Page 3157 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. [90]
I will withdraw; but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.

Exit.

ROMEO

If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand [95]
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss. [100]

ROMEO

Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET

Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

ROMEO

O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do:
They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET

Saints do not move, though grant for prayer’s sake. [105]

ROMEO (He kisses her.)

Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.

Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg’d.

JULIET

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

ROMEO