O, this same thought did but fore-run my need; Ap. Enter Apothecary. Who calls so loud? Rom. Come hither, man.-I see, that thou art poor: A dram of poison; such soon-speeding gear Ap. Such mortal drugs I have; but Mantua's law Rom. Art thou so bare and full of wretchedness, The world is not thy friend, nor the world's law; Rom. There is thy gold; worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murders in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou may'st not sell : Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh.— Come, cordial, and not poison; go with me To Juliet's grave, for there must I use thee. [Exeunt. Friar Laurence learns that the messenger to Romeo has failed. He goes to the church yard to remove Juliet from the Tomb. SCENE III-A Church-Yard; in it, a Monument belonging to the Capulets. Enter PARIS, and his Page, bearing flowers and a torch. Par. Give me thy torch, boy: Hence, and stand aloof ;Yet put it out, for I would not be seen. Under yon yew trees lay thee all along, Holding thine ear close to the hollow ground; Page. I am almost afraid to stand alone Here in the church-yard; yet I will adventure. Par. Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew. Accept this latest favor at my hands; The boy gives warning, something doth approach. [Retires. [The Boy whistles. [Retires. To cross my obsequies, and true love's rites? What, with a torch!-muffle me, night, a while. Rom. Give me that mattock, and the wrenching iron. Enter ROMEO, and BALTHASAR, with a torch, mattock, &c. Hold, take this letter; early in the morning See thou deliver it to my lord and father. Give me the light: Upon thy life I charge thee, But, chiefly, to take thence from her dead finger In dear employment: therefore hence, be gone :- In what I further shall intend to do, By heaven, I will tear thee joint by joint, And strew this hungry church-yard with thy limbs: 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 show me friendship.-Take 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. Rom. Thou detestable maw, Gorg'd with the dearest morsel of the earth, [Retires. [Advances. [Breaking open the door of the monument. And, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food! Par. Stop thy unhallow'd toil, vile Montague; Can vengeance be pursu'd further 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.- Fly hence and leave me;-think upon these gone; Heap not another sin upon my head, Stay not, be gone ;--live, and hereafter say- And do attach thee as a felon here. Rom. Wilt thou provoke me? then have at thee, boy. Par. O, I am slain !-[Falls.]-If thou be merciful, Rom. In faith, I will:-Let me peruse this face ;-— Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide! Here's to my love!-[Drinks.]—O, true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die. [They fight. [Dies. [Dies. Enter, at the other end of the church-yard, Friar LAUrence, with a lantern, crow, and spade. 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. What torch is yond, that vainly lends his light To grubs and eyeless skulls; as I discern, It burneth in the Capel's monument. Bal. It doth so, holy sir; and there's my master, One that you love. Fri. Bal. Who is it? Romeo. Full half an hour. Fri. How long hath he been there? Bal. Fri. Go with me to the vault. Bal. 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. Fri. Romeo! Alack, alack, what blood is this, which stains The lady stirs. [Advances. [Enters the monument. [JULIET wakes and stirs. Jul. O, comfortable friar! where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, And there I am: Where is my Romeo? Fri. I hear some noise.-Lady, come from that nest Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep; A greater Power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents; come, come away: [Noise within. And Paris too; come, I'll dispose of thee Among a sisterhood of holy nuns ; Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; Come, go, good Juliet.-[Noise again.] I dare stay no longer. Jul. Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. What's here? a cup, clos'd in my true love's hand? -Which way ? [Exit. [Kisses him. 1st Watch. [Within.] Lead, boy:- [Snatching ROMEO's dagger. This is thy sheath; [Stabs herself.] there rust, and let me die. Falls on ROMEO's body, and dies. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. This Play is justly placed among the most perfect of Shakspeare's compositions. The master-piece of character, as exhibited in Shylock the Jew, would alone entitle it to this classification. The double plot of this Drama was borrowed by Shakspeare from traditionary stories current in his time. The Jews at that period were a despised and persecuted race; the Poet has lent himself to the prejudices entertained by Christians against Jews, and yet he has made Shylock appear as the champion and avenger of an oppressed people, rather than the sordid contemptible character, then thought to be the distinctive qualification of "God's ancient people." dddd ANTONIO, the Merchant of Venice. BASSANIO, his friend. SALANIO, SALARINO, GRATIANO, friends to Antonio and Bassanio. LORENZO, in love with Jessica. SHYLOCK, a Jew. TUBAL, a Jew, his friend. LAUNCELOT GOBBO, a clown, servant to Shylock. Old GOBBO, father to Launcelot. SALERIO, a messenger from Venice. LEONARDO, servant to Bassanio. BALTHAZAR, STEPHANO, servants to Portia. PORTIA, a rich heiress. NERISSA, her waiting-maid. JESSICA, daughter to Shylock. Magnificoes of Venice, Officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants, and other Attendants. SCENE,-partly at VENICE, and partly at BELMONT, the Seat of PORTIA, on the Continent. |