Although I Joy In Thee

Romeo and Juliet: Act 2, Scene 2

[ROMEO comes out of hiding.]

ROMEO

1. He jests at scars that never felt a wound: Romeo says Mercutio can jest well-nigh love considering he'south never been in love.

1He jests at scars that never felt a wound.

[JULIET appears to a higher place at a window.]

  twoBut, soft! what lite through yonder window breaks?
  3It is the east, and Juliet is the sunday.
  ivAscend, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
  vWho is already ill and pale with grief,

6. her maid: i.due east., devotee of Diana, goddess of the moon, and patroness of virgins.
8. Her vestal livery is but sick and greenish: Her celibate compatible is green, like the "dark-green-sickness," an anemia that was supposed to occur in single girls, because they were not fruitful.

  half dozenThat thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
  7Be non her maid, since she is envious;
  8Her vestal livery is but sick and green
  9And none but fools do vesture information technology; cast information technology off.
10Information technology is my lady, O, it is my love!
xiO, that she knew she were!
12She speaks yet she says nothing; what of that?
13Her eye discourses; I will answer information technology.
fourteenI am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks.
xvTwo of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
16Having some business, do entreat her optics

17. spheres: heavenly positions. Co-ordinate to the astronomy of Shakespeare's time, the stars were fixed in concentric transparent spheres that revolved around the earth.

17To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
xviiiWhat if her optics were in that location, they in her head?
19The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
20Equally daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in sky

21. stream: shine.

21Would through the airy region stream so vivid
22That birds would sing and think it were not night.

23See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
24O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
25That I might touch that cheek!

JULIET
25 Ay me!

ROMEO
25 She speaks!
26O, speak again, brilliant affections! for thou art

27As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
28Equally is a winged messenger of heaven
29Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
30Of mortals that fall dorsum to gaze on him
31When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
32And sails upon the bosom of the air.

JULIET

33. wherefore art one thousand Romeo?: why are you [named] Romeo [Montague]?

33O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore fine art one thousand Romeo?
34Deny thy father and decline thy name;
35Or, if chiliad wilt not, be only sworn my love,
36And I'll no longer exist a Capulet.

ROMEO [Aside.]
37Shall I hear more than, or shall I speak at this?

JULIET
38'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;

39. Grand art thyself, though not a Montague: you are yourself, no matter if you are a Montague.

39Thou art thyself, though non a Montague.
40What'due south Montague? information technology is nor hand, nor foot,
41Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
42Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
43What'southward in a name? That which we call a rose
44By any other name would smell as sweetness;
45So Romeo would, were he not Romeo telephone call'd,

46. owes: owns.
47. doff: shed.

46Retain that dear perfection which he owes
47Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
48And for that proper noun which is no part of thee
49Take all myself.

ROMEO
49 I take thee at thy word.
fiftyCall me but dear, and I'll exist new baptized;
51Henceforth I never volition exist Romeo.

JULIET

52. bescreen'd: hidden, equally behind a screen.
53. my counsel: my chat with myself.

52What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night
53So stumblest on my counsel?

ROMEO
53 By a name
54I know not how to tell thee who I am:
55My proper name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
56Because it is an enemy to thee;
57Had I it written, I would tear the word.

JULIET
58My ears have not however drunk a hundred words
59Of that natural language's utterance, even so I know the sound:
60Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?

ROMEO

61. if either thee dislike: if either ["Romeo" or "Montague"] displeases you.

61Neither, off-white saint, if either thee dislike.

JULIET
62How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
63The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
64And the place expiry, considering who thou art,
65If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

ROMEO

66. o'er-perch: fly over.

66With beloved's lite wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
67For stony limits cannot hold beloved out,
68And what dearest can exercise, that dares love attempt;
69Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.

JULIET
70If they do run across thee, they will murder thee.

ROMEO

71-72. in that location . . . swords!: In the love poetry of Shakespeare's time, it was often said that a disdainful look from the beloved lady could kill the man who loved her.
73. proof against: invulnerable to.

71Alack, in that location lies more than peril in thine eye
72Than twenty of their swords! Look thou but sweet,
73And I am proof confronting their enmity.

JULIET
74I would not for the world they saw thee hither.

ROMEO
75I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight;
76And only thou love me, let them observe me here:
77My life were amend ended by their hate,

78. death prorogued, wanting of thy love: death drawn out, considering of lack of honey from you.

78Than decease prorogued, wanting of thy love.

JULIET
79By whose direction found'st thou out this identify?

ROMEO
80Past love, who commencement did prompt me to inquire;

81. He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes: he [love] gave me inspiration and I gave him [love] sight.

81He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes.
82I am no pilot; yet, wert chiliad equally far
83As that vast shore launder'd with the farthest sea,

84. I would risk for such merchandise: I would accept every chance for such a precious prize.

84I would take a chance for such merchandise.

JULIET
85G know'st the mask of night is on my face,
86Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
87For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.

88. Fain: gladly. dwell on form: stay within the limits of the formalities [of courtship]. 89.compliment: convention—the expected exchange of compliments.

88Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
89What I have spoke, but good day compliment!
90Dost thou love me? I know thousand wilt say "Ay,"

91. if thou swear'st: if you swear [that you lot beloved me].
92. Thou mayst prove false: yous may bear witness to be untrue [to your vow of love]. 92-93. at lovers' perjuries . . . Jove laughs: they say Jove laughs at lovers' lies.

91And I will take thy word; even so if yard swear'st,
92Thou mayst prove imitation; at lovers' perjuries
93They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
94If k dost love, pronounce information technology faithfully;
95Or if grand think'st I am too quickly won,
96I'll frown and be perverse, and say thee nay,

97. So thou wilt woo: i.due east., so you will woo me.
98. addicted: foolish, innocent, impulsive.
99. light: wanton, flirtatious.

97So g wilt woo; but else, not for the world.
98In truth, off-white Montague, I am likewise fond,
99And therefore yard mayst recall my behavior light,
100But trust me, admirer, I'll prove more true

101. those that accept more coying to exist strange: those who have more skill at coquetry playact standoffishness to seem more desirable. 102.should accept: would accept. 103.ere I was ware: before I was aware [of your presence].

101Than those that have more coying to exist strange.
102I should accept been more strange, I must confess,
103But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
104My truthful love's passion; therefore pardon me,
105And not impute this yielding to light dearest,

106. discovered: uncovered, revealed.

106Which the nighttime night hath so discovered.

ROMEO
107Lady, by yonder blest moon I swear
108That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops—

JULIET
109O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,

110. changes in her circled orb: i.due east., changes her class. According to the astronomy of Shakespeare's fourth dimension, each heavenly torso was stock-still in a sphere ("circled orb"), which revolved effectually the earth, and those spheres were supposed to be perfect, simply the sphere of the moon appeared to be highly erratic.

110That monthly changes in her circled orb,
111Lest that thy love bear witness likewise variable.

ROMEO
112What shall I swear by?

JULIET
112 Exercise not swear at all;
113Or, if thou wilt, swear past thy gracious self,
114Which is the god of my idolatry,
115And I'll believe thee.

ROMEO
115 If my heart's beloved love—

JULIET
116Well, exercise not swear. Although I joy in thee,

117. contract: exchange of vows.
118. unadvised: ill-considered.

117I have no joy of this contract tonight:
118It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
119Too like the lightning, which doth end to be

120Ere 1 can say "Information technology lightens." Sweet, good night!
121This bud of love, past summer'southward ripening breath,
122May prove a admirable flower when next we meet.
123Good nighttime, expert nighttime! as sugariness serenity and rest
124Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

ROMEO
125O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

JULIET
126What satisfaction canst chiliad accept tonight?

ROMEO
127The exchange of thy love'southward faithful vow for mine.

JULIET
128I gave thee mine earlier k didst asking it:
129And yet I would information technology were to give over again.

ROMEO
130Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?

JULIET

131. frank: generous.

131Just to be frank, and give information technology thee again.
132And yet I wish only for the matter I take.

133. bounty: generosity, capacity to give [love].

133My compensation is as dizzying as the sea,
134My love as deep; the more than I give to thee,
135The more I have, for both are infinite.

[Nurse calls inside.]

136I hear some noise within; beloved honey, adieu!

137. Anon: at once.

137Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
138Stay only a little, I will come up once again.

[Exit, above.]

ROMEO
139O blessed, blest night! I am afeard.
140Being in night, all this is but a dream,

141. substantial: existent.

141Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

[Re-enter JULIET, in a higher place.]

JULIET
142Three words, dearest Romeo, and good night indeed.

143. bent: intention, purpose.

143If that thy bent of love be honourable,
144Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
145By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
146Where and what time g wilt perform the rite;

147. all my fortunes: everything I am and will become. Juliet is not talking about money. 148.follow thee my lord: follow you as my honored husband.

147And all my fortunes at thy pes I'll lay
148And follow thee my lord throughout the world.

Nurse [Within.]
149Madam!

JULIET

150. anon: correct away.

150I come up, betimes.—But if chiliad hateful'st not well,
151I do beseech thee—

Nurse [Within]
151 Madam!

JULIET

151. By and by: immediately.
152. strife: striving, endeavor [to woo me]. my grief: my grief [at losing your truthful dearest].

151 Past and by, I come up:—
152To finish thy strife, and leave me to my grief:
153Tomorrow volition I send.

ROMEO
153 So thrive my soul—

JULIET
154A thousand times good night!

[Exit, above.]

ROMEO
155A thousand times the worse, to want thy lite.
156Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,
157But dearest from love, toward schoolhouse with heavy looks.

Enter JULIET, again [above].

JULIET

158. Hist: Juliet is trying to become Romeo's attention with a hissed falconer's weep. 159. tassel-gentle: male falcon.
160. Bondage is hoarse:
Echo 161-162. Else . . . mine: Or else I would tear open Echo 's cave, and make her voice fill the air with a audio hoarser than mine.

158Hist! Romeo, hist! O, for a falconer's voice,
159To lure this tassel-gentle back again!
160Chains is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;
161Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,
162And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine,
163With repetition of my Romeo'southward proper name. Romeo!

ROMEO
164It is my soul that calls upon my proper name:
165How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues past dark,

166. attending: listening.

166Similar softest music to attending ears!

JULIET
167Romeo!

ROMEO

167. niesse: fledgling hawk.

167 My niesse?

JULIET
167 At what o'clock tomorrow
168Shall I send to thee?

ROMEO
168 At the hour of 9.

JULIET
169I will not neglect: 'tis xx years till so.
170I have forgot why I did phone call thee back.

ROMEO
171Let me stand here till yard remember it.

JULIET

172. to: in lodge to. still: e'er.

172I shall forget, to have thee nonetheless stand there,
173Remembering how I love thy visitor.

ROMEO
174And I'll all the same stay, to have thee all the same forget,
175Forgetting any other home but this.

JULIET
176'Tis almost morning; I would accept thee gone:

177. wanton'south: spoiled child'south.

177And even so no farther than a wanton's bird;
178Who lets it hop a little from her hand,

179. gyves: fetters.

179Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
180And with a silk thread plucks it back once again,

181. his: its.

181So loving-jealous of his liberty.

ROMEO
182I would I were thy bird.

JULIET
182 Sweet, and so would I:
183However I should kill thee with much cherishing.
184Good nighttime, good night! departing is such sweet sorrow,
185That I shall say adept night till it be morrow.

[Exit above.]

ROMEO
186Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!
187Would I were slumber and peace, so sweet to rest!

188. ghostly sire: spiritual father, confessor. close: narrow.
189. dear hap: practiced fortune.

188Hence will I to my ghostly sire's close cell,
189His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

Exit.