Romeo, that spoke him fair, bade him bethink With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. L. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague : 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. 1 Slight, unimportant. I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give: Prince. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? Mon. Not Romeo, prince; he was Mercutio's friend; His fault concludes but, what the law should end, The life of Tybalt. Prince. And, for that offence, Immediately we do exile him hence. I have an interest in your hates' proceeding; [Exeunt. SCENE II. A room in Capulet's house. Enter JULIET. Ju. Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, That runaway's eyes may wink, and Romeo By their own beauties; or, if Love be blind, And learn me how to lose a winning match, Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks, With thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold, Think true love acted, simple modesty. Come, night! come, Romeo! come, thou day in night! For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night Whiter than new snow upon a raven's back.— Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-brow'd night; Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die, And he will make the face of heaven so fine, To an impatient child, that hath new robes, And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse, Enter NURSE, with cords. And she brings news; and every tongue, that speaks But Romeo's name, speaks heavenly eloquence.— Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? Nurse. Ah welladay! he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! We are undone, lady, we are undone !— Alack the day!—he's gone, he's kill'd, he's dead! Ju. Can Heaven be so envious? Romeo can, Nurse. Ju. What devil art thou, that dost torment me thus? This torture should be roar'd in dismal hell. Hath Romeo slain himself? say thou but I,1 In Shakspeare's time the affirmative particle ay' was usually written I. Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice : I am not I, if there be such an I; Or those eyes shut, that make thee answer, I. Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe. Nurse. I saw the wound; I saw it with mine eyes, God save the mark !—here on his manly breast: Pale, pale as ashes, all bedaub'd in blood, Ju. O, break, my heart!-poor bankrupt, break To prison, eyes! ne'er look on liberty! Vile earth, to earth resign; end motion here; Nurse. O Tybalt, Tybalt, the best friend I had! That ever I should live to see thee dead! Ju. What storm is this that blows so contrary? Nurse. Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banished: Ju. O God! did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood? Nurse. It did, it did; alas the day! it did. Ju. O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? |