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122 ROMEO AND JULIET. 

An alligator stuff'd, and other skins 

Of ill-shap'd fishes ; and about his shelves 

A beggarly account of empty boxes, 

Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds, 

Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, 

Were thinly scatter'd, to make up a show. 

Noting this penury, to myself I said. 

An if a man did need a poison now, 

Whose sale is present death in Mantua, 

Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him. 

0, this same thought did but forerun my need, 

And this same needy man must sell it me ! 

As I remember, this should be the house. 

Being holiday, the beggar's shop is shut. — 

What, ho ! apothecary ! 

Ent67' Apothecary. 

Apothecary. Who calls so loud ? 

Romeo. Come hither, man. I see that thou art poor : 
Hold, there is forty ducats ; let me have 
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear 
As will disperse itself through all the veins 
That the life-weary taker may fall dead. 
And that the trunk may be discharg'd of breath 
As violently as hasty powder fir'd 
Doth hurry from the fatal cannon's womb.