Devout religion (1.2.88-93)

ROMEO           When the devout religion of mine eye                         Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires;                         And these who, often drowned, could never die,                         Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars.                         One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun                         Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun. (1.2.88-93)   And […]

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Swans and crows (1.2.82-87)

BENVOLIO      At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s                         Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves                         With all the admirèd beauties of Verona:                         Go thither, and with unattainted eye                         Compare her face with some that I shall show,                         And I will make thee think thy swan a crow. (1.2.82-87)   […]

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Guest list… (1.2.55-81)

ROMEO                                   God-den, good fellow. SERVANT        God gi’ god-den. I pray, sir, can you read? ROMEO           Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. SERVANT        Perhaps you have learned it without book; but I pray, can you read any thing you see? ROMEO           Ay, if I know the letters and the language. SERVANT        Ye say honestly, rest […]

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New infection (1.2.44-55)

Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEO BENVOLIO      Tut, man, one fire burns out another’s burning,                         One pain is lessened by another’s anguish;                         Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;                         One desperate grief cures with another’s languish: Take thou some new infection to thy eye,                         And the rank poison of the old will […]

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Comic confusion (1.2.34-43)

CAPULET                                [To Servant] Go, sirrah, trudge about                         Through fair Verona, find those persons out                         Whose names are written there [Gives a paper.], and to them say,                         My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.                                                                         Exit [with Paris] SERVANT        Find them out whose names are written here! It is written that the […]

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Fennel/female buds (1.2.26-34)

CAPULET        Such comfort as do lusty young men feel                         When well-apparelled April on the heel                         Of limping winter treads, even such delight                         Among fresh fennel buds shall you this night                         Inherit at my house; hear all, all see;                         And like her most whose merit most shall be;                         Which on […]

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Earth-treading stars (1.2.20-25)

CAPULET        This night I hold an old accustomed feast,                         Whereto I have invited many a guest,                         Such as I love, and you among the store,                         One more, most welcome, makes my number more.                         At my poor house look to behold this night                         Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light. (1.2.20-25) […]

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Choice and voice (1.2.14-19)

CAPULET        Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she;                         She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.                         But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,                         My will to her consent is but a part;                         And she agreed, within her scope of choice                         Lies my consent and fair according voice. (1.2.14-19)   […]

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A stranger in the world (1.2.1-13)

Enter CAPULET, COUNTY PARIS, and the Clown [SERVANT to Capulet] CAPULET        But Montague is bound as well as I,                         In penalty alike, and ’tis not hard, I think,                         For men so old as we to keep the peace. PARIS              Of honourable reckoning are you both,                         And pity ’tis, you lived at odds […]

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