To cross my obsequies, and true-love's rites ? What, with a torch!-muffle me, night, a while. [Retires. Enter ROMEO and BALTHASAR with a Torch, Mattock, &c. Rom. Give me that mattock, and the wrenching iron. Hold, take this letter; early in the morning But, chiefly, to take thence from her dead finger In dear employment:2 therefore hence, be gone:- And strew this hungry churchyard with thy limbs: Than empty tigers, or the roaring sea. Bal. I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you. thou that: Live, and be prosperous; and farewell, good fellow. Bal. For all this same, I'll hide me hereabout; His looks I fear, and his intents I doubt. 2i. e. Action of importance. [Retires. Rom. Thou détestable maw, thou womb of death Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth, Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, [Breaking open the Door of the Monument. And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food! Par. This is that banish'd haughty Montague, That murder'd my love's cousin;—with which grief, It is supposed the fair creature died,— And here is come to do some villainous shame Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague; Rom. I must, indeed; and therefore came I hither. Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man, By urging me to fury:-O, be gone! Par. I do defy thy conjurations,3 And do attach thee as a felon here. Rom. Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy. [They fight. 3 I refuse to do as thou conjurest me to do, i. e. depart. Page. O lord! they fight: I will go call the watch. [Exit Page. Par. O, I am slain! [Falls.]-If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet. [Dies. Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, 4 A grave? O, no; a lantern, slaughter'd youth, [Laying Paris in the Monument. 4 The allusion is to a louvre or turret full of windows by means of which ancient halls, &c. are illuminated. 5 Presence chamber. O, what more favour can I do to thee, Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain, With worms that are thy chambermaids; O, here And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh.-Eyes look your last! Enter at the other end of the Churchyard, Friar Fri. Saint Francis be my speed! how oft to-night Have my old feet stumbled at graves ?-Who's there? Who is it that consorts, so late, the dead? Bal. Here's one, a friend, and one that knows you well. • Conductor. Fri. Bliss be upon you! Tell me, good my friend, What torch is yond', that vainly lends his light To grubs and eyeless sculls? as I discern, It burneth in the Capels' monument. Bal. It doth so, holy sir; and there's my master, One that you love. Fri. Bal. Who is it? Romeo. Fri. How long hath he been there? Fri. Go with me to the vault. Full half an hour. 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. Fri. Stay then, I'll go alone:-Fear comes upon me: O, much I fear some ill unlucky thing. Bal. As I did sleep under this yew-tree here, I dreamt my master and another fought, And that my master slew him. Romeo? [Advances. Fri. [Enters the Monument. Romeo! O, pale !-Who else? what, Paris, too? And steep'd in blood?-Ah, what an unkind hour Is guilty of this lamentable chance! The lady stirs. [JULIET wakes and stirs. Jul. O, comfortable friar! where is my lord? |