Act III, Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Act III, Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

After a night of glorious love to consummate their marriage, Romeo and

Juliet lie naked together, still asleep in Juliet's bedchamber. Romeo

awakens first with the singing of birds, softly kisses his love,

stands naked by the window and prepares to take his leave. She wishes

that he would not depart and tries to persuade him that they have only

heard the nightingale and not the early morning singing of the lark:

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 yond pomegranite tree. Oh, believe me love, it was the

nightingale.

Romeo knows better, and points out that the bright light is already

breaking over the tallest mountain tops, warning him to flee. But he

would rather stay and be put to death, if his love wishes so:

It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale. Night's

candles are burnt out. (They kiss) And jocund day stands tiptoe on the

misty mountain tops. I must be gone and live, or stay and die...(He

returns to her bed and caresses her) Let me be taken, let me be put to

death. I am content so thou wilt have it so. I'll say yon grey is not

the morning's eye, nor that is not the lark whose notes do beat the

vaulty heavens so high above our heads. I have more care to stay than

will to go. Come death, and welcome, Juliet wills it so.

But as the light increases, Juliet also realizes the unpleasant

reality that the singing bird is the lark with a song that divides

them, and encourages Romeo to leave quickly to save his life. She

pushes him away, turns to get out of bed (and reveals her breasts for

a brief moment), and reaches for her nightshirt:

It is, it is, hie hence, be gone away. Romeo, it is. It is the lark

that sings so out of tune, straining harsh discords, and unpleasing