SERIES II.

«

Hath rush'd aside the law,

And turn'd that black word death to banishment :>>

Romeo, at the idea of being separated from his lovely bride, is driven to the very verge of frenzy.

<< 'Tis torture, and not mercy: heaven is here,
Where Juliet lives; and every cat, and dog,
And little mouse, every unworthy thing,
Lives here in heaven, and may look on her,
But Romeo may not. More validity,
More honourable state, more courtship lives
In carrion flies, than Romeo: they may seize
On the white wonder of dear Juliet's hand,
And steal immortal blessing from her lips;
Who, even in pure and vestal modesty,
Still blush, as thinking their own kisses sin;
But Romeo may not; he is banished:
Flies may do this, when I from this must fly:
They are free men, but I am banished.
And say'st thou yet, that exile is not death?

Hadst thou no poison mix'd, no sharp-ground knife,
No sudden mean of death, though ne'er so mean,

But banished to kill me; banished?

O Friar, the damned use that word in hell;
Howlings attend it: How hast thou the heart,
Being a divine, and a friend profess'd,

To mangle me, with that word banishment!»

<< FRTAR. Thou fond mad man, hear me but speak a word. O thou wilt speak again of banishment.

ROMEO.

PL. 8.

FRIAR. I'll give thee armour to keep off that word; Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy,

To comfort thee, though thou art banished. ROMEO. Yet banished? - hang up philosophy! Unless philosophy can make a Juliet, Displant a town, reverse a prince's doom; It helps not, it prevails not, talk no more. » The nurse, who has been sent to the Friar's cell, by Juliet, relieves the distracted mind of Romeo; and, through her means, he gets admission, at night, into his love's chamber. The design represents Romeo, at break of day, parting from Juliet, who says to him :

<< Wilt thou be gone? it not yet near day :
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear:
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree :
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.

ROMEO. It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale : look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain-tops;

I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

Farewell, farewell! one kiss and I'll descend. >>

In the design the nurse is seen, hurrying in to warn the lovers, that Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother, is coming to their chamber.

Ser. II.

Pl. 9.

Audot edit

ROMEO & JULIET

Act V Scene 1