This soliloquy in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 2, has become a cliche, overdramatized, and used sarcastically. However, Shakespeare’s incredibly lyrical language conveys Romeo’s passion for Juliet and his chaste desire for intimacy.
But soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!–
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far fairer than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.–
It is my lady; O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!–
She speaks, yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses, I will answer it.–
I am too bold, ’tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.–
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
