2

Juliet

                              A thousand times good night!
[Exit, above]

Romeo

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
[Romeo retiring slowly. Re-Enter Juliet, above]

Juliet

Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc'ner'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.'

Juliet

                              A thousand times good night!
[Exit, above]

Romeo

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
[Romeo retiring slowly. Re-Enter Juliet, above]

Juliet

Hist, Romeo, hist! O, for a falc'ner'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.'

Juliet

What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?

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

Wouldst 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.

Juliet

Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, 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.

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 tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night.           

Juliet

                                                      Ay me!

Romeo

                                                                   She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a wingèd messenger of heaven
Unto the white upturnèd wond'ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him 
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Mercutio

Romeo, good night. I'll to my truckle-bed;
This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep. 
Come, shall we go?

Benvolio

                                 Go, then; for 'tis in vain
To seek him here that means not to be found.               
[Exit]

Benvolio

Come, he hath hid himself among these trees,               
To be consorted with the humorous night.
Blind is his love, and best befits the dark.

Mercutio

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, that she were, O, that she were
An open-arse, or thou a popp’rin pear!
[A single actor (referred to as a chorus) comes to the front of the stage to deliver this introductory prologue to the second act.]

Chorus

Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groaned for and would die,
With tender Juliet matched is now not fair.
Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
Alike bewitchèd 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;               
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new belovèd anywhere.
But passion lends them power, time means to meet,
Temp'ring extremities with extreme sweet.
[Exit]

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