First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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| Nurse goes to curtains | | RJ IV.v.1.1 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
Mistris, what Mistris? Iuliet? Fast I warrant her she. | Mistress! What, mistress! Juliet! Fast, I warrant her, she. | fast (adj.)fast asleep | RJ IV.v.1 | |
| | warrant (v.)assure, promise, guarantee, confirm | | |
Why Lambe, why Lady? fie you sluggabed, | Why, lamb! Why, lady! Fie, you slug-a-bed! | slug-abed (n.)lazy-bones | RJ IV.v.2 | |
Why Loue I say? Madam, sweet heart: why Bride? | Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweetheart! Why, bride! | | RJ IV.v.3 | |
What not a word? You take your peniworths now. | What, not a word? You take your pennyworths now. | pennyworth, penn'orth (n.)small amount, little bit | RJ IV.v.4 | |
Sleepe for a weeke, for the next night I warrant | Sleep for a week. For the next night, I warrant, | | RJ IV.v.5 | |
The Countie Paris hath set vp his rest, | The County Paris hath set up his rest | set up one's rest (n.)[in primero] venture one's final stake, stake all | RJ IV.v.6 | |
That you shall rest but little, God forgiue me: | That you shall rest but little. God forgive me! | | RJ IV.v.7 | |
Marrie and Amen: how sound is she a sleepe? | Marry, and amen! How sound is she asleep! | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | RJ IV.v.8 | |
I must needs wake her: Madam, Madam, Madam, | I must needs wake her. Madam, madam, madam! | | RJ IV.v.9 | |
I, let the Countie take you in your bed, | Ay, let the County take you in your bed. | | RJ IV.v.10 | |
Heele fright you vp yfaith. Will it not be? | He'll fright you up, i'faith. Will it not be? | fright (v.), past form frightedfrighten, scare, terrify | RJ IV.v.11 | |
What drest, and in your clothes, and downe againe? | What, dressed, and in your clothes, and down again? | down (adv.)in bed | RJ IV.v.12 | |
I must needs wake you: Lady, Lady, Lady? | I must needs wake you. Lady! lady! lady! | | RJ IV.v.13 | |
Alas, alas, helpe, helpe, my Ladyes dead, | Alas, alas! Help, help! My lady's dead! | | RJ IV.v.14 | |
Oh weladay, that euer I was borne, | O weraday that ever I was born! | weraday (int.)well-a-day, alas | RJ IV.v.15 | |
Some Aqua-vita ho, my Lord, my Lady? | Some aqua vitae, ho! My lord! My lady! | aqua-vitae (n.)spirits, alcohol, strong drink, brandy | RJ IV.v.16 | |
Enter Mother. | Enter Lady Capulet | | RJ IV.v.17 | |
Mo. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
What noise is heere? | What noise is here? | | RJ IV.v.17.1 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
O lamentable day. | O lamentable day! | | RJ IV.v.17.2 | |
Mo. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
What is the matter? | What is the matter? | | RJ IV.v.18.1 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
Looke, looke, oh heauie day. | Look, look! O heavy day! | heavy (adj.)sorrowful, sad, gloomy | RJ IV.v.18.2 | |
Mo. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
O me, O me, my Child, my onely life: | O me, O me! My child, my only life! | | RJ IV.v.19 | |
Reuiue, looke vp, or I will die with thee: | Revive, look up, or I will die with thee! | | RJ IV.v.20 | |
Helpe, helpe, call helpe. | Help, help! Call help. | | RJ IV.v.21 | |
Enter Father. | Enter Capulet | | RJ IV.v.22 | |
Fa. | CAPULET | | | |
For shame bring Iuliet forth, her Lord is come. | For shame, bring Juliet forth. Her lord is come. | | RJ IV.v.22 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
Shee's dead: deceast, shee's dead: alacke the day. | She's dead, deceased. She's dead, alack the day! | | RJ IV.v.23 | |
M. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
Alacke the day, shee's dead, shee's dead, shee's dead. | Alack the day, she's dead, she's dead, she's dead! | | RJ IV.v.24 | |
Fa. | CAPULET | | | |
Ha? Let me see her: out alas shee's cold, | Ha! let me see her. Out alas! she's cold, | | RJ IV.v.25 | |
Her blood is setled and her ioynts are stiffe: | Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff. | settled (adj.)not flowing, still, congealed | RJ IV.v.26 | |
Life and these lips haue long bene seperated: | Life and these lips have long been separated. | | RJ IV.v.27 | |
Death lies on her like an vntimely frost | Death lies on her like an untimely frost | untimely (adj.)premature, coming before its time | RJ IV.v.28 | |
Vpon the swetest flower of all the field. | Upon the sweetest flower of all the field. | | RJ IV.v.29 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
O Lamentable day! | O lamentable day! | | RJ IV.v.30.1 | |
Mo. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
O wofull time. | O woeful time! | | RJ IV.v.30.2 | |
Fa. | CAPULET | | | |
Death that hath tane her hence to make me waile, | Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail, | | RJ IV.v.31 | |
Ties vp my tongue, and will not let me speake. | Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak. | | RJ IV.v.32 | |
Enter Frier and the Countie. | Enter Friar Laurence and the County Paris | | RJ IV.v.33 | |
Fri. | FRIAR | | | |
Come, is the Bride ready to go to Church? | Come, is the bride ready to go to church? | | RJ IV.v.33 | |
Fa. | CAPULET | | | |
Ready to go, but neuer to returne. | Ready to go, but never to return. | | RJ IV.v.34 | |
O Sonne, the night before thy wedding day, | O son, the night before thy wedding-day | | RJ IV.v.35 | |
Hath death laine with thy wife: there she lies, | Hath death lain with thy wife. There she lies, | | RJ IV.v.36 | |
Flower as she was, deflowred by him. | Flower as she was, deflowered by him. | | RJ IV.v.37 | |
Death is my Sonne in law, death is my Heire, | Death is my son-in-law. Death is my heir. | | RJ IV.v.38 | |
My Daughter he hath wedded. I will die, | My daughter he hath wedded. I will die | | RJ IV.v.39 | |
And leaue him all life liuing, all is deaths. | And leave him all. Life, living, all is death's. | | RJ IV.v.40 | |
Pa. | PARIS | | | |
Haue I thought long to see this mornings face, | Have I thought long to see this morning's face, | | RJ IV.v.41 | |
And doth it giue me such a sight as this? | And doth it give me such a sight as this? | | RJ IV.v.42 | |
Mo. | LADY CAPULET | | | |
Accur'st, vnhappie, wretched hatefull day, | Accursed, unhappy, wretched, hateful day! | | RJ IV.v.43 | |
Most miserable houre, that ere time saw | Most miserable hour that e'er time saw | | RJ IV.v.44 | |
In lasting labour of his Pilgrimage. | In lasting labour of his pilgrimage! | lasting (adj.)unceasing, ongoing, everlasting | RJ IV.v.45 | |
But one, poore one, one poore and louing Child, | But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, | | RJ IV.v.46 | |
But one thing to reioyce and solace in, | But one thing to rejoice and solace in, | solace (v.)take comfort, be happy, cheer [oneself] | RJ IV.v.47 | |
And cruell death hath catcht it from my sight. | And cruel death hath catched it from my sight. | catch (v.)seize, get hold of, capture | RJ IV.v.48 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
O wo, O wofull, wofull, wofull day, | O woe! O woeful, woeful, woeful day! | | RJ IV.v.49 | |
Most lamentable day, most wofull day, | Most lamentable day, most woeful day | | RJ IV.v.50 | |
That euer, euer, I did yet behold. | That ever, ever I did yet behold! | | RJ IV.v.51 | |
O day, O day, O day, O hatefull day, | O day, O day, O day! O hateful day! | | RJ IV.v.52 | |
Neuer was seene so blacke a day as this: | Never was seen so black a day as this. | | RJ IV.v.53 | |
O wofull day, O wofull day. | O woeful day! O woeful day! | | RJ IV.v.54 | |
Pa. | PARIS | | | |
Beguild, diuorced, wronged, spighted, slaine, | Beguiled, divorced, wronged, spited, slain! | beguile (v.)cheat, deceive, trick | RJ IV.v.55 | |
Most detestable death, by thee beguil'd, | Most detestable Death, by thee beguiled, | | RJ IV.v.56 | |
By cruell, cruell thee, quite ouerthrowne: | By cruel, cruel thee quite overthrown. | | RJ IV.v.57 | |
O loue, O life; not life, but loue in death. | O love! O life! – not life, but love in death! | | RJ IV.v.58 | |
Fat. | CAPULET | | | |
Despis'd, distressed, hated, martir'd, kil'd, | Despised, distressed, hated, martyred, killed! | | RJ IV.v.59 | |
Vncomfortable time, why cam'st thou now | Uncomfortable time, why camest thou now | uncomfortable (adj.)comfortless, inconsolable, heartbreaking | RJ IV.v.60 | |
To murther, murther our solemnitie? | To murder, murder our solemnity? | solemnity (n.)celebration, jubilation, festivity | RJ IV.v.61 | |
O Child, O Child; my soule, and not my Child, | O child! O child! my soul, and not my child! | | RJ IV.v.62 | |
Dead art thou, alacke my Child is dead, | Dead art thou – alack, my child is dead, | | RJ IV.v.63 | |
And with my Child, my ioyes are buried. | And with my child my joys are buried. | | RJ IV.v.64 | |
Fri. | FRIAR | | | |
Peace ho for shame, confusions: Care liues not | Peace, ho, for shame! Confusion's cure lives not | confusion (n.)calamity, disaster, catastrophe | RJ IV.v.65 | |
In these confusions, heauen and your selfe | In these confusions. Heaven and yourself | confusion (n.)outburst, disorder, commotion | RJ IV.v.66 | |
Had part in this faire Maid, now heauen hath all, | Had part in this fair maid. Now heaven hath all, | | RJ IV.v.67 | |
And all the better is it for the Maid: | And all the better is it for the maid. | | RJ IV.v.68 | |
Your part in her, you could not keepe from death, | Your part in her you could not keep from death, | | RJ IV.v.69 | |
But heauen keepes his part in eternall life: | But heaven keeps his part in eternal life. | | RJ IV.v.70 | |
The most you sought was her promotion, | The most you sought was her promotion, | promotion (n.)advancement in life, social betterment | RJ IV.v.71 | |
For 'twas your heauen, she shouldst be aduan'st, | For 'twas your heaven she should be advanced. | | RJ IV.v.72 | |
And weepe ye now, seeing she is aduan'st | And weep ye now, seeing she is advanced | | RJ IV.v.73 | |
Aboue the Cloudes, as high as Heauen it selfe? | Above the clouds, as high as heaven itself? | | RJ IV.v.74 | |
O in this loue, you loue your Child so ill, | O, in this love, you love your child so ill | | RJ IV.v.75 | |
That you run mad, seeing that she is well: | That you run mad, seeing that she is well. | | RJ IV.v.76 | |
Shee's not well married, that liues married long, | She's not well married that lives married long, | | RJ IV.v.77 | |
But shee's best married, that dies married yong. | But she's best married that dies married young. | | RJ IV.v.78 | |
Drie vp your teares, and sticke your Rosemarie | Dry up your tears, and stick your rosemary | rosemary (n.)aromatic shrub, associated with remembering | RJ IV.v.79 | |
On this faire Coarse, and as the custome is, | On this fair corse, and, as the custom is, | corse (n.)corpse, dead body | RJ IV.v.80 | |
And in her best array beare her to Church: | In all her best array bear her to church. | | RJ IV.v.81 | |
For though some Nature bids all vs lament, | For though fond nature bids us all lament, | fond (adj.)tender, loving, affectionate | RJ IV.v.82 | |
Yet Natures teares are Reasons merriment. | Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment. | | RJ IV.v.83 | |
Fa. | CAPULET | | | |
All things that we ordained Festiuall, | All things that we ordained festival | | RJ IV.v.84 | |
Turne from their office to blacke Funerall: | Turn from their office to black funeral. | office (n.)role, position, place, function | RJ IV.v.85 | |
Our instruments to melancholy Bells, | Our instruments to melancholy bells; | | RJ IV.v.86 | |
Our wedding cheare, to a sad buriall Feast: | Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast; | cheer (n.)entertainment, fare, food and drink | RJ IV.v.87 | |
| | sad (adj.)downcast, distressed, mournful, gloomy | | |
Our solemne Hymnes, to sullen Dyrges change: | Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change; | sullen (adj.)gloomy, dismal, melancholy, mournful | RJ IV.v.88 | |
| | dirge (n.)funeral song, song of mourning | | |
Our Bridall flowers serue for a buried Coarse: | Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse; | corse (n.)corpse, dead body | RJ IV.v.89 | |
And all things change them to the contrarie. | And all things change them to the contrary. | | RJ IV.v.90 | |
Fri. | FRIAR | | | |
Sir go you in; and Madam, go with him, | Sir, go you in; and, madam, go with him; | | RJ IV.v.91 | |
And go sir Paris, euery one prepare | And go, Sir Paris. Every one prepare | | RJ IV.v.92 | |
To follow this faire Coarse vnto her graue: | To follow this fair corse unto her grave. | | RJ IV.v.93 | |
The heauens do lowre vpon you, for some ill: | The heavens do lour upon you for some ill. | ill (n.)wrong, injury, harm, evil | RJ IV.v.94 | |
| | lour, lower (v.)frown, scowl, look dark and threatening | | |
Moue them no more, by crossing their high will. | Move them no more by crossing their high will. | move (v.)move to anger, provoke, exasperate | RJ IV.v.95 | |
Exeunt | Exeunt all except the Nurse, casting | | RJ IV.v.95.1 | |
| rosemary on her and shutting the curtains | | RJ IV.v.95.2 | |
| Enter Musicians | | RJ IV.v.96.1 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
Faith we may put vp our Pipes and be gone. | Faith, we may put up our pipes and be gone. | put up (v.)pack up, put away | RJ IV.v.96 | |
Nur. | NURSE | | | |
Honest goodfellowes: Ah put vp, put vp, | Honest good fellows, ah, put up, put up! | | RJ IV.v.97 | |
For well you know, this is a pitifull case. | For well you know this is a pitiful case. | case (n.)state, plight, situation, circumstance | RJ IV.v.98 | |
Mu. | FIDDLER | | | |
I by my troth, the case may be amended. | Ay, by my troth, the case may be amended. | troth, by myby my truth [exclamation emphasizing an assertion] | RJ IV.v.99 | |
| Exit Nurse | | RJ IV.v.99 | |
Enter Peter. | Enter Peter | | RJ IV.v.100 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
Musitions, oh Musitions, / Hearts ease, hearts | Musicians, O musicians, ‘ Heart's ease,’ ‘ Heart's | | RJ IV.v.100 | |
ease, / O, and you will haue me liue, play hearts ease. | ease ’! O, an you will have me live, play ‘ Heart's ease.’ | and, an (conj.)if, whether | RJ IV.v.101 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
Why hearts ease; | Why ‘ Heart's ease ’? | | RJ IV.v.102 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
O Musitions, / Because my heart it selfe plaies, my | O musicians, because my heart itself plays ‘ My | | RJ IV.v.103 | |
heart is full. | heart is full.’ O play me some merry dump to comfort | dump (n.)tune, melody | RJ IV.v.104 | |
| me. | | RJ IV.v.105 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
Not a dump we, 'tis no time to play | Not a dump we! 'Tis no time to play | | RJ IV.v.106 | |
now. | now. | | RJ IV.v.107 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
You will not then? | You will not then? | | RJ IV.v.108 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
No. | No. | | RJ IV.v.109 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
I will then giue it you soundly. | I will then give it you soundly. | soundly (adv.)thoroughly, properly, in full | RJ IV.v.110 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
What will you giue vs? | What will you give us? | | RJ IV.v.111 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
No money on my faith, but the gleeke. / I will giue | No money, on my faith, but the gleek. I will give | gleek (n.)taunt, gibe, insult | RJ IV.v.112 | |
| | give (v.)call, nickname | | |
you the Minstrell. | you the minstrel. | minstrel (n.)[derisive term for] musician | RJ IV.v.113 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
Then will I giue you the | Then I will give you the | | RJ IV.v.114 | |
Seruing creature. | serving-creature. | serving-creature (n.)[derisive term for] serving-man | RJ IV.v.115 | |
Peter. | PETER | | | |
Then will I lay the seruing Creatures Dagger on | Then will I lay the serving-creature's dagger on | | RJ IV.v.116 | |
your pate. I will carie no Crochets, Ile Re you, Ile Fa you, | your pate. I will carry no crotchets. I'll re you, I'll fa you. | pate (n.)head, skull | RJ IV.v.117 | |
| | crotchet (n.)strange notion, perverse idea, whimsical fancy | | |
| | carry (v.)endure, put up with | | |
do you note me? | Do you note me? | | RJ IV.v.118 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
And you Re vs, and Fa vs, you Note vs. | An you re us and fa us, you note us. | note (v.)observe, pay attention [to], take special note [of] | RJ IV.v.119 | |
| | and, an (conj.)if, whether | | |
2. M. | SECOND MUSICIAN | | | |
Pray you put vp your Dagger, / And | Pray you put up your dagger, and | put up (v.)sheathe, put away | RJ IV.v.120 | |
put out your wit. | put out your wit. | wit (n.)mental sharpness, acumen, quickness, ingenuity | RJ IV.v.121 | |
| | put out (v.)display, exhibit, show forth | | |
Peter. | PETER | | | |
Then haue at you with my wit. / I will drie-beate you | Then have at you with my wit! I will dry-beat you | dry-beat (v.)cudgel, thrash, beat soundly | RJ IV.v.122 | |
with an yron wit, / And put vp my yron Dagger. / Answere me | with an iron wit, and put up my iron dagger. Answer me | | RJ IV.v.123 | |
like men: | like men. | | RJ IV.v.124 | |
When griping griefes the heart doth wound, | ‘ When griping grief the heart doth wound, | | RJ IV.v.125 | |
| And doleful dumps the mind oppress, | dump (n.)plaintive melody, mournful song | RJ IV.v.126 | |
then Musicke with her siluer sound. | Then music with her silver sound ’ – | | RJ IV.v.127 | |
Why siluer sound? why Musicke with her siluer sound? | Why ‘ silver sound ’? Why ‘ music with her silver sound ’? | | RJ IV.v.128 | |
what say you Simon Catling? | What say you, Simon Catling? | | RJ IV.v.129 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
Mary sir, because siluer hath a sweet | Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet | | RJ IV.v.130 | |
sound. | sound. | | RJ IV.v.131 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
Pratest, what say you Hugh Rebicke? | Pretty! What say you, Hugh Rebeck? | | RJ IV.v.132 | |
2. M. | SECOND MUSICIAN | | | |
I say siluer sound, because Musitions | I say ‘ silver sound ’ because musicians | | RJ IV.v.133 | |
sound for siluer | sound for silver. | | RJ IV.v.134 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
Pratest to, what say you Iames Sound-Post? | Pretty too! What say you, James Soundpost? | | RJ IV.v.135 | |
3. Mu. | THIRD MUSICIAN | | | |
Faith I know not what to say. | Faith, I know not what to say. | | RJ IV.v.136 | |
Pet. | PETER | | | |
O I cry you mercy, you are the Singer. / I will say | O, I cry you mercy! You are the singer. I will say | | RJ IV.v.137 | |
for you; it is Musicke with her siluer sound, / Because Musitions | for you. It is ‘ music with her silver sound ’ because musicians | | RJ IV.v.138 | |
haue no gold for sounding: | have no gold for sounding. | sounding (n.)playing, making music | RJ IV.v.139 | |
Then Musicke with her siluer sound, | ‘ Then music with her silver sound | | RJ IV.v.140 | |
with speedy helpe doth lend redresse. | With speedy help doth lend redress.’ | redress (n.)relief, assistance, help, comfort | RJ IV.v.141 | |
Exit. | Exit Peter | | RJ IV.v.141 | |
Mu. | FIRST MUSICIAN | | | |
What a pestilent knaue is this same? | What a pestilent knave is this same! | knave (n.)scoundrel, rascal, rogue | RJ IV.v.142 | |
M.2. | SECOND MUSICIAN | | | |
Hang him Iacke, come weele in here, | Hang him, Jack! Come, we'll in here, | Jack (n.)jack-in-office, ill-mannered fellow, lout, knave | RJ IV.v.143 | |
tarrie for the Mourners, and stay dinner. | tarry for the mourners, and stay dinner. | tarry (v.)stay, remain, linger | RJ IV.v.144 | |
Exit. | Exeunt | | RJ IV.v.144 | |