If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

Romeo. With love's light wings did I o'erperch these

walls,

For stony limits cannot hold love out:

And what love can do, that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.

Juliet. If they do see thee they will murder thee.
Romeo. Alack! there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords; look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.

Juliet. I would not for the world they saw thee here. Romeo. 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.

Juliet. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? Romeo. 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 merchandize.

Juliet. 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 overheard'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.

Romeo. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-

Juliet. O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb,

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

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 to-night;

It is too rash, too unadvis'd, 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.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart, as that within my breast!

Romeo. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Juliet. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Romeo. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.

C

Juliet. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again.

Romeo. Would'st 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.

[NURSE calls within.
I hear some noise within; Dear love, adieu !—
Anon, good nurse!-Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.

Romeo. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream,

Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

Juliet. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night, indeed.

If that thy bent of love be honourable,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,

Where, and what time, thou wilt perform the rite;

And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay,

And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Nurse [within]. Madam.

Juliet. I come, anon.-But if thou mean'st not well,

I do beseech thee

Nurse [within]. Madam.

Juliet.

By-and-by, I come.

To cease my suit, and leave me to my grief.

To-morrow will I send.

Romeo.

So thrive my soul—

Juliet. A thousand times good night!

Romeo. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. Love goes towards love, as school-boys from their books; But love from love, towards school with heavy looks.

Juliet. Hist! Romeo, hist!—O, for a falconer'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's name.

Romeo. It is my soul that calls upon my name :
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest musick to attending ears!

Juliet. I will not fail; 'tis twenty years till then.

I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Romeo. Let me stand here till thou remember it. Juliet. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Rememb'ring how I love thy company.

Romeo. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.

Juliet. 'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone, And yet no further than a wanton's bird,

Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

Romeo. I would I were thy bird.
Juliet.

Sweet, so would I

:

Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.

Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night, till it be morrow. [Exit. Romeo. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy

breast!

'Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,

His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

SCENE VI.

Friar. So smile the heavens upon this holy act, That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!

[Exit.

Romeo. Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight:
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.

Friar. These violent delights have violent ends,
And in their triumph die; like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in his own deliciousness,

And in the taste confounds the appetite :

Therefore, love moderately; long love doth so;
Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

Enter JULIET.

Here comes the lady :-O, so light a foot
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint :
A lover may bestride the gossamers
That idle in the wanton summer air,
And yet not fall; so light is vanity.

Juliet. Good even to my ghostly confessor.