Original
Modern English
Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir;
Now Romeo’s desire for Rosaline lies in its deathbed, and a new love is born.
That fair for which love groan’d for and would die, With tender Juliet match’d, is now not fair.
Romeo used to groan and swear the he can die for the beautiful Rosaline’s love, but now he finds her beauty nothing compared to Juliet.
Now Romeo is belov’d, and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks;
Now Romeo is loved by someone, and he loves her in return, and they are both charmed by each other looks.
But to his foe suppos’d he must complain, And she steal love’s sweet bait from fearful hooks:
But he has to confess his love to someone who is his enemy, and Juliet is love-struck, admiring someone she is supposed to be scared of.
Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear;
Being enemies to each other, Romeo is not supposed to see Juliet and make the sorts of oaths that lovers usually make to each other.
And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new beloved anywhere.
And Juliet being even in more love with him, has lesser means to meet her beloved.
But passion lends them power, time means, to meet, Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.
But passion gives them the power, and time gives them the opportunity to meet each other and turn their extreme adversities to extreme sweetness.