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 the old desire lies on its deathbed, and the new love gapes wide to inherit from it. That beauty for which love groaned and was ready to die is no longer beautiful, set beside gentle Juliet. Now Romeo is loved and loves in return, both of them enchanted by the spell of each other's looks; but he must pour out his complaint to the woman he is supposed to treat as an enemy, and she must snatch love's sweet bait from frightening hooks. Counted an enemy, he is not allowed to come near her to speak the kinds of vows that lovers swear; and she, just as much in love, has far fewer chances to meet her new beloved anywhere. But passion gives them the strength, and time the opportunity, to meet, softening their extreme difficulties with extreme sweetness.