Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Prologue

Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groan’d for and would die, With tender Juliet match’d, is now not fair. Now Romeo is belov’d, and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks; But to his foe suppos’d he must complain, And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks: Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new beloved anywhere. But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.

Now his old desire lies on its deathbed, and a young affection gapes wide to be its heir. That beauty for which love groaned and was ready to die is no longer beautiful, set beside tender Juliet. Now Romeo is loved and loves in return, both of them enchanted by the spell of the other's looks; but he must pour out his complaint to one supposed to be his enemy, and she must steal love's sweet bait from frightening hooks. Being counted an enemy, he is given no chance to breathe the kind of vows lovers usually swear; and she, just as much in love, has far fewer means to meet her new beloved anywhere. But passion gives them power, and time gives them the means, to meet, sweetening their extreme hardships with extreme sweetness.