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ROMEO AND JULIET
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A monologue from Act II, Scene ii
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by: William Shakespeare
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NOTE: Romeo and Juliet was originally published in quarto in 1597. It is now a public domain work and may be performed without royalties. |
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- 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.
- Be not her maid, since she is envious.
- Her vestal livery [1] 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 [2] till they return.
- What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
- The brightness of her cheeks 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!
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