BALCONY SCENE FROM ROMEO AND JULIET. SHAKSPEARE. Capulet's orchard. Enter Romeo. ROMEO. He jests at scars that never felt a wound. [Juliet appears above, at a window But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she. 'It is my lady; Oh, it is my love! Oh, that she knew she were! She speaks, yet she says nothing; what of that? I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks. That I might touch that cheek! ROM. And sails upon the bosom of the air. JUL. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? 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. (aside.) Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? JUL. "Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Belonging to a man. Oh, be some other name!- ROM. I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. JUL. What man art thou, that, thus bescreened in night, So stumblest on my counsel ? I know not how to tell thee who I am. Had I it written, I would tear the word. JUL. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words Of thy tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound. Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? ROM. Neither, fair maid, 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. ROM. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch 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. ROм. 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 eyes; 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. JUL. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? ROM. By love, that 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 washed with the farthest 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. ROм. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, JUL. Oh, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moo 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, 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 unadvised, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Come to thy heart as that within my breast! JUL. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? ROм. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. JUL. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it; And yet I would it were to give again. ROM. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, 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 !— ROM. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Too flattering sweet to be substantial. Re-enter Juliet, above. [Exit, JUL. Three words, dear Romeo, and good-night, indeed. If that thy bent of love be honorable, 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. JUL. I come, anon.—But if thou mean'st not well, NURSE (within). Madam! JUL. By and by, I come: To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief: [Exit. ROM. Re-enter Juliet, above. [Retiring slowly. JUL. Hist! Romeo, hist!-Oh, for a falconer's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again! Bondage is hoarse and may not speak aloud; ROM. It is my soul that calls upon my name; JUL. I will not fail; 'tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back. ROM. Let me stand here till thou remember it. JUL. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company. ROM. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this. JUL. '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. ROM. I would I were thy bird. JUL. Sweet, so would I; Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good-night, good-night! parting is such sweet sorrow [Exis ROM. 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. [Exit. |