Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter FRIAR LAWRENCE and
ROMEO
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE and
ROMEO enter.
|
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE So smile the heavens upon this holy act
That after-hours with sorrow chide us not.
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE May the heavens be happy with this holy act of marriage, so
nothing unfortunate happens later to make us regret it.
|
|
ROMEO Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
5That 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.
|
ROMEO Amen, amen. But whatever misfortunes occur, they can’t
ruin the joy I feel with one look at her. All you have to do is join
our hands with holy words, then love-destroying death can do
whatever it pleases. It’s enough for me if I can call her
mine.
|
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE These violent delights have violent ends
10And 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.
15Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE These sudden joys have sudden endings. They burn up in victory
like fire and gunpowder. When they meet, as in a kiss, they explode.
Too much honey is delicious, but it makes you sick to your stomach.
Therefore, love each other in moderation. That is the key to
long-lasting love. Too fast is as bad as too slow.
|
|
Enter JULIET, somewhat fast, and
embraceth ROMEO
|
JULIET enters in a rush and embraces
ROMEO.
|
|
Here comes the lady. Oh, so light a foot
Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint.
A lover may bestride the gossamers
That idles in the wanton summer air,
20And yet not fall. So light is vanity.
|
Here comes the lady. Oh,a footstep as light as hers will never
endure the rocky road of life. Lovers are so light they can walk on
a spiderweb floating on a summer breeze, and yet not fall.
That’s how flimsy and unreal pleasure is.
|
|
JULIET Good even to my ghostly confessor.
|
JULIET Good evening, my spiritual confessor.
|
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.
|
FRIAR LAWRENCE Romeo will thank you, my girl, for both of us.
|
