Act 2, Scene 3

                                        

                                              
SCENE III. Neville's garden
                              
Enter NEVILLE, with a basket of plants
                              


                              
NEVILLE
                              
O, I find the powerful grace that lies
                              
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities:
                              
For some are so vile that on the earth doth live
                              
But also some so special good doth give,
                              
But those vile ones are only strain'd from that fair use
                              
Revolts from true birth, stumbling on abuse:
                              
Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied to good ones;
                              
And vice sometimes by action dignified.
                              
Within the infant rind of this small flower
                              
Poison hath residence but also a medicine power:
                              
For this, being smelt, with that certain parts;
                              
Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.
                              
Two such opposed kings encamp them still
                              
In man as well as herbs, respect must be given;
                              
'Ere soon the canker death eats up them up
                              


                              
Enter HARRY
                              


                              
HARRY
                              
Good morrow, Neville!.
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Benedicite!
                              
What so early greeting so sweet saluteth me?
                              
Harry, it argues a distemper'd head
                              
So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed:
                              
As I'm sure thy earliness doth me assure
                              
Thou art still roused by some distemperature;
                              
Or if not so, then here I hit it right,
                              
Our Harry hath not been in bed tonight.
                              
HARRY
                              
That last is true; no sweet rest was mine.
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Oh, Harry, were you partying all night?
                              
HARRY
                              
Of course not Neville!
                              
NEVILLE
                              
That's good: but where hast thou been, then?
                              
HARRY
                              
I'll tell thee, since thou ask it me again.
                              
I have been feasting with mine enemy,
                              
Where on a one hath wounded me,
                              
And they have been wounded by me 
                              
With thy help and I might be able to remedy this:
                              
I bear no anger, my friend,
                              
If you are unable to help.
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Be plain, Harry, and direct in thy drift;
                              
Riddling confession finds but riddling answers.
                              
HARRY
                              
Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
                              
On the fair son of rich Lucius Malfoy:
                              
As mine is on him, so he is set on mine;
                              
We love each other, it is absolute and pure
                              
Would it be too early to consider marriage?
                              
For we met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
                              
I'll tell thee as we need your guidance,
                              
And perhaps help us to marry us today.
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Holy Saint Merlin, 
                              
Are you hit with a Confounding Charm?
                              
It was Ginny, whom thou didst love so dear,
                              
So soon forsaken? young men's love then lies
                              
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.
                              
All your woes were all for Ginny:
                              
And art thou changed? Before I offer advice,
                              
You must answer this issue. 
                              
HARRY
                              
Thou art rubbing Ginny's death in my face
                              
NEVILLE
                              
For pining, not for loving, friend.
                              
HARRY
                              
And it's time to bury that love.
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Not in a grave, Harry
                              
To lay one in, another out to have.
                              
HARRY
                              
I pray thee, chide me not; 
                              
He is whom I love now
                              
He doth process grace and all that love will allow;
                              
Ginny did not so. She was my sisterly friend
                              
NEVILLE
                              
O, she was that very well
                              
Thy love didn't reach her nor could she spell it to.
                              
But come, Harry into my house, 
                              
I'll be thy assistant in your courting;
                              
For this alliance may so happy prove,
                              
To turn this rancor between muggles and wizards to peace.
                              
HARRY
                              
O, let us hence; I need to send him an owl!
                              
NEVILLE
                              
Wisely and slow; ere we stumble when we go too fast.
                              


                              
Exeunt