Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And, but thou love me, let them find me here: 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, who first did prompt me to inquire; He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise. Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, 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: Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say Ay; And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swear'st, Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries They say Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or, if thou think'st I am too quickly won, 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: But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou over-heard'st, ere I was 'ware, My true love's passion: therefore pardon me; And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered. Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops, — Jul. O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. Rom. What shall I swear by? Jul. Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, And I'll believe thee. Rom. If my heart's dear love,Jul. Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night: It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again. Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? 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. [Nurse calls within. I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! Anon, good nurse!-Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again. Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering-sweet to be substantial. Re-enter JULIET above. [Exit. Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good-night indeed. 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, Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite; And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay, And follow thee, my lord, throughout the world. Jul. I come anon.-But if thou mean'st not well, Nurse. [within.] Madam! Jul. By and by, I come : To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: Rom. So thrive my soul, [Exit. Jul. A thousand times good-night! Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.Love goes toward love as school-boys from their books; But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. [Retiring slowly. Re-enter JULIET above. Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!-O for a falconer's voice, Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud; And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine Rom. It is my soul that calls upon my name: Jul. I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then. 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, Remembering how I love thy company. Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this. Jul. "Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone: And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, Rom. I would I were thy bird. Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good-night, good-night! parting is such sweet sorrow [Exit. Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!— Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! His help to crave and my dear hap to tell. SCENE III.-FRIAR LAWRENCE'S Cell. Enter FRIAR LAWRENCE with a basket. [Exit. Fri. L. The gray-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night, Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: None but for some, and yet all different. In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities : For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Full soon the canker death eats up that plant. Enter ROMEO. Rom. Good-morrow, father! Fri. L. Benedicite! What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?-- But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign: Thou art uprous'd by some distemperature; Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night. Rom. That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine. Fri. L. God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline? Rom. With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; I have forgot that name, and that name's woe. Fri. L. That's my good son: but where hast thou been, then? Rom. I'll tell thee ere thou ask it me again. Fri. L. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift; Rom. Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set On the fair daughter of rich Capulet: As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine; And all combin'd, save what thou must combine Fri. L. Holy St. Francis! what a change is here! Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline! And art thou chang'd? pronounce this sentence, then,— Fri. L. For doting, not for loving, pupil mine. Fri. L. To lay one in, another out to have. Not in a grave, Rom. I pray thee, chide not: she whom I love now Doth grace for grace and love for love allow; The other did not so. Thy love did read by rote, and could not spell. But come, young waverer, come, go with me, |