Table of Contents

Scene VI. Friar Laurence's cell.

Enter Friar [Laurence] and Romeo.

  Friar. So smile the heavens upon this holy act     That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!

  Rom. Amen, amen! But come what sorrow can,     It cannot countervail the exchange of joy     That one short minute gives me in her sight.     Do thou but close our hands with holy words,     Then love-devouring death do what he dare-     It is enough I may but call her mine.

  Friar. These violent delights have violent ends     And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,     Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey     Is loathsome in his own deliciousness     And in the taste confounds the appetite.     Therefore love moderately: long love doth so;     Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.

                 Enter Juliet.

    Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot     Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint.     A lover may bestride the gossamer     That idles in the wanton summer air,     And yet not fall; so light is vanity.

Jul. Good even to my ghostly confessor.

Friar. Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.

Jul. As much to him, else is his thanks too much.

  Rom. Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy     Be heap'd like mine, and that thy skill be more     To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath     This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue     Unfold the imagin'd happiness that both     Receive in either by this dear encounter.

  Jul. Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,     Brags of his substance, not of ornament.     They are but beggars that can count their worth;     But my true love is grown to such excess     cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.

  Friar. Come, come with me, and we will make short work;     For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone     Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.                                                        [Exeunt.]