Law. Unhappy fortune!-By my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice, but full of charge,
Of dear import, and the neglecting it

May do much danger.-Friar John, go hence,
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
Unto my cell.

John. Brother, I'll go, and bring it thee.

Law. Now must I to the monument alone :
Within these three hours will fair Juliet wake;
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, clos'd in a dead man's tomb.

[Exit.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

A Churchyard-In it a Monument belonging to the CAPULETS.

Enter PARIS, and his PAGE with a Light.

Par. Give me thy torch, boy: hence, and stand aloof,

Yet put it out, for I would not be seen;
Under yon yew-tree lay thee all along,
Placing thy ear close to the hollow ground,
So shall no foot upon the churchyard tread,
(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.
Give me those flow'rs. Do as I bid thee; go.
Page. I am almost afraid to stand alone,
Here in the churchyard, yet I will adventure.
Par. Sweet flow'r! with flow'rs thy bridal bed I
[Strewing Flowers.

strew;

Fair Juliet, that with angels dost remain,
Accept this latest favour at my hand,
That living honour'd thee, and, being dead,
With funeral obsequies adorn thy tomb.

[The Boy whistles. -The boy gives warning, something doth approach, What cursed foot wanders this way to-night,

To cross my obsequies, and true love's right?
What! with a torch! muffle me, night, a while.
[PARIS retires.

Enter ROMEO, and BALTHASAR with a Light.
Rom. Give me the wrenching iron.
Hold, take this letter, early in the morning
See thou deliver it to my lord and father.
Put out the torch, and, on thy life, I charge thee,
Whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof,
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,
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 further shall intend to do,
By Heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint,

And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs.
The time and my intents are savage, wild,

More fierce and more inexorable far

Than empty tigers, or the roaring sea.

Bal. I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you.
Rom. So shalt thou win my favour. Take thou

that;

Live and be prosp'rous, and farewell, good fellow.
Bal. For all this same, I'll hide me near this place :
His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt.

[Exit. Rom. Thou maw detestable, thou womb of death, Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth;

Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open.

[Breaking open the Monument.

And, in despight, I'll cram thee with more food. Paris. [Showing himself.] Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague!

Can vengeance be pursu'd farther than death?
Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee;

Obey, and go with me, for thou must die.

Rom. I must, indeed, and therefore came I hither

Good, gentle youth, tempt not a desp'rate man;
Fly hence, and leave me :

By Heav'n, I love thee better than myself;
For I'm come hither arm'd against myself.
Par. I do defy thy pity and thy counsel,

And apprehend thee for a felon here.

Rom. Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy? [They fight; PARIS falls. Par. Oh, I am slain! if thou be merciful,

Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet.

[Dies:

Rom. In faith, I will: let me peruse this faceMercutio's kinsman! Noble county Paris!

Give me thy hand,

One writ with me in sour misfortune's book:

I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave;

For here lies Juliet. [Breaks open the Tomb.] Oh, my love! my wife!

Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips, and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Oh, Juliet, why art thou so fair?~Here, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest,

And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-weary flesh :

Come, bitter conduct; come, unsav'ry guide,

Thou desp❜rate pilot, now at once run on

The dashing rocks my sea-sick, weary bark :
No more-here's to my love!-eyes, look your last:
[Drinks the Poison.
Arms, take your last embrace: and, lips, do you
The doors of death seal with a righteous kiss-
Soft-she breathes, and stirs !

Jul. Where am I?

[JULIET wakes.

Rom. She speaks, she lives! and we shall still be bless'd!

My kind propitious stars o'erpay me now,

For all my sorrows past-Rise, rise, my Juliet,
And from this cave of death, this house of horror,
Quick let me snatch thee to thy Romeo's arms;
There breathe a vital spirit in thy lips,

And call thee back to life and love.

[Takes her Hand. Jul. Bless me! how cold it is! who's there? Rom. Thy husband;

'Tis thy Romeo, Juliet; rais'd from despair To joys unutterable! Quit, quit this place, And let us fly together

[Brings her from the Tomb. Jul. Why do you force me so?-I'll ne'er con

sent

My strength may fail me, but my will's unmov'd,-
I'll not wed Paris,-Romeo is my husband-

Rom. Romeo is thy husband; I am that Romeo,
Nor all the opposing powers of earth or man,
Shall break our bonds, or tear thee from my heart.
Jul. I know that voice-Its magic sweetness wakes
My tranced soul-I now remember well
Each circumstance-Oh, my lord! my husband !—
[Going to embrace him.
Dost thou avoid me, Romeo? let me touch
Thy hand, and touch the cordial of thy lips-

You fright me -speak-oh, let me hear some voice Besides my own in this drear vault of death,

Or I shall faint

-support me

H

Rom. Oh, I cannot ;

I have no strength, but want thy feeble aid.
Cruel poison!

Jul. Poison! what means my lord? thy trembling voice!

Pale lips! and swimming eyes! death's in thy face!
Rom. It is indeed--I struggle with him now-
The transports, that I felt to hear thee speak,
And see thy opening eyes, stopp'd for a moment
His impetuous course, and all my mind
Was happiness and thee; but now the poison
Rushes thro' my veins-I've not time to tell-
Fate brought me to this place-to take a last,
Last farewell of my love, and with thee die.
Jul. Die! was the Friar false?

Rom. I know not that

I thought thee dead: distracted at the sight,
(Fatal speed) drank poison, kiss'd thy cold lips,
And found within thy arms a precious grave
-Oh!-

But in that moment

Jul. And did I wake for this!

Rom. My pow'rs are blasted;

Twixt death and love I'm torn-I am distracted! But death is strongest-And must I leave thee, Juliet! Oh, cruel, cursed fate! in sight of Heav'n

Jul. Thou rav'st-lean on my breast.

Rom. Fathers have flinty hearts, no tears can melt them :

Nature pleads in vain-Children must be wretchedJul. Oh, my breaking heart!—

Rom. She is my wife-our hearts are twin'd together

Capulet, forbear--Paris, loose your hold

Pull not our heart-strings thus-they crack, they

break

Oh, Juliet! Juliet!

[Dies.