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!

FRIAR:

So the heavens smile upon this holy act
That after-hours will not scold us with sorrow!

ROM:

Amen, amen! But come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight.(5)
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.

ROM:

Amen, amen! but whatever sorrow can come,
It cannot equal the exchange of joy
That one short minute in her sight gives me.
You only have to close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death can do whatever he dares
It is enough that I may call her mine.

FRIAR:

These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,(10)
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.(15)

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.(20)

FRIAR:

These violent delights have violent ends,
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume each other. The sweetest honey
Is loathsome in its own deliciousness,
And in the taste destroys the appetite.
Therefore, love moderately. long love does so;
Too swift can be as late as too slow.

Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot
Will never wear out the everlasting sharpening stone.
A lover may stand over the filmy cobwebs
That idly move in the wanton summer air
And still do not fall. So light is being foolish.

JUL:

Good even to my ghostly confessor.

JUL:

Good evening to my ghostly confessor.

FRIAR:

Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.

FRIAR:

Romeo shall thank you, daughter, for us both.

JUL:

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

JUL:

As much to him, otherwise his thanks is too much.

ROM:

Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy
Be heap'd like mine, and that thy skill be more(25)
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.

ROM:

Ah, Juliet, if the amount of your joy
Is heaped up like mine, and that your sense of right be more
To adorn it with, then sweeten this neighboring air
With your breath, and let rich music's language
Reveal the imagined happiness that we both
Receive in this dear meeting.

JUL:

Conceit, more rich in matter than in words,(30)
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,
I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth.

JUL:

A fanciful notion, more rich in matter than in words,
Brags of its reality, not of its decoration;
They are only beggars that can count their worth,
But my true love is grown so much beyond moderation, that
I can’t add up even half my wealth.

FRIAR:

Come, come with me, and we will make short work;(35)
For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone
Till Holy Church incorporate two in one.

Exeunt.

FRIAR:

Come, come with me, and we will be quick,
Because, by your permission, you shall not stay alone
Until holy church incorporates the two of you into one.