Lope de Vega

“ Not one can fight him; for none ever saw,
Ought else his shafts in swiftness to surpass.
Very aptly might Nisa at that time have revenged the motions which Pamphilus had to agree to Flerida’s will: if love had been a spirit (as some have believed) which might have told them to her.
But it was not just that so rare a faith should be spotted with any infamy. Thesander's love in the meantime, springing from this first spark and increased by Nisa’s resistance, like a fire which a little water makes more violent; or like palm trees growing most, when a weight is laid on them. ”

“ Julia. Oh, that he would but deign a whisper'd word,
I'd be so gentle, staid, and courteous; seek
To please him so. Back, hot blush, from cheek!
Dorotea. In conversation now doth Julia hold Otavio
While yonder mask approaches.
Roselo. 'Tis love that blinds me, bids me hope and fear;
And yet 'tis love that makes me bold while here.
Julia. Ah, fond youth, were I that happy maid
Whose only life and hope might be
To bask in sunshine from those tender eyes!
Dorotea. He comes; and, I am sure, intends
To seat himself beside me, yet I fear.
Julia. I would he cared to rest beside me here. ”

“ A new scene presents itself to the eyes of the spectator, the burial place of the Capulets, a vast cavern, where nothing but funeral objects are perceived, the sight of which must of course shock in a comedy. Juliet at length awakes; her astonishment, her confusion, her terror and her love, furnish in these dreadful shades a long soliloquy, but which does not want beauty.
Romeo and Marino make their appearance: Marino carries a light; but, as he trembles as he walks, his fear makes him fall down, and the light is extinguished. ”

“ When Julia swoons as one with mortal sickness struck,
And falls as dead.
Roselo. What! my own sweet Julia dead?
Anselmo. Hush! I did due caution hold, and said
That thou shouldst listen. She fell as dead.
Roselo. How can I listen if my love lies dead?
Anselmo. Thy Julia lives.
Roselo. Doth she but live, Anselmo, then
I live, and love, and hope.
Anselmo. Throughout the night her kin and friends
Did mourn and weep her sudden death;
The city, on the morrow, blank with grief did see,
Both young and old move sadly through the streets.
Roselo. Go on. I long for daybreak and the light. ”

“ Ungracious Julia! Know'st thou on whom
Thy fickle heart is fix'd anew?
Look that thou knowest him well;
In truth he cannot love as I do love!
Ambition guides thy greedy father's choice,
And truth and honour only second stand:
He'd have thee wed where his ambition points;
He hates the man who in fair variance slew
Otavio. Paris now call'd, doth journey with high hope;
He was despised, but now revenge may grow,
For, not like me, though noble be his blood,
He feels no rushing torrent of love's flood. ”

“ Celia. Thou knowest, lady, he's well skill'd
In subtlety of herb and poisonous weed,
And hath a fame more wide than all Verona holds.
(Some lines wanting here.)
Julia. He calls Roselo and myself his children.
(Some lines wanting here.)
He watch'd our growing love from earliest bud;
True he is learned in every herb that springs,
And every subtle distillation, too, he knows;
Should this be weak, and should its charm
Lead me to love the Count, and so Roselo harm?
Celia. To think thus, lady, is but witless wit. ”

“ I'm not alive; in fact, I'm sure I'm dead.
Roselo. Who speaks of death with such melodious voice?
Marin. Indeed I'm dead. Let me 'scape this once,
And ne'er again will I come groping in
Cold, dank, and deathly vaults, on such fool's errand
As this same.
Roselo. Sweet Love, illumine with thy magic fire!
Marin. I wish Love would; these dead men here
Like droning bees go buzzing by your ear,
First right, then left, but give no light to cheer.
Roselo. Courage, we'll shout. Sweet Julia, love!
Marin. We'll suppose Otavio hears you call
He'll wake the drowsy dead both great and small. ”

“ Love, fond wife, in hope, in joy, despondency,
Or bitter grief, whatever ills befall, I'm arm'd.
Thus as I press thee trembling to my heart,
In absence still, in fancied presence thou;
If those dear eyes rain tears at fortune's frowns,
Crosses or evil tidings touch of woe;
Oh, kill me not by weeping now, sweet wife!
If thou desirest death, my love, one sword,
One blow, shall give our hearts' blood to the earth!
Those who now seek our lives may slay; but still
Our souls shall live unparted after death! ”

“ Celia. Two others follow, and the one I see is Teobaldo,
And I know
He will protect Roselo Montes well.
Julia. Why came he here—why venture forth?
What madness! and having madly come
Why put aside his mask? that all might see.
Had he not done so, then
My father would have 'scaped offence,
And I,—and I, a hopeless love.
Celia. The greater madness, lady, is
To say thou lovest him.
Julia. I should, I know, respect mine honour much
Before my love; oh, cruel tyrant! yet gentle Montes still
For my mischance once seen—Love conquer will.
Celia. What honour, lady, hast thou chanced? ”

“ Out, out ye cowards all!
Out, out, Monteses!
Arnaldo (without) . Give way, ye knaves, give way!
Death to Castelvines, all!
Roselo. What means this noise within?
Teobaldo (without) . Hold not thyself so proudly, or—
Antonio (without) . Although thou hast the seats
As high as heaven's vault,
I would, as I do now, seize
And cast them to the lowest hell.
Arnaldo (without) . Hold, for thy life!
Antonio (without) . Out, out I say, ye coward crew!
Roselo. That voice, it is my father's.
Anselmo. Stand thou here, Roselo.
Roselo. To stand here idly is a coward's choice. ”

“ Juliet.
What is his opinion, what effects will this liquor produce? Is this all the assistance which I am to expect from him?
Celia.
You are not ignorant, that he is one of the wisest and most learned men in the world; he asserts that this liquor will ease your sorrows; put confidence in his word.
Juliet.
Aurelio is a great philosopher; the properties of all plants are known to him, and all the secrets of nature. To the most sublime sciences he joins a fund of admirable virtues; he loves me, he loves Romeo, and ever since he married us, he has called us his children ”

“ I took him on my shoulders, and carried him to the monastery, where he died in my arms before the gate was opened: I do not desire to live, but the care which I have of another's life more than mine own makes me seek my liberty contrary to my desire; if thou canst procure me it, I am a knight, and of a family from which ungrateful man nor traitor ever sprang: thou shalt do a heroic deed worthy of an illustrious lady, and though I should never merit it, yet heaven will not fail to acknowledge it. ”

“ Unhappy feuds which stab Verona to the heart;
A thousand furies spur cold tolerance till she fires;
The mischief done, we then must rest content
With that which hath no cure.
Teobaldo. What care I now for rivalry of kin?
In the chill gloom of yonder silent vault
Otavio sleeps with those who've gone before;
A simple stone doth mark the spot; alas! alas!
In the spring of youth and beauty there he lies.
Oh, daughter, if the winged winds shall waft
Yon traitor Montes to another shore, for life,
Already hath the signal sounded deep for strife. ”