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«<0, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear:
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,
And touching hers, make happy my rude hand,
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. »

He then accosts Juliet, without their yet knowing each other, but a mutual flame is quickly caught. Whilst he is urging his passion, with all the enthusiastic ardour of youth, she is irresistibly attracted towards her lover; and in answer to his praying a kiss, Juliet says:

<< Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.»

To which Romeo, kissing her;

<< Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purg'd. »

His voice betrays him, as a Montague, to Tybalt who exclaims:

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To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. »

He is, however, prevented by Capulet from offering any insult to Romeo, under their roof: he thus witnesses a part of the tender interview, represented in the design, and which is interrupted by the Nurse, whom Juliet's mother sends. In answer to Romeo's enquiries, the Nurse says to him:

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SERIES II.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

ACT II. SCENE 2.

Romeo, deeply stricken with love for Juliet, and burning to see her again, has climbed the wall round the garden of the Capulets; and perceiving her at a window, he exclaims:

<< But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks! It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

Be not her maid, since she is envious;

Her vesta! livery is but sick and green,

And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady; 0, it is my love:

O, that she knew she were!

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PI.. 4.

change vows, and Juliet agrees to send to him, the following day, to learn the time and place of the purposed marriage. She is called away, by the Nurse, a third time; but, returns again to impart something which she had forgotten. Here the Poet finely intimates, how Love, when once it gains possession of the soul, wholly engrosses the mind also; thus rendering all other ideas strangers to it :

<< JULIET. I have forgot why I did call thee back. ROMEO. Let me stand here, till thou remember it, JULIET. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Rememb'ring how i love thy company.

ROMEO. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Forgetting any other home but this.

JULIET. 'Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone; And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Who lets it hop a little from her hand, Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves, And with a silk thread plucks it back again, So loving-jealous of his liberty.

ROMEO. I would, I were thy bird.

JULIET.

Sweet so would I,

Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night, till it be morrow. (Exit.)

ROMEO. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! 'Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! »

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