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

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The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Dowden)
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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

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


Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 6. associate] accompany. So Hall, Chronicle (quoted in New Eng. Dict.): "He should have associated him in his journey."
  3. ↑ 9. house] Delius notes that, according to both Brooke and Painter, the "house" was the convent to which the bare-foot brother belonged.
  4. ↑ 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."
  5. ↑ 18. nice] trivial; see III. i. 160;
  6. ↑ "full of charge," full of importance; so "parcels of charge," Winter's Tale, IV. iv. 261.
  7. ↑ 26. beshrew] blame severely. Fuller, Holy and Profane State, IV. ix. 280: "He hath just cause to beshrew his fingers."
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