Romeo and Juliet
The Balcony Scene
Romeo. Neither, fair maiden, if either thee dislike.
Juliet. How camest 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.
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 stop to me.
Juliet. If they do see thee, they will murther 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 eyes.
And but thou love me, let them find me here;
My life were better ended by their hate,
Than death prolonged wanting of thy love
Juliet. By whose direction foundest thou art this place?
Romeo. 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 the vast shore (wash'd) within the farthest sea,
I should adventure for such merchandise.
Juliet. Thou knowest 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 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 mayest prove false: at lover's perjuries
They say love laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully;
Or if thou thinketh 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 therfore thou mayest think my behavior light,
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have (more) coying to be strange.
I should have been more strange. I must confess,
But that thou overheardest, ere I was ware,
My true- love passion; therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love.
Which the dark night hath so discovered.