ACT 2
[Enter ROMEO]
ROMEO
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
He laughs for he’s not felt the pain of love.
[JULIET appears above at a window]
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
But, hush! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Shine brightly, lovely sun, usurp the moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
Who’s sick and pale with jealousy and grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
That you, the moon’s goddess, is more enchanting:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Don’t be a servant to the jealous moon,
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
Whose pure appearance is but sickly green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
And only fools will wear that shade; discard it.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
There is my lady; oh, there is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
If only she could know she is my love!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
She’s speaking, but says nothing: why is that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
Her eyes are talking; I will answer them.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
I am too bold; she’s not speaking to me:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Two of the brightest stars within the sky
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
Have left awhile, and told her that her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
Must twinkle in their sockets till they’re back.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
What if her eyes were stars, and stars her eyes?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
The brightness of her cheeks would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
As daylight shames a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
Would, through the airy sky, both shine so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
That birds would sing and think it wasn’t night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
Look how she rests her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
Imagine I’m a glove upon her hand
That I might touch that cheek!
So I could touch her cheek!
JULIET
Ay me!
Oh dear!
ROMEO
She speaks:
She’s speaking:
O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art
Oh, speak again, bright angel! For you are
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
As lovely as the night sky, like a halo,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
As is an angel flying through the heavens
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
That make the wondering eyes of men turn skyward,
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
Then fall upon their backs to watch the angel
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
That leaps across the slowly moving clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
And gently floats upon the drifting air.
JULIET
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Oh Romeo, Romeo! Why are you a Montague?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Forget your father and reject your name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
But if you won’t, and if you swear you love me,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Then I’ll no longer be a Capulet.
ROMEO
[Aside]
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak to her?
JULIET
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
It’s just your name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
You’d still be you if not called Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,
What is a Montague? Not hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other feature
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
A man possesses. Take a different name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
Why does it matter what we’re called? A rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
Will smell as sweet whatever name we call it.
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
So Romeo would, if not called Romeo,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Still keep the pure perfection he possesses
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
Without that name. So, Romeo, drop your name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Exchange your name – which isn’t who you are –
Take all myself.
And take me.
ROMEO
I take thee at thy word:
I will take you at your word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Tell me you love me, then I’ll change my name;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
From now on, I’m not Romeo Montague.
JULIET
What man art thou that thus bescreened in night
What man are you that, shielded by the darkness,
So stumblest on my counsel?
Have stumbled on my thoughts?
ROMEO
By a name
I’ve not a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
I know of that will tell you who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
I hate the name I have, dear precious angel,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Because it is an enemy to you;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
If I had written it, I’d tear it up.
JULIET
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
I’ve not yet heard a hundred spoken words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Out of that mouth, but yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Are you not Romeo and a Montague?
ROMEO
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
I’m neither if you dislike either one.
JULIET
How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
How did you get here, tell me how and why?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
And, based on who you are, this place is deadly
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
If any of my relatives detect you.
ROMEO
With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
With wings of love, I flew over the walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
For walls of stone cannot keep true love out;
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
A man in love will do what love demands;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
And so your cousins are not going to stop me.
JULIET
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
If they do see you, they will murder you.
ROMEO
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Alas, there is more danger in your eyes
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
Than twenty of their swords: if you look sweetly
And I am proof against their enmity.
Then I am safe against their confrontations.
JULIET
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
For all the world, they mustn’t see you here.
ROMEO
I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;
My cloak is black so I can hide from them.
And but thou love me, let them find me here:
But if you love me, let them find me here:
My life were better ended by their hate,
I’d rather I were killed now by their hate,
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
Than have my death prolonged without your love.
JULIET
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Who gave you the directions to this house?
ROMEO
By love, who first did prompt me to inquire;
Love led me here, like first he pricked my interest;
He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
He gave me good advice; I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
I am no navigator, but if you were
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
Washed on a distant shore across the oceans,
I would adventure for such merchandise.
I’d risk it all and venture out to find you.
JULIET
Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
You know my face is shrouded by the darkness,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
Else you would see this virgin’s cheeks blush red
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Because of what you heard me say tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
I’d gladly stick to courtship rules, denying
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!
What I have said: but goodbye to convention!
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'
Do you love me? I know you will say “yes”,
And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st,
And I’ll believe you. But if you have promised,
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries
It might just be a lie. When lovers fib,
Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
They say Jove laughs. Oh gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
If you do love me, tell me faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
Or if you think you’ve won my heart too quickly,
I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,
I’ll frown and act aloof and turn you down,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
To make you woo me; else, I’d never do that.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
In truth, I’m very fond of you, sweet Montague,
And therefore thou mayst think my 'haviour light:
And hence perhaps you think I’m easily won;
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
But trust me, sir, I’ll prove I’m more devoted
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
Than girls that seem indifferently elusive.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
I should have been more distant, I admit that,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
But as you overheard me, unaware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
Talk of my true love; therefore, please forgive me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
And don’t dismiss my rapid love as fickle,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Which, through the darkness, you have now discovered.
ROMEO
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
By light from that far distant moon, I swear,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
That’s streaming through the tips of all the fruit trees…
JULIET
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
Oh, don’t swear by the moon, the changing moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
That shifts its spheric shape throughout the month,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
In case your love turns out to be as fleeting.
ROMEO
What shall I swear by?
What shall I swear by?
JULIET
Do not swear at all;
Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Or, if you must, swear by your lovely self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
For you’re the person that I idolise,
And I'll believe thee.
And I’ll believe you.
ROMEO
If my heart's dear love--
If love within my heart…
JULIET
Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,
Well, do not swear then: though you bring me joy,
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
I can’t take joy for this affair tonight:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
It is too rash, impulsive, and too sudden
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Too much like lightning, which just disappears
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!
Before one says, “It’s lighting.” Good night, sweetheart!
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
This bud of love, which summer’s sun may ripen,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
May sprout into a rose next time we meet.
Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest
Good night! I hope serenity and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
Fill up your heart, like that within my breast!
ROMEO
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Oh, will you leave me so unsatisfied?
JULIET
What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
What satisfaction can you have tonight?
ROMEO
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Exchanging faithful vows of love together.
JULIET
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
I gave you mine before you asked me for it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
I wish I’d got it back to give again.
ROMEO
Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
Would you withdraw it? What’s the reason, darling?
JULIET
But to be frank, and give it thee again.
Well, being frank, I’d give it back to you.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
But yet I wish for love that’s mine already:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love for you is endless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
And just as deep; the more I give to you,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
The more I have, for both are infinite.
[Nurse calls within]
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
I hear some noise inside; dear love, goodbye!
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
I’m coming, nurse! Sweet Montague, stay true
Stay but a little, I will come again.
Stay here a little longer; I’ll be back.
[Exit, above]
ROMEO
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Oh blessed, blessed night! I am afraid.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Because it’s night-time, maybe I am dreaming,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
This seems too flattering to turn out real.
[Re-enter JULIET, above]
JULIET
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
A few more words, then we must say goodnight.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
If love that you declare is truly real and
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
You want to marry me, tell me tomorrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
Via the messenger I’ll send to you,
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite;
Where and what time that we shall both be married;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
All that I am and have I give to you,
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
And I will follow you around the world.
NURSE
[Within]
Madam!
Madam!
JULIET
I come, anon.--But if thou mean'st not well,
I’m coming! – But if you have bad intentions,
I do beseech thee--
I ask you…
NURSE
[Within]
Madam!
Madam!
JULIET
By and by, I come:--
I’ll be there in a moment! –
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To stop pursuing me, and leave me crying:
To-morrow will I send.
I’ll send the note tomorrow.
ROMEO
So thrive my soul--
Then my soul thrives…
JULIET
A thousand times good night!
I say goodnight a thousand times!
[Exit, above]
ROMEO
A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
It is a thousand times the worse to leave you.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
A lover nears his love, like schoolboys leave their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
But lovers leave their love, like off-to-school sad looks.
[Retiring]
[Re-enter JULIET, above]
JULIET
Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,
Psst! Romeo, psst! Oh, for a falconer’s whistle
To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
To lure this male falcon back again!
Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;
It’s though I am tied up, for I can’t speak loud;
Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
Else open Zeus’s young nymph Echo’s cave
And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
And make her booming voice more hoarse than mine,
With repetition of my Romeo's name.
Repeating out the name of Romeo.
ROMEO
It is my soul that calls upon my name:
That is my soulmate calling out my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
How sweet a lover’s voice sounds through the night,
Like softest music to attending ears!
Like soothing music to attentive ears!
JULIET
Romeo!
Romeo!
ROMEO
My dear?
My dear?
JULIET
At what o'clock to-morrow
What time tomorrow
Shall I send to thee?
Shall I send out the note to you?
ROMEO
At the hour of nine.
At nine.
JULIET
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I will not fail; it seems like years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
I have forgotten why I called you back.
ROMEO
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Then I will stand here till you have remembered.
JULIET
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Then I’ll forget, so you will always stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
Remembering how I love your company.
ROMEO
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
And I will stay whilst you keep on forgetting,
Forgetting any other home but this.
Forgetting any home I have but this.
JULIET
'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
It’s almost morning; you will have to go:
And yet no further than a wanton's bird;
But I would like to keep you like my pet bird,
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Who I let hop about, close to my hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
Much like a prisoner who’s tied in shackles,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
And with a silk thread, pull it close again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty.
Concerned that it might fly away from me.
ROMEO
I would I were thy bird.
I wish I were your bird.
JULIET
Sweet, so would I:
Sweetheart, me too:
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.
Yet I would probably smother you with love.
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
That I’ll repeat “goodnight” till it’s tomorrow.
[Exit above]
ROMEO
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
Sleep well my dear, and peace be in your heart!
Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
If I were ‘sleep’ and ‘peace’, we would not part!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
For here, I’ll see my priest within his vault,
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.
To ask his help and, of my luck, exalt.
[Exit]
