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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 5
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"move"
Wordplay
Act 1,
Scene 5
Lines 102-109b

An explanation of the wordplay on “move” in Act 1, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

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.

Romeo puns off of Juliet's use of the word "move":

  • Juliet means that Saints do not take the initiative to bestow a blessing.
  • Romeo means she should not physically move while he takes the blessing he's praying for — a kiss.