SCENE VI. Friar Laurence's cell. Romeo and Juliet  Shakespeare homepage  |  Romeo and Juliet  | Act 2, Scene 6 

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 Enter FRIAR LAURENCE and ROMEO  FRIAR LAURENCE  So smile the heavens upon this holy act, 

 That after hours with sorrow chide us not! 

 ROMEO  Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, 

 It cannot countervail the exchange of joy 

 That 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. 

 FRIAR LAURENCE  These violent delights have violent ends 

 And 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; 

 Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow. 



 Enter JULIET  Here comes the lady: O, so light a foot 

 Will ne'er wear out the everlasting flint: 

 A lover may bestride the gossamer 

 That idles in the wanton summer air, 

 And yet not fall; so light is vanity. 

 JULIET  Good even to my ghostly confessor. 

 FRIAR LAURENCE  Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both. 

 JULIET  As much to him, else is his thanks too much. 

 ROMEO  Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy 

 Be heap'd like mine and that thy skill be more 

 To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath 

 This neighbour air, and let rich music's tongue 

 Unfold the imagined happiness that both 

 Receive in either by this dear encounter. 

 JULIET  Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, 

 Brags of his substance, not of ornament: 

 They are but beggars that can count their worth; 

 But my true love is grown to such excess 

 I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth. 

 FRIAR LAURENCE  Come, come with me, and we will make short work; 

 For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone 

 Till holy church incorporate two in one. 



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