TEXT 1 (Act II, Scene II)
The balcony scene
These are the opening lines of the balcony scene. Romeo is in the Capulets’ garden trying to find out where Juliet lives… and Juliet appears on the balcony speaking to herself. Her words reveal her feelings for Romeo and he is seduced by them.
Enter Juliet above, at the balcony.
Romeo: But soft! What light is coming from that window?
It is the East and Juliet is the sun!
Rise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
Because her maid is more beautiful than she.
It is my lady; o, it is my love!
O, how I wish that she knew it!
She speaks, yet she says nothing; what of that?
I am too bold, ’tis not to me she speaks.
Look! Her eyes are brighter than the fairest stars;
Her eyes in heaven would through the airy region
Shine so bright that birds would sing
And think it were not night.
See, how she rests her cheek upon her hand!
O! that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I may touch that cheek!
Juliet: Ay, me!
Romeo: She speaks.
O, speak again, bright angel!
Juliet: O, Romeo, Romeo! Why are you Romeo?
Deny your father and refuse your name:
Or, if you will not, just promise to love me,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet