Thou knowāst the mask of night is on my face, Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night. Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny What I have spoke: but farewell compliment! Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say āAy,ā And I will take thy word: yet, if thou swearāst, Thou mayst prove false; at loversā perjuries, They say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo, If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully: Or if thou thinkāst I am too quickly won, Iāll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world. In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond, And therefore thou mayst think my āhavior light; But trust me, gentleman, Iāll prove more true Than those that have more cunning to be strange. I should have been more strange, I must confess, But that thou overheardāst, ere I was ware, My true loveās passion: therefore pardon me, And not impute this yielding to light love, Which the dark night hath so discovered.