Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (most read book in the world TXT) 📕

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 farthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandise.

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 mayst prove false; at lovers’ perjuries,
Then 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 an 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 ’havior 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 unadvised, 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. Juliet

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

Romeo Wouldst 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. Exit, above.

Romeo

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

Romeo So thrive my soul⁠— Juliet A thousand times good night! Exit, above. Romeo

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. Retiring.

Re-enter Juliet, above. 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 music to attending ears!

Juliet Romeo! Romeo My dear? Juliet

At what o’clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?

Romeo At the hour of nine. 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,
Remembering 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 above.

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. Exit.

Scene III

Friar Laurence’s cell.

Enter Friar Laurence, with a basket. Friar Laurence

The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night,
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light,
And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels
From forth day’s path and Titan’s fiery wheels:
Now, ere the sun advance his burning eye,
The day to cheer and