My life were better ended by their hate,

Than death, prorogued, wanting of thy love.

Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inquire : He lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes.

I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far

As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea,
I would adventure for such merchandize.

Jul. Thou knowest the mask of night is on thy face;
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek,
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night.
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke; but farewell, compliment!
Dost thou love me? I know, thou wilt say-Ay;
And I will take thy word yet, if thou swearest,
Thou mayest prove false; at lovers' perjuries,
They say, Jove laughs. Oh, gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully;
Or if thou thinkest I am too quickly won,
I'll frown, and be perverse, and say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but, else, not for the world.
In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond;
And therefore thou mayest think my 'haviour light
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess;
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was 'ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me;
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discover'd.

Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow, That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops

Jul. Oh, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,

That monthly changes in her circled orb,
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 self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,

And I'll believe thee.

Rom. If my heart's dear love

Jul. Well, do not swear; although I joy in thee,

I have no joy of this contract to-night :

It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden;

Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say it lightens. Sweet, good night!
This bed 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 within my breast.

Rom. Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? 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? Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again.

And yet I wish but for the thing I have:

My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep: the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.

I hear some noise within: Dear love, adieu !

[Nurse calls within, Anon, good nurse !-Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again.

Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afear'd,

[Ext.

Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.

Re-enter JULIET, above.

Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good-night, indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable,

Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,

Where, and what time, thou wilt perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay,
And follow thee, my lord, throughout the world.

[Within: Madam.] I come, anon :-But if thou meanest not well,

I do beseech thee,-[Within: Madam.] By and by, I

come:

To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.

Rom. So thrive my soul ;

Jul. A thousand times good-night!

[Exit.

Rom. A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.Love goes toward love, as school-boys from their books; But love from love towards school with heavy looks.

Re-enter JULIET again, above.

Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!—Oh, for a falconer's voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again!

Bondage is hoarse, and may not speak aloud;

Else would I tear the cave where Echo lies,

And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine
With repetition of my Romeo's name.

Rom. It is my soul, that calls upon my name:
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night,
Like softest music to attending ears!

Jul. Romeo !

Rom. My sweet!

Jul. At what o'clock to-morrow

Shall I send to thee?

Rom. By the hour of nine.

Jul. I will not fail; 'tis twenty years till then. I have forgot why I did call thee back.

Rom. Let me stand here till thou remember it. Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company.

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

Jul. "Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone :
And yet no farther than a lady's bird;

Who lets him 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.

Rom. I would I were thy bird.

Jul. 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. Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy

breast!

Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell;
His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.

[Exit.

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

FROM "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE."

SCENE.-Venice. A Public Place.

Characters.-SHYLOCK, BASSANIO, and ANTONIO (the Merchant).

Shy. Three thousand ducats,-well!

Bass. Ay, sir, for three months.

Shy. For three months,-well!

Bass. For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound. Shy. Antonio shall become bound,-well.

Bass. May you stead me? Will you pleasure me? Shall I know your answer?

Shy. Three thousand ducats, for three months, and Antonio bound!

Bass. Your answer to that.

Shy. Antonio is a good man!

Bass. Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shy. Oh no, no, no, no ;-my meaning in saying he is a good man is (to have you understand me), that he is sufficient yet his means are in supposition:-he hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies; I understand, moreover, upon the Rialto, he hath a third at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath, squandered abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves ;—I mean, pirates; and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks :-The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient ;-three thousand ducats!—I think I may take his bond.

Bass. Be assured, you may.

Shy. I will be assured I may; and that I may be assured, I will bethink me :-May I speak with Antonio ?