found means through the old nurse and good Friar
Laurence to visit his new-made bride the night before his forced departure;
and in spite of locks, bars, law, parents and princes, plucked the ripe
fruit from the tree of virginity.

Romeo must be gone before the first crowing of the cock and ere the rosy
fingers of the dawn light up the bridal chamber, else death would be his
portion.

Juliet importunes him to stay, and says:

_"Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day;
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear;
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate tree;
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."_

Romeo replies:

_"It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale; look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder East;
Night's candles are burnt, and jocund day,
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops;
I must be gone and live, or stay and die!"_

Juliet further implores him to stay:

_"Yon light is not daylight, I know it;
It is some meteor that the sun exhales;
To be to thee this night a torch bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua;
Therefore stay yet, thou need'st not be gone."_

Romeo willingly consents:

_"Let me be taken, let me be put to death;
I am content so thou wilt have it so;
I'll say yon gray is not the morning's eye,
'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow!
Nor that it is not the lark, whose notes do beat
The vaulty heaven so high above our heads;
I have more care to stay than will to go;--
Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so--
How is it, my soul? Let's talk, it is not day!"_

Juliet alarmed exclaims:

_"It is, it is, hie hence, begone away;
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division;
This doth not so, for she divideth us;
Some say, the lark and lothed toad change eyes;
O, now I would they had changed voices too;
Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,
Hunting thee hence with hunts up to the day.
O, now begone; more light and light it grows."_

Romeo descends the ladder, saying his last words to the beautiful Juliet:

_"And trust me, love, in mine eye so do you,
Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu! Adieu!"_

After the banishment of Romeo, old Capulet and h