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ACT II.
PROLOGUE.
Enter Chorus.[393]
Chor. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,[394]
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,[395]
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.[396]
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 5
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; 10
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.[397] [Exit.
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,[395]
With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.[396]
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, 5
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,
And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; 10
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.[397] [Exit.
Scene I. A lane by the wall of Capulet's orchard.[398]
Enter Romeo, alone.
[He climbs the wall, and leaps down within it.
Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.
Ben. Romeo! my cousin Romeo![399]
Ben. He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: 5
Call, good Mercutio.
Call, good Mercutio.
Mer. Nay, I'll conjure too.[402]
Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover![403]
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:[404]
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied;[405]
Cry but 'ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;'[406] 10
Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,[407]
One nick-name for her purblind son and heir,[408]
Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim[409][410]
When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid![410]
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not;[411] 15
The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.[412]
I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,[413]
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh,
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, 20
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!
Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover![403]
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:[404]
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied;[405]
Cry but 'ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove;'[406] 10
Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,[407]
One nick-name for her purblind son and heir,[408]
Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim[409][410]
When King Cophetua loved the beggar-maid![410]
He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not;[411] 15
The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.[412]
I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,[413]
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,
By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh,
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, 20
That in thy likeness thou appear to us!
Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him.[414]
Mer. This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him
To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle[415]
Of some strange nature, letting it there stand[416] 25
Till she had laid it and conjured it down;
That were some spite: my invocation[417]
Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name[415][417][418]
I conjure only but to raise up him.
To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle[415]
Of some strange nature, letting it there stand[416] 25
Till she had laid it and conjured it down;
That were some spite: my invocation[417]
Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name[415][417][418]
I conjure only but to raise up him.
Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,[419] 30
To be consorted with the humorous night:
Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.
To be consorted with the humorous night:
Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.
Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.
Now will he sit under a medlar-tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit[420] 35
As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.[421]
O, Romeo, that she were, O, that she were[422][423]
An open et cetera, thou a poperin pear![423][424]
Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed;
This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep:[425] 40
Come, shall we go?[426]
Now will he sit under a medlar-tree,
And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit[420] 35
As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.[421]
O, Romeo, that she were, O, that she were[422][423]
An open et cetera, thou a poperin pear![423][424]
Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed;
This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep:[425] 40
Come, shall we go?[426]
Scene II. Capulet's orchard.[428]
Enter Romeo.[429]
Rom. He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
[Juliet appears above at a window.
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?[430]
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief, 5
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:[431]
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,[432]
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady; O, it is my love![433] 10
O, that she knew she were![433][434]
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,[435] 15
Having some business, do intreat her eyes[436]
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven[437] 20
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.[438]
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief, 5
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:[431]
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,[432]
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady; O, it is my love![433] 10
O, that she knew she were![433][434]
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,[435] 15
Having some business, do intreat her eyes[436]
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven[437] 20
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.[438]
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
Jul. Ay me!
Rom. She speaks:[439] 25
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,[440]
As is a winged messenger of heaven[441]
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes[442]
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him, 30
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds[443]
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,[440]
As is a winged messenger of heaven[441]
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes[442]
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him, 30
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds[443]
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?[444]
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 35
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, 35
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Rom. [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?[445]
Jul. 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.[446]
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,[447] 40
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part[448]
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name![448][449]
What's in a name? that which we call a rose[450]
By any other name would smell as sweet;[451]
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,[452] 45
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,[453]
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,[454]
Take all myself.
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.[446]
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,[447] 40
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part[448]
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name![448][449]
What's in a name? that which we call a rose[450]
By any other name would smell as sweet;[451]
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,[452] 45
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,[453]
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,[454]
Take all myself.
Rom. I take thee at thy word:[455]
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; 50
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; 50
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night,[456]
So stumblest on my counsel?
So stumblest on my counsel?
Rom. By a name[457]
I know not how to tell thee who I am:[457]
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, 55
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
I know not how to tell thee who I am:[457]
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, 55
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
Jul. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words[458]
Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound:[459]
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 60
Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound:[459]
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? 60
Rom. Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.[460]
Jul. How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?[461]
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.[462] 65
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.[462] 65
Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls,[463]
For stony limits cannot hold love out:
And what love can do, that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.[464]
For stony limits cannot hold love out:
And what love can do, that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.[464]
Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 70
Rom. Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
Jul. I would not for the world they saw thee here.
Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their eyes;[465] 75
And but thou love me, let them find me here:[466]
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
And but thou love me, let them find me here:[466]
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Rom. By love, that first did prompt me to inquire;[467] 80
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far[468]
As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,[469]
I would adventure for such merchandise.[470]
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far[468]
As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,[469]
I would adventure for such merchandise.[470]
Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,[471] 85
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment![472]
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'[473] 90
And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false: at lovers' perjuries,[474]
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,[475]
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,[476] 95
I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond;
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light:[477]
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true 100
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.[478]
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,[479]
And not impute this yielding to light love, 105
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment![472]
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'[473] 90
And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false: at lovers' perjuries,[474]
They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,[475]
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,[476] 95
I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond;
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light:[477]
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true 100
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.[478]
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,[479]
And not impute this yielding to light love, 105
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,[480]
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—[481]
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—[481]
Jul. O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,[482]
That monthly changes in her circled orb,[483] 110
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
That monthly changes in her circled orb,[483] 110
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Jul. Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
Rom. If my heart's dear love—[484] 115
Jul. Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,[485]
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,[486]
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night![487] 120
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,[488]
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,[486]
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night![487] 120
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,[488]
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? 125
Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.[489]
Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
And yet I would it were to give again.
Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?[490] 130
Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. 135
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu![491]
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite. 135
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu![491]
[Nurse calls within.
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.[492] [Exit.
Stay but a little, I will come again.[492] [Exit.
Re-enter Juliet, above.
Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.[495]
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee, 145
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,[496]
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.[497]
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee, 145
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,[496]
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.[497]
Nurse. [Within] Madam![498]
Nurse. [Within] Madam!
Rom. So thrive my soul,—[501]
Jul. A thousand times good night! [Exit.[502]
[Retiring slowly.
Re-enter Juliet, above.
Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!—O, for a falconer's voice,
To lure this tassel-gentle back again![505]
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;[506] 160
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine[507][508]
With repetition of my Romeo's name.[508][509]
Romeo![510]
To lure this tassel-gentle back again![505]
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;[506] 160
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine[507][508]
With repetition of my Romeo's name.[508][509]
Romeo![510]
Rom. It is my soul that calls upon my name:[511] 165
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
Jul. Romeo!
Rom. My dear?[512]
Jul. At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?
Shall I send to thee?
Rom. At the hour of nine.[513]
Jul. I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.[514] 170
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
Rom. Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,[515]
Remembering how I love thy company.
Remembering how I love thy company.
Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, 175
Forgetting any other home but this.[516]
Forgetting any other home but this.[516]
Jul. 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,[517]
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,[518]
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, 180
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,[519]
So loving-jealous of his liberty.[520]
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,[517]
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,[518]
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, 180
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,[519]
So loving-jealous of his liberty.[520]
Rom. I would I were thy bird.
Scene III. Friar Laurence's cell.[524]
Enter Friar Laurence, with a basket.[525]
Fri. L. The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,[526]
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light;[526][527]
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels[526][528]
From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels:[526][529]
Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, 5
The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry,
I must up-fill this osier cage of ours[530]
With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers.[531]
The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb;[532]
What is her burying grave, that is her womb: 10
And from her womb children of divers kind
We sucking on her natural bosom find,
Many for many virtues excellent,[533]
None but for some, and yet all different.
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies 15
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities:[534]
For nought so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give;[535]
Nor aught so good, but, strain'd from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:[536] 20
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime's by action dignified.[537]
Within the infant rind of this small flower[538]
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:[539]
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part,[540] 25
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.[541]
Two such opposed kings encamp them still[542]
In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.[543] 30
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light;[526][527]
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels[526][528]
From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels:[526][529]
Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye, 5
The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry,
I must up-fill this osier cage of ours[530]
With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers.[531]
The earth that's nature's mother is her tomb;[532]
What is her burying grave, that is her womb: 10
And from her womb children of divers kind
We sucking on her natural bosom find,
Many for many virtues excellent,[533]
None but for some, and yet all different.
O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies 15
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities:[534]
For nought so vile that on the earth doth live,
But to the earth some special good doth give;[535]
Nor aught so good, but, strain'd from that fair use,
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:[536] 20
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied,
And vice sometime's by action dignified.[537]
Within the infant rind of this small flower[538]
Poison hath residence, and medicine power:[539]
For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part,[540] 25
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.[541]
Two such opposed kings encamp them still[542]
In man as well as herbs, grace and rude will;
And where the worser is predominant,
Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.[543] 30
Enter Romeo.