Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

Chorus.
Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,
And young affection gapes to be his heire,
735That faire for which loue gronde for and would die,
With tender Iuliet match, is now not faire.
Now Romeo is beloued, and loues againe,
Alike bewitched by the charme of lookes:
But to his foe supposd he must complaine,
740And she steale loues sweete bait from fearful hookes:
Being held a foe, he may not haue accesse
To breathe such vowes as louers vse to sweare,
And she as much in loue, her meanes much lesse,
To meete her new beloued any where:
745But passion lends them power, time meanes to meete,
Tempring extremities with extreeme sweete.