*

*

Deny thy father, and refuse thy name:
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Rom. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

[Aside.
Jul. 'Tis but thy name, that is my enemy.
What's in a name? that which we call a rose,
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes*,
Without that title:-Romeo, doff | thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
Rom.

I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. [night,

Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in So stumblest on my counsel? Rom.

By a name I know not how to tell thee wlio I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word. [words

Jul. My ears have not yet drunk a hundred Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound; Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?

Rom. Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. Jul, How cam'st thou hither, tell me? and

wherefore? The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; And the place death, considering who thou art, If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

* Owne, possesses.

+ Do off.

GG

Rom. 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.

Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

Rom. Alack! there lies more peril in thine eye, Than twenty of their swords; look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity. Jul. I would not for the world, they saw thee

here. Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their

sight; And, but thou love met, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this

place? Rom. By love, who first did prompt meto 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 merchandise. Jul. 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 mayst prove false ; at lovers' perjuries, They say, Jove laughs. O, gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:

* Hinderance. + Unless thou love me.

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 mayst think my 'haviour* light:
But, trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be stranget.
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.

Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, That tips with silver all these fruit-tree topsJul, 0, swear not by the moon, the inconstant

moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Rom. What shall I swear by?
Jul.

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.
Rom.

If my heart's dear love Jul. 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! Rom. 0, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? * Behaviour.

+ Shy

Juk. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow

for mine. Jul. I gave

thee mine before thou didst request And yet

I would it were to give again. [it: Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what pur

pose, love?

Jul. 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. [Exit.

Řom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream. Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

Re-enter JULIET, above. Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night,

indeed. If that thy bentt 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.

Jul. I come, anon :-But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee,

Nurse (within.] Madam.
Jul.

By and by, I come :-
* Free.

+ Inclination.

To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.
Rom.

So thrive

my

soulJul. A thousand times good night! [Exit. Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.