SCENE I. _A Lane by the Wall of Capulet's Orchard

_Enter_ ROMEO

_Romeo._ Can I go forward when my heart is here?-- Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out. [_He climbs the wall, and leaps down within it._

_Enter_ BENVOLIO _and_ MERCUTIO

_Benvolio._ Romeo! my cousin Romeo! Romeo!

_Mercutio._ He is wise, And, on my life, hath stolen him home to bed.

_Benvolio._ He ran this way, and leap'd this orchard wall; Call, good Mercutio.

_Mercutio._ Nay, I'll conjure too.-- Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh! Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but 'Ay me!' pronounce but 'love' and 'dove'; 10 Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, One nickname for her purblind son and heir, Young Abraham Cupid, he that shot so trim When King Cophetua lov'd the beggar-maid!-- He heareth not, he stirreth not, he moveth not; The ape is dead, and I must conjure him.-- I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, By her high forehead and her scarlet lip, That in thy likeness thou appear to us!

_Benvolio._ An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. 20

_Mercutio._ This cannot anger him; 'twould anger him To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle Of some strange nature, letting it there stand Till she had laid it and conjur'd it down. That were some spite; my invocation Is fair and honest, and in his mistress' name I conjure only but to raise up him.

_Benvolio._ Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, To be consorted with the humorous night; Blind is his love and best befits the dark. 30

_Mercutio._ If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.-- Romeo, good night.--I'll to my truckle-bed; This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep. Come, shall we go?

_Benvolio._ Go, then; for 'tis in vain To seek him here that means not to be found. [_Exeunt._