1. ROMEO AND JULIET
Act 2 Scene 1

2. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Prologue
Enter Chorus
CHORUS
Now old desire doth in his death-bed 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 beloved and loves again,
Alike betwitched by the charm of looks,
But to his foe supposed he must complain,

3. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Prologue
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 any where:
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet
Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.
Exit

4. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Prologue
The prologue to the second act summarizes the events of Act I and reinforces themes that have already appeared.
Romeo's love for Rosaline is dead and his love for Juliet is born. One love has been replaced by another and though Romeo and Juliet don't really know each other yet, but they have both been "bewitched by the charm of looks."
We also learnt that the force of parental influence stands in the way of the lovers’ happiness. The Chorus explains that theirs is a forbidden love and describes the obstacles facing the new love between Romeo and Juliet. The feud between their families will make it very difficult for the lovers to be together.

5. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Prologue
This prologue functions less as the voice of fate than the first one does. Instead it builds suspense by laying out the problem of the two lovers and hinting that there may be some way to overcome it.
At the end of the sonnet, we're told that neither fate, nor Providence, but their love will help them find a way as “passion lends them power, time means, to meet, / Temp’ring extremities with extreme sweet” (2.Prologue.13–14).

6. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Scene 1
OUTSIDE THE CAPULET WALLS
Having left the feast, Romeo decides that he cannot go home. He must instead try to find Juliet. He climbs a wall bordering the Capulet property and leaps down into the Capulet orchard.
Benvolio and Mercutio enter, calling out for Romeo. They are sure he is nearby, but Romeo does not answer. Neither Mercutio nor Benvolio know of Romeo's newfound love for Juliet. They do see Romeo's obsession with the ideal of love, not with Rosaline herself.
Exasperated and amused, Mercutio mocks Romeo’s feelings for Rosaline in an obscene speech, which make Juliet seem pure in comparison. Benvolio worries that Mercutio is going to anger Romeo with his vulgarity but Mercutio feels his position is fair and honest.

7. ROMEO & JULIET ACT 2, Scene 1
OUTSIDE THE CAPULET WALLS
Mercutio, sensing that Romeo's sudden obsession with Rosaline/Juliet will go amiss, says: "If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark" ( ). His words foreshadow the tragic events that follow.
Mercutio and Benvolio then exit under the assumption that Romeo does not want to be found.