Page 3162 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Prologue IT

(Enter) Chorus.

CHORUS

Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie
And young affection gapes to be his heir;
That fair for which love groan’d for and would die,
With tender Juliet match’d, is now not fair.
Now Romeo is belov’d and loves again, [5]
Alike bewitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe suppos’d he must complain
And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks.
Being held a foe, he may not have access
To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; [10]
And she as much in love, her means much less
To meet her new beloved anywhere.
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.

(Exit.)

Scene I IT (Withdraws.)

Enter Romeo alone.

ROMEO

Can I go forward when my heart is here?
Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out.

Enter Benvolio with Mercutio.

BENVOLIO

Romeo! My cousin Romeo! Romeo!

MERCUT IO

He is wise,
And on my life hath stol’n him home to bed.

BENVOLIO