Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2

Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2

10 20 Scene I. An open place adjoining Capulet s Garden. [Enter Chorus.] Chorus. Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan d for, and would die, With tender Juliet match d, is now not fair. Now Romeo is belov d, and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks; But to his foe suppos d he must complain, And she steal love s sweet bait from fearful hooks: Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers us d to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new beloved anywhere: But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. [Enter Romeo.] Romeo. Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out. [He climbs the wall and leaps down within it.] [Enter Benvolio and Mercutio.] Benvolio. Romeo! my cousin Romeo! Mercutio. He is wise; And, on my life, hath stol n him home to bed. Benvolio. He ran this way, and leap d this orchard wall: Call, good Mercutio. Scene 1. An open space next to the garden of the Capulets. [Enter Chorus.] Chorus. Now old desire is dying, and new affection is waiting to inherit. That lovely lady [Rosaline] that made [Romeo s] love groan and say he would die is now compared to Juliet, and now she seems not so lovely. Romeo is now loved, and he is in love again, and each of them is bewitched by the good looks of the other; but now he must make those lovers complaints to someone who is supposed to be his enemy. And she has to find whatever messages of love she can in brief, fearful encounters: because, since he s a Montague, he is not supposed to come near her, so he cannot openly declare his love to her. She s as much in love with him, but she has even fewer opportunities to put herself in his vicinity. Still, their passion makes them find the way and the time to meet, and their sweet meetings make the extreme measures they must take to see each other worthwhile. [They exit.] [Romeo Enters.] Romeo. Can I leave this place when my heart belongs here? Go back, you clod of earth, and find your center. 1 [He climbs the wall and jumps down inside the garden. Benvolio and Mercutio enter.] Benvolio. [calling] Romeo! Cousin Romeo! Mercutio. He is wise to us; I ll bet he has snuck home to bed. Benvolio. I saw him run this way; he must have gone over this orchard wall. Call out to him, Mercutio. 1 Romeo refers to himself as earth ; in other words, his body is like a clod of dirt, but it is also like the planet earth, and he must find the center of his orbit, his sun, that is, Juliet. 46 47

Act 2.1 Edited Shakespearean Text Modern Translation Act 2.1 30 40 Mercutio. Nay, I ll conjure too. Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but Ah me! pronounce but Love and dove; He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not; I conjure thee by Rosaline s bright eyes, By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us! Benvolio. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. Mercutio. This cannot anger him: my invocation Is fair and honest, and, in his mistress name. Benvolio. Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, To be consorted with the humorous night. Mercutio. Romeo, good night. I ll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep: Come, shall we go? Benvolio. Go then; for tis in vain To seek him here that means not to be found. [Exeunt.] Mercutio. All right, I ll conjure him, too. 2 [calling] Romeo! Feelings! Madman! Passion! Lover! Come here, and make your presence known by sighing: say just one rhyme, and I ll know it s you! Just cry out Ah, me! Just make a rhyme of love and dove! No, he doesn t hear me, he doesn t move a muscle this way. I conjure you to appear, by the bright eyes of Rosaline! By her fine foot, her straight leg, her quivering thigh, and all the areas that are next to that, I command that you appear before us! Benvolio. If he hears you, he will be angry with you. Mercutio. How can this make him angry? I was just conjuring him honestly and directly, and in the name of his love! Benvolio. Come on, he has just hidden among these trees, because he just wants to be alone with the night. Mercutio. All right, then: Romeo, good night! I m going to my guest-bed; this field-bed is too cold for me to sleep in. Come on, shall we go? Benvolio. Let s go, then; because it s no use trying to find someone who doesn t want to be found. [They exit.] 2 Mercutio is having fun, saying that he will conjure Romeo as one would conjure or summon a spirit. To conjure a spirit, one would call several names, and when the right one was called, the spirit would appear. Here, Mercutio tries several names that are apt for Romeo, and jests that Romeo will appear when the right name is called. 48 49

10 20 Scene II. Capulet s Garden. [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; 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: See how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek! Juliet. Ah me! 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. 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. Romeo. [Aside.] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? 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! Scene 2. Inside the garden. [Romeo enters.] Romeo. The one who makes fun of scars never felt the pain of a wound himself. [Juliet appears at the window above.] But shh! What light is coming from the window over there? Oh, that is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Rise, beautiful sun, and kill the envious moon the moon that is already pale and sick, sad that you, her maid, are so much more beautiful than she is. It s my lady; it s my love! Oh, if only she knew that I loved her. Wait she s speaking! What s she saying? She s looking around. I will answer her! Oh, no. I m too presumptuous. She s not talking to me. Oh, but just look at how she leans her cheek on her hand! Oh, I would love to be a glove on that hand, so that I could touch her cheek! Juliet. Ah, me! Romeo. She s speaking! O, speak again, bright angel. You are as glorious as an angel tonight, as you stand there above me. Juliet. Oh, Romeo, Romeo! Why are you Romeo? [as in Montague] Disown your father, and change your name; or, if you won t do that, just swear that you love me, and I ll stop being a Capulet. Romeo. [Aside.] Should I listen a little longer, or should I answer this? Juliet. It s only your name that is my enemy. You are who you are, even if you are not a Montague. What s Montague, after all? It s not a hand, or a foot, or an arm, or a face, or any other part that makes you who you are. Oh, just change to another name! 50 51

Act 2.2 Edited Shakespearean Text Modern Translation Act 2.2 30 40 50 60 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. Romeo. I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I ll be new baptiz d; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. Juliet. What man art thou that, thus bescreen d in night, So stumblest on my counsel? 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. Juliet. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words Of that tongue s utterance, yet I know the sound; Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Romeo. Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. Juliet. 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. 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 let to me. Juliet. If they do see thee, they will murder 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 sight; And, but thou love me, let them find me here. What s a name, after all? A rose would smell just as sweet if we called it something else. Similarly, Romeo would still have all of his sweet, perfect qualities if he weren t called Romeo. Romeo, cast off your name! And in exchange for your name, which isn t any part of you, take all of me! Romeo. [stepping out] I ll take you at your word: if you just call me your love, I ll take a new name, and from here on out I won t be Romeo anymore. Juliet. Who is that? Who s been hiding in the dark and happened to overhear me? Romeo. I don t know how to tell you who I am by giving you a name, because my name, dear saint, is repulsive to me since it belongs to your enemy. If I had my name written here, I would tear it up. Juliet. I ve heard less than a hundred words from that voice, but I still know it. Aren t you Romeo, and a Montague? Romeo. I am neither of those, lovely saint, if you don t like either of them. Juliet. Tell me, how did you get here, and why? The walls around this orchard are high and hard to climb. And, considering you re a Montague, you re as good as dead if anyone in my family finds you here. Romeo. I flew over these walls using Love s wings; because stone barriers can t keep love out, and whatever love dares to try it can do; so your family members aren t going to hinder me. Juliet. If they see you, they ll kill you. Romeo. Oh, there s more danger in your eyes than in twenty of their swords! If you will only look at me sweetly, I will not fear their threats. Juliet. I would give anything to prevent them from seeing you here! 52 53

Act 2.2 Edited Shakespearean Text Modern Translation Act 2.2 70 80 90 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, that first did prompt me to enquire; 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 furthest sea, I would 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 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; O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or if thou thinkest 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 therefore thou mayst think my haviour 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 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, 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. The darkness will hide me. But if you don t love me, let them find me here! I would rather die from their hatred than just prolong my death by doing without your love. Juliet. Who told you how to find this place? Romeo. Love did. He made me ask around for you, and he offered advice on how to get here; I only allowed him to see through my eyes. I m not a navigator; but even if you were as far away as the farthest shore, I would undertake a journey to find such riches. Juliet. You know that my face is hidden by darkness; if it weren t, you d see that I m blushing because of what you heard me say. I m not going to stand on formalities, I m not going to deny I said what I said; but don t try to flatter me! Do you love me? I know you ll say yes, and I ll take you at your word. But if you swear you love me, you might turn out to be lying. Oh, Romeo! If you love me, tell me so sincerely; or, if you think I m too easy, I ll frown and play hard to get and tell you no, just so that you will work hard to win me. But if you don t think so, I wouldn t play hard to get for anything! To tell you the truth, my lovely Montague, I like you too much, and that might lead you to think that I am flighty; but trust me, I will prove more trustworthy than those who play it cool. I would have been cooler, believe me, except that you heard me confess my feelings before I knew you were listening. So you have to cut me some slack, and not believe that I am always so easy or that I love this deeply always. I was only saying these things because I thought I did so under cover of night. Romeo. Lady, by the moon above I swear Juliet. Oh, don t swear by the moon, which is so changeable, and that waxes and wanes every month, unless you also are going to be so fickle! Romeo. What shall I swear by? Juliet. Don t swear at all; or if you have to, just swear by your own self, since you are like a god to me, and I ll believe you. 54 55

Act 2.2 Edited Shakespearean Text Modern Translation Act 2.2 100 110 120 13 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 unadvis d, too sudden; 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. Would st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? Juliet. But to be frank and give it thee again. 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. I hear some noise within: dear love, adieu! [Nurse calls within.] Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again. Romeo. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering-sweet to be substantial. [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 meanest not well, I do beseech thee, To cease thy suit and leave me to my grief: To-morrow will I send. Romeo. If the love I feel in my heart Juliet. Wait, don t swear. Although you make me so happy, I am not happy about these promises tonight. They come too quickly, too easily, too heedlessly. This budding romance, given time in this lovely summer, might blossom into a full flower. Good night, good night! I wish that you may have as sweet a rest as I feel in my heart. Romeo. Will you leave me like this, with no satisfaction? Juliet. What satisfaction do you think you can have tonight? Romeo. The exchange of loving vows. Juliet. I gave mine to you before you even asked for it but I wish I had it to give again. Romeo. You want to take it back? Why? Juliet. Just so that I could be totally open and give it to you again. I have so much to give you, and my love is as deep as the sea: the more I give it to you, the more I have, because it is infinite. Wait! I hear someone coming: my love, goodbye! [Nurse calls within.] Coming, Nurse! [to Romeo] Oh, Romeo, be patient. Stay here a moment, I ll come out again. [She exits.] Romeo. Oh what a night! But I m afraid, all of this taking place at night, that it s all just a dream. It s too sweet to be real. [Juliet enters again, above.] Juliet. Three words, dear Romeo, and then it must really be good night. If your intentions are honorable, and you really want to marry me, then send me a message tomorrow, by someone whom I ll arrange to have come to you, and say when and where the marriage ceremony will be. And if you do, I ll lay everything I have at your feet and follow you around the world. Nurse. [within] Ma am! Juliet. [calling to Nurse] I m coming! [to Romeo] But if you don t mean marriage, I beg of you, don t try to woo me anymore, just leave me to my sadness. I ll send word to you tomorrow. 56 57

Act 2.2 Edited Shakespearean Text Modern Translation Act 2.2 140 150 160 Romeo. So thrive my soul, Juliet. A thousand times good night! Romeo. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light! [Retiring slowly.] [Re-enter Juliet, above.] Juliet. Hist! Romeo, hist! O for a falconer s voice To lure this tassel-gentle back again! 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 farther than a wanton s bird; That 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. Romeo. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Hence will I to my ghostly father s cell, His help to crave and my dear hap to tell. Romeo. I live for it. Juliet. A thousand good nights! [She exits.] Romeo. [leaving slowly] No, a thousand times worse, now that you are gone [Juliet enters again, above.] Juliet. Psst! Romeo, psst! Oh, if I only had a falconer s way of luring his bird back again with his voice. Romeo! Romeo. Yes, my dear? Juliet. What time tomorrow should I send a message to you? Romeo. At nine o clock in the morning. Juliet. I won t fail you though it seems like twenty years until then. I ve forgotten why I called you back. Romeo. Let me stand here until you remember it. Juliet. But you standing there will make me forget, because all I will remember is how much I love your company. Romeo. Well, I am content to stay here, even as long as you ve forgotten, and I ll forget that I have anywhere else to be. Juliet. It s almost morning I want you to go. But I wish you wouldn t go any farther than a pet bird, which a girl allows to hop a little ways away, like a poor prisoner in his shackles, and then pulls him back by a silk thread because she is afraid to let him go. Romeo. I wish I were your bird! Juliet. Oh, my dear, so do I! But I m afraid I d love you to death. Good night, good night! It s so painfully sweet to leave you that I ll keep taking my leave until tomorrow. [She exits.] Romeo. May you sleep easy, with a peaceful heart! I must go to the friar s house, to tell him my news and ask his help. 58 59

Questions for Act 2, Scenes 1 and 2 Now that you have completed reading these scenes, answer the questions. Be sure to reference the text and respond using quotations from the play to support your answers. 1. Why are Romeo s friends making fun of him at the beginning of Act 2? What does their mockery suggest about Romeo s character? 2. When Romeo first hears Juliet speaking in Act 2, Scene 2, lines 20 23, what is she wishing for? 3. To describe Juliet s beauty, Romeo makes frequent comparisons in Act 2, Scene 2, most notably in lines 2 14, 16 19, and 137. What are some of the images Romeo s language evokes? 4. Juliet tells Romeo (in Act 2, Scene 2, lines 79 82) to swear his love to her faithfully, but then insists that he not swear that he loves her. Why does she not want him to swear his love? 5. What does Juliet ask Romeo to promise?