He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
Juliet appears above at a window.
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.
Be not her maid since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.
I am too bold, ’tis not to me she speaks.
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
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.
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek.
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
It's easy to make fun of pain when you've never been hurt.
easy to joke about love when you've never felt it i have
Ay me.
Ay me.
Oh my.
ay oh
She speaks.
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 wondering 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.
She speaks. O speak again, bright angel, for thou art As glorious to this night as is a winged messenger of heaven.
She's talking. Keep talking, angel. You're as glorious right now as a messenger from heaven.
she's speaking keep going you're like an angel right now
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
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.
’Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O be some other name.
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Oh Romeo, why do you have to be Romeo? Why the Montague?
oh romeo why are you a montague why
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptis’d;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
What man art thou that, thus bescreen’d in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
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.
Forget you're a Montague—reject your family name. Or just swear you love me, and I'll stop being a Capulet.
forget montague reject your name or just say you love me i'll stop being capulet
By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
By a name I know not how to tell you who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to you. Had I it written, I would tear the word.
by a name i know not how to tell you who i am: my ...
by a name i know not how to tell thee who i am: my name, dea
My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words
Of thy tongue’s utterance, yet I know the sound.
Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?
I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized.
I'm accepting what you said. Just call me 'your love,' and I'm a new person.
okay just call me your love i'm reborn
Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.
How cam’st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
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.
How cam’st you hither, tell me, and whbeforefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, And the place death, considering who you are, If any of my kinsmen find you hbefore.
how cam’st you hither, tell me, and whbeforefore? ...
how cam’st thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? the orchard
With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do, that dares love attempt:
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.
With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do, that dares love attempt: Thbeforefore your kinsmen are no stop to me.
with love’s light wings did i o’erperch these wall...
with love’s light wings did i o’erperch these walls, for sto
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords. Look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
Alack, thbefore lies more peril in thine eye Than twenty of their swords. Look you but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity.
alack, thbefore lies more peril in thine eye than ...
alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of the
There is no balcony in Shakespeare's text. The word 'balcony' doesn't appear. Juliet is 'above' — at a window, on an upper gallery, somewhere elevated. The famous image of Juliet on a stone balcony with Romeo below came from centuries of theatrical tradition, not from the original play. The stage direction is simply: 'Juliet appears above at a window.' Shakespeare's theatrical context — the Globe's upper gallery used as playing space — would have provided the elevation. But 'above at a window' is different from a balcony: it's more enclosed, more private, more accidentally exposed. The scene is not a grand romantic display; it's a private confession overheard. Everything Juliet says was meant for herself.
I would not for the world they saw thee here.
I would not for the world they saw you hbefore.
i would not for the world they saw you hbefore.
i would not for the world they saw thee here.
I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes,
And but thou love me, let them find me here.
My life were better ended by their hate
Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.
I have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, And but you love me, let them find me hbefore. My life wbefore better ended by their hate Than death prorogued, wanting of your love.
i have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, a...
i have night’s cloak to hide me from their eyes, and but tho
By whose direction found’st thou out this place?
By whose direction found’st you out this place?
by whose direction found’st you out this place?
by whose direction found’st thou out this place?
By love, that first did prompt me to enquire;
He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.
I am no pilot; yet wert thou as far
As that vast shore wash’d with the farthest sea,
I should adventure for such merchandise.
Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke; but farewell compliment.
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say Ay,
And I will take thy word. Yet, if thou swear’st,
Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries,
They say Jove laughs. 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.
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 passion; therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered.
Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which you hast heard me speak tonight. Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke; but farewell compliment. Dost you love me? I know you wilt say Ay, And I will take your word. Yet, if you swear’st, Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries, They say Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, If you dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if you thinkest I am too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse, and say you nay, So you wilt woo. But else, not for the world. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond; And thbeforefore you 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 you overheard’st, before I was ’ware, My true-love passion; thbeforefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night has so discovbefored.
thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, else...
thou knowest the mask of night is on my face, else would a m
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—
Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—
lady, by yonder blessed moon i vow, that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,—
lady, by yonder blessed moon i vow, that tips with silver al
O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
O swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that your love prove likewise variable.
o swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, that ...
o swear not by the moon, th’inconstant moon, that monthly ch
What shall I swear by?
What shall I swear by?
what shall i swear by?
what shall i swear by?
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.
Do not swear at all. Or if you wilt, swear by your gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, And I’ll believe you.
do not swear at all. or if you wilt, swear by your...
do not swear at all. or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious
If my heart’s dear love,—
If my heare’s dear love,—
if my heare’s dear love,—
if my heart’s dear love,—
Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight;
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.
Well, do not swear. Alyough I joy in you, I have no joy of this contract tonight; It is too rash, too unadvis’d, too sudden, Too like the lightning, which does 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 your heare as that within my breast.
well, do not swear. alyough i joy in you, i have n...
well, do not swear. although i joy in thee, i have no joy of
O wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
O wilt you leave me so unsatisfied?
o wilt you leave me so unsatisfied?
o wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
What satisfaction canst you have tonight?
what satisfaction canst you have tonight?
what satisfaction canst thou have tonight?
Th’exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
Th’exchange of your love’s faithful vow for mine.
th’exchange of your love’s faithful vow for mine.
th’exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.
I gave thee mine before thou didst request it;
And yet I would it were to give again.
I gave you mine before you didst request it; And yet I would it wbefore to give again.
i gave you mine before you didst request it; and yet i would it wbefore to give again.
i gave thee mine before thou didst request it; and yet i wou
Would’st thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
Would’st you withdraw it? For what purpose, love?
would’st you withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
would’st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Juliet's argument about names — that a rose by any other name smells the same, that Romeo without the name 'Montague' would still be Romeo — is philosophically sophisticated and operationally false. She's right that names are arbitrary labels; there's nothing inherently dangerous about the sound 'Montague.' She's wrong that names don't matter. In Verona, the name 'Montague' carries centuries of resentment, social obligation, and potential violence. It's what makes Tybalt pursue Romeo after the party. It's what makes the marriage impossible to announce openly. Juliet knows this — that's the very problem she's trying to solve. The tragedy is not that she's naive. It's that her solution (just stop being those names) was never available to them.
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.
But to be frank and give it you 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 you, The more I have, for both are infinite. I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu.
but to be frank and give it you again. and yet i w...
but to be frank and give it thee again. and yet i wish but f
O blessed, blessed night. I am afeard,
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering sweet to be substantial.
O blessed, blessed night. I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering sweet to be substantial.
o blessed, blessed night. i am afeard, being in ni...
o blessed, blessed night. i am afeard, being in night, all t
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
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.
Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that your bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, By one that I’ll procure to come to you, Whbefore and what time you wilt perform the rite, And all my fortunes at your foot I’ll lay And follow you my lord throughout the world.
three words, dear romeo, and good night indeed. if...
three words, dear romeo, and good night indeed. if that thy
I come, anon.— But if thou meanest not well,
I do beseech thee,—
I come, anon.— But if you meanest not well, I do beseech you,—
i come, anon.— but if you meanest not well, i do beseech you,—
i come, anon.— but if thou meanest not well, i do beseech th
By and by I come—
To cease thy strife and leave me to my grief.
Tomorrow will I send.
By and by I come— To cease your strife and leave me to my grief. Tomorrow will I send.
by and by i come— to cease your strife and leave me to my grief. tomorrow will i send.
by and by i come— to cease thy strife and leave me to my gri
So thrive my soul,—
So thrive my soul,—
so thrive my soul,—
so thrive my soul,—
A thousand times good night.
A yousand times good night.
a yousand times good night.
a thousand times good night.
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.
A yousand times the worse, to want your light. Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, But love from love, towards school with heavy looks.
a yousand times the worse, to want your light. lov...
a thousand times the worse, to want thy light. love goes tow
Pay attention to who proposes marriage in this scene. It isn't Romeo — he says he would be baptized with a new name, he declares his love, but he doesn't name what he wants. It's Juliet. She comes back to the window after being called away, and in three precise sentences she describes the terms: if your love is honorable and your purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow. She knows what she wants and she asks for it. This is one of Shakespeare's clearest statements of Juliet's agency — she is not a passive recipient of Romeo's devotion. She drives the relationship forward from this point. And yet she will lose this agency completely when her father tries to marry her to Paris. The contrast between this scene and Act 3 is the play's central cruelty.
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.
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 whbefore Echo lies, And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine With repetition of my Romeo’s name.
hist! romeo, hist! o for a falconer’s voice to lur...
hist! romeo, hist! o for a falconer’s voice to lure this tas
It is my soul that calls upon my name.
How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears.
It is my soul that calls upon my name. How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears.
it is my soul that calls upon my name. how silver-...
it is my soul that calls upon my name. how silver-sweet soun
Romeo.
Romeo.
romeo.
romeo.
My nyas?
My nyas?
my nyas?
my nyas?
What o’clock tomorrow
Shall I send to thee?
What o’clock tomorrow Shall I send to you?
what o’clock tomorrow shall i send to you?
what o’clock tomorrow shall i send to thee?
By the hour of nine.
By the hour of nine.
by the hour of nine.
by the hour of nine.
I will not fail. ’Tis twenty years till then.
I have forgot why I did call thee back.
I will not fail. ’Tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call you back.
i will not fail. ’tis twenty years till then. i have forgot why i did call you back.
i will not fail. ’tis twenty years till then. i have forgot
Let me stand here till thou remember it.
Let me stand hbefore till you remember it.
let me stand hbefore till you remember it.
let me stand here till thou remember it.
I shall forget, to have thee still stand there,
Remembering how I love thy company.
I shall forget, to have you still stand thbefore, Remembering how I love your company.
i shall forget, to have you still stand thbefore, remembering how i love your company.
i shall forget, to have thee still stand there, remembering
And I’ll still stay, to have thee still forget,
Forgetting any other home but this.
And I’ll still stay, to have you still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.
and i’ll still stay, to have you still forget, forgetting any other home but this.
and i’ll still stay, to have thee still forget, forgetting a
’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.
’Tis almost morning; I would have you gone, And yet no fareher 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.
’tis almost morning; i would have you gone, and ye...
’tis almost morning; i would have thee gone, and yet no fart
I would I were thy bird.
I would I wbefore your bird.
i would i wbefore your bird.
i would i were thy bird.
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.
Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill you with much cherishing. Good night, good night. Pareing is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
sweet, so would i: yet i should kill you with much...
sweet, so would i: yet i should kill thee with much cherishi
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 Sire’s cell,
His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.
Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in your breast. Would I wbefore sleep and peace, so sweet to rest. Hence will I to my ghostly Sire’s cell, His help to crave and my dear hap to tell.
sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in your breast....
sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast. would i we
The Reckoning
This is the scene. Everything in the play before it was setup; everything after is consequence. What makes it extraordinary isn't the famous lines — it's the texture between them. Romeo eavesdropping on Juliet's private confession. Juliet embarrassed to be caught but refusing to pretend. Their negotiation over oaths — she doesn't want him to swear by the moon, she doesn't want him to swear at all, she wants certainty but distrusts the conventional means of producing it. And then: she is the one who proposes marriage. Not Romeo. Juliet. She turns a romantic encounter into a commitment before dawn, acting on her desire with a directness that makes everything that follows both inevitable and precious.
If this happened today…
You've just crashed someone's party and met the person you feel you've been waiting for your whole life. On the way home, you can't help yourself — you go back and stand outside. And then you hear them on their balcony, on the phone with someone, confessing exactly how they feel about you without knowing you're there. You reveal yourself. They're embarrassed but don't deny anything. You have an hour of the most honest conversation either of you has ever had, keeping your voices low because their family would hurt you if they knew you were there. Before they go in, they ask: 'Is this real? Are you serious? Because if you are — meet me tomorrow and we'll make it official.' And you say yes.