Romeo and Juliet

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]
[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]

Romeo

                                       Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.

Benvolio

Away, begone; the sport is at the best.

Romeo

Ay, so I fear, the more is my unrest.

Capulet

Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone;                       
We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.
[They indicate that they must leave.]
Is it e'en so? Why, then, I thank you all.
I thank you, honest gentlemen, good night.

Nurse

Madam, your mother craves a word with you. 
[Juliet goes to her mother]             

Romeo

What is her mother?

Nurse

                                   Marry, bachelor,
Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous;
I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
Shall have the chinks.

Romeo

                                       Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.

Nurse

Madam, your mother craves a word with you. 
[Juliet goes to her mother]             

Romeo

What is her mother?

Nurse

                                   Marry, bachelor,
Her mother is the lady of the house,
And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous;
I nursed her daughter that you talked withal.
I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
Shall have the chinks.

Romeo

                                       Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foe's debt.

Romeo

O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

Juliet

Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

Romeo

Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
[He kisses her]
Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.

Juliet

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo

Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.
[He kisses her again]

Juliet

                                        You kiss by th' book.

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