ROMEO.
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops, —
JULIET.
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
ROMEO.
What shall I swear by?
JULIET.
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.
ROMEO.
If my heart's dear love, —
JULIET.
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
Ere one can say It lightens. Sweet, good night!
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
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!
ROMEO.
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET.
What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
ROMEO.
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
JULIET.
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it;
And yet I would it were to give again.
ROMEO.
Would'st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
JULIET.
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.
I hear some noise within: dear love, adieu! —
[Nurse calls within.]
Anon, good nurse! — Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
[Exit.]
ROMEO.
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
[Enter Juliet above.]
JULIET.
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.
NURSE.
[Within.] Madam!
JULIET.
I come anon. — But if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee, —
NURSE.
[Within.] Madam!
JULIET.
By-and-by I come: —
To cease thy suit and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.
ROMEO.
So thrive my soul, —
JULIET.
A thousand times good night!
[Exit.]
ROMEO.
A thousand times the worse, to want thy light! —
Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books;
But love from love, towards school with heavy looks.
[Retirong slowly.]
[Re-enter Juliet, above.]
JULIET.
Hist! Romeo, hist! — O for a falconer's voice
To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud;
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine
With repetition of my Romeo's name.
ROMEO.
It is my soul that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
JULIET.
Romeo!
ROMEO.
My dear?
JULIET.
At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?
ROMEO.
At the hour of nine.
JULIET.
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
ROMEO.
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
JULIET.
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
ROMEO.
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
JULIET.
'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird;
That 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,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
ROMEO.
I would I were thy bird.
JULIET.
Sweet, so would I:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
[Exit.]
ROMEO.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! —
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.
[Exit.]
Glossary
her vestal livery chaste appearance or virginal dress.
sick and green pale and sickly. Green was the color associated with maids.
wherefore why?
doff discard.
enmity hatred; hostility.
prorogued delayed; postponed.
I am no pilot . . . should adventure for such merchandise Romeo describes himself as a merchant venturer, one who would make risky voyages to be with Juliet.
perjuries the breaking of promises.
Jove king of the Roman gods.
fond tender and affectionate; loving; sometimes, affectionate in a foolish or overly indulgent way.
strange reserved, aloof.
the god of my idolatry the object of my excessive devotion.
tassel-gentle from "tiercel," a falconry term for a male hawk, especially the male peregrine.
bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud at home, Juliet is under her father's strict discipline and must whisper as though she is hoarse to avoid detection.
a wanton's bird that is, the pet of an undisciplined, spoiled child.
hap good luck or news.
