First folio
| Modern text
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Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benuolio, with fiue or sixe | Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six | | RJ I.iv.1.1 | |
other Maskers, Torch-bearers. | other maskers, and torchbearers | | RJ I.iv.1.2 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
What shall this speeh be spoke for our excuse? | What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? | | RJ I.iv.1 | |
Or shall we on without Apologie? | Or shall we on without apology? | | RJ I.iv.2 | |
Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
The date is out of such prolixitie, | The date is out of such prolixity. | out (adv.)out-of-date, not in vogue [for] | RJ I.iv.3 | |
| | prolixity (n.)long-windedness, tedious exposition | | |
| | date (n.)time, season, fashion | | |
Weele haue no Cupid, hood winkt with a skarfe, | We'll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf, | hoodwink (v.)blindfold, cover one's eyes | RJ I.iv.4 | |
| | Cupid (n.)[pron: 'kyoopid] Roman god of love, son of Venus and Mercury; a winged, blindfolded boy with curved bow and arrows | | |
Bearing a Tartars painted Bow of lath, | Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, | lath (n.)thin wood | RJ I.iv.5 | |
| | Tartar (n.)someone from Tartary, C Asia; known for pitilessness; also, a stereotype of dark complexion | | |
Skaring the Ladies like a Crow-keeper. | Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; | crowkeeper, crow-keeper (n.)scarecrow, farmer's boy, person who keeps crows away | RJ I.iv.6 | |
| Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke | faintly (adv.)weakly, feebly, faintheartedly | RJ I.iv.7 | |
| After the prompter, for our entrance. | | RJ I.iv.8 | |
But let them measure vs by what they will, | But, let them measure us by what they will, | | RJ I.iv.9 | |
Weele measure them a Measure, and be gone. | We'll measure them a measure and be gone. | measure (n.)slow stately dance, graceful movement | RJ I.iv.10 | |
| | measure (v.)apportion, dispense, give out | | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Giue me a Torch, I am not for this ambling. | Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. | ambling (n.)affected way of walking, tripping along | RJ I.iv.11 | |
Being but heauy I will beare the light. | Being but heavy, I will bear the light. | heavy (adj.)sorrowful, sad, gloomy | RJ I.iv.12 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
Nay gentle Romeo, we must haue you dance. | Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. | gentle (adj.)well-born, honourable, noble | RJ I.iv.13 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Not I beleeue me, you haue dancing shooes | Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes | | RJ I.iv.14 | |
With nimble soles, I haue a soale of Lead | With nimble soles. I have a soul of lead | | RJ I.iv.15 | |
So stakes me to the ground, I cannot moue. | So stakes me to the ground I cannot move. | | RJ I.iv.16 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
You are a Louer, borrow Cupids wings, | You are a lover. Borrow Cupid's wings | | RJ I.iv.17 | |
And soare with them aboue a common bound. | And soar with them above a common bound. | | RJ I.iv.18 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
I am too sore enpearced with his shaft, | I am too sore empierced with his shaft | empierce (v.)pierce through, transfix, impale | RJ I.iv.19 | |
| | shaft (n.)[long and slender] arrow | | |
| | sore (adv.)seriously, greatly, very much | | |
To soare with his light feathers, and to bound: | To soar with his light feathers; and so bound | | RJ I.iv.20 | |
I cannot bound a pitch aboue dull woe, | I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe. | pitch (n.)height [to which a bird of prey soars before swooping] | RJ I.iv.21 | |
| | dull (adj.)gloomy, melancholic, sullen | | |
Vnder loues heauy burthen doe I sinke. | Under love's heavy burden do I sink. | | RJ I.iv.22 | |
Hora. | MERCUTIO | | | |
And to sinke in it should you burthen loue, | And, to sink in it, should you burden love – | | RJ I.iv.23 | |
Too great oppression for a tender thing. | Too great oppression for a tender thing. | | RJ I.iv.24 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Is loue a tender thing? it is too rough, | Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, | | RJ I.iv.25 | |
Too rude, too boysterous, and it pricks like thorne. | Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. | boisterous (adj.)painful, hurtful, rough on the feelings | RJ I.iv.26 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
If loue be rough with you, be rough with loue, | If love be rough with you, be rough with love. | | RJ I.iv.27 | |
Pricke loue for pricking, and you beat loue downe, | Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. | prick (v.)torment, vex, grieve | RJ I.iv.28 | |
Giue me a Case to put my visage in, | Give me a case to put my visage in. | visage (n.)face, countenance | RJ I.iv.29 | |
| | case (n.)mask, disguise, covering | | |
A Visor for a Visor, what care I | A visor for a visor! What care I | visor (n.)mask | RJ I.iv.30 | |
What curious eye doth quote deformities: | What curious eye doth quote deformities? | quote (v.)closely observe, note, examine | RJ I.iv.31 | |
| | curious (adj.)careful, fastidious, attentive | | |
Here are the Beetle-browes shall blush for me. | Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me. | beetle (adj.)overhanging, prominent, bushy | RJ I.iv.32 | |
| | brow (n.)eyebrow | | |
Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
Come knocke and enter, and no sooner in, | Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in | | RJ I.iv.33 | |
But euery man betake him to his legs. | But every man betake him to his legs. | betake (v.)resort, have recourse, commit oneself | RJ I.iv.34 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
A Torch for me, let wantons light of heart | A torch for me! Let wantons light of heart | wanton (n.)libertine, seducer | RJ I.iv.35 | |
Tickle the sencelesse rushes with their heeles: | Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels. | senseless (adj.)lacking human sensation, incapable of feeling | RJ I.iv.36 | |
For I am prouerb'd with a Grandsier Phrase, | For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase – | proverb (v.)provide with worldly wisdom [by] | RJ I.iv.37 | |
| | grandsire (adj.)long-established, old-fashioned | | |
Ile be a Candle-holder and looke on, | I'll be a candle-holder and look on; | | RJ I.iv.38 | |
The game was nere so faire, and I am done. | The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. | | RJ I.iv.39 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
Tut, duns the Mouse, the Constables owne word, | Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word! | dun's the mouse[proverbial] keep quiet, be still | RJ I.iv.40 | |
If thou art dun, weele draw thee from the mire. | If thou art Dun, we'll draw thee from the mire | Dun (n.)horse's name [involving the lifting of a log ‘horse’ in a Christmas game called ‘drawing dun out of the mire’] | RJ I.iv.41 | |
Or saue your reuerence loue, wherein thou stickest | Of – save your reverence – love, wherein thou stickest | sir-reverence (n.)save your reverence | RJ I.iv.42 | |
Vp to the eares, come we burne day-light ho. | Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho! | burn (v.)waste, fritter away | RJ I.iv.43 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Nay that's not so. | Nay, that's not so. | | RJ I.iv.44.1 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
I meane sir I delay, | I mean, sir, in delay | | RJ I.iv.44.2 | |
We wast our lights in vaine, lights, lights, by day; | We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. | | RJ I.iv.45 | |
Take our good meaning, for our Iudgement sits | Take our good meaning, for our judgement sits | good (adj.)intended, right, proper | RJ I.iv.46 | |
Fiue times in that, ere once in our fine wits. | Five times in that ere once in our five wits. | wits, also five witsfaculties of the mind (common wit, imagination, fantasy, estimation, memory) or body (the five senses) | RJ I.iv.47 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
And we meane well in going to this Maske, | And we mean well in going to this masque, | | RJ I.iv.48 | |
But 'tis no wit to go. | But 'tis no wit to go. | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | RJ I.iv.49.1 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
Why may one aske? | Why, may one ask? | | RJ I.iv.49.2 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
I dreampt a dreame to night. | I dreamt a dream tonight. | tonight (adv.)last night, this past night | RJ I.iv.50.1 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
And so did I. | And so did I. | | RJ I.iv.50.2 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Well what was yours? | Well, what was yours? | | RJ I.iv.51.1 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
That dreamers often lye. | That dreamers often lie. | | RJ I.iv.51.2 | |
Ro. | ROMEO | | | |
In bed a sleepe while they do dreame things true. | In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. | | RJ I.iv.52 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
O then I see Queene Mab hath beene with you: | O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you. | Mab, Queenmidwife to the fairies | RJ I.iv.53 | |
She is the Fairies Midwife, & she comes | She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes | | RJ I.iv.54 | |
in shape no bigger then Agat-stone, | In shape no bigger than an agate stone | | RJ I.iv.55 | |
on the fore-finger of an Alderman, | On the forefinger of an alderman, | | RJ I.iv.56 | |
drawne with a teeme of little Atomies, | Drawn with a team of little atomies | atomy (n.)mite, tiny being | RJ I.iv.57 | |
ouer mens noses as they lie asleepe: | Over men's noses as they lie asleep. | | RJ I.iv.58 | |
Her Chariot is an emptie Haselnut, | Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut | | RJ I.iv.59 | |
made by the Ioyner Squirrel or old Grub, | Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub, | | RJ I.iv.60 | |
time out a mind, the Faries Coach-makers: | Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers. | | RJ I.iv.61 | |
her Waggon Spokes made of long Spinners legs: | Her waggon spokes made of long spinners' legs; | spinner (n.)spider, cranefly, daddy-longlegs | RJ I.iv.62 | |
the Couer of the wings of Grashoppers, | The cover, of the wings of grasshoppers; | | RJ I.iv.63 | |
her Traces of the smallest Spiders web, | Her traces, of the smallest spider web; | | RJ I.iv.64 | |
her coullers of the Moonshines watry Beames, | Her collars, of the moonshine's watery beams; | | RJ I.iv.65 | |
her Whip of Crickets bone, the Lash of Philome, | Her whip, of cricket's bone; the lash, of film; | film (n.)gossamer, fine thread | RJ I.iv.66 | |
her Waggoner, a small gray-coated Gnat, | Her waggoner, a small grey-coated gnat, | waggoner, wagoner (n.)driver, charioteer | RJ I.iv.67 | |
not halfe so bigge as a round little Worme, | Not half so big as a round little worm | | RJ I.iv.68 | |
prickt from the Lazie-finger of a man. | Pricked from the lazy finger of a maid. | | RJ I.iv.69 | |
& in this state she gallops night by night, | And in this state she gallops night by night | state (n.)splendour, magnificence, stateliness, dignity | RJ I.iv.70 | |
through Louers braines: and then they dreame of Loue. | Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love; | | RJ I.iv.71 | |
On Courtiers knees, that dreame on Cursies strait: | O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on curtsies straight; | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | RJ I.iv.72 | |
| | courtesy, cur'sy, curtsy (n.)curtsy, bow, gesture of respect | | |
ore Lawyers fingers, who strait dreamt on Fees, | O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees; | | RJ I.iv.73 | |
ore Ladies lips, who strait on kisses dreame, | O'er ladies' lips, who straight on kisses dream, | | RJ I.iv.74 | |
which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, | Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, | oft (adv.)often | RJ I.iv.75 | |
because their breath with Sweet meats tainted are. | Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are. | | RJ I.iv.76 | |
Sometime she gallops ore a Courtiers nose, | Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose, | | RJ I.iv.77 | |
& then dreames he of smelling out a sute: | And then dreams he of smelling out a suit. | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | RJ I.iv.78 | |
& somtime comes she with Tith pigs tale, | And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tail | tithe-pig (n.)pig given as part of a tithe | RJ I.iv.79 | |
tickling a Parsons nose as a lies asleepe, | Tickling a parson's nose as 'a lies asleep; | | RJ I.iv.80 | |
then he dreames of another Benefice. | Then he dreams of another benefice. | benefice (n.)ecclesiastical living, church appointment | RJ I.iv.81 | |
Sometime she driueth ore a Souldiers necke, | Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck; | | RJ I.iv.82 | |
& then dreames he of cutting Forraine throats, | And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats, | | RJ I.iv.83 | |
of Breaches, Ambuscados, Spanish Blades: | Of breaches, ambuscados, Spanish blades, | ambuscado (n.)ambush, ambuscade | RJ I.iv.84 | |
Of Healths fiue Fadome deepe, and then anon | Of healths five fathom deep; and then anon | health (n.)toast, salutation in drink | RJ I.iv.85 | |
| | anon (adv.)soon, shortly, presently | | |
drums in his eares, at which he startes and wakes; | Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, | start (v.)jump, recoil, flinch | RJ I.iv.86 | |
and being thus frighted, sweares a prayer or two | And being thus frighted, swears a prayer or two | fright (v.), past form frightedfrighten, scare, terrify | RJ I.iv.87 | |
& sleepes againe: this is that very Mab | And sleeps again. This is that very Mab | | RJ I.iv.88 | |
that plats the manes of Horses in the night: | That plaits the manes of horses in the night | | RJ I.iv.89 | |
& bakes the Elk-locks in foule sluttish haires, | And bakes the elf-locks in foul sluttish hairs, | elf-lock (n.)hair treated by elves; matted locks | RJ I.iv.90 | |
| | bake (v.)harden, make solid | | |
which once vntangled, much misfortune bodes, | Which once untangled much misfortune bodes. | | RJ I.iv.91 | |
This is the hag, when Maides lie on their backs, | This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, | hag (n.)malicious sprite, wicked fairy | RJ I.iv.92 | |
That presses them, and learnes them first to beare, | That presses them and learns them first to bear, | learn (v.)teach, instruct [not a regional dialect usage as in modern English] | RJ I.iv.93 | |
Making them women of good carriage: | Making them women of good carriage. | | RJ I.iv.94 | |
This is she. | This is she – | | RJ I.iv.95.1 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
Peace, peace, Mercutio peace, | Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace! | | RJ I.iv.95.2 | |
Thou talk'st of nothing. | Thou talkest of nothing. | | RJ I.iv.96.1 | |
Mer. | MERCUTIO | | | |
True, I talke of dreames: | True. I talk of dreams; | | RJ I.iv.96.2 | |
Which are the children of an idle braine, | Which are the children of an idle brain, | idle (adj.)foolish, superstitious, fanciful | RJ I.iv.97 | |
Begot of nothing, but vaine phantasie, | Begot of nothing but vain fantasy; | beget (v.), past form begotproduce, engender, give rise to | RJ I.iv.98 | |
Which is as thin of substance as the ayre, | Which is as thin of substance as the air, | | RJ I.iv.99 | |
And more inconstant then the wind, who wooes | And more inconstant than the wind, who woos | | RJ I.iv.100 | |
Euen now the frozen bosome of the North: | Even now the frozen bosom of the North, | | RJ I.iv.101 | |
And being anger'd, puffes away from thence, | And, being angered, puffs away from thence, | | RJ I.iv.102 | |
Turning his side to the dew dropping South. | Turning his side to the dew-dropping South. | | RJ I.iv.103 | |
Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
This wind you talke of blowes vs from our selues, | This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves. | | RJ I.iv.104 | |
Supper is done, and we shall come too late. | Supper is done, and we shall come too late. | | RJ I.iv.105 | |
Rom. | ROMEO | | | |
I feare too early, for my mind misgiues, | I fear, too early. For my mind misgives | misgive (v.)be uneasy about, feel apprehension about | RJ I.iv.106 | |
Some consequence yet hanging in the starres, | Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, | | RJ I.iv.107 | |
Shall bitterly begin his fearefull date | Shall bitterly begin his fearful date | fearful (adj.)timid, timorous, frightened, full of fear | RJ I.iv.108 | |
| | date (n.)duration, period of existence | | |
With this nights reuels, and expire the tearme | With this night's revels and expire the term | expire (v.)end, conclude, terminate | RJ I.iv.109 | |
Of a despised life clos'd in my brest: | Of a despised life, closed in my breast, | | RJ I.iv.110 | |
By some vile forfeit of vntimely death. | By some vile forfeit of untimely death. | untimely (adv.)prematurely, too soon, before due time | RJ I.iv.111 | |
But he that hath the stirrage of my course, | But He that hath the steerage of my course | | RJ I.iv.112 | |
Direct my sute: on lustie Gentlemen. | Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen! | lusty (adj.)merry, cheerful, lively | RJ I.iv.113 | |
Ben. | BENVOLIO | | | |
Strike Drum. | Strike, drum. | | RJ I.iv.114 | |