Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene Vocabulary

My life were better ended by their hate
Than death prorogued, wanting (16) of thy love.

Romeo, doff (9) thy name;
And for thy name, (10) which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.

Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th'

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.

At lovers' perjuries,
They say Jove laughs. (20) 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. (21)
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, (22)
And therefore thou mayst think my havior (23) light;
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange. (24)
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But (25) that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, (26)
My true love passion.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

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.

I would have thee gone--
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,
That lets it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, (32)
And with a silken thread plucks it back again
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

O for a falc'ner's voice
To lure this tassel gentle back again! (30)
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
With repetition of "My Romeo!"

Look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say it lightens.

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.

ROMEO:
So thrive my soul--
JULIET:
A thousand times good night!

O for a falc'ner's voice
To lure this tassel gentle back again! (30)
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
With repetition of "My Romeo!"

if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee--
[NURSE within.]

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return. (6)
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

At lovers' perjuries,
They say Jove laughs. (20) O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.

If that thy bent of love be honorable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
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.

To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief
Tomorrow will I send.

Fain (18) would I dwell on form (19)--fain, fain deny
What I have spoke; but farewell compliment!

I would have thee gone--
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,
That lets it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, (32)
And with a silken thread plucks it back again
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

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.

If that thy bent of love be honorable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
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.

As sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!

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. (21)
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, (22)
And therefore thou mayst think my havior (23) light;
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange. (24)
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But (25) that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, (26)
My true love passion.

JULIET:
Sweet, so would I.
Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return. (6)
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

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. (21)
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, (22)
And therefore thou mayst think my havior (23) light;
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange. (24)
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But (25) that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, (26)
My true love passion.

ROMEO:
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords!

Her eye discourses; I will answer it.

ROMEO:
By Love, that first did prompt me to inquire.

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 wond'ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

I am too bold; 'tis not to me she speaks.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes (8)
Without that title.

I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,
I should adventure for such merchandise.

If that thy bent of love be honorable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
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.

Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.

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. (21)
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, (22)
And therefore thou mayst think my havior (23) light;
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange. (24)
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But (25) that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware, (26)
My true love passion.

Therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered. (27)
ROMEO:
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
JULIET:
O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

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.

JULIET:
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
and yet I would it were to give again.

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:
My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
Of thy tongue's uttering, yet I know the sound.

If that thy bent of love be honorable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
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:
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.

I would have thee gone--
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,
That lets it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, (32)
And with a silken thread plucks it back again
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

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 wond'ring eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.

ROMEO:
With love's light wings did I o'erperch (13) these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do, that dares love attempt.

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.

He lent me council, and I lent him eyes.

I would have thee gone--
And yet no farther than a wanton's bird,
That lets it hop a little from his hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, (32)
And with a silken thread plucks it back again
So loving-jealous of his liberty.

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.

ROMEO:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending (31) ears!

JULIET:
By whose direction found'st thou out this place?