Enter Chorus. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair, which love groan'd for, and would die, With tender Juliet match'd is now not fair. Now Romeo is belov'd, and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks, But to his foe suppos'd 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; 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, Temp'ring extremities with extreme sweet. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. An open place, adjoining Capulet's garden. Enter Romeo. Rom. Can I go forward, when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth*, and find thy centre out. [He climbs the wall, and leaps down within it. Enter Benvolio and Mercutio. He is wise; Ben. Romeo! my cousin Romeo ! Mer. And, on my life, hath stolen him home to bed. Ben. He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall: Call, good Mercutio. Mer. Nay, I'll conjure too. i. e. Himself. Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh, Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle, Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among those trees, To be consorted with the humourous † 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, As maids call medlars, when they laugh alone.Romeo, good night ;-I'll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep : Come, shall we go? Ben. Go, then; for 'tis in vain To seek him here, that means not to be found. [Exeunt. * Alluding to the old ballad of the king and the beggar. † This phrase in Shakspeare's time was used as an expression of tenderness. ‡ Humid, moist. D2 SCENE II. Capulet's garden. Enter Romeo. Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound.[Juliet appears above, at a window. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!- She speaks, yet she says nothing; What of that? That I might touch that cheek! Jul. Rom. Ah me! She speaks : O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a winged messenger of heaven * A votary to the moon, to Diana. Unto the white up-turned wond'ring eyes Jul. O Romeo, Romeo ! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name : And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Rom. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? [Aside. Jul. 'Tis but thy name, that is my enemy ;- Rom. I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd. Henceforth I never will be Romeo. Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night, So stumblest on my counsel? Rom. By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: Had I it written, I would tear the word. Jul. My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound; Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Rom. Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. * Owns, possesses. + Do off. Jul. How cam'st thou hither, tell me? and where fóre? The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out : Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 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. Jul. I would not for the world, they saw thee here. Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And, but thou love met, let them find me here : Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, Jul. Thou know'st, the mask of night is on my face; Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek, * Hinderance. † Unless thou love me. |