What does this quote from Romeo and Juliet mean?

Question

Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can,
It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
That one short minute gives me in her sight:
Do thou but close our hands with holy words,
Then love-devouring death do what he dare;
It is enough I may but call her mine.

Answer 1

So be it, whatever disaster may follow, it can't outweigh the joy ......
Lock our hands in marriage, then death can do what he wants, it is enough that I can call her mine.

I hope that is clear enough.

Answer 2

Romeo is speaking to the Friar (the Friar who has agreed to secretly marry Romeo and Juliet).

Romeo says: "Amen, amen!" "Amen" literally means, "So be it!" "So be it!" And, to paraphrase, Romeo states: "whatever sorrow comes, the sorrow cannot outweigh the joy that a single minute gives me when I see her." Then he addresses the Friar and says: "Do but close our hands with holy words [that is, marry them], then Death [Death here is personified] can do whatever Death dares [that is, kill them]; It is sufficient that I call her mine."

Throughout Romeo and Juliet love and death are intertwined. And in these lines, there is a pun on the word "dare." Who's doing the daring? Is it Death or Romeo? Is Romeo daring death or Death daring Romeo? Another theme is that even though the lovers are defiant (stare down even the threat of death), they are nonetheless doomed. There is the added irony, of course, knowing the end of the play, of who actually claims Juliet? It's Death, not Romeo (through a kind of trick -- she is fated to awaken too late, sees Romeo dead and kills herself -- thus becoming Death's bride.)

Answer 3

Keeping in mind that Romeo is inturrupting the Priest who is telling them the consequences of the marriage should they ever be discovered:

"Agreed, agreed! But whatever the threat of sorrow or misfortune in the future, it can not overshadow the extreme joy I feel when in her presence for even a short minute. Please marry us, and then let death do whatever it wants to me, my life is full if I can call her my wife."

I love Shakespeare.

Answer 4

Define Countervail

Answer 5

even though she is dead he is saying amen becuase he had the chance to know here. love-devouring death means they died for each other... do what he dare means do as he must becuase he can call her his.

Answer 6

It means he is willing face any consequence, including death, to be with the one he loves even for one moment. Very romantic.

Answer 7

Hey priest.................
Nothing bad can stop the love we have. So even if she and I just have a moment- let us look at each other quick and get married quickly and if that brings death- then it is worth it that I had a chance to say her name.

Answer 8

That's a tricky question..

Answer 9

Can you elaborate?

Answer 10

who cares, well obviously you do