Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 6

Romeo and Juliet
Act II, Scene 6

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Friar Lawrence's cell.
Enter FRIAR LAWRENCE and ROMEO
FRIAR LAWRENCE
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 LAWRENCE
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.

At Friar Lawrence’s cell, that afternoon, Romeo has already arrived, and is awaiting Juliet. It is time for the secret wedding, and Romeo is probably doing what any groom might do shortly before a wedding.

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 LAWRENCE
Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both.

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

Juliet arrives, and both express their desire to get married, quickly.

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.

Romeo may be laying it on a bit thick, here...

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.
Juliet realizes this, I think. She points out that "words" are meaningless.
However, she then proceeds to lay it on even thicker.

FRIAR LAWRENCE
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.

Friar Lawrence realizes these two are a bit, um, anxious. “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” (lines 35-38). He decides to marry them, and quickly.

Exeunt The scene ends, and so does the act.

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	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)

Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
Friar Lawrence's cell. Enter FRIAR LAWRENCE and ROMEO FRIAR LAWRENCE 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 LAWRENCE 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.	At Friar Lawrence’s cell, that afternoon, Romeo has already arrived, and is awaiting Juliet. It is time for the secret wedding, and Romeo is probably doing what any groom might do shortly before a wedding.
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 LAWRENCE Romeo shall thank thee, daughter, for us both. JULIET As much to him, else is his thanks too much.	Juliet arrives, and both express their desire to get married, quickly.
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.	Romeo may be laying it on a bit thick, here...
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.	Juliet realizes this, I think. She points out that "words" are meaningless. However, she then proceeds to lay it on even thicker.
FRIAR LAWRENCE 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.	Friar Lawrence realizes these two are a bit, um, anxious. “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” (lines 35-38). He decides to marry them, and quickly.
Exeunt	The scene ends, and so does the act.