If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully;  
Or if thou think'st 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'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 unadvis'd, 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;  

 Prev. P 29/235 next