Page:Romeo and Juliet (Dowden).djvu/203

That I revived, and was an emperor. Ah me! how sweet is love itself possess'd,10 When but love's shadows are so rich in joy! Enter Balthasar, booted.[C 1] News from Verona! How now, Balthasar! Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? How doth my lady? Is my father well? How fares my Juliet?[C 2] that I ask again;15 For nothing can be ill if she be well.

Bal.

Then she is well,[E 1] and nothing can be ill: Her body sleeps in Capel's[E 2] monument, And her immortal part with angels lives.[C 3] I saw her laid low in her kindred's vault,20 And presently took post to tell it you: O, pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir.

Rom.	Is it even[C 4] so? then I defy[E 3] you,[C 5] stars! Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper,25 And hire post-horses; I will hence to-night.

Bal.	I do beseech you, sir, have patience:[C 6]

1. 11. Enter …] Enter Balthasar his man booted Q 1; Enter Romeos man Q, F.
2. 15. fares my Juliet] Q 1; doth my Lady Juliet Q, F.
3. 19. lives] Q, live F.
4. 24. even] F, in Q, e'en Collier;
5. defy you] Pope; defie my Q 1; denie you Q, F.
6. 27. I … patience] Q, F; Pardon me Sir, I will not leave you thus, Q 1.

line in Hero and Leander: "He kiss'd her and breathed life into her lips." That poem was not published till 1598.

1. 17. well] See [[../../Act 4/Scene 5|IV. v. 76]], note.
2. 18. Capel's] Capels Q, F. Rolfe: "Capel's seems better here than Capels', on account of the omission of the article; but V. iii. 127, 'the Capels' monument.'" Shakespeare found Capel and Capulet used indiscriminately in Brooke's poem (Malone).
3. 24. defy] Deny may be right, in the sense disown, repudiate. Delius cites King John, I. i. 252: "I deny the devil. See V. iii. 111.