| Friar Laurence's cell. |
| [Enter FRIAR JOHN] |
| FRIAR JOHN | Holy Franciscan friar! brother, ho! | ||
| [Enter FRIAR LAURENCE] |
| FRIAR LAURENCE | 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. |
| FRIAR JOHN | Going to find a bare-foot brother out | 5 | |
| One of our order, to associate me, | |||
| Here in this city visiting the sick, | |||
| And finding him, the searchers of the town, | |||
| Suspecting that we both were in a house | |||
| Where the infectious pestilence did reign, | 10 | ||
| Seal'd up the doors, and would not let us forth; | |||
| So that my speed to Mantua there was stay'd. |
| FRIAR LAURENCE | Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo? |
| FRIAR 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. |
| FRIAR LAURENCE | Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood, | ||
| The letter was not nice but full of charge | |||
| 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. |
| FRIAR JOHN | Brother, I'll go and bring it thee. | ||
| [Exit] |
| FRIAR LAURENCE | Now must I to the monument alone; | ||
| Within three hours will fair Juliet wake: | 25 | ||
| She will beshrew 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] |