William Painter:The second tome of the Palace of pleasure conteyning store of goodly histories, tragicall matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors: by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. Anno. 1567.,Imprinted at London : In Pater Noster Rowe, by Henry Bynneman, for Nicholas England, [1567]
Rhomeo and Julietta
¶ The goodly Historie of the true and constant Loue be|twene RHOMEO and IVLIETTA, the one of whom died of poison, and the other of sorow and: wher|in be comprised many aduentures of loue, and other deui|ses touching the same.
The. xxv. Nouel.
I Am sure, that they whiche measure the greatenesse of Gods works, according to the capacitie of their rude & simple vnder|standing, wyll not lightly adhibite cre|dite vnto this histo|rie, so wel for the va rietie of strange ac|cide~ts which be ther|in described, as for ytnoueltie & straunge|nesse of so rare and perfect amitie. But they that haue reddePlinie, Valerius Maximus, Plutarche,and diuers other writers, doe finde, that in olde tyme a greate numbre of men and women haue died, some of exces|siue ioye, some of ouermuch sorrowe, and some of o|ther passions: and amongs the same, Loue is not the least, which when it seaseth vpon any kynde & gentle subiect, & findeth no resistance to serue for a ra~part to
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theof his course, by litle & litle vndermi|neth melteth &ytvertues of natural powers in such wise as the sprite yelding to the burden, aban|doneth ytplace of life: which is verified by the pitifull and infortunate death of two louers that surrendred their last breath in oneata Citie ofI|taly,wherin repose yet to this day (with great maruel) the bones and remnantes of their late louing bodies: An history no lessethan true. If then per|ticular affection which of good right euery man ought to beare to the place where he was borne, doe not de|ceiue those that trauaile, I thinke they will confesse with me, that few Cities inItalie,can surpasse the said Citie ofVerona,aswell for the Nauigable riuer called,which passeth almost through the midst of the same, and therby a great trafique intoAlmaine,as al|so for the prospect towards the fertile Mountains and plesant valeis which do enuiron ytsame, with a great numbre of very clere and liuely fountains that serue for the ease and commodity of the place. Omitting (bi|sides many other singularities) foure bridges, and an infinite numbre of other honorable antiquities, daily apparant vnto those, that be to curious to view & loke vpon them. Which places I haue somewhat touched, bicause this most true Historie which I purpose here|after to recite, depe~deth therupon, the memory wher|of to this day is so well knowne atVerona,as vnneths their blubbred eyes, be yet dry that sawe and behelde that lamentable sight.
When theSenior Escalawas Lord ofVerona;there were two families in the Citie, of farre greater fame than the rest, aswell for riches as Nobilitie: the one called theMontesches,and the other theCapellets:but like as most commonly there is discord amongs them
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which be of semblable degrée in honor, euen sothen hapned a certaine enimitie betwene them: and for so much as the beginning therof was vnlawful, and offoundation, so likewise in processe of time it kindled to such flame, as by diuers and sundry deuises practised on both sides, many lost their liues. The LordBartho|lomeuofEscala,(of whome we haue already spoken) being Lord ofVerona,and seing such disorder in his co~|mon weale, assayed diuers and sundry wayes to reco~|cile those two houses, but all in vaine: for their hatred, had taken such roote, as ytsame could not beby any wise councell or good aduise: betwene whome no other thing could be accorded, but giuing ouerand weapon for the time, attending some other season more co~uenient, and with better leisure to ap|pease the rest. In the time ytthese things wer adoing, one of the familie ofMonteschescalledRho~meo,of the age of. xx. or. xxi. yeres, the fairest and best conditioned Gentleman that was amongs theVeronianyouth,in loue with a yong Gentlewoman ofVerona,& in few dayes was so attached with hir comely & good behaui|our, as he abandoned all other affaires and businesseserue & honor hir. And after many letters,and presents, he determined in the end to speake vnto hir, & to disclose his passions, which he did without any other practise. But she which was vertuously brought vp, knew how to make him so good answer to cutte of hisaffectio~s: as he had no lust after that time to return any more, and shewed hir self so austeresharpe of speach, as she vouchsafed not with one loke to beholde him. But the more ytyong Gentlemanhir whist and silent, the more he was inflamed: andhée hadcertaine months in that seruice
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without remedy of his griefe, he determined in the end to departVerona,for proofe if by change of ytplace he might alter his affection, and sayd to himself.
What doe I meane to loue one that is so vnkinde, and thus doeth disdaine me, I am all hir owne, and yet she flieth from me. I can no longer liue, except hir presence I doe enioy. And she hath no contented minde, but when she is furthest from me. I wil then from henceforthmy selfe from hir, for it may so come to passe by not beholding hir, that thys fire in me which taketh increase and nourishment by hir faire eyes, by little and little may die and quench.
But minding to put in proofe what hée thought, at one instant hée was reduced to the contrarie, who not knowing whereuppon to resolue, passed dayes and nights in maruellous plaintes and Lamentacions. For Louehim so neare, and had so well fix|ed the Gentlewomans beautie within the Bowels of his heart and minde, as not able to resist, he fain|ted withcharge, and consumed by little and lit|tle as the Snow against the Sunne. Whereof his parents and kinred did maruell greatly, bewayling his misfortune, but aboue all other one of his compa|nions of riper age and counsell than he, began sharply to rebuke him. For the loue that he bare him was so great as hée felt his Martirdome, and was partaker of his passion which caused him by ofte viewing hys friends disquietnesse in amorous pangs, to say thus vnto him:
Rhomeo,I maruel much that thou spendest the best time of thine age, inof a thing, from which thouthy self despised and, without respect either to thy prodigall dispense, to thine honor, to thy teares, or to thy miserable life, which be able
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to moue the most constant to pitie. Wherefore I pray thée for the Loue of our ancient amitie, and for thine health sake, that thou wilt learn to be thine owne, and not tothy liberty to any so ingrate as she is: for so farre as I can coniecture by things that are passed betwene you, either she is in loue with some o|ther, or else determined neuer to loue any. Thou arte yong, rich in goods and fortune, and more excellent in beautie than any Gentleman in this Citie: thou art well learned, and the only sonne of the housethou co~mest. What grief wold itto thy pore old fa|ther & other thy parents, to sée thée so drowned in this dongeon of vice, specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather to put them in some hope of thy ver|tue? Begin then fro~ henceforth to acknowledge thine error, wherein thou hast hitherto liued, doe away that amorous vaile or couerture which blindeth thine eyes and letteth thée to folow the right path, wherein thine ancestors haue walked: or else if thou dothyso subiect to thine owne will, yelde thy heart toother place, and chooseMistresse according to thy worthinesse, and henceforth doe not sow thy paines in a soile sowhereof thou receiuest no frute: the time approcheth when all the dames of the Citie shall assemble, where thou maist beholde such one as shall make théethy former griefs. This yong Gen|tleman attentiuely hearing all the persuadingof his frend, began somewhat to moderate that heat, &acknowledge all yeexhortations which he had made to betopurpose.
And then determined to put them in proofe, and to be presentat all the feasts and assemblies of the citie, without bea|ring affection more to one woman than to another. And continued in this manner of life.. or.. months,
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by that meanes to quench the sparks of aun|cient. It chanced then withindayes after, about the feast of Christmasse, when feasts & bankets most commonly be vsed, and maskes according to the custome frequented: And bicause thatAnthome Ca|pelletwas the chief of that familie, and one of the most principal Lords of the Citie, he made a banket, and for the better solempnization of the same, inuited all the noble me~ and dames, at what time ther was the most partof ytyouth ofVerona.The family of theCapellets(as we haue declared in ytbeginning of this History) was at variance with the,which was the cause that none of that family repaired to that banket, but onely the yong GentlemanRhomeo,who came in aafter supper with certain other yong Gentle|men. And after they had remained a certaine space with their visards on, at length they did put of yesame, andRhomeovery shamefast, withdrew himself into a corner of the Hall: but by reason of the light of the tor|ches which burned very bright, he was by & by known and loked vpon of the whole company, but specially of the Ladies: for bisides his natiue beautie wherewith nature had adorned him, they maruelled at his auda|citie how he durst presume to enter so secretly into ythouse of those which had litle cause to do him any good. Notwithstanding, theCapelletstheir malice, either for the honor of the company, or else for respect of his age, did not misuse him either in word or déede. By meanes whereof with frée liberty he behelde and viewed the ladies at his pleasure, which he did so wel, and with grace so good, as there wasbut did ve|ry well like the presence of his person. And after hée had particularly giuen iudgement vpon the excellency of each one, according to his affection, he saw one gen|tlewoman
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amongs the rest of surpassing beautie, who (although he had neuer séene hir tofore) pleased him a|boue the rest, & attributed vnto hir in heart theplace for all perfection in beautie. And feastyng hir incessantly with piteous lookes, the loue which he bare to his first Gentlewoman, was ouercomen with this new fire, which tooke such norishement and vigor in his heart, as he was able neuer to quench the same but by death onely: as you may vnderstande by one of the strangest discourses, that euer any mortal man deuised. The yongRhomeothen féelyng himselfe thus tossed with this new tempest, could not tel what cou~|tenaunce to vse, but was so surprised and chaunged with these last flames, as he had almost forgotten him selfe, in suche wise as he had not audacitie to enquire what shée was,bent hym selfe to féede his eyes wyth hir, wherewyth he moystened the swéete amorous venom, which dyd so empoyson him, as hée ended his dayes: with a kynde of moste cruell death. The Gentlewoman that dydde putRhomeosuche payne, was calledIulietta,and was the daughter ofCapellet,the maister of the house where that assem|blie was, who as hir eyes dydde roll and wander too and fro, by chaunce espiedRhomeo,whiche vnto hir séemed to be the goodliest Gentleman that euer shée sawe. And Loue which lay in wayte neuer vntyl that tyme, assailing the tender heart of that yong Gentle|woman, touched hir so at the quicke, as for any resi|stance she coulde make, was not able to defende hys forces. and then began to set at naught the royalties of the feast, and felt no pleasure in hir hart, but when she had a glimpse by throwing or receiuing some sight or looke ofRhomeo.And after they had co~tented eche others troubled hart with millions of amorous lokes
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whiche oftentymes interchangeably encountred and met together, the burning beames gaue sufficient te|stimonie of loues priuie onsettes. Loue hauing made the heartes breach of those two louers, as they two sought meanes to speake together, Fortune offered them a veryand apt occasion. A certaine lorde of that troupe and company tookeIuliettaby the hande to daunce, wherein shée behaued hir selfe so well, and with so excellent grace, as shée wanne that daye the price of honour from all the maidens ofVerona.Rho|meo,hauyng foreséene the place wherevnto she min|ded to retire, approched the same, and so discretely v|sed the matter, as he found the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir.Iuliettawhen the daunce was finished, returned to the very place where she was set before, and was placed betweneRhomeoother Gentle|ma~ calledMercutio,which was agentlema~, very wel beloued of all men, and byof his ple|sa~t & curteous behauior was in alwel inter|tained.Mercutioytwas of audacitie amo~g maide~s, as a lion is among la~bes, seased inço~tinently vpon yehande of Iulietta, whose hands wontedly wer so cold bothe in winter & sommer as yemountain yee, although yefires heat did warme yesame.Rhomeowhich sat vpon yeleft side of Iulietta, seing thatMercutioheld hir by the right hand, toke hir by the other, that he might not be decei|ued of his purpose, & straining the same a litle, he felt himself so prest with that newe fauor, as he remained mute, not able to answer: But she perceiuing by his change of color, ytthe fault proceded of very veheme~t loue, desiring to speake vnto him, turned hir selfe to|wards him, & withvoice ioyned with virginal shamfastnesse, intermedled wta certaine bashfulnesse, sayd to him: Blessidyehour of your nere aproche: but
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minding to procéede in further talke, loue had so clo|sed vp hir mouth, as she was not able to end hir tale. Wherunto the yong gentleman all rauished with ioy and contentation, sighing, asked hir what was yecause of that right fortunate blessing. Iulietta somwhat more emboldned with pitiful loke and smiling countenance said vnto him:
Syr, do not maruell if I do blesse your comming hither, bicause sirMercutioa good time with frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine, and you of your curtesie haue warmed the same again. Wherunto im|mediatlyRhomeoreplied: Madame if the heaue~s haue bene so fauorable to employto do you some agrea|ble seruice being repairedby chaunce amongs other Gentlemen, I estéeme the same well bestowed, crauing no greater benefite for satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this worlde, than to serue, obey and honor you so long as my life doth last, as ex|perience shall yeld more ample proofe when it shall please you to giue further assay. Moreouer, if you haue receiued any heat by touche of my hand, you may be well assured that those flames be dead in respect of the liuely sparks and violent fire which sorteth from your faire eyes, which fire hath so fiercely inflamed all the most sensible parts of my body, as if I be not succored by the fauoure of your diuine graces, I doe attend the time to be consumed to dust.
Scarse had he made an end of those last words, but the daunce of the Torche was at an end. WherebyIuliettawhich wholly burnt with loue, straightly clasping hir hand with his, had no leisure to make other answere, but softly thus to say:
My deare friend, I know not what other assured wit|nesse you desire of Loue, but that I let you vnderstand that you be no more your owne, than I am yours, be|ing ready and disposed to obey you so farre as honoure