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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 3Scene 2
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"O serpent heart hid with a flowering face!"
Allusion
Act 3,
Scene 2
Lines 71-85a

An explanation of “O serpent heart” in Act 3, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet

O God, did Romeo's hand shed Tybalt's blood?

Nurse

It did, it did, alas the day, it did!

Juliet

O serpent heart hid with a flow'ring face!
Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave?
Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical,
Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb,
Despisèd substance of divinest show,
Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st,
A damnèd saint, an honorable villain.
O nature, what hadst thou to do in hell                          
When thou didst bower the spirit of a fiend
In mortal paradise of such sweet flesh?
Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? O that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!

Nurse

Juliet

Nurse

Juliet

Nurse

Juliet

Nurse

Juliet

[Exit]

A serpent hiding under the flowers was a proverbial image, suggesting evil lurking in that which is beautiful.