Romeo and Juliet: Act 2, Prologue
[Enter] CHORUS.
1. old: Romeo's former
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Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie,
2. gapes: longs.
3. fair: beautiful woman.
4. match'd: compared.
5. again: in return, once more.
6. Alike: both lovers equally.
7. complain: i.e., of his love pains.
8. fearful: causing fear, dangerous.
3. fair: beautiful woman.
4. match'd: compared.
5. again: in return, once more.
6. Alike: both lovers equally.
7. complain: i.e., of his love pains.
8. fearful: causing fear, dangerous.
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And young affection gapes to be his heir;
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That fair for which love groan'd for and would die,
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With tender Juliet match'd, is now not fair.
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Now Romeo is beloved and loves again,
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Alike betwitchèd by the charm of looks,
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But to his foe supposed he must complain,
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And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks:
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Being held a foe, he may not have access
10. use: are accustomed to using.
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To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
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And she as much in love, her means much less
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To meet her new-beloved any where:
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But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,
14. Tempering . . . sweet: i.e., making up for their extreme difficulties [as lovers] with the extreme sweet [purity of passion].
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Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.