A fellow hurled a brickbat at my head:
I turned to fight!—no, upon my heel instead.
In a whole skin 'tis better far to sleep,
Than in a skin with holes six inches deep.
Romeo hands a note to the servant, and desires him to convey
it with all speed to Julia[errata 1]: the servant then departs, leaving Romeo
alone, who thus soliloquizes—
Oh night, dark mourner to the day now dead,
Thou elder daughter to base treachery,
The ray of sunlight dancing on the stream
Thou slayest with thy coldest, blackest shadows!
Accomplice in the cause of love or hate,
Lend your dark aid to me, alas! a sinner!
Let shadows fall and quickly blot the light,
Thou, the sun's slave, impatient lovers' night.
The Gracioso re-enters laden with roof tiles, his clothes remaining as at first, covered with lime and mortar; in this plight he
gains admission to the house of Old Capelete, and, not finding
Julia, delivers the note to Elena, Romeo's sister, observing—
Heaven help us all! how many would be brave
If fear were out of fashion!
Elena reads the note: "So soon as sunset shadows fall, you
must proceed to the chief door of San Carlos Church, and there
await my coming. Bring Julia with you; should she hesitate, come
- ↑ Correction: Julia should be amended to Elena
