The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Dowden)/Act 5/Scene 2

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3131591The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Dowden) — Scene 2

SCENE II.—Verona.^{[C 1]} Friar Laurence's cell.^{[C 2]}

Enter Friar John.

Fri. John.

Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho!

Enter Friar Laurence.

Fri. Lau.

This same should be the voice of Friar John.—
Welcome from Mantua: what says Romeo?
Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter.

Fri. John.

Going to find a bare-foot brother^{[E 1]} out,5
One of our order, to associate^{[E 2]} me,
Here in this city visiting the sick,
And finding him, the searchers of the town,
Suspecting that we both were in a house^{[E 3]}
Where the infectious pestilence did reign,10
Seal'd up^{[E 4]} the doors, and would not let us forth;
So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd.

Fri. Lau.

Who bare my letter then to Romeo?

Fri. John.

I could not send it,—here it is again,—
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,15
So fearful were they of infection.

Fri. Lau.

Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood,
The letter was not nice,^{[E 5]} but full of charge^{[E 6]}
Of dear import; and the neglecting it
May do much danger. Friar John, go hence;20
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight
Unto my cell.

Fri. John.

Brother, I'll go and bring it thee.[Exit.

Fri. Lau.

Now must I to the monument alone;
Within this three hours will fair Juliet wake:25
She will beshrew^{[E 7]} me much that Romeo
Hath had no notice of these accidents;
But I will write again to Mantua,
And keep her at my cell till Romeo come:
Poor living corse, closed in a dead man's tomb!30[Exit.

Critical notes

↑ Verona] Dyce.
↑ Friar Laurence's cell] Capell.

Explanatory notes

↑ 5. bare-foot brother] In his account of the Franciscan brothers going abroad in company one with another Shakespeare follows Brooke's poem; but Brooke represents the pestilence as at Mantua.
↑ 6. associate] accompany. So Hall, Chronicle (quoted in New Eng. Dict.): "He should have associated him in his journey."
↑ 9. house] Delius notes that, according to both Brooke and Painter, the "house" was the convent to which the bare-foot brother belonged.
↑ 11. Seal'd up] a duty of the English constable. Herford: "The Middlesex Sessions Rolls contain cases of the trial of constables for neglecting this duty."
↑ 18. nice] trivial; see III. i. 160;
↑ "full of charge," full of importance; so "parcels of charge," Winter's Tale, IV. iv. 261.
↑ 26. beshrew] blame severely. Fuller, Holy and Profane State, IV. ix. 280: "He hath just cause to beshrew his fingers."

[1] Verona] Dyce.

[2] Friar Laurence's cell] Capell.

[3] 5. bare-foot brother] In his account of the Franciscan brothers going abroad in company one with another Shakespeare follows Brooke's poem; but Brooke represents the pestilence as at Mantua.

[4] 6. associate] accompany. So Hall, Chronicle (quoted in New Eng. Dict.): "He should have associated him in his journey."

[5] 9. house] Delius notes that, according to both Brooke and Painter, the "house" was the convent to which the bare-foot brother belonged.

[6] 11. Seal'd up] a duty of the English constable. Herford: "The Middlesex Sessions Rolls contain cases of the trial of constables for neglecting this duty."

[7] 18. nice] trivial; see III. i. 160;

[8] "full of charge," full of importance; so "parcels of charge," Winter's Tale, IV. iv. 261.

[9] 26. beshrew] blame severely. Fuller, Holy and Profane State, IV. ix. 280: "He hath just cause to beshrew his fingers."

[C 1]

[C 2]

[E 1]

[E 2]

[E 3]

[E 4]

[E 5]

[E 6]

[E 7]

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Dowden)/Act 5/Scene 2

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