A Rose . . . .

Many of us have heard the saying above. I took this pretty rose photo yesterday and wanted to put that saying on it. A search of the ‘net gave up the context it was written in, which provides much more insight into the saying.

We all remember Romeo and Juliet, lovers from families which hated each other. Juliet spoke these words to Romeo:

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father, and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I’ll no longer be a Capulet . . . .

’Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself though, not a Montague.
What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O! be some other name:
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.

— William Shakespeare

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