Romeo and Juliet Act 2 Scene 2
Capulet's orchard. The balcony.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Romeo.
Romeo
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
Romeo
It's easy to joke about scars when you've never been wounded.
Juliet appears above at a window.
Romeo
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:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
Romeo
But wait — what's that light in the window up there?
It's the east, and Juliet is the sunrise.
Rise up, beautiful sun, and kill the jealous moon —
who's already sick and pale with grief
that you, her servant, are far more beautiful than she is.
Don't serve her, since she's so jealous.
The virgin uniform she gives you is a sickly green
that only fools wear. Throw it off.
It's her! Oh, it's the girl I love!
If only she knew it!
Her lips move but she says nothing. So what?
Her eyes are talking — I'll answer them.
I'm getting ahead of myself. She isn't speaking to me.
Two of the brightest stars in the whole sky,
called away on business, have asked her eyes
to twinkle in their place until they get back.
What if her eyes were up there and the stars were in her head?
The glow of her cheek would put those stars to shame,
the way daylight shames a lamp. Her eyes in the sky
would shine through the air so brilliantly
that birds would start singing, thinking it was morning.
Look how she rests her cheek on her hand!
I'd give anything to be the glove on that hand,
just to touch that cheek.
Juliet
Ay me!
Juliet
Oh...
Romeo
She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
Romeo
She's speaking!
Speak again, bright angel! Standing above me,
you're as glorious to this night
as a winged messenger of heaven is
to the wide, wondering, upturned eyes
of mortals who fall back to stare at him
as he strides across the slow-drifting clouds
and sails on the open air.
Juliet
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.
Juliet
Oh Romeo, Romeo — why do you have to be Romeo? ('Wherefore' means WHY, not where. She isn't looking for him; she's cursing his surname.)
Disown your father and give up your name.
Or if you won't, just swear you love me
and I'll stop being a Capulet.
Romeo
[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Romeo
(to himself) Should I keep listening, or say something now?
Juliet
'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
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.
Juliet
It's only your name that's my enemy.
You'd still be you even if you weren't a Montague.
What IS a 'Montague'? It isn't a hand, or a foot,
or an arm, or a face, or any other part
of a person. Oh, be called something else!
What's in a name anyway? The thing we call a rose
would smell just as sweet under any other name.
So would Romeo — if he weren't called Romeo,
he'd keep every bit of the perfection he has
without the label. Romeo, take off your name,
and in exchange for that name, which isn't even part of you,
take all of me.
Romeo
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Romeo
I'll hold you to that.
Just call me 'love' and I'll be baptised all over again.
From now on I'm not Romeo.
Juliet
What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
Juliet
Who are you, hidden by the night,
stumbling into my private thoughts?
Romeo
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who 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.
Romeo
With a name,
I don't know how to tell you who I am.
My name, dear saint, is hateful to me
because it's an enemy to you.
If I had it written down, I'd rip it up.
Juliet
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Juliet
My ears haven't drunk a hundred words
from that voice, and yet I know the sound.
Aren't you Romeo — and a Montague?
Romeo
Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
Romeo
Neither one, sweet saint, if you dislike them.
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.
Juliet
How did you get here — and why?
These orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
and this place means death for someone like you
if any of my relatives find you here.
Romeo
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.
Romeo
I flew over these walls on love's light wings.
Stone walls can't keep love out,
and love dares to attempt whatever love can do.
So your relatives are no obstacle to me.
Juliet
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Juliet
If they see you, they'll murder you.
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.
Romeo
There's more danger in your eyes
than in twenty of their swords. Just look at me kindly
and I'm armoured against their hate.
Juliet
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
Juliet
I wouldn't have them see you here for anything.
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.
Romeo
The night's cloak hides me from them.
And if you don't love me, let them find me —
I'd rather have my life ended by their hate
than drag it out without your love.
Juliet
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?
Juliet
Who told you how to find 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.
Romeo
Love did — it put me up to asking.
He gave me advice and I lent him my eyes.
I'm no sailor, but if you were as far away
as the furthest shore of the furthest ocean,
I'd set sail for cargo like you.
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.
Juliet
You know the night is masking my face —
otherwise you'd see me blushing
over what you heard me say tonight.
I'd love to be proper about this, would love to take back
what I said. But forget the etiquette —
do you love me? I know you'll say yes,
and I'll take your word for it. But if you swear it,
you might turn out to be lying — they say
Jupiter laughs at lovers' broken promises. Oh, sweet Romeo,
if you love me, say so and mean it.
Or if you think I'm too easily won,
I'll frown and be difficult and tell you no,
just so you'll court me — but otherwise, no games.
Honestly, fair Montague, I'm too much in love,
so you might think my behaviour is loose.
But trust me, sir — I'll prove more faithful
than girls who are clever enough to play hard to get.
I would have played it cooler, I admit,
if you hadn't overheard, before I knew you were there,
how truly I love you. So forgive me,
and don't mistake this surrender for cheap love
just because the dark night exposed it.
Romeo
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—
Romeo
Lady, I swear by that blessed moon,
which tips all these fruit trees with silver—
Juliet
O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Juliet
Oh, don't swear by the moon — the changeable moon,
which changes shape every month in its orbit.
Your love might turn out just as changeable.
Romeo
What shall I swear by?
Romeo
What should I swear by, then?
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.
Juliet
Don't swear at all.
Or if you must, swear by your own wonderful self,
which is the god I worship,
and I'll believe you.
Romeo
If my heart's dear love—
Romeo
If the dear love in my heart—
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!
Juliet
No — don't swear. As happy as you make me,
I take no joy in this engagement tonight.
It's too reckless, too hasty, too sudden —
too much like lightning, which is gone
before you can say 'it's lightning.' Goodnight, sweet.
This bud of love, ripened by summer's breath,
may be a beautiful flower by the time we meet again.
Goodnight, goodnight! May sleep and rest
come to your heart as sweetly as to mine.
Romeo
O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Romeo
You're going to leave me so unsatisfied?
Juliet
What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Juliet
What satisfaction could you possibly get tonight?
Romeo
The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Romeo
Swap your faithful vow of love for mine.
Juliet
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
Juliet
I gave you mine before you even asked —
and I wish I still had it to give.
Romeo
Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Romeo
You'd take it back? Why, 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.
Juliet
Only to be generous and give it to you again.
But I'm only wishing for what I already have.
My generosity is as boundless as the sea,
my love as deep. The more I give you,
the more I have — both are infinite.
The Nurse calls from inside.
Juliet
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
Juliet
I hear a noise inside. Goodbye, my love!
Coming, Nurse! — Sweet Montague, be faithful.
Wait just a moment — I'll come back.
Exit Juliet, above.
Romeo
O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
Romeo
Oh, blessed, blessed night! But I'm afraid —
because it's night, this might all be a dream,
too flatteringly sweet to be real.
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.
Juliet
Three words, dear Romeo, and then goodnight for real.
If your intentions are honourable
and you mean marriage, send me word tomorrow
by a messenger I'll send to you,
telling me where and when we'll be married.
I'll lay everything I have at your feet
and follow you as my husband anywhere in the world. (She proposed. He was still working up to it.)
Nurse
[Within] Madam!
Nurse
(inside) Madam!
Juliet
I come, anon.—But if thou mean'st not well,
I do beseech thee—
Juliet
Coming! — But if you don't mean well by me,
I beg you—
Nurse
[Within] Madam!
Nurse
(inside) Madam!
Juliet
By and by, I come:—
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.
Juliet
In a minute, I'm coming! —
—then stop pursuing me and leave me to my grief.
I'll send tomorrow.
Romeo
So thrive my soul—
Romeo
On my soul—
Juliet
A thousand times good night!
Juliet
A thousand times goodnight!
Exit Juliet, 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.
Romeo
A thousand times worse, without your light.
Lovers run to each other like schoolboys running from class —
and drag away from each other like boys trudging back to school.
He starts to leave. 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.
Juliet
Pssst! Romeo! Oh, for a falconer's voice
to lure my hawk back again!
I'm a prisoner here and can't shout;
otherwise I'd rip open the cave where Echo lives
and make her voice hoarser than mine
from repeating 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!
Romeo
That's my own soul calling my name.
How silver-sweet lovers' voices sound at night,
like the softest music to a listening ear!
Juliet
Romeo!
Juliet
Romeo!
Romeo
My dear?
Romeo
Yes, my love?
Juliet
At what o'clock to-morrow
Shall I send to thee?
Juliet
What time tomorrow
should I send my messenger?
Romeo
At the hour of nine.
Romeo
Nine o'clock.
Juliet
I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
Juliet
I won't forget. It feels like twenty years away.
I've forgotten why I called you back.
Romeo
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Romeo
Then let me stand here until you remember.
Juliet
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
Juliet
I'll keep forgetting, just to keep you standing there,
remembering how much I love your company.
Romeo
And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
Romeo
And I'll keep standing here so you keep forgetting,
forgetting I have 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.
Juliet
It's almost morning. I want you to go —
but no further than a spoiled girl's pet bird,
which she lets hop a little way from her hand,
like a prisoner in twisted chains,
then tugs back with a silk thread,
so lovingly jealous of its freedom.
Romeo
I would I were thy bird.
Romeo
I wish I were your 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.
Juliet
Sweet, so do I —
but I'd probably kill you with too much loving.
Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow
that I could say goodnight until it's morning.
Exit Juliet, 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.
Romeo
May sleep rest on your eyes and peace in your heart.
I wish I were sleep and peace, resting so sweetly there.
Now I'll go to my priest's cell,
ask his help, and tell him my wonderful luck.
Exit.