| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| From forth the fatal loins of these two foes | RJ I.prologue.5 |
| | | |
| Now old desire doth in his death bed lie, | Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie, | RJ II.chorus.1 |
| And yong affection gapes to be his Heire, | And young affection gapes to be his heir. | RJ II.chorus.2 |
| That faire, for which Loue gron'd for and would die, | That fair for which love groaned for and would die, | RJ II.chorus.3 |
| With tender Iuliet matcht, is now not faire. | With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair. | RJ II.chorus.4 |
| Now Romeo is beloued, and Loues againe, | Now Romeo is beloved and loves again, | RJ II.chorus.5 |
| A like bewitched by the charme of lookes: | Alike bewitched by the charm of looks. | RJ II.chorus.6 |
| But to his foe suppos'd he must complaine, | But to his foe supposed he must complain, | RJ II.chorus.7 |
| And she steale Loues sweet bait from fearefull hookes: | And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks. | RJ II.chorus.8 |
| Being held a foe, he may not haue accesse | Being held a foe, he may not have access | RJ II.chorus.9 |
| To breath such vowes as Louers vse to sweare, | To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear, | RJ II.chorus.10 |
| And she as much in Loue, her meanes much lesse, | And she as much in love, her means much less | RJ II.chorus.11 |
| To meete her new Beloued any where: | To meet her new beloved anywhere. | RJ II.chorus.12 |
| But passion lends them Power, time, meanes to meete, | But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, | RJ II.chorus.13 |
| Temp'ring extremities with extreame sweete. | Tempering extremities with extreme sweet. | RJ II.chorus.14 |