men dare trust themselves with men:
Methinks they should invite them without knives;
Good for their meat, and safer for their lives.[1785]
There's much example for't; the fellow that sits next him [1786]
[Pg 217] now, parts bread with him, pledges the breath of him in a[1786][1787]45
divided draught, is the readiest man to kill him: 't has[1786][1788][1789]
been proved. If I were a huge man, I should fear to drink[1786][1789][1790]
at meals;[1786]
Lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous notes:[1791]
Great men should drink with harness on their throats.[1791] 50

Tim. My lord, in heart; and let the health go round.[1792]

Sec. Lord. Let it flow this way, my good lord.[1793]

Apem. Flow this way! A brave fellow! he keeps his [1794]
tides well. Those healths will make thee and thy state[1794]
look ill, Timon. Here's that which is too weak to be a[1794] 55
sinner, honest water, which ne'er left man i' the mire:[1794][1795]
This and my food are equals; there's no odds:[1794][1796]
Feasts are too proud to give thanks to the gods.[1794][1797]

Apemantus's Grace.

Immortal gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself: 60
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond,
Or a harlot for her weeping,
Or a dog that seems a-sleeping,
Or a keeper with my freedom, 65
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
Amen. So fall to't:[1798]
[Pg 218] Rich men sin, and I eat root. [Eats and drinks.[1799]

Much good dich thy good heart, Apemantus![1800]

Tim. Captain Alcibiades, your heart's in the field now.[1801]70

Alcib. My heart is ever at your service, my lord.

Tim. You had rather be at a breakfast of enemies than [1802]
a dinner of friends.

Alcib. So they were bleeding-new, my lord, there's no [1803]
meat like 'em: I could wish my best friend at such a feast.[1804] 75

Apem. Would all those flatterers were thine enemies,[1805]
then, that then thou mightst kill 'em and bid me to 'em![1806]

First Lord. Might we but have that happiness, my [1807]
lord, that you would once use our hearts, whereby we
might express some part of our zeals, we should think 80
ourselves for ever perfect.

Tim. O, no doubt, my good friends, but the gods themselves
have provided that I shall have much help from you:[1808]
how had you been my friends else? why have you that charitable [1809][1810]
title from thousands, did not you chiefly belong to[1810][1811][1812]85
my heart? I have told more of you to myself than you can[1812]
with modesty speak in your own behalf; and thus far I confirm
you. O you gods, think I, what need we have any
friends, if we should ne'er have need of 'em? they were the [1813][1814]
most needless creatures living, should we ne'er have use for[1814] 90
'em, and would most resemble sweet instruments hung up[1814][1815]
[Pg 219] in cases, that keep their sounds to themselves. Why, I have [1816]
often wished myself poorer, that I might come nearer to you.
We are born to do benefits: and what better or properer
can we call our own than the riches of our friends? O, what 95
a precious comfort 'tis, to have so many, like brothers, commanding
one another's fortunes! O joy, e'en made away [1817]
ere't can be born! Mine eyes cannot hold out water, methinks:[1818][1819]
to forget their faults, I drink to you.[1819]

Apem. Thou weep'st to make them drink, Timon.[1820] 100

Sec. Lord. Joy had the like conception in our eyes,
And at that instant like a babe sprung up.[1793][1821]

Apem. Ho, ho! I laugh to think that babe a bastard.

Third Lord. I promise you, my lord, you moved me much.

Apem. Much![1822] [Tucket, within. 105

Tim. What means that trump?

Enter a Servant.[1823]

How now!

Serv. Please you, my lord, there are certain ladies most [1824]
desirous of admittance.[1824]

Tim. Ladies! what are their wills?
[Pg 220]

Serv. There comes with them a forerunner, my lord, 110
which bears that office, to signify their pleasures.

Tim. I pray, let them be admitted.[1825]

Enter Cupid.

Cup. Hail to thee, worthy Timon! and to all [1826][1827][1828]
That of his bounties taste! The five best senses[1827][1829]
Acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely[1827] 115
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom: th' ear,[1827]
Taste, touch, and smell, pleased from thy table rise;[1827]
They only now come but to feast thine eyes.[1827]

Tim. They're welcome all; let 'em have kind admittance:[1830][1831]
Music, make their welcome![1831][1832] [Exit Cupid.120

First Lord. You see, my lord, how ample you're beloved.[1833]

Music. Re-enter Cupid, with a mask of Ladies as Amazons, with lutes in their hands, dancing and playing.[1834]

Apem. Hoy-day, what a sweep of vanity comes this way![1835][1836][1837]
They dance! they are mad women.[1836][1837][1838]
Like madness is the glory of this life,[1837][1839]
[Pg 221] As this pomp shows to a little oil and root.[1837][1840] 125
We make ourselves fools, to disport ourselves,[1837]
And spend our flatteries, to drink those men[1837]
Upon whose age we void it up again[1837]
With poisonous spite and envy.[1837][1841]
Who lives, that's not depraved or depraves?[1841][1842] 130
Who dies, that bears not one spurn to their graves[1841]
Of their friends' gift?[1841][1843]
I should fear those that dance before me now
Would one day stamp upon me: 't has been done;[1844]
Men shut their doors against a setting sun.[1845] 135

The Lords rise from table, with much adoring of Timon; and to show their loves, each singles out an Amazon, and all dance, men with women, a lofty strain or two to the hautboys, and cease.[1846]

Tim. You have done our pleasures much grace, fair ladies,[1847]
Set a fair fashion on our entertainment,[1848]
Which was not half so beautiful and kind;
You have added worth unto 't and lustre,[1849]
And entertain'd me with mine own device: 140
I am to thank you for 't.[1850]

First Lady. My lord, you take us even at the best.[1851]
[Pg 222]

Apem. Faith, for the worst is filthy, and would not hold [1852]
taking, I doubt me.[1852]

Tim. Ladies, there is an idle banquet attends you:[1853][1854]145
Please you to dispose yourselves.[1853]

All Lad. Most thankfully, my lord.[1855]

[Exeunt Cupid and Ladies.

Tim. Flavius!

Flav. My lord?

Tim. The little casket bring me hither.

Flav. Yes, my lord. [Aside] More jewels yet![1856][1857][1858]150
There is no crossing him in 's humour;[1857][1859]
Else I should tell him—well, i' faith, I should—[1860]
When all's spent, he'ld be cross'd then, an he could.[1861]
'Tis pity bounty had not eyes behind,[1862]
That man might ne'er be wretched for his mind.[1863] [Exit.155

First Lord. Where be our men?[1864]

Serv. Here, my lord, in readiness.

Sec. Lord. Our horses![1865]

Re-enter Flavius, with the casket.[1866]

Tim. O my friends,[1867]
I have one word to say to you: look you, my good lord,[1867][1868]160
I must entreat you, honour me so much[1867][1869]
[Pg 223] As to advance this jewel; accept it and wear it,[1867][1870]
Kind my lord.[1867][1871]

First Lord. I am so far already in your gifts,—[1872]

All. So are we all.[1873] 165

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord, there are certain nobles of the senate [1874][1875]
newly alighted and come to visit you.[1875]

Tim. They are fairly welcome.[1876]

Flav. I beseech your honour, vouchsafe me a word; it [1877]
does concern you near.[1877] 170

Tim. Near! why, then, another time I'll hear thee: I [1878][1879]
prithee, let's be provided to show them entertainment.[1879]

Flav. [Aside] I scarce know how.[1880]

Enter another Servant.

Sec. Serv. May it please your honour, Lord Lucius [1881][1882][1883]
Out of his free love hath presented to you[1882][1884] 175
Four milk-white horses, trapp'd in silver.[1882][1885]

Tim. I shall accept them fairly: let the presents
Be worthily entertain'd.

Enter a third Servant.

How now! what news?
[Pg 224]

Third Serv. Please you, my lord, that honourable gentleman,[1886]
Lord Lucullus, entreats your company to-morrow to[1886][1887] 180
hunt with him, and has sent your honour two brace of[1886][1888]
greyhounds.[1886]

Tim. I'll hunt with him; and let them be received,[1889]
Not without fair reward.[1889]

Flav. [Aside] What will this come to?[1890][1891]
He commands us to provide and give great gifts, and all[1891][1892]185
out of an empty coffer:[1891]
Nor will he know his purse, or yield me this,
To show him what a beggar his heart is,
Being of no power to make his wishes good:
His promises fly so beyond his state 190
That what he speaks is all in debt, he owes [1893][1894]
For every word: he is so kind that he now[1893][1895]
Pays interest for't; his land's put to their books.[1893][1896]
Well, would I were gently put out of office,[1893]
Before I were forced out![1893][1897] 195
Happier is he that has no friend to feed
Than such that do e'en enemies exceed.
I bleed inwardly for my lord.[1898][1899] [Exit.

Tim. You do yourselves[1899]
Much wrong, you bate too much of your own merits.[1899]
[Pg 225] Here, my lord, a trifle of our love.[1899] 200

Sec. Lord. With more than common thanks I will receive [1900][1901]
it.[1901]

Third Lord. O, he's the very soul of bounty![1902]

Tim. And now I remember, my lord, you gave good [1903][1904]
words the other day of a bay courser I rode on. 'Tis yours,[1903][1905]205
because you liked it.[1903]

Third Lord. O, I beseech you, pardon me, my lord,[1906][1907]
in that.[1908]

Tim. You may take my word, my lord; I know, no [1909]
man can justly praise, but what he does affect: I weigh[1909] 210
my friend's affection with mine own: I'll tell you true. I'll[1909][1910]
call to you.[1909][1911]

All Lords. O, none so welcome.[1907]

Tim. I take all and your several visitations
So kind to heart, 'tis not enough to give:[1912] 215
Methinks, I could deal kingdoms to my friends,[1912]
And ne'er be weary. Alcibiades,
Thou art a soldier, therefore seldom rich;
It comes in charity to thee: for all thy living [1913]
Is 'mongst the dead, and all the lands thou hast 220
Lie in a pitch'd field.
[Pg 226]

Alcib. Ay, defiled land, my lord.[1914][1915]

First Lord. We are so virtuously bound—[1915][1916]

Tim. And so am I to you.[1915]

Sec. Lord. So infinitely endear'd—[1915][1917][1918] 225

Tim. All to you. Lights, more lights![1918][1919]

First Lord. The best of happiness, honour and fortunes, keep with you, Lord Timon![1920][1921]

Tim. Ready for his friends.[1920][1922]

[Exeunt all but Apemantus and Timon.

Apem. What a coil's here![1923][1924]
Serving of becks and jutting-out of bums![1924][1925] 230
I doubt whether their legs be worth the sums[1924]
That are given for 'em. Friendship's full of dregs:[1924]
Methinks, false hearts should never have sound legs.
Thus honest fools lay out their wealth on court'sies.

Tim. Now, Apemantus, if thou wert not sullen, 235
I would be good to thee.

Apem. No, I'll nothing: for if I should be bribed too,[1926]
there would be none left to rail upon thee; and then thou[1926]
wouldst sin the faster. Thou givest so long, Timon, I fear[1926]
me thou wilt give away thyself in paper shortly: what[1926][1927] 240
[Pg 227] needs these feasts, pomps and vain-glories?[1926][1928]

Tim. Nay, an you begin to rail on society once, I am[1926][1929]
sworn not to give regard to you. Farewell; and come with[1926]
better music.[1926] [Exit.

Apem. So: thou wilt not hear me now; thou shalt not [1930][1931]245
then: I'll lock thy heaven from thee.[1930][1932]
O, that men's ears should be[1930]
To counsel deaf, but not to flattery![1930] [Exit.

FOOTNOTES:

[1597] Act i. Scene i.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. See note (I).

Athens.] Capell.

A hall in Timon's house.] Rowe.

[1598] Merchant, and others,] Malone. Merchant and divers others, Capell. Merchant, and Mercer, Ff. and Merchant, Johnson.

[1599] Poet. Good.... Poet. I have] Poet. Good day. Pain. Good day, sir. Poet. I am ... well. I have Farmer conj. See note (II).

[1600] Good day] Good day, good day Capell. Good day, good Seymour conj.

I am] Good sir, I'm Singer conj.

you're] y'are F₁ F₂ F₃. ye are F₄. you are Capell.

[1601] grows] goes Theobald.

[1602] strange] so strange Rowe.

[1603] Which] That Johnson conj.

[1604] See, Magic] Paint. See! Poet Magick Johnson conj.

[1605] Hath ... merchant.] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[1606] A most] om. Seymour conj.

man] om. Capell.

[1607] goodness: He passes.] goodness. Pope (omitting He passes). goodness. He passes— Theobald. goodness: Indeed, he passes. Seymour conj. goodness, He passes. Staunton.

[1608] passes] surpasses Jackson conj.

[1609] I] Look, I Steevens conj.]

here—] Collier. here: Capell. heere. F₁ F₂. here. F₃ F₄.

[1610] for ... sir?] A separate line in Pope.

[1611] [Reciting to himself] Repeating ... Hanmer (Warburton conj.). om. Qq Ff.

[1612] [Looking on the jewel] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[1613] ye] you Capell.

[1614] You ... lord.] As verse first by Pope. Prose in Ff.

[1615] You are] You're Pope.

are ... dedication] As one line, Seymour conj., ending the previous line at You.

[1616] idly] idlely F₁.

[1617] gum, which oozes] Johnson. gowne, which uses F₁ F₂. gown, which uses F₃ F₄. gum, which issues Pope.

[1618] struck] F₃ F₄. stroke F₁ F₂.

[1619] flies Each] flies; Each Mason conj.

flies ... chafes] flies. Eche (bound) it chafes Becket conj.

[1620] chafes] Theobald. chases Ff.

[1621] Capell, reading with Hanmer in line 28, ends the lines sir ... heels ... piece ... piece.

[1622] When] And when Hanmer.

[1623] 'Tis a good piece] 'Tis a good piece, indeed Steevens conj. It is a goodly piece. Seymour conj.

[1624] Pope ends the line at 'tis.

[1625] grace ... standing] standing ... graces or grace Speaks understanding Johnson conj. Grace Speaks its own standing Mason conj. grace Speaks! 'tis one standing Jackson conj.

[1626] I will] I'll Pope.

[1627] these] those Theobald.

and pass over.] Capell. Omitted in Ff.

[1628] lord is] lord's Steevens (1793).

[1629] man] Theobald. men Ff.

[1630] Look, moe!] Looke moe. Ff. Look, more. Rowe. Look you now, there's more. Seymour conj.

[1631] beneath world] beneath-world Theobald (ed. 2).

[1632] particularly] particular Theobald.

[1633] wax] verse Collier (Collier MS.).

levell'd] leven'd Warburton.

[1634] hold;] Here Keightley marks a lacuna.

[1635] But] It Hanmer.

[1636] tract] track Hanmer.

[1637] I will] I'll Pope.

[1638] creatures] natures Hanmer.

[1639] services] service Pope.

[1640] abhor himself] make himself abhorr'd Hanmer.

[1641] together] om. Steevens conj.

[1642] Sir,] om. Pope.

[1643] Feign'd ... mount] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[1644] Lord] om. Pope.

[1645] present grace] puissant grace Anon. conj.

to present slaves] to peasant slaves S. Walker conj. t' obedient slaves Anon. conj.

[1646] conceived to scope.] Johnson. conceyv'd, to scope Ff. conceiv'd to th' scope. Theobald. conceiv'd, to scope, Warburton. conceiv'd, your scope Heath conj.

[1647] sir,] om. Pope.

[1648] value,] Theobald. valew; F₁ F₂. value; F₃ F₄.

[1649] tendance] 'tendance Johnson.

[1650] Rain] Roun (for Round) Delius.

[1651] him] om. Pope.

[1652] hands] F₂ F₃ F₄. hand F₁.

slip] Rowe. sit Ff. sink Delius conj.

[1653] moral] om. Seymour conj., reading 'Tis ... show as one line.

[1654] Fortune's] Malone. Fortunes F₁. Fortune F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1655] mean] men's Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

[1656] Trumpets sound.] Ff. Flourish. Capell.

Enter ...] Edd. Enter Lord Timon, addressing himselfe curteously to every Sutor. Ff. Enter Timon, attended, Servant of Ventidius talking with him. Capell.

Scene II. Pope.

Imprison'd] F₁ F₂. Imprisoned F₃ F₄.

is he] om. Steevens conj.

[To a Messenger. Rowe.

[1657] Mess.] Ser. Capell.

[1658] failing] F₁. failing to him F₂ F₃ F₄. failing him Capell.

[1659] Ventidius! Well] Rowe. Ventidius well F₁ F₂ F₃. Ventidius, well F₄.

[1660] must need] most needs F₃ F₄.

[1661] binds him] binds him to be grateful Seymour conj.

[1662] All ... honour] All health and happiness attend your honour Seymour conj.

[1663] call] I pray your honour, call Seymour conj., ending the previous line at Timon.

[1664] [Enter Lucilius. Rowe. Lucilius comes forward from among the Attendants. Dyce.

[1665] Here] I'm here, so please you Seymour conj.

[1666] Lord] Rowe. L. Ff.

[1667] o'] Rowe. a' Ff.

[1668] prithee] pray thee F₄.

[1669] The man ... be, Timon: His] The man ... be, Timon. His Theobald. The man ... be, Timon, His F₄. The man ... be Timon, His F₁ F₂ F₃. The man ... be, His Pope. The man ... obey Timon. His Hanmer. The man ... Therefore well be him, Timon. His Johnson conj. The man ... be Timon's. His or The man is honest, Therefore he will be— Old Ath. Timon, His Staunton conj.

[1670] Therefore ... Timon] Therefore he'll be my son Theobald conj. Therefore he will be Timon's servant here Capell conj. Therefore in this he will be honest, Timon Seymour conj. Therefore he will be rewarded, Timon Singer conj. Therefore he will be blest, Lord Timon Keightley.

[1671] She is] Alack, my noble lord, she's Seymour conj.

[1672] levity's] F₃ F₄. levities F₁ F₂.

[1673] [To Lucilius] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1674] choose] F₁. chose F₂. chuse F₃ F₄.

[1675] endow'd] Capell. endowed Ff.

[1676] If she be mated] if mated Steevens conj., reading Endow'd ... husband as one line.

[1677] This ... long] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[1678] My ... promise] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[1679] owed] own'd Hanmer (Warburton).

[1680] [Exeunt ...] Theobald. Exit. Ff. Exit Luc. Pope.

[1681] Vouchsafe ... lordship!] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[presenting his Poem. Capell.

[1682] [presenting it. Capell.

[1683] The painting] The painted Hanmer.

[1684] He is] He's Anon. conj.

these] F₁. the F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Pope.

[1685] ye] you Johnson.

[1686] you, gentleman] ye, gentlemen Johnson.

[to the Merchant. Capell.

[1687] suffer'd] Pope, suffered Ff.

under praise] underpraise Steevens (1773).

[1688] satiety] F₄. saciety F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1689] unclew] undo Pope.

[1690] prized by their masters] priz'd by their masters F₄. priz'd so by their masters Rowe. by their masters priz'd Pope.

[1691] the wearing] wearing Steevens (1793), reading You ... mock'd as one line.

[1692] Pope ends the line at here.

will you be chid?] Sour Apemantus; will ye now be chid? Seymour conj.

[1693] Enter Apemantus.] Pope. Enter Apemantus. F₄ (after line 176). Enter Apermantus. F₁ F₂ F₃ (after line 176).

[1694] Scene III. Pope.

We'll bear, with] We will bear, with Steevens (1778). Wee'l beare with F₁. Wee'l I beare with F₂. Wee'l bear with F₃. We'll bear with F₄. We'll bear it with Pope. We'll bear e'en with Seymour conj.

[1695] Good ... Apemantus] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

Apemantus] F₄. Apermantus F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1696] gentle ... morrow;] gentle stay: for my good morrow, Becket conj.

thou] om. Pope.

[1697] When ... honest.] When I am Timon's dog ... honest. Hanmer. Poet. When will that be? Apem. When thou art ... honest. Warburton conj. When thou ... honest— Johnson. Mer. When will that be? Ape. When thou ... honest. Capell.

[1698] Are] Why, are Seymour conj.

[1699] know] do know Seymour conj.

Apemantus?] F₁ F₂. Apemantus. F₃ F₄.

[1700] Apemantus] F₃ F₄. Apemantus? F₁ F₂. Apemantus; passing proud. Seymour conj.

[1701] nothing] nought Seymour conj.

[1702] Whither] F₄. Whether F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1703] thou'lt] F₄. thou't F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1704] likest] Hanmer. lik'st Ff.

[1705] best] better Hanmer.

[1706] it?] F₃ F₄. it. F₁. it: F₂.

[1707] Pain.] Poet. Steevens (1773).

You're] Capell. Y'are Ff. You are Steevens.

[1708] mother's] F₄. mothers F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1709] An] Capell. And Ff. If Pope.

[1710] O ... bellies] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[1711] So ... labour] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

So thou] F₃ F₄. So, thou F₁. So. thou F₂.

apprehend'st it] apprehendest it Dyce. apprehend'st Johnson.

it: take] it. Take Ff. it, take Staunton.

[1712] cost] F₃ F₄. cast F₁ F₂.

[1713] Not ... poet!] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[1714] Art not] Art thou Rowe (ed. 2). Art thou not Theobald.

[1715] feigned] feign'd F₁.

[1716] of thee] o' thee Warburton.

[1717] That ... lord.] Angry that I had no wit,—to be a lord. or Angry to be a lord,—that I had no wit. Blackstone conj. That I had no angry wit.—To be a lord! Malone conj. Angry that I had no wit to be a lord. Rann. That I had no ampler wit than be a lord. Anon. conj.

no angry wit] Ff. so hungry a wit Theobald (Warburton). so wrong'd my wit Heath conj. an angry wish Mason conj. no aug'ry wit Becket conj. known angry wit Jackson conj. so hungry a wish Collier (Collier MS.). an empty wit Singer, ed. 2 (Singer MS.). (now angry) wish'd or (so angry) will Singer conj. an angry fit Grant White conj. no angry wit, Delius.

be] bay Staunton conj.

[1718] not thou] thou not Pope.

[1719] Traffic's] Traffick's F₄. Traffickes F₁ F₂ F₃.

and] and so Hanmer. and may Keightley.

Trumpet ...] Trumpets sound ... Pope. Trumpet. Enter a Servant. Capell.

[1720] trumpet's] F₃ F₄. trumpets F₁ F₂.

[1721] [Exeunt ...] Capell. om. Ff.

[1722] when] F₁. and when F₂ F₃ F₄. you, when Dyce (ed. 2).

dinner's] F₃ F₄. dinners F₁ F₂. the dinner's Anon. conj.

[1723] piece. I] F₃ F₄. I peece, F₁ F₂. I am] I'm Pope.

with the rest.] Ff. and his Company. Capell.

[1724] [Bowing and embracing. Pope. they salute. Capell.

[1725] So, so ... monkey.] As verse first by Capell. Prose in Ff.

[1726] there! Aches] Capell. their Aches Ff. Aches Pope. there, bravely carried. Aches Seymour conj.

[1727] starve] F₃ F₄. sterve F₁ F₂.

[1728] 'mongst] Capell. amongest F₁ F₂. amongst F₃ F₄.

[1729] man's ... monkey] man Is bred out into a baboon, and a monkey Seymour conj.

[1730] Sir, you have] F₁ F₂ F₃. You have F₄. You have even Hanmer.

[1731] on] upon Seymour conj.

sir] om. Seymour conj.

[1732] depart] do part Theobald.

[1733] In ... in] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[1734] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Manet Apemantus. Rowe. Exeunt. Ff.

[1735] Enter two Lords.] Ff. Enter Lucius and Lucullus. Rowe.

[1736] Scene IV. Pope.

First Lord.] 1 Lord. Ff. Luc. Rowe (and throughout the scene).

o'] Collier. a Ff. of Capell.

[1737] That] Ay, that Hanmer.

[1738] The] Then Anon. conj.

most] more Hanmer.

[1739] Sec. Lord.] 2 Ff. Lucull. Rowe (and throughout the scene).

feast?] Capell. feast. Ff.

[1740] Fare thee ... fare thee] F₄. Farthee ... farthee F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1741] Shouldst] Thou should'st Rowe.

[1742] No ... hence] Prose in Pope. Four lines in Ff.

[1743] unpeaceable] unappeasable Collier MS.

or I'll] O I'll Rowe (ed. 2). or—I'll Pope.

[1744] o'] Rowe. a' Ff.

[Exit.] Exit Apem. Hanmer. om. Ff.

[1745] He's ... kindness.] As in Capell. Four lines in Ff, ending humanity ... in, ... outgoes ... kindness. Three in Pope, ending humanity ... bounty?... kindness.

humanity] all humanity Hanmer.

[1746] Come] Comes F₁.

[1747] bounty?] F₄. bountie: F₁. bounty: F₂ F₃.

he] He sure Pope.

[1748] of quittance] or quittance Johnson conj.

[1749] That ... company] As two lines, the first ending live, in Capell.

[1750] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Luc. Rowe. om. Ff.

I'll ... company] om. Seymour conj.

[1751] Scene II.] Capell. Scene V. Pope.

A banqueting-room ...] Another Apartment ... Theobald. The same. A State-Room. Capell.

[1752] Flavius and others attending;] Flavius, and other Domesticks, waiting. Capell. om. Ff.

Alcibiades ... Ventidius.] Lucius, Lucullus, Sempronius and other Athenian Senators, with Ventidius. Rowe. the States, the Athenian Lords, Ventigius which Timon redeem'd from prison. Ff (Ventidius F₄).

dropping ...] Ff. dropping in ... Capell.

like himself] om. Pope.

[1753] Most ... peace] As in Ff. See note (III).

[1754] honour'd] Pope. honoured Ff.

[1755] Doubled with] Doubl'd, with Capell.

[1756] Ventidius] F₄. Ventigius F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1757] If] If that Seymour conj., ending the lines must ... faults ... lords ... first.

If ... game,] Our betters play that game; Johnson conj.

[1758] not dare ... fair] not. Apem. Dare to imitate ... fair Warburton.

[1759] them] om. Pope. them in it Seymour conj.

[1760] A noble ... welcomes] Capell ends the lines ceremony ... first ... welcomes. Malone, lords, ... first ... welcomes. Steevens (1793), ceremony ... gloss ... welcomes.

[1761] [They all stand ceremoniously looking on Timon. Johnson. Die Gäste complimentiren sich um den höheren oder niederen Sitz an der Tafel. Delius conj.

[1762] my lords] om. Pope, lords Seymour conj.

ceremony] Your ceremony Seymour conj.

[1763] sit] fit F₂.

[1764] Than my fortunes] Than they Pope. Than my fortunes are Keightley.

[They sit.] They sit down. Rowe. om. Ff.

[1765] First Lord.] 1 Lord. Ff. Luc. Rowe (and throughout the scene).

My lord] om. Pope.

[1766] hang'd] handg'd F₁.

[1767] Apemantus] F₃ F₄. Apermantus F₁ F₂.

[1768] No ... welcome] As in Capell. One line in Ff. Prose in Pope.

[1769] thou'rt] Capell. th'art Ff. thou art Steevens.]

ye've] ye'have F₁. ye have F₂ F₃ F₄. you have Capell.

[1770] They ... indeed.] Prose by Edd. (Globe Ed.). As five lines, ending est, ... angry ... himselfe: ... companie, ... indeed, in Ff.

[1771] lords,] lords, that Pope.

yond] yonder Pope.

[1772] man is] man's Steevens (1793).

[1773] ever angry] Rowe. verie angrie F₁. very angry F₂ F₃ F₄. very anger Steevens conj.

let] And let Hanmer, ending the previous line at go.

[1774] for't] for it Hanmer.

[1775] Let ... on't] Verse in Ff. Prose in Pope.

[1776] Let] Do, let Capell.

stay] stay here Keightley.

thine apperil] thy peril Pope. thine own peril Capell.

[1777] I ... silent.] Prose in Ff. Three lines, ending Athenian, ... have ... silent, in Capell. Three, ending Athenian ... power ... silent, in Steevens.

[1778] thou'rt] Capell. Th'art Ff. thou art Steevens.

[1779] therefore] And therefore Capell.

power;] power, Ff. power—Rowe. poor. Johnson conj.

prithee] but, pr'ythee Capell.

[1780] I scorn ... too.] Prose in Ff. Pope prints I ... see as prose, So ... blood, And.... too as two lines. Six lines, ending should ... number ... not!... meat ... is, ... too, in Capell.

[1781] 'twould ... flatter thee] for I ... flatter thee: 'twould choke me Becket conj.

for ... ne'er] 'fore ... e'er Warburton.

[1782] eat] Rowe. eats F₁ F₄. eates F₂ F₃.

'em] it Hanmer. them Steevens.

It] 'T Capell.

[1783] their] F₃ F₄. there F₁ F₂.

[1784] too] to't Warburton conj.

[1785] their meat] there meate F₁.

[1786] There's ... meals;] Prose in Ff. Five lines, ending that ... pledges ... draught, ... prov'd ... drink, (omitting at meals) in Pope.

[1787] pledges] and pledges Pope.

[1788] draught,] Rowe. draught: Ff.

[1789] him: 't has been proved. If] Rowe. him: 'Tas been proved, if F₁ F₂ F₃ (been F₃). him. 'T has been proved, if F₄.

[1790] If I] Put in a separate line by Steevens (1793).

If I were a huge] Were I a great Pope.

man,] man now Capell, reading If ... fear as one line.

I should] 'should S. Walker conj., reading as Steevens.

[1791] Lest ... throats.] Verse first in Rowe (ed. 2). Prose in Ff.

[1792] lord, in] love in Anon. ap.
Johnson conj.

[1793] Sec. Lord.] Lucull. Rowe.

[1794] Flow ... gods.] See note (IV).

[1795] sinner] fire Collier (Collier MS.). liar Keightley.

[1796] equals] F₁. equall F₂. equal F₃ F₄.

[1797] Apemantus's Grace.] F₄. Apermantus ... F₁. Apemantus ... F₂ F₃. om. Capell.

[1798] Amen. So] Amen, amen; so Theobald. Amen, amen; so I Farmer MS. conj.

[1799] sin] sing Farmer MS. conj. dine Singer conj.

[Eats and drinks.] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1800] [falls to his dinner apart. Capell.

[1801] Captain] As in Pope. As a separate line in Ff.

Captain Alcibiades] Hanmer. Captaine, Alcibiades Ff (Captain, F₃ F₄).

[1802] be] been Pope (ed. 2).

[1803] bleeding-new] Hyphened by Steevens (1793).

[1804] best] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1805] those] these Rowe.

[1806] that then thou] that thou Pope (ed. 2).

[1807] that] the Rowe (ed. 2).

[1808] much] as much Rowe.

[1809] have you] have you not Heath conj.

[1810] charitable] character and Hanmer.

[1811] thousands, did] Theobald. thousands? Did Ff.

[1812] did not you ... my heart] did I not ... your hearts Johnson conj.

[1813] ne'er] nere F₁ F₂ F₃. never F₄.

[1814] they were ... for 'em,] Omitted by Pope. See note (v).

[1815] and would] they would Pope.

most resemble] resemble most S. Walker conj.

[1816] keep] keepes F₁.

their] there F₁.

[1817] joy] Rowe. joyes F₁ F₂ F₃. joys F₄.

made away] made a joy Hanmer.

[1818] ere't] F₃. er't F₁ F₂. e're't F₄. ere it Steevens.

hold out] hold Rowe.

[1819] hold out water, methinks: to] hold out; they water. Methinks, to Johnson conj.

methinks: to ... faults, I] Rowe. me thinks, to ... faults. I Ff. Methinks to ... faults, I Johnson.

[1820] weep'st to] weepest but to Hanmer.

drink] drink thee Hanmer.

[1821] like a babe] a like babe Rann. like a babe's Becket conj.

[1822] Much!] Pope. Much. Ff.

[Tucket, within.] Sound Tucket. Enter the Maskers of Amazons with Lutes in their hands, dauncing and playing. Ff.

[1823] Enter a Servant. How now!] Dyce. How now? Enter Servant. Ff.

[1824] Please ... admittance.] Prose in Pope. Two lines, the first ending ladies, in Ff.

[1825] Enter Cupid.] Capell. Enter Cupid with the Maske of Ladies. Ff.

[1826] Scene VI. Pope.

[1827] See note (VI).

[1828] thee, worthy] the worthy Hanmer.

[1829] best] blest Capell conj.

[1830] They're] F₄. They'r F₁. Their F₂ F₃.

'em] them Capell.

[1831] They're ... welcome!] Verse in F₃ F₄. Prose in F₁ F₂.

[1832] Music, make] Steevens. Musicke make F₁ F₂. Musick make F₃ F₄. Let musick make Pope. Musick, make known Capell.

[Exit Cupid.] Capell. om Ff.

[1833] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. Luc. Ff.

ample] Ff. amply Rowe (ed. 2).

you're] Rowe (ed. 2). y'are F₁. ye are F₂ F₃ F₄. you are Rowe (ed. 1).

[1834] Music. Re-enter ...] Capell, substantially. om. Ff.

[1835] Hoy-day] As in Pope. In a separate line in Ff. Hoy-day, why Hanmer, ending the line at vanity. Heyday Johnson.

[1836] Hoy-day ... dance!] Why, hey-day ... dancing! Seymour conj., ending the line at vanity.

[1837] Hoyday ... envy.] Prose by Hudson.

[1838] They dance!] Steevens. They dance? F₁ F₂ F₃. They dance, F₄. And they dance, Hanmer. And they dance! Capell. They dance (a stage direction). Tyrwhitt conj. Omitted by Rann.

they are] These are Rann (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[1839] life,] After this Warburton marks a line omitted.

[1840] As ... root.] As this pomp shows, take a little oil and root (as stage direction). Staunton conj. After this S. Walker conjectures that a line is lost.

[1841] With ... gift?] As three lines, ending that's not ... bears ... gift?, in Hanmer.

[1842] depraved] deprav'd F₄.

[1843] gift?] F₄. guift: F₁. gift F₂ F₃. gift? Timon, were I as thou, S. Walker conj.

[1844] 't has] Rowe (ed. 2). 'Tas F₁. Tas F₂. 'T'as F₃ F₄.

[1845] a] the Pope (ed. 2).

[1846] singles] Pope. single Ff. singling Theobald.

an Amazon,] a Lady, Hanmer.

[1847] You ... ladies] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

much] very much Hanmer. a much Capell.

fair] fairest Steevens conj.

[1848] Set] F₁. Sets F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1849] You have] You've Pope.

worth] grace Capell (corrected in Errata).

and] F₁. and lively F₂ F₃ F₄. and life and Anon. conj.

[1850] for't] for it F₄.

[1851] First Lady.] 1 Lady. Steevens (Johnson and Heath conj.). Ladies. Theobald conj. 1 Lord. Ff. Luc. Rowe.

even] ever Collier, ed. 2 (Thirlby conj.).

[1852] Faith ... me] Two lines of verse, the first ending hold, by Capell.

[1853] Ladies ... yourselves] As in Ff. Prose in Pope.

[1854] is] is within Capell, ending the line at banquet.

[1855] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Ff.

[1856] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1857] Yes ... humour] Arranged as in Ff. Prose in Pope. Hanmer reads Yes, ... humour, as prose, the rest as verse.

[1858] jewels yet! There is] jewels! There's Capell, ending the previous line at lord.

[1859] in's] in his Capell. in this his Ritson conj.

[1860] him—well] Rowe. him well Ff.

[1861] an] Capell. and Ff. if Pope.

[1862] had] has F₄.

[1863] [Exit.] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄. Exit, and returns with the Casket. Capell.

[1864] First Lord.] Luc. Rowe. Lucul. Theobald (ed. 2).

men?] men, ho? Capell.

[1865] Sec. Lord.] Lucul. Rowe. Luc. Theobald (ed. 2).

[1866] Re-enter....] Edd. om. Ff.

[1867] O my friends ... lord] As in Ff. As four lines, ending word ... must ... to ... lord Capell.

friends] good friends Rowe (ed. 2).

[1868] look you, my good] look my Pope.

lord] F₃ F₄. L. F₁ F₂.

[1869] much] much, F₁ F₃ F₄. much. F₂.

[1870] jewel;] Capell. Iewell, F₁ F₂. Jewel, F₃ F₄.

accept it] F₁. accept F₂ F₃ F₄. accept't Anon. conj.

[1871] my] om. Hanmer.

[1872] First Lord.] Luc. Rowe.

gifts,—] gifts— Pope. guifts. F₁ F₂. gifts, F₃. gifts. F₄.

[1873] [Exe. Lucius and Lucullus. Rowe.

[1874] Scene VII. Pope.

[1875] My lord ... you] As in Ff. Verse in Capell, ending the first line senate.

[1876] [Enter Flavius. Ff. Re-enter Flavius. Pope. Omitted by Capell.

[1877] I beseech ... near] Prose in Ff. Verse in Capell, ending the first line at honour.

[1878] Near!] Me near? Hanmer, reading as prose.

[1879] Near ... entertainment.] See note (VII).

[1880] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1881] Sec. Serv.] 2 Serv. Rowe. Ser. Ff.

[1882] May it ... silver] As in Ff. Prose in Pope.

[1883] Lord] the Lord Capell.

[1884] to] om. Pope (ed. 2).

[1885] silver] silver-harness Keightley.

[1886] Please you ... greyhounds] As four lines of verse by Capell, ending gentleman, ... company ... you ... grey-hounds.

[1887] Lord] The lord Capell.

[1888] your honour] you Capell.

[1889] I'll ... reward] As in Hanmer. Two lines in Ff, the first ending him. Prose in Pope.

[1890] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1891] What will ... coffer] As in Ff. Prose in Pope. Three lines, ending to?... give ... coffer, in Hanmer. Three lines, ending, to?... gifts, ... coffer, in Steevens.

[1892] He] Here he Hanmer. He here Capell, following Hanmer's arrangement.

all] all the while Ritson conj.

[1893] That ... out!] Arranged as by Capell, after Hanmer. Four lines, ending word: ... for't; ... I were ... out, in Ff.

[1894] he owes] he ows F₁. owes F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1895] that] om. Seymour conj.

now] om. Theobald (ed. 2).

[1896] land's] F₁ F₄. lands F₂ F₃.

[1897] Before] F₁. ere F₂ F₃. e'er F₄.

Before ... forced out] Omitted in Hanmer.

out] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1898] bleed] do bleed Capell.

[1899] You ... love.] As in Malone. Three lines, ending wrong, ... merits ... love, in Ff. Prose in Pope. Two lines, ending too much ... love, in Capell, omitting Here, line 201. Three lines, ending too much ... trifle ... love, in Steevens (1773).

[1900] Sec. Lord.] 2 Lord Ff. 1. Lord. Rowe.

[1901] With ... it] One line in Pope (ed 1). Two lines, the first ending thankes, in Ff. Prose in Pope (ed. 2).

[1902] O, he's] F₁. O has F₂ F₃. O ha's F₄. He has Pope. O! he is Steevens.

[1903] And ... it.] Prose in Ff.

[1904] I remember] I do remember me Capell, reading 205-204 as four lines, ending now ... gave ... courser ... it. Three lines, ending gave ... courser ... it, Steevens (1773). I remember me Steevens (1793), arranging as before.

[1905] rode] F₃ F₄. rod F₁ F₂.

'Tis] it is Capell.

[1906] Third Lord.] Rann (Capell conj.). 1. L. Ff. 2. Lord. Rowe.

[1907] O,] om. Steevens (1793).

[1908] in that] Put in a separate line by Capell.

[1909] You may ... to you.] Prose in Ff. Johnson prints Can ... you, as three lines of verse, ending affect; ... own ... you. Capell makes four lines, the first ending know. Steevens ends the first at man.

[1910] mine] my F₄.

own:] owne: F₁. owne? F₂. own? F₃ F₄.

I'll tell] I tell Hanmer.

[1911] to you] on you Pope.

[1912] give: Methinks,] give My thanks, Hanmer.

[1913] It comes] I'll come Hanmer.

for all] om. Pope.

[1914] Ay, defiled] I, defil'd F₁. I defie F₂ F₃ F₄. I' defiled Johnson. In defiled Steevens (1778).

[1915] Ay, ... endear'd] Arranged as in Ff. Verse in Capell, ending line 224 And so.

[1916] bound—] Pope. bound. Ff.

[1917] infinitely] infinite Capell (corrected in Errata).

endear'd—] Rowe. endeer'd. Ff.

[1918] endear'd— Tim. All to you. Lights] endear'd all to you— Tim. Lights Heath conj.

[1919] more lights] F₁. more lights, more light F₂ F₃ F₄. more lights, more lights Pope.

[1920] The ... Timon!] As prose by Edd. Two lines, the first ending fortunes, in Ff. Steevens ends the first line happiness.

[1921] fortunes] fortune S. Walker conj.

[1922] with] om. Pope.

Timon!] Timon— Pope.

[1923] Ready] Ready ever Steevens conj. Still ready Seymour conj.

[Exeunt....] Edd. Exeunt Lords. Ff. Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c. Capell.

Scene VIII. Pope. Scene vii. Johnson.

[1924] What ... 'em.] As in Rowe. Prose in Ff.

[1925] Serving of becks] Screwing of backs Hanmer (Theobald conj.). Serring of becks (from 'serrer' Fr.) Warburton.

[1926] No ... music.] Prose in Ff. Nine lines of verse in Capell.

[1927] thyself in paper] thyself in proper Theobald, ed. 2 (Warburton). thyself in perpetuum Hanmer. thyself. E'en pauper or thyself in pauper Becket conj.

[1928] needs] F₁. neede F₂. need F₃ F₄.

[1929] an] Capell. and Ff. if Pope.

on society once] once on society Capell.

[1930] So ... flattery!] As in Ff. Four lines, ending then ... thee: ... be ... flattery, in Pope. Johnson ends the lines So— ... then: ... lock ... be ... flattery. Capell, So; ... then, ... be ... flattery. Steevens, So;— ... lock ... be ... flattery. Collier, now; ... thee ... be ... flattery.

[1931] thou wilt] thou'lt Steevens (1793).

me] om. Steevens conj.

[1932] thy] the Hanmer.

heaven] haven Mason conj.

ACT II.

Scene I. A Senator's house.[1933]

Enter a Senator, with papers in his hand.[1934]

Sen. And late five thousand: to Varro and to Isidore [1935]
He owes nine thousand; besides my former sum,
Which makes it five and twenty. Still in motion
Of raging waste? It cannot hold; it will not.
If I want gold, steal but a beggar's dog 5
And give it Timon, why, the dog coins gold:
If I would sell my horse and buy twenty moe [1936]
Better than he, why, give my horse to Timon;
Ask nothing, give it him, it foals me straight [1937]
And able horses: no porter at his gate,[1938] 10
[Pg 228] But rather one that smiles and still invites [1939]
All that pass by. It cannot hold; no reason [1940]
Can found his state in safety. Caphis, ho![1941]
Caphis, I say!

Enter Caphis.

Caph. Here, sir; what is your pleasure?

Sen. Get on your cloak, and haste you to Lord Timon; 15
Importune him for my moneys; be not ceased [1942]
With slight denial; nor then silenced, when—[1943]
'Commend me to your master'—and the cap[1943]
Plays in the right hand, thus: but tell him,[1944]
My uses cry to me, I must serve my turn 20
Out of mine own; his days and times are past,
And my reliances on his fracted dates [1945][1946]
Have smit my credit: I love and honour him,[1945]
But must not break my back to heal his finger:
Immediate are my needs; and my relief 25
Must not be toss'd and turn'd to me in words,
But find supply immediate. Get you gone:
Put on a most importunate aspect,
A visage of demand; for, I do fear,
When every feather sticks in his own wing, 30
Lord Timon will be left a naked gull,
Which flashes now a phœnix. Get you gone.[1947]
[Pg 229]

Caph. I go, sir.

Sen. 'I go, sir!' Take the bonds along with you,
And have the dates in compt.

Caph. I will, sir.[1948]

Sen. Go.[1949] [Exeunt.35

Scene II. A hall in Timon's house.[1950]

Enter Flavius, with many bills in his hand.[1951]

Flavius. No care, no stop! so senseless of expense,
That he will neither know how to maintain it,
Nor cease his flow of riot: takes no account
How things go from him; nor resumes no care [1952]
Of what is to continue: never mind 5
Was to be so unwise, to be so kind.[1953]
What shall be done? he will not hear till feel:[1954]
I must be round with him, now he comes from hunting.
Fie, fie, fie, fie![1955]

Enter Caphis, with the Servants of Isidore and Varro.

Caph. Good even, Varro: what, you come for money?[1956][1957]10

Var. Serv. Is't not your business too?[1957][1958]
[Pg 230]

Caph. It is: and yours too, Isidore?[1957]

Isid. Serv. It is so.[1957][1959]

Caph. Would we were all discharged![1957]

Var. Serv. I fear it.[1957] 15

Caph. Here comes the lord.[1957][1960]

Enter Timon, Alcibiades, Lords, and others.

Tim. So soon as dinner's done, we'll forth again,
My Alcibiades. With me? what is your will?[1961]

Caph. My lord, here is a note of certain dues.[1962]

Tim. Dues! Whence are you?

Caph. Of Athens here, my lord. 20

Tim. Go to my steward.

Caph. Please it your lordship, he hath put me off
To the succession of new days this month:
My master is awaked by great occasion
To call upon his own, and humbly prays you 25
That with your other noble parts you'll suit
In giving him his right.

Tim. Mine honest friend,
I prithee but repair to me next morning.

Caph. Nay, good my lord,—

Tim. Contain thyself, good friend.[1963]

Var. Serv. One Varro's servant, my good lord,—[1963][1964] 30

Isid. Serv. From Isidore; he humbly prays your[1964][1965]
speedy payment.[1964][1966]

Caph. If you did know, my lord, my master's wants,—[1964][1967]

Var. Serv. 'Twas due on forfeiture, my lord, six weeks[1964]
and past.[1964] 35

Isid. Serv. Your steward puts me off, my lord, and I [1968]
Am sent expressly to your lordship.[1968]
[Pg 231]

Tim. Give me breath.
I do beseech you, good my lords, keep on;
I'll wait upon you instantly. [Exeunt Alcibiades, Lords, &c.
[To Flav.] Come hither: pray you,[1969]40
How goes the world, that I am thus encounter'd
With clamorous demands of date-broke bonds,[1970]
And the detention of long-since-due debts,[1971]
Against my honour?

Flav. Please you, gentlemen,
The time is unagreeable to this business: 45
Your importunacy cease till after dinner,[1972]
That I may make his lordship understand
Wherefore you are not paid.

Tim. Do so, my friends. See them well entertain'd.[1973] [Exit.

Flav. Pray, draw near.[1974] [Exit. 50

Enter Apemantus and Fool.

Caph. Stay, stay, here comes the fool with Apemantus:[1975][1976]
let's ha' some sport with 'em.[1976][1977]

Var. Serv. Hang him, he'll abuse us.

Isid. Serv. A plague upon him, dog!

Var. Serv. How dost, fool? 55

Apem. Dost dialogue with thy shadow?

Var. Serv. I speak not to thee.
[Pg 232]

Apem. No, 'tis to thyself. [To the Fool] Come away.[1978]

Isid. Serv. There's the fool hangs on your back already.[1979]

Apem. No, thou stand'st single, thou'rt not on him yet.[1980]60

Caph. Where's the fool now?[1981]

Apem. He last asked the question. Poor rogues, and [1982][1983]
usurers' men! bawds between gold and want![1983]

All Serv. What are we, Apemantus?[1984]

Apem. Asses. 65

All Serv. Why?[1984]

Apem. That you ask me what you are, and do not
know yourselves. Speak to 'em, fool.

Fool. How do you, gentlemen?

All Serv. Gramercies, good fool: how does your mistress?[1984][1985][1986]70

Fool. She's e'en setting on water to scald such chickens[1986]
as you are. Would we could see you at Corinth!

Apem. Good! gramercy.

Enter Page.

Fool. Look you, here comes my mistress' page.[1987] 75

Page. [To the Fool] Why, how now, captain! what do [1988]
you in this wise company? How dost thou, Apemantus?[1989][1990]

Apem. Would I had a rod in my mouth, that I might
answer thee profitably.

Page. Prithee, Apemantus, read me the superscription[1990][1991]80
of these letters: I know not which is which.

Apem. Canst not read?
[Pg 233]

Page. No.

Apem. There will little learning die then, that day thou
art hang'd. This is to Lord Timon; this to Alcibiades. 85
Go; thou wast born a bastard, and thou'lt die a bawd.[1992]

Page. Thou wast whelped a dog, and thou shalt famish [1993]
a dog's death. Answer not, I am gone.[1993] [Exit.

Apem. E'en so thou outrun'st grace. Fool, I will go [1994]
with you to Lord Timon's.[1994] 90

Fool. Will you leave me there?[1994]

Apem. If Timon stay at home. You three serve three[1994][1995]
usurers?[1994]

All Serv. Ay; would they served us![1984][1994][1996]

Apem. So would I,—as good a trick as ever hangman[1994][1997]95
served thief.[1994]

Fool. Are you three usurers' men?

All Serv. Ay, fool.[1984]

Fool. I think no usurer but has a fool to his servant:
my mistress is one, and I am her fool. When men come to 100
borrow of your masters, they approach sadly and go away
merry; but they enter my mistress' house merrily and[1987][1998]
go away sadly: the reason of this?

Var. Serv. I could render one.

Apem. Do it then, that we may account thee a whoremaster [1999]105
and a knave; which notwithstanding, thou shalt be
no less esteemed.

Var. Serv. What is a whoremaster, fool?

Fool. A fool in good clothes, and something like thee.
'Tis a spirit: sometime 't appears like a lord; sometime like [2000]110
a lawyer; sometime like a philosopher, with two stones [2001]
moe than 's artificial one: he is very often like a knight;[2002]
and, generally, in all shapes that man goes up and down in
from fourscore to thirteen, this spirit walks in.

Var. Serv. Thou art not altogether a fool. 115
[Pg 234]

Fool. Nor thou altogether a wise man: as much foolery
as I have, so much wit thou lack'st.

Apem. That answer might have become Apemantus.

All Serv. Aside, aside; here comes Lord Timon.[2003]

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.

Apem. Come with me, fool, come. 120

Fool. I do not always follow lover, elder brother, and [2004]
woman; sometime the philosopher.[2004][2005]

[Exeunt Apemantus and Fool.

Flav. Pray you, walk near: I'll speak with you anon [2006]

[Exeunt Servants.[2007]

Tim. You make me marvel; wherefore, ere this time,[2008]
Had you not fully laid my state before me, 125
That I might so have rated my expense
As I had leave of means?

Flav. You would not hear me,[2009]
At many leisures I proposed.[2010]

Tim. Go to:
Perchance some single vantages you took,
When my indisposition put you back; 130
And that unaptness made your minister,[2011]
Thus to excuse yourself.

Flav. O my good lord,
At many times I brought in my accounts,
Laid them before you; you would throw them off,[2012]
And say, you found them in mine honesty.[2013] 135
When for some trifling present you have bid me
Return so much, I have shook my head and wept;[2014]
Yea, 'gainst the authority of manners pray'd you
[Pg 235] To hold your hand more close: I did endure
Not seldom nor no slight checks, when I have 140
Prompted you in the ebb of your estate
And your great flow of debts. My loved lord,[2015]
Though you hear now, too late!—yet now's a time—[2016]
The greatest of your having lacks a half [2017]
To pay your present debts.[2017][2018]

Tim. Let all my land be sold.[2017] 145

Flav. 'Tis all engaged, some forfeited and gone,
And what remains will hardly stop the mouth
Of present dues: the future comes apace:[2019]
What shall defend the interim? and at length
How goes our reckoning?[2020] 150

Tim. To Lacedæmon did my land extend.

Flav. O my good lord, the world is but a word:[2021]
Were it all yours to give it in a breath,
How quickly were it gone!

Tim. You tell me true.

Flav. If you suspect my husbandry or falsehood,[2022] 155
Call me before the exactest auditors,
And set me on the proof. So the gods bless me,
When all our offices have been oppress'd
With riotous feeders, when our vaults have wept
With drunken spilth of wine, when every room 160
Hath blazed with lights and bray'd with minstrelsy,
I have retired me to a wasteful cock,[2023]
And set mine eyes at flow.[2023]
[Pg 236]

Tim. Prithee, no more.

Flav. Heavens, have I said, the bounty of this lord!
How many prodigal bits have slaves and peasants 165
This night englutted! Who is not Timon's?[2024]
What heart, head, sword, force, means, but is Lord Timon's?[2025]
Great Timon, noble, worthy, royal Timon![2026]
Ah, when the means are gone that buy this praise,
The breath is gone whereof this praise is made: 170
Feast-won, fast-lost; one cloud of winter showers,[2027]
These flies are couch'd.

Tim. Come, sermon me no further:
No villanous bounty yet hath pass'd my heart;[2028]
Unwisely, not ignobly, have I given.
Why dost thou weep? Canst thou the conscience lack,[2029] 175
To think I shall lack friends? Secure thy heart;
If I would broach the vessels of my love
And try the argument of hearts by borrowing,[2030]
Men and men's fortunes could I frankly use
As I can bid thee speak.

Flav. Assurance bless your thoughts![2031] 180

Tim. And in some sort these wants of mine are crown'd,
That I account them blessings; for by these
Shall I try friends: you shall perceive how you
Mistake my fortunes; I am wealthy in my friends.[2032]
Within there! Flaminius! Servilius![2033] 185

[Pg 237]

Enter Flaminius, Servilius, and other Servants.[2034]

Servants. My lord? my lord?[2035]

Tim. I will dispatch you severally: you to Lord Lucius:[2036]
to Lord Lucullus you: I hunted with his honour[2036]
to-day: you to Sempronius: commend me to their loves;[2036]
and, I am proud, say, that my occasions have found time to[2036] 190
use 'em toward a supply of money: let the request be fifty[2036][2037]
talents.[2036]

Flam. As you have said, my Lord.

Flav. [Aside] Lord Lucius and Lucullus? hum![2038]

Tim. Go you, sir, to the senators—[2039] 195
Of whom, even to the state's best health, I have [2040]
Deserved this hearing—bid 'em send o' the instant
A thousand talents to me.

Flav. I have been bold,[2041]
For that I knew it the most general way,
To them to use your signet and your name, 200
But they do shake their heads, and I am here
No richer in return.

Tim. Is't true? can't be?

Flav. They answer, in a joint and corporate voice,
That now they are at fall, want treasure, cannot [2042]
Do what they would; are sorry—you are honourable,— 205
But yet they could have wish'd—they know not—[2043]
Something hath been amiss—a noble nature
May catch a wrench—would all were well—'tis pity:—
And so, intending other serious matters,
After distasteful looks and these hard fractions, 210
With certain half-caps and cold-moving nods [2044]
They froze me into silence.
[Pg 238]

Tim. You gods, reward them!
Prithee, man, look cheerly. These old fellows [2045]
Have their ingratitude in them hereditary:[2046]
Their blood is caked, 'tis cold, it seldom flows; 215
'Tis lack of kindly warmth they are not kind;
And nature, as it grows again toward earth,
Is fashion'd for the journey, dull and heavy.
[To a Serv.] Go to Ventidius. [To Flav.] Prithee, be not sad;[2047]
Thou art true and honest; ingeniously I speak,[2048] 220
No blame belongs to thee. [To Serv.] Ventidius lately [2049]
Buried his father, by whose death he's stepp'd
Into a great estate: when he was poor,
Imprison'd, and in scarcity of friends,
I clear'd him with five talents: greet him from me; 225
Bid him suppose some good necessity
Touches his friend, which craves to be remember'd
With those five talents. [Exit Serv.] [To Flav.] That had, give't these fellows [2050]
To whom 'tis instant due. Ne'er speak or think [2051]
That Timon's fortunes 'mong his friends can sink.[2052] 230

Flav. I would I could not think it: that thought is bounty's foe;[2053]
Being free itself, it thinks all others so. [Exeunt.

[Pg 239]

FOOTNOTES:

[1933] Act ii. Scene i.] Rowe. om. Ff.

A Senator's house.] Capell, substantially. A publick Place in the City. Rowe.

[1934] with ... hand.] Capell. om. Ff.

[1935] thousand: to] Ff. thousand to Steevens.

[1936] twenty] Ff. ten Pope. twain Farmer conj. two Singer conj.

moe] F₁. more F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1937] me] 'em Malone conj.

[1938] And able horses] F₁ F₂. An able horse F₃ F₄. Ten able horse Theobald. Ten able horses Hanmer. Ay, able horses Jackson conj. A stable o' horses Collier (Collier MS.). Two able horses Singer conj.

porter] grim porter Staunton conj.

gate] After this Johnson conjectures that a line is lost.

[1939] rather one that] one that rathen Becket conj.

[1940] by] by it Theobald.

[1941] found ... in] Hanmer. sound ... in Ff. found ... on Capell. find ... in Capell conj.

[1942] my] om. Pope.

[1943] when—'Commend] when Commend F₁. then Commend F₂ F₃ F₄. with—Commend Rowe.

[1944] Plays] Play'ng Hanmer.

hand, thus: but] Ff. hand,—thus but Pope.

him] F₁. him sirrah F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1945] reliances ... Have] reliance ... Has Pope.

[1946] on his] on's S. Walker conj.

[1947] Which] Who Pope.

[1948] 'I go, sir!'] I go sir? F₁. I goe sir? F₂ F₃. I go, sir? F₄. Ay, go, sir: Pope. Omitted by Dyce and Staunton.

I ... you,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[1949] in compt.] Theobald. in. Come. Ff. in count. Hanmer.

[1950] Scene II.] Rowe. om. Ff.

A hall....] Timon's Hall. Rowe.

[1951] Flavius,] Rowe. Steward, Ff (and elsewhere).

[1952] nor resumes] Rowe. nor resume Ff. and resumes Pope. no reserve, Collier MS. no reserves, Collier (ed. 2).

[1953] Was to be] Was, to be Hanmer. Was made to be Heath conj. Was Long MS. Was formed Mason conj. Was truly Singer MS. Was surely Collier (Collier MS.).

[1954] hear] here F₂.

feel] he feel Keightley.

[1955] Enter....] Johnson. Enter Caphis, Isidore, and Varro. Ff.

[1956] Good even, Varro] Good evening, Varro Rowe (ed. 2). Good, even Varro Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 127).

money?] money. Pope (ed. 2).

[1957] Good ... lord.] As in Ff. As verse in Capell, ending line 10 at what.

[1958] Var. Serv.] Malone. Var. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[1959] Isid. Serv.] Malone. Isid. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[1960] Enter....] Capell, substantially. Enter Timon, and his Traine. Ff.

[1961] With me? what is] Capell. With me, what is Ff. Well what's Pope.

[1962] [They present their Bills. Rowe.

[1963] lord,—] lord— Rowe. lord. Ff.

[1964] One ... past.] Prose in Ff. Verse in Capell.

[1965] humbly] om. Pope, reading From ... payment, as one line.

your] your lordship's Steevens conj. you S. Walker conj.

[1966] payment] payment of Keightley.

[1967] wants,—] wants— Rowe. wants. Ff.

[1968] Your ... lordship.] As in Ff. Malone ends line 36 at lord.

[1969] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exe. Lords. Rowe. om. Ff.

[To Flav.] Johnson.

pray you] om. Pope.

[1970] demands] claims Pope.

date-broke] Steevens (1793). date-broken Malone. debt, broken, Ff. debt, of broken Pope. broken Hanmer.

[1971] detention of] F₁. detention F₂. detention, F₃ F₄.

[1972] importunacy] importunity Pope.

[1973] Do ... entertain'd] As in Ff.

[Exit.] Exit Tim. Pope. om. Ff.

[1974] Pray] Pray you Capell, reading Wherefore ... near as two lines, the first ending friends. I pray Steevens (1793), following Capell's arrangement.

[1975] Scene III. Pope. Johnson conjectures that a scene is lost here.

[1976] Stay ... 'em,] Prose in Ff. Verse by Steevens (Capell conj. MS.).

[1977] ha'] ha F₁ F₂ F₃. have F₄.

[1978] [To the Fool] Steevens. om. Ff.

[1979] [To Var. Steevens. om. Ff.

[1980] thou'rt] Collier. th' art F₁. thou art F₂ F₃ F₄.

him] Ff. it Hanmer.

[1981] Where's] Who's Lettsom conj.

[1982] He] He that S. Walker conj.

rogues] rogues' Theobald (ed. 2).

[1983] Poor ... want!] Transferred to follow yourselves, line 75, Johnson conj.

[1984] All Serv.] All. Ff.

[1985] Gramercies] Gramercy Hanmer.

[1986] Gramercies ... mistress?] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[1987] mistress'] mistress's Theobald. masters F₁ F₂ F₃. master's F₄.

[1988] [To the Fool] Johnson. om. Ff.

[1989] wise] wife F₂.

[1990] Apemantus] F₄. Apermantus F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1991] Page.] F₄. Boy. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1992] thou'lt] F₄. thou't F₁ F₂ F₃.

[1993] famish a] famish, a Rowe.

[1994] See note (VIII).

[1995] home.] home— Pope.

[1996] Ay; would] Capell. I would Ff.

[1997] I,—as] I—as Rowe. I: As Ff.

[1998] merry] F₁ F₂. merrily F₃ F₄.

[1999] Apem.] Fool. Hanmer.

[2000] sometime 't] F₃ F₄. sometime t' F₁ F₂. sometime it Pope. sometimes it Theobald.

sometime] sometimes F₄.

[2001] sometime] sometimes Pope.

[2002] moe] F₁. more F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2003] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff.

[2004] I ... philosopher] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending brother, in Ff.

[2005] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Fool and Apemantus. Capell. om. Ff.

[2006] Pray you ... anon.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[2007] [Exeunt Servants.] Capell. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt Creditors, Apemantus, and Fool. Theobald.

[2008] Scene IV. Pope.

marvel; wherefore] Rowe. mervell wherefore F₁ F₂. marvel wherefore F₃ F₄.

[2009] me,] Capell. me: Ff.

[2010] proposed] propos'd F₂ F₃ F₄. propose F₁.

[2011] your] F₁. you F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2012] you; you] Rowe. you, you Ff.

[2013] found] sound F₁.

[2014] I have] I've Pope.

[2015] loved] lov'd F₁. deare lov'd F₂. dear lov'd F₃ F₄. belov'd S. Walker conj.

[2016] hear] heare F₁. here F₂ F₃ F₄.

too ... time] yet now's too late a time Hanmer. yet now's a time too late Collier MS.

[2017] The ... To pay your] Your greatest having lacks a half to pay Your Steevens conj.

[2018] your] you F₂.

[2019] comes] come Hanmer.

[2020] How goes] Make good Hanmer. Hold good Warburton.

[2021] world is but a word] world's but as a word Becket conj.

word] F₁. world F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2022] or falsehood] or truth Seymour conj. of falsehood Edd. conj.

[2023] retired ... cock, And] retir'd me, and like a wasteful cock, Have Anon. apud Rann. conj. retired me, like a wasteful cock, And Mitford conj. retir'd (me too a wasteful cock,) And Staunton conj.

to] from Knight conj.

wasteful cock] lonely room Pope. wasteful nook Collier (Collier MS.). wakeful cock Jackson conj. wakeful couch Jervis conj.

[2024] Who] who now Pope.

Timon's] lord Timon's Steevens conj.

[2025] Lord] Rowe. L. Ff.

[2026] Timon ... Timon] F₁. Timon ... Timons F₂ F₃. Timon ... Timon's F₄. Timon's ... Timon's Hanmer.

[2027] Feast-won] Pope. Feast won Ff. Fast won Becket conj.

fast-lost] Theobald. fast lost Ff.

[2028] heart] hand or hands S. Walker conj.

[2029] the] all Hanmer.

[2030] argument] arguments Rowe.

[2031] I can] om. Steevens conj.

[2032] Mistake ... friends] As in Capell. One line in Pope, reading in my friends I'm wealthy. In Ff Shall ... friends is printed as three lines, ending perceive ... fortunes ... friends.

I am] I'm Johnson.

[2033] Flaminius] Rowe. Flavius Ff. Ho Flaminius Pope.

[2034] Enter ...] Rowe. Enter three Servants. Ff.

[2035] Scene V. Pope.

[2036] I will ... talents.] Prose in Ff. Seven lines of verse in Capell.

[2037] 'em] them Capell.

[2038] [Aside] First marked by Capell. om. Ff.

Lucullus] lord Lucullus Steevens (1793).

[2039] [To Flavius. Rowe. To another Serv. Malone (Capell conj.).

senators] senators of Athens Steevens conj.

[2040] health,] F₃ F₄. health; F₁. health? F₂.

[2041] I have] I've Pope.

[2042] treasure] Treature F₁.

[2043] not—] not—but Hanmer. not, but Capell. not what— Dyce (ed. 2).

[2044] cold-moving] Theobald. cold moving Ff.

[2045] Prithee] I pr'ythee Pope.

[2046] in them] om. Hanmer.

[2047] [To a Serv.] Malone (Capell conj.). om. Ff.

[To Flav.] Malone. om. Ff.

[2048] Thou art] Thou'rt Pope.

honest] just Pope.

ingeniously] ingenuously F₄.

[2049] [To Serv.] Malone. om. Ff.

[2050] [Exit Serv.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

[To Flav.] Malone. om. Ff.

give't] give it Steevens.

[2051] Ne'er] Nev'r Ff.

[2052] 'mong] 'mongst Boswell.

[2053] I would ... think it] Would I could not Pope. I would, I could not Steevens conj.

thought is] thought's Steevens conj.

I would ... foe] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.

foe;] foe? F₂.

ACT III.

Scene I. A room in Lucullus's house.[2054]

Flaminius waiting. Enter a Servant to him.[2055]

Serv. I have told my lord of you; he is coming down
to you.[2056]

Flam. I thank you, sir.

Enter Lucullus.

Serv. Here's my lord.

Lucul. [Aside] One of Lord Timon's men? a gift, I [2057]5
warrant. Why, this hits right; I dreamt of a silver basin
and ewer to-night. Flaminius, honest Flaminius; you are [2058]
very respectively welcome, sir. Fill me some wine.[2058] [Exit
Servant.] And how does that honourable, complete, freehearted
gentleman of Athens, thy very bountiful good lord 10
and master?

Flam. His health is well, sir.

Lucul. I am right glad that his health is well, sir: and
what hast thou there under thy cloak, pretty Flaminius?

Flam. Faith, nothing but an empty box, sir; which, in 15
my lord's behalf, I come to entreat your honour to supply;
who, having great and instant occasion to use fifty talents,[2059]
hath sent to your lordship to furnish him, nothing doubting
your present assistance therein.

Lucul. La, la, la, la! 'nothing doubting,' says he? Alas, 20
good lord! a noble gentleman 'tis, if he would not keep so
good a house. Many a time and often I ha' dined with [2060]
him, and told him on't; and come again to supper to him,
[Pg 240] of purpose to have him spend less; and yet he would [2061]
embrace no counsel, take no warning by my coming. 25
Every man has his fault, and honesty is his: I ha' told him [2062]
on't, but I could ne'er get him from 't.[2063]

Re-enter Servant, with wine.

Serv. Please your lordship, here is the wine.

Lucul. Flaminius, I have noted thee always wise.
Here's to thee.[2064] 30

Flam. Your lordship speaks your pleasure.

Lucul. I have observed thee always for a towardly
prompt spirit—give thee thy due—and one that knows
what belongs to reason; and canst use the time well, if the
time use thee well: good parts in thee. [To Serv.] Get [2065] 35
you gone, sirrah. [Exit Serv.] Draw nearer, honest Flaminius.[2066]
Thy lord's a bountiful gentleman: but thou art wise;
and thou knowest well enough, although thou comest to
me, that this is no time to lend money, especially upon
bare friendship, without security. Here's three solidares 40
for thee: good boy, wink at me, and say thou saw'st me
not. Fare thee well.

Flam. Is't possible the world should so much differ,
And we alive that lived? Fly, damned baseness,
To him that worships thee! [Throwing back the money.[2067]45

Lucul. Ha! now I see thou art a fool, and fit for thy
master. [Exit.[2068]

Flam. May these add to the number that may scald thee!
Let molten coin be thy damnation,[2069]
Thou disease of a friend, and not himself! 50
Has friendship such a faint and milky heart,
[Pg 241] It turns in less than two nights? O you gods,
I feel my master's passion! this slave,[2070]
Unto his honour, has my lord's meat in him:[2070]
Why should it thrive and turn to nutriment,[2071] 55
When he is turn'd to poison?
O, may diseases only work upon't![2072]
And, when he's sick to death, let not that part of nature [2073]
Which my lord paid for, be of any power[2073][2074]
To expel sickness, but prolong his hour![2075] [Exit. 60

Scene II. A public place.[2076]

Enter Lucius, with three Strangers.

Luc. Who, the Lord Timon? He is my very good friend,
and an honourable gentleman.

First Stran. We know him for no less, though we are [2077]
but strangers to him. But I can tell you one thing, my
lord, and which I hear from common rumours: now Lord 5
Timon's happy hours are done and past, and his estate
shrinks from him.

Luc. Fie, no, do not believe it; he cannot want for money.[2078]
[Pg 242]

Sec. Stran. But believe you this, my lord, that not long [2079]
ago one of his men was with the Lord Lucullus to borrow 10
so many talents; nay, urged extremely for't, and showed [2080]
what necessity belonged to't, and yet was denied.

Luc. How!

Sec. Stran. I tell you, denied, my lord.

Luc. What a strange case was that! now, before the gods, 15
I am ashamed on't. Denied that honourable man! there was
very little honour showed in't. For my own part, I must [2081]
needs confess, I have received some small kindnesses from
him, as money, plate, jewels, and such-like trifles, nothing
comparing to his; yet, had he mistook him and sent to me,[2082] 20
I should ne'er have denied his occasion so many talents.[2083]

Enter Servilius.

Ser. See, by good hap, yonder's my lord; I have sweat
to see his honour. My honoured lord![2084]

Luc. Servilius! you are kindly met, sir. Fare thee [2085]
well: commend me to thy honourable virtuous lord, my[2085] 25
very exquisite friend.[2086]

Ser. May it please your honour, my lord hath sent—

Luc. Ha! what has he sent? I am so much endeared to [2087]
that lord; he's ever sending: how shall I thank him, think'st
thou? And what has he sent now? 30

Ser. Has only sent his present occasion now, my lord;[2088]
requesting your lordship to supply his instant use with so [2089]
many talents.[2089]

Luc. I know his lordship is but merry with me;
He cannot want fifty five hundred talents.[2090] 35
[Pg 243]

Ser. But in the mean time he wants less, my lord.
If his occasion were not virtuous,
I should not urge it half so faithfully.[2091]

Luc. Dost thou speak seriously, Servilius?

Ser. Upon my soul, 'tis true, sir. 40

Luc. What a wicked beast was I to disfurnish myself
against such a good time, when I might ha' shown myself [2092]
honourable! how unluckily it happened, that I should purchase
the day before for a little part, and undo a great deal [2093]
of honour! Servilius, now, before the gods, I am not able 45
to do—the more beast, I say:—I was sending to use Lord [2094]
Timon myself, these gentlemen can witness; but I would
not, for the wealth of Athens, I had done't now. Commend
me bountifully to his good lordship; and I hope his
honour will conceive the fairest of me, because I have no 50
power to be kind: and tell him this from me, I count it
one of my greatest afflictions, say, that I cannot pleasure [2095]
such an honourable gentleman. Good Servilius, will you
befriend me so far as to use mine own words to him?[2096]

Ser. Yes, sir, I shall. 55

Luc. I'll look you out a good turn, Servilius.[2097]

[Exit Servilius.

True, as you said, Timon is shrunk indeed;
And he that's once denied will hardly speed. [Exit.

First Stran. Do you observe this, Hostilius?[2098]

Sec. Stran. Ay, too well.

First Stran. Why, this is the world's soul; and just of the same piece [2099][2100]60
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him[2099][2100]
[Pg 244] His friend that dips in the same dish? for, in[2099]
My knowing, Timon has been this lord's father,[2099]
And kept his credit with his purse;[2099][2101]
Supported his estate; nay, Timon's money 65
Has paid his men their wages: he ne'er drinks,
But Timon's silver treads upon his lip;
And yet—O, see the monstrousness of man [2102][2103]
When he looks out in an ungrateful shape!—[2103]
He does deny him, in respect of his, 70
What charitable men afford to beggars.

Third Stran. Religion groans at it.

First Stran. For mine own part,[2104]
I never tasted Timon in my life,[2104]
Nor came any of his bounties over me,[2105]
To mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, 75
For his right noble mind, illustrious virtue,
And honourable carriage,[2106]
Had his necessity made use of me,
I would have put my wealth into donation,[2107]
And the best half should have return'd to him,[2108][2109] 80
So much I love his heart: but, I perceive,[2109]
Men must learn now with pity to dispense;
For policy sits above conscience.[2110] [Exeunt.

[Pg 245]

Scene III. A room in Sempronius' house.[2111]

Enter Sempronius, and a Servant of Timon's.[2112]

Sem. Must he needs trouble me in 't,—hum!—'bove all others?[2113]
He might have tried Lord Lucius or Lucullus;
And now Ventidius is wealthy too,
Whom he redeem'd from prison: all these
Owe their estates unto him.[2114]

Serv. My lord,[2115][2116] 5
They have all been touch'd and found base metal, for[2116][2117][2118]
They have all denied him.[2116][2118][2119]

Sem. How! have they denied him?
Has Ventidius and Lucullus denied him?[2120]
And does he send to me? Three? hum!
It shows but little love or judgement in him:[2121] 10
Must I be his last refuge? His friends, like physicians,[2122][2123]
Thrive, give him over: must I take the cure upon me?[2122][2124]
Has much disgraced me in 't; I'm angry at him,[2125]
[Pg 246] That might have known my place: I see no sense for 't,[2126]
But his occasions might have woo'd me first; 15
For, in my conscience, I was the first man
That e'er received gift from him:[2127]
And does he think so backwardly of me now,[2128]
That I'll requite it last? No:[2129]
So it may prove an argument of laughter 20
To the rest, and 'mongst lords I be thought a fool.[2130]
I'd rather than the worth of thrice the sum,[2131]
Had sent to me first, but for my mind's sake;[2132]
I'd such a courage to do him good. But now return,[2133]
And with their faint reply this answer join; 25
Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin. [Exit.

Serv. Excellent! Your lordship's a goodly villain. The [2134]
devil knew not what he did when he made man politic; he[2134][2135]
crossed himself by 't: and I cannot think but in the end the[2134][2136]
villanies of man will set him clear. How fairly this lord[2134][2137]30
strives to appear foul! takes virtuous copies to be wicked;[2134][2138]
like those that under hot ardent zeal would set whole[2134][2139]
realms on fire:[2134]
Of such a nature is his politic love.[2140]
[Pg 247] This was my lord's best hope; now all are fled,[2141] 35
Save only the gods: now his friends are dead,[2142]
Doors, that were ne'er acquainted with their wards
Many a bounteous year, must be employ'd
Now to guard sure their master.
And this is all a liberal course allows; 40
Who cannot keep his wealth must keep his house. [Exit.

Scene IV. A hall in Timon's house.[2143]

Enter two Servants of Varro, and the Servant of Lucius, meeting Titus, Hortensius, and other Servants of Timon's creditors, waiting his coming out.[2144]

First Var. Serv. Well met; good morrow, Titus and Hortensius.[2145]

Tit. The like to you, kind Varro.[2146]

Hor. Lucius![2146]
What, do we meet together?[2146][2147]

Luc. Serv. Ay, and I think[2146]
One business does command us all; for mine[2146]
Is money.[2146][2148] 5

Tit. So is theirs and ours.[2148][2149]

[Pg 248]

Enter Philotus.

Luc. Serv. And Sir Philotus too![2148]

Phi. Good day at once.

Luc. Serv. Welcome, good brother.[2150]
What do you think the hour?[2150][2151]

Phi. Labouring for nine.

Luc. Serv. So much?

Phi. Is not my lord seen yet?

Luc. Serv. Not yet.

Phi. I wonder on't; he was wont to shine at seven.[2152] 10

Luc. Serv. Ay, but the days are wax'd shorter with him:[2153]
You must consider that a prodigal course [2154]
Is like the sun's; but not, like his, recoverable.[2155]
I fear[2155]
'Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse;[2156] 15
That is, one may reach deep enough and yet[2156]
Find little.[2156]

Phi. I am of your fear for that.

Tit. I'll show you how to observe a strange event.
Your lord sends now for money.

Hor. Most true, he does.[2157]

Tit. And he wears jewels now of Timon's gift, 20
For which I wait for money.[2158]

Hor. It is against my heart.[2159]

Luc. Serv. Mark, how strange it shows,
Timon in this should pay more than he owes:
And e'en as if your lord should wear rich jewels,
And send for money for 'em. 25
[Pg 249]

Hor. I'm weary of this charge, the gods can witness:[2160]
I know my lord hath spent of Timon's wealth,
And now ingratitude makes it worse than stealth.[2161]

First Var. Serv. Yes, mine's three thousand crowns: what's yours?[2162]

Luc. Serv. Five thousand mine.[2163] 30

First Var. Serv. 'Tis much deep: and it should seem by the sum [2164]
Your master's confidence was above mine;
Else, surely, his had equall'd.[2165]

Enter Flaminius.

Tit. One of Lord Timon's men.

Luc. Serv. Flaminius! Sir, a word: pray, is my lord [2166] 35
ready to come forth?[2166]

Flam. No, indeed he is not.

Tit. We attend his lordship: pray, signify so much.

Flam. I need not tell him that; he knows you are too [2167]
diligent.[2167][2168] [Exit. 40

Enter Flavius in a cloak, muffled.[2169]

Luc. Serv. Ha! is not that his steward muffled so?
He goes away in a cloud: call him, call him.

Tit. Do you hear, sir?

Sec. Var. Serv. By your leave, sir,—[2170]
[Pg 250]

Flav. What do ye ask of me, my friend?[2171] 45

Tit. We wait for certain money here, sir.[2172]

Flav. Ay,
If money were as certain as your waiting,
'Twere sure enough.[2173]
Why then preferr'd you not your sums and bills,[2173]
When your false masters eat of my lord's meat?[2173][2174] 50
Then they could smile and fawn upon his debts[2173][2175]
And take down the interest into their gluttonous maws.[2173][2176]
You do yourselves but wrong to stir me up;[2173]
Let me pass quietly:[2173]
Believe't, my lord and I have made an end; 55
I have no more to reckon, he to spend.

Luc. Serv. Ay, but this answer will not serve.

Flav. If 'twill not serve, 'tis not so base as you;[2177]
For you serve knaves. [Exit.[2178]

First Var. Serv. How! what does his cashiered worship [2179] 60
mutter?

Sec. Var. Serv. No matter what; he's poor, and that's [2180]
revenge enough. Who can speak broader than he that has
no house to put his head in? such may rail against great [2181]
buildings. 65

Enter Servilius.

Tit. O, here's Servilius; now we shall know some answer.[2182][2183]
[Pg 251]

Ser. If I might beseech you, gentlemen, to repair some[2182][2184]
other hour, I should derive much from 't; for, take't of my[2182][2185]
soul, my lord leans wondrously to discontent: his comfortable[2182]70
temper has forsook him; he's much out of health and[2182][2186]
keeps his chamber.[2182]

Luc. Serv. Many do keep their chambers are not sick:
And if it be so far beyond his health,[2187]
Methinks he should the sooner pay his debts, 75
And make a clear way to the gods.

Ser. Good gods!

Tit. We cannot take this for answer, sir.[2188]

Flam. [Within] Servilius, help! My lord! my lord!

Enter Timon in a rage; Flaminius following.[2189]

Tim. What, are my doors opposed against my passage?[2190]
Have I been ever free, and must my house 80
Be my retentive enemy, my gaol?[2191]
The place which I have feasted, does it now,
Like all mankind, show me an iron heart?

Luc. Serv. Put in now, Titus.[2192]

Tit. My lord, here is my bill.[2192][2193] 85

Luc. Serv. Here's mine.[2192]

Hor. And mine, my lord.[2192][2194]

Both Var. Serv. And ours, my lord.[2192][2195]

Phi. All our bills.[2192][2196]

Tim. Knock me down with 'em: cleave me to the girdle.[2192] 90

Luc. Serv. Alas, my lord,—[2192][2197]
[Pg 252]

Tim. Cut my heart in sums.[2192][2198]

Tit. Mine, fifty talents.[2192]

Tim. Tell out my blood.[2192]

Luc. Serv. Five thousand crowns, my lord.[2192] 95

Tim. Five thousand drops pays that. What yours?—and[2192][2199][2200]
yours?[2192][2199]

First Var. Serv. My lord,—[2192][2201][2202]

Sec. Var. Serv. My lord,—[2192][2202][2203]

Tim. Tear me, take me, and the gods fall upon you![2204] [Exit.100

Hor. Faith, I perceive our masters may throw their
caps at their money: these debts may well be called desperate
ones, for a madman owes 'em. [Exeunt.

Re-enter Timon and Flavius.[2205]

Tim. They have e'en put my breath from me, the
slaves. Creditors? devils! 105

Flav. My dear lord,—[2206]

Tim. What if it should be so?

Flav. My lord,—[2206][2207]

Tim. I'll have it so. My steward!

Flav. Here, my lord. 110

Tim. So fitly? Go, bid all my friends again,
Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius: all:[2208]
I'll once more feast the rascals.
[Pg 253]

Flav. O my lord,[2209]
You only speak from your distracted soul;[2209]
There is not so much left, to furnish out[2209][2210] 115
A moderate table.[2209][2211]

Tim. Be it not in thy care;
Go,[2212]
I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide [2213]
Of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide. [Exeunt.

Scene V. The Senate-house.[2214]

The Senate sitting.[2215]

First Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's [2216][2217]
Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die:[2216]
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

Sec. Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him.[2218]

Enter Alcibiades, attended.

Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate![2219] 5

First Sen. Now, captain?[2220]
[Pg 254]

Alcib. I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time and fortune to lie heavy 10
Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood
Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth
To those that without heed do plunge into 't.
He is a man, setting his fate aside,[2221][2222]
Of comely virtues:[2222][2223] 15
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice—[2222][2223]
An honour in him which buys out his fault—[2222][2223]
But with a noble fury and fair spirit,[2222][2223][2224]
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,[2223][2225]
He did oppose his foe:[2223] 20
And with such sober and unnoted passion [2226]
He did behave his anger, ere 'twas spent,[2227]
As if he had but proved an argument.[2228]

First Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair: 25
Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd [2229]
To bring manslaughter into form, and set quarrelling [2230][2231]
Upon the head of valour; which indeed[2230]
Is valour misbegot and came into the world[2230]
When sects and factions were newly born:[2230][2232] 30
He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs [2233]
[Pg 255] His outsides, to wear them like his raiment, carelessly,[2233][2234]
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,[2235]
To bring it into danger. 35
If wrongs be evils and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill!

Alcib. My lord,—

First Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear:[2236]
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.[2237]

Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, 40
If I speak like a captain.
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? sleep upon 't,[2238]
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,[2239]
Without repugnancy? If there be [2240] 45
Such valour in the bearing, what make we [2241]
Abroad? why then women are more valiant [2242]
That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon [2243]
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,[2243] 50
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,[2243]
As you are great, be pitifully good:
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;
But in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.[2244] 55
To be in anger is impiety;
[Pg 256] But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

Sec. Sen. You breathe in vain.

Alcib. In vain! His service done [2245][2246]
At Lacedæmon and Byzantium[2246] 60
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

First Sen. What's that?

Alcib. I say, my lords, has done fair service,[2247]
And slain in fight many of your enemies:[2248]
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds! 65

Sec. Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em;[2249][2250]
He's a sworn rioter: he has a sin[2250][2251][2252]
That often drowns him and takes his valour prisoner:[2252][2253]
If there were no foes, that were enough [2254]
To overcome him: in that beastly fury 70
He has been known to commit outrages
And cherish factions: 'tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

First Sen. He dies.

Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him— 75
[Pg 257] Though his right arm might purchase his own time
And be in debt to none—yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his and join 'em both:
And, for I know your reverend ages love [2255]
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all[2255][2256] 80
My honours to you, upon his good returns.[2255][2257]
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive 't in valiant gore;[2258]
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

First Sen. We are for law: he dies; urge it no more, 85
On height of our displeasure: friend or brother,
He forfeits his own blood that spills another.

Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,[2259]
I do beseech you, know me.[2259]

Sec. Sen. How! 90

Alcib. Call me to your remembrances.[2260]

Third Sen. What![2261]

Alcib. I cannot think but your age has forgot me;[2262]
It could not else be I should prove so base
To sue and be denied such common grace: 95
My wounds ache at you.

First Sen. Do you dare our anger?[2263]
'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect;
We banish thee for ever.

Alcib. Banish me!
Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the senate ugly. 100

First Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee,[2264]
Attend our weightier judgement. And, not to swell our spirit,[2265][2266][2267]
[Pg 258] He shall be executed presently.[2266][2268] [Exeunt Senators.

Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough, that you may live [2269]
Only in bone, that none may look on you![2270] 105
I'm worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money and let out
Their coin upon large interest, I myself
Rich only in large hurts. All those for this?
Is this the balsam that the usuring senate 110
Pours into captains' wounds? Banishment![2271]
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd;
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up
My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.[2272] 115
'Tis honour with most lands to be at odds;[2273]
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs as gods.[2274] [Exit.

[Pg 259]

Scene VI. A banqueting-room in Timon's house.[2275]

Music. Tables set out: Servants attending. Enter divers Lords, Senators and others, at several doors.[2276]

First Lord. The good time of day to you, sir.[2277]

Sec. Lord. I also wish it to you. I think this honourable [2278]
lord did but try us this other day.

First Lord. Upon that were my thoughts tiring when [2279]
we encountered: I hope it is not so low with him as he 5
made it seem in the trial of his several friends.

Sec. Lord. It should not be, by the persuasion of his
new feasting.

First Lord. I should think so: he hath sent me an
earnest inviting, which many my near occasions did urge 10
me to put off; but he hath conjured me beyond them, and
I must needs appear.

Sec. Lord. In like manner was I in debt to my importunate
business, but he would not hear my excuse. I am
sorry, when he sent to borrow of me, that my provision 15
was out.

First Lord. I am sick of that grief too, as I understand
how all things go.

Sec. Lord. Every man here's so. What would he have [2280]
borrowed of you? 20

First Lord. A thousand pieces.

Sec. Lord. A thousand pieces!

First Lord. What of you?

Sec. Lord. He sent to me, sir,—Here he comes.[2281]

[Pg 260]

Enter Timon and Attendants.

Tim. With all my heart, gentlemen both: and how 25
fare you?

First Lord. Ever at the best, hearing well of your
lordship.

Sec. Lord. The swallow follows not summer more willing [2282][2283]
than we your lordship.[2282] 30

Tim. [Aside] Nor more willingly leaves winter; such [2284]
summer-birds are men.—Gentlemen, our dinner will not recompense[2284]
this long stay: feast your ears with the music
awhile, if they will fare so harshly o' the trumpet's sound;[2285]
we shall to 't presently. 35

First Lord. I hope it remains not unkindly with your
lordship, that I returned you an empty messenger.

Tim. O, sir, let it not trouble you.

Sec. Lord. My noble lord,—[2286]

Tim. Ah, my good friend, what cheer? 40

Sec. Lord. My most honourable lord, I am e'en sick of [2287]
shame, that, when your lordship this other day sent to me,[2288]
I was so unfortunate a beggar.

Tim. Think not on 't, sir.

Sec. Lord. If you had sent but two hours before—[2289] 45

Tim. Let it not cumber your better remembrance.
[The banquet brought in.] Come, bring in all together.[2290]

Sec. Lord. All covered dishes!

First Lord. Royal cheer, I warrant you.
[Pg 261]

Third Lord. Doubt not that, if money and the season [2291] 50
can yield it.

First Lord. How do you? What's the news?

Third Lord. Alcibiades is banished: hear you of it?[2292]

First and Sec. Lord. Alcibiades banished![2293]

Third Lord.'Tis so, be sure of it. 55

First Lord. How? how?

Sec. Lord. I pray you, upon what?

Tim. My worthy friends, will you draw near?

Third Lord. I'll tell you more anon. Here's a noble [2294]
feast toward. 60

Sec. Lord. This is the old man still.

Third Lord. Will 't hold? will 't hold?[2295]

Sec. Lord. It does: but time will—and so—[2296]

Third Lord. I do conceive.

Tim. Each man to his stool, with that spur as he would 65
to the lip of his mistress: your diet shall be in all places
alike. Make not a city feast of it, to let the meat cool ere
we can agree upon the first place: sit, sit. The gods require [2297]
our thanks.

You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness.[2298]70
For your own gifts, make yourselves praised: but[2298]
reserve still to give, lest your deities be despised. Lend to[2298]
each man enough, that one need not lend to another; for,[2298]
were your godheads to borrow of men, men would forsake[2298]
the gods. Make the meat be beloved more than the man[2298][2299] 75
that gives it. Let no assembly of twenty be without a score[2298]
of villains: if there sit twelve women at the table, let a[2298]
dozen of them be—as they are. The rest of your fees, O[2298][2300]
gods,—the senators of Athens, together with the common[2298]
lag of people,—what is amiss in them, you gods, make[2298][2301] 80
[Pg 262] suitable for destruction. For these my present friends,[2298][2302]
as they are to me nothing, so in nothing bless them, and to[2298][2303]
nothing are they welcome.[2298][2304]

Uncover, dogs, and lap.

[The dishes are uncovered and seen to be full of warm water.[2305]

Some speak. What does his lordship mean? 85

Some other. I know not.

Tim. May you a better feast never behold,
You knot of mouth-friends! smoke and luke-warm water [2306]
Is your perfection. This is Timon's last;[2307]
Who stuck and spangled you with flatteries,[2308] 90
Washes it off, and sprinkles in your faces [2309]
Your reeking villany. [Throwing the water in their faces.[2310]
Live loathed, and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time's flies,[2311] 95
Cap-and-knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks![2312]
Of man and beast the infinite malady [2313]
Crust you quite o'er! What, dost thou go?
Soft! take thy physic first—thou too—and thou:—
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.[2314] 100
[Pg 263]

[Throws the dishes at them, and drives them out.

What, all in motion? Henceforth be no feast,
Whereat a villain's not a welcome guest.
Burn, house! sink, Athens! henceforth hated be
Of Timon man and all humanity! [Exit.

Re-enter the Lords, Senators, &c.[2315]

First Lord. How now, my lords! 105

Sec. Lord. Know you the quality of Lord Timon's fury?

Third Lord. Push! did you see my cap?[2316]

Fourth Lord. I have lost my gown.[2317]

First Lord. He's but a mad lord, and nought but humour [2318][2319]
sways him. He gave me a jewel th' other day, and[2318] 110
now he has beat it out of my hat. Did you see my jewel?[2318][2320]

Third Lord. Did you see my cap?[2321]

Sec. Lord. Here 'tis.[2322]

Fourth Lord. Here lies my gown.

First Lord. Let's make no stay. 115

Sec. Lord. Lord Timon's mad.

Third Lord. I feel't upon my bones.[2323]

Fourth Lord. One day he gives us diamonds, next day stones. [Exeunt.

[Pg 264]

FOOTNOTES:

[2054] Act iii Scene i.] Rowe. om. Ff.

A room ...] Lucullus's House in Athens. Theobald. The City. Rowe.

[2055] waiting. Enter ...] waiting to speake with a Lord from his Master, enters ... Ff.

[2056] to you] to you F₂.

[2057] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.

men?] Ff. men; Theobald.

[2058] [Exit Servant.] Capell om. Ff.

[2059] who] he Seymour conj.

[2060] ha'] F₄. ha F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2061] of purpose] F₁ F₂. on purpose F₃ F₄.

[2062] has] hath F₄.

ha'] F₄. ha F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2063] ne'er] never F₄.

Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff.

[2064] [drinking, and giving Wine to him. Capell.

[2065] [To Serv.] To the servant. Pope. To the servant, who goes out. Theobald. om. Ff.

[2066] [Exit Serv.] Edd. om. Ff.

[2067] [Throwing ...] Capell. Throwing the money away. Rowe. om. Ff.

[2068] [Exit.] Exit L. F₁. Exit Lucullus. F₂ F₃ F₄. Picks up the money, and exit. Edd. conj.

[2069] molten] F₄. moulten F₁ F₂. multen F₃.

[2070] I ... honour] Arranged as in Pope. One line in Ff.

slave, Unto his honour,] Stevens (1778). slave unto his honor, F₁ F₂. slave unto his honour, F₃. slave unto his honour F₄. slave Unto this hour Pope. slave, Undo his honour, Jackson conj. slave unto his humour Collier MS. slander Unto his honour Dyce. slave Unto dishonour Staunton conj.

[2071] turn] come F₃ F₄.

[2072] diseases ... upon't] diseases ... on't, ending the lines diseases ... death ... nature, or disease ... upon't, ending the lines O ... when ... nature S. Walker conj.

[2073] of nature Which my] Of nature my Pope, ending the previous line at part. Of nurture my Hanmer.

[2074] any] om. Pope.

[2075] but] or Pope.

[2076] Scene II.] Pope.

A public place.] Capell. A publick Street. Theobald.

[2077] First Stran.] 1. Ff (and elsewhere).

[2078] he] F₂.

[2079] Sec. Stran.] 2. Ff (and elsewhere).

[2080] so many] fifty Theobald.

[2081] in't.] F₁. in. F₂. in that. F₃ F₄.

[2082] mistook] o'er-look'd Hanmer. mis-look'd Warburton. not mistook Johnson conj. missed Edwards conj.

sent to] sent him to F₄.

[2083] so many] twice so many or thrice so many S. Walker conj.

[2084] [To Lucius. Rowe.

[2085] Fare thee well] F₄. Farthewell F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2086] [Going. Edd. conj.

[2087] has] hath F₄.

[2088] Has] F₁ F₂ F₃. H'as F₄. He has Steevens.

[2089] so many] fifty Rowe. five hundred Collier MS. so many [showing a paper. Anon. conj.

[2090] cannot] can't Hanmer.

fifty five] fifty times five Hanmer. fifty-five Capell. five Collier MS. fifty or five Anon. conj.

[2091] faithfully] fervently Hanmer.

[2092] ha'] F₄. ha F₁ F₂ F₃. have Capell.

[2093] for ... undo] for a little dirt, and undo Theobald. a little dirt, and undo Hanmer. for a little profit, and undo Heath conj. for a little park, and undo Johnson conj. for a little port, and undo Mason conj. and for a little part, undo Jackson conj.

[2094] do] do't Capell.

beast, I say] beast I say Ff. beast I, say Hanmer. beast I, I say Collier (Collier MS.).

[2095] say,] om. Pope

[2096] mine] my F₄.

[2097] a good] as good a Hanmer.

[Exit....] Johnson. After line 55 in Ff.

[2098] Do you observe] Observe you Steevens conj.

this] this now Hanmer.

Ay] Ay, ay Hanmer.

[2099] Why ... purse:] Arranged as by Capell. Six lines, ending soule, ... peece ... friend ... knowing ... father, ... purse: in Ff. See note (IX).

[2100] soul ... spirit] Theobald. soule ... sport Ff. sport ... soul Steevens, 1773 (Upton conj.). soul ... port Collier (Collier MS.). soul ... coat Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

[2101] purse] purse afloat Seymour conj.

[2102] O, see] to see S. Walker conj.

[2103] O, see ... man When ... shape!] O see ... man, When ... shape! Theobald. oh see ... man, When ... shape: Ff (shape; F₁). oh see ... man! When ... shape, Rowe.

[2104] For ... life,] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[2105] came any ... over] any ... came o'er Pope. e'er came any ... over Capell. e'er came any ... o'er Dyce (ed. 2).

[2106] And] Most generous and Hanmer.

[2107] put ... into] but ... in Jackson conj.

donation] partition Hanmer.

[2108] return'd to] attorn'd to Hanmer. remain'd with Capell conj.

[2109] return'd ... heart] return'd His heart, I so much love Becket conj.

[2110] sits above] still sits 'bove Seymour conj.

[2111] Scene III.] Pope. om. Ff. A room....] Capell.

[2112] Enter....] Capell. Enter a third servant with Sempronius, another of Timons Friends. Ff.

[2113] Must ... others?] As in Steevens. Two lines, the first ending Hum, in Ff.

in't,—hum!—'bove] in't? Hum: 'Bove F₁ F₂ F₃ (Bove F₂). in't Humb. Bove F₄. in't? 'bove Pope. in 't? Hum! Above Johnson.

[2114] these] three Rowe (ed. 2). these three Pope. of these or these men or these lords Anon. conj.

[2115] Owe] F₂ F₃ F₄. Owes F₁.

My Lord] Oh my lord Pope.

[2116] My ... him.] As in Steevens (1778), following Capell. Line 6 ends at mettle, in Ff.

[2117] They have] They've Pope.

and found] F₁. and all are found F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2118] for ... him] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Ff.

[2119] have they] om. Pope.

[2120] Has ... denied] Ventidius and Lucullus both deny'd Pope. See note (X).

[2121] him:] him. What! S. Walker conj., ending lines 9-12 at shows ... What!... like ... take ... upon me?, and omitting Thrive.

[2122] refuge?... give] refuge then? His friends, Like thriv'd physicians, give Capell, ending the lines friends ... must ... me?

[2123] His friends] F₁ F₄. His friend: F₂ F₃. Friends Hanmer.

[2124] Thrive, give him over:] F₁. That thriv'd, give him over. F₂ F₃ F₄. Three give him over? Pope. Thriv'd, give him over? Theobald. Tried give him over, Hanmer. Shriv'd give him over: Tyrwhitt conj. Thrice give him over: Knight (Johnson conj.). Have given him over; Mitford conj. Fee'd give him over: Anon. conj.

must] and must Hanmer.

upon] On Pope, ending lines 12, 13 at cure ... angry.

[2125] Has] H'as Rowe. He has Steevens.

at him] om. Pope.

[2126] That] He Pope.

sense] 'scuse Collier conj.

[2127] received] received any Hanmer. receiv'd Johnson.

[2128] now] om. Pope.

[2129] No:] om. Hanmer. See note (XI).

[2130] I] F₂ F₃ F₄. om. F₁. I shall Hanmer.

[2131] I'd] I'de F₁. Ide F₂ F₃ F₄. I had Capell.

[2132] Had] F₁ F₂ F₃. H'ad F₄. He had Johnson.

[2133] I'd] F₄. I'de F₁. Ide F₂ F₃. I had Capell.

to do] to have done Pope, reading But now return, as a separate line.

[2134] Excellent ... fire:] Prose in Ff. As nine lines of verse in Capell, ending lordship's ... what ... politick; ... think, ... man ... strives ... copies to ... hot ... fire.

[2135] knew not] knew Johnson conj.

politic] so politick Capell.

[2136] and ... but] but then Seymour conj.

[2137] villanies] policy Hanmer.

clear] dear Becket conj.

[2138] to appear] not to appear Hanmer.

wicked] wicked by Capell.

[2139] hot ardent] hot And ardent Capell.

[2140] Of ... love.] As verse first by Johnson. Prose in Ff.

[2141] best] last Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2142] only the gods] the gods only Pope.

[2143] Scene IV.] Pope. Scene II. Rowe.

A hall....] Timon's Hall. Rowe.

[2144] Enter ...] Malone, after Capell. Enter Varro's man, meeting others. All Timons Creditors to wait for his comming out. Then enter Lucius and Hortensius. Ff.

[2145] First Var. Serv.] 1. V. Capell. Var. man. Ff. Var. Rowe.

[2146] Lucius ... money] As in Capell. Prose in Ff.

[2147] What, do] Capell. what do Ff. why do Pope.]

Luc. Serv.] Malone. Luc. or Luci. Ff (and elsewhere).

Ay, and] om. Pope, reading, I ... all as one line. And Johnson.

[2148] Is ... brother.] Two lines in Capell, the first ending Sir.

[2149] Enter Philotus.] Ff. Enter Philo. Rowe. Enter Philotas. Pope.

Philotus] Ff. Philo's Rowe. Philotas's Pope. Philotus' Delius.

[2150] Welcome, ... hour?] As in Ff. One line in Pope.

[2151] do you] Ff. d'you Pope.

[2152] on't] om. Pope.

[2153] but] but now Hanmer.

wax'd] waxed Pope.

[2154] that a] That such a Hanmer, ending lines 10-12, wont ... days ... consider.

prodigal] prodigal's Theobald.

[2155] Is ... fear] Two lines, ending sun's ... fear, S. Walker conj.

recoverable. I fear] Johnson. recoverable, I feare: Ff, reading Is ... feare as one line.

[2156] 'Tis ... little] As in Pope. Prose in Ff. Johnson puts That is in a separate line.

[2157] Most] om. Pope.

[2158] I] you Singer, ed. 1 (Theobald conj.).

[2159] It is] om. Pope, ending lines 21-25 heart ... pay ... lord ... 'em.

Mark] om. Pope. Mark you Capell.

[2160] I'm] I am Rowe (ed. 2).

I'm ... witness] One line in Rove. Two in Ff.

[2161] And now ingratitude] Ingratitude now Pope.

[2162] First Var. Serv.] 1. V. Capell. Varro. F₁ F₂ F₃. Var. F₄.

Yes ... yours] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2163] mine] om. Pope.

[2164] First Var. Serv.] 1. V. Capell. Var. Ff (and elsewhere).

much] too much Pope. much too Hanmer.

[2165] his] mine Johnson conj. this Jackson conj.

[2166] Flaminius ... forth?] Prose in Ff. Verse in Pope.

[2167] I need ... diligent.] Prose in Ff. Verse in Hanmer.

[2168] [Exit.] Exit Flaminius. Steevens (1778). om. Ff.

[2169] Enter Flavius....] Enter Steward.... Ff.

[2170] Sec. Var. Serv.] Edd. 2. Varro. Ff. 1. Var. Serv. Malone. Both Var. Serv. Dyce.

sir,—] Rowe. sir. Ff.

[2171] ye] you F₄.

friend] friends Dyce.

[2172] Ay,] Put in a separate line by Capell. om. F₄.

[2173] 'Twere sure ... quietly] Capell ends the lines not ... eat ... fawn ... interest ... wrong, ... quietly. Keightley follows Capell, except that he ends line 53 at yourselves.

[2174] eat] ate Keightley.

[2175] could] F₁. would F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2176] into] in Pope.

[2177] If] F₄. If't F₁. Ift F₂ F₃.

'twill not serve] 'twill not Steevens (1793), ending lines 57, 58 at not ... knaves.

[2178] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[2179] First Var. Serv.] 1. Var. Serv. Malone. 1. Varro. Ff. Var. Rowe.

How!] How's that? What says he? Capell, reading lines 60-65 as verse, ending does ... poor ... broader ... in?... buildings.

[2180] Sec. Var. Serv.] 2. Var. Serv. Malone. 2. Varro. Ff. Tit. Rowe.

[2181] rail] have leave to rail Capell.

[2182] O, here's ... chamber.] Prose in Ff. Seven lines of verse in Capell. Pope reads lines 66—70 O ... soul, as prose; the rest as three lines of verse.

[2183] know] have Rowe.

[2184] to repair] But to repair Capell.

[2185] derive much] much derive Steevens.

from 't] from it Pope.

take 't of] take it of Pope. take it o' Capell.

[2186] he's] F₁ F₃ F₄. hes F₂. He is Pope.

[2187] And if] An if S. Walker conj.

it] he Rowe (ed. 2).

[2188] answer, sir] an answer Rowe. an answer, sir Collier (Collier MS.).

[2189] in a rage] Ff. om. Capell.

Flaminius following.] Capell. om. Ff.

[2190] Scene V. Pope.

[2191] gaol] F₄. gaole F₁. goale F₂. goal F₃.

[2192] Put in ... My lord,—] Verse in Capell.

[2193] here is] here's F₄.

[2194] Hor.] Capell. 1. Var. Ff. Hor. Serv. Malone.

[2195] Both Var. Serv.] Malone. 2. Var. Ff. Cap. Rowe. Var^S. Capell.

[2196] All] And Rowe (ed. 2).

[2197] lord,—] Capell. lord. Ff.

[2198] Cut] Cut out Pope.

[2199] Five ... and yours?] Prose in Hudson. One line in Dyce. Two lines in Ff, the first ending that.

[2200] pays] pay Pope.

What] What's Hanmer.

[2201] First Var. Serv.] 1. Var. Serv. Malone. 1. Var. Ff. Var. Rowe.

[2202] lord,—] lord— Rowe. lord. Ff.

[2203] Sec. Var. Serv.] 2. Var. Serv. Malone. 2. Var. Ff. Cap. Rowe.

[2204] Tear ... upon] Here tear ... on Pope. Here tear ... upon Capell.

[Exit.] Exit Timon. Ff.

[2205] Re-enter....] Pope. Enter Timon and Flavius. Rowe. Enter Timon. Ff.

[2206] lord,—] Johnson. lord. Ff.

[2207] My lord] My dear lord Rowe.

[2208] and] add F₂.

Sempronius: all] F₃ F₄. Sempronius Vllorxa: All F₁. Semprovius: all F₂. Sempronius; Ullorxa, all Malone. Sempronius, all, look, sir or Sempronius— Flav. Alack, sir. Tim. All Collier conj. Sempronius, Valerius, all S. Walker conj. Sempronius— Flav. O my lord! Tim. All Delius conj. Sempronius; Ventidius, all Grant White. Sempronius; all on 'em, all Keightley. Sempronius: All, sirrah, all Edd. (Globe ed.).

[2209] O my ... table.] As verse first by Pope. Prose in Ff.

[2210] There is] Capell. There's Ff.

to] Ff. as to Rowe.

[2211] Be it] Ff. Be 't Steevens (1793).

in] om. Pope.

[2212] Go] In a separate line by Edd. At beginning of line 118 in Ff. At end of line 116 in Capell.

[2213] I charge thee,] and Pope.

[2214] Scene V.] Capell. Scene III. Rowe. Scene VI. Pope.

The Senate-house.] Theobald. The city. Rowe. om. Ff.

[2215] The Senate sitting.] Dyce. The Senate sitting. Enter Alcibiades, attended. Capell. Enter three Senators at one doore, Alcibiades meeting them, with Attendants. Ff.

[2216] My ... die] As in Reed (1803). Three lines, ending too't ... Bloody: ... dye: in Ff. Two lines, the first ending bloody, in Rowe. Prose in Collier.

[2217] lord] lords Dyce conj.

to it] Reed (1803). too 't F₁ F₂. to't F₃ F₄.

fault's] F₃ F₄. faults F₁ F₂.

[2218] him] Hanmer. 'em Ff.

Enter....] Dyce.

[2219] Honour, health] Health, honour Pope.

[2220] Now, captain?] Capell. Now captaine. F₁ F₂. Now captain. F₃. Now, captain. F₄. Now? Captain. Johnson.

[2221] He is] He's F₄.

[2222] He is ... But] See note (XII).

[2223] Of ... foe] Five lines in Keightley, ending fact ... which ... fury ... reputation ... foe.

[2224] fair] free S. Walker conj.

[2225] touch'd] Touched Keightley.

[2226] and unnoted] and innated Becket conj. undenoted Jackson conj. and unwonted Anon. conj.

[2227] behave his] Rowe. behoove his Ff. behave in 's Hanmer. behave, his Steevens (1773). behalve his Malone conj. behood his Singer, ed. 2 (Jackson conj.). reprove his Collier (Collier MS.).

behave ... spent] behold his adversary shent Johnson conj. behave, ere was his anger spent Steevens conj. behave; his anger was, 'ere spent Becket conj.

[2228] proved] mov'd Collier (Collier MS.).

[2229] if] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2230] To bring ... born] Five lines, ending set ... which ... came ... factions ... born, S. Walker conj.

[2231] manslaughter] mad-slaughter F₂.

and] om. Pope.

quarrelling] This over-readiness in quarrelling Anon. conj.

[2232] were] were but Pope.

[2233] The ... carelessly,] Two lines in Pope. Three, ending breath, ... outsides, ... carelessly, in Ff.

make ... to wear] take his wrongs To wear Anon. conj., omitting His outsides.

[2234] outsides, to wear them] outside-wear: hang Warburton.

to wear] wear Pope.

[2235] to his] to 's S. Walker conj.

[2236] lord,—] lord!— Rowe. lord. Ff.

[2237] To ... bear] It is not valour to revenge, but bear Pope.

valour] true valour Anon. conj.

[2238] threats] threatnings Pope. treatments Anon. conj.

sleep upon 't] nay, sleep upon 't Capell. sleep upon it Steevens. and sleep upon 't Long MS.

[2239] the] their Long MS.

[2240] repugnancy] repugnance S. Walker conj., reading Without ... valour as one line.

If] but if Pope. Or, if Capell. An if Anon. conj. If that Anon. conj.

If there be] If there be then Keightley.

[2241] the bearing] bearing S. Walker conj., reading In bearing ... abroad as one line.

[2242] then] then sure Pope. then, the Johnson conj.

[2243] And ... lords,] See note (XIII).

[2244] mercy,] mercy! Delius.

most] made Warburton.

[2245] breathe] breath Ff. preach Edd. conj.

[2246] His ... Byzantium] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[2247] I say, ... has] I say my lords h'as Pope. Why say my Lords ha 's F₁. Why I say my Lords ha's F₂ F₃. Why, I say my Lords h'as F₄. Why, I say, my lords, he has Capell. Why, I say, my lords, has Dyce. I say, my lords, he has Edd. (Globe Ed.).

[2248] And slain in fight] And slain in battle Pope. slain In battle Hanmer, ending line 62 at slain.

[2249] made] made murder Anon. conj.

[2250] with 'em; He's a] with em Hes a F₂. with em He's a F₃. with 'em, He's a F₄. with him: He's a F₁. with 'em, he Is a Hanmer. with 'em, he's A Malone. with 'em here. He's a S. Walker conj. with himself; He's a Keightley.

[2251] sworn] swoln Warburton.

[2252] Divided as in Ff. Malone ends line 67 at often.

[2253] That often] Oft' Hanmer.

and takes his] and takes Pope. takes his Capell.

[2254] If there were ... enough] Were there ... enough alone Pope. And, if there were ... enough Capell. Were there ... itself enough Collier MS. That if there were ... enough Long MS. If there were no more foes, that were enough Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.). If there were no other foes, that were enough Keightley.

foes] moe foes or foes else Anon. conj.

[2255] As in Capell. The lines end security, ... you ... returnes, in Ff. Pope ends them love ... victories ... returns. S. Walker ends them know ... security ... you ... return.

[2256] all] om. Pope.

[2257] honours] F₂ F₃ F₄. honour F₁.

upon] on Pope.

returns] return Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2258] war] F₃ F₄. warre F₁. waare F₂.

[2259] My ... me.] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[2260] remembrances] remembrance, Capell, ending line 90 at Call me.

[2261] What!] What, sir! Hanmer.

[2262] has] F₁ F₂. hath] F₃ F₄.

[2263] in] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

in few] few in Rann (Johnson conj.).

[2264] contain] contains Rowe.

[2265] Attend ... spirit,] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.

[2266] And ... presently.] And note, to swell your spirit, He.... or And, but to swell your spirit, He.... Theobald conj. 2. Sen. And, (not to swell our spirit) he shall then Be executed presently. Hanmer. And, (now to swell your spirit,) He shall.... Warburton. And, not to swell your spirit, He.... Capell. And, not to sweal our spirit, He.... Becket conj. And, to show well our spirit, He.... Anon. conj.

[2267] swell] quell Singer conj.

[2268] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Senate. Capell. Exeunt. Ff.

[2269] Now ... live] As in Steevens. Two lines, the first ending enough, in Ff.

Now the] om. Pope.

enough] om. Capell.

[2270] in bone] at home or in doors Staunton conj.

on] upon Keightley.

[2271] Banishment!] Banishment. F₁. ha Banishment. F₂ F₃. Ha! Banishment! F₄.

[2272] lay] play Johnson conj.

lay for hearts] say,—Forth hearts! Jackson conj.

[2273] most lands] most hands Warburton. most lords Malone conj. my stains Mason conj. most brands Becket conj. most bands Jackson conj.

be] beat Jackson conj.

[2274] should brook as little] as little should brook Pope.

[2275] Scene VI.] Capell. Scene IV. Rowe. Scene VII. Pope.

A banqueting-room....] Timon's House. Rowe. State Room.... Capell.

[2276] Music ... doors.] Capell, substantially. Enter divers Friends at severall doores. Ff. Enter divers Senators at several doors. Rowe.

[2277] First Lord.] 1. L. Capell. 1. Ff. 1. Sen. Rowe (and throughout).

[2278] Sec. Lord.] 2. L. Capell. 2. Ff. 2. Sen. Rowe (and throughout).

[2279] tiring] stirring Jackson conj.

[2280] here 's] F₄. heares F₁ F₂. heare F₃.

[2281] Sec. Lord.] 2. L. Capell. 2. Ff. 3. Sen Rowe.

me, sir,—] me for— S. Walker conj.

[2282] The ... lordship.] Prose in F₁ F₂. Two lines in F₃ F₄.

[2283] willing] willingly F₄.

[2284] Nor ... men.] Marked as 'Aside' by Johnson.

[2285] harshly o' the trumpet's] harshly o' the trumpets Ff. harshly as o' the trumpets Rowe. harshly as on the trumpets Pope. harshly, as o' the trumpets Capell. harshly on the trumpet's Singer (ed. 1). harshly. The trumpets S. Walker conj. harshly. O, the trumpets Dyce, ed. 2 (Grant White conj.).

harshly] sparingly Anon. conj.

[2286] lord,—] Hanmer. lord. Ff.

[2287] My most] Most Pope (ed. 2).

I am] I'm Rowe.

[2288] this other] F₁. the other F₂ F₃ F₄. t'other Rowe.

[2289] before—] Rowe. before. Ff.

[2290] [The banquet brought in.] Ff, after line 40. Transferred by Dyce and Staunton. Goes toward the table. Capell.

[2291] Third Lord.] 3. L. Capell. 3. Ff. 3. Sen. Rowe (and throughout).

[2292] hear ... it?] hear ... it. F₂.

[2293] First and Sec. Lord.] Both. Ff.

[2294] you] ye Theobald.

[2295] Will 't ... will 't] F₄. Wilt ... wilt F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2296] will—and so—] Steevens. will, and so. F₁ F₂ F₃. will, and so— F₄. will.—And so— Johnson. will—and so. Capell.

[2297] sit, sit] F₁. sir, sir F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2298] You ... welcome.] Printed in italics in Ff.

[2299] be] om. Pope.

[2300] be—as they are.] Steevens (1793). bee as they are. F₁ F₂ F₃. be as they are— F₄.

fees] foes Hanmer (Warburton). lees Singer (ed. 1).

[2301] lag] Rowe. legge F₁ F₂ F₃. leg F₄. lee Capell conj. tag Anon. ap. Rann conj.

[2302] present] om. Pope.

[2303] to me] to be Boswell (a misprint?).

[2304] are they] they are Steevens (1793).

[2305] [The dishes ...] Johnson, substantially. Capell puts a similar stage direction after line 87.

warm water.] stones and warm water. Steevens conj.

[2306] smoke] stones Anon. conj.

[2307] last] After this S. Walker conjectures that a line is lost, ending Timon.

[2308] you with] Ff. with your Hanmer (Warburton). by you with Keightley.

flatteries] flatreries F₂. flattery Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2309] it] them Hanmer.

[2310] [Throwing ...] Johnson. om. Ff.

[2311] fools] tools Theobald conj.

time's flies] Times Flyes F₁. Time flyes F₂. Time flies F₃. Time-flies F₄.

[2312] Cap-and-knee slaves] Pope. Cap and knee-slaves F₁. Cap and knee slaves F₂ F₃ F₄.

minute-jacks!] A full stop in F₁. No stop in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2313] infinite] infectious Grant White conj.

malady] maladies Hanmer.

[2314] [Throws ... out.] Rowe, after line 99. om. Ff. Pelts them with stones. S. Walker conj.

and ... out.] om. Delius.

[2315] Re-enter ...] Re-enter the Senators. Pope. Enter the Senators, with other Lords. Ff. Re-enter Lords &c. Capell. The Guests return. Grant White. Re-enter the Company. Dyce (ed. 2).

[2316] Push] Psha Theobald. Pish Hanmer.

[2317] Fourth Lord.] 4. L. Capell. 4. Ff. 4. Sen. Rowe.

I have] I've Pope.

[2318] He's ... hat.] Printed as four lines of verse by Rann. Three lines, Capell conj.

[2319] humour] F₃ F₄. humours F₁ F₂.

[2320] hat] cap Pope.

[2321] Third Lord.] 3. L. Capell. 2. Ff. 2. Sen. Rowe. 4 Lord. Keightley.

[2322] Sec. Lord.] 2. L. Capell. 3. Ff. 3. Sen. Rowe.

[2323] [Exeunt.] Exeunt the Senators. Ff. om. Capell (corrected in MS.).

ACT IV.

Scene I. Without the walls of Athens.[2324]

Enter Timon.

Tim. Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall,[2325]
That girdlest in those wolves, dive in the earth,[2325][2326]
And fence not Athens! Matrons, turn incontinent!
Obedience fail in children! Slaves and fools,
Pluck the grave wrinkled senate from the bench, 5
And minister in their steads! To general filths [2327]
Convert o' the instant, green virginity![2328]
Do't in your parents' eyes! Bankrupts, hold fast;[2329]
Rather than render back, out with your knives,[2329]
And cut your trusters' throats! Bound servants, steal! 10
Large-handed robbers your grave masters are
And pill by law. Maid, to thy master's bed!
Thy mistress is o' the brothel. Son of sixteen,[2330]
Pluck the lined crutch from thy old limping sire,[2331]
With it beat out his brains! Piety and fear,[2332] 15
Religion to the gods, peace, justice, truth,
Domestic awe, night-rest and neighbourhood,
Instruction, manners, mysteries and trades,
Degrees, observances, customs and laws,
Decline to your confounding contraries, 20
And let confusion live! Plagues incident to men,[2333]
[Pg 265] Your potent and infectious fevers heap
On Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica,
Cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt
As lamely as their manners! Lust and liberty 25
Creep in the minds and marrows of our youth,
That 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive,
And drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains,
Sow all the Athenian bosoms, and their crop
Be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, 30
That their society, as their friendship, may
Be merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee
But nakedness, thou detestable town![2334]
Take thou that too, with multiplying bans![2335]
Timon will to the woods, where he shall find 35
The unkindest beast more kinder than mankind.[2336]
The gods confound—hear me, you good gods all!—[2337]
The Athenians both within and out that wall!
And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow
To the whole race of mankind, high and low! 40
Amen.[2338] [Exit.

Scene II. Athens. Timon's house.[2339]

Enter Flavius, with two or three Servants.

First Serv. Hear you, master steward, where's our master?[2340]
Are we undone? cast off? nothing remaining?

Flav. Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you?
Let me be recorded by the righteous gods,
[Pg 266] I am as poor as you.[2341]

First Serv. Such a house broke![2342] 5
So noble a master fall'n! All gone! and not[2342]
One friend to take his fortune by the arm,[2342]
And go along with him![2342]

Sec. Serv. As we do turn our backs [2343]
From our companion thrown into his grave,[2344]
So his familiars to his buried fortunes[2344][2345] 10
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,[2346]
Like empty purses pick'd; and his poor self,
A dedicated beggar to the air,
With his disease of all-shunn'd poverty,[2347]
Walks, like contempt, alone. More of our fellows.[2348] 15

Enter other Servants.

Flav. All broken implements of a ruin'd house.

Third Serv. Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery;
That see I by our faces; we are fellows still,[2349]
Serving alike in sorrow: leak'd is our bark,
And we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck,[2350] 20
Hearing the surges threat: we must all part
Into this sea of air.[2351]

Flav. Good fellows all,
The latest of my wealth I'll share amongst you.
Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake
Let's yet be fellows; let's shake our heads, and say,[2352] 25
As 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes,
'We have seen better days.' Let each take some.
Nay, put out all your hands. Not one word more:
Thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.[2353]
[Pg 267]

[Servants embrace, and part several ways.

O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us![2354] 30
Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,
Since riches point to misery and contempt?
Who would be so mock'd with glory? or to live [2355]
But in a dream of friendship?[2356]
To have his pomp and all what state compounds[2356][2357] 35
But only painted, like his varnish'd friends?[2358]
Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart,
Undone by goodness! Strange, unusual blood,[2359]
When man's worst sin is, he does too much good!
Who then dares to be half so kind again? 40
For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men.[2360]
My dearest lord, blest to be most accursed,
Rich only to be wretched, thy great fortunes
Are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord![2361]
He's flung in rage from this ingrateful seat [2362] 45
Of monstrous friends; nor has he with him to [2363][2364]
Supply his life, or that which can command it.[2363]
I'll follow, and inquire him out:[2365]
I'll ever serve his mind with my best will;
Whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still. [Exit.50

[Pg 268]

Scene III. Woods and cave, near the sea-shore.[2366]

Enter Timon, from the cave.[2367]

Tim. O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth [2368]
Rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb
Infect the air! Twinn'd brothers of one womb,
Whose procreation, residence and birth
Scarce is dividant, touch them with several fortunes,[2369] 5
The greater scorns the lesser: not nature,[2370][2371]
To whom all sores lay siege, can bear great fortune[2371]
But by contempt of nature.[2371][2372]
Raise me this beggar and deny 't that lord,[2373]
The senator shall bear contempt hereditary,[2374] 10
The beggar native honour.
It is the pasture lards the rother's sides,[2375]
The want that makes him lean. Who dares, who dares,[2376]
In purity of manhood stand upright,
And say 'This man's a flatterer'? if one be,[2377] 15
[Pg 269] So are they all; for every grise of fortune [2378]
Is smooth'd by that below: the learned pate
Ducks to the golden fool: all is oblique;[2379]
There's nothing level in our cursed natures
But direct villany. Therefore be abhorr'd [2380] 20
All feasts, societies and throngs of men!
His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains:
Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots![2381] [Digging.
Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palate
With thy most operant poison! What is here? 25
Gold? yellow, glittering, precious gold? No, gods,[2382]
I am no idle votarist: roots, you clear heavens![2382][2383]
Thus much of this will make black white, foul fair,[2382]
Wrong right, base noble, old young, coward valiant.[2382][2384]
Ha, you gods! why this? what this, you gods? Why, this [2385] 30
Will lug your priests and servants from your sides,
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their heads:[2386]
This yellow slave
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;
Make the hoar leprosy adored; place thieves,[2387] 35
And give them title, knee and approbation
With senators on the bench: this is it [2388]
That makes the wappen'd widow wed again;[2389]
She, whom the spital-house and ulcerous sores [2390][2391]
[Pg 270] Would cast the gorge at, this embalms and spices[2391][2392] 40
To the April day again. Come, damned earth,[2393]
Thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds [2394]
Among the rout of nations, I will make thee
Do thy right nature. [March afar off.] Ha! a drum?
Thou'rt quick,[2395]
But yet I'll bury thee: thou'lt go, strong thief,[2396] 45
When gouty keepers of thee cannot stand:
Nay, stay thou out for earnest. [Keeping some gold.[2397]

Enter Alcibiades, with drum and fife, in warlike manner; Phrynia and Timandra.[A]

Alcib. What art thou there? speak.[2398]

Tim. A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart,[2399]
For showing me again the eyes of man!

Alcib. What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, 50
That art thyself a man?

Tim. I am misanthropos, and hate mankind.[2400]
For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog,
That I might love thee something.

Alcib. I know thee well;
But in thy fortunes am unlearn'd and strange. 55

Tim. I know thee too; and more than that I know thee [2401]
I not desire to know. Follow thy drum;
With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules:[2402]
Religious canons, civil laws are cruel;
[Pg 271] Then what should war be? This fell whore of thine 60
Hath in her more destruction than thy sword,
For all her cherubin look.

Phry. Thy lips rot off!

Tim. I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns [2403]
To thine own lips again.

Alcib. How came the noble Timon to this change? 65

Tim. As the moon does, by wanting light to give:
But then renew I could not, like the moon;
There were no suns to borrow of.[2404]

Alcib. Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?[2405]

Tim. None, but to maintain my opinion.[2405][2406] 70

Alcib. What is it, Timon?[2405]

Tim. Promise me friendship, but perform none: if thou[2405]
wilt not promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man:[2405][2407]
if thou dost perform, confound thee, for thou art a man![2405][2408]

Alcib. I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.[2409] 75

Tim. Thou saw'st them when I had prosperity.

Alcib. I see them now; then was a blessed time.[2410]

Tim. As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.

Timan. Is this the Athenian minion whom the world
Voiced so regardfully?

Tim. Art thou Timandra?[2411] 80

Timan. Yes.[2411]

Tim. Be a whore still: they love thee not that use thee;[2411][2412]
Give them diseases, leaving with thee their lust.[2411][2412][2413]
Make use of thy salt hours: season the slaves[2412]
For tubs and baths; bring down rose-cheeked youth[2412][2414][2415]85
To the tub-fast and the diet.[2412][2415][2416]
[Pg 272]

Timan. Hang thee, monster!

Alcib. Pardon him, sweet Timandra, for his wits
Are drown'd and lost in his calamities.[2417]
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon,[2418]
The want whereof doth daily make revolt 90
In my penurious band: I have heard, and grieved,[2419]
How cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth,[2420]
Forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbour states,
But for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them—[2421]

Tim. I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone. 95

Alcib. I am thy friend and pity thee, dear Timon.

Tim. How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble?
I had rather be alone.

Alcib. Why, fare thee well:
Here is some gold for thee.[2422]

Tim. Keep it, I cannot eat it.[2423]

Alcib. When I have laid proud Athens on a heap—[2424] 100

Tim. Warr'st thou 'gainst Athens?[2425][2426]

Alcib. Ay, Timon, and have cause.[2426]

Tim. The gods confound them all in thy conquest,[2426][2427]
And thee after, when thou hast conquer'd![2426][2428]

Alcib. Why me, Timon?[2426][2429]

Tim. That by killing of villains[2426]
Thou wast born to conquer my country.[2426][2430] 105
[Pg 273] Put up thy gold: go on,—here's gold,—go on;
Be as a planetary plague, when Jove [2431]
Will o'er some high-viced city hang his poison
In the sick air: let not thy sword skip one:
Pity not honour'd age for his white beard; 110
He is an usurer: strike me the counterfeit matron;[2432]
It is her habit only that is honest,
Herself's a bawd: let not the virgin's cheek
Make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps [2433]
That through the window-bars bore at men's eyes [2434] 115
Are not within the leaf of pity writ,
But set them down horrible traitors: spare not the babe [2435]
Whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy;[2436]
Think it a bastard whom the oracle [2437]
Hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut,[2438] 120
And mince it sans remorse: swear against objects;[2439]
Put armour on thine ears and on thine eyes,
Whose proof nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes,
Nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding,[2440]
Shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay thy soldiers: 125
Make large confusion; and, thy fury spent,
Confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.

Alcib. Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me,[2441]
Not all thy counsel.[2441][2442]

Tim. Dost thou or dost thou not, heaven's curse upon thee! 130
[Pg 274]

Phr. and Timan. Give us some gold, good Timon: hast thou more?[2443]

Tim. Enough to make a whore forswear her trade,
And to make whores, a bawd. Hold up, you sluts,[2444]
Your aprons mountant: you are not oathable;[2445]
Although, I know, you'll swear, terribly swear, 135
Into strong shudders and to heavenly agues,
The immortal gods that hear you; spare your oaths,
I'll trust to your conditions: be whores still;
And he whose pious breath seeks to convert you,
Be strong in whore, allure him, burn him up; 140
Let your close fire predominate his smoke,
And be no turncoats: yet may your pains, six months,[2446][2447]
Be quite contrary: and thatch your poor thin roofs[2446][2448]
With burdens of the dead;—some that were hang'd,[2446]
No matter:—wear them, betray with them: whore still;[2446][2449] 145
Paint till a horse may mire upon your face:
A pox of wrinkles![2443]

Phr. and Timan. Well, more gold: what then?
Believe't that we'll do any thing for gold.[2450]

Tim. Consumptions sow
In hollow bones of man; strike their sharp shins,[2451] 150
And mar men's spurring. Crack the lawyer's voice,[2451][2452]
That he may never more false title plead,
Nor sound his quillets shrilly: hoar the flamen,[2453]
That scolds against the quality of flesh [2454]
[Pg 275] And not believes himself: down with the nose, 155
Down with it flat; take the bridge quite away
Of him that, his particular to foresee,[2455][2456]
Smells from the general weal: make curl'd-pate ruffians bald;[2455][2457]
And let the unscarr'd braggarts of the war
Derive some pain from you: plague all;[2458] 160
That your activity may defeat and quell
The source of all erection. There's more gold:
Do you damn others, and let this damn you,
And ditches grave you all!

Phr. and Timan. More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.[2443][2459]165

Tim. More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.[2459][2460]

Alcib. Strike up the drum towards Athens! Farewell, Timon:[2459]
If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.[2459]

Tim. If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.

Alcib. I never did thee harm.[2461] 170

Tim. Yes, thou spokest well of me.

Alcib. Call'st thou that harm?

Tim. Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take [2462][2463]
Thy beagles with thee.[2462]

Alcib. We but offend him. Strike![2464]

[Drum beats. Exeunt Alcibiades, Phrynia, and Timandra.[2465]

[Pg 276]

Tim. That nature, being sick of man's unkindness,[2466]
Should yet be hungry! Common mother, thou, [Digging.[2467]175
Whose womb unmeasurable and infinite breast
Teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle,[2468]
Whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puff'd,
Engenders the black toad and adder blue,
The gilded newt and eyeless venom'd worm, 180
With all the abhorred births below crisp heaven [2469]
Whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine;
Yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate,[2470]
From forth thy plenteous bosom one poor root![2471]
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb,[2472] 185
Let it no more bring out ingrateful man![2473]
Go great with tigers, dragons, wolves and bears;
Teem with new monsters, whom thy upward face
Hath to the marbled mansion all above [2474]
Never presented!—O, a root! dear thanks!— 190
Dry up thy marrows, vines, and plough-torn leas;[2475]
Whereof ingrateful man, with liquorish draughts
And morsels unctuous, greases his pure mind,[2476]
That from it all consideration slips![2477]

Enter Apemantus.

More man? plague, plague![2478] 195
[Pg 277]

Apem. I was directed hither: men report
Thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.

Tim. 'Tis then because thou dost not keep a dog,
Whom I would imitate: consumption catch thee!

Apem. This is in thee a nature but infected;[2479] 200
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung
From change of fortune. Why this spade? this place?[2480]
This slave-like habit? and these looks of care?
Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft,
Hug their diseased perfumes and have forgot [2481] 205
That ever Timon was. Shame not these woods [2482]
By putting on the cunning of a carper.
Be thou a flatterer now and seek to thrive
By that which has undone thee: hinge thy knee
And let his very breath whom thou'lt observe 210
Blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain [2483]
And call it excellent: thou wast told thus;
Thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bade welcome [2484]
To knaves and all approachers: 'tis most just
That thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, 215
Rascals should have't. Do not assume my likeness.

Tim. Were I like thee, I'ld throw away myself.[2485]

Apem. Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself,[2486]
A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st [2487]
That the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, 220
Will put thy shirt on warm? will these moss'd trees,[2488]
That have outlived the eagle, page thy heels,
And skip when thou point'st out? will the cold brook,[2489]
Candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste,
To cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? Call the creatures 225
Whose naked natures live in all the spite
Of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks,
[Pg 278] To the conflicting elements exposed,
Answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee;
O, thou shalt find—

Tim. A fool of thee: depart.[2490] 230

Apem. I love thee better now than e'er I did.[2491]

Tim. I hate thee worse.

Apem. Why?[2492]

Tim. Thou flatter'st misery.

Apem. I flatter not, but say thou art a caitiff.

Tim. Why dost thou seek me out?

Apem. To vex thee.[2493]

Tim. Always a villain's office or a fool's. 235
Dost please thyself in't?[2494]

Apem. Ay.

Tim. What! a knave too?

Apem. If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on [2495]
To castigate thy pride, 'twere well: but thou
Dost it enforcedly; thou'ldst courtier be again,[2496]
Wert thou not beggar. Willing misery 240
Outlives incertain pomp, is crown'd before:[2497]
The one is filling still, never complete,
The other at high wish: best state, contentless,[2498]
Hath a distracted and most wretched being,[2498]
Worse than the worst, content. 245
Thou shouldst desire to die, being miserable.

Tim. Not by his breath that is more miserable.
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm
With favour never clasp'd, but bred a dog.[2499]
Hadst thou, like us from our first swath, proceeded 250
[Pg 279] The sweet degrees that this brief world affords [2500]
To such as may the passive drugs of it [2501]
Freely command, thou wouldst have plunged thyself [2502]
In general riot, melted down thy youth
In different beds of lust, and never learn'd 255
The icy precepts of respect, but follow'd [2503]
The sugar'd game before thee. But myself,
Who had the world as my confectionary,
The mouths, the tongues, the eyes and hearts of men [2504]
At duty, more than I could frame employment;[2505] 260
That numberless upon me stuck, as leaves [2506]
Do on the oak, have with one winter's brush [2507]
Fell from their boughs, and left me open, bare[2507][2508]
For every storm that blows: I, to bear this,
That never knew but better, is some burthen:[2509] 265
Thy nature did commence in sufferance, time
Hath made thee hard in 't. Why shouldst thou hate men?[2491]
They never flatter'd thee: what hast thou given?
If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag,[2510]
Must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff 270
To some she beggar and compounded thee
Poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone![2511]
If thou hadst not been born the worst of men,
Thou hadst been a knave and flatterer.[2512]

Apem. Art thou proud yet?

Tim. Ay, that I am not thee.

Apem. I, that I was [2513] 275
No prodigal.[2513]
[Pg 280]

Tim. I, that I am one now:
Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee,
I'ld give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone.
That the whole life of Athens were in this![2491]
Thus would I eat it.[2514] [Eating a root.

Apem. Here; I will mend thy feast.[2515][2516] 280

[Offering him a root.

Tim. First mend my company; take away thyself.[2515][2517]

Apem. So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.[2515][2518]

Tim. 'Tis not well mended so, it is but botch'd;[2515]
If not, I would it were.[2515]

Apem. What wouldst thou have to Athens? 285

Tim. Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt,
Tell them there I have gold; look, so I have.

Apem. Here is no use for gold.

Tim. The best and truest;
For here it sleeps, and does no hired harm.

Apem. Where liest o' nights, Timon?[2519] 290

Tim. Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o'[2520]
days, Apemantus?[2520]

Apem. Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where [2521]
I eat it.

Tim. Would poison were obedient and knew my mind![2522] 295

Apem. Where wouldst thou send it?[2523]

Tim. To sauce thy dishes.

Apem. The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but
the extremity of both ends: when thou wast in thy gilt and
thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity; in [2524] 300
thy rags thou know'st none, but art despised for the contrary.
[Pg 281] There's a medlar for thee; eat it.[2525]

Tim. On what I hate I feed not.[2525]

Apem. Dost hate a medlar?[2525]

Tim. Ay, though it look like thee.[2525][2526] 305

Apem. An thou hadst hated meddlers sooner, thou[2525][2527]
shouldst have loved thyself better now. What man didst[2525]
thou ever know unthrift that was beloved after his means?[2525]

Tim. Who, without those means thou talk'st of, didst[2525]
thou ever know beloved?[2525] 310

Apem. Myself.[2525]

Tim. I understand thee; thou hadst some means to[2525]
keep a dog.[2525]

Apem. What things in the world canst thou nearest
compare to thy flatterers? 315

Tim. Women nearest; but men, men are the things
themselves. What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus,
if it lay in thy power?

Apem. Give it the beasts, to be rid of the men.

Tim. Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of 320
men, and remain a beast with the beasts?[2528]

Apem. Ay, Timon.

Tim. A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t'
attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee:[2529]
if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee: if thou 325
wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee when peradventure
thou wert accused by the ass: if thou wert the ass,
thy dulness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but [2530]
as a breakfast to the wolf: if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness
would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy 330
life for thy dinner: wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath
would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest
of thy fury: wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by
[Pg 282] the horse: wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by
the leopard: wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the 335
lion, and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life:
all thy safety were remotion, and thy defence absence.[2531]
What beast couldst thou be that were not subject to a
beast? and what a beast art thou already, that seest not [2532]
thy loss in transformation! 340

Apem. If thou couldst please me with speaking to me,[2533]
thou mightst have hit upon it here: the commonwealth of[2533]
Athens is become a forest of beasts.[2533]

Tim. How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out
of the city?[2534] 345

Apem. Yonder comes a poet and a painter: the plague [2535][2536]
of company light upon thee! I will fear to catch it, and[2535]
give way: when I know not what else to do, I'll see thee[2535]
again.[2535]

Tim. When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt[2535]350
be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.[2535]

Apem. Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.[2537]

Tim. Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon![2537]

Apem. A plague on thee! thou art too bad to curse.[2537][2538]355

Tim. All villains that do stand by thee are pure.[2537]

Apem. There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.[2537]

Tim. If I name thee.[2539][2540]
I'll beat thee; but I should infect my hands.[2539][2541]
[Pg 283]

Apem. I would my tongue could rot them off![2542] 360

Tim. Away, thou issue of a mangy dog![2543]
Choler does kill me that thou art alive;
I swoon to see thee.[2543][2544]

Apem. Would thou wouldst burst![2545][2546]

Tim. Away, thou tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall[2546] 365
lose a stone by thee.[2546] [Throws a stone at him.[2547]

Apem. Beast![2546]

Tim. Slave![2546]

Apem. Toad![2546]

Tim. Rogue, rogue, rogue![2546][2548] 370
I am sick of this false world, and will love nought
But even the mere necessities upon't.[2549]
Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave;
Lie where the light foam of the sea may beat
Thy grave-stone daily: make thine epitaph, 375
That death in me at others' lives may laugh.[2550]
[To the gold] O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce [2551]
'Twixt natural son and sire! thou bright defiler [2552]
Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!
Thou ever young, fresh, loved, and delicate wooer,[2553] 380
Whose blush doth thaw the consecrated snow
That lies on Dian's lap! thou visible god,[2554]
That solder'st close impossibilities,
And makest them kiss! that speak'st with every tongue,
To every purpose! O thou touch of hearts! 385
Think thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue [2555]
[Pg 284] Set them into confounding odds, that beasts
May have the world in empire!

Apem. Would 'twere so![2556]
But not till I am dead. I'll say thou hast gold:[2557]
Thou wilt be throng'd to shortly.

Tim. Throng'd to![2558]

Apem. Ay. 390

Tim. Thy back, I prithee.

Apem. Live, and love thy misery![2559]

Tim. Long live so, and so die! [Exit Apemantus.] I am quit.[2560]
Moe things like men? Eat, Timon, and abhor them.[2561]

Enter Banditti.

First Ban. Where should he have this gold? It is some [2562]
poor fragment, some slender ort of his remainder: the mere 395
want of gold, and the falling-from of his friends, drove him [2563]
into this melancholy.

Sec. Ban. It is noised he hath a mass of treasure.[2564]

Third Ban. Let us make the assay upon him: if he
care not for't, he will supply us easily; if he covetously 400
[Pg 285] reserve it, how shall's get it?

Sec. Ban. True; for he bears it not about him; 'tis hid.[2565]

First Ban. Is not this he?

Banditti. Where?[2566]

Sec. Ban. 'Tis his description. 405

Third Ban. He; I know him.[2567]

Banditti. Save thee, Timon.[2566]

Tim. Now, thieves?[2568]

Banditti. Soldiers, not thieves.[2566]

Tim. Both too; and women's sons.[2569] 410

Banditti. We are not thieves, but men that much do want.[2566][2570]

Tim. Your greatest want is, you want much of meat.[2571][2572][2573]
Why should you want? Behold, the earth hath roots;[2572]
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;[2574]
The oaks bear mast, the briers scarlet hips;[2575] 415
The bounteous housewife, nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want! why want?

First Ban. We cannot live on grass, on berries, water,
As beasts and birds and fishes.

Tim. Nor on the beasts themselves, the birds and fishes; 420
You must eat men. Yet thanks I must you con
That you are thieves profess'd, that you work not
In holier shapes: for there is boundless theft
In limited professions. Rascal thieves,[2576]
Here's gold. Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape, 425
[Pg 286] Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,[2577]
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
Moe than you rob: take wealth and lives together;[2578]
Do villany, do, since you protest to do't,[2579][2580] 430
Like workmen. I'll example you with thievery:[2580]
The sun's a thief, and with his great attraction
Robs the vast sea: the moon's an arrant thief,[2581]
And her pale fire she snatches from the sun:
The sea's a thief, whose liquid surge resolves 435
The moon into salt tears: the earth's a thief,[2582]
That feeds and breeds by a composture stol'n [2583]
From general excrement: each thing's a thief:[2584]
The laws, your curb and whip, in their rough power
Have uncheck'd theft. Love not yourselves; away,[2585] 440
Rob one another. There's more gold. Cut throats:[2586]
All that you meet are thieves: to Athens go,
Break open shops; nothing can you steal,[2587]
But thieves do lose it: steal not less for this [2588][2589][2590]
I give you; and gold confound you howsoe'er![2588][2590][2591] 445
Amen.[2588][2592]
[Pg 287]

Third Ban. Has almost charmed me from my profession [2593]
by persuading me to it.

First Ban. 'Tis in the malice of mankind that he thus [2594]
advises us; not to have us thrive in our mystery.[2595] 450

Sec. Ban. I'll believe him as an enemy, and give over [2596]
my trade.[2596]

First Ban. Let us first see peace in Athens: there is no [2597]
time so miserable but a man may be true.[2597][2598] [Exeunt Banditti.

Enter Flavius.

Flav. O you gods![2599] 455
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument [2600]
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd![2600]
What an alteration of honour [2601][2602]
Has desperate want made![2601] 460
What viler thing upon the earth than friends [2603]
Who can bring noblest minds to basest ends!
How rarely does it meet with this time's guise,
When man was wish'd to love his enemies![2604]
Grant I may ever love, and rather woo [2605] 465
Those that would mischief me than those that do![2605][2606]
Has caught me in his eye: I will present [2607][2608]
My honest grief unto him, and, as my lord,[2608][2609]
[Pg 288] Still serve him with my life. My dearest master![2608]

Tim. Away! what art thou?[2610]

Flav. Have you forgot me, sir?[2611] 470

Tim. Why dost ask that? I have forgot all men;[2612]
Then, if thou grant'st thou'rt a man, I have forgot thee.[2613]

Flav. An honest poor servant of yours.[2614]

Tim. Then I know thee not:[2615]
I never had honest man about me, I; all [2616] 475
I kept were knaves, to serve in meat to villains.[2617]

Flav. The gods are witness,
Ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief
For his undone lord than mine eyes for you.

Tim. What, dost thou weep? come nearer; then I love thee,[2618][2619]480
Because thou art a woman, and disclaim'st
Flinty mankind, whose eyes do never give
But thorough lust and laughter. Pity's sleeping:[2620][2621]
Strange times, that weep with laughing, not with weeping![2621]

Flav. I beg of you to know me, good my lord, 485
To accept my grief, and whilst this poor wealth lasts
To entertain me as your steward still.
[Pg 289]

Tim. Had I a steward [2622][2623]
So true, so just, and now so comfortable?[2622]
It almost turns my dangerous nature mild.[2622][2624] 490
Let me behold thy face. Surely this man[2622]
Was born of woman.[2622]
Forgive my general and exceptless rashness,
You perpetual-sober gods! I do proclaim [2625]
One honest man—mistake me not—but one;[2626] 495
No more, I pray,—and he's a steward.[2626][2627]
How fain would I have hated all mankind!
And thou redeem'st thyself: but all, save thee,
I fell with curses.
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; 500
For, by oppressing and betraying me,
Thou mightst have sooner got another service:
For many so arrive at second masters,
Upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true—
For I must ever doubt, though ne'er so sure— 505
Is not thy kindness subtle, covetous,[2628]
If not a usuring kindness and as rich men deal gifts,[2629]
Expecting in return twenty for one?

Flav. No, my most worthy master; in whose breast
Doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late: 510
You should have fear'd false times when you did feast:
Suspect still comes where an estate is least.[2630]
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love,
[Pg 290] Duty and zeal to your unmatched mind,[2631]
Care of your food and living; and, believe it,[2632] 515
My most honour'd lord,[2633][2634]
For any benefit that points to me,[2634]
Either in hope or present, I'ld exchange[2634][2635]
For this one wish, that you had power and wealth[2634]
To requite me by making rich yourself.[2634] 520

Tim. Look thee, 'tis so! Thou singly honest man,[2636]
Here, take: the gods, out of my misery,
Have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy;[2637]
But thus condition'd: thou shalt build from men,
Hate all, curse all, show charity to none, 525
But let the famish'd flesh slide from the bone
Ere thou relieve the beggar: give to dogs
What thou deniest to men; let prisons swallow 'em,[2638]
Debts wither 'em to nothing: be men like blasted woods,[2639]
And may diseases lick up their false bloods! 530
And so farewell, and thrive.

Flav. O, let me stay [2640]
And comfort you, my master.[2640]

Tim. If thou hatest curses [2641]
Stay not: fly, whilst thou art blest and free:[2641][2642]
Ne'er see thou man, and let me ne'er see thee.

[Exeunt severally.[2643]

[Pg 291]

FOOTNOTES:

[2324] Act iv. Scene i.] Rowe.

Without ...] Rowe.

[2325] thee. O ... wolves,] Ff. thee, O ... wolves! Pope.

[2326] girdlest] Rowe. girdles Ff.

[2327] steads! To ... filths] steads: to ... filths Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). steeds, to ... filthes. F₁ F₂. steeds to ... filthes. F₃. steads to ... filths F₄.

filths] filth Hanmer.

[2328] green virginity!] green, virginity Pope (ed. 1).

[2329] fast; Rather ... back, out] Theobald (Anon. conj.). fast Rather ... backe; out F₁ F₂ F₃. fast, Rather ... back; out F₄.

[2330] o' the] i' th' Hanmer. at the Keightley.

Son] Some F₁.

[2331] lined] lean'd Keightley.

[2332] With ... brains] And with it beat his brains out Pope.

Piety and fear] Fear and piety Pope.

[2333] let] Hanmer. yet Ff.

[2334] detestable town] town detestable Hanmer.

[2335] [Throwing away his raiment. Delius conj. Plucking out his hair. Ingleby conj.

[2336] more] much F₄.

[2337] you] ye Pope (ed. 2).

[2338] Amen] om. Pope.

[2339] Scene II.] Rowe.

Athens ...] Timon's House. Rowe.

[2340] master steward] M. steward F₁. good master steward Pope.

[2341] me] it Hanmer. om. Capell.

[2342] I am ... backs] S. Walker would end the lines noble ... friend ... go ... backs.

[2343] do] om. Hanmer.

[2344] From our ... to his] From our ... from his Hanmer. To our ... from his Rann (Mason conj.).

[2345] his familiars] the familiars S. Walker conj.

[2346] leave] and leave Long MS.

[2347] all-shunn'd] Hyphened in Pope.

[2348] like] likes F₂.

[2349] still] om. Pope.

[2350] dying] sinking Keightley conj.

[2351] this] the Rowe (ed. 2).

[2352] let's shake] shake Pope.

[2353] [Servants ...] Embrace and part severall wayes. Ff. He gives them mony, they embrace ... Pope. Embrace, and Exeunt Servants. Capell.

[2354] fierce] first Theobald (ed. 2).

[2355] Who would] Who'd Pope.

or to] as to Rowe. and so or so to Grant White conj. (withdrawn). or would Keightley. or so Dyce, ed. 2.

[2356] friendship? To have his] friendship? and to have His Singer (ed. 2). friendship; and revive To have his Collier (Collier MS.). friendship? and survive To have his Keightley.

[2357] what state compounds] state comprehends Collier (S. Walker conj.). that state compounds Grant White conj.

[2358] varnish'd] vanish'd Pope.

[2359] unusual blood,] unusual mood, Johnson conj. unequal blood, Becket conj. unusual!—'sblood! Jackson conj.

[2360] does] F₄. do F₁ F₃. doe F₂.

[2361] Alas] 'Las S. Walker conj.

[2362] ingrateful] ingratefull F₁ F₂. ungrateful F₃ F₄.

[2363] Of monstrous ... it.] As in Pope. Three lines in Ff.

[2364] has] his F₂.

with him] om. Rowe.

[2365] follow] follow after Hanmer.

[2366] Scene III.] Rowe.

Woods ...] Edd. The Woods. Rowe. Wood; a Cave in View. Capell.

[2367] Enter Timon ...] Edd. Enter Timon in the Woods. Ff. Enter Timon. Rowe. Enter Timon, with a Spade. Capell.

[2368] blessed breeding] blessing-breeding Warburton. blessed-breeding Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[2369] dividant] divided Hanmer.

them] om. Pope.

[2370] not nature] not ev'n nature Pope. not his nature Capell. not those natures Steevens conj.

[2371] nature ... nature] natures ... natures Mason conj.

[2372] by] with Hanmer.

[2373] Raise] Robe Maginn conj.

deny 't] denude Theobald (Warburton). degrade Hanmer. deprive Heath conj. devest Steevens conj. dechute Becket conj. decline Collier (Collier MS.). demit Staunton ('Obelus,' N. and Q. 1856, conj.). deject Arrowsmith conj. deknight Anon. conj.

[2374] senator] Rowe. senators Ff.

[2375] pasture] Rowe. pastour F₁. pastor F₂ F₃ F₄. pasterer Farmer and Steevens conj.

pasture ... rother's] paste o'erlards the brother's Jackson conj.

lards] owe. Lards, F₁. Lords, F₂ F₃ F₄.

rother's] Collier (Singer, ed. 2). Brothers Ff. beggar's Rowe. weather's Theobald (Warburton). broader Farmer conj. breather's Malone conj. (withdrawn).

[2376] The ... lean] F₃ F₄. The ... leaue F₁. The ... leane F₂. 'Tis ... leave Johnson conj. The gaunt that makes him leave Farmer conj. Johnson supposes that a line is lost.

[2377] say] fay F₁.

man's] F₃ F₄. mans F₁ F₂.

[2378] grise] grize Ff. greeze Pope.

[2379] all is oblique] Pope. All's obliquie F₁. Alls obliquy F₂ F₃. All's obliquy F₄. all's obloquy Rowe. all, all's oblique Lettsom conj.

[2380] Therefore] Then Pope.

[2381] fang] Johnson. phang Ff.

[Digging.] Digging the Earth. Rowe. om. Ff.

[2382] Gold ... valiant] As in Hanmer. Five lines, ending gold?... votarist, ... make ... right; ... valliant, in Ff.

[2383] idle votarist] idol votarist Collier (Collier MS.).

you] om. Hanmer.

clear] dear Jackson conj.

[2384] right] After this Keightley marks an omission.

[2385] Ha] om. Pope.

what] why Hanmer. what? Johnson.

[2386] stout] sick Hanmer.

their] F₁ the F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2387] thieves,] theeves, F₁. theeves. F₂ F₃. thieves. F₄.

[2388] this is it] this, this is it Hanmer. why, this it is Steevens conj.

[2389] wappen'd] waped Hanmer (Warburton). wained Johnson conj. wapper'd Collier, ed. 2 (Malone conj.). Wapping Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 127). weeping Steevens conj. vapid Seymour conj.

wed] woo'd Mason conj.

[2390] She] Her Hanmer.

[2391] whom ... at] whose ulcerous sores the spital-house Would ... at or at whose ulcerous sores the spital-house Would ... up Steevens conj.

[2392] at, this] Pope. at. This Ff. at; this Rowe.

[2393] damned] Rowe (ed. 2). damn'd Ff.

[2394] put'st] putt'st Pope. puttes Ff. puttest Rowe.

[2395] Do ... quick] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2396] thou'lt] F₄. thou't F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2397] [Keeping some gold.] Pope. om. Ff.

Scene IV. Pope.

Phrynia] and Phrynia Ff.

[2398] speak.] om. Seymour conj.

[2399] The canker] Cankers Rowe.

[2400] misanthropos] misantropos F₁.

[2401] that] as Pope.

[2402] With ... paint] And with ... paint all Hanmer.

gules, gules:] gules, total gules: Capell. gules, gules; for if Keightley.

[2403] not] but Staunton conj.

[2404] were] were now Pope (ed. 2).

[2405] Noble ... man!] Prose in Ff. Seven lines of verse in Capell.

[2406] but to] but this, To Capell.

[2407] not promise] but promise Staunton conj.

[2408] perform] promise, and Perform Capell.

[2409] I have] I've Pope.

[2410] then] thine Malone conj.

[2411] Art thou ... lust] Three lines, ending still!... diseases, ... lust, S. Walker conj.

[2412] Be ... diet.] Verse first in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[2413] Give ... lust.] Leaving with thee their lust. Give them diseases; Grant White (Johnson conj.).

[2414] bring] bring me Capell (MS. correction).

[2415] rose-cheeked youth To the Malone. Rose-cheekt youth to the F₁. Rose-checkt youth to the F₂ F₃. Rose-cheek'd youth to the F₄. the rose-cheek'd youth To th' Pope. rose-cheek'd youth to The Dyce.

rose-cheeked ... tub-fast] the rose-cheek'd youth, Th' fub, to th' fast Theobald conj.

[2416] tub-fast] Theobald (Warburton). Fubfast Ff.

[2417] calamities] calamites F₂.

[2418] I have] I have had Collier (Collier MS.).

[2419] have] om. Rowe.

[2420] Athens,] Athens is Hanmer.

[2421] trod upon] had trod on Hanmer.

them—] Rowe. them. Ff.

[2422] I had] I 'ad Pope.

[2423] Here is some] Here's Pope.

[2424] heap—] Rowe (ed. 2). heape. or heap. Ff.

[2425] Athens?] F₃ F₄. Athens. F₁ F₂.

[2426] Ay ... country.] S. Walker would end the lines them ... when ... killing ... country.

[2427] all] all then Pope. om. Capell, ending the line at and.

in thy] i' thy Steevens (1793), ending the lines and ... Timon?... That, ... conquer ... country.

[2428] thee after, ... conquer'd] after, thee, ... conquered Pope.

[2429] Why] But why Hanmer.

of] om. Hanmer.

[2430] conquer my] make conquest of my Hanmer. conquer thy own Capell, ending the previous line at born. scourge thy S. Walker conj.

[2431] when] F₁. whom F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2432] counterfeit] om. Pope.

[2433] for] nor Tyrwhitt conj.

[2434] window-bars] Steevens (Johnson conj.). window barne F₁ F₂. window barn F₃ F₄. window-barn Pope. window-lawn Theobald (Warburton). widow's barb Tyrwhitt conj.

[2435] But] om. Pope.

them] om. Dyce (ed. 2).

[2436] exhaust] extort Hanmer.

[2437] whom] who, Hanmer.

[2438] pronounced thy] Pope. pronounced, the Ff.

[2439] swear] whoso'er Heath conj.

against] 'gainst all Hanmer.

objects] abjects Collier, ed. 2 (Farmer conj.). audits Becket conj.

[2440] priests] priest Pope.

[2441] Hast ... counsel.] As in Capell. Verse first in Pope, the first line ending yet? Prose in Ff.

[2442] all] om. Pope.

[2443] Phr. and Timan.] Steevens. Both. Ff. Wom. Capell.

[2444] whores, a bawd] Ff. whore a bawd Pope. whole a bawd Theobald (Warburton). whores abundant Hanmer. whores abhorr'd Collier (Collier MS.).

[2445] you are] you're Pope.

[2446] And be ... still] As in Capell. In Ff the lines end months ... thatch ... dead, ... matter: ... still. Seven lines in Johnson, ending turncoats ... contrary ... thatch ... &c.

[2447] turncoats] turncocks Jackson conj.

pains, six months] pain-sick months Becket conj.

six months] six mouths F₂. exterior Hanmer. six months thence Keightley.

[2448] contrary] contraried Johnson conj.

and] om. Capell.

and thatch] Make false hair, and thatch Pope, ending lines 143-145 as Ff.

[2449] whore] and whore on Pope.

[2450] Believe't] Believe Rowe.

[2451] man ... men's] men ... their S. Walker conj.

[2452] spurring] sparring Hanmer. spurning Long MS. springing Seymour conj.

[2453] hoar] hoarse Singer, ed. 1 (Upton conj.).

[2454] scolds] Rowe. scold'st Ff.

[2455] to foresee, Smells from] not foresees, Smels for Capell.

[2456] foresee] forefend Warburton.

[2457] bald] Quite bald Hanmer, ending lines 158, 159 ruffians ... of.

[2458] all] all of them Keightley. all; plague all Anon. conj.

[2459] More ... again] Verse in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[2460] I have] I've Pope.

[2461] did thee] did the F₂.

[2462] Men ... thee.] As in Dyce. In Ff the first line ends away. In Delius, find it.

[2463] it] it such Steevens. it so Keightley.

Get thee away] Get thee hence away Pope, ending the line as Ff. Get thee hence. Away Johnson. Hence; Get thee away Capell, ending the line at Hence.

[2464] Strike] Put in a separate line by Steevens (1793).

[Drum beats.] Johnson. om. Ff.

[2465] Exeunt....] Theobald. Exeunt. Ff.

[2466] Scene V. Pope.

[2467] [Digging.] Johnson, before line 174. om. Ff.

[2468] whose] oh thou! whose Pope.

mettle] forming mettle Keightley.

[2469] crisp] cript Warburton.

[2470] thy human] Pope. the humane Ff. the human Rowe.

doth] Capell. do Ff. do's Rowe.

[2471] [digs. Capell.

[2472] Ensear] Then sear Hanmer.

conceptious] F₁. conceptions F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2473] out] out to Warburton.

[2474] marbled] marble Capell.

mansion all] mansion-hall S. Walker conj.

[2475] thy] your Singer conj.

marrows, vines, and] F₃ F₄. marrowes, vines, and F₁ F₂. marrows, veins, and Rowe. meadows, vineyards, Hanmer. harrow'd veins, and Warburton. marrow'd veins, and Heath conj. meadows, vines, and Collier (Collier MS.). marrowy vines and Grant White (Dyce conj.). married vines and Keightley.

[2476] unctuous] Johnson. unctious Ff.

pure] impure Keightley.

[2477] slips!] slippes— F₁ F₂. slips— F₃ F₄.

[2478] Scene VI. Pope.

[2479] infected] affected Rowe.

[2480] fortune] Rowe and Southern MS. future Ff. fauturs Becket conj.

[2481] diseased] F₂ F₃ F₄. diseas'd F₁.

[2482] woods] weeds Theobald (Warburton).

[2483] off] of F₂.

[2484] bade] bad F₁. bid F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2485] Were] Where F₂.

[2486] Thou hast] Thou 'ast Pope. Thou'st Theobald.

[2487] A madman so long] So long a mad-man Pope.

think'st] think'st thou Pope.

[2488] moss'd] Hanmer. moyst F₁ F₂. moist F₃ F₄.

[2489] when] where Grant White (S. Walker conj.).

[2490] find—] Rowe. finde. F₁ F₂. find. F₃ F₄.

[2491] thee] the F₂.

[2492] Apem. Why? Tim.] Omitted by Hanmer.

Why?] Why so? Keightley.

[2493] To] Only to Hanmer.

[2494] a knave too?] a knave thou! Hanmer. and know't too? Warburton conj.

[2495] sour-cold] Hyphen added by Steevens (1793).

[2496] courtier] F₁ F₄. countier F₂ F₃.

again] om. Pope.

[2497] Outlives incertain] Rowe. Out-lives: incertaine F₁. Out-lives: in certaine F₂. Out-lives: in certain F₃ F₄. Out-strips incertain Hanmer. Out-vies uncertain Capell.

before] before it Hanmer.

[2498] state ... Hath] states ... Have Pope.

[2499] but bred] bred but Hanmer.

[2500] The] Through Rowe.

[2501] drugs] F₄. drugges F₁ F₂. druggs F₃. drudges Delius (Mason conj.). dugs Collier (Collier MS.). dregs Capell conj. MS.

[2502] command] Rowe. command'st Ff.

[2503] follow'd] Capell. followed Ff.

[2504] and hearts] F₁ F₂. the hearts F₃ F₄.

[2505] employment] F₁. employments F₂ F₃ F₄. Here Keightley marks a line omitted.

[2506] me] F₁. the F₂. thee F₃ F₄.

[2507] have ... Fell ... and] yet ... Fall'n ... have Hanmer. and ... Fell ... and Capell. and ... Fall'n ... have Capell (MS. correction).

[2508] Fell] Fall'n Rowe.

[2509] some] sume F₂.

[2510] rag] F₄. ragge F₁ F₂ F₃. rogue Collier, ed. 2 (Johnson conj.).

[2511] rogue] rag Anon. conj.

[2512] a knave] knave Pope.

[2513] I ... prodigal.] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[2514] [Eating....] Rowe. om. Ff.

[2515] Here ... were.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2516] I will] will I Rowe (ed. 2).

[Offering....] Offering him another. Johnson. Throwing him a crust. Capell. Offering him something. Steevens (1778).

[2517] my] Rowe. thy Ff.

[2518] mine] my Pope.

[2519] o' nights] Theobald. a nights Ff.

[2520] Under ... Apemantus?] Prose in Capell. Two lines, the first ending me, in Ff.

o' days] a-dayes F₁ F₂. a daies F₃ F₄.

[2521] or] om. Hanmer, ending the lines Where ... it ... mind!... dishes.

[2522] and] om. Hanmer.

[2523] it] it then Hanmer.

[2524] curiosity] courtesy Hanmer.

[2525] There's ... dog.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2526] Ay, though it look] I, though it looke Ff (look F₃ F₄). I thought it look'd Johnson conj. Ay, for it looks Rann. Ay, troth, it looks Becket conj.

[2527] An] Pope. And Ff.

thou hadst] Capell. th' hadst Ff.

[2528] and] or Pope.

beasts?] Rowe (ed. 2). beasts. Ff.

[2529] the lion] a lion Pope.

[2530] thou livedst] thou liv'st. Rowe. thou 'dst live Hanmer.

[2531] remotion] motion Grant White conj.

[2532] that seest] and seest Rowe.

[2533] If ... beasts.] Prose in Pope. Five lines, ending me ... might'st ... here ... become ... beasts, in Ff.

[2534] city?] Rowe (ed. 2). citie. or city. Ff.

[2535] Yonder ... Apemantus.] Prose in Pope and Theobald. Nine irregular lines in Ff.

[2536] Yonder ... painter:] Omitted by Pope, who transfers Apem. The plague ... Apemantus (346-352) to follow line 393.

[2537] Thou ... speak'st.] As in Pope. Ten lines in Ff.

[2538] A ... thee!] Given to Timon by Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[2539] If ... hands.] Arranged as by Capell. Two lines, the first ending beate thee; in Ff. Prose in Theobald.

[2540] If I name thee.] Omitted by Pope.

thee.] thee.— Theobald. thee, Ff. thee,— Capell.

[2541] I'll] I'd Hanmer.

[2542] I ... off!] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2543] Away ... thee. As in Rowe. The lines end dog ... me ... thee, in Ff.

[2544] Swoon] Pope. swoond F₁ F₂. swound F₃ F₄.

[2545] Would] I would Hanmer.

[2546] Would ... rogue!] As in Ff. Three lines, ending burst ... sorry I ... rogue! in Hanmer. Capell ends the lines Away!... lose ... rogue!

[2547] Throws ...] Throwing at him. Capell. om. Ff.

[2548] Rogue, rogue, rogue!] Rogue! Hammer.

[Apemantus retreats backward, as going. Theobald.

[2549] even ... upon 't] ev'n ... upon it Pope.

[2550] me] thee Johnson.

[2551] [To the gold] Looking on the gold. Pope. om. Ff.

king-killer] kin-killer Maginn conj.

[2552] son and sire] Rowe. Sunne and fire F₁ F₂ F₃. Sun and Fire F₄.

[2553] fresh, loved] fresh-lived Maginn conj. fresh-loved Anon. conj.

[2554] That ... god,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2555] slave man] Rowe. slave-man Ff.

[2556] Apem.] Apem. [advancing. Capell.

[2557] thou hast] Pope (ed. 2). th' hast Ff. thou 'st Collier.

[2558] to ... to] Rowe (ed. 2). too ... too Ff.

[2559] Live ... misery!] Continued to Timon by Hanmer.

[2560] Long ... quit] Given to Apem. Malone conj.

and so] or so Hanmer.

Exit Apemantus.] Dyce. After quit. Capell. Exit Apeman. (after line 393) Ff.

die ... I] die, so I Hanmer. dye!—So, I Capell.

[2561] Moe ... them.] Continued to Timon by Hanmer. Given to Apemantus in Ff. One line in Hanmer. Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

Moe] Mo Ff. More Johnson.

them.] Rowe. then. Ff. Here Pope and Hanmer insert lines 346-352, Apem. The plague ... Apemantus.

[Seeing the Thieves. Hanmer.

Enter Banditti.] Enter the Bandetti. F₁ F₂ F₃. Enter the Banditti. F₄. Enter Thieves. Pope. Enter certain Thieves. Capell.

[2562] Scene VII. Pope.

First Ban.] 1 Band. Rowe. 1 Thief. Pope. 1. Ff (and elsewhere).

[2563] falling-from of his] Capell. falling from of his Ff. falling off of Pope. falling from him of his Collier (Collier MS.).

[2564] Sec. Ban.] 2 Band. Rowe. 2 Thief. Pope. 2. Ff (and elsewhere).

It is ... treasure.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

hath] hoth F₂.

[2565] True ... hid.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[2566] Banditti.] Knight. All. Ff.

[2567] He;] Rowe. He? Ff.

[2568] thieves?] Capell. thieves. Ff. thieves! Hanmer.

[2569] Both too] Both, both Hanmer. Both two Collier (ed. 2). Both the two Anon. conj.

Both ... sons] Both, and women's sons too Anon. conj.

[2570] We ... want.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[2571] want is ... meat.] want? Is your want much of meat? Heath conj. want is much, you want. O men, Anon. conj.

want much] wont much F₂.

[2572] much of meat. Why] much.—Of meat Why Rann (Farmer conj.).

[2573] meat] meet Theobald. men Hanmer. me Steevens conj.

[2574] a hundred] F₁ F₂. an hundred F₃ F₄.

[2575] mast] masts Rowe (ed. 2).

hips] heps F₁.

[2576] Rascal thieves] Rascals, thieves Pope.

[2577] froth] broth Pope.

[2578] Moe] More F₄.

take ... lives] F₁. take ... live F₂ F₃ F₄. takes ... life Hanmer. take ... rob Long MS.

[2579] villany] Rowe. villaine F₁ F₂. villain F₃ F₄.

protest] profess Theobald.

[2580] do't, Like workmen.] do't, Like workmen; Pope. doo't. Like workemen, F₁ F₂. do't, Like workmen, F₃ F₄.

[2581] vast] daste F₂ (Long's copy). chaste Long MS.

[2582] moon] mounds Theobald. earth Capell. main Tollet conj. marge or mole Anon. conj.

[2583] composture] composure Pope.

[2584] excrement] excrementsTheobald.

thing's] think's F₂.

[2585] Have] Pope. Ha's Ff.

[2586] Cut throats] cut-throats Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 307).

[2587] nothing] for nothing Pope. where nothing Steevens conj. nought S. Walker conj., ending lines 443-446 thieves ... give you ... Amen.

[2588] But ... Amen] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending give you, in Ff. Three, ending this ... give you ... Amen, in Delius.

[2589] not] Rowe. om. Ff. no Collier (Collier MS.). not the Keightley.

[2590] for this I give you] for what I give Pope, ending line 444 at what.

[2591] howsoe'er] howsoever Rowe (ed. 2).

[2592] [Exit. Rowe. Retiring towards his Cave. Capell. om. Ff.

[2593] Has] F₁ F₂. H'as F₃ F₄. He has Steevens.

[2594] the malice of] his malice to Hanmer.

[2595] us; not] us, not Rowe. us not Ff.

[2596] I'll ... trade] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[2597] there is ... true.] Given to '2 Thief' by Theobald (Warburton).

[2598] [Exeunt ...] Exit Theeves. F₁. Exeunt Thieves. F₂ F₃ F₄.

Enter Flavius.] Enter the Steward to Timon. Ff.

[2599] Act v. Scene i. The Woods and Timon's Cave. Rowe. Capell continues the Scene.

[2600] Full ... bestow'd] As in Ff. Three lines, ending failing?... deeds, ... bestow'd, in Johnson.

[2601] What ... made!] As in Malone. One line in Ff. What change of honour desp'rate want has made? Pope. What change of humour desp'rate want has made? Warburton. Steevens ends the first line at has.

[2602] What] Why, what Capell. Ah, what Anon. conj.

honour] favour Anon. conj.

[2603] viler] Pope. vilder Ff.

[2604] wish'd] will'd Warburton.

[2605] woo ... do] too, ... woo Warburton.

[2606] mischief] miscreefe F₂.

[2607] Has] H'as F₄. He has Steevens.

[2608] present ... life.] As in Pope. Prose in F₁ F₂. Two lines, the first ending grief, in F₃ F₄.

[2609] unto] to Pope.

[2610] [Timon comes forward from his cave. Theobald.

[2611] thou] om. S. Walker conj.

[2612] dost] dost thou Theobald (ed. 2).

[2613] Then ... thee] As in Capell. Two lines in Ff.

grant'st ... I] Capell, and Southern MS. grunt'st, th'art a man. I F₁. grunt'st th'art a man, I F₂ F₃ F₄. grantest that thou art a man I, ending the line at man, Pope. grant'st thou'rt man, I Steevens (1793).

I have] I've Capell.

[2614] An ... yours] An honest servant Pope.

[2615] Then] Nay, then Capell, ending the lines at then ... man ... knaves. Steevens (1793) reads Then, but follows Capell's arrangement.

[2616] never] F₁ F₂. nev'r F₃ F₄. ne'er Rowe.

man] men S. Walker conj.

me, I; all] Steevens (1778). me, I all, F₁ F₂ F₃. me, I, all F₄. me, all Pope. me; ay, all Delius.

[2617] I kept] that I kept Capell.

[2618] Ne'er] Pope. Nev'r F₁ F₂. Never F₃ F₄.

steward] steward's Capell conj.

[2619] What ... thee] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[2620] thorough] thorow F₁ F₂. through F₃ F₄. or through Pope.

and] or Pope.

laughter. Pity's sleeping:] laughter, pity sleeping. Johnson conj.

[2621] Pity's ... weeping!] Put in the margin by Hanmer.

[2622] Had ... woman.] As in Ff. Four lines in Capell, ending just, ... turns ... behold ... woman. Malone ends the first line at now, following Capell's arrangement in the rest.

[2623] steward] steward then Capell.

[2624] dangerous ... mild] nature dangerous-wild Becket conj. dolorous nature wild Jackson conj.

mild] Hanmer (Thirlby conj.). wilde Ff.

[2625] You] om. Pope.

perpetual-sober] Hanmer. perpetuall sober Ff.

[2626] One ... steward] S. Walker would end the lines man:— ... pray,— ... steward.

[2627] pray] say Lettsom conj.

pray ... steward] pray ... steward too Hanmer. pray you,—and he is a steward Capell.

[2628] subtle, covetous] subtle-covetous S. Walker conj.

[2629] If not a] Is't not a Rowe. A Pope. An Hanmer. Is it not a Keightley, ending the line at men.

kindness] om. Seymour conj.

and] om. Pope.

rich ... gifts] gifts That rich men deal Anon. conj.

gifts] Gifts to catch gifts S. Walker conj., ending the lines deal ... return.

[2630] where] when Hanmer.

[2631] unmatched] unmarched F₂.

[2632] and] And, O Capell, ending the lines living ... lord.

[2633] My ... lord,] Omitted by Pope.

[2634] My ... yourself.] Four lines in Keightley, ending benefit, ... I'd ... power ... yourself.

[2635] exchange] exchange it Hanmer. exchange't Capell.

[2636] thee] F₁ F₃ F₄. the F₂. ye Capell.

[2637] Have] Rowe. Ha's Ff. Ha' Anon. conj.

thee] the F₂.

[2638] deniest] denyest Ff. deny'st Rowe.

[2639] 'em to nothing] 'em Pope. them to nothing Malone. them Steevens (1793).

[2640] O ... master] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[2641] If ... free:] As in Ff. Malone ends the first line at hat'st.

[2642] fly] flye F₁ F₂. flee F₃ F₄. but fly Pope. fly, fly or fly now Anon. conj.

[2643] [Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exit. Ff. Exeunt. Rowe. Exit Flavius; and Timon into his cave. Collier (Collier MS.).

ACT V.

Scene I. The woods. Before Timon's cave.[2644]

Enter Poet and Painter; Timon watching them from his cave.[2645]

Pain. As I took note of the place, it cannot be far [2646][2647]
where he abides.[2646]

Poet. What's to be thought of him? does the rumour [2648]
hold for true, that he's so full of gold?[2648]

Pain. Certain: Alcibiades reports it; Phrynia and Timandra[2648][2649]5
had gold of him: he likewise enriched poor straggling[2648]
soldiers with great quantity: 'tis said he gave unto[2648]
his steward a mighty sum.[2648]

Poet. Then this breaking of his has been but a try for[2648][2650]
his friends.[2648] 10

Pain. Nothing else: you shall see him a palm in Athens[2648]
again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss[2648]
we tender our loves to him in this supposed distress of his:[2648]
it will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our[2648]
purposes with what they travail for, if it be a just and true[2648][2651]15
report that goes of his having.[2648]

Poet. What have you now to present unto him?[2648]

Pain. Nothing at this time but my visitation: only I[2648]
will promise him an excellent piece.[2648]

Poet. I must serve him so too, tell him of an intent[2648] 20
that's coming toward him.[2648]

Pain. Good as the best. Promising is the very air o' the[2648][2652]
time: it opens the eyes of expectation: performance is ever[2648]
[Pg 292] the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler[2648]
kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To[2648][2653]25
promise is most courtly and fashionable: performance is a[2648]
kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in[2648]
his judgement that makes it.[2648][2654]

[Timon comes from his cave, behind.

Tim. [Aside] Excellent workman! thou canst not[2648]
paint a man so bad as is thyself.[2648][2655] 30

Poet. I am thinking what I shall say I have provided[2648]
for him: it must be a personating of himself; a satire against[2648]
the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite[2648]
flatteries that follow youth and opulency.[2648]

Tim. [Aside] Must thou needs stand for a villain in[2648]35
thine own work? wilt thou whip thine own faults in other[2648]
men? Do so, I have gold for thee.[2648]

Poet. Nay, let's seek him:[2656]
Then do we sin against our own estate,[2656]
When we may profit meet, and come too late.[2656] 40

Pain. True;[2656]
When the day serves, before black-corner'd night,[2656][2657]
Find what thou want'st by free and offer'd light.[2656]
Come.[2656][2658]

Tim. [Aside] I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold,[2659]45
That he is worshipp'd in a baser temple[2659][2660]
[Pg 293] Than where swine feed![2659][2661]
'Tis thou that rigg'st the bark and plough'st the foam,[2662]
Settlest admired reverence in a slave:
To thee be worship! and thy saints for aye [2663][2664] 50
Be crown'd with plagues, that thee alone obey![2664]
Fit I meet them.[2665] [Coming forward.

Poet. Hail, worthy Timon!

Pain. Our late noble master!

Tim. Have I once lived to see two honest men?[2666]

Poet. Sir, 55
Having often of your open bounty tasted,[2667]
Hearing you were retired, your friends fall'n off,
Whose thankless natures—O abhorred spirits!—[2668]
Not all the whips of heaven are large enough—[2669]
What! to you,[2670] 60
Whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence
To their whole being! I am rapt, and cannot cover [2671][2672]
The monstrous bulk of this ingratitude[2672]
With any size of words.

Tim. Let it go naked, men may see't the better:[2673] 65
You that are honest, by being what you are,
Make them best seen and known.[2674]
[Pg 294]

Pain. He and myself
Have travail'd in the great shower of your gifts,[2675]
And sweetly felt it.

Tim. Ay, you are honest men.[2676]

Pain. We are hither come to offer you our service.[2677] 70

Tim. Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you?[2678]
Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? no.

Both. What we can do, we'll do, to do you service.[2679]

Tim. Ye're honest men: ye've heard that I have gold;[2679][2680]
I am sure you have: speak truth; ye're honest men.[2681] 75

Pain. So it is said, my noble lord: but therefore
Came not my friend nor I.[2682]

Tim. Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit [2683]
Best in all Athens: thou'rt indeed the best;[2684]
Thou counterfeit'st most lively.

Pain. So, so, my lord. 80

Tim. E'en so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction,[2685]
Why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth
That thou art even natural in thine art.
But, for all this, my honest-natured friends,[2686]
I must needs say you have a little fault: 85
Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you; neither wish I [2687]
You take much pains to mend.

Both. Beseech your honour
To make it known to us.

Tim. You'll take it ill.

Both. Most thankfully, my lord.
[Pg 295]

Tim. Will you, indeed?

Both. Doubt it not, worthy lord. 90

Tim. There's never a one of you but trusts a knave [2688]
That mightily deceives you.

Both. Do we, my lord?

Tim. Ay, and you hear him cog, see him dissemble,[2689]
Know his gross patchery, love him, feed him,[2690]
Keep in your bosom: yet remain assured [2691] 95
That he's a made-up villain.

Pain. I know none such, my lord.

Poet. Nor I.[2692]

Tim. Look you, I love you well; I'll give you gold,[2693]
Rid me these villains from your companies:
Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught,[2694] 100
Confound them by some course, and come to me,
I'll give you gold enough.

Both. Name them, my lord, let's know them.

Tim. You that way, and you this, but two in company:[2695]
Each man apart, all single and alone,[2696] 105
Yet an arch-villain keeps him company.
If, where thou art, two villains shall not be,[2697]
Come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside [2698]
But where one villain is, then him abandon.
Hence, pack! there's gold; you came for gold, ye slaves:[2699] 110
[To Painter] You have work for me, there's payment: hence![2700]
[To Poet] You are an alchemist, make gold of that:
[Pg 296] Out, rascal dogs! [Beats them out, and then retires into his cave.[2701]

Enter Flavius and two Senators.

Flav. It is in vain that you would speak with Timon;[2702]
For he is set so only to himself 115
That nothing but himself which looks like man
Is friendly with him.

First Sen. Bring us to his cave:
It is our part and promise to the Athenians [2703]
To speak with Timon.

Sec. Sen. At all times alike
Men are not still the same: 'twas time and griefs 120
That framed him thus: time, with his fairer hand,
Offering the fortunes of his former days,
The former man may make him. Bring us to him,
And chance it as it may.[2704]

Flav. Here is his cave.
Peace and content be here! Lord Timon! Timon![2705] 125
Look out, and speak to friends: the Athenians
By two of their most reverend senate greet thee:
Speak to them, noble Timon.[2706]

Timon comes from his cave.

Tim. Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and be hang'd:[2707]
For each true word, a blister! and each false 130
[Pg 297] Be as a cauterizing to the root o' the tongue,[2708]
Consuming it with speaking!

First Sen. Worthy Timon,—

Tim. Of none but such as you, and you of Timon.[2709]

First Sen. The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.

Tim. I thank them, and would send them back the plague,[2710]135
Could I but catch it for them.

First Sen. O, forget
What we are sorry for ourselves in thee.
The senators with one consent of love
Entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought
On special dignities, which vacant lie 140
For thy best use and wearing.

Sec. Sen. They confess
Toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross:[2711]
Which now the public body, which doth seldom [2712]
Play the recanter, feeling in itself
A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal [2713] 145
Of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon;[2714]
And send forth us, to make their sorrowed render.[2715]
Together with a recompense more fruitful [2716]
Than their offence can weigh down by the dram;[2717][2718]
Ay, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth,[2718] 150
[Pg 298] As shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs,[2718]
And write in thee the figures of their love,[2719]
Ever to read them thine.

Tim. You witch me in it,
Surprise me to the very brink of tears:
Lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, 155
And I'll beweep these comforts, worthy senators.

First Sen. Therefore, so please thee to return with us,
And of our Athens, thine and ours, to take
The captainship, thou shalt be met with thanks,
Allow'd with absolute power, and thy good name [2720] 160
Live with authority: so soon we shall drive back [2721]
Of Alcibiades the approaches wild;[2722]
Who, like a boar too savage, doth root up
His country's peace.

Sec. Sen. And shakes his threatening sword
Against the walls of Athens.

First Sen. Therefore, Timon,—[2723] 165

Tim. Well, sir, I will; therefore, I will, sir; thus:[2724]
If Alcibiades kill my countrymen,
Let Alcibiades know this of Timon,
That Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens,[2725]
And take our goodly aged men by the beards, 170
Giving our holy virgins to the stain
Of contumelious, beastly, mad-brain'd war;
Then let him know, and tell him Timon speaks it,
In pity of our aged and our youth,
I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not,[2726] 175
And let him take 't at worst; for their knives care not,
While you have throats to answer: for myself,
There's not a whittle in the unruly camp,[2727]
But I do prize it at my love before [2728]
The reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you [2729] 180
[Pg 299] To the protection of the prosperous gods,[2730]
As thieves to keepers.

Flav. Stay not; all's in vain.

Tim. Why, I was writing of my epitaph;[2731]
It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend, 185
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough!

First Sen. We speak in vain.

Tim. But yet I love my country, and am not
One that rejoices in the common wreck,[2732] 190
As common bruit doth put it.[2733]

First Sen. That's well spoke.

Tim. Commend me to my loving countrymen,—[2734]

First Sen. These words become your lips as they pass thorough them.[2735]

Sec. Sen. And enter in our ears like great triumphers
In their applauding gates.

Tim. Commend me to them; 195
And tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,[2736]
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes [2737]
That nature's fragile vessel doth sustain
In life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:[2738][2739]200
I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.[2739][2740]
[Pg 300]

First Sen. I like this well; he will return again.[2741]

Tim. I have a tree, which grows here in my close,
That mine own use invites me to cut down,
And shortly must I fell it: tell my friends, 205
Tell Athens, in the sequence of degree [2742]
From high to low throughout, that whoso please
To stop affliction, let him take his haste,[2743]
Come hither ere my tree hath felt the axe,
And hang himself: I pray you, do my greeting. 210

Flav. Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.[2744]

Tim. Come not to me again: but say to Athens,
Timon hath made his everlasting mansion
Upon the beached verge of the salt flood;
Who once a day with his embossed froth [2745] 215
The turbulent surge shall cover: thither come,
And let my grave-stone be your oracle.
Lips, let sour words go by and language end:[2746]
What is amiss, plague and infection mend!
Graves only be men's works, and death their gain! 220
Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.[2747]

[Retires to his cave.

First Sen. His discontents are unremoveably [2748][2749]
Coupled to nature.[2748][2750]

Sec. Sen. Our hope in him is dead: let us return,
And strain what other means is left unto us 225
In our dear peril.[2751]

First Sen. It requires swift foot. [Exeunt.

[Pg 301]

Scene II. Before the walls of Athens.[2752]

Enter two Senators and a Messenger.[2753]

First Sen. Thou hast painfully discover'd: are his files
As full as thy report?[2754]

Mess. I have spoke the least:
Besides, his expedition promises [2755]
Present approach.[2755]

Sec. Sen. We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon. 5

Mess. I met a courier, one mine ancient friend;[2756]
Whom, though in general part we were opposed,[2757]
Yet our old love made a particular force,[2758]
And made us speak like friends: this man was riding [2759]
From Alcibiades to Timon's cave, 10
With letters of entreaty, which imported
His fellowship i' the cause against your city,
In part for his sake moved.[2760]

First Sen. Here come our brothers.

Enter Senators from Timon.

Third Sen. No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect.[2761]
The enemies' drum is heard, and fearful scouring [2762] 15
Doth choke the air with dust: in, and prepare:
Ours is the fall, I fear, our foes the snare.[2763] [Exeunt.

[Pg 302]

Scene III. The woods. Timon's cave, and a rude tomb seen.[2764]

Enter a Soldier, seeking Timon.[2765]

Sold. By all description this should be the place.
Who's here? speak, ho! No answer! What is this?[2766]
Timon is dead, who hath outstretch'd his span:[2767]
Some beast read this; there does not live a man.[2768]
Dead, sure; and this his grave. What's on this tomb [2769] 5
I cannot read; the character I'll take with wax:[2769]
Our captain hath in every figure skill,
An aged interpreter, though young in days:
Before proud Athens he's set down by this,
Whose fall the mark of his ambition is. [Exit.10

Scene IV. Before the walls of Athens.[2770]

Trumpets sound. Enter Alcibiades with his powers.[2771]

Alcib. Sound to this coward and lascivious town
Our terrible approach.[2772] [A parley sounded.

[Pg 303]

Enter Senators upon the walls.[2773]

Till now you have gone on and fill'd the time
With all licentious measure, making your wills
The scope of justice; till now myself and such 5
As slept within the shadow of your power
Have wander'd with our traversed arms and breathed
Our sufferance vainly: now the time is flush,
When crouching marrow in the bearer strong [2774]
Cries of itself 'No more:' now breathless wrong 10
Shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease,
And pursy insolence shall break his wind
With fear and horrid flight.

First Sen. Noble and young,
When thy first griefs were but a mere conceit,
Ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear,[2775] 15
We sent to thee, to give thy rages balm,
To wipe out our ingratitude with loves [2776]
Above their quantity.[2777]

Sec. Sen. So did we woo
Transformed Timon to our city's love
By humble message and by promised means:[2778] 20
We were not all unkind, nor all deserve
The common stroke of war.

First Sen. These walls of ours
Were not erected by their hands from whom
You have received your griefs: nor are they such [2779]
That these great towers, trophies and schools should fall 25
For private faults in them.

Sec. Sen. Nor are they living
Who were the motives that you first went out;[2780]
Shame, that they wanted cunning, in excess
Hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord,[2781]
[Pg 304] Into our city with thy banners spread: 30
By decimation and a tithed death—
If thy revenges hunger for that food
Which nature loathes—take thou the destined tenth,
And by the hazard of the spotted die
Let die the spotted.[2782]

First Sen. All have not offended;[2782][2783] 35
For those that were, it is not square to take,[2784]
On those that are, revenges: crimes, like lands,[2785]
Are not inherited. Then, dear countryman,
Bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage:
Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin 40
Which, in the bluster of thy wrath, must fall
With those that have offended: like a shepherd
Approach the fold and cull the infected forth,
But kill not all together.[2786]

Sec. Sen. What thou wilt,
Thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile 45
Than hew to 't with thy sword.

First Sen. Set but thy foot
Against our rampired gates, and they shall ope;
So thou wilt send thy gentle heart before,
To say thou'lt enter friendly.[2787]

Sec. Sen. Throw thy glove,
Or any token of thine honour else, 50
That thou wilt use the wars as thy redress
And not as our confusion, all thy powers
Shall make their harbour in our town, till we
Have seal'd thy full desire.

Alcib. Then there's my glove;
Descend, and open your uncharged ports:[2788] 55
[Pg 305] Those enemies of Timon's, and mine own,[2789]
Whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof,
Fall, and no more: and, to atone your fears
With my more noble meaning, not a man
Shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream 60
Of regular justice in your city's bounds,
But shall be render'd to your public laws [2790]
At heaviest answer.

Both. 'Tis most nobly spoken.

Alcib. Descend, and keep your words.

[The Senators descend, and open the gates.[2791]

Enter Soldier.

Sold. My noble general, Timon is dead; 65
Entomb'd upon the very hem o' the sea;
And on his grave-stone this insculpture, which [2792]
With wax I brought away, whose soft impression
Interprets for my poor ignorance.[2793]

Alcib. [Reads] 'Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft:[2794]70
Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left![2795]
Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate:[2796]
Pass by and curse thy fill; but pass and stay not here thy gait.'[2797]
These well express in thee thy latter spirits:
Though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs,[2798] 75
[Pg 306] Scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our droplets which [2799]
From niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit
Taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye
On thy low grave, on faults forgiven. Dead [2800]
Is noble Timon: of whose memory 80
Hereafter more. Bring me into your city,
And I will use the olive with my sword,[2801]
Make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each
Prescribe to other as each other's leech.
Let our drums strike. [Exeunt.85

FOOTNOTES:

[2644] Act v. Scene i.] Capell. Act v. Scene ii. Pope. See note (XIV).

The woods ... cave.] Capell, substantially.

[2645] Enter ...] Dyce. Enter Poet and Painter. Ff. Enter ... Timon behind unseen. Capell.

[2646] As ... abides.] Prose in F₁. Two lines, the first ending farre, in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2647] cannot] can't Pope.

[2648] What's ... thee?] Prose in Pope. Irregular lines in Ff.

[2649] Phrynia] Rowe (ed. 2). Phrinica F₁. Phrinia F₂ F₃ F₄.

Timandra] Timandylo F₁.

[2650] try for] tryal for Pope. tryal of Theobald (ed. 2).

[2651] purposes ... they] purses ... we Collier (Collier MS.). purses ... they Keightley conj.

[2652] best. Promising] best. Promising, F₁. best Promising, F₂ F₃. best, Promising F₄.

[2653] of saying] om. Pope. of paying Anon. conj.

quite] quiet F₂.

[2654] [Timon ... behind.] Edd. Enter Timon from his Cave. Ff. Re-enter Timon from his cave, unseen. Pope. Re-enter ... unseen, but overhearing him. Hanmer. The stage direction of Ff transferred to the beginning of the scene by Capell, who first marks Timon's speeches as 'Aside.'

[2655] is] om. Pope.

[2656] Poet. Nay ... late. Pain. True; ... Come.] Ff. Pain. Nay ... late. Poet. True; ... Come. Hanmer. Poet. Nay ... late. Pain. True. Poet. While the day ... Come. Theobald.

[2657] When] While Pope.

black-corner'd] black-corneted Hanmer. black-cornette Warburton conj. black-coroned Farmer conj. MS. black-coned Anon. ap. Steevens conj. black-crowned Mason conj. black correned Becket conj. dark-horned Jackson conj. black-cover'd Collier, ed. 2 (Anon. ap. Steevens conj.). black-curtain'd Singer conj. black-garner'd or black 'coutred Anon. conj.

[2658] Come] om. Capell.

[going towards to the Cave. Capell.

[2659] I'll ... feed!] As in Capell. The lines end turne: ... worshipt ... feede? in Ff.

[2660] worshipp'd ... temple] worshipped In baser temples Pope.

[2661] feed] do feed Pope.

[2662] foam] wave Theobald.

[2663] worship] Rowe. worshipt F₁ F₂ F₃. worship't F₄.

[2664] aye Be] Rowe (ed. 2). aye: Be Ff.

[2665] Fit I] 'Tis fit I Rowe. 'Fit I do Capell.

[Coming forward.] Puts himself in their way. Capell. Advancing. Malone. om. Ff.

[2666] Have ... men?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2667] open] om. Rowe, reading Sir, ... tasted as one line.

tasted] tested F₂.

[2668] Whose ... spirits!—] For whose most thankless natures (abhorr'd spirits!) Hanmer.

[2669] enough—] Rowe. enough, F₂ F₃ F₄. enough: Dyce. See note (XV).

[2670] to you] even to you Hanmer, ending lines 60-64 nobleness ... I'm rapt ... this ... words.

[2671] whole] om. Hanmer.

I am] I'm Pope.

[2672] cover ... ingratitude] As in Ff. One line in Pope.

[2673] Let ... better] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

go naked, men] Theobald. go, Naked men Ff.

[2674] them] men Theobald conj.

[2675] travail'd] F₁ F₂. travel'd F₃ F₄.

great] om. Hanmer.

[2676] you are] you're Pope.

men] man F₁.

[2677] We ... service] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

We are] We're Pope.

[2678] Most ... you] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2679] What ... gold] Two lines in Pope. Four in Ff.

[2680] Ye're] Dyce. Y'are Ff. You're Capell. You are Steevens.

ye've] Dyce. Y'have Ff. You've Rowe. you have Steevens.

[2681] I am] I'm Pope.

ye're] Dyce. y'are Ff. you're Capell. you are Steevens.

[2682] nor] and Capell.

[2683] men] F₁. man F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2684] thou'rt] Rowe. th'art F₁ F₂. tha'rt F₃ F₄.

[2685] [To the Poet. Hanmer.

[2686] honest-natured] Hyphened by Rowe.

[2687] 'tis] om. Pope.

[2688] never] Ff. ne'er Pope.

[2689] Ay, ... dissemble,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2690] love] yet love Capell.

feed him] and feed him Pope. feed him, and Keightley.

[2691] Keep] Keep him Heath conj.

[2692] Nor I] Nor I, my lord Steevens conj.

[2693] Look ... gold,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2694] a draught] F₁. draught F₂ F₃ F₄. the draught Rowe.

[2695] You ... company:] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

but] not Hanmer. both Jackson conj.

in] is Collier MS.

[2696] apart] F₃ F₄. a part F₁ F₂.

[2697] two villains] four villains Seymour conj.

[To the Painter. Pope.

[2698] reside] Rowe. recide Ff.

[To the Poet. Pope.

[2699] you] F₁. ye F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2700] [To Painter] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

You have work] F₃ F₄. You have worke F₁ F₂. You have work'd Hanmer. You have done work Malone. You've worked Steevens conj. You have worked Keightley.

there's] Ff. there's your Pope. there is your Johnson. there is Capell.

payment] payment for ye Anon. conj.

hence] F₁. thence F₂ F₃ F₄.

[To Poet] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

[2701] [Beats....] Staunton. Beating and driving 'em out. Rowe. Exeunt. Ff. Exit beating and driving 'em out. Hanmer.

[2702] Scene III. Pope. Scene II. The same. Capell.

in] F₃ F₄. om. F₁ F₂.

[2703] part] pact Dyce ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2704] chance] F₃ F₄. chanc'd F₁. chanc'e F₂.

[2705] Peace ... here!] Spoken by one of the Senators. Staunton conj.

Lord] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2706] Timon....] Enter Timon out of his Cave. Ff.

[2707] Thou ... hang'd] One line in Hanmer. Two in Ff.

comfort'st] Pope. comforts F₁. comfort F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2708] as a cauterizing] Rowe. as a Cantherizing F₁. as a catherizing F₂ F₃ F₄. cauterizing Pope. cancerizing Capell. as a cancering Steevens conj. as a cancerizing Rann (Steevens conj.). as a cauter Lettsom conj. See note (XVI).

cauterizing to the] cancer in the Anon. apud Rann conj.

[2709] Of ... Timon.] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2710] I thank ... plague,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[2711] general, gross] Pope. generall grosse Ff. general-gross Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2712] Which now] And now Hanmer. But now Capell.

[2713] sense] sence Rowe. since Ff.

[2714] its] it's Rowe. it Ff.

fail] Capell. fall Ff. fault Hanmer.

restraining] refraining Johnson conj.

[2715] send] Ff. sends Rowe.

sorrowed render] Ff. sorrowed tender Pope. sorrow's tender Hanmer. sorrows' tender Capell. sorrow'd render. Dyce.

[2716] Together with] Rowe. Together, with Ff.

[2717] weigh ... dram;] weigh. Down by the dram, Johnson.

[2718] down ... As] ay, ev'n such heaps And sums of love and wealth, down by the dram, As Johnson conj.

[2719] in thee] instead Anon. conj.

[2720] Allow'd] Pope. Allowed Ff. Hallow'd Warburton.

[2721] so] om. Pope.

[2722] the approaches] th' approaches F₁. h'approaches F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2723] Timon,—] Timon— Rowe. Timon. Ff.

[2724] sir; thus:] sir; thus— Theobald. sir thus: Ff. sir, thus— Rowe.

[2725] But] om. Pope.

[2726] him,] him,— Hanmer.

[2727] whittle] whistle Becket conj.

[2728] at] in Hanmer.

[2729] reverend'st] reverends F₁.

[2730] prosperous] phosphorus Jackson conj.

[2731] Why, I ... epitaph:] Why, I ... epitaph, Pope. Why I ... epitaph, Ff.

[2732] wreck] Hanmer. wracke F₁ F₂. wrack F₃ F₄.

[2733] bruit] F₃ F₄. bruite F₁ F₂. brute Rowe.

[2734] countrymen,—] Capell. countreymen. Ff.

[2735] These ... them.] One line in Pope. Prose in Ff.

thorough] thorow Ff. thro' Rowe.

them] om. Anon. conj.

[2736] aches, losses] F₄. aches losses F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2737] throes] F₄. throwes F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2738] voyage] voyages Pope.

I will] say, I will S. Walker conj., ending the lines will ... prevent ... well.

do them] om. Steevens conj. do 'em S. Walker conj.

[2739] some ... teach] do Some kindness to them, teach Pope, ending the lines do ... prevent.

[2740] I'll ... to] I will ... How to Anon. conj., ending the lines voyage, ... them ... wrath.

[2741] he ... again.] Omitted by Hanmer, reading Wild ... well as one line.

[2742] sequence] F₁. frequence F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2743] take his] make Long MS. make his Staunton conj.

haste] taste Pope. tatch Warburton conj. MS. halter Collier (Collier MS.).

[2744] Trouble ... him] One line in Pope. Two, the first ending shall, in Ff.

Trouble] Vex Pope.

[2745] Who] F₁. Which F₂ F₃ F₄. Whom Malone.

[2746] sour] Rowe. foure F₁ F₂. four F₃ F₄. your S. Walker conj.

[2747] [Retires ...] Dyce. Exit Timon. Ff.

[2748] His ... nature.] Arranged as in Capell. Prose in Ff. One line in Pope.

[2749] unremoveably] om. Pope.

[2750] nature] his nature Pope.

[2751] dear] F₄. deere F₁ F₂. deer F₃. dead Rowe. dread Hanmer. near Anon. conj.

[2752] Scene II.] Dyce. Scene IV. Pope. Scene III. Capell.

Before....] Edd. The walls.... Rowe. Athens. A Council-Chamber. Capell.

[2753] two ... and....] two other ... with.... Ff.

[2754] thy] they F₂.

I have] I've Dyce (ed. 2).

[2755] Besides ... approach.] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[2756] courier] Rowe. currier Ff.

one] once Upton conj.

[2757] Whom] Ff. Who Pope. And Hanmer. When Singer (ed. 2).

in general] on several Singer (ed. 2).

[2758] made ... force] had ... force Hanmer. took ... truce Staunton conj.

[2759] made] bade Jackson conj.

[2760] Enter....] Capell. Enter the other Senators. Ff, after moved.

[2761] Third. Sen.] 1. S. Capell.

[2762] enemies'] Theobald (ed. 2). enemies Ff. enemy's Delius.

[2763] foes] foe's Johnson.

[2764] Scene III.] Dyce. Scene V. Johnson. Scene IV. Capell. Warburton continues the Scene. Pope puts the whole in the margin.

[2765] The woods.... Enter....] The woods. A rude Tomb seen. Enter.... Capell. Enter a Souldier in the Woods, seeking Timon. Ff.

[2766] Who's] F₃ F₄. Whose F₁. Whos F₂.

[spying the Tomb. Capell.

[2767] See note (XVII).

who] he Capell.

[2768] read] F₃ F₄. reade F₁ F₂. rear'd Theobald (Warburton). did Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 127). made Delius.

there does] here does Theobald (Warburton). here did Capell (MS. correction).

not live] no live F₂. not lye Capell conj.

[2769] Dead ... wax] As in Ff. Three lines in Capell, ending tomb ... take ... wax. Three lines in Singer (ed. 1), ending grave ... character ... wax.

[2770] Scene IV.] Dyce. Scene II. Rowe. Scene V. Pope.

Before....] Theobald.

[2771] Enter....] Enter Alcibiades with his Powers before Athens. Ff.

[2772] [A parley....] Parley sounded. Capell. Sounds a Parly. Ff.

[2773] Enter Senators....] Enter Senators &c.... Capell. The Senators appeare.... Ff.

[2774] strong] stung S. Walker conj.

[2775] of] F₁. to F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2776] ingratitude] ingratitudes Capell.

[2777] their] its Hanmer.

[2778] means] 'mends Theobald.

[2779] griefs] Theobald. greefe F₁ F₂. grief F₃ F₄.

[2780] Shame ... excess] Theobald. (Shame that they wanted, cunning in excesse) F₁. Shame (that they wanted cunning in excesse) F₂ F₃ F₄. Shame that they wanted coming in excess Johnson conj.

[2781] March,] March on, oh Pope.

[2782] And ... spotted.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2783] All] We all Hanmer.

[2784] it is ... take,] is't not severe to take? Collier (Collier MS.).

[2785] revenges ... like] Steevens (1778). revenge ... like Ff. revenge ... like to Pope.

[2786] all together] F₃ F₄. altogether F₁. al together F₂.

[2787] thou'lt] thoul't F₄. thou't F₁ F₂ F₃.

[2788] Descend] Defend F₁.

[2789] Timon's] Timon Hanmer.

[2790] render'd to your] Dyce (Chedworth conj.). remedied to your F₁. remedied by your F₂ F₃ F₄. remedied by Pope. remedied to Johnson. remedy'd, to your Malone. remitted to your Singer (ed. 2.). See note (XVIII).

[2791] [The Senators....] Malone. Senators come from the Walls, and deliver their keys to Alcibiades. Capell. om. Ff.

Enter Soldier.] Capell. Enter a Soldier. Theobald. Enter a Messenger. Ff.

[2792] his] the Pope (ed. 2).

[2793] Interprets] Interpreteth Pope.

poor] poorer S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[2794] Alcib. [Reads] Alcibiades reades the Epitaph. Ff.

[2795] wicked] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2796] alive] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2797] pass and] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.]

gait] Johnson. gate Ff. gaite Pope.

[2798] abhorr'dst] abhorred'st Rowe.

human] Rowe. humane Ff.

[2799] brain's] Steevens. braines F₁ F₂ F₃. brains F₄. brine's Hanmer. brains' Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2800] grave ... Dead] Ff. grave.—On: faults forgiven.—Dead Theobald. grave our faults—forgiv'n, since dead Hanmer. grave.—One fault's forgiven.—Dead Tyrwhitt conj.

[2801] use] twine S. Walker conj. prune Anon. conj.

[Pg 307]

NOTES.

Note I.

Dramatis Personæ. In the list given in the Folio Phrynia, Timandra, and others are omitted. 'Timon's creditors' are termed 'usurers.' Ventidius is called Ventigius, Philotus, Philo, and Hortensius, Hortensis. Varro and Lucius occur among the names of the servants, and the latter has been retained by all editors except Mr Dyce in his second edition. In the play the servants address each other by the names of their respective masters: hence the confusion. Perhaps all the names assigned to the servants should be considered as names of their masters. 'Hortensius,' for instance, has not a servile sound. Flaminius and Servilius may be regarded rather as gentlemen in waiting than menials.

Sidney Walker suggests that Caphis should be Capys.

The list as given by modern editors contains successive additions and alterations made by Rowe, Johnson and Capell, which it is unnecessary to specify further.

With the exception of 'Actus Primus. Scæna Prima' at the beginning, there is in the Folios no indication of a division into Act or Scene throughout the play.

Note II.

I. 1. 1, 2. This conjecture of Farmer's is given from his own MS. in the copy of Johnson's Shakespeare which belonged to him, now in the library of Emmanuel College. In a note found in the Variorum edition, ad loc., he makes a different suggestion:

'Poet. Good day.

Pain. Good day, sir: I am glad you're well.'

Note III.

I. 2. 1-3. We have left this corrupt passage as it stands in the Folios. Rowe made no change. Pope altered it to:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the gods
To call my father's age unto long peace.'

[Pg 308]

In this reading he was followed by Theobald, Hanmer and Warburton. Johnson read:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods
To remember my father's age,
And call him to long peace.'

Capell has:

Most honour'd Timon,
'T hath pleas'd the gods in kindness to remember
My father's age, and call him to long peace.'

Steevens (1773) has:

'Most honour'd Timon, it hath pleas'd the Gods to remember
My father's age, and call him to long peace.'

In his edition of 1793 he read 'remember' for 'to remember.'

Note IV.

I. 2. 53-58. The Folios print Apemantus's speech as prose down to 'Timon'; then as four lines of verse:

'Heere's that which is too weake to be a sinner,
Honest water, which nere left man i' th' mire:
This &c.'

The second has 'mird' for 'mire.' The third and fourth follow the first. Pope, whose arrangement we follow, prints as prose down to 'mire.' Capell prints the whole as verse thus:

'Flow this way!
A most brave fellow! he keeps his tides well. Timon,
Those healths will make thee, and thy state, look ill,'

following the Folios in the next four lines.

Steevens adopts this arrangement omitting 'most' in the second line. Sidney Walker would divide the lines thus:

'Flow this way! a brave fellow!
He keeps his tides well. Timon, these healths will make
Thee, and thy state, look ill. Here's that which is
Too weak to be a sinner, honest water,
Which ne'er left man i' th' mire: &c.'

Note V.

I. 2. 89-91. Mr Staunton suggests that one of the two clauses 'if we should ne'er have need of 'em' and 'should we ne'er have use for 'em' was intended to be cancelled.

[Pg 309]

Note VI.

I. 2. 113-118. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, has:

'Cap. Haile to thee worthy Timon and to all that of his Bounties taste: the fiue best Sences acknowledge thee their Patron, and come freely to gratulate thy plentious bosome.

There tast, touch all, pleas'd from thy Table rise:
They onely now come but to Feast thine eies.'

Rowe made no material alteration except that he put a comma after 'touch' in the last line but one.

Pope arranged thus:

'Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste:
The five best senses acknowledge thee their patron, and come freely
To gratulate thy plenteous bosom.
There &c.'

Theobald:

'Hail to thee, worthy Timon, and to all
That of his bounties taste! the five best Senses
Acknowledge thee their patron; and do come
Freely to gratulate thy plenteous bosom:
Th' Ear, Taste, Touch, Smell, pleas'd from thy Table rise,
These only now come but to feast thine eyes.'

and he adds in a note: 'The incomparable Emendation, with which the Text is here supply'd, I owe to my ingenious Friend Mr Warburton.' It was adopted by Hanmer and Johnson. Capell altered 'do come' in line 3 to 'are come;' Steevens (1785) restored 'They' for 'These' in the last line, and Malone changed 'pleas'd' in the last line but one to 'all pleas'd.'

Rann introduced the change which we have adopted in the text, placing 'th' ear' at the end of the fourth line, and reading 'Taste, touch and smell' in the fifth. Steevens, in his edition of 1793, followed this arrangement, reading in the fifth line, 'Taste, touch, smell, all pleas'd, &c.'

Note VII.

I. 2. 171, 172. We have printed this passage as prose, as it is difficult to say from the arrangement of the lines in the first and second[Pg 310] Folios, whether or not it was intended to be read as two lines of verse, the first ending 'thee,' as it certainly is in the third and fourth Folios. Pope printed it as prose. Capell eked out the metre thus:

'Me near? why, then another time I'll hear thee:
I pr'ythee, let us be provided now
To shew them entertainment.'

Steevens suggested 'provided straight' in the second line.

In many parts of this play it is difficult to say whether the lines are intended to be read as irregular verse, or as rhythmical prose, and we have therefore left them as they stand in the Folios.

Note VIII.

II. 2. 89-96. This and many other passages are printed in the Folio as if they were intended to be irregular verse, where it is evident that they can only be read as prose. In such cases it is not always worth while to record how the lines were divided by the caprice or negligence of the printer. Seymour has endeavoured throughout the play to complete imperfect lines by the insertion of words, and imperfect hemistichs by the addition of entire clauses, but he has in this so far exceeded the license of conjecture that, except in the first scene of the play, we have not recorded all his proposed alterations.

Note IX.

III. 2. 60-64. Pope altered these lines as follows:

'Why, this is the world's soul;
Of the same piece, is every flatterer's sport:
Who can call him his friend
That dips in the same dish? for in my knowing,
Timon has been to this lord as a father,
And kept his credit with his bounteous purse.'

Theobald follows Pope's arrangement, but reads 'spirit' for 'sport' in the second line, an emendation which he first suggested in a letter to Warburton, still unpublished, in the British Museum. Warburton's conjecture 'coat,' which he made no allusion to in his own edition, is mentioned by Theobald in the same letter. Hanmer gives the whole passage thus:

'Why, this is the world's soul;
Of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit:
[Pg 311] Who can call him his friend that dips with him
In the same dish? for even in my knowing,
Timon has been to this Lord as a father,
And kept his credit with his bounteous purse.'

Johnson follows the Folios except that he gives the first lines thus:

'Why, this is the world's soul;
And just of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit:
Who can call him his friend,
That &c.'

Steevens, in the edition of 1773, followed Johnson's arrangement, but adopted in the first lines a transposition proposed by Upton:

'Why, this is the world's sport;
And just of the same piece is every flatterer's soul.'

In his edition of 1793 he read as follows:

'Why this
Is the world's soul; and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him
His friend, &c.'

Following, in the rest, Capell's arrangement.

Malone arranged as follows:

'Why this is the world's soul, and just of the same piece
Is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him his friend,
That dips in the same dish? for in my knowing
Timon has been this lord's father, and kept
His credit with his purse.'

In a note, however, he says, 'I do not believe this speech was intended by the authour for verse.'

Note X.

III. 3. 8. Hanmer made here one of his audacious alterations:

'How? deny'd him?
Have Lucius and Ventidius and Lucullus
Deny'd him all? and does he send to me?
It shews &c.'

Capell emulated him thus:

'How! have they deny'd him?
Has Lucius, and Ventidius, and Lucullus,
Deny'd him, say you? and does he send to me?
[Pg 312] Three? hum!
It shews &c.'

Note XI.

III. 3. 19. Hanmer altered the passage thus:

'That I'll requite it last? so it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And amongst Lords I shall be thought a fool.'

Capell follows Hanmer, except that he replaces 'no' in the first line.

Steevens (1793) follows Capell in the first two lines, reading in the third:

'And I amongst the Lords be thought a fool.'

Mr. Staunton suggests that the passage once stood:

'So I may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And amongst lords be thought a fool.'

Mr. Dyce, in his second edition proposes the following arrangement:

'That I'll requite it last? No: so it may prove
An argument of laughter to the rest,
And amongst lords I be thought a fool.'

Note XII.

III. 5. 14-18. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, has:

'He is a Man (setting his Fate aside) of comely Vertues,
Nor did he soyle the fact with Cowardice,
(And Honour in him, which buyes out his fault)
But &c.'

Rowe arranged the lines as follows:

'He is a Man, setting his Fate aside, of comely Virtues,
And Honour in him, which buys out his Fault;
Nor did he soil the Fact with Cowardise,
But &c.'

Pope read:

'He is a man, setting his fault aside,
Of virtuous honour, which buys out his fault;
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise,
But &c.'

[Pg 313]

Theobald follows Pope verbatim, and so Hanmer, except that he reads 'setting this fact aside.' Warburton proposed 'setting this fault aside.' Johnson read:

'He is a man, setting his fault aside,
Of comely virtues;
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise,
An honour in him which buys out his fault,
But, &c.'

Steevens, in his edition of 1773, restored 'his fate' from the Folios in the first line, giving the reading we have adopted in the text.

Note XIII.

III. 5. 49-51. The first Folio has here:

'And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon?
The fellow loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge?
If Wisedome be in suffering, Oh my Lords,
&c. &c.'

The second Folio:

'And the Asse, more Captaine then the Lyon? the fellow
Loaden with Irons, wiser then the Iudge?
If Wisedome be in suffering. Oh my Lords,
&c. &c.'

The third and fourth Folios, spelling apart, follow the second.

Rowe placed a comma after 'Judge,' and this punctuation was adopted by all subsequent editors.

Pope altered the passage thus:

'The ass, more than the lion; and the fellow
Loaden with irons, &c.'

He was followed by Theobald, Hanmer and Warburton, and by Johnson in his text; the last named however proposed a different arrangement of the preceding line and the substitution of 'felon' for 'fellow' in line 49, thus:

'what make we
Abroad, why then the women are more valiant
That stay at home;
If bearing carry it, then is the ass
More captain than the lion, and the felon
Loaden with irons &c.'

This suggestion was adopted substantially by Rann. The reading[Pg 314] 'felon' had been independently proposed by Theobald (Nichols's Illustrations, II. 475).

Capell and Steevens (1773) followed Pope. Steevens (1778) read:

'The ass, more captain than the lion; and the fellow,
Loaden &c.'

In 1793 he read:

'And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon,
Loaden &c.'

This was followed in the Variorum Editions of 1803 and 1813.

Malone (1790) read:

'And the ass, more captain than the lion; the fellow,
Loaden &c.'

and was followed by Boswell (1821).

Mr Knight (1839) returned to the arrangement and readings of the first Folio. Singer (ed. 2) adopted this arrangement, but read 'felon' for 'fellow.' In his first edition he followed the arrangement of the second Folio, reading 'felon.'

Mitford suggests:

'The ass more than the lion, and the felon
Loaden &c.'

or:

'And th' ass more than the lion, the felon
Loaden &c.'

Note XIV.

V. 1. Johnson calls attention to the impropriety of placing the entry of the Banditti in one act and that of the Poet and Painter in another, when the latter were mentioned as within view when Apemantus parted from Timon. 'It might be suspected,' he says, 'that some scenes are transposed, for all these difficulties would be removed by introducing the Poet and Painter first, and the thieves in this place. Yet I am afraid the scenes must keep their present order, for the Painter alludes to the Thieves, when he says, he likewise enriched poor straggling soldiers with great quantity.'

Note XV.

V. 1. 59. After the word 'enough' in the first Folio a space has slipped up, but there is no trace of any stop. The punctuation, as Mr Dyce observes, is important to the sense of the preceding line.

[Pg 315]

Note XVI.

V. 1. 131. The word 'canterisynge' for 'cauterizing,' is found very frequently in an old surgical work, printed in 1541, of which the title is 'The questyonary of Cyrurgyens.' The heading of one of the chapters is, 'Here foloweth the fourthe partycle, where as be moued and soyled other dyffycultees touchyng the maner of canterisynge or searynge.' The instrument with which the operation is performed is in the same book called a 'cantere.' The form of the word may have been suggested by the false analogy of 'canterides,' i.e. cantharides, which occurs in the same chapter.

Note XVII.

V. 3. 3, 4. Mr Staunton prints as follows:

[Reads.] TIMON IS DEAD!—who hath outstretch'd his span,—
Some beast—read this; there does not live a man.

He regards these lines as the only part of the inscription which the soldier could read, the rest being in some different language. But this explanation introduces a fresh difficulty. The difficulty would be lessened by supposing the legible lines to be inscribed not on the tomb but on the rock beside it, and the epitaph proper to be written not in a different language but in a different character: a notion which might be suggested to the author by the Gothic letters commonly found on ancient monuments.

In the Globe edition we adopted the emendation 'rear'd' because, with the change of a single letter, it yields something approaching to a satisfactory sense. But we incline to think that the words were originally intended as an epitaph to be read by the soldier. The author may have changed his mind and forgotten to obliterate what was inconsistent with the sequel, or the text may have been tampered with by some less accomplished playwright. Anyhow the close of the play bears marks of haste, or want of skill, and the clumsy device of the wax cannot have been invented and would scarcely be adopted by Shakespeare.

In the epitaph given in the next scene two inconsistent couplets are combined into a quatrain.

Note XVIII.

V. 4. 62. Some editors attribute the conjecture 'render'd' to Mason; but the earliest mention of it which we have remarked is in Lord Chedworth's volume of Notes (1805).

[Pg 316]
[Pg 317]

[Pg 318]

[Pg 319]

JULIUS CÆSAR.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [2802].

Julius Cæsar.
Octavius Cæsar,	triumvirs after the death of Julius Cæsar.
Marcus Antonius,
M. Æmil. Lepidus,
Cicero,	senators.
Publius,
Popilius Lena,
Marcus Brutus,	conspirators against Julius Cæsar.
Cassius,
Casca,
Trebonius,
Ligarius,
Decius [2803] Brutus,
Metellus Cimber,
Cinna,
Flavius and Marullus, tribunes.
Artemidorus of Cnidos, a teacher of Rhetoric [2804].
A Soothsayer.
Cinna, a poet. Another Poet.
Lucilius,	friends to Brutus and Cassius.
Titinius,
Messala,
Young Cato,
Volumnius,
Varro,	servants to Brutus.
Clitus,
Claudius,
Strato,
Lucius,
Dardanius,
Pindarus, servant to Cassius.

Calpurnia [2805], wife to Cæsar.
Portia, wife to Brutus.

Senators, Citizens, Guards, Attendants, &c.

Scene: Rome; the neighbourhood of Sardis; the neighbourhood of Philippi.

THE TRAGEDY OF

JULIUS CÆSAR.

FOOTNOTES:

[2802] First given imperfectly by Rowe: more fully by Theobald.

[2803] Decius] Decimus Hanmer.

[2804] See note (1).

[2805] Calpurnia] Grant White. Calphurnia Rowe.

ACT I.

Scene I. Rome. A street.[2806]

Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners.[2807]

Flav. Hence! home, you idle creatures, get you home:
Is this a holiday? what! know you not,
Being mechanical, you ought not walk
Upon a labouring day without the sign
Of your profession? Speak, what trade art thou? 5

First Com. Why, sir, a carpenter.[2808]

Mar. Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?
What dost thou with thy best apparel on?
You, sir, what trade are you?

Sec. Com. Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I [2809] 10
am but, as you would say, a cobbler.[2810]

Mar. But what trade art thou? answer me directly.
[Pg 320]

Sec. Com. A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a [2811]
safe conscience; which is indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.[2812]

Mar. What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade?[2813]15

Sec. Com. Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with[2809]
me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.[2814]

Mar. What mean'st thou by that? mend me, thou [2815]
saucy fellow!

Sec. Com. Why, sir, cobble you. 20

Flav. Thou art a cobbler, art thou?

Sec. Com. Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I [2816]
meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters,[2817]
but with awl. I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when [2818]
they are in great danger, I re-cover them. As proper men as [2819] 25
ever trod upon neats-leather have gone upon my handiwork.

Flav. But wherefore art not in thy shop to-day?[2820]
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets?[2820]

Sec. Com. Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes, to get myself
into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday, to 30
see Cæsar and to rejoice in his triumph.

Mar. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?[2821]
What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! 35
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft [2822]
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,[2822]
[Pg 321] To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops,[2823]
Your infants in your arms, and there have sat 40
The live-long day with patient expectation
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome:[2824]
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout,
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks [2825] 45
To hear the replication of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?[2825][2826][2827]
And do you now put on your best attire?[2826]
And do you now cull out a holiday?[2826][2828]
And do you now strew flowers in his way[2826] 50
That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?[2826][2829]
Be gone![2826]
Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,
Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
That needs must light on this ingratitude. 55

Flav. Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault,[2830]
Assemble all the poor men of your sort;
Draw them to Tiber banks and weep your tears [2831]
Into the channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.[2832] 60

[Exeunt all the Commoners.

See, whether their basest metal be not moved;[2833]
They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.[2834]
Go you down that way towards the Capitol;[2835]
This way will I: disrobe the images,
If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. 65
[Pg 322]

Mar. May we do so?[2836]
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.[2836]

Flav. It is no matter; let no images [2837]
Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. I'll about,[2838]
And drive away the vulgar from the streets: 70
So do you too, where you perceive them thick.
These growing feathers pluck'd from Cæsar's wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch,
Who else would soar above the view of men
And keep us all in servile fearfulness. [Exeunt. [2839]75

Scene II. A public place.[2840]

Flourish. Enter Cæsar; Antony, for the course; Calpurnia, Portia, Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, and Casca; a great crowd following, among them a Soothsayer.

Cæs. Calpurnia![2841]

Casca. Peace, ho! Cæsar speaks.

[Music ceases.[2842]

Cæs. Calpurnia!

Cal. Here, my lord.

Cæs. Stand you directly in Antonius' way,[2843]
When he doth run his course. Antonius![2844]

Ant. Cæsar, my lord?[2845] 5

Cæs. Forget not, in your speed, Antonius,[2844]
To touch Calpurnia; for our elders say,[2841]
The barren, touched in this holy chase,
Shake off their sterile curse.[2846]
[Pg 323]

Ant. I shall remember:
When Cæsar says 'do this,' it is perform'd. 10

Cæs. Set on, and leave no ceremony out. [Flourish.[2847]

Sooth. Cæsar!

Cæs. Ha! who calls?

Casca. Bid every noise be still: peace yet again![2848][2849]

Cæs. Who is it in the press that calls on me? 15
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Cæsar.' Speak; Cæsar is turn'd to hear.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

Cæs. What man is that?

Bru. A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.[2850]

Cæs. Set him before me; let me see his face. 20

Cas. Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Cæsar.[2851]

Cæs. What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.

Sooth. Beware the ides of March.

Cæs. He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.

[Sennet. Exeunt all but Brutus and Cassius.[2852]

Cas. Will you go see the order of the course?[2853] 25

Bru. Not I.

Cas. I pray you, do.

Bru. I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; 30
I'll leave you.[2854]

Cas. Brutus, I do observe you now of late:[2855]
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand 35
Over your friend that loves you.[2856]
[Pg 324]

Bru. Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,[2857]
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference, 40
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviours;[2858]
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved—
Among which number, Cassius, be you one—
Nor construe any further my neglect [2859] 45
Than that poor Brutus with himself at war
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

Cas. Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;[2860]
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations. 50
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?[2861]

Bru. No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself [2862][2863]
But by reflection, by some other things.[2862][2864]

Cas. 'Tis just:[2865]
And it is very much lamented, Brutus, 55
That you have no such mirrors as will turn [2866]
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard [2867]
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Cæsar, speaking of Brutus, 60
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

Bru. Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,[2868]
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me? 65
[Pg 325]

Cas. Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:[2869]
And since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I your glass
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.[2870] 70
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:[2871]
Were I a common laugher, or did use [2872]
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester; if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard, 75
And after scandal them; or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting [2873]
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

[Flourish and shout.

Bru. What means this shouting? I do fear, the people [2874]
Choose Cæsar for their king.[2874]

Cas. Ay, do you fear it? 80
Then must I think you would not have it so.

Bru. I would not, Cassius, yet I love him well.
But wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good, 85
Set honour in one eye and death i' the other,
And I will look on both indifferently,[2875]
For let the gods so speed me as I love
The name of honour more than I fear death.

Cas. I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, 90
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life, but, for my single self,[2876]
I had as lief not be as live to be 95
[Pg 326] In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Cæsar; so were you:
We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day, 100
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,[2877]
Cæsar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now [2878]
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in [2879] 105
And bade him follow: so indeed he did.[2880]
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it [2881]
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,[2882] 110
Cæsar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Æneas our great ancestor [2883]
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder [2884]
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber[2884][2885]
Did I the tired Cæsar: and this man 115
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature, and must bend his body
If Cæsar carelessly but nod on him.
He had a fever when he was in Spain,[2886]
And when the fit was on him, I did mark 120
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
His coward lips did from their colour fly,
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:[2887]
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans 125
Mark him and write his speeches in their books,[2888]
[Pg 327] Alas, it cried, 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'[2889]
As a sick girl. Ye gods! it doth amaze me
A man of such a feeble temper should
So get the start of the majestic world 130
And bear the palm alone. [Shout. Flourish.[2890]

Bru. Another general shout![2891]
I do believe that these applauses are
For some new honours that are heap'd on Cæsar.

Cas. Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world 135
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:[2892]
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, 140
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus, and Cæsar: what should be in that Cæsar?[2893]
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;[2894]
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well; 145
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em,[2895]
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.[2896]
Now, in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cæsar feed,
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! 150
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say till now that talk'd of Rome
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?[2897] 155
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,[2898]
[Pg 328] When there is in it but one only man.[2898]
O, you and I have heard our fathers say
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome [2899] 160
As easily as a king.

Bru. That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:[2900]
How I have thought of this and of these times,[2901]
I shall recount hereafter; for this present, 165
I would not, so with love I might entreat you,[2902]
Be any further moved. What you have said [2903]
I will consider; what you have to say
I will with patience hear, and find a time
Both meet to hear and answer such high things.[2904] 170
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time [2905]
Is like to lay upon us. 175

Cas. I am glad that my weak words [2906][2907]
Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.[2907]

Bru. The games are done, and Cæsar is returning.[2908][2909]

Cas. As they pass by, pluck Casca by the sleeve;[2909]
And he will, after his sour fashion, tell you 180
What hath proceeded worthy note to-day.

Re-enter Cæsar and his Train[2910]

Bru. I will do so: but, look you, Cassius,
The angry spot doth glow on Cæsar's brow,[2911]
[Pg 329] And all the rest look like a chidden train:
Calpurnia's cheek is pale, and Cicero 185
Looks with such ferret and such fiery eyes
As we have seen him in the Capitol,
Being cross'd in conference by some senators.[2912]

Cas. Casca will tell us what the matter is.

Cæs. Antonius![2913] 190

Ant. Cæsar?

Cæs. Let me have men about me that are fat,[2914]
Sleek-headed men, and such as sleep o' nights:[2915]
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;[2916]
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous. 195

Ant. Fear him not, Cæsar; he's not dangerous;
He is a noble Roman, and well given.

Cæs. Would he were fatter! but I fear him not:[2917]
Yet if my name were liable to fear,
I do not know the man I should avoid 200
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much;
He is a great observer, and he looks
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays,
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music:
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort 205
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at any thing.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease [2918]
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,[2919]
And therefore are they very dangerous. 210
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear; for always I am Cæsar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
[Pg 330]

[Sennet. Exeunt Cæsar and all his Train but Casca.[2920]

Casca. You pull'd me by the cloak; would you speak with me?[2921]215

Bru. Ay, Casca; tell us what hath chanced to-day,
That Cæsar looks so sad.

Casca. Why, you were with him, were you not?[2922]

Bru. I should not then ask Casca what had chanced.

Casca. Why, there was a crown offered him: and being 220
offered him, he put it by with the back of his hand, thus:
and then the people fell a-shouting.[2923]

Bru. What was the second noise for?

Casca. Why, for that too.[2924]

Cas. They shouted thrice: what was the last cry for? 225

Casca. Why, for that too.[2924]

Bru. Was the crown offered him thrice?[2925]

Casca. Ay, marry, was't, and he put it by thrice, every
time gentler than other; and at every putting by mine
honest neighbours shouted. 230

Cas. Who offered him the crown?

Casca. Why, Antony.

Bru. Tell us the manner of it, gentle Casca.

Casca. I can as well be hang'd as tell the manner of it:
it was mere foolery; I did not mark it. I saw Mark Antony [2926] 235
offer him a crown: yet 'twas not a crown neither, 'twas one
of these coronets: and, as I told you, he put it by once:
but for all that, to my thinking, he would fain have had it.
Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again:
but, to my thinking, he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. 240
And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third
time by: and still as he refused it, the rabblement hooted [2927]
and clapped their chopped hands and threw up their sweaty [2928]
[Pg 331] night-caps and uttered such a deal of stinking breath because
Cæsar refused the crown, that it had almost choked 245
Cæsar; for he swounded and fell down at it: and for mine [2929]
own part, I durst not laugh, for fear of opening my lips and
receiving the bad air.

Cas. But, soft, I pray you: what, did Cæsar swound?[2930]

Casca. He fell down in the market-place and foamed at 250
mouth and was speechless.

Bru.'Tis very like: he hath the falling-sickness.[2931]

Cas. No, Cæsar hath it not; but you, and I,
And honest Casca, we have the falling-sickness.

Casca. I know not what you mean by that, but I am 255
sure Cæsar fell down. If the tag-rag people did not clap
him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased
them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no [2932]
true man.

Bru. What said he when he came unto himself? 260

Casca. Marry, before he fell down, when he perceived
the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked
me ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut. An [2933]
I had been a man of any occupation, if I would not have
taken him at a word, I would I might go to hell among the [2934] 265
rogues. And so he fell. When he came to himself again,
he said, if he had done or said any thing amiss, he desired
their worships to think it was his infirmity. Three or four
wenches, where I stood, cried 'Alas, good soul!' and forgave
him with all their hearts: but there's no heed to be [2935] 270
taken of them; if Cæsar had stabbed their mothers, they [2936]
would have done no less.

Bru. And after that, he came, thus sad, away?[2937]

Casca. Ay.
[Pg 332]

Cas. Did Cicero say any thing? 275

Casca. Ay, he spoke Greek.

Cas. To what effect?

Casca. Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the [2938]
face again: but those that understood him smiled at one
another and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it 280
was Greek to me. I could tell you more news too: Marullus [2939]
and Flavius, for pulling scarfs off Cæsar's images, are
put to silence. Fare you well. There was more foolery
yet, if I could remember it.

Cas. Will you sup with me to-night, Casca? 285

Casca. No, I am promised forth.

Cas. Will you dine with me to-morrow?

Casca. Ay, if I be alive, and your mind hold, and your [2940]
dinner worth the eating.[2941]

Cas. Good; I will expect you. 290

Casca. Do so: farewell, both. [Exit.

Bru. What a blunt fellow is this grown to be!
He was quick mettle when he went to school.[2942]

Cas. So is he now in execution
Of any bold or noble enterprise, 295
However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words [2943]
With better appetite.[2944]

Bru. And so it is. For this time I will leave you:[2945] 300
To-morrow, if you please to speak with me,[2946]
I will come home to you, or, if you will,[2947]
Come home to me and I will wait for you.[2948]
[Pg 333]

Cas. I will do so: till then, think of the world.

[Exit Brutus.

Well, Brutus, thou art noble; yet, I see,[2949] 305
Thy honourable metal may be wrought [2950]
From that it is disposed: therefore it is meet [2951]
That noble minds keep ever with their likes;
For who so firm that cannot be seduced?
Cæsar doth bear me hard; but he loves Brutus: 310
If I were Brutus now and he were Cassius,
He should not humour me. I will this night,[2952]
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens,
Writings, all tending to the great opinion 315
That Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely
Cæsar's ambition shall be glanced at:
And after this let Cæsar seat him sure;
For we will shake him, or worse days endure. [Exit.

Scene III. A street.[2953]

Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca, with his sword drawn, and Cicero.[2954]

Cic. Good even, Casca: brought you Cæsar home?
Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
[Pg 334]

Casca. Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth
Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds 5
Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted with the threatening clouds;
But never till to-night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.[2955] 10
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world too saucy with the gods
Incenses them to send destruction.

Cic. Why, saw you any thing more wonderful?

Casca. A common slave—you know him well by sight—[2956] 15
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand
Not sensible of fire remain'd unscorch'd.
Besides—I ha' not since put up my sword—[2957]
Against the Capitol I met a lion, 20
Who glared upon me and went surly by [2958]
Without annoying me: and there were drawn
Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women [2959]
Transformed with their fear, who swore they saw
Men all in fire walk up and down the streets. 25
And yesterday the bird of night did sit
Even at noon-day upon the market-place,
Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies [2960]
Do so conjointly meet, let not men say
'These are their reasons: they are natural:'[2961] 30
For, I believe, they are portentous things
Unto the climate that they point upon.

Cic. Indeed, it is a strange-disposed time:[2962]
But men may construe things after their fashion,
Clean from the purpose of the things themselves. 35
[Pg 335] Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow?[2963]

Casca. He doth; for he did bid Antonius [2964]
Send word to you he would be there to-morrow.

Cic. Good night then, Casca: this disturbed sky [2965]
Is not to walk in.[2965]

Casca. Farewell, Cicero. [Exit Cicero.40

Enter Cassius.[2966]

Cas. Who's there?

Casca. A Roman.

Cas. Casca, by your voice.

Casca. Your ear is good. Cassius, what night is this![2967]

Cas. A very pleasing night to honest men.

Casca. Who ever knew the heavens menace so?[2968]

Cas. Those that have known the earth so full of faults. 45
For my part, I have walk'd about the streets,
Submitting me unto the perilous night,
And thus unbraced, Casca, as you see,
Have bared my bosom to the thunder-stone;
And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open 50
The breast of heaven, I did present myself
Even in the aim and very flash of it.

Casca. But wherefore did you so much tempt the heavens?
It is the part of men to fear and tremble
When the most mighty gods by tokens send 55
Such dreadful heralds to astonish us.

Cas. You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life [2969]
That should be in a Roman you do want,[2969][2970]
Or else you use not. You look pale and gaze[2969]
And put on fear and cast yourself in wonder,[2969][2971] 60
[Pg 336] To see the strange impatience of the heavens:
But if you would consider the true cause
Why all these fires, why all these gliding ghosts,
Why birds and beasts from quality and kind,[2972]
Why old men fool and children calculate,[2973] 65
Why all these things change, from their ordinance,
Their natures and preformed faculties,
To monstrous quality, why, you shall find
That heaven hath infused them with these spirits [2974]
To make them instruments of fear and warning 70
Unto some monstrous state.[2975]
Now could I, Casca, name to thee a man[2975][2976]
Most like this dreadful night,[2975]
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars [2977]
As doth the lion in the Capitol,[2978] 75
A man no mightier than thyself or me
In personal action, yet prodigious grown
And fearful, as these strange eruptions are.[2979]

Casca. 'Tis Cæsar that you mean; is it not, Cassius?[2980]

Cas. Let it be who it is: for Romans now 80
Have thews and limbs like to their ancestors;[2981]
But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead
And we are govern'd with our mothers' spirits;
Our yoke and sufferance show us womanish.

Casca. Indeed they say the senators to-morrow [2982] 85
Mean to establish Cæsar as a king;
And he shall wear his crown by sea and land,
In every place save here in Italy.
[Pg 337]

Cas. I know where I will wear this dagger then:[2983]
Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. 90
Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong;
Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat:
Nor stony tower, nor walls of beaten brass,
Nor airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron,
Can be retentive to the strength of spirit; 95
But life, being weary of these worldly bars,
Never lacks power to dismiss itself.
If I know this, know all the world besides,
That part of tyranny that I do bear
I can shake off at pleasure. [Thunder still.

Casca. So can I:[2984] 100
So every bondman in his own hand bears
The power to cancel his captivity.

Cas. And why should Cæsar be a tyrant then?
Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep: 105
He were no lion were not Romans hinds.
Those that with haste will make a mighty fire
Begin it with weak straws: what trash is Rome,
What rubbish and what offal, when it serves
For the base matter to illuminate 110
So vile a thing as Cæsar! But, O grief,
Where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this
Before a willing bondman; then I know
My answer must be made. But I am arm'd,
And dangers are to me indifferent. 115

Casca. You speak to Casca, and to such a man
That is no fleering tell-tale. Hold, my hand:[2985]
Be factious for redress of all these griefs,
And I will set this foot of mine as far
As who goes farthest.

Cas. There's a bargain made. 120
Now know you, Casca, I have moved already
Some certain of the noblest-minded Romans [2986]
[Pg 338] To undergo with me an enterprise
Of honourable-dangerous consequence;[2987]
And I do know, by this they stay for me [2988] 125
In Pompey's porch: for now, this fearful night,
There is no stir or walking in the streets,
And the complexion of the element [2989]
In favour's like the work we have in hand,[2990]
Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.[2991] 130

Enter Cinna.[2992]

Casca. Stand close awhile, for here comes one in haste.

Cas. 'Tis Cinna; I do know him by his gait;[2993]
He is a friend. Cinna, where haste you so?

Cin. To find out you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?

Cas. No, it is Casca; one incorporate 135
To our attempts. Am I not stay'd for, Cinna?[2994]

Cin. I am glad on't. What a fearful night is this![2995]
There's two or three of us have seen strange sights.

Cas. Am I not stay'd for? tell me.

Cin. Yes, you are.[2996][2997]
O Cassius, if you could[2997][2998] 140
But win the noble Brutus to our party—[2997][2998]
[Pg 339]

Cas. Be you content: good Cinna, take this paper,
And look you lay it in the prætor's chair,
Where Brutus may but find it, and throw this [2999]
In at his window; set this up with wax 145
Upon old Brutus' statue: all this done,[3000]
Repair to Pompey's porch, where you shall find us.
Is Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?[3001]

Cin. All but Metellus Cimber; and he's gone
To seek you at your house. Well, I will hie, 150
And so bestow these papers as you bade me.[3002]

Cas. That done, repair to Pompey's theatre. [Exit Cinna.
Come, Casca, you and I will yet ere day
See Brutus at his house: three parts of him
Is ours already, and the man entire [3003] 155
Upon the next encounter yields him ours.

Casca. O, he sits high in all the people's hearts;
And that which would appear offence in us
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness. 160

Cas. Him and his worth and our great need of him
You have right well conceited. Let us go,
For it is after midnight, and ere day
We will awake him and be sure of him. [Exeunt.

[Pg 340]

FOOTNOTES:

[2806] Act i. Scene I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.

Rome. A street.] Capell. Rome. Rowe. A Street in Rome. Theobald.

[2807] Enter ...] Enter a Rabble of Citizens; Flavius, and Murellus, driving them. Capell. Enter Flavius, Marullus, a Carpenter, a Cobler, and certain other Commoners. Jennens.

Marullus,] Theobald, from Plutarch. Murellus, Ff.

certain Commoners.] certaine Commoners over the Stage. Ff. certain Plebeians. Hanmer.

[2808] First Com.] 1. C. Capell. Car. Ff. 1 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2809] Sec. Com.] 2. C. Capell. Cobl. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer.

[2810] you] who Anon. conj.

[2811] Sec. Com.] Edd. Cob. Ff. 2 Pleb. Hanmer. 2. C. Capell. First Cit. Dyce (ed. 1).

[2812] soles] soals F₄. soules F₁ F₂. souls F₃.

[2813] Mar.] Mur. Capell. Fla. Ff.

[2814] if you be] if you should be Keightley.

[2815] Mar.] Mur. Ff. Flav. Theobald.

thou] om. Steevens conj., reading as verse.

[2816] with] om. Rowe.

[2817] no tradesman's] no man's Hanmer. no tradesmen's Warburton. no trade,—man's Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). trades, man's Staunton conj.

women's] womens F₁. womans F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2818] with awl. I] Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.). withal I F₁. withall I F₂ F₃. withal, I F₄. with all. I Capell.

[2819] re-cover] Pope. recover Ff.

[2820] But ... streets?] As in Ff. Prose in Theobald (ed. 2).

[2821] Wherefore ... home?] One line in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.]

conquest] conquests Pope (ed. 2).

[2822] Pompey? Many ... oft Have] Rowe (ed. 2). Pompey many ... oft? Have Ff.

[2823] windows,] Rowe. windowes? Ff.

[2824] Rome:] Ff. Rome? Rowe.

[2825] her] his Rowe.

[2826] Made ... Be gone!] Arranged as in Ff. Five lines in Hanmer, ending now ... now ... now ... Rome ... gone.

[2827] shores] shotes F₂.

[2828] a] an F₄.

[2829] comes] comes to Rome Hanmer.

[2830] this] that Theobald (ed. 2).

[2831] Tiber banks] Tyber bank Rowe. Tyber's bank Theobald (ed. 2).

[2832] [Exeunt ...] Ff. Exeunt Commoners. Rowe. Exeunt Plebeians. Hanmer. Exeunt Citizens. Capell.

[2833] whether] where Ff. whe're Theobald. whe'r Hanmer. whêr Dyce.

metal] Johnson. mettle Ff.

[2834] vanish] vanish'd Pope.

[2835] ceremonies] ceremony Grant White.

[2836] May ... Lupercal] As in Ff. Capell ends the first line at feast.

[2837] It is] 'Tis Capell.

let no] let on F₂. let not Long MS.

[2838] with] F₁. with the F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2839] [Exeunt.] Ff. Exeunt severally. Theobald.

[2840] Scene II.] Pope. om. Ff.

A public place.] Capell. Flourish. Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Cæsar, Antony for the Course, Carphurnia, ... Cassius, Caska, a Soothsayer: after them Murellus and Flavius. Ff.

[2841] Calpurnia] Grant White (Craik conj.). Calphurnia Ff.

[2842] [Music ceases.] Capell. om. Ff.

[2843] Antonius'] Pope. Antonio's Ff.

[2844] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2845] Cæsar,] om. Anon. conj.

[2846] curse] course Rowe (ed. 2).

[2847] [Flourish.] Musick; and the Procession moves. Capell om. Ff.

[2848] Bid ... again!] continue to Cæsar, or thus: Casc. Bid ... peace yet! Cæs. Again! Who is it ... Staunton conj.

[2849] [Musick ceases. Capell.

[2850] soothsayer bids] soothsayer, bids Craik.

you] om. Capell.

[2851] Cas.] Casca. Johnson.

[2852] [Sennet. F₁ F₂ F₃. Senate. F₄. om. Rowe. Musick. Capell.

Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Manent Brut. & Cass. Ff (Manet F₁).

[2853] Scene III. Pope.

[2854] I'll leave you] om. Seymour. conj.

[2855] you now] om. Steevens conj.

[2856] friend ... loves] F₁. friends ... loves F₂ F₃. friends ... love F₄.

[2857] veil'd] vail'd Seymour conj.

[2858] behaviours] behaviour Rowe.

[2859] further] Ff. farther Pope (ed. 2).

[2860] mistook] mista'en Seymour conj.

[2861] face] eye Upton conj.

[2862] No ... things] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending Cassius ... reflection, ... things, in Ff.

[2863] itself] it selfe: F₁. himselfe F₂. himself F₃ F₄.

[2864] by some] from some Pope. of some Staunton conj.

things] thing Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2865] 'Tis just:] om. Seymour conj.

[2866] mirrors] mirror Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2867] That ... heard] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[2868] Into ... Cassius] One line in Rowe. Two, the first ending you, in Ff.

[2869] Therefore] Nay, it is, Therefore Seymour conj.

[2870] you yet] F₁ F₂. yet you F₃ F₄.

[2871] on] Ff. of Rowe.

[2872] Were] Where F₂.

laugher] Rowe. laughter Ff.

[2873] myself] my selfe F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2874] What ... king] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending showting?... Cæsar ... king, in Ff.

[2875] both] death Theobald (Warburton).

[2876] for] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2877] chafing] F₁ F₄. chasing F₂ F₃.

her] Ff. his Rowe.

[2878] said] saide F₁. saies F₂ F₃. says F₄.

[2879] Accoutred] F₁. Accounted F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2880] bade] bid Pope (ed. 2).

[2881] we] he Pope (ed. 2).

[2882] See note (III).

[2883] I] Then Seymour conj.

[2884] shoulder ... bear] shoulders bear The old Anchises Seymour conj.

[2885] the waves of Tiber] Tyber's waves Seymour conj.

[2886] fever] Feaher F₂.

[2887] his] its Pope.

[2888] write] writ F₃ F₄.

[2889] Alas] 'Alas' Staunton.

[2890] [Shout. Flourish.] Ff. Shout again. Capell.

[2891] general] om. Seymour conj.

[2892] some time] F₃ F₄. sometime F₁ F₂. some times Rowe. sometimes Warburton.

[2893] that] om. Seymour conj.

[2894] yours is] yours' S. Walker conj.

[2895] 'em] 'em man F₃ F₄. them Capell.

[2896] spirit] sprite Seymour conj.

[Shout. Jennens.

[2897] walls] Rowe (ed. 2). walkes F₁ F₂ F₃. walks F₄.

[2898] Now ... man.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[2899] eternal] infernal Grey conj.

[2900] See note (III).

aim] aim of Keightley.

[2901] thought] though F₂.

[2902] not, so ... you] not (so ... you) Theobald. not so (with ... you) Ff.

[2903] further] farther Collier.

[2904] See note (III).

[2905] these] such Rowe. those Craik conj.

as] which Singer conj.

[2906] that ... words] my words Ritson conj.

[2907] I ... Brutus.] S. Walker proposes to end the lines glad ... show ... Brutus.

[2908] Scene IV. Pope.

[2909] The ... sleeve;] Two lines in Rowe. Four in Ff.

[2910] Re-enter ...] Capell (after line 177). Transferred by Collier to follow line 178, by Dyce to follow line 181. Enter ... Ff (after line 177).

[2911] glow] F₁. hlow F₂. blow F₃ F₄.

[2912] by] with Rowe.

senators] senator Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2913] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2914] [To Ant. apart. Johnson.

[2915] o'nights] Capell. a-nights F₁ F₂. a nights F₃ F₄.

[2916] Yond] Yon Capell.

[2917] him] m F₄.

[2918] be] are Seymour conj.

[2919] Whiles] Whilst Rowe.

[2920] [Sennet. Exeunt ...] Sennit. Exeunt Cæsar and his Traine. Ff. Exeunt Cæsar, and Train: Casca stays. Capell.

[2921] Scene V. Pope.

[2922] Why ... not?] Were you not with him? Seymour conj.

[2923] a-shouting] Dyce. a shouting Ff. a' shouting Capell.

[2924] Why] om. Seymour conj.

[2925] him] om. Seymour conj.

[2926] was] F₁. were F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2927] hooted] Johnson. howted F₁ F₂ F₃. houted F₄. shouted Hanmer.

[2928] chopped] chopt Ff. chapped Knight.

[2929] swounded] swoonded Ff. swooned Rowe.

[2930] swound] Ff. swoon Rowe.

[2931] like: he] like; he Theobald. like he Ff. like, he Rowe.

[2932] use] used Theobald.

[2933] An] An' Theobald. And Ff. If Pope.

[2934] a word] his word Hanmer.

[2935] no] om. F₂.

[2936] stabbed] stabb'd F₂.

[2937] away? Theobald. away. Ff.

[2938] an] an' Theobald, and Ff. if Pope.

[2939] Marullus] Theobald. Murrellus F₁. Murellus F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2940] your mind] my mind S. Walker conj.

[2941] worth] be worth Rowe.

[2942] quick mettle] quick-mettl'd Capell conj. quick metal Collier conj.

[2943] digest] F₃ F₄. disgest F₁ F₂.

[2944] appetite] F₁. appetites F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2945] And ... you] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

For this time] om. Seymour conj.

you] you, Cassius Capell, reading For ... Cassius as one line.

[2946] you] yon F₂.

with] with with F₂.

[2947] come] go Seymour conj.

[2948] to] with Seymour conj.

[2949] art noble; yet] art: noble yet F₂.

[2950] metal] F₃ F₄. mettle F₁ mettall F₂.

[2951] that] what Pope.

disposed] disposed to Keightley (Seymour conj.).

therefore] so Seymour conj.

it is] F₁. tis F₂. 'tis F₃ F₄.

[2952] He should not humour] Cæsar should not love Hanmer.

[2953] Scene III.] Capell. Scene VI. Pope. Act ii. Scene i. Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

A street.] Capell.

[2954] Enter ...] Capell, substantially. Enter Caska, and Cicero. Ff. Enter Caska, with his Sword drawn, and Cicero. Rowe. Enter Casca, his sword drawn; and Cicero, meeting him. Theobald.

[2955] tempest dropping fire] Rowe. tempest-dropping-fire Ff.

[2956] you know] you'd know Dyce conj. you knew Craik conj.

[2957] ha'] have Capell.

[2958] glared] glar'd Rowe (ed. 2). glaz'd Ff. gaz'd Malone (Grey conj.).

surly] F₁ F₄. surely F₂ F₃.

[2959] Upon] Up on Mason conj.

[2960] Hooting] Johnson. Howting F₁ F₂ F₃. Houting F₄.

[2961] reasons] seasons Collier MS.

[2962] strange-disposed] Theobald. strange disposed Ff.

[2963] to] F₁ F₂. up F₃ F₄.

[2964] Antonius] Pope. Antonio Ff.

[2965] Good ... in.] As in Rowe. The first line ends Caska: in Ff.

[2966] Scene VII. Pope.

[2967] Your ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

what night] what a night Craik.

this!] Dyce. this? Ff.

[2968] heavens] heaven's Warburton.

[2969] You ... wonder,] As in Rowe. Five lines, ending Caska: ... Roman, ... not ... feare, ... wonder, in Ff.

[2970] That] Which Capell.

[2971] cast] case Grant White (Jervis conj.).

[2972] Why ... kind,] Johnson would place this after ordinance, line 66: Mitford, after faculties, line 67.

[2973] old men fool and] Grant White (Mitford conj.). Old men, Fooles, and F₁ F₂. Old men, Fools, and F₃ F₄. old men fools, and Steevens, 1778 (Blackstone conj.).

[2974] heaven] nature Capell.

hath] has Theobald.

[2975] Unto ... night,] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending Casca, in Hanmer.

[2976] to] om. Capell, following Hanmer's arrangement.

[2977] roars] roares F₁. teares F₂. tears F₃ F₄.

[2978] lion in] lion, in Craik.

[2979] these strange] theser stange F₂.

[2980] 'Tis ... Cassius?] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[2981] thews] sinews F₃ F₄.

[2982] say] See note (III).

[2983] dagger then] Ff. dagger, then Craik.

[2984] [Thunder still.] Ff. om. Rowe.

[2985] Hold, my] Ff. Hold my Theobald.

[2986] noblest-minded] Rowe. Noblest minded Ff.

[2987] honourable-dangerous] Hyphened first by Capell.

[2988] know, by this they] Rowe. know by this, they Ff.

[2989] element] elements Warburton.

[2990] In favour's like] In favour's, like Johnson. Is Fauors, like F₁ F₂. Is Favours, like F₃ F₄. Is feav'rous, like Rowe. Is favour'd like Capell. It favours, like Steevens (1773). It favours like Steevens (1778).

[2991] bloody, fiery] bloody-fiery Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

Enter Cinna.] Transferred by Dyce to follow friend, line 133.

[2992] Scene viii. Jennens.

[2993] gait] Johnson. gate Ff.

[2994] attempts] attempt Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[2995] I ... this!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

I am] I'm Pope.

night is this!] Rann. night is this? F₁. night? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[2996] for?] for, Cinna? Capell, ending the line Yes.

[2997] Yes ... party—] Arranged as in Singer (ed. 2). Three lines, ending Cassius, ... Brutus ... party—, in Ff. The lines end are ... Brutus ... party— in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending could, in Johnson. Three, ending Yes, ... win ... party—, in Capell.

[2998] if you could But win] could you win Pope, following Rowe's arrangement.

[2999] but] best Craik conj.

[3000] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus Ff.

[3001] Decius] Decimus Hanmer (and throughout).

[3002] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.

[3003] Is] Are Hanmer.

ACT II.

Scene I. Rome. Brutus's orchard.[3004]

Enter Brutus.[3005]

Bru. What, Lucius, ho!
I cannot, by the progress of the stars,
Give guess how near to day. Lucius, I say!
I would it were my fault to sleep so soundly.
When, Lucius, when? awake, I say! what, Lucius![3006] 5

Enter Lucius.

Luc. Call'd you, my lord?

Bru. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius:
When it is lighted, come and call me here.

Luc. I will, my lord. [Exit.

Bru. It must be by his death: and, for my part, 10
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown'd:
How that might change his nature, there's the question:
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?—that;—[3007] 15
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Cæsar,
I have not known when his affections sway'd 20
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;[3008]
But when he once attains the upmost round,[3009]
[Pg 341] He then unto the ladder turns his back, 25
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend: so Cæsar may;
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel [3010]
Will bear no colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, 30
Would run to these and these extremities:
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which hatch'd would as his kind grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

Re-enter Lucius.[3011]

Luc. The taper burneth in your closet, sir. 35
Searching the window for a flint I found
This paper thus seal'd up, and I am sure
It did not lie there when I went to bed. [Gives him the letter.[3012]

Bru. Get you to bed again; it is not day.
Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March?[3013] 40

Luc. I know not, sir.

Bru. Look in the calendar and bring me word.

Luc. I will, sir. [Exit.

Bru. The exhalations whizzing in the air
Give so much light that I may read by them. 45

[Opens the letter and reads.

'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake and see thyself.
Shall Rome, &c. Speak, strike, redress.[3014]
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake.'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up.[3015] 50
'Shall Rome, &c.' Thus must I piece it out:[3015]
Shall Rome stand under one man's awe? What, Rome?[3016]
My ancestors did from the streets of Rome [3017]
[Pg 342] The Tarquin drive, when he was call'd a king.
'Speak, strike, redress.' Am I entreated [3018] 55
To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,[3019]
If the redress will follow, thou receivest [3020]
Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus!

Re-enter Lucius.

Luc. Sir, March is wasted fifteen days.[3021]

[Knocking within.

Bru. 'Tis good. Go to the gate; somebody knocks.[3022] 60

[Exit Lucius.

Since Cassius first did whet me against Cæsar
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream: 65
The Genius and the mortal instruments [3023]
Are then in council, and the state of man [3024]
Like to a little kingdom suffers then
The nature of an insurrection.

Re-enter Lucius.[3025]

Luc. Sir, 'tis your brother Cassius at the door, 70
Who doth desire to see you.

Bru. Is he alone?

Luc. No, sir, there are moe with him.[3026]
[Pg 343]

Bru. Do you know them?

Luc. No, sir; their hats are pluck'd about their ears,[3027]
And half their faces buried in their cloaks,[3028]
That by no means I may discover them 75
By any mark of favour.[3029]

Bru. Let 'em enter. [Exit Lucius.
They are the faction. O conspiracy,
Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night,
When evils are most free? O, then, by day
Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 80
To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;[3030]
Hide it in smiles and affability:[3031]
For if thou path, thy native semblance on,[3032]
Not Erebus itself were dim enough
To hide thee from prevention.[3033] 85

Enter the conspirators, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus Cimber, and Trebonius.[3034]

Cas. I think we are too bold upon your rest:
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you?

Bru. I have been up this hour, awake all night.
Know I these men that come along with you?[3035]

Cas. Yes, every man of them; and no man here 90
But honours you; and every one doth wish
You had but that opinion of yourself
Which every noble Roman bears of you.
This is Trebonius.

Bru. He is welcome hither.

Cas. This, Decius Brutus.
[Pg 344]

Bru. He is welcome too. 95

Cas. This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber.[3036]

Bru. They are all welcome.[3037]
What watchful cares do interpose themselves [3038]
Betwixt your eyes and night?

Cas. Shall I entreat a word? [They whisper.[3039]100

Dec. Here lies the east: doth not the day break here?

Casca. No.

Cin. O, pardon, sir, it doth, and yon grey lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.

Casca. You shall confess that you are both deceived. 105
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises;
Which is a great way growing on the south,
Weighing the youthful season of the year.
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
He first presents his fire, and the high east 110
Stands as the Capitol, directly here.

Bru. Give me your hands all over, one by one.

Cas. And let us swear our resolution.

Bru. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,[3040]
The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,—[3041] 115
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
And every man hence to his idle bed;
So let high-sighted tyranny range on [3042]
Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
As I am sure they do, bear fire enough 120
To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,[3043]
What need we any spur but our own cause
[Pg 345] To prick us to redress? what other bond
Than secret Romans that have spoke the word,[3044] 125
And will not palter? and what other oath [3045]
Than honesty to honesty engaged
That this shall be or we will fall for it?[3046]
Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls 130
That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear [3047]
Such creatures as men doubt: but do not stain [3048]
The even virtue of our enterprise,
Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance 135
Did need an oath; when every drop of blood [3049]
That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
Is guilty of a several bastardy
If he do break the smallest particle [3050]
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him. 140

Cas. But what of Cicero? shall we sound him?
I think he will stand very strong with us.

Casca. Let us not leave him out.

Cin. No, by no means.

Met. O, let us have him, for his silver hairs
Will purchase us a good opinion 145
And buy men's voices to commend our deeds:
It shall be said his judgement ruled our hands;
Our youths and wildness shall no whit appear,
But all be buried in his gravity.

Bru. O, name him not; let us not break with him, 150
For he will never follow any thing
That other men begin.

Cas. Then leave him out.

Casca. Indeed he is not fit.[3051]
[Pg 346]

Dec. Shall no man else be touch'd but only Cæsar?[3051]

Cas. Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet 155
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar,
Should outlive Cæsar: we shall find of him
A shrewd contriver; and you know his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
As to annoy us all: which to prevent, 160
Let Antony and Cæsar fall together.

Bru. Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Cæsar: 165
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.[3052]
We all stand up against the spirit of Cæsar,
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:[3053]
O, that we then could come by Cæsar's spirit,[3054]
And not dismember Cæsar! But, alas, 170
Cæsar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds:
And let our hearts, as subtle masters do,[3055] 175
Stir up their servants to an act of rage
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make [3056]
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.[3057] 180
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Cæsar's arm
When Cæsar's head is off.[3058]

Cas. Yet I fear him,
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Cæsar—[3059]
[Pg 347]

Bru. Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him: 185
If he love Cæsar, all that he can do
Is to himself, take thought and die for Cæsar:[3060]
And that were much he should, for he is given
To sports, to wildness and much company.[3061]

Treb. There is no fear in him; let him not die; 190
For he will live and laugh at this hereafter.[3062] [Clock strikes.

Bru. Peace! count the clock.

Cas. The clock hath stricken three.[3063]

Treb. 'Tis time to part.

Cas. But it is doubtful yet
Whether Cæsar will come forth to-day or no;[3064]
For he is superstitious grown of late, 195
Quite from the main opinion he held once [3065]
Of fantasy, of dreams and ceremonies:[3066]
It may be these apparent prodigies,
The unaccustom'd terror of this night
And the persuasion of his augurers, 200
May hold him from the Capitol to-day.

Dec. Never fear that: if he be so resolved,
I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear
That unicorns may be betray'd with trees [3067]
And bears with glasses, elephants with holes,[3067] 205
Lions with toils and men with flatterers:[3068]
But when I tell him he hates flatterers,
He says he does, being then most flattered.
Let me work;[3069]
For I can give his humour the true bent, 210
And I will bring him to the Capitol.
[Pg 348]

Cas. Nay, we will all of us be there to fetch him.

Bru. By the eighth hour: is that the uttermost?[3070]

Cin. Be that the uttermost, and fail not then.

Met. Caius Ligarius doth bear Cæsar hard,[3071] 215
Who rated him for speaking well of Pompey:
I wonder none of you have thought of him.

Bru. Now, good Metellus, go along by him:[3072]
He loves me well, and I have given him reasons;[3073]
Send him but hither, and I'll fashion him. 220

Cas. The morning comes upon's: we'll leave you, Brutus:[3074]
And, friends, disperse yourselves: but all remember
What you have said and show yourselves true Romans.

Bru. Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily;
Let not our looks put on our purposes; 225
But bear it as our Roman actors do,
With untired spirits and formal constancy:
And so, good morrow to you every one.[3075]

[Exeunt all but Brutus.

Boy! Lucius! Fast asleep! It is no matter;
Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber:[3076] 230
Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies,
Which busy care draws in the brains of men;
Therefore thou sleep'st so sound.

Enter Portia.[3077]

Por. Brutus, my lord!

Bru. Portia, what mean you? wherefore rise you now?
It is not for your health thus to commit 235
Your weak condition to the raw cold morning.[3078]
[Pg 349]

Por. Nor for yours neither. You've ungently, Brutus,[3079]
Stole from my bed: and yesternight at supper [3080]
You suddenly arose and walk'd about,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across; 240
And when I ask'd you what the matter was,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks:
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head [3081]
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot:
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, 245
But with an angry wafture of your hand [3082]
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did,
Fearing to strengthen that impatience
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, 250
Which sometime hath his hour with every man.
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep,
And, could it work so much upon your shape
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition,
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord,[3083] 255
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief.

Bru. I am not well in health, and that is all.

Por. Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it.

Bru. Why, so I do: good Portia, go to bed. 260

Por. Is Brutus sick, and is it physical
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick,[3084]
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed,
To dare the vile contagion of the night 265
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;[3085]
You have some sick offence within your mind,
Which by the right and virtue of my place
[Pg 350] I ought to know of: and, upon my knees,[3086] 270
I charm you, by my once commended beauty,[3087]
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one,
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half,
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night 275
Have had resort to you; for here have been
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces
Even from darkness.

Bru. Kneel not, gentle Portia.[3088]

Por. I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,[3089] 280
Is it excepted I should know no secrets
That appertain to you? Am I yourself
But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,[3090]
And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs [3091] 285
Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.

Bru. You are my true and honourable wife,
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops
That visit my sad heart. 290

Por. If this were true, then should I know this secret.
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
I grant I am a woman, but withal
A woman well reputed, Cato's daughter.[3092] 295
Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:[3093]
I have made strong proof of my constancy,
Giving myself a voluntary wound 300
Here in the thigh: can I bear that with patience
[Pg 351] And not my husband's secrets?[3094]

Bru. O ye gods,
Render me worthy of this noble wife! [Knocking within.[3095]
Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
And by and by thy bosom shall partake 305
The secrets of my heart:
All my engagements I will construe to thee,
All the charactery of my sad brows.
Leave me with haste. [Exit Portia.] Lucius, who's that knocks?[3096]

Re-enter Lucius with Ligarius.

Luc. Here is a sick man that would speak with you. 310

Bru. Caius Ligarius, that Metellus spake of.
Boy, stand aside. Caius Ligarius! how?[3097]

Lig. Vouchsafe good morrow from a feeble tongue.

Bru. O, what a time have you chose out, brave Caius,
To wear a kerchief! Would you were not sick! 315

Lig. I am not sick, if Brutus have in hand
Any exploit worthy the name of honour.

Bru. Such an exploit have I in hand, Ligarius,
Had you a healthful ear to hear of it.[3098]

Lig. By all the gods that Romans bow before,[3099] 320
I here discard my sickness! Soul of Rome!
Brave son, derived from honourable loins!
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up
My mortified spirit. Now bid me run,
And I will strive with things impossible, 325
Yea, get the better of them. What's to do?[3100]
[Pg 352]

Bru. A piece of work that will make sick men whole.[3101]

Lig. But are not some whole that we must make sick?

Bru. That must we also. What it is, my Caius,[3102]
I shall unfold to thee, as we are going [3103] 330
To whom it must be done.[3103]

Lig. Set on your foot,
And with a heart new-fired I follow you,
To do I know not what: but it sufficeth
That Brutus leads me on.

Bru. Follow me then. [Exeunt.[3104]

Scene II. Cæsar's house.[3105]

Thunder and lightning. Enter Cæsar, in his night-gown.[3106]

Cæs. Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:[3107]
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
'Help, ho! they murder Cæsar!' Who's within?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. My lord?

Cæs. Go bid the priests do present sacrifice, 5
And bring me their opinions of success.

Serv. I will, my lord. [Exit.

Enter Calpurnia.

Cal. What mean you, Cæsar? think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
[Pg 353]

Cæs. Cæsar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me [3108] 10
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Cæsar, they are vanished.

Cal. Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen, 15
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fight upon the clouds,[3109]
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, 20
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,[3110]
Horses did neigh and dying men did groan,[3111]
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.[3112]
O Cæsar! these things are beyond all use, 25
And I do fear them.

Cæs. What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Cæsar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Cæsar.

Cal. When beggars die, there are no comets seen; 30
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Cæs. Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear; 35
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.[3113]

Re-enter Servant.

What say the augurers?
[Pg 354]

Serv. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.[3114]
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.[3115] 40

Cæs. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Cæsar should be a beast without a heart
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Cæsar shall not: danger knows full well [3116]
That Cæsar is more dangerous than he:[3116] 45
We are two lions litter'd in one day,[3116][3117]
And I the elder and more terrible:[3116]
And Cæsar shall go forth.[3116]

Cal. Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear 50
That keeps you in the house and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house,
And he shall say you are not well to-day:[3118]
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.

Cæs. Mark Antony shall say I am not well, 55
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.

Enter Decius.[3119]

Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.

Dec. Cæsar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Cæsar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.

Cæs. And you are come in very happy time, 60
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.

Cal. Say he is sick.

Cæs. Shall Cæsar send a lie? 65
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
[Pg 355] To be afeard to tell graybeards the truth?[3120]
Decius, go tell them Cæsar will not come.

Dec. Most mighty Cæsar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. 70

Cæs. The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the senate.
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know.
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: 75
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,[3121][3122][3123]
Which like a fountain with an hundred spouts[3121][3123][3124]
Did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans[3121]
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it:[3121]
And these does she apply for warnings and portents[3121][3125][3126]80
And evils imminent, and on her knee[3126]
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.

Dec. This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, 85
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck [3127]
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press [3128]
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.[3129]
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. 90

Cæs. And this way have you well expounded it.

Dec. I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Cæsar.
If you shall send them word you will not come, 95
[Pg 356] Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render'd, for some one to say [3130]
'Break up the senate till another time,
When Cæsar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
If Cæsar hide himself, shall they not whisper 100
'Lo, Cæsar is afraid'?[3131]
Pardon me, Cæsar, for my dear dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.

Cæs. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! 105
I am ashamed I did yield to them.[3132]
Give me my robe, for I will go.[3133]

Enter Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna.[3134]

And look where Publius is come to fetch me.[3135]

Pub. Good morrow, Cæsar.

Cæs. Welcome, Publius.
What, Brutus, are you stirr'd so early too? 110
Good morrow, Casca. Caius Ligarius,[3136]
Cæsar was ne'er so much your enemy
As that same ague which hath made you lean.
What is't o'clock?

Bru. Cæsar, 'tis strucken eight.[3137]

Cæs. I thank you for your pains and courtesy. 115

Enter Antony.

See! Antony, that revels long o' nights,[3138]
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
[Pg 357]

Ant. So to most noble Cæsar.

Cæs. Bid them prepare within:[3139]
I am to blame to be thus waited for.[3140]
Now, Cinna: now, Metellus: what, Trebonius! 120
I have an hour's talk in store for you;
Remember that you call on me to-day:
Be near me, that I may remember you.

Treb. Cæsar, I will. [Aside] And so near will I be,[3141]
That your best friends shall wish I had been further. 125

Cæs. Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me;
And we like friends will straightway go together.

Bru. [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Cæsar,[3142]
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon![3143] [Exeunt.

Scene III. A street near the Capitol.[3144]

Enter Artemidorus, reading a paper.[3145]

Art. 'Cæsar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius;[3146]
come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna; trust not[3146]
Trebonius; mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus[3146]
loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. There[3146][3147][3148]
is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against[3146][3148][3149]5
Cæsar. If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security[3146][3150]
gives way to conspiracy. The mighty gods defend[3146]
thee![3146]

Thy lover, Artemidorus.' [Pg 358]

Here will I stand till Cæsar pass along, 10
And as a suitor will I give him this.
My heart laments that virtue cannot live
Out of the teeth of emulation.[3151]
If thou read this, O Cæsar, thou mayst live;[3152]
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.[3153] [Exit.15

Scene IV. Another part of the same street, before the house of Brutus.[3154]

Enter Portia and Lucius.

Por. I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house;
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone.
Why dost thou stay?

Luc. To know my errand, madam.

Por. I would have had thee there, and here again,
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there. 5
O constancy, be strong upon my side![3155]
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue![3155]
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.[3155][3156]
How hard it is for women to keep counsel![3155]
Art thou here yet?[3155]

Luc. Madam, what should I do? 10
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else?
And so return to you, and nothing else?

Por. Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well,[3157]
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Cæsar doth, what suitors press to him. 15
Hark, boy! what noise is that?
[Pg 359]

Luc. I hear none, madam.

Por. Prithee, listen well:
I heard a bustling rumour like a fray,[3158]
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.

Luc. Sooth, madam, I hear nothing.

Enter the Soothsayer.

Por. Come hither, fellow:[3159][3160]20
Which way hast thou been?[3160][3161]

Sooth. At mine own house, good lady.

Por. What is't o'clock?[3162]

Sooth. About the ninth hour, lady.

Por. Is Cæsar yet gone to the Capitol?

Sooth. Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
To see him pass on to the Capitol. 25

Por. Thou hast some suit to Cæsar, hast thou not?

Sooth. That I have, lady: if it will please Cæsar [3163]
To be so good to Cæsar as to hear me,
I shall beseech him to befriend himself.[3164]

Por. Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?[3165]30

Sooth. None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.[3166]
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
The throng that follows Cæsar at the heels,
Of senators, of prætors, common suitors,
Will crowd a feeble man almost to death: 35
I'll get me to a place more void and there
Speak to great Cæsar as he comes along. [Exit.
[Pg 360]

Por. I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing [3167]
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,[3168]
The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise! 40
Sure, the boy heard me. Brutus hath a suit
That Cæsar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Say I am merry: come to me again,
And bring me word what he doth say to thee.[3169] 45

[Exeunt severally.

FOOTNOTES:

[3004] Act ii. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Secundus. Ff.

[3005] Rome.... Enter Brutus.] Malone. Enter Brutus in his Orchard. Ff. A garden. Enter Brutus. Rowe. Brutus's Garden.... Theobald.

[3006] when?] Ff. when! Delius.

[3007] him?—that;—] him—that— Rowe. him that, Ff. him!—that! Delius.

[3008] climber-upward] Hyphened first by Warburton.

[3009] upmost] topmost Anon. conj.

[3010] lest] F₂ F₃ F₄. least F₁.

may] do Seymour conj.

[3011] Enter....] Re-enter.... Capell.

[3012] Gives....] Ff. om. Capell.

[3013] ides] Theobald (Warburton). first Ff.

[3014] Rome, &c.] Ff. Rome,— Rowe.

[3015] took] ta'en Seymour conj.

[3016] What, Rome?] Rowe. What Rome? Ff.

[3017] ancestors] ancestor Dyce (ed. 2).

[3018] Speak, ... entreated] Printed as two lines by Craik.

entreated] entreated then Pope.

[3019] thee] F₁ F₄. the F₂ F₃.

[3020] receivest] Ff. receiv'st Rowe.

[3021] fifteen] Ff. fourteen Theobald (Warburton). now, full fourteen Seymour conj.

Knocking within.] Collier. Knocke within. F₁ F₂. Knock within F₃ F₄. Knocking without. Staunton.

[3022] [Exit Lucius.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[3023] instruments] instrument Smith conj. ap. Grey.

[3024] man] F₂ F₃ F₄. a man F₁.

[3025] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

[3026] moe] Ff. more Rowe.

[3027] See note (II).

[3028] cloaks] cloakes F₁. cloathes F₂. cloaths F₃ F₄.

[3029] 'em] F₁ F₂ F₃. them F₄.

[3030] Seek] om. Seymour conj.

[3031] it in] in it Reed (1803).

[3032] path, thy ... on,] F₂. path thy ... on, F₁ F₃ F₄. hath thy ... on, Quarto (1691). march, thy ... on, Pope. put thy ... on, Dyce, ed. 2 (Southern MS., Long MS., and Coleridge conj.). put'st thy ... on, Singer conj. hadst thy ... on, Grant White conj. pall thy ... o'er, Heraud conj. walk, thy ... on, Sawyer conj. pass, thy ... on, Anon. conj. ('Footsteps of Shakspere', p. 32). parle, thy ... on, Nicholson conj. pace, thy ... on, Anon. conj.

[3033] the conspirators] om. Rowe.

[3034] Scene II. Pope.

[3035] [Aside. Rowe.

[3036] This ... Cimber.] Two lines in Rowe.

This ... Cinna] This valiant Casca; Cinna, this Seymour conj.

this, Cinna] Cinna, this, Capell.

[3037] all welcome] welcome, all Seymour conj.

[3038] themselves] om. Steevens conj., ending the line betwixt.

[3039] [They whisper.] Ff. Converse apart. Capell.

[3040] if not the face] if that the face Theobald. if that the fate Warburton. if not the faith Mason conj. if not the faiths Malone conj. if not the fate Keightley.

[3041] abuse,—] Theobald. abuse; Ff.

[3042] high-sighted] high-sieged Warburton conj. (withdrawn). high-seated Theobald conj.

[3043] women, then] women; Then F₂ F₃ F₄. women. Then F₁.

[3044] Romans] Romans' Anon. conj.

[3045] palter] faulter Long MS.

[3046] it?] Theobald. it. Ff.

[3047] That] As Seymour conj.

[3048] stain] strain Warburton conj.

[3049] Did] Doth Hanmer.

oath; when] Capell. oath: when Hanmer. oath. When Ff.

[3050] do] doth F₄.

[3051] Indeed ... Cæsar? Given to 'Dec.' by Hanmer.

[3052] Let us ... Caius.] Theobald. Let's ... Caius. Ff. Let's ... Cassius. Rowe. Let us ... butchers. Pope (omitting Caius).

[3053] men] man Pope.

[3054] spirit] F₁. spirits F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3055] And] Nor Seymour conj.

[3056] 'em] them F₄.

make] mark Collier (Collier MS.).

[3057] We ... purgers] Purgers we shall be call'd Seymour conj.

call'd purgers] purgers call'd Staunton conj.

[3058] fear] do fear Pope.

[3059] in] om. Pope.

Cæsar—] Rowe. Cæsar. Ff.

[3060] himself, take] himself take Pope.

[3061] to wildness] See note (III).

[3062] this] See note (III).

[3063] stricken] Ff. strucken Steevens (1778).

[3064] Whether] If Pope. Whe'r Capell.

[3065] main] mean Mason conj.

[3066] fantasy] fantasies Hanmer.

[3067] trees ... glasses ... holes] stoles ... glas ... trees Smith, ap. Grey, conj.

[3068] flatterers:] flatterers. Ff. flatterers; Craik.

[3069] Let me work] Leave me to work Pope. Let me to work Steevens conj. Let me work on him; I can humour him Seymour conj.

[3070] eighth] F₄. eight F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3071] hard] F₁. hatred F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3072] by him] to him Pope.

[3073] reasons] reason Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[3074] The ... Brutus:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

upon's] upon us Capell.

[3075] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Manet Brutus. Ff.

[3076] honey-heavy dew] hony-heavy-Dew Ff. honey heavy dew Johnson. heavy honey-dew Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.).

[3077] Scene III. Pope.

[3078] raw cold] raw-cold Steevens (1793).

[3079] You've] Rowe. Y'have Ff. You have Steevens.

[3080] Stole] Stol'n Johnson.

[3081] further] farther Collier.

[3082] wafture] Rowe. wafter Ff.

[3083] you, Brutus] F₄. you Brutus F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3084] dank] danke F₁. darke F₂. dark F₃ F₄.

[3085] his] hit F₁.

[3086] [Kneeling. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3087] charm] F₃ F₄. charme F₁ F₂. charge Pope.

[3088] [raising her. Capell.

[3089] the] tho F₁.

[3090] comfort] consort Theobald.

[3091] sometimes] om. Pope.

[3092] reputed, Cato's] reputed: Cato's Ff. reputed Cato's Warburton.

[3093] 'em] them F₄.

[3094] secrets] secret Capell conj.

[3095] [Knocking within.] Malone. Knock within. Capell. Knocke F₁ F₂. Knock. F₃ F₄.

[3096] who's that] who's there that Pope. who's that that Capell. who is that Steevens. who is't that Collier (one volume edition).

Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter Lucius and Ligarius. Ff (after 'Exit Portia').

[3097] [Exit Luc. Capell.

[3098] a] an F₄.

[3099] that Romans] the Romans Rowe (ed. 2).

[3100] Yea] Yet Rowe (ed. 2).

[3101] A ... whole.] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3102] must we] we must Theobald (ed. 2).

[3103] going To] Craik. going, To Ff.

[3104] [Exeunt.] Pope. Thunder. Exeunt. Ff.

[3105] Scene II.] Rowe. Scene IV. Pope.

Cæsar's house.] Cæsar's Palace. Rowe. A room in Cæsar's Palace. Capell.

[3106] Enter Cæsar....] Enter Julius Cæsar.... Ff.

in his night-gown] om. Pope.

[3107] Nor ... to-night] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3108] threaten'd] threaten S. Walker conj.

[3109] fight] fought Grant White (Dyce, ed. 2). did fight Keightley.

[3110] hurtled] F₁. hurried F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3111] did neigh] do neigh F₁.

[3112] ghosts] ghost F₄.

[3113] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

augurers] augurs Pope. augures S. Walker conj.

[3114] to stir] stir F₄.

[3115] [Exit Servant. Theobald.

[3116] No ... forth.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3117] are] Capell (Upton conj.). heare F₁ F₂. hear F₃ F₄. heard Rowe. were Theobald.

[3118] shall] will Rowe (ed. 2).

[3119] Scene V. Pope.

[3120] afeard] afraid F₄.

[3121] Malone conjectures that the lines should end statue, which ... run ... came ... these ... portents.

[3122] to-night] to nigh F₂. last night Rowe.

[3123] statua, Which like] Steevens (1793). statue, Which like Ff. statue, which Like to Hanmer. statue, Decius, Which, like Capell.

[3124] an] a Collier.

[3125] And ... apply] These she applies Pope.

[3126] and portents And] and portents Of Hanmer. portents Of Capell.

[3127] great Rome] our Rome Capell conj.

[3128] press] After this Warburton marks an omission of some lines.

[3129] cognizance] cognisances Hanmer.

[3130] render'd] rendered Craik.

[3131] Lo,] Lord Anon. conj.

[3132] ashamed] asham'd Warburton.

[3133] [to an Att. Capell.

[3134] Enter Publius, Brutus, ... and Cinna.] Malone, after Capell. Enter Brutus, ... Cynna, and Publius. Ff.

[3135] Scene VI. Pope.

[3136] Caius] Oh Caius Hanmer.

[3137] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

strucken] stricken Johnson.

[3138] See!] See, F₁ F₂. See F₃ F₄.

o' nights] Theobald. a-nights Ff.

[3139] Bid ... within] Bid prepare Seymour conj.

[to an Att. Capell.

[3140] to blame] F₃ F₄. too blame F₁ F₂.

[3141] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3142] [Aside] Pope. om. Ff.

[3143] yearns] Capell. earnes F₁ F₂ F₃. earns F₄. yerns Theobald.

[3144] Scene III.] Rowe. Scene VII. Pope. Scene V. Jennens.

A street ...] Theobald. The Street. Rowe.

[3145] reading a paper] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3146] Cæsar ... thee!] As nine lines of verse, S. Walker conj.

[3147] thou hast] th' hast S. Walker conj.

[3148] There is] There's S. Walker conj.

[3149] against] 'gainst S. Walker conj.

[3150] you] thee Rowe.

[3151] teeth] reach Anon. conj.

[3152] mayst] may'st Rowe. mayest Ff.

[3153] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff. Scene closes. Jennens conj.

[3154] Scene IV.] Capell. Rowe and Pope continue the Scene. Scene VI. Jennens.

Another ...] Capell.

[3155] O ... counsel!] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[3156] might] heart Capell.

[3157] boy] om. F₄.

[3158] heard] hear Knight (National ed.).

bustling] Rowe. bussling Ff.

[3159] Enter the Soothsayer.] Ff. Enter Artemidorus. Rowe.

[3160] Come ... been?] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3161] Sooth.] Art. Rowe.

[3162] o'] Theobald. a Ff.

[3163] lady: if ... me,] lady. If ... me, Johnson. lady, if ... me: Ff.

[3164] befriend] defend Rowe (ed. 2).

[3165] Why ... him?] Printed as prose in Ff.

harm's] harm Pope.

[3166] None ... chance] One line in Pope, omitting may chance. Two lines in Ff.

much ... chance] much, fear, will chance Seymour conj.

[3167] I must ... thing] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

Ay] Aye Ff. ah Johnson.

[3168] Brutus,] Brutus! Brutus! Pope.

[3169] [Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exeunt. F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

ACT III.

Scene I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.[3170]

A crowd of people; among them Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter Cæsar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius, Publius, and others.[3171]

Cæs. The ides of March are come.

Sooth. Ay, Cæsar; but not gone.

Art. Hail, Cæsar! read this schedule.[3172]

Dec. Trebonius doth desire you to o'er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit. 5

Art. O Cæsar, read mine first; for mine's a suit
That touches Cæsar nearer: read it, great Cæsar.[3173]
[Pg 361]

Cæs. What touches us ourself shall be last served.

Art. Delay not, Cæsar; read it instantly.[3174]

Cæs. What, is the fellow mad?

Pub. Sirrah, give place. 10

Cas. What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.

Cæsar goes up to the Senate-house, the rest following.[3175]

Pop. I wish your enterprise to-day may thrive.[3176]

Cas. What enterprise, Popilius?

Pop. Fare you well.

[Advances to Cæsar.[3177]

Bru. What said Popilius Lena?[3178] 15

Cas. He wish'd to-day our enterprise might thrive.[3178]
I fear our purpose is discovered.[3178]

Bru. Look, how he makes to Cæsar: mark him.[3178][3179]

Cas. Casca,[3178][3180]
Be sudden, for we fear prevention.[3178][3180]
Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,[3178][3181] 20
Cassius or Cæsar never shall turn back,[3178][3182]
For I will slay myself.[3178][3183]

Bru. Cassius, be constant:[3178]
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;[3178][3184]
For, look, he smiles, and Cæsar doth not change.[3178]

Cas. Trebonius knows his time; for, look you, Brutus,[3178] 25
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.[3178][3185]

[Exeunt Antony and Trebonius.

[Pg 362]

Dec. Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go,[3178]
And presently prefer his suit to Cæsar.[3178]

Bru. He is address'd: press near and second him.[3178]

Cin. Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.[3178][3186]30

Cæs. Are we all ready? What is now amiss [3187]
That Cæsar and his senate must redress?

Met. Most high, most mighty and most puissant Cæsar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart:— [Kneeling.

Cæs. I must prevent thee, Cimber.[3188] 35
These couchings and these lowly courtesies [3189]
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,[3190]
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree [3191]
Into the law of children. Be not fond,[3192]
To think that Cæsar bears such rebel blood 40
That will be thaw'd from the true quality
With that which melteth fools, I mean, sweet words,
Low-crooked court'sies and base spaniel-fawning.[3193]
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him, 45
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Cæsar doth not wrong, nor without cause [3194]
Will he be satisfied.

Met. Is there no voice more worthy than my own,
To sound more sweetly in great Cæsar's ear 50
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
[Pg 363]

Bru. I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Cæsar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.

Cæs. What, Brutus!

Cas. Pardon, Cæsar; Cæsar, pardon: 55
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall,[3195]
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.

Cæs. I could be well moved, if I were as you;
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me:
But I am constant as the northern star, 60
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality [3196][3197]
There is no fellow in the firmament.[3196]
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks;[3196]
They are all fire and every one doth shine;[3196]
But there's but one in all doth hold his place:[3196] 65
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men,[3196]
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive;[3196]
Yet in the number I do know but one[3196]
That unassailable holds on his rank,[3196][3198]
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,[3196][3199] 70
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.

Cin. O Cæsar,—[3200]

Cæs. Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?

Dec. Great Cæsar,—[3201]

Cæs. Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?[3201][3202]75

Casca. Speak, hands, for me![3203]

[Casca first, then the other Conspirators and Marcus Brutus stab Cæsar.

[Pg 364]

Cæs. Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Cæsar![3204] [Dies.

Cin. Liberty! freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.

Cas. Some to the common pulpits, and cry out 80
'Liberty, freedom and enfranchisement!'

Bru. People, and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still: ambition's debt is paid.

Casca. Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

Dec. And Cassius too. 85

Bru. Where's Publius?

Cin. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

Met. Stand fast together, lest some friend of Cæsar's [3205]
Should chance—

Bru. Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer; 90
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius.

Cas. And leave us, Publius; lest that the people
Rushing on us should do your age some mischief.

Bru. Do so: and let no man abide this deed 95
But we the doers.[3206]

Re-enter Trebonius.[3207]

Cas. Where is Antony?[3208]

Tre. Fled to his house amazed:
Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run
As it were doomsday.

Bru. Fates, we will know your pleasures:[3209]
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time, 100
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.

Cas. Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life [3210]
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
[Pg 365]

Bru. Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Cæsar's friends, that have abridged 105
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,[3211]
And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood[3211]
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:[3211]
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,[3211]
And waving our red weapons o'er our heads,[3211] 110
Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'[3211]

Cas. Stoop then, and wash. How many ages hence [3212]
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over [3213]
In states unborn and accents yet unknown![3214]

Bru. How many times shall Cæsar bleed in sport,[3215] 115
That now on Pompey's basis lies along [3216]
No worthier than the dust![3217]

Cas. So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be call'd
The men that gave their country liberty.[3218]

Dec. What, shall we forth?

Cas. Ay, every man away:[3219] 120
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.[3220]

Enter a Servant.[3221]

Bru. Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.[3222]

Serv. Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel;[3223]
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down; 125
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:[3224]
[Pg 366] Brutus is noble, wise, valiant and honest;
Cæsar was mighty, bold, royal and loving:[3225]
Say I love Brutus and I honour him;
Say I fear'd Cæsar, honour'd him and loved him. 130
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Cæsar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Cæsar dead
So well as Brutus living, but will follow 135
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.[3226]

Bru. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.[3227] 140
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied and, by my honour,
Depart untouch'd.

Serv. I'll fetch him presently. [Exit.[3228]

Bru. I know that we shall have him well to friend.

Cas. I wish we may: but yet have I a mind [3229] 145
That fears him much, and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.[3230]

Re-enter Antony.

Bru. But here comes Antony. Welcome, Mark Antony.[3231]

Ant. O mighty Cæsar! dost thou lie so low?[3232]
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, 150
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Cæsar's death's hour, nor no instrument [3233] 155
[Pg 367] Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,[3234]
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years, 160
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,[3235]
As here by Cæsar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.

Bru. O Antony, beg not your death of us. 165
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel,
As, by our hands and this our present act,
You see we do; yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; 170
And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
Hath done this deed on Cæsar. For your part,[3236]
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:[3236]
Our arms in strength of malice, and our hearts [3237] 175
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in [3238]
With all kind love, good thoughts and reverence.

Cas. Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.

Bru. Only be patient till we have appeased 180
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause
Why I, that did love Cæsar when I struck him,[3239]
Have thus proceeded.
[Pg 368]

Ant. I doubt not of your wisdom.[3240]
Let each man render me his bloody hand:[3241] 185
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus;
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
Though last, not least in love, yours, good Trebonius. 190
Gentlemen all,—alas, what shall I say?[3242]
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Cæsar, O, 'tis true:[3243] 195
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,[3244]
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?[3244] 200
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;[3245] 205
Here didst thou fall, and here thy hunters stand,
Sign'd in thy spoil and crimson'd in thy lethe.[3246]
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;[3247]
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.[3247][3248]
How like a deer strucken by many princes[3247][3249] 210
Dost thou here lie![3247]
[Pg 369]

Cas. Mark Antony,—

Ant. Pardon me, Caius Cassius:[3250]
The enemies of Cæsar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.

Cas. I blame you not for praising Cæsar so; 215
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends,
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?

Ant. Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Sway'd from the point by looking down on Cæsar. 220
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Cæsar was dangerous.

Bru. Or else were this a savage spectacle:[3251]
Our reasons are so full of good regard 225
That were you, Antony, the son of Cæsar,[3252]
You should be satisfied.

Ant. That's all I seek:
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the market-place,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend, 230
Speak in the order of his funeral.

Bru. You shall, Mark Antony.

Cas. Brutus, a word with you.[3253]
[Aside to Bru.] You know not what you do: do not consent [3254]
That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be moved 235
By that which he will utter?[3255]

Bru. By your pardon:
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Cæsar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission, 240
[Pg 370] And that we are contented Cæsar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.[3256]
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

Cas. I know not what may fall; I like it not.[3257]

Bru. Mark Antony, here, take you Cæsar's body.[3258] 245
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Cæsar;
And say you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all [3259]
About his funeral: and you shall speak 250
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.

Ant. Be it so;
I do desire no more.

Bru. Prepare the body then, and follow us.

[Exeunt all but Antony.[3260]

Ant. O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,[3261] 255
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood![3262]
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy, 260
Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue,
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;[3263]
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; 265
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
[Pg 371] And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;[3264]
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: 270
And Cæsar's spirit ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;[3265]
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth 275
With carrion men, groaning for burial.[3266]

Enter a Servant.

You serve Octavius Cæsar, do you not?

Serv. I do, Mark Antony.

Ant. Cæsar did write for him to come to Rome.[3267]

Serv. He did receive his letters, and is coming; 280
And bid me say to you by word of mouth—
O Cæsar! [Seeing the body.[3268]

Ant. Thy heart is big; get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,[3269]
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,[3270] 285
Began to water. Is thy master coming?[3271]

Serv. He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.

Ant. Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:[3272]
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;[3273] 290
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet stay awhile;
[Pg 372] Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse [3274]
Into the market-place: there shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men; 295
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand. [Exeunt with Cæsar's body.[3275]

Scene II. The Forum.[3276]

Enter Brutus and Cassius, and a throng of Citizens.[3277]

Citizens. We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.[3278]

Bru. Then follow me, and give me audience, friends.
Cassius, go you into the other street,
And part the numbers.
Those that will hear me speak, let 'em stay here;[3279] 5
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him;
And public reasons shall be rendered [3280]
Of Cæsar's death.

First Cit. I will hear Brutus speak.

Sec. Cit. I will hear Cassius; and compare their reasons,
When severally we hear them rendered.[3280][3281] 10

[Exit Cassius, with some of the Citizens. Brutus goes into the pulpit.

[Pg 373]

Third Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended: silence!

Bru. Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause,[3282]
and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour,
and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure 15
me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you
may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any
dear friend of Cæsar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to [3283]
Cæsar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why
Brutus rose against Cæsar, this is my answer: not that I 20
loved Cæsar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you
rather Cæsar were living, and die all slaves, than that Cæsar
were dead, to live all free-men? As Cæsar loved me, I weep [3284]
for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was
valiant, I honour him; but as he was ambitions, I slew him. 25
There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for [3285]
his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is here so base [3286][3287]
that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I[3286]
offended. Who is here so rude that would not be a Roman?[3286]
If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile[3286] 30
that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have[3286]
I offended. I pause for a reply.[3286][3288]

All. None, Brutus, none.[3289]

Bru. Then none have I offended. I have done no more
to Cæsar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his 35
death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated,
wherein he was worthy, nor his offences enforced, for which
he suffered death.[3290]

Enter Antony and others, with Cæsar's body.

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the [3291] 40
[Pg 374] benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as[3291]
which of you shall not? With this I depart,—that, as I
slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same
dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to need
my death.[3292] 45

All. Live, Brutus! live, live![3293][3294]

First Cit. Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

Sec. Cit. Give him a statue with his ancestors.

Third Cit. Let him be Cæsar.

Fourth Cit. Cæsar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.[3295] 50

First Cit. We'll bring him to his house with shouts and clamours.[3296]

Bru. My countrymen,—[3297]

Sec. Cit. Peace! silence! Brutus speaks.

First Cit. Peace, ho!

Bru. Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony: 55
Do grace to Cæsar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Cæsar's glories, which Mark Antony [3298]
By our permission is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit.60

First Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark Antony.[3299]

Third Cit. Let him go up into the public chair;
We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
[Pg 375]

Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.[3300]

[Goes into the pulpit.[3301]

Fourth Cit. What does he say of Brutus?[3302]

Third Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake,[3302][3303]65
He finds himself beholding to us all.[3300]

Fourth Cit. 'Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.[3304]

First Cit. This Cæsar was a tyrant.

Third Cit. Nay, that's certain:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.[3305]

Sec. Cit. Peace! let us hear what Antony can say. 70

Ant. You gentle Romans,—[3294][3306]

All. Peace, ho! let us hear him.

Ant. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Cæsar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;[3307] 75
So let it be with Cæsar. The noble Brutus [3308]
Hath told you Cæsar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Cæsar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,— 80
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men,—
Come I to speak in Cæsar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious; 85
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Cæsar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Cæsar hath wept: 90
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
[Pg 376] And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal [3309]
I thrice presented him a kingly crown, 95
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know. 100
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgement! thou art fled to brutish beasts,[3310]
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Cæsar, 105
And I must pause till it come back to me.

First Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

Sec. Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Cæsar has had great wrong.[3311]

Third Cit. Has he, masters?[3312][3313]
I fear there will a worse come in his place.[3313] 110

Fourth Cit. Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.

First Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

Sec. Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

Third Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony. 115

Fourth Cit. Now mark him, he begins again to speak.[3314]

Ant. But yesterday the word of Cæsar might
Have stood against the world: now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir 120
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
[Pg 377] I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, 125
Than I will wrong such honourable men.
But here's a parchment with the seal of Cæsar;
I found it in his closet; 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read— 130
And they would go and kiss dead Cæsar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,[3315]
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy 135
Unto their issue.

Fourth Cit. We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.

All. The will, the will! we will hear Cæsar's will.[3294]

Ant. Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It is not meet you know how Cæsar loved you. 140
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Cæsar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:[3316]
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For if you should, O, what would come of it! 145

Fourth Cit. Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;[3317][3318]
You shall read us the will, Cæsar's will.[3318][3319]

Ant. Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it:
I fear I wrong the honourable men 150
Whose daggers have stabb'd Cæsar; I do fear it.

Fourth Cit. They were traitors: honourable men![3320]

All. The will! the testament![3294][3320]
[Pg 378]

Sec. Cit. They were villains, murderers: the will! read[3320]
the will. 155

Ant. You will compel me then to read the will?[3321]
Then make a ring about the corpse of Cæsar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?

All. Come down.[3322] 160

Sec. Cit. Descend. [He comes down from the pulpit.[3323]

Third Cit. You shall have leave.

Fourth Cit. A ring; stand round.

First Cit. Stand from the hearse, stand from the body.

Sec. Cit. Room for Antony, most noble Antony. 165

Ant. Nay, press not so upon me; stand far off.

All. Stand back. Room! Bear back.

Ant. If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Cæsar put it on; 170
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii:
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:[3324]
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; 175
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Cæsar follow'd it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no:
For Brutus, as you know, was Cæsar's angel: 180
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Cæsar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;[3325]
For when the noble Cæsar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,[3326]
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart; 185
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
[Pg 379] Even at the base of Pompey's statua,[3327][3328]
Which all the while ran blood, great Cæsar fell.[3327]
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, 190
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep, and I perceive you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what weep you when you but behold [3329]
Our Cæsar's vesture wounded? Look you here, 195
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.[3330]

First Cit. O piteous spectacle![3331]

Sec. Cit. O noble Cæsar![3331]

Third Cit. O woful day![3331]

Fourth Cit. O traitors, villains![3331] 200

First Cit. O most bloody sight![3331]

Sec. Cit. We will be revenged.[3331][3332]

All. Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay![3331][3333]
Let not a traitor live![3331][3333]

Ant. Stay, countrymen.[3331][3334] 205

First Cit. Peace there! hear the noble Antony.[3335]

Sec. Cit. We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die
with him.

Ant. Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny. 210
They that have done this deed are honourable;
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,[3336]
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.[3337]
[Pg 380] I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: 215
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him:[3338]
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,[3339] 220
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Cæsar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, 225
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Cæsar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

All. We'll mutiny.[3340] 230

First Cit. We'll burn the house of Brutus.[3340]

Third Cit. Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.

Ant. Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.

All. Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!

Ant. Why, friends, you go to do you know not what: 235
Wherein hath Cæsar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not; I must tell you then:
You have forgot the will I told you of.

All. Most true: the will! Let's stay and hear the will.

Ant. Here is the will, and under Cæsar's seal. 240
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy five drachmas.

Sec. Cit. Most noble Cæsar! we'll revenge his death.

Third Cit. O royal Cæsar!

Ant. Hear me with patience. 245

All. Peace, ho!

Ant. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,[3341]
[Pg 381] And to your heirs for ever; common pleasures, 250
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Cæsar! when comes such another?

First Cit. Never, never. Come, away, away![3342]
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.[3343] 255
Take up the body.

Sec. Cit. Go fetch fire.

Third Cit. Pluck down benches.[3344]

Fourth Cit. Pluck down forms, windows, any thing.[3344]

[Exeunt Citizens with the body.[3345]

Ant. Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,[3346] 260
Take thou what course thou wilt.[3347][3348]

Enter a Servant.[3349]

How now, fellow![3348]

Serv. Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.[3350]

Ant. Where is he?

Serv. He and Lepidus are at Cæsar's house.[3351]

Ant. And thither will I straight to visit him: 265
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us any thing.

Serv. I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius [3352]
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
[Pg 382]

Ant. Belike they had some notice of the people, 270
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.[3353] [Exeunt.

Scene III. A street.[3354]

Enter Cinna the poet.[3355]

Cin. I dreamt to-night that I did feast with Cæsar,
And things unlucky charge my fantasy:[3356]
I have no will to wander forth of doors,
Yet something leads me forth.

Enter Citizens.[3357]

First Cit. What is your name? 5

Sec. Cit. Whither are you going?[3358]

Third Cit. Where do you dwell?[3359]

Fourth Cit. Are you a married man or a bachelor?

Sec. Cit. Answer every man directly.

First Cit. Ay, and briefly. 10

Fourth Cit. Ay, and wisely.

Third Cit. Ay, and truly, you were best.

Cin. What is my name? Whither am I going? Where[3358]
do I dwell? Am I a married man or a bachelor? Then, to
answer every man directly and briefly, wisely and truly: 15
wisely I say, I am a bachelor.[3360]

Sec. Cit. That's as much as to say, they are fools that
marry: you'll bear me a bang for that, I fear. Proceed;[3361]
directly.[3361]
[Pg 383]

Cin. Directly, I am going to Cæsar's funeral. 20

First Cit. As a friend or an enemy?

Cin. As a friend.

Sec. Cit. That matter is answered directly.

Fourth Cit. For your dwelling, briefly.

Cin. Briefly, I dwell by the Capitol. 25

Third Cit. Your name, sir, truly.

Cin. Truly, my name is Cinna.

First Cit. Tear him to pieces; he's a conspirator.

Cin. I am Cinna the poet, I am Cinna the poet.

Fourth Cit. Tear him for his bad verses, tear him for his 30
bad verses.

Cin. I am not Cinna the conspirator.[3362]

Fourth Cit. It is no matter, his name's Cinna; pluck but [3363]
his name out of his heart, and turn him going.

Third Cit. Tear him, tear him! Come, brands, ho! firebrands:[3364]35
to Brutus', to Cassius'; burn all: some to Decius'[3364][3365]
house, and some to Casca's; some to Ligarius': away, go![3364][3366]

[Exeunt.[3367]

FOOTNOTES:

[3170] Act iii. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Tertius. Ff.]

Rome. Before....] Capell, substantially. The Capitol. Rowe. The Street before the Capitol; and the Capitol open. Theobald. The Street leading to the Capitol. Jennens.

[3171] A crowd of people ... Popilius, Publius, and others.] Malone, after Capell. Flourish. Enter Cæsar ... Artemidorus, Popilius, and the Soothsayer. Ff (Artimedorus, Publius, F₁).

and the Soothsayer.] om. Rowe (ed. 1). and the Soothsayers. Rowe (ed. 2).

[3172] schedule] F₃ F₄. scedule F₁ F₂.

[3173] nearer] near Anon. conj.

great] om. Pope.

[3174] What ... ourself] That touches us? Ourself Craik (Collier MS.).

[3175] Cæsar....] Steevens, substantially. Artemidorus is push'd back. Cæsar, and the rest, enter the Senate: The Senate rises. Popilius presses forward to speak to Cæsar; and passing Cassius, says, Capell. Omitted in Ff. Exeunt. Scene II. The Capitol.... Jennens.

[3176] [Aside to Cas. Jennens.

[3177] [Advances to Cæsar.] Leaves him, and joins Cæsar. Capell. om. Ff. Follows Cæsar. Jennens.

[3178] What ... hand.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[3179] him] him well Steevens conj.

[3180] Casca ... prevention.] As in Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.). One line in Ff.

[3181] done? If ... known,] Ff. done, if ... known? Theobald.

[3182] or] on Malone conj.

[3183] [Cæsar being arrived at his seat, Popilius whispers him and smiles. Jennens.

[3184] Lena] om. Anon. conj.

purposes] purpose Theobald.

[3185] [Exeunt Antony....] Exeunt Antony and Trebonius, conversing. Cæsar takes his Seat; the Senate theirs: and Metellus advances towards Cæsar. Capell. om. Ff.

[3186] rears your] rear your Capell. rears his Tyrwhitt conj.

[3187] Are ... ready?] Given to Cinna, Ritson conj.; to Casca, by Dyce (Collier MS.).

we] you Hanmer (ed. 2).

[3188] heart:—] Capell. heart. Ff.

[Kneeling.] Rowe. om. Ff. Prostrating himself. Capell.

[3189] couchings] crouchings Hanmer.

courtesies] F₁ F₂. curtesies F₃. Curtsies F₄.

[3190] fire] stir Warburton.

[3191] first] fix'd Craik conj.

[3192] law] Malone (Johnson conj.). lane Ff. line Steevens conj. play Mason conj. bane Becket conj. vane Bailey conj.

[3193] Low-crooked] Low, crooked Becket conj. low-crouched Craik (Collier MS.).

spaniel-fawning] Hyphen inserted by Johnson.

[3194] wrong, nor] wrong, but with just cause; Nor Tyrwhitt conj. (from Ben Jonson's quotation in his 'Sylva'). See note (IV).

[3195] low] love F₂.

[3196] Of whose ... he,] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3197] true-fix'd] true-fixt Capell. true fixt Ff. true, fixt Rowe.

[3198] rank] race Johnson conj.

[3199] motion] notion Upton conj.

[3200] Cin.] Cim. Rowe.

[3201] Cæsar,—] Cæsar— Rowe. Cæsar. Ff.

[3202] Doth ... kneel?] Doth ... kneele? F₁. Do ... kneel? F₂ F₃ F₄ (kneele F₂). Do ... kneel. Rowe.

[3203] Speak, hands] Capell. Speak hands Ff.

[Casca....] Edd. (Globe ed.). They stab Cæsar. Ff. stabbing him in the Neck. Cæsar rises, catches at the Dagger, and struggles with him: defends himself, for a time, against him, and against the other Conspirators; but, stab'd by Brutus, Capell (from Plutarch).

[3204] [Dies.] Dyes. F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄. he submits; muffles up his Face in his Mantle; falls, and dies. Senate in Confusion. Capell.

[3205] friend] friends Pope (ed. 2).

[3206] [Exeunt all but Conspirators. Capell.

[3207] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff.

[3208] Scene II. Pope.

Where is] Where's Pope.

[3209] will] well Staunton conj.

[3210] Cas.] Pope. Cask. Ff.

[3211] Stoop ... liberty!] Given to Casca by Pope.

[3212] [Dipping their swords in Cæsar's blood. Rowe.

[3213] over] o'er Pope.

[3214] states] state F₁.

[3215] Bru.] Casc. Pope.

[3216] lies] F₃ F₄. lyes F₂. lye F₁.

[3217] Cas.] Bru. Pope.

So oft] om. Seymour conj.

shall be] om. Steevens conj.

[3218] their] our Steevens (1793).

[3219] What] What, what Rowe.

Ay, every man away:] Ay, every man: Away! Capell conj.

[3220] boldest and best] bold, and the best Rowe.

[3221] Enter....] Ff. Transferred by Dyce to follow here? line 123.

[3222] A friend of Antony's.] Given to the Servant by Pope.

[3223] [Kneeling. Rowe.

[3224] bade] Johnson. bad Ff.

[3225] bold, royal] royal, bold Pope.

[3226] my master] Mark Seymour conj.

[3227] I ... worse] om. Seymour conj.

[3228] [Exit.] Exit Servant. Ff.

[3229] have I] I have Pope (ed. 2).

[3230] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Ff. Transferred by Dyce to follow comes Antony, line 148.

[3231] Scene III. Pope.

But ... Mark Antony.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3232] [Kneeling over the body. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3233] death's hour] death hour Collier (one volume ed.).

[3234] you] ye Theobald (ed. 2).

[3235] mean] means Pope.

[3236] Cæsar. For ... Antony] Cæsar; but for you, Mark Antony, our swords have leaden points Seymour conj.

[3237] in strength of malice,] exempt from malice, Pope. no strength of malice; Capell. reproof of malice, Seymour conj. instrain'd of malice, Becket conj. in strength of welcome, Craik (Collier MS.). in strength of amity, Singer conj. unstring their malice, Badham conj. unfraught of malice, Anon. conj. forspent of malice, Anon. conj.

[3238] in] in them Keightley.

[3239] struck] Steevens (1778). strooke F₁ F₂. strook F₃ F₄.

[3240] Have thus proceeded] Proceeded thus Pope.

wisdom] F₃ F₄. Wisedome F₁ F₂. wisdoms Anon. conj.

[3241] [Taking them one after other. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3242] all,—] Rowe. all: F₁ F₂ F₃. all, F₄.

[3243] [Turning to the body, and bending over it. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3244] foes, ... corse?] Pointed as in Rowe. foes?... coarse, Ff.

[3245] hart] F₁. heart F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3246] lethe] Lethe F₂ F₃. Lethe (in italics) F₄. Lethee F₁. death Pope.

[3247] O world ... lie!] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3248] heart] Theobald. hart Ff.

[3249] strucken] Steevens (1778). stroken F₁. stricken F₂ F₃ F₄. strooken Capell.

[3250] Antony,—] Antony— Rowe. Antony. Ff.

Caius Cassius] om. Seymour conj., reading Dost ... me as one line.

[3251] were this] this were Pope (ed. 2).

[3252] you, Antony,] Theobald. you Antony, F₁ F₂. you Antony F₃ F₄.

[3253] with you] om. Steevens conj.

[3254] [Aside to Bru.] Aside. Rowe. om. Ff.

[3255] pardon:] Ff. pardon, Rowe.

[3256] true] due Pope.

[3257] fall ... not] follow: I not like it Seymour conj.

[3258] you] your Pope.

[3259] Else shall you not] You shall not else Pope.

[3260] [Exeunt ...] Capell. Exeunt. Manet Antony. Ff.

[3261] Scene IV. Pope. bleeding piece of] piece of bleeding Variorum (1803, 1813, 1821).

[3262] hand] hands Grant White (Becket conj.). land Becket conj.

[3263] the limbs] F₃ F₄. the limbes F₁ F₂. the kind Hanmer. the line Warburton. the lives or these lymmes Johnson conj. these imps Jackson conj. the loins Craik (Collier MS.). the tombs Staunton conj. the sons Grant White conj. the minds Dyce, ed. 2 (Jervis conj.). the times S. Walker conj.

[3264] quarter'd] Pope. quartered Ff.

with] by Pope.

[3265] Havoc] Ha! vous Anon. conj. ap. Gent. Mag. Vol. LX. p. 307.

[3266] With] Of Long MS.

Enter a Servant.] Enter Octavio's Servant Ff.

[3267] for him] to him Capell.

to Rome] F₁ F₃ F₄. Rome F₂.

[3268] [Seeing the body.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3269] catching, for] F₂ F₃ F₄. catching from F₁.

[3270] beads] beds Pope.

[3271] Began] Begin Hanmer.

[3272] Post ... chanced:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3273] Rome] room Upton conj.

[3274] corse] Pope. course F₁ F₂. coarse F₃ F₄.

[3275] [Exeunt ... body.] Rowe. Exeunt. Ff.

[3276] Scene II.] Rowe. Scene V. Pope. Scene III. Jennens.

The Forum.] Rowe.

[3277] Enter ... Citizens.] Malone (after Capell). Enter Brutus and goes into the Pulpit, and Cassius, with the Plebeians. Ff.

[3278] Citizens.] Capell. Ple. Ff (and throughout the scene).

[3279] me speak] my speak Rowe (ed. 2).

'em] them Capell.

[3280] rendered] Pope. rendred Ff.

[3281] [Exit ... pulpit.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Exit ... rostrum. Capell. Exeunt Cassius, with some of the Plebeians. Rowe. Exit ... Plebeians. Theobald. Omitted in Ff.

[3282] lovers] friends Pope.

[3283] to him] F₁. to them F₂ F₃ F₄.

Brutus'] Capell. Brutus Ff. Brutus's Pope.

[3284] free-men] Ff. free men Johnson.

[3285] There is] There are Pope.

[3286] Who ... offended.] As six lines of verse in Johnson.

[3287] Who is] Who's Pope.

[3288] reply.] Ff. reply— Rowe.

[3289] All.] Ff. Cit. Capell. Cit. [several speaking at once. Malone.

[3290] Enter Antony and others, ... body.] Malone. Enter Antony, and certain of his House, bearing Cæsar's body. Capell. Enter Mark Antony, with Cæsars body. Ff.

[3291] the benefit ... commonwealth] place in the commonwealth, and the benefit of his dying Seymour conj.

[3292] [comes down. Capell.

[3293] live, live!] live! Pope.

[3294] All.] Ff. Cit. Capell.

[3295] Shall] Shall now Pope. Shall all or Shall well Staunton conj. om. Anon. conj.

Shall ... Brutus.] Mitford would add Live! live! Brutus, live!

crown'd] Ff. crowned Steevens.

[3296] We'll ... clamours.] One line in Capell. Two, the first ending house, in Ff.

[3297] countrymen,—] countrymen— F₄. country-men. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3298] glories] glory Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.).

[3299] Scene VI. Pope.

[3300] beholding] F₁ F₂ F₃. beholden F₄.

[3301] [Goes ... pulpit.] Edd. Goes up. Capell. om. Ff.

[3302] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus F₁ F₂ F₃. Brutus's F₄.

[3303] He says] om. Steevens conj.

[3304] he] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3305] blest] F₁. glad F₂ F₃ F₄. most blest Capell.

[3306] Romans,—] Romans— F₄. Romans. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3307] their bones] the bones F₄.

[3308] The noble] Noble Pope.

[3309] on] at Pope.

[3310] art] F₂ F₃ F₄. are F₁.

[3311] Sec. Cit.] 2. F₁. Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3312] See note (IV).

Has he] Ha! has he Anon. conj.

masters] my masters Capell. not, masters Craik.

[3313] Has ... place.] Divided as in Capell. One line in Ff. Prose in Pope (ed. 2).

[3314] again] om. Theobald (ed. 2).

[3315] Yea] Nay Capell.

[3316] It will] I will Capell.

[3317] Fourth Cit.] 4. Ff. All. Anon. conj.

Read] Read us Anon. conj.

[3318] Read ... will.] As in Ff. Prose in Craik.

we'll] we will Theobald.

[3319] Cæsar's] read Cæsar's Keightley (Capell conj.).

[3320] They ... murderers:] As two lines of verse, Capell MS.

[3321] will?] Pope. will: F₁. will; F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3322] All] Ff. First Cit. Edd. conj.

[3323] He ... pulpit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3324] Cassius'] Pope. Cassius F₁ F₂ F₃. Cassius's F₄.

[3325] This was the most] This, this, was the Pope.

[3326] traitors'] Warburton. traitors Ff.

[3327] Even ... statua, Which ... fell.] These lines are transposed by Warburton.

statua, Which ... blood] statue, which All ... with blood Hanmer.

[3328] statua] Steevens, 1793 (Malone conj.). statue Ff. statuë Keightley.

[3329] what weep] Ff. what, weep Pope.

[3330] with] by Pope.

[3331] O piteous ... countrymen] Marked as five lines of verse in Capell MS.

[3332] We will] We'll Capell.

[3333] All. Revenge!... live!] See note (V).

[3334] [They are rushing out. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3335] Peace] Peace, peace Capell conj.

[3336] do it: they are] do't: they're S. Walker conj.

[3337] reasons] reason Warburton.

[3338] gave] F₁. give F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3339] wit] F₂ F₃ F₄. writ F₁.

[3340] All ... First Cit.] All ... 1. Ff. First Cit.... Sec. Cit. Edd. conj.

[3341] this] that Theobald.

[3342] Come, away, away!] Come, come, away: Capell. Come, away, away, away! Keightley. Come, come, away, away! Anon. conj.

[3343] brands] brands' ends Anon. conj.

fire the] F₁. fire all the F₂ F₃ F₄. then fire the Seymour conj.

[3344] benches ... windows] the benches ... the windows Capell, reading Take ... thing as two lines, the first ending down.

[3345] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Plebeians with the Body. Rowe. Exit Plebeians. F₁. Exeunt Plebeians. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3346] Ant.] om. Theobald (ed. 2). afoot,] afoot; Hanmer.

[3347] Take ... fellow!] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

Take thou] Take now Craik conj. Take then Anon. conj.

[3348] Take ... Sir,] Marked as one line in Capell MS.

[3349] a Servant.] Rowe (ed. 2). Servant. Ff.

[3350] Sir,] om. Pope. As a separate line, Anon. conj.

[3351] He] He, sir, Capell conj. Sir, he or Both he Anon. conj.

Lepidus] Lord Lepidus S. Walker conj.

[3352] him] them Capell.

[3353] Octavius] Octavus F₁.

[3354] Scene III.] Capell. Rowe continues the scene. Scene VII. Pope. Scene IV. Jennens.

A street.] Capell.

[3355] Enter Cinna the Poet.] Capell. Enter Cinna the Poet, and after him the Plebeians. Ff.

[3356] unlucky] Warburton. unluckily Ff. unlikely Collier (Collier MS.).

[3357] Enter Citizens.] Capell. om. Ff.

[3358] Whither] F₃ F₄. Whether F₁ F₂.

[3359] dwell] live Capell.

[3360] wisely I] wisely, I Craik.

[3361] Proceed; directly] Proceed. Directly. Johnson. Proceede directly. F₁ F₂. Proceed directly. F₃ F₄.

[3362] Cin. I am ... conspirator.] Omitted in Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

[3363] but] out Johnson.

[3364] Tear ... go!] Prose in Ff. Three lines of verse by Rowe, ending firebrands: ... house ... go. Capell prints Tear ... firebrands only as verse.

[3365] Brutus'] Capell. Brutus Ff.

Cassius'] Capell. Cassius Ff.

Decius'] Capell. Decius F₁ F₂ F₃. Decius's F₄. Decimus's Hanmer.

[3366] house] F₁. houses F₂ F₃ F₄.

Ligarius'] Capell. Ligarius Ff.

[3367] [Exeunt.] Exeunt all the Plebeians. Ff. Exeunt, forcing out Cinna. Collier (ed. 2).

ACT IV.

Scene I. A house in Rome.[3368]

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, seated at a table.[3369]

Ant. These many then shall die; their names are prick'd.[3370]

Oct. Your brother too must die; consent you, Lepidus?
[Pg 384]

Lep. I do consent—[3371]

Oct. Prick him down, Antony.

Lep. Upon condition Publius shall not live,[3372]
Who is your sister's son, Mark Antony.[3373] 5

Ant. He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.[3374]
But, Lepidus, go you to Cæsar's house;
Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine [3375]
How to cut off some charge in legacies.

Lep. What, shall I find you here? 10

Oct. Or here, or at the Capitol. [Exit Lepidus.

Ant. This is a slight unmeritable man,
Meet to be sent on errands: is it fit,
The three-fold world divided, he should stand
One of the three to share it?

Oct. So you thought him, 15
And took his voice who should be prick'd to die
In our black sentence and proscription.

Ant. Octavius, I have seen more days than you:
And though we lay these honours on this man,
To ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, 20
He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold,
To groan and sweat under the business,
Either led or driven, as we point the way;[3376]
And having brought our treasure where we will,
Then take we down his load and turn him off, 25
Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears
And graze in commons.[3377]

Oct. You may do your will:
But he's a tried and valiant soldier.

Ant. So is my horse, Octavius, and for that
I do appoint him store of provender: 30
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.[3378]
[Pg 385] And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught, and train'd, and bid go forth; 35
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds [3379]
On abjects, orts and imitations,[3380]
Which, out of use and staled by other men,[3381]
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him
But as a property. And now, Octavius, 40
Listen great things: Brutus and Cassius
Are levying powers: we must straight make head:
Therefore let our alliance be combined,
Our best friends made, our means stretch'd;[3382]
And let us presently go sit in council, 45
How covert matters may be best disclosed,
And open perils surest answered.

Oct. Let us do so: for we are at the stake,
And bay'd about with many enemies;[3383]
And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, 50
Millions of mischiefs.[3384] [Exeunt.

Scene II. Camp near Sardis. Before Brutus's tent.[3385]

Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, Lucius, and Soldiers; Titinius and Pindarus meet them.[3386]

Bru. Stand, ho![3387]

Lucil. Give the word, ho! and stand.[3388]
[Pg 386]

Bru. What now, Lucilius! is Cassius near?[3388]

Lucil. He is at hand; and Pindarus is come
To do you salutation from his master.[3389] 5

Bru. He greets me well. Your master, Pindarus,
In his own change, or by ill officers,[3390]
Hath given me some worthy cause to wish
Things done undone: but if he be at hand,
I shall be satisfied.

Pin. I do not doubt 10
But that my noble master will appear
Such as he is, full of regard and honour.

Bru. He is not doubted. A word, Lucilius,[3391][3392][3393]
How he received you: let me be resolved.[3392][3393]

Lucil. With courtesy and with respect enough;[3392] 15
But not with such familiar instances,[3392]
Nor with such free and friendly conference,[3392]
As he hath used of old.[3392]

Bru. Thou hast described[3392]
A hot friend cooling: ever note, Lucilius,[3392]
When love begins to sicken and decay,[3392] 20
It useth an enforced ceremony.[3392]
There are no tricks in plain and simple faith:[3392]
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,[3392]
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle,[3392]
But when they should endure the bloody spur,[3392] 25
They fall their crests and like deceitful jades[3392][3394]
Sink in the trial. Comes his army on?[3392][3395]

Lucil. They mean this night in Sardis to be quarter'd;[3392]
The greater part, the horse in general,[3392]
Are come with Cassius.[3392] [Low march within.

Bru. Hark! he is arrived:[3392][3396] 30
March gently on to meet him.[3397]
[Pg 387]

Enter Cassius and his powers.[3398]

Cas. Stand, ho![3399]

Bru. Stand, ho! Speak the word along.[3400]

First Sol. Stand![3401]

Sec. Sol. Stand![3402] 35

Third Sol. Stand![3403]

Cas. Most noble brother, you have done me wrong.

Bru. Judge me, you gods! wrong I mine enemies?
And, if not so, how should I wrong a brother?[3404]

Cas. Brutus this sober form of yours hides wrongs; 40
And when you do them—

Bru. Cassius, be content;
Speak your griefs softly: I do know you well.
Before the eyes of both our armies here,
Which should perceive nothing but love from us,
Let us not wrangle: bid them move away; 45
Then in my tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs,
And I will give you audience.

Cas. Pindarus,
Bid our commanders lead their charges off
A little from this ground.[3405]

Bru. Lucilius, do you the like, and let no man[3405][3406] 50
Come to our tent till we have done our conference.[3405]
Let Lucius and Titinius guard our door.[3407] [Exeunt.

[Pg 388]

Scene III. Brutus's tent.[3408]

Enter Brutus and Cassius.[3409]

Cas. That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this:
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians;
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,[3410][3411]
Because I knew the man, were slighted off.[3411][3412] 5

Bru. You wrong'd yourself to write in such a case.[3413]

Cas. In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.[3414]

Bru. Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself [3415]
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm, 10
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers.

Cas. I an itching palm![3416]
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,[3417]
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.

Bru. The name of Cassius honours this corruption, 15
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.[3418]

Cas. Chastisement!

Bru. Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake?[3419]
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, 20
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
[Pg 389] That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours 25
For so much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,[3420]
Than such a Roman.[3421]

Cas. Brutus, bait not me;
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself,
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,[3422] 30
Older in practice, abler than yourself
To make conditions.[3423]

Bru. Go to; you are not, Cassius.

Cas. I am.

Bru. I say you are not.[3424]

Cas. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; 35
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no farther.[3425]

Bru. Away, slight man!

Cas. Is't possible?

Bru. Hear me, for I will speak.
Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? 40

Cas. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?[3426]

Bru. All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?[3427]
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch 45
Under your testy humour? By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,[3428]
I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
[Pg 390] When you are waspish.

Cas. Is it come to this? 50

Bru. You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.[3429]

Cas. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;[3430] 55
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:[3431]
Did I say, better?[3432]

Bru. If you did, I care not.

Cas. When Cæsar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.

Bru. Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.

Cas. I durst not! 60

Bru. No.

Cas. What, durst not tempt him!

Bru. For your life you durst not.

Cas. Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

Bru. You have done that you should be sorry for. 65
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats;
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me: 70
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection. I did send [3433] 75
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
[Pg 391] When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends, 80
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,[3434]
Dash him to pieces![3434]

Cas. I denied you not.

Bru. You did.

Cas. I did not: he was but a fool
That brought my answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:[3435]
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,[3436] 85
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

Bru. I do not, till you practise them on me.[3437]

Cas. You love me not.

Bru. I do not like your faults.

Cas. A friendly eye could never see such faults.

Bru. A flatterer's would not, though they do appear [3438] 90
As huge as high Olympus.

Cas. Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is a-weary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; 95
Check'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep [3439]
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart 100
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:[3440]
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;[3441]
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Cæsar; for I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better 105
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.
[Pg 392]

Bru. Sheath your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.[3442]
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb,[3443]
That carries anger as the flint bears fire, 110
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark [3444]
And straight is cold again.

Cas. Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief and blood ill-temper'd vexeth him?[3445]

Bru. When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too. 115

Cas. Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

Bru. And my heart too.[3446]

Cas. O Brutus!

Bru. What's the matter?

Cas. Have not you love enough to bear with me,[3447]
When that rash humour which my mother gave me
Makes me forgetful?

Bru. Yes, Cassius, and from henceforth,[3448] 120
When you are over-earnest with your Brutus,
He'll think your mother chides, and leave you so.

Poet. [Within] Let me go in to see the generals;
There is some grudge between 'em; 'tis not meet [3449][3450]
They be alone.[3450][3451]

Lucil. [Within] You shall not come to them.[3450][3452]125

Poet. [Within] Nothing but death shall stay me.[3450][3453]

Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius, Titinius, and Lucius.[3454]

Cas. How now! what's the matter?[3450]
[Pg 393]

Poet. For shame, you generals! what do you mean?[3450]
Love, and be friends, as two such men should be;[3450]
For I have seen more years, I'm sure, than ye.[3450] 130

Cas. Ha, ha! how vilely doth this cynic rhyme![3450][3455]

Bru. Get you hence, sirrah; saucy fellow, hence![3450]

Cas. Bear with him, Brutus; 'tis his fashion.[3450]

Bru. I'll know his humour when he knows his time:[3450]
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?[3450][3456] 135
Companion, hence![3450]

Cas. Away, away, be gone! [Exit Poet.

Bru. Lucilius and Titinius, bid the commanders [3457]
Prepare to lodge their companies to-night.

Cas. And come yourselves, and bring Messala with you
Immediately to us. [Exeunt Lucilius and Titinius.

Bru. Lucius, a bowl of wine! [Exit Lucius.[3458]140

Cas. I did not think you could have been so angry.

Bru. O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.

Cas. Of your philosophy you make no use,
If you give place to accidental evils.

Bru. No man bears sorrow better: Portia is dead.[3459] 145

Cas. Ha! Portia![3460]

Bru. She is dead.

Cas. How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?

Bru. Impatient of my absence,[3461] 150
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong: for with her death
That tidings came: with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire.

Cas. And died so?
[Pg 394]

Bru. Even so.

Cas. O ye immortal gods![3462] 155

Re-enter Lucius, with wine and taper.[3463]

Bru. Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine.
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. [Drinks.

Cas. My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge.
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. [Drinks. [3464]160

Bru. Come in, Titinius! [Exit Lucius.[3465]

Re-enter Titinius, with Messala.

Welcome, good Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here,
And call in question our necessities.

Cas. Portia, art thou gone?

Bru. No more, I pray you.[3466]
Messala, I have here received letters,[3467] 165
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.[3468]

Mes. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenour.[3469]

Bru. With what addition?[3470] 170

Mes. That by proscription and bills of outlawry [3471]
Octavius, Antony and Lepidus,
Have put to death an hundred senators.[3472]
[Pg 395]

Bru. Therein our letters do not well agree;
Mine speak of seventy senators that died 175
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.

Cas. Cicero one![3473][3474]

Mes. Cicero is dead,[3474]
And by that order of proscription.[3475]
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?

Bru. No, Messala. 180

Mes. Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?

Bru. Nothing, Messala.

Mes. That, methinks, is strange.

Bru. Why ask you? hear you aught of her in yours?[3476]

Mes. No, my lord.

Bru. Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true. 185

Mes. Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.

Bru. Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala:
With meditating that she must die once
I have the patience to endure it now. 190

Mes. Even so great men great losses should endure.

Cas. I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.

Bru. Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?[3477] 195

Cas. I do not think it good.

Bru. Your reason?

Cas. This it is:[3478]
'Tis better that the enemy seek us:
So shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers,
Doing himself offence; whilst we lying still
Are full of rest, defence and nimbleness. 200
[Pg 396]

Bru. Good reasons must of force give place to better.
The people 'twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forced affection,
For they have grudged us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them, 205
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh'd, new-added and encouraged;[3479]
From which advantage shall we cut him off [3480]
If at Philippi we do face him there,[3481]
These people at our back.

Cas. Hear me, good brother.[3482] 210

Bru. Under your pardon. You must note beside
That we have tried the utmost of our friends,
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe:
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline. 215
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat, 220
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.

Cas. Then, with your will, go on;[3483][3484]
We'll along ourselves and meet them at Philippi.[3483][3485]

Bru. The deep of night is crept upon our talk,
And nature must obey necessity; 225
Which we will niggard with a little rest.
There is no more to say?[3486]

Cas. No more. Good night:
Early to-morrow will we rise and hence.
[Pg 397]

Bru. Lucius! [Re-enter Lucius.] My gown. [Exit Lucius.] Farewell, good Messala:[3487]
Good night, Titinius: noble, noble Cassius, 230
Good night, and good repose.

Cas. O my dear brother!
This was an ill beginning of the night:
Never come such division 'tween our souls![3488]
Let it not, Brutus.

Bru. Every thing is well.

Cas. Good night, my lord.

Bru. Good night, good brother.[3489] 235

Tit. Mes. Good night, Lord Brutus.

Bru. Farewell, every one.

[Exeunt all but Brutus.[3490]

Re-enter Lucius, with the gown.

Give me the gown. Where is thy instrument?

Luc. Here in the tent.

Bru. What, thou speak'st drowsily?
Poor knave, I blame thee not; thou art o'er-watch'd.[3491]
Call Claudius and some other of my men;[3492] 240
I'll have them sleep on cushions in my tent.

Luc. Varro and Claudius![3492][3493][3494]

Enter Varro and Claudius.

Var. Calls my lord?[3495]
[Pg 398]

Bru. I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep;
It may be I shall raise you by and by 245
On business to my brother Cassius.

Var. So please you, we will stand and watch your pleasure.[3496]

Bru. I will not have it so: lie down, good sirs;
It may be I shall otherwise bethink me.
Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so; 250
I put it in the pocket of my gown. [Var. and Clau. lie down.[3497]

Luc. I was sure your lordship did not give it me.

Bru. Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful.
Canst thou hold up thy heavy eyes awhile,[3498]
And touch thy instrument a strain or two?[3498][3499] 255

Luc. Ay, my lord, an't please you.[3500]

Bru. It does, my boy:[3501]
I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing.[3501]

Luc. It is my duty, sir.[3501][3502]

Bru. I should not urge thy duty past thy might;
I know young bloods look for a time of rest. 260

Luc. I have slept, my lord, already.

Bru. It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again;
I will not hold thee long: if I do live,
I will be good to thee. [Music, and a song.[3503]
This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber,[3504] 265
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy,[3505]
That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night;
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee:
If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;
I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.[3506] 270
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down [3507]
[Pg 399] Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. [Sits down.[3508]

Enter the Ghost of Cæsar.[3509]

How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition. 275
It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That makest my blood cold, and my hair to stare?[3510]
Speak to me what thou art.

Ghost. Thy evil spirit, Brutus.

Bru. Why comest thou?[3511] 280

Ghost. To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.

Bru. Well; then I shall see thee again?[3512]

Ghost. Ay, at Philippi.

Bru. Why, I will see thee at Philippi then. [Exit Ghost.[3513]
Now I have taken heart thou vanishest.[3514] 285
Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.[3514]
Boy, Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake![3492][3493]
Claudius![3492]

Luc. The strings, my lord, are false.

Bru. He thinks he still is at his instrument.[3515] 290
Lucius, awake!

Luc. My lord?[3516]

Bru. Didst thou dream, Lucius, that thou so criedst out?[3517]

Luc. My lord. I do not know that I did cry.

Bru. Yes, that thou didst: didst thou see any thing? 295
[Pg 400]

Luc. Nothing, my lord.

Bru. Sleep again, Lucius. Sirrah Claudius![3492][3518]

[To Var.] Fellow thou, awake![3519]

Var. My lord?

Clau. My lord? 300

Bru. Why did you so cry out, sirs, in your sleep?

Var. Clau. Did we, my lord?[3520]

Bru. Ay: saw you any thing?

Var. No, my lord, I saw nothing.

Clau. Nor I, my lord.

Bru. Go and commend me to my brother Cassius;
Bid him set on his powers betimes before, 305
And we will follow.

Var. Clau. It shall be done, my lord.[3520] [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[3368] Act iv. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Quartus. Ff.

A house in Rome.] See note (VI).

[3369] Antony ... table.] Malone. Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus. Ff.

[3370] These many] These, marry Grey conj.

[3371] consent—] Knight. consent: Capell. consent. Ff.

[3372] Publius] Lucius Upton conj.

[3373] Who is your] You are his Upton conj.

[3374] damn] F₄. dam F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3375] shall] will Steevens (1793).

[3376] Either] Ff. Or Pope.

point] F₁. print F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3377] in commons] in common Hanmer. on commons Collier MS.

[3378] motion govern'd] Pope. motion, govern'd Ff.

[3379] barren-spirited] Hyphened by Pope.

[3380] abjects, orts] Staunton. abject orts Theobald. Objects, Arts Ff. abject arts Becket conj.

imitations,] Rowe (ed. 2). Imitations. Ff.

[3381] staled] stal'de F₁ F₂. stal'd F₃. stall'd F₄.

[3382] made, our] made secure, our best Anon. conj.

our means stretch'd] our meanes stretcht F₁. and our best meanes stretcht out F₂ F₃ F₄ (means F₄). our best means stretcht Johnson. our means stretch'd to the utmost Malone. our choicest means stretch'd out Staunton conj.

[3383] bay'd] Pope. bayed Ff.

[3384] mischiefs] mischief Steevens (1778).

[3385] Scene II.] Rowe.

Camp ...] Before Brutus's Tent, in the Camp near Sardis. Rowe.

[3386] Enter Brutus, Lucilius ... Titinius ...] Enter Brutus, Lucius, and soldiers; Lucilius, Titinius ... Nicholson conj.

Lucius] Capell. om. Ff.

Soldiers] Rowe. the Army Ff.

[3387] Stand, ho!] Stand here Steevens (1793).

[3388] S. Walker would read Give ... Lucilius, as one line.

[3389] [presenting Pindarus, who gives a Letter. Capell. Jennens supposes that a speech of Pindarus is lost here.

[3390] change] charge Hanmer (Warburton).

officers] offices Johnson conj.

[3391] He ... Lucilius,] As in Ff. As two lines in Craik.

A word] Hear, a word Hanmer. A word with you Anon. conj.

[3392] A word ... Cassius.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[3393] Lucilius, ... you:] F₃ F₄. Lucilius ... you: F₁F₂. Lucilius,— ... you, Rowe.

[3394] crests] F₁. crest F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3395] sink] Shrink Craik conj.

[3396] [Low ...] Pope. After line 24 in Ff. March within. Capell.

[3397] [March. Capell.

[3398] Enter ...] Ff (after Cassius, line 30). Enter Cassius and Soldiers. Rowe. Enter Cassius, and Forces. Capell.

[3399] [to his Officers, entering. Capell.

[3400] Stand, ho!] Stand:—[to his.] Capell.

[3401] First Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 1. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.

[3402] Sec. Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 2. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.

[3403] Third Sol.] Edd. (Globe ed.). 3. O. Capell. om. Ff. Within. Rowe. Without. Staunton.

[One after other, and fainter Collier MS.

[3404] brother?] F₃ F₄. brother. F₁ F₂.

[3405] S. Walker would end the lines Lucilius, ... like ... we ... conference.

[3406] Lucilius] Lucius Craik. (See note VII).

you] om. Pope.

let] see you let Mitford conj., ending line 49 at Lucilius.

man] man, Lucilius, Capell, reading Do ... Lucilius as one line.

[3407] Let Lucius] Lucilius Craik. See note (VII).

our] the Rowe.

[3408] Scene III.] Pope. Rowe continues the scene.

Brutus's tent.] Hanmer. The Inside of Brutus's tent. Theobald. Within the Tent. Lucius, and Titinius at the Door. Capell.

[3409] Enter ...] Capell. Manet ... F₁. Manent ... F₂ F₃ F₄. Re-enter ... Theobald.

[3410] Wherein] Whereon Seymour conj.

[3411] letters ... man, were] Malone. letters ... man was F₁. letter ... man, was F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3412] off] of Rowe (ed. 2).

[3413] case] cause Capell conj.

[3414] his] Ff. its Pope.

[3415] Let] Yet let Pope. And let Capell.

[3416] I] Ay, Rowe.

[3417] speaks] F₄. speakes F₁ F₂ F₃. speak Pope.

[3418] doth] does Collier (ed. 1).

his] Ff. its Pope.

[3419] justice'] Capell. justice Ff.

[3420] bay] F₁. baite F₂. bait F₃ F₄.

[3421] bait] F₃ F₄. baite F₁ F₂. bay Theobald.

[3422] soldier, I] soldier, ay Steevens, 1773 (Jennens conj.).

[3423] to] too F₁.

not, Cassius] Hamner. not Cassius Ff.

[3424] I say] Cassius, I say Steevens conj.

[3425] farther] Ff. further Steevens.

[3426] O ye gods] O gods Pope.

[3427] budge] F₄. bouge F₁. boudge F₂ F₃.

[3428] Though] Thought F₂.

[3429] noble] abler Collier (Collier MS.). able Singer conj.

[3430] You ... Brutus] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

me every way; you] me; every way you Ritson conj.

[3431] elder] older Collier (one volume edition).

[3432] better] a better Knight (National ed.).

[3433] indirection] indirectness Pope.

[3434] thunderbolts, Dash] thunderbolts Dash Collier (one volume ed.).

[3435] That brought my] Ff. that brought My Dyce.

back] om. Steevens conj.

[3436] his] a Rowe.

[3437] not, till] not. Still Warburton.

not, till ... me.] not: will you practise that on me? Hanmer.

[3438] do] did Collier MS.

[3439] my] his Capell conj.

[3440] Plutus'] Pope. Pluto's Ff.

[3441] be'st a Roman] needst a Roman's Warburton.

[3442] humour] honour Craik conj.

[3443] lamb] man Pope. temper Anon. conj.

[3444] Who] Which Hanmer.

[3445] blood ill-temper'd] blood, ill-temper'd, Staunton.

[3446] [Embracing. Rowe.

[3447] not you] you not Pope (ed. 2).

[3448] forgetful] forgetfulls F₂. forget Seymour conj.

from] om. Capell.

[3449] Poet. [Within]. A noise within. Poet within. Theobald. Enter a Poet. Poet. Ff. Enter Lucilius and Titinius, and a Poet. Poet. Rowe. (Lucius, Rowe, ed. 2).

[3450] Poet ... gone!] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3451] 'em] them Capell.

[3452] Lucil. [Within]. Dyce. Lucil. F₁. Luci. F₂ F₃ F₄. Luc. Rowe. Luc. within. Theobald.

[3453] Poet. [Within]. Theobald. Poet. Ff.

[3454] Enter ... Lucius.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Enter Poet, followed by Lucilius and Titinius. Dyce. Enter Poet. Theobald. om. Ff.

[3455] vilely] F₄. vildely F₁ F₂. vildly F₃.

doth] does Capell.

[3456] jigging] jingling Pope.

[3457] Scene IV. Pope.

[3458] [Exeunt ...] Rowe. om. Ff.

[Exit Lucius.] Capell.

[3459] Portia is] Portia's Pope.

[3460] Portia!] Portia? brother, said you? Seymour conj.

[3461] Impatient] Impatience Capell conj.

[3462] O ye] om. Steevens conj.

[3463] Re-enter Lucius ... taper.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Enter Boy ... Tapers. Ff. Re-enter Lucius ... Tapers. Capell.

[3464] Brutus'] Pope. Brutus F₁ F₂ F₃. Brutus's F₄.

[Drinks.] Capell. om. Ff.

[3465] Scene V. Pope.

Come in ... Messala] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[Exit Lucius.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter Titinius and ... Ff (after line 165). Enter ... Theobald (after line 166). Re-enter ... Capell (after line 165).

[3466] Portia] Oh Portia Pope. Ah! Portia Seymour conj.

[3467] here] om. Pope (ed. 2).

[3468] toward] towards Capell.

[3469] tenour] Theobald. tenure Ff.

[3470] addition?] Rowe. addition. Ff.

[3471] proscription] proscriptions Pope.

and ... outlawry] om. Seymour conj.

outlawry] F₄. outlarie F₁. outlary F₂ F₃.

[3472] an] a Capell.

[3473] Cicero] Cibero F₂.

Cicero ... dead,] As two hemistichs, or as prose, Craik conj.

Cicero] Ay, Cicero Capell. Yes, Cicero Keightley.

[3474] Cicero ... proscription] Arranged as in Johnson. One line in Ff.

[3475] by that] that by Capell.

proscription.] F₃ F₄. proscription F₁ F₂.

[3476] Why ... yours?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3477] presently?] Pope. presently. Ff.

[3478] This it is:] This: Steevens conj.

[3479] new-added] Capell. new added Ff. new aided Singer (ed. 2). new-hearted Craik (Collier MS.).

[3480] shall we] we shall Craik conj.

off] Rowe. off. Ff.

[3481] him there,] Ff. him, there Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[3482] brother.] brother— Rowe.

[3483] Then ... Philippi] Arranged as in Capell. Two lines, the first ending along, in Ff.

[3484] will] good will Seymour conj., omitting go on.

[3485] We'll along] we will along Rowe. We'll on Capell.

We'll ... ourselves] We will along Seymour conj.

[3486] say?] Capell. say. Ff.

[3487] Lucius! [Re-enter Lucius.] My] Edd. Enter Lucius. Lucius my Ff.

[Exit Lucius.] Hanmer. om. Ff.

Farewell] now farewel Hanmer. Fare you well or Fare ye well S. Walker conj.

[3488] come] came Rowe (ed. 1).

[3489] Cas. Good ... brother] Omitted by Pope.

[3490] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Cas. Tit. Mes. Capell. Exeunt. Ff.

Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff (after Brutus, line 239). Re-enter Hanmer (after Brutus, line 239).

[3491] not] F₁. art F₂. om. F₃ F₄.

[3492] Claudius] Rowe. Claudio Ff.

[3493] Varro] Rowe. Varrus Ff. Varus S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[3494] Enter ...] Rowe. Enter Varrus and Claudio. Ff.

[3495] Scene VI. Pope.

Calls] Did you call, Seymour conj.

[3496] So ... pleasure] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3497] [Var. and Clau ...] Servants retire, and sleep. Capell. Serv. lie down. Malone. om. Ff.

[3498] heavy ... two] F₁. instrument a straine or two. And touch thy heavy eyes a-while F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3499] two?] Rowe. two. Ff.

[3500] Ay,] Ay, good Seymour conj.

[3501] S. Walker would arrange thus: It ... much, But ... sir.

[3502] duty, sir] duty to my still kind lord Seymour conj.

[3503] [... song.] Ff.... song: toward the End, Lucius falls asleep. Capell.

[3504] slumber] F₃ F₄. slumbler F₁ F₂.

[3505] Lay'st Rowe. Layest Ff.

[3506] [lays the Instrument by, and sits down. Capell.

[3507] Let me see, let me see] But let me see Pope.

see;] F₁. see? F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3508] [Sits down.] He sits down to read. Rowe. om. Ff.

[3509] Scene VII. Pope.

[3510] stare] start or stand Anon. conj.

[3511] Brutus.] F₃ F₄. Brutus? F₁. Brutuss F₂.

[3512] Well] As in Ff. om. Pope. Put in a separate line by Steevens (1793).

[3513] [Exit Ghost.] Rowe (after line 288). om. Ff. vanishes. Capell (after line 288).

[3514] vanishest. Ill spirit,] vanishest, Ill spirit; Rowe.

[3515] still is] is still F₄.

[3516] [waking. Capell.

[3517] Didst ... out?] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

Lucius] Lucus F₁.

[3518] Sleep ... Fellow] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3519] [To Var.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. Ff.

Fellow thou,] fellow! Varro! Theobald (Warburton).

[3520] Var. Clau.] Capell. Both. Ff.

ACT V.

Scene I. The plains of Philippi.[3521]

Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army.

Oct. Now, Antony, our hopes are answered:
You said the enemy would not come down,
But keep the hills and upper regions;
It proves not so: their battles are at hand;
They mean to warn us at Philippi here,[3522] 5
Answering before we do demand of them.

Ant. Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know
Wherefore they do it: they could be content
To visit other places; and come down [3523]
[Pg 401] With fearful bravery, thinking by this face[3523] 10
To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage;
But 'tis not so.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Prepare you, generals:
The enemy comes on in gallant show;
Their bloody sign of battle is hung out,
And something to be done immediately.[3524] 15

Ant. Octavius, lead your battle softly on,
Upon the left hand of the even field.[3525]

Oct. Upon the right hand I; keep thou the left.[3526]

Ant. Why do you cross me in this exigent?[3527]

Oct. I do not cross you; but I will do so. [March.20

Drum. Enter Brutus, Cassius, and their Army; Lucilius, Titinius, Messala, and others.[3528]

Bru. They stand, and would have parley.

Cas. Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk.

Oct. Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle?

Ant. No, Cæsar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words. 25

Oct. Stir not until the signal.[3529]

Bru. Words before blows: is it so, countrymen?

Oct. Not that we love words better, as you do.

Bru. Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius.

Ant. In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: 30
Witness the hole you made in Cæsar's heart,
Crying 'Long live! hail, Cæsar!'

Cas. Antony,
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;[3530]
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees,[3531]
[Pg 402] And leave them honeyless.

Ant. Not stingless too.[3532] 35

Bru. O, yes, and soundless too;[3533]
For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony,[3533]
And very wisely threat before you sting.[3533]

Ant. Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers
Hack'd one another in the sides of Cæsar:[3534] 40
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds,[3535]
And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Cæsar's feet;
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind [3536]
Struck Cæsar on the neck. O you flatterers![3537][3538]

Cas. Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:[3538][3539] 45
This tongue had not offended so to-day,
If Cassius might have ruled.

Oct. Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,[3540]
The proof of it will turn to redder drops.
Look;[3541][3542] 50
I draw a sword against conspirators;[3542][3543]
When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Cæsar's three and thirty wounds [3544]
Be well avenged, or till another Cæsar
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.[3545] 55

Bru. Cæsar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,[3546]
Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
[Pg 403]

Oct. So I hope;
I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.

Bru. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.[3547] 60

Cas. A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,[3548]
Join'd with a masker and a reveller!

Ant. Old Cassius still!

Oct. Come, Antony; away!
Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth;
If you dare fight to-day, come to the field: 65
If not, when you have stomachs.

[Exeunt Octavius, Antony, and their army.[3549]

Cas. Why, now, blow wind, swell billow and swim bark![3550]
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard.[3551]

Bru. Ho, Lucilius! hark, a word with you.

Lucil. [Standing forth] My lord?

[Brutus and Lucilius converse apart.

Cas. Messala!

Mes. [Standing forth] What says my general?[3552][3553]

Cas. Messala,[3553][3554][3555]70
This is my birth-day; as this very day[3555][3556]
Was Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:
Be thou my witness that, against my will,
As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set [3557]
Upon one battle all our liberties. 75
You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion: now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign [3558]
[Pg 404] Two mighty eagles fell, and there they perch'd, 80
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;
Who to Philippi here consorted us:
This morning are they fled away and gone;
And in their steads do ravens, crows and kites [3559]
Fly o'er our heads and downward look on us, 85
As we were sickly prey: their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which
Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.[3560]

Mes. Believe not so.

Cas. I but believe it partly,
For I am fresh of spirit and resolved 90
To meet all perils very constantly.[3561]

Bru. Even so, Lucilius.[3562]

Cas. Now, most noble Brutus,
The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain,[3563] 95
Let's reason with the worst that may befall.
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you then determined to do?

Bru. Even by the rule of that philosophy 100
By which I did blame Cato for the death [3564]
Which he did give himself: I know not how,[3565][3566]
But I do find it cowardly and vile,[3566]
For fear of what might fall, so to prevent[3566]
The time of life: arming myself with patience[3566][3567] 105
To stay the providence of some high powers [3568]
[Pg 405] That govern us below.

Cas. Then, if we lose this battle,[3569]
You are contented to be led in triumph
Thorough the streets of Rome?[3570]

Bru. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,[3571] 110
That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;
He bears too great a mind. But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;[3572]
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take. 115
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why then this parting was well made.

Cas. For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus!
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed; 120
If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.

Bru. Why then, lead on. O, that a man might know
The end of this day's business ere it come!
But it sufficeth that the day will end,
And then the end is known. Come, ho! away! [Exeunt.125

Scene II. The field of battle.[3573]

Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.[3574]

Bru. Ride, ride, Messala, ride, and give these bills
Unto the legions on the other side: [Loud alarum.[3575]
Let them set on at once; for I perceive
But cold demeanour in Octavius' wing,[3576]
[Pg 406] And sudden push gives them the overthrow.[3577] 5
Ride, ride, Messala: let them all come down. [Exeunt.

Scene III. Another part of the field.[3578]

Alarums. Enter Cassius and Titinius.[3579]

Cas. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

Tit. O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early; 5
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed.[3580]

Enter Pindarus.

Pin. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off;[3581]
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord: 10
Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.[3582]

Cas. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?

Tit. They are, my lord.

Cas. Titinius, if thou lovest me,
Mount thou my horse and hide thy spurs in him, 15
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops
And here again; that I may rest assured
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.[3583]

Tit. I will be here again, even with a thought. [Exit.
[Pg 407]

Cas. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;[3584] 20
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou notest about the field.

[Pindarus ascends the hill.[3585]

This day I breathed first: time is come round,[3586]
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?[3587] 25

Pin. [Above] O my lord![3588]

Cas. What news?

Pin. [Above] Titinius is enclosed round about [3589][3590]
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;[3590]
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.[3590] 30
Now, Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.[3590][3591]
He's ta'en. [Shout.] And, hark! they shout for joy.[3590]

Cas. Come down; behold no more.[3592]
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
To see my best friend ta'en before my face![3593] 35

Pindarus descends.

Come hither, sirrah:[3594]
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;[3594]
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath; 40
Now be a freeman; and with this good sword,[3595]
[Pg 408] That ran through Cæsar's bowels, search this bosom.
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;[3596]
And when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
Guide thou the sword. [Pindarus stabs him.] Cæsar, thou art revenged,[3597]45
Even with the sword that kill'd thee. [Dies.[3598]

Pin. So, I am free; yet would not so have been,[3599]
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius!
Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit. [3600]50

Re-enter Titinius with Messala.[3601]

Mes. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius [3602]
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,
As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

Tit. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.

Mes. Where did you leave him?

Tit. All disconsolate, 55
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.

Mes. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?

Tit. He lies not like the living. O my heart!

Mes. Is not that he?

Tit. No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more. O setting sun, 60
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,[3603]
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set,[3604]
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;[3605]
Clouds, dews and dangers come; our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed. 65
[Pg 409]

Mes. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
O hateful error, melancholy's child,
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O error, soon conceived,[3606]
Thou never comest unto a happy birth, 70
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!

Tit. What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?[3607]

Mes. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears: I may say 'thrusting' it, 75
For piercing steel and darts envenomed
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.

Tit. Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while. [Exit Messala.[3608]
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius? 80
Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they [3609]
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing!
But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow; 85
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
By your leave, gods: this is a Roman's part:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. 90

[Kills himself.

Alarum. Re-enter Messala, with Brutus, young Cato, and others.[3610]

Bru. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?[3611]
[Pg 410]

Mes. Lo, yonder, and Titinius mourning it.

Bru. Titinius' face is upward.

Cato. He is slain.

Bru. O Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet!
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords [3612] 95
In our own proper entrails. [Low alarums.[3613]

Cato. Brave Titinius![3614]
Look, whether he have not crown'd dead Cassius!

Bru. Are yet two Romans living such as these?
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well![3615]
It is impossible that ever Rome 100
Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe moe tears [3616]
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.
Come therefore, and to Thasos send his body:[3617]
His funerals shall not be in our camp,[3618] 105
Lest it discomfort us. Lucilius, come,
And come, young Cato: let us to the field.
Labeo and Flavius, set our battles on.[3619]
'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night [3620]
We shall try fortune in a second fight. [Exeunt.110

Scene IV. Another part of the field.[3621]

Alarum. Enter, fighting, Soldiers of both armies; then Brutus, young Cato, Lucilius, and others.[3622]

Bru. Yet, countrymen, O, yet hold up your heads!
[Pg 411]

Cato. What bastard doth not? Who will go with me?
I will proclaim my name about the field.
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho!
A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend; 5
I am the son of Marcus Cato, ho![3623]

Bru. And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I;[3624]
Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus! [Exit.[3625]

Lucil. O young and noble Cato, art thou down?[3626]
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius, 10
And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son.

First Sold. Yield, or thou diest.[3627]

Lucil. Only I yield to die:[3626][3628]
[Offering money] There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;[3629]
Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.

First Sold. We must not. A noble prisoner![3628][3630] 15

Sec. Sold. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.

First Sold. I'll tell the news. Here comes the general.[3631]

Enter Antony.[3632]

Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord.

Ant. Where is he?[3633]

Lucil. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough: 20
I dare assure thee that no enemy
Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
The gods defend him from so great a shame!
When you do find him, or alive or dead,[3634]
He will be found like Brutus, like himself. 25
[Pg 412]

Ant. This is not Brutus, friend, but, I assure you,[3635]
A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe,
Give him all kindness: I had rather have
Such men my friends than enemies. Go on,
And see whether Brutus be alive or dead,[3636] 30
And bring us word unto Octavius' tent [3637]
How every thing is chanced. [Exeunt.

Scene V. Another part of the field.[3638]

Enter Brutus, Dardanius, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.

Bru. Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock.

Cli. Statilius show'd the torch-light, but, my lord,
He came not back: he is or ta'en or slain.

Bru. Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word;
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. [Whispering.[3639]5

Cli. What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world.

Bru. Peace then, no words.

Cli. I'll rather kill myself.

Bru. Hark thee, Dardanius. [Whispering.

Dar. Shall I do such a deed?[3640]

Cli. O Dardanius!

Dar. O Clitus! 10

Cli. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?

Dar. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.

Cli. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.

Bru. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word. 15

Vol. What says my lord?

Bru. Why, this, Volumnius:
The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me
[Pg 413] Two several times by night, at Sardis once,
And this last night here in Philippi fields:
I know my hour is come.

Vol. Not so, my lord. 20

Bru. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit: [Low alarums.[3641]
It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, 25
Thou know'st that we two went to school together:
Even for that our love of old, I prithee,[3642]
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.[3643]

Vol. That's not an office for a friend, my lord.

[Alarum still.

Cli. Fly, fly, my lord; there is no tarrying here. 30

Bru. Farewell to you; and you; and you, Volumnius.[3644]
Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too, Strato. Countrymen,[3645]
My heart doth joy that yet in all my life [3646]
I found no man but he was true to me. 35
I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.[3647]
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's history:[3648] 40
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.[3649]

[Alarum. Cry within, 'Fly, fly, fly!'

[Pg 414]

Cli. Fly, my lord, fly.

Bru. Hence! I will follow.[3650]

[Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius.

I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
Thou art a fellow of a good respect; 45
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:[3651]
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?

Stra. Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord.

Bru. Farewell, good Strato. [Runs on his sword.] Cæsar, now be still:[3652]50
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.[3652] [Dies.

Alarum. Retreat. Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and the army.[3653]

Oct. What man is that?[3654]

Mes. My master's man. Strato, where is thy master?

Stra. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
The conquerors can but make a fire of him; 55
For Brutus only overcame himself,
And no man else hath honour by his death.

Lucil. So Brutus should be found. I thank thee, Brutus,[3655]
That thou hast proved Lucilius' saying true.

Oct. All that served Brutus, I will entertain them. 60
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?

Stra. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.

Oct. Do so, good Messala.[3656]

Mes. How died my master, Strato?[3657]

Stra. I held the sword, and he did run on it. 65
[Pg 415]

Mes. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,[3658]
That did the latest service to my master.

Ant. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he,[3659]
Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;[3660] 70
He only, in a general honest thought [3661][3662]
And common good to all, made one of them.[3662]
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' 75

Oct. According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.[3663]
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably.[3664]
So call the field to rest, and let's away, 80
To part the glories of this happy day. [Exeunt.[3665]

FOOTNOTES:

[3521] Act v. Scene i.] Rowe. Actus Quintus. Ff.

The plains ...] Capell. The Fields of Philippi, with the two Camps. Rowe.

[3522] warn] wage Hanmer. wait Mason conj.

[3523] places; and ... bravery,] Pope. places, and ... bravery: Ff.

[3524] something] something's Hanmer.

[3525] even] evil F₄.

[3526] thou] you Ritson conj.

[3527] exigent?] F₃ F₄. exigent. F₁ F₂.

[3528] Scene II. Pope.

Lucilius ... others.] Lucilius ... others, attending. Capell. om. Ff.

[3529] [to his Troops. Capell.

[3530] posture] puncture Singer conj.

are] is Collier, ed. 2 (Steevens conj.).

[3531] they] you Capell.

[3532] stingless] stringless Rowe (ed. 1).

stingless too.] stingless too? Delius conj.

[3533] O, yes ... sting.] You threat before you sting. Pope, putting the original in the margin.

[3534] Hack'd] Hackt F₁ F₂. Hack F₃ F₄.

[3535] you ... hounds,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

teeth] F₃ F₄. teethes F₁ F₂.

[3536] Whilst] While Collier (one volume edition).

[3537] Struck] F₃ F₄. Strooke F₁ F₂.

you] om. Pope.

[3538] Struck.... Cas. Flatterers] As one line, Capell conj., omitting you.

[3539] Flatterers!] You flatterers! Keightley.

thank] you may thank Steevens conj.

[3540] sweat] Rowe (ed. 2). swet Ff.

[3541] Look:] Behold, Rowe, arranging as Ff.

[3542] Look; I ... conspirators] As in Steevens (1793). One line in Ff.

[3543] a sword] sword S. Walker conj., arranging as Ff.

[3544] thirty] twenty Theobald.

[3545] sword of traitors] word of traitor Collier MS.

[3546] traitors' hands] traitors Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

[3547] honourable] honourably Craik conj.

[3548] worthless] worthles F₁. worthies F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3549] [ ... their army.] Army. Ff.

[3550] Scene III. Pope.

Why ... bark!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3551] all is] all's S. Walker conj., ending the line Ho!

[3552] Ho,] om. Pope. As a separate line by Steevens (1793).

[3553] [Standing forth] See note (VIII).

[3554] Messala!] Messala. Ff. Messala,—Capell.

[3555] Messala, ... day] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3556] as] at Keightley.

[3557] am I] I am S. Walker conj.

[3558] former ensign] foremost ensign Rowe. forward ensign Collier MS. foremost ensigns Lettsom conj.

[3559] steads] F₃ F₄ steeds F₁ F₂.

ravens, crows] ravenous crows Warburton.

[3560] ready to] as 'twould Seymour conj.

up] om. Pope.

[3561] perils] F₁. peril F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3562] Lucilius] Lucius Rowe (ed. 2).

[3563] rest] Rowe. rests Ff.

incertain] uncertain Capell.

[3564] By] Be F₂.

[3565] himself: ... how,] himself; ... how, Pope. himselfe, ... how: Ff. himself, ... how, Craik.

[3566] I ... life] Put in parentheses by Johnson.

[3567] time] term Cappell.

life:] life; Theobald, life, Ff. Here Warburton marks a sentence omitted.

[3568] some] those Craik (Collier MS.).

[3569] this battle] om. Steevens conj.

[3570] Thorough] Thorew F₁ F₂. Through F₃ F₄. Along Pope. By the proud victors, thro' Seymour conj.

streets] street, Rowe (ed. 2).

[3571] No, ... Roman,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3572] the] F₁. that F₂ F₃ F₄.

begun] began Collier (Malone conj.).

[3573] Scene II.] Capell. Scene iv. Pope.

The field of battle.] Capell.

[3574] Alarum.] Ff. Alarums, as of a Battle join'd. Capell.

[3575] [Loud alarum.] Ff. om. Capell.

[3576] Octavius'] Pope. Octavio's Ff.

[3577] And] One Hanmer. A Warburton.

[3578] Scene III.] Capell. Scene continued in Pope.

Another ... field.] Capell.

[3579] Alarums.] Ff. Alarum. Pope.

[3580] are] were Pope.

[3581] further] farther Collier.

[3582] far] far' Dyce (ed. 2).

[3583] yond] yon' Capell.

[3584] get ... hill] get thee higher on this hill Capell conj.

higher] F₁. thither F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3585] [Pindarus....] Pindarus goes up. Dyce. Exit Pin. Hanmer. Omitted in Ff.

[3586] breathed] F₁ F₂. breath'd F₃ F₄.

[3587] his] its Pope.

Sirrah,] Now Pope.

[3588] [Above] Ff. Within Hanmer. Appearing on the hill. Jennens.

my lord] my good lord Steevens conj.

[3589] [Above] Dyce. Within. Hanmer. om. Ff.

[3590] Titinius ... joy.] As in Pope, who reads Titinius for Now, Titinius, line 31. In Ff He's tane is in a separate line. Malone ends the lines is ... that ... on.—Titinius!— ... hark!... joy. Dyce (ed. 2) ends them about ... spur;— ... him;—Titinius!— ... hark!... joy.

[3591] Now,] Now, now, Nicholson conj., ending the line O, he.

[3592] down; behold] down, Behold Capell, ending line 32 at down.

[Pindarus disappears. Jennens.

[3593] Pindarus descends.] Dyce. Enter Pindarus. Ff. Re-enter Pindarus. Capell.

[3594] Come ... prisoner;] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3595] freeman] F₃ F₄. free-man F₁ F₂.

[3596] hilts] hilt Pope.

[3597] [Pindarus stabs him.] Kills him. F₂ F₃ F₄ (after line 46). Kills himself. Rowe (ed. 2), after line 46.

[3598] [Dies.] Capell. om. Ff.

[3599] So ... been,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3600] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3601] Re-enter ... with] Capell. Enter ... and Ff.

[3602] Scene V. Pope.

[3603] to night] to-night Knight (ed. 1) and Collier (ed. 1).

[3604] is set] F₁. it set F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3605] sun] sunne F₁. sonne F₂. son F₃ F₄.

[3606] O] om. Pope.

[3607] What,] Why, Capell.

[3608] [Exit Messala.] Pope. om. Ff.

[3609] [Kills himself.] Dies. Ff. Stabs himself (after line 89). Dies. Rowe.

[3610] Alarum.] om. Capell.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Brutus, Messala, yong Cato, Strato, Volumnius, and Lucillius. Ff.

[3611] Scene VI. Pope.

[3612] walks] wa'kes F₂.

[3613] [Low alarums.] om. Capell.

[3614] whether] Edd. where Ff. if Pope. whe'r Capell. whêr Dyce.

[3615] The] Thou Rowe.

fare] far F₁.

[3616] moe] F₃ F₄. mo F₁ F₂. more Rowe.

[3617] Thasos Edd. (S. Walker conj.). Thassos Theobald. Tharsus Ff.

[3618] funerals] funeral Pope.

[3619] Labeo] Hanmer. Labio Ff.

Flavius,] F₄. Flavio F₁. Flavius F₂ F₃.

[3620] o'clock] Theobald. a clock Ff.

[3621] Scene IV.] Capell. Scene VII. Pope.

Another....] Capell. The Field of Battel. Pope.

[3622] Alarum.] Alarums. Capell.

Enter ... others.] Capell, substantially. Enter Brutus, Messala, Cato, Lucillius, and Flavius. Ff.

young Cato,] Dyce. Cato, Ff.

[3623] [Enter Souldiers, and fight. Ff. Charges the retiring Enemy. Capell.

[3624] Bru.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3625] [Exit.] Pope. Charges them in another Part, and Exit, driving them in. The Party charg'd by Cato rally, and Cato falls. Capell.

[3626] Lucil.] Jennens. Luc. Ff.

[3627] First Sold.] 1. S. Capell. Sold. Ff.

[3628] Only I] I only Hanmer.

die:] Here Warburton marks a line, spoken by the soldier, as omitted.

[3629] [Offering money] Johnson. Giving him money. Hanmer. om. Ff.

[3630] not] not, sir Capell.

[3631] the] Pope (ed. 2). thee Ff.

[3632] Enter Antony.] Capell. After line 15 in Ff.

[3633] [They shew Lucilius. Capell.

[3634] or alive] alive Warburton.

[3635] Brutus, friend] F₄. Brutus friend F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3636] whether] Edd. where Ff. if Pope. whe'r Capell.

[3637] us word] us word, F₁. us, F₂ F₃. us F₄.

[3638] Scene V.] Capell. Scene VIII. Pope.

Another ...] Pope.

[3639] [Whispering.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3640] [Whispering.] Whispers him. Capell. om. Ff.

Shall] om. Pope.

[3641] [Low alarums.] F₁. Low alarum. F₂ F₃ F₄. Alarum. Pope. Alarm. Johnson.

[3642] prithee] prethee Ff. pray thee Capell.

[3643] sword-hilts] sword hilts F₁ F₂. swords hilt F₃ F₄.

whilst] whilest F₁ F₂. while F₃ F₄.

[3644] [Shaking hands severally. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3645] thee too, Strato. Countrymen,] Theobald. thee, to Strato, Countrymen: Ff.

[3646] in] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3647] this] their S. Walker conj.

[3648] life's] Rowe (ed. 2). lives Ff.

[3649] [Alarum.] Alarums. Capell.

[3650] follow] follow thee Pope.

[Exeunt ...] Capell. om. Ff.

[3651] smatch] smack Steevens.

in it] in't Pope.

[3652] [Runs on his sword ... [Dies.] He runs on his Sword and dies. Rowe, after line 51. Dyes. Ff, after line 51.

[3653] Alarum.] Alarums.] Capell.

Octavius, Antony,] Capell. Antony, Octavius, Ff.

the army.] their army. Malone.

[3654] Scene IX. Pope.

[3655] Lucil.] Jennens. Luci. Ff.

[3656] good] om. Capell, reading 63, 64 as one line.

[3657] master] F₁. om. F₂. Lord F₃ F₄.

[3658] then take him] take him then Hanmer.

[3659] he] him Seymour conj.

[3660] that] what So quoted by S. Walker.

[3661] general honest] general-honest S. Walker conj.

[3662] general ... And] generous ... Of Craik (Collier MS.).

[3663] With all] F₃ F₄. Withall F₁ F₂.

[3664] order'd] Pope, ordered Ff.

[3665] [Exeunt.] Capell. Exeunt omnes. Ff.

[Pg 416]

NOTES.

Note I.

Dramatis Personæ. Rowe has 'Artemidorus, a Soothsayer,'—'Artimedorus a Sooth-sayer' in the first edition—which was altered by Theobald, who described Artemidorus as 'a Sophist of Cnidos,' and made the Soothsayer a separate person.

The Acts, but not the Scenes, are marked in the Folios.

Note II.

II. 1. 73. In both the editions of Pope this line is ludicrously printed thus:

'No, Sir, their—are pluckt about their ears.'

He seems to have thought that 'hat' was an intolerable anachronism, for in Coriolanus, II. 3. 92 and 160, he has substituted 'cap.' In this passage it would seem that he could not make up his mind and left a blank accordingly. It is noticed in one of Theobald's letters to Warburton (Nichols's Illustrations, Vol. II. p. 493).

Note III.

II. 1. 189. Jennens quotes 'and wildness' as the reading of Rowe's Octavo. Two lines below he quotes 'laugh at us hereafter' as from the same edition. In I. 2. 110, he says that Rowe's Octavo reads 'we arrive' for 'arrive;' in I. 2. 163, that it reads 'would you' for 'you would;' in I. 2. 170, that it reads 'But' for 'Both;' in I. 3. 85, that it omits 'say;' in III. 1. 207, that it reads 'Sing'd.' In none of these cases does our copy of Rowe correspond with his statements.

[Pg 417]

Note IV.

III. 2. 109. We transcribe a portion of Pope's note on this passage:

'"Cæsar has had great wrong.
3 Pleb. Cæsar had never wrong, but with just cause."

If ever there was such a line written by Shakespear, I shou'd fancy it might have its place here, and very humorously in the character of a Plebeian.' He refers to Ben Jonson's quotation in the Sylva or Discoveries, which has been much discussed by the commentators on III. 1. 47. Jonson's words are: 'Many times he [i.e. Shakespeare] fell into those things, could not escape laughter: as when he said in the person of Cæsar, one speaking to him, "Cæsar thou dost me wrong." He replied "Cæsar did never wrong but with just cause," and such like; which were ridiculous.' Vol. IX. pp. 175, 176. ed. 1816. There is another reference to Shakespeare's supposed blunder in the Induction to Ben Jonson's Staple of News, first acted in 1625: 'Prologue. Cry you mercy, you never did wrong, but with just cause.' Vol. V. p. 162. Gifford in his note supposes that Metellus Cimber's speech and Cæsar's reply, as they are found in the Folio of 1623, are due to the 'botchery of the players,' and that they originally stood thus:

'Met. Cæsar, thou dost me wrong.
Cæs. Cæsar did never wrong, but with just cause.'

But surely the first twelve lines of Cæsar's reply, to which Gifford makes no allusion, cannot have been written by any other hand than Shakespeare's. On the whole it seems more probable that Jonson, quoting from memory, quoted wrong, than that the passage was altered in consequence of his censure, which was first made, publicly, in 1625.

Note V.

III. 2. 202. The arrangement given in the text, suggested by Mr Grant White and Dr Delius, was first printed by us in the Globe Shakespeare and has been adopted by Mr Dyce in his second edition. The folios continue the words to the second citizen, thus:

'2. We will be reveng'd: Revenge
About, seeke, burne, fire, kill, slay,
Let not a Traitor live.'

See Coriolanus, Note (VII). Perhaps the speech given to Sec. Cit. lines 206, 207, should be also given to All, as Dr Delius has also suggested. The same remark may apply to the speech of Third Cit. at the end of Scene 3.

[Pg 418]

Note VI.

IV. 1. Rowe and Pope give 'Rome' for the Scene. Theobald places it on 'a small Island near Mutina.' In his note he says, 'Shakespeare, I dare say, knew from Plutarch, that these Triumvirs met, upon the Proscription, in a little Island: which Appian, who is more particular, says, lay near Mutina upon the River Lavinius.' Hanmer makes the scene at 'A small Island in the little River Rhenus near Bononia.' Warburton cuts the knot by omitting to indicate the scene. Johnson followed Theobald. Capell put 'A Room in Antony's House,' which is adopted by Malone and modern editors generally. Mr Knight says, 'The triumvirs, it is well known, did not meet at Rome to settle their proscription. But it is evident that Shakspere places his scene at Rome, by Lepidus being sent to Cæsar's house, and told that he shall find his confederates "or here, or at the Capitol."'

Note VII.

IV. 2. 50, 52. The ingenious alteration made by Mr Craik cures the defective metre of line 50 and gets rid of the incongruous 'association of an officer of rank and a servant boy' in line 52. We have not however adopted it, because we are of opinion that the error, such as it is, is due to the author and not to a transcriber. In the first place, irregularities of metre are especially frequent, as Mr Dyce and others have pointed out, where proper names occur; and, secondly, an incongruity which was unnoticed by a long series of commentators may well have escaped the observation of a writer among whose merits minute accuracy cannot be ranked. Moreover in Shakespeare's eyes Lucius was probably a page of gentle birth, with whom Titinius might not unfitly be associated; and the office of guarding a door is at least as suitable to him as that of carrying a message to an army. In the next scene, both Lucius and Lucilius are in attendance.

Note VIII.

V. 1. 69, 70. The stage directions given in the text are compounded of that given in the Folios and that given by Rowe. The Folios after 'hark, a word with you,' add Lucillius and Messala stand forth, which Capell was the first to omit. Rowe retaining those words added, Brutus speaks apart to Lucilius.

[Pg 419]

[Pg 420]

[Pg 421]

MACBETH.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [3666].

Duncan, king of Scotland.
Malcolm,	his sons.
Donalbain,	his sons.
Macbeth,	generals of the King's army.
Banquo,	generals of the King's army.
Macduff,	noblemen of Scotland.
Lennox,
Ross,
Menteith,
Angus,
Caithness,
Fleance, son to Banquo.
Siward, earl of Northumberland, general of the English forces.
Young Siward, his son.
Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth.
Boy, son to Macduff.
An English Doctor.
A Scotch Doctor.
A Sergeant.
A Porter.
An Old Man.

Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macduff.
Gentlewoman [3667] attending on Lady Macbeth.

Hecate.
Three Witches.
Apparitions.

Lords, Gentlemen, Officers, Soldiers, Murderers, Attendants, and Messengers.

Scene: Scotland: England.

THE TRAGEDY OF

MACBETH.

FOOTNOTES:

[3666] First given by Rowe; more fully by Capell.

[3667] Gentlewoman ...] Capell. Gentlewomen ... Rowe.

ACT I.

Scene I. A desert place.[3668]

Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.

First Witch. When shall we three meet again [3669]
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?[3670]

Sec. Witch. When the hurlyburly's done,[3671]
When the battle's lost and won.

Third Witch. That will be ere the set of sun.[3672] 5

First Witch. Where the place?

Sec. Witch. Upon the heath.

Third Witch. There to meet with Macbeth.[3673]

First Witch. I come, Graymalkin.[3674]

All. Paddock calls:—anon![3675][3676][3677]
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.[3675][3676][3678] 10
[Pg 422] Hover through the fog and filthy air.[3675] [Exeunt.[3679]

Scene II. A camp near Forres.[3680]

Alarum within. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with Attendants, meeting a bleeding Sergeant.[3681]

Dun. What bloody man is that? He can report,[3682]
As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt
The newest state.

Mal. This is the sergeant [3683]
Who like a good and hardy soldier fought[3683][3684]
'Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friend![3684][3685] 5
Say to the king the knowledge of the broil [3686]
As thou didst leave it.

Ser. Doubtful it stood;[3687]
As two spent swimmers, that do cling together [3688]
And choke their art. The merciless Macdonwald—[3689]
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that 10
The multiplying villanies of nature [3690]
Do swarm upon him—from the western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied;[3691]
[Pg 423] And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling,[3692]
Show'd like a rebel's whore: but all's too weak:[3693] 15
For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel,[3694]
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like valour's minion carved out his passage [3695][3696]
Till he faced the slave;[3695][3697] 20
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,[3698]
Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,[3699]
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.

Dun. O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!

Ser. As whence the sun 'gins his reflection [3700] 25
Shipwrecking storms and direful thunders break,[3701]
So from that spring whence comfort seem'd to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, king of Scotland, mark:[3702]
No sooner justice had, with valour arm'd,
Compell'd these skipping kerns to trust their heels,[3703] 30
But the Norweyan lord, surveying vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new supplies of men,[3704]
Began a fresh assault.
[Pg 424]

Dun. Dismay'd not this [3705]
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?[3705][3706]

Ser. Yes;[3707]
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion.[3707] 35
If I say sooth, I must report they were
As cannons overcharged with double cracks;[3708]
So they [3709]
Doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe:[3710]
Except they meant to bathe in reeking wounds,[3711] 40
Or memorize another Golgotha,
I cannot tell—[3712][3713]
But I am faint; my gashes cry for help.[3712]

Dun. So well thy words become thee as thy wounds;[3714]
They smack of honour both. Go get him surgeons.[3715] 45

[Exit Sergeant, attended.

Who comes here?[3716]

Enter Ross.

Mal. The worthy thane of Ross.

Len. What a haste looks through his eyes! So should he look [3717][3718]
That seems to speak things strange.[3718][3719]
[Pg 425]

Ross. God save the king!

Dun. Whence camest thou, worthy thane?

Ross. From Fife, great king;
Where the Norweyan banners flout the sky [3720] 50
And fan our people cold.[3721]
Norway himself, with terrible numbers,[3721][3722]
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The thane of Cawdor, began a dismal conflict;[3723]
Till that Bellona's bridegroom, lapp'd in proof, 55
Confronted him with self-comparisons,
Point against point rebellious, arm 'gainst arm,[3724]
Curbing his lavish spirit: and, to conclude,[3725]
The victory fell on us.

Dun. Great happiness!

Ross. That now [3726] 60
Sweno, the Norways' king, craves composition;[3726][3727]
Nor would we deign him burial of his men
Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme's inch,[3728]
Ten thousand dollars to our general use.

Dun. No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive 65
Our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death,[3729]
And with his former title greet Macbeth.[3730]
[Pg 426]

Ross. I'll see it done.

Dun. What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.

[Exeunt.

Scene III. A heath.

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

First Witch. Where hast thou been, sister?[3731]

Sec. Witch. Killing swine.

Third Witch. Sister, where thou?[3732]

First Witch. A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap,
And mounch'd, and mounch'd, and mounch'd. 'Give me,' quoth I:[3733] 5
'Aroint thee, witch!' the rump-fed ronyon cries.[3734]
Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the Tiger:
But in a sieve I'll thither sail,
And, like a rat without a tail,
I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do.[3735] 10

Sec. Witch. I'll give thee a wind.

First Witch. Thou'rt kind.[3736]

Third Witch. And I another.

First Witch. I myself have all the other;
And the very ports they blow,[3737] 15
All the quarters that they know [3738]
I' the shipman's card.[3739]
I will drain him dry as hay:[3740]
Sleep shall neither night nor day
[Pg 427] Hang upon his pent-house lid; 20
He shall live a man forbid:
Weary se'nnights nine times nine [3741]
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine:
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tost. 25
Look what I have.

Sec. Witch. Show me, show me.

First Witch. Here I have a pilot's thumb,
Wreck'd as homeward he did come. [Drum within.

Third Witch. A drum, a drum! 30
Macbeth doth come.[3742]

All. The weird sisters, hand in hand,[3743]
Posters of the sea and land,[3744]
Thus do go about, about:
Thrice to thine, and thrice to mine,[3745] 35
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace! the charm's wound up.

Enter Macbeth and Banquo.[3746]

Macb. So foul and fair a day I have not seen.[3747]

Ban. How far is't call'd to Forres? What are these [3748]
So wither'd, and so wild in their attire, 40
That look not like the inhabitants o' the earth,[3749]
And yet are on't? Live you? or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips: you should be women, 45
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so.
[Pg 428]

Macb. Speak, if you can: what are you?

First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Sec. Witch. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!50

Ban. Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I' the name of truth,[3750]
Are ye fantastical, or that indeed
Which outwardly ye show? My noble partner
You greet with present grace and great prediction 55
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal: to me you speak not:[3751]
If you can look into the seeds of time,
And say which grain will grow and which will not,[3752]
Speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear 60
Your favours nor your hate.

First Witch. Hail!

Sec. Witch. Hail!

Third Witch. Hail!

First Witch. Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. 65

Sec. Witch. Not so happy, yet much happier.

Third Witch. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none:
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo![3753]

First Witch. Banquo and Macbeth, all hail![3754]

Macb. Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more: 70
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;[3755]
But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence 75
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our way
With such prophetic greeting? Speak, I charge you.[3756]
[Pg 429]

[Witches vanish.

Ban. The earth hath bubbles as the water has,
And these are of them: whither are they vanish'd? 80

Macb. Into the air, and what seem'd corporal melted [3757]
As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd![3757]

Ban. Were such things here as we do speak about?
Or have we eaten on the insane root [3758]
That takes the reason prisoner? 85

Macb. Your children shall be kings.

Ban. You shall be king.

Macb. And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so?

Ban. To the selfsame tune and words. Who's here?[3759]

Enter Ross and Angus.

Ross. The king hath happily received, Macbeth,[3760]
The news of thy success: and when he reads 90
Thy personal venture in the rebels' fight,[3761]
His wonders and his praises do contend [3762]
Which should be thine or his: silenced with that,[3762][3763]
In viewing o'er the rest o' the selfsame day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan ranks, 95
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make,[3764]
Strange images of death. As thick as hail [3765][3766]
Came post with post, and every one did bear[3766][3767]
Thy praises in his kingdom's great defence,
And pour'd them down before him.

Aug. We are sent [3768] 100
To give thee, from our royal master, thanks;[3769][3770]
[Pg 430] Only to herald thee into his sight,[3769]
Not pay thee.

Ross. And for an earnest of a greater honour,
He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor:[3771] 105
In which addition, hail, most worthy thane!
For it is thine.

Ban. What, can the devil speak true?

Macb. The thane of Cawdor lives: why do you dress me [3772]
In borrow'd robes?[3772][3773]

Ang. Who was the thane lives yet,
But under heavy judgement bears that life 110
Which he deserves to lose. Whether he was combined [3774]
With those of Norway, or did line the rebel[3774][3775]
With hidden help and vantage, or that with both[3774][3776]
He labour'd in his country's wreck, I know not;[3774]
But treasons capital, confess'd and proved, 115
Have overthrown him.

Macb. [Aside] Glamis, and thane of Cawdor:[3777]
The greatest is behind.—Thanks for your pains.—[3778]
Do you not hope your children shall be kings,[3779]
When those that gave the thane of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?

Ban. That, trusted home,[3780] 120
Might yet enkindle you unto the crown,
Besides the thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange:
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
[Pg 431] Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's [3781] 125
In deepest consequence.[3782]
Cousins, a word, I pray you.[3782]

Macb. [Aside] Two truths are told,[3783]
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme.—I thank you, gentlemen.
[Aside] This supernatural soliciting [3784] 130
Cannot be ill; cannot be good: if ill,[3785][3786]
Why hath it given me earnest of success,[3786]
Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor:[3787]
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair [3788] 135
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears [3789]
Are less than horrible imaginings:
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,[3790]
Shakes so my single state of man that function [3791] 140
Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing is[3791]
But what is not.[3791][3792]

Ban. Look, how our partner's rapt.

Macb. [Aside] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,[3793]
Without my stir.
[Pg 432]

Ban. New honours come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mould 145
But with the aid of use.[3794]

Macb. [Aside] Come what come may,[3795]
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.

Ban. Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your leisure.

Macb. Give me your favour: my dull brain was wrought [3796]
With things forgotten. Kind gentlemen, your pains[3796][3797] 150
Are register'd where every day I turn[3796]
The leaf to read them. Let us toward the king.[3796]
Think upon what hath chanced, and at more time,[3796][3798]
The interim having weigh'd it, let us speak [3799]
Our free hearts each to other.

Ban. Very gladly. 155

Macb. Till then, enough. Come, friends.[3800] [Exeunt.

Scene IV. Forres. The palace.[3801]

Flourish. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, and Attendants.[3802]

Dun. Is execution done on Cawdor? Are not [3803]
Those in commission yet return'd?

Mal. My liege,[3804]
They are not yet come back. But I have spoke[3804]
[Pg 433] With one that saw him die, who did report[3804]
That very frankly he confess'd his treasons,[3804] 5
Implored your highness' pardon and set forth[3804]
A deep repentance: nothing in his life[3804]
Became him like the leaving it; he died[3804]
As one that had been studied in his death,
To throw away the dearest thing he owed [3805] 10
As 'twere a careless trifle.

Dun. There's no art
To find the mind's construction in the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.

Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.

O worthiest cousin![3806]
The sin of my ingratitude even now 15
Was heavy on me: thou art so far before [3807]
That swiftest wing of recompense is slow [3808]
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst less deserved,[3809]
That the proportion both of thanks and payment
Might have been mine! only I have left to say,[3810] 20
More is thy due than more than all can pay.[3811]

Macb. The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself. Your highness' part [3812]
Is to receive our duties: and our duties[3812]
Are to your throne and state, children and servants;[3812] 25
Which do but what they should, by doing every thing[3812][3813]
Safe toward your love and honour.[3812][3813][3814]
[Pg 434]

Dun. Welcome hither:
I have begun to plant thee, and will labour
To make thee full of growing. Noble Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must be known [3815] 30
No less to have done so: let me infold thee
And hold thee to my heart.

Ban. There if I grow,
The harvest is your own.

Dun. My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fulness, seek to hide themselves
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,[3816] 35
And you whose places are the nearest, know,
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland: which honour must
Not unaccompanied invest him only,[3817] 40
But signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to Inverness,[3818]
And bind us further to you.[3819]

Macb. The rest is labour, which is not used for you:[3819]
I'll be myself the harbinger, and make joyful [3820] 45
The hearing of my wife with your approach;
So humbly take my leave.

Dun. My worthy Cawdor!

Macb. [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step,[3821]
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires; 50
Let not light see my black and deep desires:[3822]
[Pg 435] The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. [Exit.

Dun. True, worthy Banquo; he is full so valiant,[3823]
And in his commendations I am fed; 55
It is a banquet to me. Let's after him,[3824]
Whose care is gone before to bid us welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman. [Flourish. Exeunt.[3825]

Scene V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.[3826]

Enter Lady Macbeth, reading a letter.[3827]

Lady M. 'They met me in the day of success; and I [3828]
have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in [3829]
them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to
question them further, they made themselves air, into which
they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it,[3830] 5
came missives from the king, who all-hailed me "Thane [3831]
of Cawdor;" by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted [3832]
me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with
"Hail, king that shalt be!" This have I thought good to [3833]
deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou 10
mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant [3834]
of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it to thy heart,
[Pg 436] and farewell.'
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be [3835]
What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;[3836] 15
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness [3837]
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 20
And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,[3838][3839]
That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;[3838][3839]
And that which rather thou dost fear to do[3839]
Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,[3839][3840]
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, 25
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,[3841]
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem [3842]
To have thee crown'd withal.[3843]

Enter a Messenger.[3844]

What is your tidings?

Mess. The king comes here to-night.

Lady M. Thou'rt mad to say it:[3845]30
Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,
Would have inform'd for preparation.

Mess. So please you, it is true: our thane is coming:[3845]
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more 35
Than would make up his message.
[Pg 437]

Lady M. Give him tending;
He brings great news. [Exit Messenger.
The raven himself is hoarse [3846]
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits [3847]
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,[3848] 40
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood,[3849]
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between [3850] 45
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,[3851]
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,[3852]
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 50
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,[3853]
To cry 'Hold, hold!'

Enter Macbeth.

Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor![3854]
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond 55
This ignorant present, and I feel now [3855]
The future in the instant.
[Pg 438]

Macb. My dearest love,[3856]
Duncan comes here to-night.

Lady M. And when goes hence?

Macb. To-morrow, as he purposes.

Lady M. O, never
Shall sun that morrow see![3857] 60
Your face, my thane, is as a book where men [3858]
May read strange matters. To beguile the time,[3859]
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't. He that's coming 65
Must be provided for: and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch;
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.

Macb. We will speak further.

Lady Macb. Only look up clear; 70
To alter favour ever is to fear:[3860]
Leave all the rest to me. [Exeunt.

Scene VI. Before Macbeth's castle.[3861]

Hautboys and torches. Enter Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and Attendants.[3862]

Dun. This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air [3863][3864]
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself[3864]
Unto our gentle senses.[3865]
[Pg 439]

Ban. This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve [3866]
By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath [3867] 5
Smells wooingly here: no jutty, frieze,[3868][3869]
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird[3868][3870]
Hath made his pendent bed and procreant cradle:[3868][3871]
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed[3868][3871][3872]
The air is delicate.[3868]

Enter Lady Macbeth.

Dun. See, see, our honour'd hostess![3868][3873]10
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,[3874]
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you [3875]
How you shall bid God'ild us for your pains,[3875][3876]
And thank us for your trouble.

Lady M. All our service
In every point twice done, and then done double, 15
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honours deep and broad wherewith [3877]
Your majesty loads our house: for those of old,[3877]
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,[3877]
[Pg 440] We rest your hermits.[3877]

Dun. Where's the thane of Cawdor?[3877][3878]20
We coursed him at the heels, and had a purpose
To be his purveyor: but he rides well,
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him [3879]
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,[3880]
We are your guest to-night.

Lady M. Your servants ever 25
Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,[3881]
To make their audit at your highness' pleasure,
Still to return your own.

Dun. Give me your hand;
Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly,[3882]
And shall continue our graces towards him. 30
By your leave, hostess. [Exeunt.[3883]

Scene VII. Macbeth's castle.[3884]

Hautboys and torches. Enter a Sewer, and divers Servants with dishes and service and pass over the stage. Then enter Macbeth.[3885]

Macb. If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well [3886]
It were done quickly: if the assassination[3886][3887]
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but this blow [3888]
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,[3889] 5
[Pg 441] But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,[3890]
We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgement here; that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which being taught return [3891]
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice [3892][3893] 10
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice[3892][3894]
To our own lips. He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door, 15
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been [3895]
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against [3896]
The deep damnation of his taking-off; 20
And pity, like a naked new-born babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubin horsed [3897]
Upon the sightless couriers of the air,[3898]
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur 25
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself [3899]
And falls on the other.[3900]

[Pg 442]

Enter Lady Macbeth.[3901]

How now! what news?

Lady M. He has almost supp'd: why have you left the chamber?[3902]

Macb. Hath he ask'd for me?

Lady M. Know you not he has?[3903] 30

Macb. We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,[3904]
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,[3905]
Not cast aside so soon.

Lady M. Was the hope drunk 35
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?[3906]
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time [3907]
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard [3908]
To be the same in thine own act and valour 40
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that [3909]
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,[3909]
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat i' the adage?[3910]

Macb. Prithee, peace: 45
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none.[3911]

Lady M. What beast was't then
That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man;
And, to be more than what you were, you would 50
[Pg 443] Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place [3912]
Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:[3913]
They have made themselves, and that their fitness now [3914]
Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: 55
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you [3915][3916]
Have done to this.[3915][3917]

Macb. If we should fail?

Lady M. We fail!
But screw your courage to the sticking-place, 60
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep—
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey [3918]
Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince [3919]
That memory, the warder of the brain, 65
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbec only: when in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death,[3920]
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon 70
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?

Macb. Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose [3921]
Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two 75
Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers,
That they have done't?
[Pg 444]

Lady M. Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
Upon his death?

Macb. I am settled, and bend up [3922]
Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. 80
Away, and mock the time with fairest show:[3923]
False face must hide what the false heart doth know.[3923]

[Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[3668] Act i. Scene i.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff.

A desert place.] An open Heath. Rowe. An open place. Theobald. om Ff.

[3669] again] Hanmer. againe? F₁ F₂. again? F₃ F₄.

[3670] or] and Hanmer.

[3671] done] over A. Hunter.

[3672] the] om. Pope.

[3673] to meet with Macbeth] I go to meet Macbeth Pope. to meet with great Macbeth Capell. we go to meet Macbeth A. Hunter (Jennens conj.). to meet with—1. Witch. Whom? 2. Witch. Macbeth. Rann (Steevens conj.). to meet and greet Macbeth Jackson conj. to meet with thane Macbeth Nicholson conj.

[3674] I come] I come, I come Pope, putting Grimalkin in a separate line.

[Spirits call in succession. Nicholson conj.

[3675] All. Paddock ... air.] 2. Witch. Padocke calls—anon! All. Fair ... air. Pope. 2. Witch. Paddock calls. 3. Witch. Anon. All. Fair ... air. Grant White (Hunter conj.).

[3676] Paddock ... fair.] Two lines in Pope. One in Ff.

[3677] calls:—anon!] calls—anon— Rowe. calls anon: Ff.

[3678] foul is fair] foul sfair Rowe (ed. 2).

[3679] the] om. Pope.

[Exeunt.] Ff. They rise from the Stage, and fly away. Rowe. Witches vanish. Malone.

[3680] A camp ...] Capell. A Palace. Rowe. The Palace at Forres. Theobald.

[3681] Alarum within] om. Rowe.

Duncan,] Capell. King, Ff.

Sergeant.] Edd. Captaine. Ff. Soldier. Capell.

[3682] Dun.] Capell. King. Ff. (and throughout).

[3683] sergeant Who ... good] serjeant, who Like a right good Hanmer.

[3684] soldier fought 'Gainst] soldier Fought against S. Walker conj., or supposes some words to be lost.

[3685] Hail] Haile F₁. Haile: haile F₂. Hail, hail F₃ F₄. Hail, my S. Walker conj.

[3686] the knowledge] thy knowledge Keightley (Collier MS. and S. Walker conj.).

[3687] Doubtful] Doubtful long Pope. Doubtfully Steevens (1793).

it] it had Anon. conj.

stood;] Here Keightley marks a line omitted.

[3688] two] to Warburton.

spent] expert Jennens.

[3689] Macdonwald] F₁. Macdonnell F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3690] villanies] F₁ F₄. Villaines F₂ F₃.

[3691] Of] With Hanmer.

gallowglasses] Gallow glasses F₂ F₃ F₄. Gallowgrosses F₁.

is] was Pope.

[3692] damned quarrel] Hanmer (Warburton and Johnson). damned quarry Ff. damped quarry Jackson conj.

[3693] a rebel's] the rebel's Hanmer.

all's too weak] all too weak Pope. all-to-weak Hunter conj.

[3694] Disdaining fortune] Like valour's minion Mitford conj.

[3695] Like ... slave:] As in Ff. Steevens (1793) ends the first line minion. Keightley marks an omission after minion and after slave.

[3696] Like valour's minion] om. Mitford conj.

carved] Rowe (ed. 2). carv'd Ff.

[3697] he] he had Pope.

[3698] Which ne'er] Knight. Which nev'r F₁ F₂ F₃. Which never F₄. Who ne'er Pope. And ne'er Capell. When he ne'er Nicholson conj.

Which ... hands] And ne'er slack'd hand Bullock conj.

bade] Steevens (1778). bad F₁ F₂ F₃. bid F₄.

[3699] nave] nape Hanmer (Warburton).

chaps] chops Ff.

[3700] 'gins] F₁. gins F₂ F₃ F₄. gives Pope.

[3701] Shipwrecking ... break] Burst forth shipwrecking storms and direful thunders Anon. conj.

thunders break,] Pope. thunders: F₁. thunders breaking F₂ F₃ F₄. thunders burst, or thunders threat, S. Walker conj.

[3702] Discomfort swells] Discomfort swell'd Pope. Discomforts well'd Johnson (Thirlby conj.). Discomfit well'd Warburton. Discomfort wells Capell.

[3703] kerns] kernes Ff. kermes Johnson.

[3704] furbish'd] furbusht Ff.

[3705] Dismayed ... Banquo?] As in Pope. Prose in Ff.

[3706] captains] captains twain S. Walker conj.

Macbeth] brave Macbeth Hanmer.

[3707] Yes; ... lion.] As in Pope. Two lines, ending eagles ... lyon, in Ff.

[3708] overcharged with] overcharg'd; with Theobald. charg'd with Seymour conj. (reading As ... they as one line).

[3709] So they] As a separate line in Steevens. In Ff So they begins line 39, in Globe ed. ends line 37. Before or after these words Grant White conjectures the rest of a line to be lost. Keightley marks the omission of part of a line before So they.

[3710] Doubly] om. Pope, reading So ... foe as one line.

[3711] reeking] F₁ F₄. recking F₂ F₃.

[3712] I ... help.] As in Rowe. Two lines, the first ending faint, in Ff.

[3713] tell—] Rowe. tell: Ff.

[3714] So] As A. Hunter.

[3715] [Exit ...] Exeunt some with the Soldier. Capell. Exit Soldier, attended. Malone. om. Ff.

[3716] Who] But who Pope. Who is't Steevens conj.

here?] here now? Keightley.

Enter Ross.] Steevens (after line 45). Enter Rosse and Angus. Ff (after line 45). Transferred by Dyce to follow strange, line 48.

[3717] a haste] F₁. hast F₂ F₃ F₄. haste Rowe.

[3718] So ... strange] As in Hanmer. One line in Ff. Given to Malcolm, Upton conj.

[3719] seems] teems Johnson conj. comes Collier (Collier MS.). seeks or deems Anon. conj.

[3720] flout the] float i' the Becket conj. Did flout the Keightley, reading From ... cold as two lines, the first ending banners.

[3721] And ... himself,] One line, S. Walker conj.

[3722] Norway himself, with] Norway, himself with Theobald.

terrible numbers,] numbers terrible, Pope. terrible numbers, there Keightley.

[3723] began] 'gan Pope.

[3724] point rebellious, arm] Theobald. point, rebellious arme Ff.

[3725] and] om. Pope.

[3726] That ... composition] As in Steevens (1778). Two lines, the first ending king, in Ff.

That now ... the Norway's] Now ... Norway's Pope, reading Now ... composition as one line.

[3727] Sweno] om. Steevens conj., reading That ... composition as one line.

Norways'] Steevens (1778). Norwayes Ff. Norway's Rowe.

[3728] Colme's inch] Colmes ynch F₁. Colmes-hill F₂ F₃ F₄. Colmes-kill-isle Pope. Colmkil-isle Hanmer. Colme's hill Capell. Colmes' inch Steevens.

[3729] bosom interest] bosom trust Capell conj. bosom's trust Anon. conj. bisson trust Anon. conj. trusting boson Anon. conj.

go] om. Capell conj.

present] om. Pope.

[3730] greet] F₁. great F₂ F₃ F₄. A heath] Capell. The heath. Rowe.

[3731] thou] om. Steevens conj.

[3732] Sister] om. Steevens conj.

[3733] Give ... I:] As in Pope. A separate line in Ff.

[3734] Aroint thee] Aroynt thee F₁ F₂. Anoynt thee F₃ F₄. I've rauntree Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIV. p. 731). A rauntree Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LV. p. 535). A rown-tree A. Hunter. Aroint the Becket conj.

[3735] and I'll do] and I'll not fail Jackson conj.

[3736] Thou'rt] Capell. Th'art Ff. Thou art Pope.

[3737] very] various Johnson conj.

ports] points Pope.

[3738] know] know, F₁. know. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3739] card.] card to show. Collier (Collier MS.).

[3740] I will] Pope. Ile F₁. I'le F₂ F₃. I'll F₄.

[3741] se'nnights] sev'nights Ff. seven-nights Dyce.

[3742] C. Lofft conjectured that the play should begin with this line; Strutt that it should commence with the following line.

[3743] weird] Theobald. weyward Ff. weyard Keightley.

[3744] of] o'er A. Hunter.

[3745] Thrice] Thice F₂.

[3746] Banquo.] Banquo, with Soldiers and other Attendants. Rowe. Banquo, journeying; Soldiers, and Others, at a Distance. Capell.

[3747] Scene IV. Pope.

[3748] Forres] Foris Pope. Soris Ff.

[3749] the inhabitants o' the] inhabitants of Pope.

[3750] [To the Witches. Rowe.

[3751] rapt] Pope. wrapt Ff.

[3752] not] rot Porson conj. MS.

[3753] So] om. Pope.

[3754] First Witch.] 1. Ff. 1. 2. Capell.

[3755] Sinel's] Finleg's Ritson conj. Sinane's Beattie conj.

I am] I'm Pope.

[3756] With ... you.] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3757] Into ... stayed!] As in Capell. Three lines, ending corporall, ... winde ...stay'd, in Ff.

[3758] on] of F₄.

[3759] Who's] but who is Hanmer.

[3760] Scene V. Pope.

[3761] venture] 'venture Warburton.

[3762] contend Which ... that,] contend.—Silenced with that which should be thine, not his, Becket conj.

[3763] should] would Pope.

[3764] afeard] afraid F₄.

[3765] death. As] Pope. death; as Rowe. death, as Ff.

[3766] thick ... with post] quick as tale, Post follow'd post A. Hunter.

hail Came] Rowe. tale Can Ff. tale, Came Steevens (Johnson conj.). bale Came Becket conj.

[3767] with] on Pope.

[3768] sent] not sent Hunter conj.

[3769] Only ... pay thee.] To herald thee into his sight, not pay thee. Steevens (1793). Only to herald thee into his sight. Mitford conj.

[3770] herald] F₄. harrold F₁. herald F₂F₃.

into his] to's or in's S. Walker conj., reading Only ... thee as one line.

[3771] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.

[3772] why ... robes?] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[3773] borrow'd] Capell. borrowed F₁. his borrowed F₂F₃F₄. his borrow'd Pope.

[3774] Whether ... know not] As in Malone. Five lines, ending loose ... Norway ... helpe, ... labour'd ... not, in Ff. Four lines, ending was ... rebel ... both ... not, in Pope.

[3775] those of] om. Pope.

did] F₁ and Pope. else did F₂F₃F₄.

[3776] that] om. Pope.

[3777] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3778] [To Angus. Rowe.

[3779] [To Banquo. Rowe.

[3780] trusted] thrusted Keightley (Malone conj.).

[3781] betray's] F₁F₃F₄. betrays F₂. betray us Rowe (ed. 2).

[3782] In ... you] As in Ff. One line in Capell.

[3783] [To Rosse and Angus. Rowe. talks with Rosse and Angus apart. Capell.] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3784] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[3785] Cannot ... cannot] Can it ... can it Anon. conj.

cannot be good] can it be good? Jackson conj.

[3786] if ill ... success,] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[3787] I am] I'm Pope.

[3788] unfix] upfix Warburton. uplift A. Hunter.

hair] Rowe. heire F₁F₂F₃. heir F₄.

[3789] fears] feats Theobald (Warburton). acts A. Hunter.

[3790] whose] where Collier MS.

murder ... fantastical] murther's yet but fantasy Hanmer.

[3791] Shakes ... not.] Arranged as in Pope. Three lines, ending man, ... surmise, ... not, in Ff.

[3792] partner's] F₁F₄. partners F₂F₃.

[3793] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

If ... me,] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[3794] [Aside] Johnson. om. Ff.

[3795] Time and the hour] Time! on!—the hour Johnson conj. Time and the honour Jackson conj. Time's sandy hour Bailey conj.

[3796] Give ... time,] Arranged as in Pope. As seven lines, ending favour ... forgotten ... registred, ... leafe, ... them ... upon ... time, in Ff. Six lines, ending favour:— ... forgotten ... register'd ... them.— ... king ... time, in Knight.

[3797] forgotten] forgot Pope.

[To Rosse and Angus. Johnson.

[3798] [To Banquo. Rowe.

[3799] The] I' th' Steevens conj. In the Keightley.

[3800] Till ... friends] As in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[3801] Scene IV.] Ff. Scene VI. Pope.

Forres. The palace.] Foris. A Room in the Palace. Capell. A Palace. Rowe.

[3802] Duncan,] Capell. King, Ff.

Malcolm ... Lennox,] Rowe. Lenox, Malcolme, Donalbaine, Ff.

[3803] Dun.] Capell. King. Ff (and throughout).

Is ... not] Arranged as by Capell. The line ends at Cawdor? in Ff.

Cawdor?] Cawdor yet? Pope.

Are] F₂ F₃ F₄. Or F₁.

[3804] My liege, ... died] Arranged as by Pope. Seven lines, ending back ... die: ... hee ... pardon, ... repentance: ... him, ... dy'de, in Ff.

[3805] owed] own'd] Warburton (Johnson conj.). had A. Hunter.

[3806] worthiest] my most worthy Hanmer.

[3807] Was] Is A. Hunter.

thou art] Thou'rt Pope.

[3808] That] The Jennens.

wing] F₁. wine F₂ F₃ F₄. wind Rowe.

[3809] thou hadst] thou'dst Pope.

[3810] mine] more Collier (Collier MS.), mean Staunton conj.

I have] I've Pope.

[3811] than more] ev'n more Hanmer. nay, more A. Hunter.

[3812] Your ... honour.] Arranged as in Pope. Five lines, ending duties: ... state, ... should, ... love ... honor, in Ff.

[3813] by ... Safe toward] in doing nothing, Save tow'rds Johnson conj.

[3814] Safe] Shap'd Hanmer. Fief'd Warburton. Fiefs Warburton conj. Serves Heath conj. Saf'd Malone conj.

Safe toward your] Safe to ward your Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIX. p. 713). Safe-toward your Seymour conj. Your safeguards Becket conj.

your] you Blackstone conj.

love] life Warburton.

[3815] nor] and Rowe.

[3816] kinsmen] F₁. kinsman F₂ F₃ F₄.

thanes] and thanes, Hanmer.

[3817] unaccompanied] accompanied Warburton and Johnson.

[3818] From] om. Pope.

Inverness] Pope. Envernes Ff.

[3819] S. Walker would end the lines labour, ... you.

[3820] harbinger] Rowe. herbenger F₁ F₂ F₃. harbenger F₄.

[3821] [Aside] Rowe. om. Ff.

[3822] not light] no light Hanmer. not night Warburton.

[3823] so valiant] of valour Hanmer.

[3824] Let's] let us Pope.

[3825] It,] He A. Hunter.

[Flourish. Exeunt.] F₃. Exeunt. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3826] Scene V.] Scene VII. Pope.

Inverness. Macbeth's castle.] An Apartment in Macbeth's Castle. Rowe. An ... Castle at Inverness. Pope.

[3827] Enter Lady Macbeth ...] Enter Macbeths Wife alone with a Letter. Ff. Enter Lady Macbeth alone with a Letter. Rowe. Enter Lady Macbeth, reading. Capell.

[3828] Lady M.] Lady. Ff.

[3829] perfectest] Rowe (ed. 2). perfectst F₁ F₂. perfect'st F₃ F₄. perfected Warburton.

[3830] Whiles] While Pope.

[3831] all-hailed] all-hail'd F₁. all hail'd F₂ F₃ F₄. all, hail'd Rowe (ed. 1).

[3832] weird] Theobald. weyward Ff. wayward Rowe.

[3833] shalt be] shalt be hereafter Upton conj.

[3834] the dues] thy dues Capell conj.

[3835] art] art now Seymour conj.

[3836] do I] I do F₄. I Pope.

[3837] human] Rowe. humane Ff.

[3838] And ... it;] As in Pope. Three lines, ending winne ... cryes, ... it, in Ff.

[3839] thou'ldst ... undone.'] See note (I).

[3840] Hie] F₄. High F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3841] impedes thee] impeides thee F₁. thee hinders F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3842] metaphysical] metaphysic Pope.

doth seem] doth seek Johnson conj. do strive Anon. conj.

[3843] thee crown'd] crown'd thee Warburton.

[3844] Enter a Messenger.] Enter Messenger. Ff. Enter an Attendant. Capell.

[3845] Mess.] Att. Capell.

[3846] He ... hoarse] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[Exit Messenger.] Ff. Exit Att. Capell.

himself is] himself's not Warburton.

[3847] you spirits] all you spirits Pope (Davenant's version). come, you spirits Steevens (1793). spirits of evil Keightley.

[3848] mortal] deadly A. Hunter.

[3849] direst] direct Warburton and Johnson.

[3850] peace] pace Johnson conj.

[3851] The effect and it] The effecting it Becket conj.

effect] essect F₂.

it] F₃ F₄. hit F₁ F₂.

[3852] for gall] with gall Keightley.

[3853] blanket] Ff. blank height Coleridge conj. blankness Collier MS. blackness Bailey conj. blankest Jessopp conj. blonket Anon. (N. and Q.) conj.

[3854] [Embracing him. Rowe.

[3855] present] present time Pope.

feel] feel e'en Hunter conj. feel me Anon. conj.

[3856] My] om. Pope.

[3857] sun] his sun Jackson conj.

[3858] a] om. F₂.

[3859] matters. To ... time,] Theobald. matters, to ... time. Ff.

[3860] to fear] and fear Theobald (ed. 2).

[3861] Scene VI.] Scene VIII. Pope. Scene IV. Rowe (ed. 1).

Before....] The Castle Gate. Rowe. Before Macbeth's Castle Gate. Theobald.

[3862] Hautboys and torches.] Hoboyes, and Torches. Ff (Hoboys, F₄). Hautboys. Servants of Macbeth with Torches. Capell.

Enter Duncan....] Enter King.... Ff.

[3863] seat] site Johnson conj.

[3864] the air ... itself] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[3865] Unto ... senses] Gentle unto our sense Becket conj.

gentle senses] general sense Warburton. gentle sense Capell (Johnson conj.).

[3866] martlet] Rowe. Barlet Ff.

[3867] loved mansionry] love-mansionry Staunton conj.

mansionry] Theobald. mansonry Ff. masonry Pope (ed. 2).

the] om. Pope.

[3868] Smells ... delicate] Steevens (1793) ends the lines buttress, ... made ... they ... air ... delicate.

[3869] wooingly] sweet and wooingly Hanmer.

wooingly here: no] wooingly. Here is no Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

jutty, frieze] Steevens (1793). jutty frieze Ff. jutting frieze Pope. jutty, (word omitted) frieze S. Walker conj.

[3870] bird] bird on't Keightley.

[3871] cradle: ... haunt,] Rowe. cradle, ... haunt: Ff.

[3872] most] Rowe. must Ff. much Collier (Collier MS.).

[3873] Enter Lady Macbeth.] Enter Lady. Ff (and passim).

See, see,] See! Hanmer.

[3874] sometime is] sometime's Pope (ed. 1). sometimes Pope (ed. 2). sometimes is Theobald.

[3875] you How you] you:—How?—You Jackson conj.

[3876] shall] should Rowe (ed. 2).

God'ild] God-eyld Ff. Godild Hanmer. God-yeld Warburton. god-yield Johnson. God shield Johnson conj.

[3877] Against ... hermits] As in Pope. In Ff the first three lines end broad, ... house: ... dignities.

[3878] hermits] F₃ F₄. Ermites F₁. Hermites F₂.

[3879] as] at F₂.

[3880] To his] To's Pope.

[3881] theirs, in compt,] theirs, in compt Pope. theirs in compt, Ff.

[3882] host: we] host, we F₃ F₄. host we F₁ F₂.

[3883] [kisses her. Nicholson conj.

[3884] Scene VII.] Scene IX. Pope.

Macbeth's castle.] An Apartment. Rowe. An Apartment in Macbeth's Castle. Theobald.

[3885] Hautboys and torches.] Ho-boyes. Torches. F₁ F₂. Ho boyes. Torches. F₃. Hoboys. Torches. F₄.

Enter ... and pass over....] Enter ... over.... Ff.

a Sewer, and] om. Rowe.

[3886] well It ... quickly: if] well, It ... quickly: If Ff. well. It ... quickly. If Anon, apud Johnson conj. well. It ... quickly if Grant White (Anon. conj. N. and Q.).

[3887] assassination] assassinator Becket conj.

[3888] his] its Pope.

surcease, success] success, surcease A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[3889] be ... end-all] be the all, and be the end of all—Rowe (ed. 2).

be-all] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

end-all] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

end-all here,] Hanmer. end all. Heere, Ff (Here F₃ F₄). end all—Here, Rowe (ed. 1). end-all—Here. Warburton.

[3890] But here, upon] Here only on Pope.

shoal Theobald. schoole F₁ F₂. school F₃ F₄. shelve Warburton. school'd Becket conj.

time,] time— Rowe.

[3891] instructions] inductions Becket conj.

[3892] the inventor ... Commends] F₁. Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄ and Rowe.

[3893] this] om. Pope. thus, Collier, ed. 2 (Mason conj.).

[3894] Commends] Returns Pope. ingredients] Pope. ingredience Ff.

[3895] his] F₁. this F₂ F₃ F₄.

faculties] F₁ F₂. faculty F₃ F₄.

[3896] against] again Johnson.

[3897] cherubin] Ff. cherubim Jennens.

[3898] couriers] Pope. Curriors Ff. curriers Rowe. coursers Theobald (Warburton).

[3899] itself] its sell Singleton conj. its seat Bailey conj.

[3900] on the other.] on th' other. Ff. on th' other— Rowe. on th' other side. Hanmer. upon the other. Steevens conj. on the rider. Mason conj. on theory. Jackson conj. on th' earth. or upon th' earth. Bailey conj. on the other bank. Anon. conj.

[3901] Scene X. Pope.

[3902] He has] He's Pope. He hath Hanmer.

[3903] Know you not he has?] Know you not? he has. Capell conj.

[3904] sorts] sort Theobald.

[3905] would] should Pope.

[3906] dress'd] bless'd Bailey conj.

[3907] did] bid Becket conj. eyed Bailey conj.

time] After this Keightley marks a line omitted.

[3908] love] liver Bailey conj.

afeard] affear'd F₁ F₂ F₃. afraid F₄.

[3909] have ... And] leave ... And or have ... Or Johnson conj. crave ... And Becket conj. lack ... And Anon. conj.

[3910] adage?] Capell. adage. Ff.

[3911] Who ... none.] Given to Lady M., reading no, Hunter conj.

do] Rowe and Southern MS. no Ff.

beast was't] boast was't Collier MS. baseness was't Bailey conj. was it Hunter conj.

[3912] the] than Hanmer.

[3913] adhere] co-here Pope.

[3914] They have] They've Pope.

[3915] And ... this.] As in Steevens (1793). In Ff the first line ends at sworne.

[3916] brains] branes F₂.

out] on't out S. Walker conj.

so] F₁ but so F₂F₃F₄. om. Seymour conj.

[3917] fail?] fail?— Rowe. fail,— Theobald (ed. 2).

fail!] Rowe. faile? F₁F₂ fail? F₃F₄. fail. Capell.

[3918] his] this Pope.

[3919] convince] confound A. Hunter.

[3920] lie] lyes F₁.

[3921] mettle] metal F₄.

[3922] I am] I'm Pope.

[3923] Away ... know.] Given to Lady M., Hunter conj.

ACT II.

Scene I. Inverness. Court of Macbeth's Castle.[3924]

Enter Banquo, and Fleance bearing a torch before him.[3925]

Ban. How goes the night, boy?

Fle. The moon is down; I have not heard the clock.[3926]

Ban. And she goes down at twelve.

Fle. I take't, 'tis later, sir.

Ban. Hold, take my sword. There's husbandry in heaven,[3927]
Their candles are all out. Take thee that too. 5
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me,
And yet I would not sleep. Merciful powers,[3928]
Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature[3928]
Gives way to in repose![3928][3929]

[Pg 445]

Enter Macbeth, and a Servant with a torch.[3930]

Give me my sword.
Who's there?[3929] 10

Macb. A friend.

Ban. What, sir, not yet at rest? The king's a-bed:
He hath been in unusual pleasure, and [3931]
Sent forth great largess to your offices:[3931]
This diamond he greets your wife withal, 15
By the name of most kind hostess; and shut up [3932][3933]
In measureless content.[3932]

Macb. Being unprepared,
Our will became the servant to defect,
Which else should free have wrought.

Ban. All's well.[3934]
I dreamt last night of the three weird sisters:[3935] 20
To you they have show'd some truth.[3936]

Macb. I think not of them:
Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve,
We would spend it in some words upon that business,[3937]
If you would grant the time.

Ban. At your kind'st leisure.[3938]

Macb. If you shall cleave to my consent, when 'tis [3939][3940]25
It shall make honour for you.[3940]

Ban. So I lose none
In seeking to augment it, but still keep
My bosom franchised and allegiance clear,
I shall be counsell'd.
[Pg 446]

Macb. Good repose the while!

Ban. Thanks, sir: the like to you![3941] 30

[Exeunt Banquo and Fleance.[3942]

Macb. Go bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell. Get thee to bed. [Exit Servant.[3943]
Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. 35
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable 40
As this which now I draw.[3944][3945]
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;[3944][3945]
And such an instrument I was to use.[3944][3945]
Mine eyes are made the fools o' the other senses,[3945]
Or else worth all the rest: I see thee still;[3945] 45
And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood,[3946]
Which was not so before. There's no such thing:
It is the bloody business which informs
Thus to mine eyes. Now o'er the one half-world [3947]
Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse 50
The curtain'd sleep; witchcraft celebrates [3948]
Pale Hecate's offerings; and wither'd murder,[3949]
Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf,
Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace,[3950]
With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design [3951] 55
[Pg 447] Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm-set earth,[3952]
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear [3953]
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,[3954]
And take the present horror from the time,[3955]
Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives:[3955][3956] 60
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.[3957]

[A bell rings.

I go, and it is done: the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell. [Exit.

Scene II. The same.[3958]

Enter Lady Macbeth.

Lady M. That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold;
What hath quench'd them hath given me fire. Hark! Peace![3959]
It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,[3959]
Which gives the stern'st good-night. He is about it:[3959]
The doors are open, and the surfeited grooms[3959] 5
[Pg 448] Do mock their charge with snores: I have drugg'd their possets,[3959][3960]
That death and nature do contend about them,
Whether they live or die.

Macb. [Within] Who's there? what, ho![3961]

Lady M. Alack, I am afraid they have awaked
And 'tis not done: the attempt and not the deed [3962] 10
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled [3963]
My father as he slept, I had done 't.[3964]

Enter Macbeth.

My husband!

Macb. I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?[3965]

Lady M. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. 15
Did not you speak?[3966]

Macb. When?

Lady M. Now.

Macb. As I descended?

Lady M. Ay.

Macb. Hark![3967]
Who lies i' the second chamber?[3967]

Lady M. Donalbain.

Macb. This is a sorry sight. [Looking on his hands.[3968]20

Lady M. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
[Pg 449]

Macb. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 'Murder!'[3969][3970]
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them:[3969][3971]
But they did say their prayers, and address'd them[3969][3972]
Again to sleep.[3969]

Lady M. There are two lodged together.[3969] 25

Macb. One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other,
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands:[3973]
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'[3973][3974]
When they did say 'God bless us!'[3975]

Lady M. Consider it not so deeply. 30

Macb. But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'?
I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen'[3976]
Stuck in my throat.[3976]

Lady M. These deeds must not be thought [3977][3978]
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.[3977]

Macb. Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more![3979] 35
Macbeth does murder sleep'—the innocent sleep,[3979][3980]
Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care,[3981]
The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,[3982]
Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course,[3983]
Chief nourisher in life's feast,—

Lady M. What do you mean?[3984] 40

Macb. Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house:
'Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor [3985][3986]
Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more.'[3985]
[Pg 450]

Lady M. Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane,
You do unbend your noble strength, to think 45
So brainsickly of things. Go get some water,
And wash this filthy witness from your hand.
Why did you bring these daggers from the place?
They must lie there: go carry them, and smear
The sleepy grooms with blood.

Macb. I'll go no more: 50
I am afraid to think what I have done;[3987]
Look on 't again I dare not.

Lady M. Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,[3988] 55
I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal,[3989]
For it must seem their guilt. [Exit. Knocking within.[3990]

Macb. Whence is that knocking?
How is't with me, when every noise appals me?[3991]
What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes!
Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood 60
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,[3992][3993]
Making the green one red.[3992][3994]

Re-enter Lady Macbeth.[3995]

Lady M. My hands are of your colour, but I shame
To wear a heart so white. [Knocking within] I hear a knocking [3996][3997]65
[Pg 451] At the south entry: retire we to our chamber:[3997]
A little water clears us of this deed:[3997]
How easy is it then! Your constancy[3997]
Hath left you unattended. [Knocking within] Hark! more knocking:[3996][3997]
Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us 70
And show us to be watchers: be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts.

Macb. To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself.[3996][3998][3999]

[Knocking within.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst![3998][4000]

[Exeunt.

Scene III. The same.[4001]

Enter a Porter. Knocking within.

Porter. Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter [4002][4003]
of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. [Knocking[4002][4003][4004][4005]
within] Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of[4002][4003]
Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hanged himself on th' expectation[4002][4003][4006]
of plenty: come in time; have napkins enow about[4002][4003][4007] 5
you; here you'll sweat for't. [Knocking within.] Knock,[4002][4003][4004][4008]
[Pg 452] knock! Who's there, in th' other devil's name? Faith,[4002][4003][4009]
here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales[4002][4003]
against either scale; who committed treason enough for[4002][4003][4010]
God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven: O, come[4002][4003]10
in, equivocator. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock, knock![4002][4003][4004]
Who's there? Faith, here's an English tailor come hither,[4002][4003]
for stealing out of a French hose: come in, tailor; here you[4002][4003]
may roast your goose. [Knocking within.] Knock, knock;[4002][4003][4004]
never at quiet! What are you? But this place is too cold[4002][4003]15
for hell. I'll devil-porter it no further: I had thought to[4002][4003]
have let in some of all professions, that go the primrose[4002][4003]
way to the everlasting bonfire. [Knocking within.] Anon,[4002][4003][4004][4011]
anon! I pray you, remember the porter. [Opens the gate.[4002][4003]

Enter Macduff and Lennox.

Macd. Was it so late, friend, ere you went to bed,[4002] 20
That you do lie so late?[4002]

Port. Faith, sir, we were carousing till the second cock:[4002][4012]
and drink, sir, is a great provoker of three things.[4002][4012][4013]

Macd. What three things does drink especially provoke?[4002]

Port. Marry, sir, nose-painting, sleep and urine. Lechery,[4002]25
sir, it provokes and unprovokes; it provokes the desire,[4002]
but it takes away the performance: therefore much drink[4002]
may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes[4002]
him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off;[4002]
it persuades him and disheartens him; makes him stand[4002] 30
to and not stand to; in conclusion, equivocates him in a[4002][4014]
sleep, and giving him the lie, leaves him.[4002][4014]

Macd. I believe drink gave thee the lie last night.[4002]

Port. That it did, sir, i' the very throat on me: but I[4002][4015]
requited him for his lie, and, I think, being too strong for[4002] 35
him, though he took up my legs sometime, yet I made a[4002][4016]
[Pg 453] shift to cast him.[4002]

Macd. Is thy master stirring?

Enter Macbeth.[4017]

Our knocking has awaked him; here he comes.

Len. Good morrow, noble sir.

Macb. Good morrow, both. 40

Macd. Is the king stirring, worthy thane?

Macb. Not yet.

Macd. He did command me to call timely on him:
I have almost slipp'd the hour.[4018]

Macb. I'll bring you to him.

Macd. I know this is a joyful trouble to you;
But yet 'tis one. 45

Macb. The labour we delight in physics pain.[4019]
This is the door.[4020]

Macd. I'll make so bold to call,[4021]
For 'tis my limited service.[4021][4022] [Exit.

Len. Goes the king hence to-day?[4023]

Macb. He does: he did appoint so.

Len. The night has been unruly: where we lay,[4024] 50
Our chimneys were blown down, and, as they say,[4024]
Lamentings heard i' the air, strange screams of death,[4024]
And prophesying with accents terrible [4025][4026]
Of dire combustion and confused events[4026][4027][4028]
[Pg 454] New hatch'd to the woful time: the obscure bird[4026][4028][4029][4030]55
Clamour'd the livelong night: some say, the earth[4029]
Was feverous and did shake.[4029]

Macb. Twas a rough night.

Len. My young remembrance cannot parallel
A fellow to it.

Re-enter Macduff.[4031]

Macd. O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart [4032][4033] 60
Cannot conceive nor name thee.[4032]

Macb. }
Len. } What's the matter?

Macd. Confusion now hath made his masterpiece.
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building.

Macb. What is't you say? the life? 65

Len. Mean you his majesty?

Macd. Approach the chamber, and destroy your sight [4034]
With a new Gorgon: do not bid me speak;
See, and then speak yourselves. [Exeunt Macbeth and Lennox.
Awake, awake![4035]
Ring the alarum-bell. Murder and treason! 70
Banquo and Donalbain! Malcolm! awake!
Shake off this downy sleep, death's counterfeit,
And look on death itself! up, up, and see
The great doom's image! Malcolm! Banquo![4036]
As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, 75
[Pg 455] To countenance this horror. Ring the bell. [Bell rings.[4037]

Enter Lady Macbeth.[4038]

Lady M. What's the business,
That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley [4039]
The sleepers of the house? speak, speak![4040]

Macd. O gentle lady,
'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak: 80
The repetition, in a woman's ear,
Would murder as it fell.

Enter Banquo.[4041]

O Banquo, Banquo![4042]
Our royal master's murder'd.[4042]

Lady M. Woe, alas!
What, in our house?

Ban. Too cruel any where.
Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself,[4043] 85
And say it is not so.[4044]

Re-enter Macbeth and Lennox, with Ross.

Macb. Had I but died an hour before this chance,
I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant
There's nothing serious in mortality:
All is but toys: renown and grace is dead;[4045] 90
The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees
[Pg 456] Is left this vault to brag of.[4046]

Enter Malcolm and Donalbain.

Don. What is amiss?

Macb. You are, and do not know't:[4047][4048]
The spring, the head, the fountain of your blood[4047]
Is stopp'd; the very source of it is stopp'd. 95

Macd. Your royal father's murder'd.

Mal. O, by whom?

Len. Those of his chamber, as it seem'd, had done't:[4049]
Their hands and faces were all badged with blood;[4050]
So were their daggers, which unwiped we found
Upon their pillows:[4051] 100
They stared, and were distracted; no man's life[4051][4052]
Was to be trusted with them.[4051]

Macb. O, yet I do repent me of my fury,
That I did kill them.[4053]

Macd. Wherefore did you so?

Macb. Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,[4054] 105
Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition of my violent love
Outrun the pauser reason. Here lay Duncan,[4055]
His silver skin laced with his golden blood,[4056]
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature 110
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refrain,[4057]
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
[Pg 457] Courage to make's love known?

Lady M. Help me hence, ho![4058] 115

Macd. Look to the lady.[4059][4060]

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Why do we hold our tongues,[4059][4061]
That most may claim this argument for ours?[4059]

Don. [Aside to Mal.] What should be spoken here, where our fate,[4059][4062]
Hid in an auger-hole, may rush, and seize us?[4059][4061][4062][4063]
Let's away;[4062] 120
Our tears are not yet brew'd.[4061]

Mal. [Aside to Don.] Nor our strong sorrow
Upon the foot of motion.[4064]

Ban. Look to the lady:

[Lady Macbeth is carried out.

And when we have our naked frailties hid,
That suffer in exposure, let us meet,
And question this most bloody piece of work, 125
To know it further. Fears and scruples shake us:
In the great hand of God I stand, and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight
Of treasonous malice.

Macd. And so do I.[4065]

All. So all.

Macb. Let's briefly put on manly readiness, 130
And meet i' the hall together.[4066]

All. Well contented.

[Exeunt all but Malcolm and Donalbain.

[Pg 458]

Mal. What will you do? Let's not consort with them:[4067]
To show an unfelt sorrow is an office
Which the false man does easy. I'll to England.[4068]

Don. To Ireland, I; our separated fortune [4069] 135
Shall keep us both the safer: where we are[4069]
There's daggers in men's smiles: the near in blood,[4069][4070]
The nearer bloody.[4069]

Mal. This murderous shaft that's shot
Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way
Is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse;[4071] 140
And let us not be dainty of leave-taking,
But shift away: there's warrant in that theft
Which steals itself when there's no mercy left. [Exeunt.

Scene IV. Outside Macbeth's castle.[4072]

Enter Ross with an old Man.

Old M. Threescore and ten I can remember well:
Within the volume of which time I have seen [4073]
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.

Ross. Ah, good father,[4074]
Thou seest, the heavens, as troubled with man's act, 5
Threaten his bloody stage: by the clock 'tis day,[4075]
And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp:[4076]
Is't night's predominance, or the day's shame,
That darkness does the face of earth entomb,
[Pg 459] When living light should kiss it?

Old M. 'Tis unnatural,[4077] 10
Even like the deed that's done. On Tuesday last
A falcon towering in her pride of place
Was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.

Ross. And Duncan's horses—a thing most strange and certain—[4078]
Beauteous and swift, the minions of their race,[4079] 15
Turn'd wild in nature, broke their stalls, flung out,[4080]
Contending 'gainst obedience, as they would make [4081]
War with mankind.[4081][4082]

Old M. 'Tis said they eat each other.

Ross. They did so, to the amazement of mine eyes,[4083]
That look'd upon't.[4083]

Enter Macduff.

Here comes the good Macduff.[4083][4084] 20
How goes the world, sir, now?

Macd. Why, see you not?

Ross. Is't known who did this more than bloody deed?

Macd. Those that Macbeth hath slain.

Ross. Alas, the day!
What good could they pretend?

Macd. They were suborn'd:[4085]
Malcolm and Donalbain, the king's two sons, 25
Are stol'n away and fled, which puts upon them
Suspicion of the deed.

Ross. 'Gainst nature still:
Thriftless ambition, that wilt ravin up [4086]
Thine own life's means! Then 'tis most like [4087]
[Pg 460] The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. 30

Macd. He is already named, and gone to Scone [4088]
To be invested.

Ross. Where is Duncan's body?

Macd. Carried to Colme-kill,[4089]
The sacred storehouse of his predecessors
And guardian of their bones.

Ross. Will you to Scone? 35

Macd. No, cousin, I'll to Fife.

Ross. Well, I will thither.

Macd. Well, may you see things well done there: adieu![4090]
Lest our old robes sit easier than our new!

Ross. Farewell, father.

Old M. God's benison go with you, and with those [4091] 40
That would make good of bad and friends of foes!

[Exeunt.[4092]

FOOTNOTES:

[3924] Inverness ... castle.] The same. Court within the Castle. Capell (Johnson conj.). A Hall. Rowe. A Hall in Macbeth's Castle. Pope.

[3925] Enter ...] Collier (substantially). Enter Banquo, and Fleance, with a Torch before him. Ff. Enter Banquo, and Fleance; Servant with a Torch before them. Capell.

[3926] The moon ... clock.] I've not ... clock: The moon is down. Seymour conj., ending the first line at clock.

[3927] Hold ... heaven] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

There's] 'Tis very dark; there's Seymour conj.

[3928] And ... repose!] As in Rowe. In Ff lines 7 and 8 end sleepe: ... thoughts.

[3929] Gives ... there?] As in Hanmer. In Ff the lines end repose ... there?

[3930] Enter ...] Ff. After sword in Capell. After there? in Dyce.

Give ... sword] om. Seymour conj., reading Gives ... friend as one line.

[3931] He ... offices] See note (II).

[3932] By ... content.] Arranged as in Pope. The first line ends hostesse, in Ff.

[3933] hostess;] An omission here. Anon. conj.

and shut up] And shut up F₁. And shut it up F₂F₃F₄. and's shut up Hanmer.

[3934] All's] Sir, all is Steevens conj.

well] very well Hanmer.

[3935] weird] Theobald. weyward Ff.

[3936] they have] they've Pope.

[3937] We would] Would Pope.

it in] it Rowe (ed. 1). om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[3938] kind'st] F₁. kindst F₂. kind
F₃F₄. kindest A. Hunter.

leisure] See note (III)

[3939] my consent] my ascent Capell conj. MS. my content Malone conj. my concent Id. conj. (withdrawn), me constant Jackson conj. my convent Becket conj. my consort Grant White conj.

[3940] when 'tis ... you.] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[3941] [Exeunt....] Theobald. Exit Banquo. Ff.

[3942] Scene II. Pope.

[3943] [Exit Servant.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.

[3944] As ... use.] S. Walker would end the lines me ... instrument ... use.

[3945] As ... still;] Five lines, ending me ... instrument ... fools ... rest ... still; in Keightley.

[3946] thy blade and dudgeon] the blade of th' dudgeon Warburton. thy blade, vain dudgeon, Becket conj.

[3947] Thus] This Rowe (ed. 2).

the one half-world] one half the world Pope.

[3948] sleep] F₃ F₄. sleepe F₁ F₂. sleeper Rann (Steevens conj.).

witchcraft] now witchcraft Rowe (Davenant's version). while witchcraft Nicholson conj.

[3949] wither'd] with her Seward conj.

[3950] howl's] F₃ F₄. howle's F₁. howles F₂.

[3951] With Tarquin's ... strides,] Pope. With Tarquins ... sides, Ff. Tarquin's ... slides, Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LVIII. p. 766). With Tarquin ravishing, slides Johnson conj. With ravishing Tarquin's sides, Becket conj. With Tarquin's ravishing ideas, Jackson conj. (Which Tarquin's ravishing sides) Knight conj. Or Tarquin's ravishing strides Hunter conj. With ravishing Tarquin's strides, Staunton conj.

[3952] sure] Capell (Pope conj.). sowre F₁ F₂. sowr F₃. sour F₄. sound Pope.

sure and] sovrand Becket conj.

[3953] Hear] Heed Becket conj.

which way they] Rowe. which they may Ff. where they may Barry conj.

walk, for] walk. For Becket conj.

[3954] Thy] The A. Hunter.

of my whereabout] of that we're about Hanmer. of me: veer about or of me: wheel about Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LVIII. p. 766).

[3955] And take ... Which] And talk—The present horrour of the time! That Johnson conj.

[3956] Whiles] Whilst Rowe. While Capell.

[3957] Words ... gives.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[3958] Scene II.] Scene III. Pope. Theobald continues the scene.

The same.] Capell.

[3959] What ... possets,] Arranged as in Rowe. In Ff the lines end fire ... shriek'd, ... night ... open: ... charge ... possets.

[3960] I have] I've Pope.

[3961] Macb. [Within] Steevens. Enter Macbeth. Macb. Ff.

[3962] attempt and ... deed] Edd., Globe ed. (Hunter conj.). attempt, and ... deed, Ff.

[3963] 'em] them Capell.

[3964] Enter Macbeth.] Steevens (1793). Re-enter Macbeth. Dyce, after husband!

My husband! As in Rowe. A separate line in Ff.

[3965] I ... noise?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

I have] I've Pope.

[3966] Did ... descended?] Macb. Did ... speak? Lady M. When? Now? Macb. As ... descended. Hunter conj.

[3967] Hark!... chamber?] Arranged as by Steevens (1793). One line in Ff.

[3968] [Looking....] Looks.... Pope. om. Ff.

[3969] There's ... sleep.] Arranged as by Rowe. The lines end sleepe, ... other: ... prayers, ... sleepe, in Ff.

[3970] in's] in his Capell.

[3971] That ... I] They wak'd each other; and I Pope.

[3972] address'd] address Theobald.

[3973] hands: ... fear,] Pointed as in Ff. hands, ... fear; Rowe.

[3974] fear] prayer Anon. conj.

[3975] did say] om. Steevens conj.

[3976] I had ... throat.] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3977] These ... ways;] As in Ff. One line in Rowe.

[3978] thought] thought on Hanmer.

[3979] 'Sleep ... sleep'] See note (IV).

[3980] does] doth Rowe (ed. 2).

[3981] Sleep ... care,] Put in the margin by Pope.

sleave] Steevens (Seward conj.). sleeve Ff.

[3982] death] birth Warburton. breath Becket conj.

life] grief Jennens conj.

[3983] course] source Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[3984] feast,—] feast.— Theobald. feast. Ff.

[3985] 'Glamis ... more.'] See note (IV).

[3986] Glamis] For Glamis Seymour conj.

[3987] what] on what Keightley.

[3988] do] om. Pope.

[3989] gild] F₃ F₄. guild F₁. guilde F₂.

[3990] [Knocking....] Knocke.... Ff. Knocks.... Rowe (ed. 2).

knocking?] knocking? [Starting. Rowe.

[3991] is't] is it Theobald (ed. 2).

[3992] The ... red] Make the green ocean red— Pope, putting Thy multitudinous sea incarnadine in the margin.

[3993] The] Thy Theobald, after Pope's margin.

seas] sear F₄. sea Rowe.

incarnadine] Rowe. incarnardine Ff.

[3994] green one red.] Green one Red. F₄. Greene one, Red F₁ F₂ F₃. green, One red— Johnson. green—one red. Steevens, 1778 (Murphy conj.).

[3995] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Lady. Ff.

[3996] [Knocking within.] Dyce. Knocke. Ff. Knocking without. Staunton.

[3997] To ... knocking:] Arranged as in Pope. Seven lines, ending white ... entry: ... chamber: ... deed ... constancie unattended ... knocking, in Ff.

[3998] To ... couldst!] Two lines in Pope. Four in Ff.

[3999] To know] T' unknow Hanmer.

[Knocking....] Knocke. Ff. om. Pope.

[4000] Wake ... thy] Wake Duncan with this Rowe. Wake, Duncan, with this Theobald (Davenant's version).

I would] would Pope. Ay, 'would Steevens (1793).

[4001] Scene III.] Scene continued in Rowe. Scene IV. Warburton, following Pope's margin. Scene II. Staunton.

The same.] Capell.

[4002] Porter. Here's ... cast him.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[4003] Blank verse, Maginn conj.

[4004] [Knocking within.] Knock. Ff.

[4005] he should have old] he could not have more A. Hunter.

[4006] on] in Pope. upon Maginn conj.

[4007] come in time] come in, Time Staunton. come in, farmer Anon. conj.

enow] F₁. enough F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4008] you'll] you will Rann.

[4009] in th'] i'th' Theobald (ed. 2).

Faith] I' faith Maginn conj.

[4010] who] one who Maginn conj.

[4011] bonfire] darkness. So quoted by Maginn.

[4012] Faith ... things.] Prose first by Johnson. Two lines in Ff.

[4013] of three things ... cast him.] of sleep. A. Hunter.

[4014] in a sleep] into a sleep Rowe. into sleep Mason conj. asleep Collier MS.

[4015] on me] o' me Theobald (ed. 2).

[4016] up] om. Warburton.

[4017] Scene IV. Pope.

Enter M.] Collier. After line 37 in Ff. After noble sir, line 40, in Pope. After line 39 in Capell. Re-enter M. Dyce, after line 39.

[4018] I have] I've Pope.

[4019] physics] Physicks F₁ F₂. Physick's F₃ F₄.

[4020] This] That Capell (MS. correction).

[4021] I'll ... service.] As verse first by Hanmer. Prose in Ff.

[4022] [Exit.] Capell. Exit Macduffe. Ff.

[4023] hence] From hence Steevens (1793), reading For ... king From ... so, as two lines.

He does:] om. Pope.

[4024] The ... death,] As in Rowe. Four lines, ending unruly: ... downe, ... ayre ... Death, in Ff.

[4025] And prophesying] And prophesyings Hanmer. Aunts prophesying Warburton conj.

[4026] And ... time: the] And ... time. The Ff. And, ... time, the Knight (Anon. conj.).

[4027] combustion] F₁. combustions F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4028] events New ... time: the] events, New ... time. The Ff. events. New ... time, the Johnson conj.

[4029] New ... shake.] Arranged as in Hanmer. Four lines, ending time ... Night ... fevorous ... shake, in Ff. Three in Rowe, ending time ... night, ... shake.

[4030] obscure] obscene S. Walker conj.

[4031] Re-enter M.] Re-enter M., hastily. Capell. Enter M. Ff.

[4032] Tongue ... thee.] As in Capell. One line in Ff.

[4033] Tongue nor] Or tongue or Pope. Nor tongue, nor Theobald.

[4034] Macd.] F₁. Macb. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4035] [Exeunt ...] Ff, after awake, awake.

[4036] Banquo!] Donalbain! Hanmer. Banquo! rise! Johnson conj.

[4037] Ring the bell. [Bell rings.] Ff. Bell rings. Theobald, omitting Ring the bell.

[Bell rings.] Alarum-bell rings. Dyce.

Enter ...] Re-enter ... Dyce.

[4038] Scene V. Pope.

[4039] a] an Rowe (ed. 2).

[4040] speak, speak!] speak. Pope.

O] om. Pope.

[4041] Enter Banquo.] Enter Banquo, and Others. Capell. Re-enter Banquo. Dyce.

[4042] O ... murder'd.] As in Theobald. One line in Ff.

[4043] Dear Duff] Macduff Pope.

contradict] contract F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4044] Re-enter ...] Enter Macbeth, Lenox, and Rosse. Ff. Re-enter Macbeth, and Lenox. Capell.

[4045] is dead] are dead Hanmer.

[4046] Is] Are Hanmer.

[4047] You are ... head,] You are, and do not know it, The spring, the head: Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIX. p. 810).

[4048] know't] know it Steevens.

[4049] seem'd, had] seems, have A. Hunter.

[4050] badged] bath'd Malone conj. (withdrawn).

[4051] Upon ... them.] As in Steevens (1793). Two lines, the first ending distracted, in Ff.

[4052] no] As no Hanmer, reading As ... them as one line.

[4053] them.] them— Rowe.

[4054] amazed] and maz'd Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LIX. p. 35).

[4055] Outrun] Outran Johnson.

[4056] His ... blood] His snow-white skin streaked with his crimson blood A. Hunter.

laced] laqu'd Warburton conj.

golden] goary Pope.

[4057] Unmannerly breech'd] Unmanly reech'd Warburton. Unmanly drench'd Johnson. Unmannerly hatch'd Seward conj. In a manner lay drench'd Heath conj.

[4058] make's] make his Capell.

[Seeming to faint. Rowe.

[4059] Look ... us?] S. Walker would end the lines lady ... claim ... spoken ... hole, ... us?

[4060] [gather about her. Capell.

[4061] [Aside ...] Staunton. om. Ff.

[4062] What ... away] As in Dyce. Three lines, ending here, ... hole, ... away, in Ff. Malone ends the lines at spoken ...hole ...tears. Knight ends them at here ... hole ... tears.

[4063] Hid in] hid in F₁. hid within F₂ F₃ F₄. hidden in Jackson conj.

[4064] Upon] on Pope, reading Are ... on as one line.

Look] Look there Hanmer.

[Lady ...] Rowe. om. Ff.

[4065] Macd.] Macb. Rowe.

And] om. Pope.

[4066] [Exeunt all but ...] Hanmer. Exeunt. Ff.

[4067] What ... them:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4068] Which ... England.] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4069] To ... bloody.] As in Rowe. Four lines in Ff, ending I ... safer: ... smiles; ... bloody.

[4070] near] near' Delius.

[4071] horse] F₁. house F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4072] Scene IV.] Scene II. Rowe. Scene VI. Pope.

Outside ...] The outside of Macbeth's Castle. Theobald.

[4073] I have] I've Pope.

[4074] Ah] Rowe. Ha Ff.

[4075] Threaten] Rowe. Threatens Ff.

his] this Theobald.

stage] strage Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

[4076] travelling] F₃ F₄. travailing F₁ F₂.

[4077] should] shall F₂.

[4078] And ... certain] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

horses] horse S. Walker conj.

[4079] their] the Theobald.

[4080] flung] F₃ F₄. flong F₁ F₂.

[4081] would make War] Divided as in Steevens (1793). The first line ends would in Ff.

[4082] mankind] man Pope.

eat] ate Keightley.

[4083] They ... Macduff.] As in Pope. Three lines, ending so: ... upon't ... Macduffe, in Ff.

[4084] Enter Macduff.] As in Ff. After the line in Johnson.

[4085] were] are Theobald (ed. 1).

suborn'd] Rowe. subborned F₁ F₂. suborned F₃ F₄.

[4086] wilt] Warburton. will Ff.

ravin up] Theobald, raven up F₁. raven upon F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4087] Thine] Its Hanmer.

life's] Pope. lives Ff.

Then 'tis] Why then it is Hanmer.

[4088] gone] gons F₂.

[4089] Colme-kill] Colmeshill Rowe. Colmes-kill Johnson.

[4090] Well, may] Theobald. Well may Ff.

[4091] you] F₁. you sir F₂. you, sir F₃ F₄.

[4092] [Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff.

ACT III.

Scene I. Forres. The palace.[4093]

Enter Banquo.

Ban. Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,[4094]
As the weird women promised, and I fear [4095]
Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said [4096]
It should not stand in thy posterity,
But that myself should be the root and father 5
[Pg 461] Of many kings. If there come truth from them—
As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine—[4097]
Why, by the verities on thee made good,
May they not be my oracles as well
And set me up in hope? But hush, no more.[4098] 10

Sennet sounded. Enter Macbeth, as king; Lady Macbeth, as queen; Lennox, Ross, Lords, Ladies, and Attendants.[4099]

Macb. Here's our chief guest.

Lady M. If he had been forgotten,
It had been as a gap in our great feast,
And all-thing unbecoming.[4100]

Macb. To-night we hold a solemn supper, sir,
And I'll request your presence.

Ban. Let your highness [4101] 15
Command upon me, to the which my duties [4102]
Are with a most indissoluble tie
For ever knit.

Macb. Ride you this afternoon?

Ban. Ay, my good lord.

Macb. We should have else desired your good advice,[4103] 20
Which still hath been both grave and prosperous,[4103]
In this day's council; but we'll take to-morrow.[4103][4104]
Is't far you ride?[4103][4105]

Ban. As far, my lord, as will fill up the time
'Twixt this and supper: go not my horse the better, 25
I must become a borrower of the night
For a dark hour or twain.
[Pg 462]

Macb. Fail not our feast.

Ban. My lord, I will not.

Macb. We hear our bloody cousins are bestow'd
In England and in Ireland, not confessing 30
Their cruel parricide, filling their hearers
With strange invention: but of that to-morrow,
When therewithal we shall have cause of state
Craving us jointly. Hie you to horse: adieu,[4106][4107]
Till you return at night. Goes Fleance with you?[4107] 35

Ban. Ay, my good lord: our time does call upon 's.[4108]

Macb. I wish your horses swift and sure of foot,
And so I do commend you to their backs.
Farewell. [Exit Banquo.
Let every man be master of his time 40
Till seven at night; to make society [4109]
The sweeter welcome, we will keep ourself[4109][4110]
Till supper-time alone: while then, God be with you![4110][4111]

[Exeunt all but Macbeth and an Attendant.

Sirrah, a word with you: attend those men [4112][4113]
Our pleasure?[4113] 45

Attend. They are, my lord, without the palace-gate.[4113]

Macb. Bring them before us. [Exit Attendant.[4114]
To be thus is nothing;[4115][4116]
But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo[4116][4116]
Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature[4116]
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares,[4116] 50
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety. There is none but he
[Pg 463] Whose being I do fear: and under him
My Genius is rebuked, as it is said [4117] 55
Mark Antony's was by Cæsar. He chid the sisters,[4117][4118]
When first they put the name of king upon me,
And bade them speak to him; then prophet-like [4119]
They hail'd him father to a line of kings:
Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown 60
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe,
Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand,[4120]
No son of mine succeeding. If 't be so,[4121]
For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;[4122][4123]
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;[4123] 65
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace[4123]
Only for them, and mine eternal jewel[4123]
Given to the common enemy of man,[4123]
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings![4123][4124]
Rather than so, come, fate, into the list, 70
And champion me to the utterance! Who's there?[4125]

Re-enter Attendant, with two Murderers.

Now go to the door, and stay there till we call.[4126]

[Exit Attendant.

Was it not yesterday we spoke together?

First Mur. It was, so please your highness.[4127]

Macb. Well then, now [4128]
Have you consider'd of my speeches? Know[4128][4129][4130] 75
That it was he in the times past which held you[4130]
[Pg 464] So under fortune, which you thought had been[4130]
Our innocent self: this I made good to you[4130]
In our last conference, pass'd in probation with you,[4130][4131]
How you were borne in hand, how cross'd, the instruments,[4130] 80
Who wrought with them, and all things else that might[4130]
To half a soul and to a notion crazed
Say 'Thus did Banquo.'

First Mur. You made it known to us.[4132]

Macb. I did so; and went further, which is now [4133]
Our point of second meeting. Do you find[4133] 85
Your patience so predominant in your nature,[4133]
That you can let this go? Are you so gospell'd,[4133]
To pray for this good man and for his issue,[4133]
Whose heavy hand hath bow'd you to the grave[4133]
And beggar'd yours for ever?[4133]

First Mur. We are men, my liege.[4133] 90

Macb. Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men;
As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs,
Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept [4134]
All by the name of dogs: the valued file
Distinguishes the swift, the slow, the subtle, 95
The housekeeper, the hunter, every one
According to the gift which bounteous nature
Hath in him closed; whereby he does receive
Particular addition, from the bill [4135]
That writes them all alike: and so of men. 100
Now if you have a station in the file,
Not i' the worst rank of manhood, say it,[4136]
And I will put that business in your bosoms [4137]
Whose execution takes your enemy off,
[Pg 465] Grapples you to the heart and love of us, 105
Who wear our health but sickly in his life,
Which in his death were perfect.[4138]

Sec. Mur. I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Have so incensed that I am reckless what [4139]
I do to spite the world.[4139][4140]

First Mur. And I another 110
So weary with disasters, tugg'd with fortune,[4141]
That I would set my life on any chance,
To mend it or be rid on 't.

Macb. Both of you [4142]
Know Banquo was your enemy.[4142]

Both Mur. True, my lord.

Macb. So is he mine, and in such bloody distance 115
That every minute of his being thrusts
Against my near'st of life: and though I could
With barefaced power sweep him from my sight
And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not,
For certain friends that are both his and mine,[4143] 120
Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall[4143]
Who I myself struck down: and thence it is[4143][4144]
That I to your assistance do make love,
Masking the business from the common eye
For sundry weighty reasons.

Sec. Mur. We shall, my lord, 125
Perform what you command us.

First Mur. Though our lives—

Macb. Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most [4145]
I will advise you where to plant yourselves,[4146]
[Pg 466] Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' the time,[4147]
The moment on 't; for 't must be done to-night, 130
And something from the palace; always thought [4148][4149]
That I require a clearness: and with him—[4149]
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work—
Fleance his son, that keeps him company,
Whose absence is no less material to me 135
Than is his father's, must embrace the fate
Of that dark hour. Resolve yourselves apart:
I'll come to you anon.

Both Mur. We are resolved, my lord.[4150]

Macb. I'll call upon you straight: abide within.

[Exeunt Murderers.[4151]

It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul's flight, 140
If it find heaven, must find it out to-night. [Exit.[4152]

Scene II. The palace.[4153]

Enter Lady Macbeth and a Servant.[4154]

Lady M. Is Banquo gone from court?

Serv. Ay, madam, but returns again to-night.

Lady M. Say to the king, I would attend his leisure
For a few words.
[Pg 467]

Serv. Madam, I will. [Exit.

Lady M. Nought's had, all's spent,[4155]
Where our desire is got without content: 5
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy [4156]
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.

Enter Macbeth.

How now, my lord! why do you keep alone,[4157]
Of sorriest fancies your companions making;[4158]
Using those thoughts which should indeed have died 10
With them they think on? Things without all remedy [4159]
Should be without regard: what's done is done.

Macb. We have scotch'd the snake, not kill'd it:[4160]
She'll close and be herself, whilst our poor malice [4161]
Remains in danger of her former tooth. 15
But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer,[4162]
Ere we will eat our meal in fear, and sleep
In the affliction of these terrible dreams
That shake us nightly: better be with the dead,
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace,[4163] 20
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy. Duncan is in his grave;[4164]
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well;
Treason has done his worst: nor steel, nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing, 25
Can touch him further.[4165][4166]
[Pg 468]

Lady M. Come on;[4165]
Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;[4165]
Be bright and jovial among your guests to-night.[4165][4167]

Macb. So shall I, love; and so, I pray, be you:[4165][4168]
Let your remembrance apply to Banquo;[4165][4168][4169] 30
Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue:[4165][4168]
Unsafe the while, that we[4165][4168][4170]
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams,[4168][4171]
And make our faces visards to our hearts,[4168][4172]
Disguising what they are.[4168]

Lady M. You must leave this.[4168] 35

Macb. O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.[4173]

Lady M. But in them nature's copy's not eterne.[4174]

Macb. There's comfort yet; they are assailable;
Then be thou jocund: ere the bat hath flown 40
His cloister'd flight; ere to black Hecate's summons
The shard-borne beetle with his drowsy hums [4175]
Hath rung night's yawning peal, there shall be done [4176]
A deed of dreadful note.[4176]

Lady M. What's to be done?

Macb. Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, 45
Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night,[4177]
Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day,
And with thy bloody and invisible hand
Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond
Which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow [4178][4179] 50
Makes wing to the rooky wood:[4179][4180]
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
[Pg 469] Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.[4181]
Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still;
Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill: 55
So, prithee, go with me. [Exeunt.

Scene III. A park near the palace.[4182]

Enter three Murderers.

First Mur. But who did bid thee join with us?

Third Mur. Macbeth.

Sec. Mur. He needs not our mistrust; since he delivers [4183]
Our offices, and what we have to do,
To the direction just.[4184]

First Mur. Then stand with us.[4184]
The west yet glimmers with some streaks of day: 5
Now spurs the lated traveller apace [4185]
To gain the timely inn, and near approaches [4186]
The subject of our watch.

Third Mur. Hark! I hear horses.

Ban. [Within] Give us a light there, ho!

Sec. Mur. Then 'tis he: the rest [4187][4188][4189]
That are within the note of expectation[4188][4189][4190] 10
Already are i' the court.[4188][4191]
[Pg 470]

First Mur. His horses go about.

Third Mur. Almost a mile: but he does usually—
So all men do—from hence to the palace gate [4192]
Make it their walk.

Sec. Mur. A light, a light![4193]

Enter Banquo, and Fleance with a torch.[4194]

Third Mur. 'Tis he.[4193]

First Mur. Stand to 't.[4193] 15

Ban. It will be rain to-night.[4195]

First Mur. Let it come down.

[They set upon Banquo.

Ban. O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly![4196]
Thou mayst revenge. O slave! [Dies. Fleance escapes.[4197]

Third Mur. Who did strike out the light?

First Mur. Was't not the way?

Third Mur. There's but one down; the son is fled.

Sec. Mur. We have lost [4198]20
Best half of our affair.[4199]

First Mur. Well, let's away and say how much is done.[4199] [Exeunt.

[Pg 471]

Scene IV. Hall in the palace.[4200]

A banquet prepared. Enter Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, Lennox, Lords, and Attendants.[4201]

Macb. You know your own degrees; sit down: at first [4202][4203]
And last the hearty welcome.[4202][4204]

Lords. Thanks to your majesty.

Macb. Ourself will mingle with society
And play the humble host.
Our hostess keeps her state, but in best time [4205] 5
We will require her welcome.

Lady M. Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends,
For my heart speaks they are welcome.[4206]

Enter first Murderer to the door.

Macb. See, they encounter thee with their hearts' thanks.
Both sides are even: here I'll sit i' the midst: 10
Be large in mirth; anon we'll drink a measure
The table round. [Approaching the door] There's blood upon thy face.[4207][4208]

Mur. 'Tis Banquo's then.[4208]

Macb. 'Tis better thee without than he within.[4208][4209]
Is he dispatch'd?[4208] 15
[Pg 472]

Mur. My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.[4208][4210]

Macb. Thou art the best o' the cut-throats: yet he's good[4208][4211][4212]
That did the like for Fleance: if thou didst it,[4208][4211]
Thou art the nonpareil.[4208][4211]

Mur. Most royal sir,[4208]
Fleance is 'scaped.[4208] 20

Macb. [Aside] Then comes my fit again: I had else been perfect,[4208][4213]
Whole as the marble, founded as the rock,[4208]
As broad and general as the casing air:[4208]
But now I am cabin'd, cribb'd, confined, bound in[4208][4214]
To saucy doubts and fears.—But Banquo's safe?[4208] 25

Mur. Ay, my good lord: safe in a ditch he bides,[4208]
With twenty trenched gashes on his head;[4208]
The least a death to nature.[4208]

Macb. Thanks for that.[4208]
[Aside] There the grown serpent lies; the worm that's fled[4208][4215]
Hath nature that in time will venom breed,[4208] 30
No teeth for the present. Get thee gone: to-morrow[4208]
We'll hear ourselves again.[4208][4216] [Exit Murderer.

Lady M. My royal lord,
You do not give the cheer: the feast is sold [4217]
That is not often vouch'd, while 'tis a-making,[4218]
'Tis given with welcome: to feed were best at home;[4219] 35
From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony;
Meeting were bare without it.

Macb. Sweet remembrancer!
Now good digestion wait on appetite,
[Pg 473] And health on both!

Len. May't please your highness sit.

[The Ghost of Banquo enters, and sits in Macbeth's place.[4220]

Macb. Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, 40
Were the graced person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness [4221]
Than pity for mischance![4222]

Ross. His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please't your highness [4223]
To grace us with your royal company.[4224] 45

Macb. The table's full.

Len. Here is a place reserved, sir.[4225]

Macb. Where?

Len. Here, my good lord. What is't that moves your highness?[4226]

Macb. Which of you have done this?

Lords. What, my good lord?

Macb. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake 50
Thy gory locks at me.

Ross. Gentlemen, rise; his highness is not well.

Lady M. Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus,
And hath been from his youth: pray you, keep seat;
The fit is momentary; upon a thought [4227] 55
He will again be well: if much you note him,
You shall offend him and extend his passion:
Feed, and regard him not. Are you a man?[4228][4229]
[Pg 474]

Macb. Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that[4229]
Which might appal the devil.[4229]

Lady M. O proper stuff![4229][4230] 60
This is the very painting of your fear:[4229][4231]
This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said,[4229]
Led you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts,[4229]
Impostors to true fear, would well become[4229][4232]
A woman's story at a winter's fire,[4229] 65
Authorized by her grandam. Shame itself![4229]
Why do you make such faces? When all's done,[4229]
You look but on a stool.[4229]

Macb. Prithee, see there! behold! look! lo! how say you?[4229][4233]
Why, what care I? If thou canst nod, speak too.[4229] 70
If charnel-houses and our graves must send[4229]
Those that we bury back, our monuments[4229]
Shall be the maws of kites.[4229] [Exit Ghost.[4234]

Lady M. What, quite unmann'd in folly?[4229]

Macb. If I stand here, I saw him.[4229]

Lady M. Fie, for shame![4229]

Macb. Blood hath been shed ere now, i' the olden time,[4229][4235]75
Ere humane statute purged the gentle weal;[4229][4236]
Ay, and since too, murders have been perform'd[4229][4237]
Too terrible for the ear: the time has been,[4229][4238]
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,[4229]
And there an end; but now they rise again,[4229] 80
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,[4229]
And push us from our stools: this is more strange[4229]
Than such a murder is.[4229]
[Pg 475]

Lady M. My worthy lord,
Your noble friends do lack you.

Macb. I do forget.[4239]
Do not muse at me, my most worthy friends; 85
I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing
To those that know me. Come, love and health to all;[4240]
Then I'll sit down. Give me some wine, fill full.
I drink to the general joy o' the whole table,[4241]
And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss; 90
Would he were here! to all and him we thirst,
And all to all.[4242]

Lords. Our duties, and the pledge.[4243]

Re-enter Ghost.[4244]

Macb. Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes 95
Which thou dost glare with.

Lady M. Think of this, good peers,
But as a thing of custom: 'tis no other;
Only it spoils the pleasure of the time.

Macb. What man dare, I dare:
Approach thou like the rugged Russian bear, 100
The arm'd rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger;[4245]
Take any shape but that, and my firm nerves
Shall never tremble: or be alive again,[4246]
And dare me to the desert with thy sword;
If trembling I inhabit then, protest me [4247] 105
The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow![4248]
[Pg 476] Unreal mockery, hence! [Exit Ghost.[4249]
Why, so: being gone,
I am a man again. Pray you, sit still.

Lady M. You have displaced the mirth, broke the good meeting,[4250]
With most admired disorder.[4251]

Macb. Can such things be,[4251][4252] 110
And overcome us like a summer's cloud,[4252]
Without our special wonder? You make me strange[4252]
Even to the disposition that I owe,[4253]
When now I think you can behold such sights,[4254]
And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks,[4255] 115
When mine is blanch'd with fear.

Ross. What sights, my lord?[4256]

Lady M. I pray you, speak not; he grows worse and worse;
Question enrages him: at once, good night:
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.

Len. Good night; and better health 120
Attend his majesty!
[Pg 477]

Lady M. A kind good night to all![4257]

[Exeunt all but Macbeth and Lady M.

Macb. It will have blood: they say blood will have blood:[4258]
Stones have been known to move and trees to speak;[4259]
Augures and understood relations have[4259][4260]
By maggot-pies and choughs and rooks brought forth [4261] 125
The secret'st man of blood. What is the night?

Lady M. Almost at odds with morning, which is which.

Macb. How say'st thou, that Macduff denies his person
At our great bidding?

Lady M. Did you send to him, sir?[4262]

Macb. I hear it by the way, but I will send:[4263] 130
There's not a one of them but in his house [4264]
I keep a servant fee'd. I will to-morrow,[4265][4266]
And betimes I will, to the weird sisters:[4266][4267]
More shall they speak, for now I am bent to know,[4268]
By the worst means, the worst. For mine own good [4269] 135
All causes shall give way: I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,[4270]
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:[4271]
Strange things I have in head that will to hand,
Which must be acted ere they may be scann'd. 140
[Pg 478]

Lady M. You lack the season of all natures, sleep.[4272]

Macb. Come, we'll to sleep. My strange and self-abuse [4273]
Is the initiate fear that wants hard use:
We are yet but young in deed.[4274] [Exeunt.

Scene V. A heath.[4275]

Thunder. Enter the three Witches, meeting Hecate.

First Witch. Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly.

Hec. Have I not reason, beldams as you are,[4276][4277]
Saucy and over-bold? How did you dare[4277]
To trade and traffic with Macbeth
In riddles and affairs of death; 5
And I, the mistress of your charms,
The close contriver of all harms,
Was never call'd to bear my part,
Or show the glory of our art?
And, which is worse, all you have done 10
Hath been but for a wayward son,[4278]
Spiteful and wrathful; who, as others do,[4279]
Loves for his own ends, not for you.[4280]
But make amends now: get you gone,
And at the pit of Acheron 15
Meet me i' the morning: thither he
Will come to know his destiny:
Your vessels and your spells provide,
Your charms and every thing beside.
I am for the air; this night I'll spend [4281] 20
[Pg 479] Unto a dismal and a fatal end:[4282]
Great business must be wrought ere noon:
Upon the corner of the moon
There hangs a vaporous drop profound;
I'll catch it ere it come to ground: 25
And that distill'd by magic sleights [4283]
Shall raise such artificial sprites [4284]
As by the strength of their illusion
Shall draw him on to his confusion:
He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear 30
His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace and fear:
And you all know security
Is mortals' chiefest enemy.[4285]

[Music and a song within: 'Come away, come away,' &c.

Hark! I am call'd; my little spirit, see,
Sits in a foggy cloud, and stays for me.[4286] [Exit.35

First Witch. Come, let's make haste; she'll soon be back again.[4287] [Exeunt.

Scene VI. Forres. The palace.[4288]

Enter Lennox and another Lord.[4289]

Len. My former speeches have but hit your thoughts,[4290]
Which can interpret farther: only I say [4291]
Things have been strangely borne. The gracious Duncan [4292]
[Pg 480] Was pitied of Macbeth: marry, he was dead:
And the right-valiant Banquo walk'd too late;[4293] 5
Whom, you may say, if't please you, Fleance kill'd,
For Fleance fled: men must not walk too late.[4294]
Who cannot want the thought, how monstrous[4294][4295]
It was for Malcolm and for Donalbain[4294]
To kill their gracious father? damned fact![4294] 10
How it did grieve Macbeth! did he not straight,[4296]
In pious rage, the two delinquents tear,
That were the slaves of drink and thralls of sleep?
Was not that nobly done? Ay, and wisely too;[4297]
For 'twould have anger'd any heart alive 15
To hear the men deny 't. So that, I say,[4298]
He has borne all things well: and I do think
That, had he Duncan's sons under his key—[4299]
As, an't please heaven, he shall not—they should find [4300]
What 'twere to kill a father; so should Fleance. 20
But, peace! for from broad words, and 'cause he fail'd [4301]
His presence at the tyrant's feast, I hear,
Macduff lives in disgrace: sir, can you tell
Where he bestows himself?

Lord. The son of Duncan,[4302][4303]
From whom this tyrant holds the due of birth, 25
Lives in the English court, and is received [4304]
Of the most pious Edward with such grace
That the malevolence of fortune nothing
[Pg 481] Takes from his high respect. Thither Macduff [4305]
Is gone to pray the holy king, upon his aid [4306] 30
To wake Northumberland and warlike Siward:[4307]
That by the help of these, with Him above
To ratify the work, we may again
Give to our tables meat, sleep to our nights,
Free from our feasts and banquets bloody knives,[4308] 35
Do faithful homage and receive free honours:
All which we pine for now: and this report
Hath so exasperate the king that he [4309]
Prepares for some attempt of war.[4310]

Len. Sent he to Macduff?

Lord. He did: and with an absolute 'Sir, not I,'[4302] 40
The cloudy messenger turns me his back,
And hums, as who should say 'You'll rue the time
That clogs me with this answer.'

Len. And that well might
Advise him to a caution, to hold what distance [4311]
His wisdom can provide. Some holy angel 45
Fly to the court of England and unfold
His message ere he come, that a swift blessing
May soon return to this our suffering country [4312]
Under a hand accursed!

Lord. I'll send my prayers with him.[4313]

[Exeunt.

[Pg 482]

FOOTNOTES:

[4093] Forres.] Foris. Capell.

The palace.] A royal Apartment. Rowe. An Apartment in the Palace. Theobald.

[4094] king, Cawdor, Glamis] king, Glamis, and Cawdor Seymour conj.

[4095] as] om. Pope.

weird] Theobald. weyard F₁. weyward F₂F₃F₄.

women] F₁F₂. woman F₃F₄.

[4096] foully] fowly F₁.

[4097] shine] shew Collier MS.

[4098] hope?] F₄. hope. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[4099] Sennet sounded.] Senit sounded. Ff.

Lady ... Lennox, Ross,] Lady Macbeth, Lennox, Ross, Rowe. Lady Lenox, Rosse, Ff. Lady Macbeth, Queen; Ross, Lennox, Capell.

Ladies] Capell. om. Ff.

[4100] all-thing] F₁. all-things F₂. all things F₃ F₄.

[4101] I'll] I A. Hunter.

Let your highness] Lay your highness's Rowe. Lay your highness' Pope. Set your highness' Mason conj.

[4102] upon] be upon Keightley.

[4103] We ... ride?] As in Ff. In Pope the lines end desir'd ... grave ... but ... ride?

[4104] council] Rowe. councell F₁ F₂. councel F₃ F₄.

take] talk Malone. take't Keightley.

[4105] Is't] Is it Pope.

[4106] you] om. Pope.

[4107] adieu ... you] As in Pope, Two lines, the first ending night, in Ff.

[4108] upon 's] upon us Pope.

[4109] night; to ... welcome,] Theobald. night, to ... welcome: Ff.

[4110] The sweeter ... you] As in Rowe. Three lines, ending welcome: ... alone: ... you, in Ff.

[4111] while] till Pope.

be with] b' wi' Anon. conj.

[Exeunt....] Exeunt Lords. Ff. Exeunt Lady Macbeth, and Lords. Rowe.

[4112] Scene II. Pope.

[To a Servant. Rowe.

with you] om. Steevens (1793), reading Sirrah ... pleasure? as one line.

[4113] Sirrah ... gate.] S. Walker would end the lines you: ... lord ... gate.

[4114] [Exit Attendant.] Exit Servant. Ff.

[4115] To be ... dares,] Arranged as in Rowe. Four lines, ending thus: ... deepe, ... that ... dares, in Ff.

[4116] nothing; But] nothing. But Pope. nothing, but Ff.

[4117] as ... Cæsar.] om. Johnson conj.

[4118] Mark] om. Pope.

Cæsar] Cæsar's Hanmer.

[4119] bade] Theobald (ed. 2). bad Ff.

[4120] with] by Capell conj.

[4121] If 't be] If 'tis Pope.

[4122] filed] fil'd F₁ F₂. fill'd F₃ F₄. 'filed Warburton. soil'd Long MS.

[4123] mind; ... murder'd; ... them, ... kings, ... kings!] Minde, ... murther'd, ... them, ... Kings, ... Kings. Ff. mind? ... murther'd?... them?... kings?... kings? Pope.

[4124] seed] Pope. seedes F₁ F₂. seeds F₃ F₄.

[4125] And ... there?] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Servant, and two Murtherers. Ff.

[4126] Now] om. Pope.

go] om. Steevens (1793).

[Exit Attendant.] Capell. Exit Servant. Ff.

[4127] First Mur.] 1. Mur. Steevens (1793). Murth. Ff.

[4128] now ... speeches?] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[4129] Have you] F₁ F₂. You have F₃ F₄.

[4130] Know ... might] As in Rowe. Eight lines in Ff, ending past, ... fortune, ... selfe ... conference, ... you: ... crost: ... them: ... might.

[4131] with you] om. Steevens conj., ending the line how.

[4132] You ... us.] True, you made it known. Pope.

[4133] I did ... ever?] As in Rowe. Nine lines, ending so: ... now ... meeting ... predominant, ... goe?... man, ... hand ... begger'd ... ever? in Ff.

[4134] Shoughs] Showghes Ff. shocks Capell. Slouths Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

clept] Capell. clipt Ff. cleped Theobald. clep'd Hanmer.

[4135] bill] quill Collier MS.

[4136] Not i' the] And not in the Rowe. Not in the most Keightley.

worst] worser Jervis conj.

say it] Rowe. say 't Ff.

[4137] that] F₁ F₂. the F₃ F₄.

[4138] my liege] om. Pope.

[4139] Have ... do] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[4140] Have] Rowe. Hath Ff.

[4141] weary] weary'd Capell.

with disasters, tugg'd] with disastrous tuggs Warburton. of disastrous tuggs A. Hunter.

[4142] Both ... enemy.] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[4143] For certain ... it is] See note (V).

[4144] Who] Whom Pope.

[4145] Your ... most] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

Within] In Pope.

at most] om. Steevens conj.

[4146] yourselves,] yourselves. Steevens (1793).

[4147] you] ye Seymour conj.

you ... spy o' the] you with a perfect spy o' the Johnson conj. you with the perfect spot, the Tyrwhitt conj. you with the perfectry o' the Becket conj. you with the precincts by the Jackson conj. you, with a perfect spy, o' the Collier MS.

[4148] always thought] a way, though, Jackson conj.

[4149] always ... clearness:] Omitted by Pope.

[4150] to you] om. Steevens conj.

my lord] om. Hanmer.

[4151] [Exeunt Murderers.] Theobald. om. Ff.

[4152] [Exit.] Theobald. Exeunt. Ff.

[4153] Scene II.] Rowe continues the Scene. Scene III. in Pope.

The palace] Another Apartment in the Palace. Theobald.

[4154] Lady Macbeth] Macbeths Lady, Ff.

[4155] Madam] om. Seymour conj.

Lady M.] Lady. Ff. Enter Macbeth. Macb. Strutt conj.

Nought's had] om. Steevens conj.

[4156] safer] better Hanmer.

[4157] How....] Lady M. How.... Strutt conj.

[4158] fancies] francies F₂.

[4159] all] om. Hanmer.

[4160] scotch'd] Theobald. scorch'd Ff. switch'd or bruis'd A. Hunter conj.

[4161] close] coil A. Hunter.

[4162] But ... suffer,] One line in Theobald. Two in Ff, the first ending disjoint. Two in Steevens (1793), the first ending let.

the frame ... suffer] both worlds disjoint, and all things suffer Pope.

frame] eternal frame Collier (Collier MS.), arranging as Ff.

[4163] our peace] F₁. our place F₂ F₃ F₄. our seat Keightley.

[4164] In ... grave;] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

Duncan is in his] Duncan's in 's S. Walker conj.

[4165] Can ... we] S. Walker would end the lines lord, ... jovial ... love; ... remembrance ... both ... we.

[4166] further] farther Collier.

[4167] among] F₁ 'mong F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4168] See note (VI).

[4169] apply] F₁ still apply F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4170] Unsafe ... that we] Vouchsafe the while your presence.—O, that we Bullock conj.

[4171] flattering] so flattering Rowe.

[4172] visards] vizards Ff. vizors Theobald.

to our] t' our Pope.

[4173] Fleance] Rowe. Fleans F₁ F₃ F₄. Feans F₂.

lives] live Hanmer.

[4174] eterne] eternal Pope.

[4175] shard-borne] F₁ F₂. shard-born F₃ F₄. sharp-brow'd Davenant's version. sharn-bode Daniel conj.

[4176] Hath ... note.] As in Rowe. In Ff the first line ends at peale.

[4177] seeling] Ff. sealing Rowe.

[4178] Light] Night Warburton conj.

[4179] and ... wood] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[4180] to the rooky] to the murky or to the dusky Roderick conj. to the rocky Jennens. to rook i' th' Steevens conj.

wood:] wood: on earth below Keightley.

[4181] Whiles] While Capell.

preys] F₃ F₄. prey's F₁ F₂. prey Pope.

[4182] Scene III.] Scene II. Rowe. Scene IV. Pope.

A park....] A Park, the Castle at a Distance. Rowe.

[4183] He needs not our] We need not to Warburton conj. ap. Theobald MS.

our] to Pope.

[4184] do, To ... just.] do.—To ... just! Johnson conj.

[4185] lated] F₁. latest F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4186] and] end F₁.

near] here Collier MS.

[4187] Give us a light] Give us light Pope. Give light Hanmer.

Then 'tis he] Then it is he Pope. 'Tis he Capell.

[4188] Give ... about.] S. Walker would end the lines ho!... within ... already ... about, reading it is for 'tis, line 9, and in for i', line 11.

[4189] the rest ... expectation] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[4190] That are] om. Steevens conj.

[4191] Already] om. Steevens conj.

[4192] from] om. Seymour conj.

[4193] A light ... to 't.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[4194] Enter....] Ff (after walk). Enter Banquo, and Fleance; Servant, with a Torch, before them. Capell (after walk).

Fleance] Fleans, Ff.

[4195] It will be] 'Twill Steevens conj., reading Stand ... down as one line.

[They....] They fall upon Banquo and kill him; in the scuffle Fleance escapes. Rowe. om. Ff.

[4196] O ... fly!] One line in Hanmer. Two in Ff.

good] godd F₂. om. Pope.

[4197] [Dies....] Pope. Dies. Rowe. om. Ff.

[4198] There's ... fled] As in Ff. Pope ends the lines at son ... affair.

We have] We've Pope.

[4199] S. Walker would end the lines away, ... done.

[4200] Scene IV.] Scene III. Rowe. Scene V. Pope.

Hall....] A Room of State. Rowe. A Room of State in the Castle. Pope. A Hall of State.... Capell.

[4201] A banquet....] Banquet.... Ff. A Banquet set out. Flourish. Capell.

[4202] You ... welcome.] Arranged as in Capell (Johnson conj.). The first line ends at downe: in Ff.

[4203] at first] And first Rowe (ed. 2). To first A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[4204] last] next Johnson conj.

[They sit. Rowe.

[4205] best] F₁. the best F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4206] they are] they're Pope. their Anon. conj.

Enter ... door.] Capell, after line 10. Enter first Murtherer. Ff.

[4207] [Approaching the door] Edd. (Globe ed.). To the Mur. Rowe. To the Murtherer aside at the door. Pope. om. Ff.

[4208] There's ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[4209] [Aside. Hunter conj.

he] him Hanmer.

[4210] that I did] I did that Pope.

[4211] Thou ... nonpareil.] Arranged as in Rowe. The lines end Cutthroats, ... Fleans: ... Non-pareill] in Ff.

[4212] o' the] of Pope.

good] as good Long MS.

[4213] [Aside] Grant White (Hunter conj.).

Then ... perfect,] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[4214] I am] I'm Pope.

[4215] [Aside] Indicated by Steevens.

[4216] hear ourselves] hear't ourselves Theobald. hear thee ourselves Hanmer. hear, ourselves Steevens. hear, ourselves, Dyce. hear thee ourselves Keightley.

ourselves] ourself Capell conj.

[4217] sold] cold Pope.

[4218] vouch'd] Ff. vouched Rowe.

while 'tis a-making,] while 'tis a making: F₁. while 'tis making: F₂ F₃ F₄. while 'tis making, Pope. the while 'tis making: Collier MS.

[4219] 'Tis ... feed] Then give the welcome: to eat A. Hunter.

[4220] [The Ghost....] Ghost of Banquo rises, ... Capell. Enter the Ghost of Banquo, and ... Ff, after it, line 37. Staunton transfers, to follow mischance! line 43: Keightley, to follow company, line 45. The Ghost of Duncan ... Seymour conj.

[4221] Who] Whom Pope.

[4222] mischance!] Pope. mischance. Ff.

[4223] Please't] Please it Steevens.

[4224] company.] Dyce. company? Ff.

[starting. Rowe.

[4225] Here is] Here's Pope (ed. 2).

[4226] Here ... highness?] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.

my good lord] my lord Steevens (1793), reading Where?... highness? as one line.

[4227] momentary] F₁. momentany F₂ F₃ F₄.

upon] on Pope.

[4228] Feed] Eat A. Hunter.

[To Macbeth. Rowe. To Macb. aside. Pope.

[4229] Are ... is.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[4230] O] om. Pope.

[4231] [Aside. Pope.

[4232] Impostors to true] F₁ F₃ F₄. Imposters to true F₂. Importers to true Theobald conj. (withdrawn). Impostors of true Hanmer. Impostures true to Johnson conj. Impostures of true Capell.

[4233] [Pointing to the Ghost. Rowe.

Prithee ... you?] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.

[4234] [Exit Ghost.] F₂ F₃ F₄. Omitted in F₁. Ghost vanishes. Rowe.

in folly] om. Steevens conj.

[4235] olden] olde Rowe (ed. 1). golden Mason conj. elden Seymour conj.

[4236] humane] Ff. human Theobald (ed. 2).

gentle] gen'ral Theobald (Warburton). ungentle Seymour conj.

[4237] have been] hath been Johnson.

[4238] time has] Edd. times has F₁. times have F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4239] do forget] forgot Pope.

[4240] Come,] om. Pope.

[4241] o'] of Rowe.

[4242] And all] And hail Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[4243] [The Lords rise. Jennens conj.

[4244] Re-enter Ghost.] The Ghost rises again. Pope. Enter Ghost. Ff, after line 88. As he is drinking, the Ghost rises again just before him. Rowe, after line 88. Enter Banquo's Ghost. Seymour conj. Enter Duncan's Ghost. Strutt conj.

[4245] the Hyrcan] th' Hircan F₁ F₂. th' Hyrcan F₃ F₄. Hyrcanian Pope (Davenant's version). Hyrcan Johnson. the Hircanian Capell.

[4246] or be alive] O be alive Rowe (ed. 2). Be alive Pope.

[4247] trembling I inhabit then,] F₁. trembling I inhabit, then F₂ F₃ F₄. trembling I inhibit, then Pope. trembling me inhibit, then Theobald conj. (withdrawn). trembling I evade it, then Johnson conj. trembling I in habit then, Jennens. trembling I, in habit then Jennens conj. trembling I inhibit thee, Malone (Steevens conj.). trembling I exhibit, then A. Hunter (Robinson conj., Gent. Mag. Vol. LIX. 1201). tremblingly inhabile, then Becket conj. trembling I inhibit then, Elwin. blenching I evade it, then Bailey conj. trembling I evitate it, then Keightley. trembling I unknight me, then Bullock conj. trembling I inherit, then Anon. conj.

protest] protect F₄.

[4248] horrible] terrible Theobald (ed. 2), Warburton and Johnson.

[4249] [Exit Ghost.] Exit. F₂ F₃ F₄, after shadow, line 106. om. F₁. Ghost vanishes. Rowe, after gone. Ghost disappears. Dyce.

being gone] F₁ F₂. be gone F₃ F₄.

[4250] [The Lords rise. Rowe.

[4251] broke ... disorder.] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[4252] Macb. Can ... You] Lady M. Can't ... wonder? Macb. You Warburton.

[4253] to] at Hanmer.

owe] know Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[4254] When now] Now when Hanmer.

[4255] cheeks] cheek Hanmer.

[4256] is] are Malone.

sights] F₁. signes F₂ F₃. signs F₄.

[4257] A kind] om. Pope.

[Exeunt ...] Exeunt Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants. Capell. Exit Lords. F₁. Exeunt Lords. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4258] It ... blood:] One line in Rowe. Two, the first ending say, in Ff.

blood: they say] blood, they say Pope. blood they say, Ff. blood.—They say, Johnson.

[4259] speak; Augures] speak Augures; Singer conj.

[4260] Augures] Ff. Augurs Theobald. Auguries Rann (Steevens conj.). See note (VII).

and understood] that understood Rowe. that understand Warburton.

[4261] maggot-pies and] mag-pies, and by Pope.

choughs] coughs Warburton.

[4262] sir?] om. Collier conj.

[4263] hear] heard Keightley.

[4264] There's not a one] There is not one Pope.

a one] a Thane Theobald. a man Grant White.

[4265] I keep] I'll keep Collier MS.

[4266] I ... sisters:] S. Walker would end the lines fee'd ... will, ... sisters.

[4267] And betimes ... to] Betimes ... unto Pope. And betimes ... unto Rann. Ay, and betimes ... to Anon. conj.

I will] will I Lettsom conj.

weird] Theobald. weyard F₁. wizard F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4268] I am] I'm Pope.

[4269] worst. For ... good] Johnson. worst, for ... good, Ff. worst, for ... good; Rowe.

[4270] Stepp'd] Stept F₁. Spent F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4271] go] going Hanmer.

[4272] natures] nature A. Hunter.

[4273] to] too Warburton.

[4274] We are] We're Pope.

in deed] Theobald. indeed Ff. in deeds Hanmer.

[4275] Scene V.] Scene IV. Rowe. Scene VI. Pope.

A heath.] The Heath. Rowe. Hecate.] F₃ F₄. Hecat. F₁ F₂.

[4276] reason, beldams] Knight. reason (Beldams) Ff.

[4277] are, ... over-bold?] Capell. are? ... over-bold, Ff.

[4278] wayward] weyward Pope.

[4279] Spiteful ... do,] A spiteful and a wrathful, who Steevens conj.

[4280] Loves] Lives Halliwell conj.

[4281] the] th' Ff.

[4282] dismal and a fatal] dismal, fatal Pope. dismal-fatal Steevens (1793).

[4283] sleights] slights Ff.

[4284] raise] rise F₂.

[4285] mortals'] Theobald (ed. 2). mortals Ff. mortal's Rowe.

[Music ... away,' &c.] Capell, substantially. Musicke, and a Song. Ff.

[4286] a] the Rowe (ed. 2).

[Sing within. Come away, come away, &c. Ff.

[Exit.] Capell. om. Ff.

[4287] back again.] As in Pope. As a separate line in Ff.

[4288] Scene VI.] Scene V. Rowe. Scene VII. Pope.

Forres. The palace.] A Chamber. Theobald. Foris. A Room in the Palace. Capell.

[4289] another Lord.] Angus. A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[4290] My ... thoughts,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4291] farther] further Johnson.

[4292] borne] born F₄.

[4293] right-valiant] Hyphen inserted by Theobald.

[4294] late. Who ... father?] Ff. late Who ... father. Grant White conj. (withdrawn).

[4295] Who cannot want] You cannot want Hanmer. Who can want or Who cannot have Jennens conj. Who care not, want Jackson conj. We cannot want Keightley.

monstrous] monstrous too Pope. monsterous Capell.

[4296] it did grieve Macbeth!] Capell. it did greeve Macbeth? Ff. did it grieve Macbeth? Pope.

[4297] not that] F₁ F₂. that not F₃ F₄.

and] om. Pope.

[4298] deny 't] deny it Capell.

[4299] his key] F₁. the key F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4300] an't] Theobald (ed. 2). and 't Ff.

should] F₁. shall F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4301] 'cause] Pope. cause Ff.

[4302] Lord.] Ang. A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[4303] son] Theobald. Sonnes F₁ F₂ F₃. Sons F₄.

[4304] Lives] F₁. Live F₂ F₃ F₄.

is] Ff. are Rowe.

[4305] Arranged as in Ff. Steevens (1773, 1778, 1785) transferred is gone to end of line 29.

[4306] holy] om. Pope.

upon] on Capell. om. Anon. conj.

upon his aid] in aid Anon. conj.

[4307] Siward] Theobald (ed. 2). Hanmer. Seyward Ff.

[4308] Free] Fright or Fray Steevens conj.

Free ... banquets] Our feasts and banquets free from Malone conj.

[4309] exasperate] exasperated Rowe (ed. 2). exasp'rated Pope.

the king] Hanmer. their king Ff. our king Anon. conj.

[4310] of war] om. Pope.

[4311] to a caution, to] to a caution, t' Ff. to a care to Pope. caution and to Steevens conj.

[4312] suffering country] country, suffering Capell conj.

[4313] I'll send ... him.] My prayers with him! Steevens (1793).

ACT IV.

Scene I. A cavern. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.[4314]

Thunder. Enter the three Witches.

First Witch. Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Sec. Witch. Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.[4315]

Third Witch. Harpier cries ''Tis time, 'tis time.'[4316]

First Witch. Round about the cauldron go:
In the poison'd entrails throw.[4317] 5
Toad, that under cold stone [4318]
Days and nights has thirty one [4319]
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,[4320]
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.

All. Double, double toil and trouble;[4321] 10
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Sec. Witch. Fillet of a fenny snake,[4322]
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog, 15
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,[4323]
[Pg 483] Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,[4324]
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

All. Double, double toil and trouble; 20
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Third Witch. Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf [4325]
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,[4326]
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark, 25
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat and slips of yew
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse,[4327]
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth-strangled babe 30
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,[4328]
For the ingredients of our cauldron.[4329]

All. Double, double toil and trouble; 35
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Sec. Witch. Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

Enter Hecate to the other three Witches.[4330]

Hec. O, well done! I commend your pains;[4331]
And every one shall share i' the gains: 40
And now about the cauldron sing,
Like elves and fairies in a ring,
[Pg 484] Enchanting all that you put in.

[Music and a song: 'Black spirits,' &c.

[Hecate retires.[4332]

Sec. Witch. By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes: 45
Open, locks,[4333]
Whoever knocks![4333]

Enter Macbeth.

Macb. How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags![4334]
What is't you do?

All. A deed without a name.

Macb. I conjure you, by that which you profess, 50
Howe'er you come to know it, answer me:
Though you untie the winds, and let them fight
Against the churches; though the yesty waves
Confound and swallow navigation up;
Though bladed corn be lodged and trees blown down;[4335] 55
Though castles topple on their warders' heads;[4336]
Though palaces and pyramids do slope [4337]
Their heads to their foundations; though the treasure
Of nature's germins tumble all together,[4338]
Even till destruction sicken; answer me 60
To what I ask you.

First Witch. Speak.

Sec. Witch. Demand.

Third Witch. We'll answer.

First Witch. Say, if thou'dst rather hear it from our mouths,[4339]
Or from our masters?[4340]
[Pg 485]

Macb. Call 'em, let me see 'em.

First Witch. Pour in sow's blood, that hath eaten
Her nine farrow; grease that's sweaten [4341] 65
From the murderer's gibbet throw
Into the flame.

All. Come, high or low;
Thyself and office deftly show!

Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head.[4342]

Macb. Tell me, thou unknown power,—[4343]

First Witch. He knows thy thought:
Hear his speech, but say thou nought. 70

First App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff;[4344]
Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me: enough.[4345]

[Descends.

Macb. Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution thanks;
Thou hast harp'd my fear aright: but one word more,—[4346]

First Witch. He will not be commanded: here's another, 75
More potent than the first.

Thunder. Second Apparition: a bloody Child.[4347]

Sec. App. Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

Macb. Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.

Sec. App. Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn [4348][4349]
The power of man, for none of woman born[4348] 80
Shall harm Macbeth.[4348] [Descends.
[Pg 486]

Macb. Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee?
But yet I'll make assurance double sure,[4350]
And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live;
That I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, 85
And sleep in spite of thunder.

Thunder. Third Apparition: a Child crowned, with a tree in his hand.

What is this,[4351][4352]
That rises like the issue of a king,[4351]
And wears upon his baby-brow the round
And top of sovereignty?

All. Listen, but speak not to 't.[4353]

Third App. Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care [4354] 90
Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are:
Macbeth shall never vanquished be until
Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill [4355]
Shall come against him. [Descends.[4356]

Macb. That will never be:
Who can impress the forest, bid the tree 95
Unfix his earth-bound root? Sweet bodements! good!
Rebellion's head, rise never, till the wood [4357]
Of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth [4358]
Shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath
To time and mortal custom. Yet my heart [4359] 100
Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art
Can tell so much: shall Banquo's issue ever [4360]
Reign in this kingdom?
[Pg 487]

All. Seek to know no more.

Macb. I will be satisfied: deny me this,
And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know:[4361][4362] 105
Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this?[4362]

[Hautboys.[4363]

First Witch. Show!

Sec. Witch. Show!

Third Witch. Show!

All. Show his eyes, and grieve his heart;[4359] 110
Come like shadows, so depart!

A show of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Banquo's Ghost following.[4364]

Macb. Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down!
Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair,[4365]
Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first.[4366]
A third is like the former. Filthy hags! 115
Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes![4367]
What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom?
Another yet! A seventh! I'll see no more:
And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass [4368]
Which shows me many more; and some I see 120
That two-fold balls and treble sceptres carry:
Horrible sight! Now I see 'tis true;[4369]
For the blood-bolter'd Banquo smiles upon me,
And points at them for his. What, is this so?[4370]
[Pg 488]

First Witch. Ay, sir, all this is so: but why [4371][4372] 125
Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?[4348]
Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites,[4348][4373]
And show the best of our delights:[4348]
I'll charm the air to give a sound,[4348]
While you perform your antic round,[4348][4374] 130
That this great king may kindly say[4348]
Our duties did his welcome pay.[4348]

[Music. The Witches dance, and then vanish, with Hecate.[4375]

Macb. Where are they? Gone? Let this pernicious hour [4376]
Stand aye accursed in the calendar!
Come in, without there!

Enter Lennox.

Len. What's your grace's will? 135

Macb. Saw you the weird sisters?[4377]

Len. No, my lord.

Macb. Came they not by you?

Len. No indeed, my lord.

Macb. Infected be the air whereon they ride,
And damn'd all those that trust them! I did hear
The galloping of horse: who was't came by? 140

Len. 'Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word
Macduff is fled to England.

Macb. Fled to England!

Len. Ay, my good lord.

Macb. [Aside] Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits:[4378]
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook 145
Unless the deed go with it: from this moment
The very firstlings of my heart shall be [4379]
The firstlings of my hand. And even now,[4380]
[Pg 489] To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:[4381]
The castle of Macduff I will surprise; 150
Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword
His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls [4382]
That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool;[4383]
This deed I'll do before this purpose cool:[4384]
But no more sights!—Where are these gentlemen?[4385] 155
Come, bring me where they are. [Exeunt.

Scene II. Fife. Macduff's castle.[4386]

Enter Lady Macduff, her Son, and Ross.[4387]

L. Macd. What had he done, to make him fly the land?[4388]

Ross. You must have patience, madam.

L. Macd. He had none:
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.

Ross. You know not
Whether it was his wisdom or his fear. 5

L. Macd. Wisdom! to leave his wife, to leave his babes,
His mansion and his titles, in a place
From whence himself does fly? He loves us not;
He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren,
The most diminutive of birds, will fight,[4389] 10
Her young ones in her nest, against the owl.
All is the fear and nothing is the love;
As little is the wisdom, where the flight
So runs against all reason.
[Pg 490]

Ross. My dearest coz,[4390]
I pray you, school yourself: but, for your husband, 15
He is noble, wise, judicious, and best knows [4391]
The fits o' the season. I dare not speak much further:[4392]
But cruel are the times, when we are traitors
And do not know ourselves; when we hold rumour [4393][4394]
From what we fear, yet know not what we fear,[4394] 20
But float upon a wild and violent sea [4395]
Each way and move. I take my leave of you:[4396]
Shall not be long but I'll be here again:[4397]
Things at the worst will cease, or else climb upward
To what they were before. My pretty cousin, 25
Blessing upon you![4398]

L. Macd. Father'd he is, and yet he's fatherless.[4398][4399]

Ross. I am so much a fool, should I stay longer,[4398]
It would be my disgrace and your discomfort:[4398]
I take my leave at once.[4398] [Exit.

L. Macd. Sirrah, your father's dead:[4400] 30
And what will you do now? How will you live?

Son. As birds do, mother.

L. Macd. What, with worms and flies?[4401]

Son. With what I get, I mean; and so do they.[4402]

L. Macd. Poor bird! thou'ldst never fear the net nor lime,[4403]
The pitfall nor the gin.[4404] 35
[Pg 491]

Son. Why should I, mother? Poor birds they are not set for.[4404][4405]
My father is not dead, for all your saying.[4404][4406]

L. Macd. Yes, he is dead: how wilt thou do for a father?[4404][4407]

Son. Nay, how will you do for a husband?[4404]

L. Macd. Why, I can buy me twenty at any market.[4404] 40

Son. Then you'll buy 'em to sell again.[4404][4408]

L. Macd. Thou speak'st with all thy wit, and yet, i' faith,[4404][4409][4410]
With wit enough for thee.[4404][4410]

Son. Was my father a traitor, mother?

L. Macd. Ay, that he was. 45

Son. What is a traitor?

L. Macd. Why, one that swears and lies.

Son. And be all traitors that do so?[4411]

L. Macd. Every one that does so is a traitor, and must [4412]
be hang'd.[4412] 50

Son. And must they all be hang'd that swear and lie?

L. Macd. Every one.

Son. Who must hang them?

L. Macd. Why, the honest men.[4413]

Son. Then the liars and swearers are fools; for there 55
are liars and swearers enow to beat the honest men and [4414]
hang up them.

L. Macd. Now, God help thee, poor monkey! But how [4415][4416]
wilt thou do for a father?[4416]

Son. If he were dead, you'd weep for him: if you would 60
not, it were a good sign that I should quickly have a new
father.
[Pg 492]

L. Macd. Poor prattler, how thou talk'st![4417]

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Bless you, fair dame! I am not to you known,
Though in your state of honour I am perfect. 65
I doubt some danger does approach you nearly:
If you will take a homely man's advice,
Be not found here; hence, with your little ones.[4418]
To fright you thus, methinks I am too savage;[4418]
To do worse to you were fell cruelty,[4419] 70
Which is too nigh your person. Heaven preserve you!
I dare abide no longer. [Exit.[4420]

L. Macd. Whither should I fly?
I have done no harm. But I remember now [4421]
I am in this earthly world, where to do harm [4422]
Is often laudable, to do good sometime 75
Accounted dangerous folly: why then, alas,
Do I put up that womanly defence,
To say I have done no harm?—What are these faces?[4423]

Enter Murderers.

First Mur. Where is your husband?[4424]

L. Macd. I hope, in no place so unsanctified 80
Where such as thou mayst find him.

First Mur. He's a traitor.

Son. Thou liest, thou shag-ear'd villain![4425]

First Mur. What, you egg!

[Stabbing him.

Young fry of treachery!
[Pg 493]

Son. He has kill'd me, mother:[4426]
Run away, I pray you![4427] [Dies.

[Exit Lady Macduff, crying'Murder!' Exeunt murderers, following her.

Scene III. England. Before the King's palace.[4428]

Enter Malcolm and Macduff.

Mal. Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there
Weep our sad bosoms empty.

Macd. Let us rather
Hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men
Bestride our down-fall'n birthdom: each new morn [4429]
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows 5
Strike heaven on the face, that it resounds
As if it felt with Scotland and yell'd out
Like syllable of dolour.[4430]

Mal. What I believe, I'll wail;
What know, believe; and what I can redress,
As I shall find the time to friend, I will. 10
What you have spoke, it may be so perchance.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest: you have loved him well;
He hath not touch'd you yet. I am young; but something [4431]
You may deserve of him through me; and wisdom [4432] 15
To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb [4433]
To appease an angry god.
[Pg 494]

Macd. I am not treacherous.

Mal. But Macbeth is.
A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon;[4434] 20
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose:
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell:
Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,[4435]
Yet grace must still look so.[4436]

Macd. I have lost my hopes.

Mal. Perchance even there where I did find my doubts.[4437] 25
Why in that rawness left you wife and child,[4438]
Those precious motives, those strong knots of love,
Without leave-taking? I pray you,[4439]
Let not my jealousies be your dishonours,
But mine own safeties. You may be rightly just, 30
Whatever I shall think.

Macd. Bleed, bleed, poor country:
Great tyranny, lay thou thy basis sure,
For goodness dare not check thee: wear thou thy wrongs;[4440]
The title is affeer'd. Fare thee well, lord:[4441]
I would not be the villain that thou think'st [4442] 35
For the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp
And the rich East to boot.

Mal. Be not offended:
I speak not as in absolute fear of you.
I think our country sinks beneath the yoke;
It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash 40
Is added to her wounds: I think withal
There would be hands uplifted in my right;
[Pg 495] And here from gracious England have I offer
Of goodly thousands: but for all this,[4443]
When I shall tread upon the tyrant's head, 45
Or wear it on my sword, yet my poor country
Shall have more vices than it had before,
More suffer and more sundry ways than ever,
By him that shall succeed.

Macd. What should he be?

Mal. It is myself I mean: in whom I know 50
All the particulars of vice so grafted
That, when they shall be open'd, black Macbeth [4444]
Will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state
Esteem him as a lamb, being compared
With my confineless harms.

Macd. Not in the legions 55
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn'd
In evils to top Macbeth.[4445]

Mal. I grant him bloody,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin [4446]
That has a name: but there's no bottom, none, 60
In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons and your maids, could not fill up
The cistern of my lust, and my desire [4447]
All continent impediments would o'erbear,
That did oppose my will: better Macbeth 65
Than such an one to reign.[4448]

Macd. Boundless intemperance
In nature is a tyranny; it hath been
The untimely emptying of the happy throne,
And fall of many kings. But fear not yet
To take upon you what is yours: you may 70
Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty,[4449]
[Pg 496] And yet seem cold, the time you may so hoodwink:[4450]
We have willing dames enough; there cannot be [4451]
That vulture in you, to devour so many
As will to greatness dedicate themselves, 75
Finding it so inclined.

Mal. With this there grows
In my most ill-composed affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels and this other's house: 80
And my more-having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,[4452]
Destroying them for wealth.

Macd. This avarice
Sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root [4453] 85
Than summer-seeming lust, and it hath been [4454]
The sword of our slain kings: yet do not fear;
Scotland hath foisons to fill up your will [4455]
Of your mere own: all these are portable,[4456]
With other graces weigh'd. 90

Mal. But I have none: the king-becoming graces,
As justice, verity, temperance, stableness,
Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness,
Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude,
I have no relish of them, but abound 95
In the division of each several crime,
Acting it many ways. Nay, had I power, I should
Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell,[4457]
Uproar the universal peace, confound [4458]
[Pg 497] All unity on earth.

Macd. O Scotland, Scotland! 100

Mal. If such a one be fit to govern, speak:
I am as I have spoken.

Macd. Fit to govern![4459]
No, not to live. O nation miserable![4459]
With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter'd,
When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, 105
Since that the truest issue of thy throne
By his own interdiction stands accursed,[4460]
And does blaspheme his breed? Thy royal father
Was a most sainted king: the queen that bore thee,
Oftener upon her knees than on her feet, 110
Died every day she lived. Fare thee well![4461]
These evils thou repeat'st upon thyself
Have banish'd me from Scotland. O my breast,[4462]
Thy hope ends here!

Mal. Macduff, this noble passion,
Child of integrity, hath from my soul 115
Wiped the black scruples, reconciled my thoughts
To thy good truth and honour. Devilish Macbeth [4463]
By many of these trains hath sought to win me
Into his power; and modest wisdom plucks me
From over-credulous haste: but God above 120
Deal between thee and me! for even now
I put myself to thy direction, and
Unspeak mine own detraction; here abjure [4464]
The taints and blames I laid upon myself,
For strangers to my nature. I am yet 125
Unknown to woman, never was forsworn,[4465]
Scarcely have coveted what was mine own,
At no time broke my faith, would not betray
[Pg 498] The devil to his fellow, and delight
No less in truth than life: my first false speaking 130
Was this upon myself: what I am truly,
Is thine and my poor country's to command:
Whither indeed, before thy here-approach,[4466]
Old Siward, with ten thousand warlike men,[4467]
Already at a point, was setting forth.[4468] 135
Now we'll together, and the chance of goodness [4469]
Be like our warranted quarrel! Why are you silent?[4470]

Macd. Such welcome and unwelcome things at once
'Tis hard to reconcile.

Enter a Doctor.

Mal. Well, more anon. Comes the king forth, I pray you?[4471]140

Doct. Ay, sir; there are a crew of wretched souls
That stay his cure: their malady convinces [4472]
The great assay of art; but at his touch,
Such sanctity hath heaven given his hand,
They presently amend.

Mal. I thank you, doctor. [Exit Doctor.[4473]145

Macd. What's the disease he means?

Mal. 'Tis call'd the evil:
A most miraculous work in this good king;
Which often, since my here-remain in England,[4474]
I have seen him do. How he solicits heaven,[4475]
[Pg 499] Himself best knows: but strangely-visited people,[4476] 150
All swoln and ulcerous, pitiful to the eye,
The mere despair of surgery, he cures,
Hanging a golden stamp about their necks,
Put on with holy prayers: and 'tis spoken,
To the succeeding royalty he leaves 155
The healing benediction. With this strange virtue
He hath a heavenly gift of prophecy,
And sundry blessings hang about his throne
That speak him full of grace.

Enter Ross.[4477]

Macd. See, who comes here?

Mal. My countryman; but yet I know him not. 160

Macd. My ever gentle cousin, welcome hither.

Mal. I know him now: good God, betimes remove [4478]
The means that makes us strangers![4479]

Ross. Sir, amen.

Macd. Stands Scotland where it did?

Ross. Alas, poor country!
Almost afraid to know itself! It cannot 165
Be call'd our mother, but our grave: where nothing,[4480]
But who knows nothing, is once seen to smile;
Where sighs and groans and shrieks that rend the air,[4481]
Are made, not mark'd; where violent sorrow seems
A modern ecstasy: the dead man's knell [4482] 170
Is there scarce ask'd for who; and good men's lives [4483]
Expire before the flowers in their caps,
Dying or ere they sicken.[4484]

Macd. O, relation
Too nice, and yet too true![4485]
[Pg 500]

Mal. What's the newest grief?[4485][4486]

Ross. That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker; 175
Each minute teems a new one.

Macd. How does my wife?

Ross. Why, well.

Macd. And all my children?

Ross. Well too.

Macd. The tyrant has not batter'd at their peace?

Ross. No; they were well at peace when I did leave 'em.

Macd. Be not a niggard of your speech: how goes 't?[4487] 180

Ross. When I came hither to transport the tidings,
Which I have heavily borne, there ran a rumour
Of many worthy fellows that were out;
Which was to my belief witness'd the rather,
For that I saw the tyrant's power a-foot: 185
Now is the time of help; your eye in Scotland
Would create soldiers, make our women fight,[4488]
To doff their dire distresses.

Mal. Be't their comfort
We are coming thither: gracious England hath [4489]
Lent us good Siward and ten thousand men;[4490] 190
An older and a better soldier none
That Christendom gives out.

Ross. Would I could answer
This comfort with the like! But I have words
That would be howl'd out in the desert air,
Where hearing should not latch them.

Macd. What concern they?[4491][4492]195
The general cause? or is it a fee-grief[4492]
Due to some single breast?
[Pg 501]

Ross. No mind that's honest
But in it shares some woe, though the main part
Pertains to you alone.

Macd. If it be mine,
Keep it not from me, quickly let me have it. 200

Ross. Let not your ears despise my tongue for ever,
Which shall possess them with the heaviest sound
That ever yet they heard.

Macd. Hum! I guess at it.[4493]

Ross. Your castle is surprised; your wife and babes
Savagely slaughter'd: to relate the manner, 205
Were, on the quarry of these murder'd deer,
To add the death of you.

Mal. Merciful heaven!
What, man! ne'er pull your hat upon your brows;
Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak
Whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break. 210

Macd. My children too?

Ross. Wife, children, servants, all [4494]
That could be found.[4494]

Macd. And I must be from thence![4494]
My wife kill'd too?[4494]

Ross. I have said.[4495]

Mal. Be comforted:
Let's make us medicines of our great revenge,
To cure this deadly grief. 215

Macd. He has no children. All my pretty ones?[4496]
Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?[4497][4498][4499]
What, all my pretty chickens and their dam[4498]
At one fell swoop?[4498]
[Pg 502]

Mal. Dispute it like a man.

Macd. I shall do so;[4500] 220
But I must also feel it as a man:
I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on,
And would not take their part? Sinful Macduff,
They were all struck for thee! naught that I am,[4501] 225
Not for their own demerits, but for mine,
Fell slaughter on their souls: heaven rest them now!

Mal. Be this the whetstone of your sword: let grief
Convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.[4502]

Macd. O, I could play the woman with mine eyes, 230
And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens,[4503]
Cut short all intermission; front to front
Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself;[4504]
Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape,
Heaven forgive him too!

Mal. This tune goes manly.[4505] 235
Come, go we to the king; our power is ready;
Our lack is nothing but our leave. Macbeth
Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above
Put on their instruments. Receive what cheer you may;
The night is long that never finds the day. [Exeunt.240

[Pg 503]

FOOTNOTES:

[4314] Act iv. Scene i.] Actus Quartus. Scæna Prima. F₁. Actus Quintus ... F₂ F₃ F₄.

A ... cauldron.] Capell, substantially. A dark Cave, in the middle a great Cauldron burning. Rowe.

[4315] Thrice and] Staunton and Delius. Thrice, and Ff. Twice, and Theobald. Thrice; and Steevens (1778).

hedge-pig] Hedge-Pigge F₁. Hedges Pigge F₂. Hedges Pig F₃ F₄.

[4316] Harpier] Harper Pope. Hark, her Jackson conj. Harpy Steevens conj.

cries 'Tis] cries, 'tis Ff. cries—'tis Steevens (1773). cries:—'tis Steevens (1778).

[4317] entrails] entremes Warburton conj.

[They march round the Cauldron, and throw in the several Ingredients as for the Preparation of their Charm. Rowe.

[4318] Toad, that] This toad, which Davenant's version. Toadstool, Bullock conj.

under cold] under mossy Davenant's version. under the cold Rowe (ed. 2). under coldest Steevens (1793). under a cold Staunton conj. underneath cold Keightley. under cold cold Anon. conj. under some cold Anon. conj.

[4319] has] F₃ F₄. ha's F₁ F₂. hast Hanmer.

one] one, Pope. one: Ff.

[4320] venom sleeping] venom, sleeping Delius.

[4321] Double, double] Steevens. Double, double, Ff.

[4322] Sec. Witch.] 2. Ff. 1 Witch. Pope (ed. 2).

[4323] blind-worm's] blind-worm Pope.

[4324] howlet's] owlet's Pope.

[4325] Witches'] Theobald (ed. 2). Witches Ff. Witch's Singer.

[4326] ravin'd] ravening Pope. ravin Rann (Mason conj.).

salt-sea shark] Capell. salt Sea sharke Ff. salt sea-shark Pope.

[4327] Sliver'd] Silver'd Rowe (ed. 2).

[4328] chaudron] chawdron Ff. chauldron Keightley.

[4329] ingredients] Rowe. Ingredience Ff.

cauldron] F₃ F₄. cawdron F₁ F₂.

[4330] Enter ...] Edd. (Globe ed.). Enter Hecat, and the other three Witches. Ff (Hecate, F₃ F₄). Enter Hecate, and other three Witches. Rowe. Enter Hecate, and other Witches. Collier. Enter Hecate. Dyce (Ritson conj.).

[4331] O] om. Anon. conj.

[4332] Black spirits, &c.] See note (VIII).

[Hecate retires.] Edd. (Globe ed.). Exit Hecate. Dyce. om. Ff.

[4333] Open ... knocks!] As in Dyce. One line in Ff.

[4334] Scene II. Pope.

[4335] bladed] bleaded Collier (Collier MS.). bearded Beisly conj.

[4336] on] o'er Collier MS.

[4337] slope] stoop Capell conj.

[4338] germins] Theobald. germaine F₁ F₂. germain F₃ F₄. germains Pope. germen Delius.

all together] Pope. altogether Ff.

[4339] thou'dst] Capell. th' hadst Ff.

[4340] masters?] Pope. masters. Ff. masters'? Capell. 'em ... 'em] them ... them Capell.

[4341] grease] Pope. greaze F₁. greace F₂ F₃ F₄. grace Rowe (ed. 2).

[4342] First Apparition ...] 1. Apparation, an Armed Head. Ff (Apparition, F₃ F₄). Apparition of an armed Head rises. Rowe.

[4343] power,—] power— Rowe. power. Ff.

[4344] Macbeth ... Macduff] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4345] [Descends.] Rowe. He Descends. Ff.

[4346] Thou hast] Thou'st Pope.

harp'd] happ'd Becket conj.

more,—] more— Rowe. more. Ff.

[4347] Second Apparition ...] 2 Apparition, a Bloody Childe. Ff. Apparition of a bloody Child rises. Rowe.

[4348] Be ... Macbeth.] In Reed (1803) the lines end bold, ... man, ... Macbeth.

[4349] Be ... scorn] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4350] assurance double] Pope, assurance: double F₁. assurance, double F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4351] What ... king,] As in Rowe. One line in Ff.

[4352] Third ...] 3 Apparation ... hand. Ff (Apparition, F₃ F₄). Apparition of ... rises. Rowe.

[4353] top] type Theobald conj.

to 't] om. Pope.

[4354] lion-mettled] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

[4355] Birnam] F₄. Byrnam F₁ F₂ F₃.

high Dunsinane] high Dunsmane F₄. Dunsinane's high Pope.

[4356] [Descends.] Rowe. Descend. Ff.

[4357] Rebellion's head] Hanmer (Theobald conj.). Rebellious dead Ff. Rebellious head Theobald (Warburton).

[4358] Birnam] F₄. Byrnan F₁. Byrnam F₂ F₃.

[4359] heart] hart F₁.

[4360] [The Cauldron sinks into the ground. Rowe.

[4361] [Thunder; and the Cauldron sinks. Horrid Musick. Capell.

[4362] know: Why] know Why S. Walker conj.

[4363] [Hautboys.] Hoboyes. F₁ F₂ F₃. Hoboys. F₄.

[4364] A show....] A show of eight Kings, and Banquo last, with a glasse in his hand. Ff. Eight Kings appear and pass over in order, and Banquo last, with a Glass in his Hand. Rowe. Eight ... order, and Banquo; the last, with a glass in his hand. Theobald. Eight ... order, the last holding a glass in his hand: with Banquo following them Hanmer.

[4365] eye-balls. And thy hair,] eye-balls; and thy hair. Collier MS.

hair] haire Ff. air Warburton (Johnson). heir Jackson conj.

[4366] is] art Collier MS.

[4367] eyes] F₁. eye F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4368] eighth] F₃ F₄. eight F₁ F₂.

[4369] Now] nay now Pope. Ay, now Steevens (1793).

[4370] What, is] Pope. What? is F₁. What is F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4371] First Witch.] Hec. Edd. conj.

[4372] Ay, ... pay.] Omit as spurious. Anon. conj.

[4373] sprites] sprights Ff.

[4374] antic] antick Theobald. antique Ff.

[4375] The Witches ... Hecate.] Edd. (Globe ed.). The Witches Dance, and vanish. Ff.

[4376] Where ... hour] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4377] weird] Theobald. weyard F₁. wizard F₂ F₃. wizards F₄.

sisters] sihers F₂.

[4378] [Aside] Johnson.

[4379] firstlings] F₁. firstling F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4380] firstlings] firstling Rowe (ed. 2).

[4381] be it] be' t Pope.

[4382] unfortunate] th' unfortunate Heath conj.

[4383] him in] om. Johnson conj.

No ... fool;] Omit as spurious, ending lines 153, 154 do ... sights! and reading Where ... are as prose. Anon. conj.

[4384] this purpose] the purpose Hanmer.

[4385] sights] flights Collier (Collier MS. and Singer MS.). sprites Grant White.

[4386] Scene II.] Scene III. Pope.

Fife. Macduff's castle.] Macduff's Castle at Fife. Theobald. Macduff's Castle. Rowe.

[4387] Enter Lady Macduff....] Rowe. Enter Macduffes Wife.... Ff.

[4388] L. Macd.] Wife. Ff (and throughout).

[4389] diminutive] F₄. diminitive F₁ F₃. diminiuive F₂.

[4390] My ... coz] Dearest cousin Pope. My dearest cousin Theobald.

[4391] He is] He's Pope.

[4392] The fits o'] What fits or That fits Anon. conj.

season] time Pope.

[4393] know] know't Hanmer.

[4394] we hold rumour ... we] we bode ruin ... we or the bold running ... they Johnson conj.

rumour ... fear, yet] fear From rumor, and yet Becket conj.

[4395] float upon] floating on Jackson conj.

[4396] Each ... move.] Each way and wave. Theobald conj. And move each way. Capell. And each way move. Keightley (Steevens conj.). Each way, and move— Johnson conj. Each wail and moan. Jackson conj. Which way we move. Ingleby conj. And move each wave. Anon. conj.

[4397] Shall] 'T shall Hanmer. It shall Keightley.

[4398] Blessing ... discomfort:] S. Walker would end the lines yet ... fool— ... disgrace, ... discomfort.

[4399] Father'd ... fatherless] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4400] [Exit.] Exit Rosse. Ff.

[4401] with] on Pope.

[4402] With] On Pope.

I mean] F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4403] Poor ... lime,] One line in Theobald. Two in Ff.

lime] F₁. line F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4404] The ... thee.] Capell ends the lines mother?... father's ... dead: ... Nay, ... buy me ... buy 'em ... wit; ... thee.

[4405] Why ... for.] One line in Pope. Two in Ff.

[4406] My father is] But my father's Capell, reading Poor ... father's as one line.

[4407] Yes ... father?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

do] do now Capell.

[4408] buy] F₃ F₄. by F₁ F₂.

[4409] with all] F₂ F₃ F₄. withall F₁.

[4410] and yet ... thee.] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[4411] so?] F₃ F₄. so. F₁ F₂.

[4412] Every ... hang'd.] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[4413] the] om. F₃ F₄.

[4414] enow] enough Capell.

[4415] Now] om. F₄.

[4416] Now, God ... father?] Prose first in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[4417] L. Macd.] Wife. F₁ F₃ F₄. Son. F₂.

[4418] ones. To ... thus,] ones: To ... thus, F₂ F₃ F₄. ones To ... thus. F₁.

[4419] worse to you] less, to you Hanmer. worship to you Warburton. less to you, Capell.

[4420] [Exit.] Exit Messenger. Ff.

Whither] F₃ F₄. Whether F₁ F₂.

[4421] I have] I've Pope.

[4422] I am] I'm Pope.

[4423] To say ... faces?] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.]

I have] F₁. I had F₂ F₃ F₄. I'ad Pope. I'd Theobald.

[4424] First Mur.] 1. M. Capell. Mur. Ff.

[4425] shag-ear'd] F₃ F₄. shagge-ear'd F₁ F₂. shag-hair'd Dyce (Steevens conj.).

[Stabbing him.] Rowe. om. Ff.

[4426] He has] H' as Pope.

[4427] I pray] pray Pope.

[Dies.] Capell. om. Ff.

[Exit ...] Edd. (Globe ed.). Exit L. Macduff, crying Murther; Murtherers pursue her. Theobald. Exit crying Murther. Ff.

[4428] Scene III.] Scene IV. Pope.

England. Before ...] Dyce. The King of England's Palace. Rowe. A Room in Edward the Confessor's Palace. Capell. England. Steevens.

[4429] down-fall'n] downfaln Warburton (Johnson). downfall F₁ F₂ F₃. downfal F₄. down-fall Capell.

birthdom] Johnson, birthdome F₁ F₂ F₃. birth-dome F₄. birth-doom Pope. birth-dame Johnson conj.

[4430] syllable] syllables Pope.

[4431] I am] I'm Pope.

[4432] deserve] Theobald (Walburton). discerne F₁ F₂. discern F₃ F₄.

of him] om. Steevens conj.

and wisdom] 'tis wisdom Hanmer. and wisdom is it Steevens conj. and 'tis wisdom Collier conj. and wisdom 'tis or and wisdom bids Staunton conj. and wisdom 'twere Keightley.

[4433] To offer] 'Tis t' offer Nicholson conj.

[4434] But ... crave] I crave Pope. But 'crave Steevens (1793).

[4435] wear] bear F₄.

[4436] still look] look still Theobald (ed. 2).

I have] I've Pope.

[4437] Perchance ... doubts.] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[4438] child] childe F₁. children F₂ F₃F₄.

[4439] Without] Without so much as Anon. conj.

I pray you] om. Pope. pray you S. Walker conj. O Macduff, I pray you Anon. conj.

[4440] dare] F₁F₂. dares F₃F₄.

[4441] The] Ff. His Pope. Thy Malone.

affeer'd] Steevens, 1793 (Heath conj.). affear'd F₁F₂. afear'd F₃. afeard F₄. assur'd or affirm'd S. Walker conj. affeered Keightley.

Fare] Far F₁.

[4442] think'st] think'st me Keightley.

[4443] Of] Of aid of Keightley.

but] but yet Hanmer.

[4444] open'd] ripen'd Collier MS.

[4445] evils] ills Pope.

Mal.] F₁. Macb. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4446] smacking] F₁ smoaking F₂ F₃ F₄.

every] each Pope.

[4447] cistern] F₃ F₄. cesterneF₁ F₂.

[4448] an] a Capell.

Boundless] om. Steevens conj.

[4449] Convey] Enjoy Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS.).

[4450] cold, the ... hoodwink:] Theobald. cold. The ... hoodwinke: Ff. cold. The ... hoodwink, Rowe. cold: the ... hoodwink: Pope.

[4451] We have] We've Pope.

[4452] loyal] royal Pope.

[4453] Sticks] Strikes Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

[4454] summer-seeming] summer-teeming Theobald (Warburton). summer-seeding Rann (Heath conj.). fume, or seething Johnson conj. summer-sinning Jackson conj. summer-seaming Staunton conj.

[4455] foisons] foysons F₁ F₂. poison F₃ F₄. foison Anon. conj.

[4456] portable] bearable A. Hunter.

[4457] Pour ... hell] Sow'r ... hate Hanmer Sour ... hell Jackson conj.

[4458] Uproar] F₃ F₄. Uprore F₁ F₂. Uproot Keightley.

[4459] Fit ... miserable!] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[4460] accursed] accurst F₂ F₃ F₄. accust F₁.

[4461] lived] liv'd Ff.

Fare] Oh fare Pope.

[4462] Have] Rowe. Hath Ff.

[4463] thy] this Hanmer (1745).

[4464] detraction] detractions Capell. conj.

[4465] woman] F₁. women F₂ F₃ F₄.

forsworn] forsworne F₁. forswore F₂ F₃ F₄. yet forsworn Hanmer (1745).

[4466] Whither] Whether F₄.

thy] they F₁.

here-approach] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

[4467] Siward] Theobald. Seyward Ff.

[4468] Already] Ff. All ready Rowe.

at a point] at appoint Warburton.

forth] F₁. foorth? F₂. forth? F₃ F₄.

[4469] the chance of goodness] our chance, in goodness Hanmer. the chance, O goodness, Johnson conj. the chain of goodness Jackson conj.

[4470] Be like] Be-link Jackson conj. Belike Staunton.

-warranted] unwarranted Capell (corrected in MS.).

[4471] Scene V. Pope.

Well ... you?] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[4472] convinces] defeats A. Hunter.

[4473] [Exit Doctor.] Capell. Exit. Ff, after amend.

[4474] here-remain] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

[4475] I have] I've Pope.

[4476] strangely-visited] Hyphen inserted by Pope.

[4477] Scene VI. Pope.

[4478] God, betimes] Capell. God betimes Ff.

[4479] The means] Twice in F₂ F₃ F₄.

makes] make Hanmer.

[4480] nothing] no one A. Hunter.

[4481] rend] Rowe. rent Ff.

[4482] dead man's] Johnson, dead-mans F₁ F₂. dead-man's F₃ F₄.

[4483] for who;] for whom? Pope.

[4484] Dying] Die A. Hunter.

or ere] or e'er Rowe.

O, relation] Relation, oh! Hanmer.

[4485] O, ... true] As in Theobald. One line in Ff.

[4486] Too ... true!] Too nice, yet true! Steevens conj.

What's] What is Hanmer.

newest] new'st S. Walker conj.

[4487] goes't] gos't F₁ F₂ F₃. go's it F₄.

[4488] make our women] and make women Pope.

[4489] We are] We're] Pope.

[4490] Siward] Theobald. Seyward Ff.

[4491] latch] catch Rowe.

[4492] What ... cause?] Theobald. What concerne they, The generall cause, Ff. What? concern they The gen'ral cause? Rowe.

[4493] Hum Ha A. Hunter.

[4494] Wife ...too?] As in Capell. Two lines in Ff.

[4495] I have] I've Pope.

[4496] He has] You have A. Hunter.

All] What, all Hanmer, ending the previous line at children.

[4497] say all?] say all? what, all? Theobald.

[4498] O hell-kite ... swoop?] Put in the margin by Pope, who reads instead what, all?

[4499] O hell-kite!] O vulture! hell-kite! S. Walker conj.

All?] what, all? Pope's margin.

[4500] Dispute] Endure Pope.

do so] om. Pope.

[4501] struck] Rowe. strooke F₁ F₂. strook F₃ F₄.

[4502] anger] wrath Pope.

[4503] heavens] heav'n Pope.

[4504] Scotland and myself;] Scotland and myself, Pope. Scotland, and my selfe Ff.

[4505] Heaven] Then heaven Pope. O God, or Then God Anon. conj.

This tune] Rowe (ed. 2). This time Ff. Thus, time Jackson conj. Dunsinane.] Capell.

Ante-room ...] An Anti-chamber in Macbeth's Castle. Rowe.

ACT V.

Scene I. Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle.

Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman.

Doct. I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive [4506]
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?

Gent. Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock
her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, 5
afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this
while in a most fast sleep.

Doct. A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once
the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching! In this
slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other actual 10
performances, what, at any time, have you heard her say?

Gent. That, sir, which I will not report after her.[4507]

Doct. You may to me, and 'tis most meet you should.

Gent. Neither to you nor any one, having no witness
to confirm my speech.

Enter Lady Macbeth, with a taper.

Lo you, here she comes![4508] 15
This is her very guise, and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe
her; stand close.

Doct. How came she by that light?

Gent. Why, it stood by her: she has light by her continually;
'tis her command. 20

Doct. You see, her eyes are open.

Gent. Ay, but their sense is shut.[4509]

Doct. What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs
her hands.
[Pg 504]

Gent. It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus 25
washing her hands: I have known her continue in this a
quarter of an hour.

Lady M. Yet here's a spot.

Doct. Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes
from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.[4510] 30

Lady M. Out, damned spot! out, I say! One: two:
why, then 'tis time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord,[4511]
fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows [4512][4513]
it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who[4513]
would have thought the old man to have had so much 35
blood in him?[4514]

Doct. Do you mark that?

Lady M. The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she [4515]
now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more
o' that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with this [4516] 40
starting.

Doct. Go to, go to; you have known what you should [4517]
not.

Gent. She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
that: heaven knows what she has known. 45

Lady M. Here's the smell of the blood still: all the [4518]
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh,
oh, oh!

Doct. What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.

Gent. I would not have such a heart in my bosom for 50
the dignity of the whole body.

Doct. Well, well, well,—[4519]

Gent. Pray God it be, sir.

Doct. This disease is beyond my practice: yet I have
known those which have walked in their sleep who have [4520] 55
[Pg 505] died holily in their beds.

Lady M. Wash your hands; put on your nightgown;
look not so pale: I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried;[4521]
he cannot come out on 's grave.[4522]

Doct. Even so? 60

Lady M. To bed, to bed; there's knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand: what's done
cannot be undone: to bed, to bed, to bed. [Exit.[4523]

Doct. Will she go now to bed?

Gent. Directly. 65

Doct. Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;[4524] 70
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So good night:
My mind she has mated and amazed my sight:[4525]
I think, but dare not speak.

Gent. Good night, good doctor.

[Exeunt.[4526]

Scene II. The country near Dunsinane.[4527]

Drum and colours. Enter Menteith, Caithness, Angus, Lennox, and Soldiers.[4528]

Ment. The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff:[4529]
Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes [4530][4531]
[Pg 506] Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm[4530][4532]
Excite the mortified man.[4530]

Ang. Near Birnam wood[4530][4533] 5
Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.

Caith. Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?

Len. For certain, sir, he is not: I have a file [4534]
Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son,
And many unrough youths, that even now [4535] 10
Protest their first of manhood.[4536]

Ment. What does the tyrant?

Caith. Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies:
Some say he's mad; others, that lesser hate him,[4537]
Do call it valiant fury: but, for certain,
He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause [4538] 15
Within the belt of rule.

Ang. Now does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands;
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach;
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love: now does he feel his title 20
Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.

Ment. Who then shall blame
His pester'd senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?

Caith. Well, march we on,[4539] 25
To give obedience where 'tis truly owed:
Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal,[4540]
And with him pour we, in our country's purge,
[Pg 507] Each drop of us.

Len. Or so much as it needs
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. 30
Make we our march towards Birnam. [Exeunt, marching.[4541]

Scene III. Dunsinane. A room in the castle.[4542]

Enter Macbeth, Doctor, and Attendants.

Macb. Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane [4543]
I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?[4544]
Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know [4545]
All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:[4546] 5
'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly, false thanes,[4547]
And mingle with the English epicures:
The mind I sway by and the heart I bear [4548]
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear.[4549] 10

Enter a Servant.

The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon![4550]
Where got'st thou that goose look?[4551]

Serv. There is ten thousand—[4552]

Macb. Geese, villain?

Serv. Soldiers, sir.
[Pg 508]

Macb. Go prick thy face and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, patch? 15
Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?[4553]

Serv. The English force, so please you.

Macb. Take thy face hence. [Exit Servant.[4554]
Seyton!—I am sick at heart,[4555][4556]
When I behold—Seyton, I say!—This push[4555] 20
Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.[4557]
I have lived long enough: my way of life [4558]
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, 25
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.[4559]
Seyton!

Enter Seyton.

Sey. What's your gracious pleasure?[4560]

Macb. What news more?[4561] 30

Sey. All is confirmed, my lord, which was reported.

Macb. I'll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hack'd.[4562]
Give me my armour.

Sey. 'Tis not needed yet.

Macb. I'll put it on.
Send out moe horses, skirr the country round;[4563] 35
Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.[4564]
How does your patient, doctor?

Doct. Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick-coming fancies,
[Pg 509] That keep her from her rest.

Macb. Cure her of that.[4565]
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,[4566] 40
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain,[4567]
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff [4568]
Which weighs upon the heart?

Doct. Therein the patient 45
Must minister to himself.[4569]

Macb. Throw physic to the dogs, I'll none of it.
Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.[4570]
Seyton, send out. Doctor, the thanes fly from me.
Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, doctor, cast 50
The water of my land, find her disease
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,[4571]
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again. Pull't off, I say.
What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug,[4572] 55
Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?

Doct. Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.

Macb. Bring it after me.
I will not be afraid of death and bane
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.[4573] 60

Doct. [Aside] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,[4574]
Profit again should hardly draw me here. [Exeunt.[4575]

[Pg 510]

Scene IV. Country near Birnam wood.

Drum and colours. Enter Malcolm, old Siward and his Son, Macduff, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, Lennox, Ross, and Soldiers, marching.

Mal. Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand [4576]
That chambers will be safe.

Ment. We doubt it nothing.

Siw. What wood is this before us?

Ment. The wood of Birnam.[4577]

Mal. Let every soldier hew him down a bough,
And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow 5
The numbers of our host, and make discovery
Err in report of us.

Soldiers. It shall be done.

Siw. We learn no other but the confident tyrant [4578]
Keeps still in Dunsinane, and will endure
Our setting down before 't.

Mal. 'Tis his main hope: 10
For where there is advantage to be given,[4579][4580]
Both more and less have given him the revolt,[4579]
And none serve with him but constrained things
Whose hearts are absent too.

Macd. Let our just censures [4581]
Attend the true event, and put we on[4581] 15
[Pg 511] Industrious soldiership.

Siw. The time approaches,
That will with due decision make us know
What we shall say we have and what we owe.
Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate,
But certain issue strokes must arbitrate: 20
Towards which advance the war. [Exeunt, marching.

Scene V. Dunsinane. Within the castle.[4582]

Enter Macbeth, Seyton, and Soldiers, with drum and colours.[4583]

Macb. Hang out our banners on the outward walls;[4584]
The cry is still 'They come:' our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn: here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up:
Were they not forced with those that should be ours,[4585] 5
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home. [A cry of women within.[4586]
What is that noise?

Sey. It is the cry of women, my good lord. [Exit.[4587]

Macb. I have almost forgot the taste of fears:
The time has been, my senses would have cool'd [4588] 10
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in 't: I have supp'd full with horrors;[4589]
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts,
[Pg 512] Cannot once start me.

Re-enter Seyton.

Wherefore was that cry?[4590] 15

Scy. The queen, my lord, is dead.[4591]

Macb. She should have died hereafter;[4592]
There would have been a time for such a word.[4592][4593]
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,[4594] 20
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools [4595]
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle![4596]
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player [4597]
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage[4597] 25
And then is heard no more: it is a tale[4597]
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Enter a Messenger.

Thou comest to use thy tongue; thy story quickly.

Mess. Gracious my lord,[4598] 30
I should report that which I say I saw,[4599]
But know not how to do it.[4600]

Macb. Well, say, sir.

Mess. As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,[4601]
The wood began to move.
[Pg 513]

Macb. Liar and slave![4602] 35

Mess. Let me endure your wrath, if't be not so:
Within this three mile may you see it coming;[4603]
I say, a moving grove.

Macb. If thou speak'st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,[4604]
Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth,[4605] 40
I care not if thou dost for me as much.
I pull in resolution, and begin [4606]
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood[4601]
Do come to Dunsinane;' and now a wood 45
Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out![4607]
If this which he avouches does appear,[4608]
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.[4608][4609]
I 'gin to be a-weary of the sun,[4608][4610]
And wish the estate o' the world were now undone.[4608][4611] 50
Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack![4612]
At least we'll die with harness on our back. [Exeunt.

Scene VI. Dunsinane. Before the castle.[4613]

Drum and colours. Enter Malcolm, old Siward, Macduff, and their Army, with boughs.[4614]

Mal. Now near enough; your leavy screens throw down,[4615]
And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle,
Shall, with my cousin, your right noble son,
[Pg 514] Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff and we [4616]
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do,[4617] 5
According to our order.

Siw. Fare you well.[4618]
Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night,
Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight.

Macd. Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death. [Exeunt.[4619]10

Scene VII. Another part of the field.[4620]

Alarums. EnterMacbeth.[4621]

Macb. They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,[4622]
But bear-like I must fight the course. What's he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.

Enter young Siward.[4623]

Yo. Siw. What is thy name?

Macb. Thou'lt be afraid to hear it.

Yo. Siw. No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name [4624]
Than any is in hell.

Macb. My name 's Macbeth.

Yo. Siw. The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.

Macb. No, nor more fearful.
[Pg 515]

Yo. Siw. Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword [4625] 10
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.

[They fight, and young Siward is slain.[4626]

Macb. Thou wast born of woman.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born. [Exit.

Alarums. Enter Macduff.

Macd. That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine, 15
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,[4627]
Or else my sword, with an unbatter'd edge,[4628]
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 20
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited: let me find him, fortune![4629][4630]
And more I beg not.[4629] [Exit. Alarums.[4631]

Enter Malcolm and old Siward.

Siw. This way, my lord; the castle's gently render'd:
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight; 25
The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,[4632]
And little is to do.

Mal. We have met with foes [4633]
That strike beside us.

Siw. Enter, sir, the castle.

[Exeunt. Alarum.[4634]

[Pg 516]

Scene VIII. Another part of the field.[4635]

Enter Macbeth.[4636]

Macb. Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes [4637]
Do better upon them.

Enter Macduff.[4638]

Macd. Turn, hell-hound, turn!

Macb. Of all men else I have avoided thee:
But get thee back; my soul is too much charged 5
With blood of thine already.

Macd. I have no words:[4639]
My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain
Than terms can give thee out! [They fight.[4640]

Macb. Thou losest labour:
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: 10
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
To one of woman born.

Macd. Despair thy charm,
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb 15
Untimely ripp'd.

Macb. Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense; 20
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
[Pg 517] And break it to our hope. I 'll not fight with thee.[4641]

Macd. Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, 25
Painted upon a pole, and underwrit,[4642]
'Here may you see the tyrant.'[4643]

Macb. I will not yield,
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,[4644] 30
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,[4645]
Yet I will try the last: before my body
I throw my warlike shield: lay on, Macduff;
And damn'd be him that first cries 'Hold, enough!'[4646]

[Exeunt, fighting. Alarums.[4647]

Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours, Malcolm, old Siward, Ross, the other Thanes, and Soldiers.[4648]

Mal. I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.[4649] 35

Siw. Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.

Mal. Macduff is missing, and your noble son.

Ross. Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:
He only lived but till he was a man; 40
The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd [4650]
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.
[Pg 518]

Siw. Then he is dead?[4651]

Ross. Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow [4652]
Must not be measured by his worth, for then 45
It hath no end.

Siw. Had he his hurts before?

Ross. Ay, on the front.

Siw. Why then, God's soldier be he!
Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death:
And so his knell is knoll'd.

Mal. He's worth more sorrow, 50
And that I'll spend for him.

Siw. He's worth no more:
They say he parted well and paid his score:
And so God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.[4653]

Re-enter Macduff, with Macbeth's head.[4654]

Macd. Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands [4655]
The usurper's cursed head: the time is free: 55
I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,[4656]
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!

All. Hail, King of Scotland![4657] [Flourish.

Mal. We shall not spend a large expense of time [4658] 60
Before we reckon with your several loves,
And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,[4659]
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
[Pg 519] In such an honour named. What's more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time, 65
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny,
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,
Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands [4660] 70
Took off her life; this, and what needful else [4661]
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace [4662]
We will perform in measure, time and place:
So thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.[4663] 75

[Flourish. Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[4506] two] too F₁.

[4507] report] repeat Warburton conj.

[4508] Lady Macbeth,] Rowe. Lady, Ff. Queen, Staunton.

[4509] sense is] Rowe. sense are Ff. sense' are Dyce (S. Walker conj.).

[4510] [taking out his Tables. Capell.

satisfy] fortifie Warburton.

[4511] murky.] murky! Steevens. See note (IX).

[4512] afeard] afraid Rowe.

[4513] fear who ... account?] Theobald. feare? who ... accompt: F₁F₂. fear? who ... account: F₃F₄. fear who ... account—Rowe (ed. 2).

[4514] him?] Rowe. him. Ff.

[4515] [Sings. Nicholson conj.

[4516] this] F₁. om. F₂F₃F₄.

[4517] Go ... not.] Prose in Pope. Two lines in Ff.

[4518] of the blood] F₁F₂. of bloud F₃F₄.

[4519] well,—] well— Rowe. well. Ff.

[4520] which ... who] who ... to A. Hunter.

[4521] Banquo's] Duncan's Hunter conj.

[4522] on's] of his Pope. of's Capell.

[4523] [Exit.] Exit Lady. Ff.

[4524] God, God] Good God Pope.

[4525] she has] she 'as Pope.

[4526] [Exeunt.] Exeunt severally. Capell.

[4527] The country ...] Capell. A Field with a Wood at Distance. Rowe.

[4528] Caithness,] Dyce. Cathnes. Ff.

and] om. Ff.

[4529] Siward] Theobald. Seyward Ff.

[4530] for ... man.] Omit as spurious, Anon. conj.

[4531] causes] Quoted cause in Theobald's note.

[4532] Would ... alarm] F₁. Omitted in F₂F₃F₄.

[4533] mortified] milkiest Anon. conj.

[4534] I have] I've Pope.

[4535] unrough] Theobald. unruffe F₁F₂. unruff F₃F₄. unruff'd Pope. unwrought Mason conj. untough Collier MS.

[4536] tyrant?] F₄. tyrant. F₁F₂F₃.

[4537] hate] F₁F₂. hates F₃F₄.

[4538] cause] course Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS. and S. Walker conj.). corse Anon. conj.

[4539] there?] Pope. there. Ff.

[4540] medicine] Med'cine Ff. medecin Steevens (Warburton conj.). med'cin Capell.

[4541] Make we] Make me Theobald (ed. 1). Make up Theobald (ed. 2).

Birnam] Birnan F₄.

[Exeunt, marching.] Ff. Exeunt. Rowe.

[4542] Dunsinane. A room in the castle.] Capell. The Castle. Rowe. Dunsinane. Pope.

[4543] Birnam] F₃ F₄. Byrnane F₁. Byrnam F₂.

[4544] taint] faint S. Walker conj.

[4545] The spirits] Spirits Pope.

[4546] consequences have] consequents, Steevens (1793).

me thus] it Pope. me Capell.

[4547] upon] on Steevens (1793).

Then fly] Fly Pope.

[4548] sway] stay Anon. conj.

[4549] Enter a Servant.] F₃ F₄. Enter Servant. F₁ F₂. Enter an Attendant, hastily. Capell.

[4550] loon] F₃. loone F₁ F₂. lown F₄.

[4551] goose] ghost Anon. apud Rann conj.

[4552] is] are Rowe.

thousand—] Rowe. thousand. Ff.

[4553] whey-face] whay-face Ff.

[4554] [Exit Servant.] Dyce. om. Ff.

[4555] Seyton ... say!—] Pointed as in Rowe. Seyton, I ... hart, ... behold: Seyton, I say, Ff.

[4556] I am] I'm Pope.

[4557] cheer] F₃ F₄. cheere F₁ F₂. chair Dyce (Percy conj.).

disseat] Steevens (Jennens and Capell conj.). dis-eate F₁. disease F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4558] way] May Steevens, 1778, (Johnson conj.).

of] off Jackson conj.

[4559] and dare] but dare Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

[4560] Seyton!] om. Rowe.

[4561] What's] What is Pope.

[4562] be] F₁. is F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4563] moe] F₁ F₂. more F₃ F₄.

skirr] scour A. Hunter.

[4564] talk of] F₁ stand in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4565] Cure her] F₂ F₃ F₄. Cure F₁. Make cure Anon. conj.

of] F₁ F₂. from F₃ F₄.

[4566] not] om. Badham conj.

a mind] minds Pope.

[4567] Raze] F₁ F₂. Raise F₃. Rase F₄.

[4568] stuffd ... stuff] cloggd ... stuff or stuffd ... load Staunton conj.

stuffd] stufft F₁. stuft F₂ F₃ F₄. full Pope. foul A. Hunter (Steevens conj.). fraught Anon. conj. pressd Anon. conj.

stuff] F₃ F₄. stuffe F₁ F₂. tuft Jackson conj. grief Collier (Collier MS.). matter Keightley. slough Anon. conj.

[4569] to] F₁. unto F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4570] mine] F₁ F₂ F₃. my F₄.

[4571] pristine] pristine F₁.

[4572] cyme] Cyme F₁ Caeny F₂ F₃. senna F₄. clysme Badham conj sene Wellesley conj. sirrah Bullock conj.

[4573] Birnam] Birnane. F₁.

[Exit. Steevens (1793). Exeunt all except Doctor. Dyce.

[4574] [Aside] Hanmer.

[4575] [Exeunt.] Exit. Steevens (1793). Country ...] Edd. (Globe ed.). A Wood. Rowe. Birnam Wood. Pope. Plains leading to Dunsinane; a Wood adjacent. Capell. om. Steevens.

Drums and colours.] Ff. om. Rowe.

Enter ...] Enter Malcolme, Seyward, Macduffe, Seywards Sonne, Menteth, Cathnes, Angus, and Soldiers Marching. Ff.

[4576] Cousins] Cosins F₁ F₂. Cousin F₃ F₄.

[4577] Birnam] F₃ F₄. Byrnam F₂. Birnane F₁.

[4578] confident] confin'd Warburton.

[4579] where ... have given] when ... do give A. Hunter.

[4580] advantage to be given] a 'vantage to be gone Johnson conj. advantage to be gone Capell. advantage to be got Steevens conj. advantage to be taken Keightley (Chedworth conj.). advantage to be gain'd Singer conj. (withdrawn). advantage to be gotten Collier (Collier MS.).

[4581] Let ... Attend] F₁. Let our best censures Before F₂ F₃ F₄. Set our best censures Before Rowe. Let our best centuries Before:— Jackson conj.

[4582] Dunsinane. Within....] Malone. The Castle. Rowe. Dunsinane. Pope. The Castle of Dunsinane. Theobald. Before Dunsinane. Hanmer. Dunsinane. A Plat-form within the Castle. Capell.

[4583] ... drums and colours.] ... Drum and Dolours. F₃.... Drums and Colours. F₄.

[4584] banners on ... walls;] banners on ... walls, Ff. banners; on ... walls Anon. conj.

[4585] forced] 'forc'd Hanmer. farc'd Collier (Collier MS.).

[4586] [A cry ...] A Cry within of Women. Ff (after noise?).

[4587] [Exit.] Dyce. om. Ff. Retires. Collier conj. Enter an Attendant, who whispers Seyton. Anon. conj.

[4588] cool'd] 'coil'd Malone conj. quail'd Collier (Collier MS.).

[4589] sup'd full] surfeited Hanmer.

[4590] once] now Hanmer.

Re-enter Seyton.] Dyce. om. Ff.

[4591] my lord] om. Pope.

[4592] died hereafter; There] died: hereafter There Jackson conj.

[4593] time ... word.] time for—Such a world!— Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[4594] Creeps] Creep Capell conj.

[4595] fools] foules Hunter conj.

[4596] dusty] F₁. study F₂ F₃ F₄. dusky Hanmer (Theobald conj.).

[4597] A poor ... more:] Omitted by A. Hunter.

[4598] Gracious my] F₁. My gracious F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4599] I say] I'd say Hanmer. om. Keightley, reading Gracious ... which as one line.

[4600] do it] Knight. doo't F₁ F₂. do't F₃ F₄.

say] say it Pope.

[4601] Birnam] F₄. Byrnane F₁. Byrnam F₂ F₃.

[4602] [Striking him. Rowe.

[4603] may you] F₁ F₂. you may F₃ F₄.

[4604] shalt] shall F₁.

[4605] cling] clem Anon. conj.

[4606] pull] pall A. Hunter (Johnson conj.).

[4607] toward] towards Warburton.

[4608] If ... undone.] Omit as spurious, Anon. conj.

[4609] nor flying] F₁ F₂. no flying F₃ F₄.

[4610] a-weary] F₁. a weary F₂ F₃ F₄. weary Johnson.

[4611] the estate] th' estate Ff. the state Pope.

[4612] Ring ... bell] A stage direction, Theobald conj.

[4613] Dunsinane. Before ...] Before Macbeth's Castle. Rowe. Before Dunsinane. Pope.

[4614] Drum and colours.] Ff. om. Rowe.

Enter ... old Siward ...] Enter ... Seyward ... Ff.

[4615] Now ... down,] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

leavy] Ff. leafy Collier.

[4616] worthy] brave Pope.

[4617] upon 's] upon us Capell.

[4618] Do we] Let us Pope.

[4619] [Exeunt.] Capell. Exeunt. Alarums continued. Ff.

[4620] Scene VII.] Scena Septima. Ff. Rowe, Pope, &c. continue the Scene.

Another ...] The same. Another Part of the Plain. Capell.

[4621] Alarums.] Alarums, as of a Battle join'd. Skirmishings. Capell. Alarums continued. Ff (at end of Scene vi).

[4622] They have] They've Pope.

[4623] Enter young Siward.] Theobald. Enter young Seyward. Ff (yong F₂).

[4624] hotter] hoter F₁.

[4625] abhorred] F₁. thou abhorred F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4626] [They fight ...] Fight, and young Seyward slaine. F₁ F₂ (yong F₂). Fight, and young Seyward's slain. F₃ F₄.

[4627] either] or Pope.

[4628] unbatter'd] Rowe. unbattered F₁ F₃ F₄. unbatterred F₂.

[4629] Seems ... And] As in Ff. One line in Hanmer.

[4630] bruited] bruited there Steevens conj.

find] but find Steevens conj.

[4631] Alarums.] Ff. Alarum. Rowe (ed. 2).

old Siward.] Seyward. Ff. Siward. Theobald. old Seyward. Capell.

[4632] itself professes] professes itself Johnson.

[4633] We have] We've Pope.

[4634] Alarum.] Ff. Alarums. Capell.

[4635] Scene viii]. Dyce. Scene VII. Pope. Scene continued in Ff.

... field.] ... plain. Dyce.

[4636] Enter ...] Ff. Re-enter ... Capell.

[4637] whiles] whilst Rowe.

[4638] Enter ...] Ff. Re-enter ... Capell.

[4639] I have] I've Pope.

[4640] [They fight.] Malone. Fight: Alarum. Ff. Fight. Capell.

[4641] I'll] I will S. Walker conj., ending the lines hope!... coward.

[4642] pole] cloth A. Hunter.

[4643] I will] I'll Pope.

[4644] Birnam] F₄. Byrnane F₁. Byrnam F₂F₃.

[4645] being] be Theobald.

[4646] him] he Pope.

[4647] [Exeunt, fighting. Alarums.] Pope. Exeunt fighting. Alarums. Enter Fighting, and Macbeth slaine. Ff. Exeunt, fighting. Capell.

[4648] Retreat. Flourish.] Retreat, and Flourish. Ff.

old Siward,] Seyward, Ff. Siward, Theobald, old Seyward, Capell.

the other Thanes,] Thanes, Ff. Lenox, Angus, Cathness, Menteth, Malone.

[4649] Scene VIII. Pope.

[4650] his prowess] he well A. Hunter.

[4651] he is] is he Pope.

[4652] cause] course Anon. conj.

[4653] And so] So Pope. And Collier MS.

be with] b' wi' Anon. conj.

[4654] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter ... Ff.

...head.] Ff.... head on a pole. Malone (from Holinshed).... head on a pike. A. Hunter.

[4655] Hail ... stands] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[Sticking the pike in the ground. Collier (Collier MS.).

[4656] pearl] F₃F₄. pearle F₁F₂. peers Rowe. pearls Anon. conj.

[4657] Scotland!] Scotland! hail! Hanmer.

All. Hail,] All. All hail, Anon. conj.

Hail ... Scotland!] King of Scotland, hail! Steevens (1793).

[4658] spend] make Keightley.

expense] extent Steevens conj. expanse Singer conj.

[4659] My] om. Pope.

[4660] self and] self-laid Anon. conj.

[4661] what] what's Hanmer.

[4662] Grace] heaven Pope. God Warburton.

[4663] Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Ff.

[Pg 520]
[Pg 521]

NOTES.

Note I.

I. 3. 21-24. Pope was the first to place the words 'Thus thou ... undone' in inverted commas, and was followed substantially by all subsequent editors with the exception of those we are about to mention. Hanmer printed in italics 'This thou must do if thou have it' only, and was followed by Capell and Mr. Staunton, except that they restore the original reading 'Thus' for 'This.' Johnson proposed to read 'me' for 'it' in line 22, printing in italics the same words which Pope included in inverted commas. His reading was adopted by Rann. Dr. A. Hunter (Harry Rowe) read:

'Thou'dst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, Thus than must do, if thou have me,
And that's what rather thou dost fear to do,
Than wishest should be undone.'

Mr. Joseph Hunter (New Illustrations &c. of Shakespeare, II. p. 172) proposed to mark the words 'Thus thou must do' only as a quotation, and to read line 22 thus:

'That which cries "Thus thou must do" if thou wouldst have it.'

Note II.

II. 1. 13, 14. The first Folio reads here:

'He hath beene in vnusuall Pleasure,
And sent forth great Largesse to your Offices.'

[Pg 522]

The second, followed substantially by the third and fourth:

'He hath beene in unusuall pleasure.
And sent forth a great Largesse to your Offices.'

Rowe altered 'Offices' to 'Officers.'

Pope reads:

'He hath to-night been in unusual pleasure,
And sent great largess to your officers.'

'To-night' was first introduced in Davenant's Version.

This reading was adopted by subsequent editors down to Capell, inclusive. Steevens (1773) has:

'He hath been in unusual pleasure;
Sent forth great largess to your officers.'

Jennens first adopted the arrangement given in our text, though he retained Rowe's emendation 'officers.'

Note III.

II. 1. 24. After this line Jennens proposes to add the following to Banquo's speech:

'Those lookers into fate, that hail'd you, Cawdor!
Did also hail you, king! and I do trust,
Most worthy Thane, you would consent to accept
What your deserts would grace, when offer'd you.'

Note IV.

II. 2. 35, 36. In the Folios and the earlier editors it is not clear from the mode of printing where the words of the 'voice' ended. Hanmer printed the whole in italics down to 'life's feast' in line 40, omitting however line 37 with Pope. Johnson was the first to print only the words 'Sleep no more! Macbeth doth murther sleep' as the cry of the voice, supposing the remainder to be Macbeth's comment. In lines 42, 43, where the printing of the earlier editions is equally indecisive, Hanmer prints from 'Glamis' to 'Macbeth shall sleep no more' in italics, while Johnson prints only 'Glamis hath murder'd sleep' as the cry of the voice.

[Pg 523]

Note V.

III. 1. 120-122. Dr. A. Hunter (Harry Rowe) arranges these lines as follows:

'But wail his fall whom I myself struck down:
For certain friends there are, both his and mine,
Whose loves I may not drop: and thence it is, &c.'

Note VI.

III. 2. 29-35. In these lines we have followed the arrangement of Steevens (1793), which with the exception of the fourth and fifth lines is the same as that of the Folios. The Folios divide the fourth and fifth lines thus:

'Vnsafe the while, that wee must laue
Our Honors in these flattering streames.'

Rowe read them:

'Unsafe the while, that we must lave our Honours
In these so flattering streams,
And make &c.'

Pope:

'Unsafe the while, that we must lave our honours
In these so flatt'ring streams, and make our faces
Vizards t'our hearts, disguising what they are.

Capell rearranged the whole passage thus:

'So shall I, love;
And so, I pray, be you: let your remembrance
Apply to Banquo; present him eminence, both
With eye and tongue: Unsafe the while, that we
Must lave our honours in these flattering streams;
And make our faces vizards to our hearts.
Disguising what they are.'

Steevens suggested that something was omitted, and proposed to read 'Unsafe the while it is for us, that we,' &c.

Note VII.

III. 4. 124. 'Augure,' as was pointed out by Mr. Singer, was used for 'augury.' In Florio's World of Wordes(1598), we find[Pg 524] 'Augurio, an augure, a soothsaying, a prediction, a signe, a coniecture, a divination, a bad or ill hap, a wishing of good hap, a forboding.'

Note VIII.

IV. 1. 43. Rowe, from Davenant's version, prints the song thus:

'Black Spirits and White,
Blue Spirits and Gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,
You that mingle may.'

In the second line Malone printed 'Red spirits,' &c., following Middleton's play of The Witch, Act V. Sc. 2.

Note IX.

V. 1. 32. Hell is murky. Steevens printed these words with a note of exclamation after them, with the following note. 'She certainly imagines herself here talking to Macbeth, who, (she supposes,) has just said, Hell is murky, (i.e. hell is a dismal place to go to in consequence of such a deed,) and repeats his words in contempt of his cowardice.'

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Transcriber's Notes:

Simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors were silently corrected.

Anachronistic and non-standard spellings retained as printed.

Line wrapping retained in plays to retain prose numbering.

Linenotes converted to footnotes with anchors at line ends.

Incorrect line numbers retained, e.g. there are often more than 5 lines (or occasionally less than 5) between increments of 5.

Anchors assigned to linenotes without line references.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE [CAMBRIDGE EDITION] [VOL. 7 OF 9] ***

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The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 7 of 9]

THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

CONTENTS.

PREFACE.

ADDENDA.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[1].

FOOTNOTES:

PROLOGUE.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT I.

Scene I. Verona. A public place.[6]

Scene II. A street.[124]

Scene III. A room in Capulet's house.[180]

Scene IV. A street.

Scene V. A hall in Capulet's house.[310]

FOOTNOTES:

ACT II.

PROLOGUE.

Scene I. A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.[398]

Scene II. Capulet's orchard.[428]

Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.[524]

Scene IV. A street.[567]

Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[675]

Scene VI. Friar Laurence's cell.[716]

FOOTNOTES:

ACT III.

Scene I. A public place.[730]

Scene II. Capulet's orchard.[826]

Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.[901]

Scene IV. A room in Capulet's house.[1001]

Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[1025]

FOOTNOTES:

ACT IV.

Scene I. Friar Laurence's cell.[1170]

Scene II. Hall in Capulet's house.[1234]

Scene III. Juliet's chamber.[1260]

Scene IV. Hall in Capulet's house.[1293]

Scene V. Juliet's chamber.[1317]

FOOTNOTES:

ACT V.

Scene I. Mantua. A street.[1393]

Scene II. Friar Laurence's cell.[1426]

Scene III. A churchyard; in it a monument belonging to the Capulets.[1437]

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES.

Note I.

Note II.

Note III.

Note IV.

Note V.

Note VI.

Note VII.

Note VIII.

Note IX.

Note X.

Note XI.

Note XII.

Note XIII.

Note XIV.

Note XV.

Note XVI.

The Prologue.

The most excellent Tragedie of Romeo and Iuliet.

[Sc. I.]

[Sc. II.]

[Sc. III.]

[Sc. IV.]

[Sc. V.]

[Sc. VI.]

[Sc. VII.]

[Sc. VIII.]

[Sc. IX.]

[Sc. X.]

[Sc. XI.]

[Sc. XII.]

[Sc. XIII.]

[Sc. XIV.]

[Sc. XV.]

[Sc. XVI.]

THE WORKS
OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [1].

The most excellent Tragedie of
Romeo and Iuliet.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [1596].

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ [2802].