Romeo & Juliet, The Balcony Scene (Act 2, scene 1)
Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time at a party held by Juliet’s family, the Capulets. However, Romeo’s family, the Montagues, are enemies of the Capulets. In fact, Romeo was only able to go to the party because it was a masked a ball and he went in disguise! After the party, he wants to see Juliet again so much that he waits outside her house, and luckily she appears on her balcony. This is one of the most famous romantic scenes in the history of theatre.
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.
Juliet:
Ay me!
Romeo:
She speaks! Oh 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:
Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
Romeo:
Shall I hear more or shall I speak at this?
Juliet:
Tis but thy name that is my enemy.
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
Without that title Romeo, doff thy name
And for thy name which is no part of thee
Take all my self.
Romeo:
I take thee at thy word
Call me but love and I’ll be new baptised
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Juliet:
What man art thou?
Romeo:
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am.
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Romeo:
Neither fair maid if either thee dislike.
Juliet:
How cames’t thee hither, tell me, and wherefore?
Romeo:
With love’s light wings did I o’er- perch these walls
Juliet:
By whose counsel foundst thou out 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 that vast shore washed with the farthest sea
I should adventure for such merchandise.
Juliet:
Dost thou love me?
If thou dost love pronounce it faithfully
Romeo:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit tree tops.
Juliet:
Oh 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.
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!
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.
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.
A thousand times goodnight.
Romeo:
A thousand times the worse to want thy light.
Love goes towards love as schoolboys from their books
But love from love towards school with heavy looks.
