_Prince._ We still have known thee for a holy man.-- Where's Romeo's man? what can he say in this? 271
_Balthasar._ I brought my master news of Juliet's death, And then in post he came from Mantua To this same place, to this same monument. This letter he early bid me give his father, And threaten'd me with death, going in the vault, If I departed not and left him there.
_Prince._ Give me the letter; I will look on it.-- Where is the county's page that rais'd the watch?-- Sirrah, what made your master in this place? 280
_Page._ He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave And bid me stand aloof, and so I did. Anon comes one with light to ope the tomb, And by and by my master drew on him; And then I ran away to call the watch.
_Prince._ This letter doth make good the friar's words, Their course of love, the tidings of her death; And here he writes that he did buy a poison Of a poor pothecary, and therewithal Came to this vault to die and lie with Juliet.-- 290 Where be these enemies?--Capulet!--Montague! See, what a scourge is aid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords too, Have lost a brace of kinsmen; all are punish'd.
_Capulet._ O brother Montague, give me thy hand; This is my daughter's jointure, for no more Can I demand.
_Montague._ But I can give thee more; For I will raise her statue in pure gold, That while Verona by that name is known 300 There shall no figure at such rate be set As that of true and faithful Juliet.
_Capulet._ As rich shall Romeo by his lady lie, Poor sacrifices of our enmity!
Prince. A glooming peace this morning with it brings; The sun for sorrow will not show his head. Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardon'd and some punished; For never was a story of more woe 309 Than this of Juliet and her Romeo. [_Exeunt._
NOTES [Illustration: THE NURSE AND PETER]
THE METRE OF THE PLAY.--It should be understood at the outset that _metre_, or the mechanism of verse, is something altogether distinct from the _music_ of verse. The one is matter of rule, the other of taste and feeling. Music is not an absolute necessity of verse; the metrical form is a necessity, being that which constitutes the verse.