Page:Romeo and Juliet (Dowden).djvu/102

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58
ROMEO AND JULIET
[ACT II.

Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.

Rom. What shall I swear by?
Jul. Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious[C 1] self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
Rom. If my heart's dear[C 2] love—[C 3]115
Jul. Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee,[C 4]
I have no joy of this contract[E 1] to-night;
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say "It lightens."[C 5][E 2] Sweet, good night! 120
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that[E 3] within my breast!
Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? 125
Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it;
And yet I would it were to give again.
Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? 130
Jul. But to be frank,[E 4] and give it thee again.
  1. 113. gracious] Q, F; glorious Q 1.
  2. 115. hearts dear] Q, F; true heart's Q 1;
  3. love—] F 2; love. Q, F.
  4. 116. thee,] Q 5, Ff 2–4; thee: Q, F.
  5. 120. say "It lightens."] Globe; say, it lightens, Q, F.
  1. 117. contract] Rolfe: "Accented by Shakespeare on either syllable … The verb always on the second."
  2. 120. "It lightens"} Steevens compares Midsummer Night's Dream, I. i. 145–148, and cites a parallel from Drayton, The Miracle of Moses.
  3. 124. as that] Delius explains: "as to that heart within my breast."
  4. 131. frank] bountiful, as in Sonnets, iv. 4.