It is my lady; O, it is my love: O, that she knew she were ! She speaks, yet she says nothing; What of that? I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, Jul. Rom. Ah me! She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel; for thou art Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name: Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Rom. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? Jul. 'Tis but thy name, that is my enemy;— [Aside. So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, 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. Jul. How cam'st thou hither, tell me? and where fóre? The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; And the place death, considering who thou art, Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out : And what love can do, that dares love attempt; Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 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 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 may'st 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 may'st 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. 7 And, but thou love me,] And so thou do but love me. Or it may mean, unless thou love me. 8 cunning to be strange.] To be strange is to put on affected coldness, to appear shy. 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? Do not swear at all; Jul. And I'll believe thee. Rom. If my heart's dear love- It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again. Rom. Would'st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again. [Nurse calls within. [Exit. 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. 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, Where, and what time, thou wilt perform the rite; And follow thee, my lord, throughout the world: Jul. I come, anon :-But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee, Nurse. [within.] Madam. Jul. By and by, I come :— To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: Rom. So thrive my soul, Jul. A thousand times good night! [Exit. 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!-0, for a falconer's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again'! Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud; • To lure this tassel-gentle back again!] The tassel or tiercel (for so it should be spelt) is the male of the gosshawk; so called, because it is a tierce or third less than the female. This is equally true of all birds of prey. |