The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (1011 page)

Romeo

Then I will swear by my heart…

If my heart's dear love,--

Juliet

Do not swear at all.  I can’t take all of this tonight.  It is too soon, too dangerous, too hurried.  I do not want our love to be like lightning, quickly here and quickly gone.  I want our love to be like the budding of a beautiful flower.  So, good night.  Good night and rest peacefully.  I know I will.

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

You can’t leave me like this, so unsatisfied.

O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?

Juliet

How can I satisfy you tonight?

What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?

Romeo

Let’s exchange lover’s vows.

The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.

Juliet

I already vowed my love to you, but I would do it again, if I had to.

I gave thee mine before thou didst request it; And yet I would it were to give again.

Romeo

You would take back what you said?  Why?

Would'st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?

Juliet

Only to give it to you again.  My only wish is for your love, which you have given me.  The more you love me, the more love I have to give to you.  Our love is infinite.  I hear someone inside, dear love.  Farewell!  (Nurse calls from inside.)  Here I am, Nurse!  (To Romeo.)  Sweet Montague, be true.  Stay for a little while.  I will be right back.

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. 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.

(Exit.)

Romeo

What a great night!  I am afraid that I am dreaming, because this is too good to be true.

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

Listen, I only have a few minutes; then you must leave.  If you honestly love me and want to marry me, send me word tomorrow.  I will send someone to bring me the message.  I will meet you wherever and whenever you choose to become your wife.  Then, I will put my future in your hands and follow you all the days of my life.

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

(From inside.)  Madam!

[Within.] Madam!

Juliet
 

(To Nurse.)  I am coming! (To Romeo.)  But if you do not mean what you say, I beg you…

I come anon.-- But if thou meanest not well, I do beseech thee,--

Nurse

(From inside.)  Madam!

[Within.] Madam!

Juliet

(To Nurse.)  Okay, already.  I’m coming!  (To Romeo.)  I beg you to leave.  I will send someone tomorrow.

By-and-by I come:-- To cease thy suit and leave me to my grief: To-morrow will I send.

Romeo

I will think of nothing else!

So thrive my soul,--

Juliet

Okay.  Go.  A thousand times goodnight!

A thousand times good night!

(Exit.)

Romeo

I do not want to leave you.  It is a thousand times worse when you are not near.  Lovers aren’t meant to be separated like a schoolboy from his books.  And, when they are, it is as terrible as having to go to school.

A thousand times the worse, to want thy light!-- Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books; But love from love, towards school with heavy looks.

(Retiring slowly.)

(Re-enter Juliet, above.)

 
Juliet

Psst, Romeo!  Psst!  Oh, I wish I could make a bird call to bring him back again.  I am suffocating in this house.  I wish I could find the place where Echo lives and make her repeat my Romeo’s name.

Hist! Romeo, hist!--O for a falconer's voice To lure this tassel-gentle back again! 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 mine With repetition of my Romeo's name.

Romeo

My love, my soul is calling my name.  Her voice is like music to my ears.

It is my soul that calls upon my name: How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears!

Juliet

Romeo!

Romeo!

Romeo

My dear?

My dear?

Juliet

What time do you want me to send my messenger?

At what o'clock to-morrow Shall I send to thee?

Romeo

At nine o’clock.

At the hour of nine.

Juliet

I will not fail.  It feels like tomorrow is twenty years from now.  I have forgotten why I called you back.

I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Romeo

Let me wait here till you remember.  

Let me stand here till thou remember it.

Juliet

I will never remember with you standing there.  All I can think about is how much I love you being here.

I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company.

Romeo

Then, I will never leave.  I will forget any other place but this.

And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.

Juliet

It is almost morning.  You must go.  I don’t want you to, but you must.  I don’t want to be like the owner of a little pet bird that lets it freely hop around only to be pulled back in by a string.

'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 wish I were your pet.

I would I were thy bird.

Juliet

Sweetie, so do I.  However, I would probably smother you with my love.  Good night, good night!  Separating is so hard, and it fills me with sorrow, but we must say good night until tomorrow.

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.

(Exit.)

Romeo

Sleep peacefully tonight.  I wish I could stay with you.  I will go to my priest, tell him my story, and ask for his help.

Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!-- Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell, His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.

(Exit all.)

Scene III:  Friar Lawrence’s cell

(Enter Friar Lawrence with a basket.)

Friar Lawrence

The dawn of morning smiles upon the frowns of night, streaking the eastern sky with light.  Like a drunk, the darkness stumbles away.  Now, before the sun comes up, heating up the earth, drying the dew, I must fill this basket with poisonous weeds and precious flowers.  The earth is nature’s mother and her tomb.  From her womb, I will collect many different types of natural items that have medicinal qualities so helpful to her children.  But, even good things can come to no good, if they are abused.  This small flower smells so sweet, but if one were to eat it, their heart would cease to beat.  Men, like this flower, possess both natures; good and evil.

The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night, Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; And flecked darkness like a drunkard reels From forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels: Non, ere the sun advance his burning eye, The day to cheer and night's dank dew to dry, I must up-fill this osier cage of ours With baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers. The earth, that's nature's mother, is her tomb; What is her burying gave, that is her womb: And from her womb children of divers kind We sucking on her natural bosom find; Many for many virtues excellent, None but for some, and yet all different. O, mickle is the powerful grace that lies In plants, herbs, stones, and their true qualities: For naught so vile that on the earth doth live But to the earth some special good doth give; Nor aught so good but, strain'd from that fair use, Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse: Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; And vice sometimes by action dignified. Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison hath residence, and medicine power: For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well as herbs,--grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, Full soon the canker death eats up that plant.

(Enter Romeo.)

Romeo

Good morning, father!

Good morrow, father!

Friar Laurence

 May God bless you!  What causes you to be in such a good mood?  Why are you up so early?  This hour is for old men who worry, not young men who should be living the care-free life.  Are you unwell or have you not been to bed at all?

Benedicite! What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?-- Young son, it argues a distemper'd head So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, And where care lodges sleep will never lie; But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign: Therefore thy earliness doth me assure Thou art uprous'd with some distemperature; Or if not so, then here I hit it right,-- Our Romeo hath not been in bed to-night.

Romeo

It is true.  I haven’t been to bed.

That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine.

Friar Laurence

I pray you have not been with Rosaline.

God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline?

Romeo

No, I have not been with Rosaline.  I am over her!

With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; I have forgot that name, and that name's woe.

Friar Laurence

That’s good, my son, but where were you then?

That's my good son: but where hast thou been then?

Romeo

I’ll tell you.  I have been at the Capulet party.  I have fallen in love and someone has fallen in love with me.  And, you are just the person to help us out.  I no longer carry any hatred, father, for the love of my life was once my enemy.

I'll tell thee ere thou ask it me again. I have been feasting with mine enemy; Where, on a sudden, one hath wounded me That's by me wounded. Both our remedies Within thy help and holy physic lies; I bear no hatred, blessed man; for, lo, My intercession likewise steads my foe.

Friar Laurence

I don’t understand.  Who are you talking about?

Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift; Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift.

Romeo

I am talking about the fair daughter of rich Capulet.  We are in love and want to get married.  That is how you can help us.  Perform the ceremony.

Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set On the fair daughter of rich Capulet: As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine; And all combin'd, save what thou must combine By holy marriage: when, and where, and how We met, we woo'd, and made exchange of vow, I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us to-day.

Friar Laurence

Holy Saint Francis!  What a turnaround.  Have you forgotten how much in love you were with Rosaline, and how you cried when she didn’t return your feelings?  I certainly have not.  I’m afraid you are not being rational in saying you have changed.  How can you expect a woman to fall in love with you when you are so wishy-washy?

Holy Saint Francis! what a change is here! Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? young men's love, then, lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes. Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline! How much salt water thrown away in waste, To season love, that of it doth not taste! The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears, Thy old groans ring yet in mine ancient ears; Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit Of an old tear that is not wash'd off yet: If e'er thou wast thyself, and these woes thine, Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline; And art thou chang'd? Pronounce this sentence then,-- Women may fall, when there's no strength in men.