Romeo and Juliet: Act 3, Scene 2
Romeo and Juliet Act 3, Scene 2 Juliet
This text is used in our interview with Zuzanna Szadowski. and Sara Topham
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- Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
- Towards Phoebus’ lodging: such a wagoner
- As Phaethon would whip you to the west,
- And bring in cloudy night immediately.
- Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night,
- That runaway’s eyes may wink and Romeo
- Leap to these arms, untalk’d of and unseen.
- Lovers can see to do their amorous rites
- By their own beauties; or, if love be blind,
- It best agrees with night. Come, civil night,
- Thou sober-suited matron, all in black,
- And learn me how to lose a winning match,
- Play’d for a pair of stainless maidenhoods:
- Hood my unmann’d blood, bating in my cheeks,
- With thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold,
- Think true love acted simple modesty.
- Come, night; come, Romeo; come, thou day in night;
- For thou wilt lie upon the wings of night
- Whiter than new snow on a raven’s back.
- Come, gentle night, come, loving, black-brow’d night,
- Give me my Romeo; and, when he shall die,
- Take him and cut him out in little stars,
- And he will make the face of heaven so fine
- That all the world will be in love with night
- And pay no worship to the garish sun.
- O, I have bought the mansion of a love,
- But not possess’d it, and, though I am sold,
- Not yet enjoy’d: so tedious is this day
- As is the night before some festival
- To an impatient child that hath new robes
- And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse,
- And she brings news; and every tongue that speaks
- But Romeo’s name speaks heavenly eloquence.
Enter Nurse, with cords - Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cords
- That Romeo bid thee fetch?