If I profane

"If I profane" is a "hidden" sonnet written by William Shakespeare that consists of a dialogue within Scene 5 of Act One of his 1590s tragedy Romeo and Juliet.

It is the first half of a double sonnet that continues into "Thus from my lips."

Key
Romeo's lines appear in blue. Juliet's lines appear in green.

Modern English
If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.