Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five Or shall we on without apology? Ben. The date is out of such prolixity: Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you Rom. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes, Rom. I am too sore empierced with his shaft, Mer. And, to sink in it, should you burden love; Rom. Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. (Putting on a mask.) Rom. A torch for me: let wantons, light of heart, Mer. Tut! dun's the mouse, the constable's own If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire Mer. Mer. love: In shape no bigger than an agate-stone Rom. Peace, peace, Mercutio, pear selves; Supper is done, and we shall come too late. Rom. I fear, too early: for my mind misgive a [Ex SCENE V-A Hall in Capulet's House. 1 Serv. Where's Potpan, that he helps no take away? he shift a trencher! he scrap trencher! 2 Serv. When good manners shall lie all in or two men's hands, and they unwashed too, And so did I. foul thing. Rom. Well, what was your's? true. 1 Serv. Away with the joint-stools, remove "s court-cupboard, look to the plate :-good t save me a piece of marchpane; and, as thoa le [yon.me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone, Nell. Antony! and Potpan! Mer. O, then, I see, queen Mab hath been with She is the fairies' midwife; and she comes 2 Serv. Ay, boy; ready. 1 Serv. You are looked for, and called for, asked for, and sought for, in the great chamber. 2 Serv. We cannot be here and there, too. Cheerly, boys; be brisk a while, and the longer liver take all. (They retire behind.) Enter CAPULET, &c. with the Guests, and the Maskers. Cap. Gentlemen, welcome! ladies, that have their toes Unplagu'd with corns, will have a bout with you:- [play. You are welcome, gentlemen!-Come, musicians, A hall! a hall! give room, and foot it, girls. (Music plays, and they dance.) More light, ye knaves; and turn the tables up, And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.Ah, sirrah, this unlook'd-for sport comes well. Nay, sit, nay, sit, good cousin Capulet; For you and I are past our dancing days: How long is't now, since last yourself and I Were in a mask? 2 Cap. By'r lady, thirty years. 1 Cap. What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much: 'Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio, Come pentecost as quickly as it will, Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd. 2 Cap. 'Tis more, 'tis more: his son is elder, sir ; His son is thirty. 1 Cap. [hand Will you tell me that? His son was but a ward two years ago. Rom. What lady's that, which doth enrich the Of yonder knight? Serv. I know not, sir. Rom. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear: Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shews a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shews. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, And, touching hers, make happy my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. Tyb. This, by his voice, should be a Montague :Fetch me my rapier, boy:-What! dares the slave Come hither, cover'd with an antick face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. 1 Cap. Why, how now, kinsman? wherefore storm you so? Tyb. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; A villain, that is hither come in spite, To scorn at our solemnity this night. 1 Cap. Young Romeo is't? Tyb. "Tis he, that villain Romeo. 1 Cap. Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone, He bears him like a portly gentleman; And, to say truth, Verona brags of him, To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth: I would not, for the wealth of all this town, Here in my house, do him disparagement: Therefore be patient, take no note of him, It is my will; the which if thou respect, Shew a fair presence, and put off these frowns, An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast. Tyb. It fits, when such a villain is a guest; I'll not endure him. 1 Cap. He shall be endur'd: What, goodman boy!-I say, he shall;-Goto; Am I the master here, or you? go to. meeting Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. Which mannerly devotion shews in this; For saints have hands, that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. Rom. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Jul. Ay, pilgrim, lips, that they must use in prayer dear saint, let lips do what hands [do; Rom. They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. [sake. Jul. Saints do not move, though,grant for prayers Rom. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Nurse. Marry, bachelor, Her mother is the lady of the house, And a good lady, and a wise, and virtuous: I nurs'd her daughter, that you talk'd withal; I tell you, he, that can lay hold of her, Shall have the chinks. Rom. Is she a Capulet? O dear account! my life is my foe's debt. Ben. Away, begone; the sport is at the best. Rom. Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest. 1 Cap. Nay, gentlemen, prepare not to be gone: We have a trifling foolish banquet towards.— Is it e'en so? Why, then I thank you all: I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night:More torches here! Come on, then let's to bed. Ah, sirrah, (To 2 Cap.) by my fay, it waxes late; I'll to my rest. [Exeunt all but Juliet and Nurse. Jul. Come hither, nurse: What is yon gentleman ? Nurse. The son and heir of old Tiberio. Jul. What's he, that now is going out of door? Nurse. Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio. Jul. What's he, that follows there, that would not dance? Nurse. I know not. Jul. Go, ask his name :-if he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed. Nurse. His name is Romeo, and a Montague ; The only son of your great enemy. Jul. My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late, Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy. Rom. Can I go forward, when my heart is here? But, soft! what light through yonder window It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!- O, that she knew she were!- She speaks, yet she says nothing; What of that? As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven Jul. Ah me! [men! Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Ro Ron. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this (Asus) By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, And for that name, which is no part of thee, And the demesnes that there adjacent lie, That in thy likeness thou appear to us. Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle Of some strange nature, letting it there stand, [trees, Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. Now will be sit under a medlar tree, Ben SCENE II.-Capulet's Garden. [Exeunt. Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound. (Juliet appears above, at a window.) Take all myself. Rom. Jul. What man art thon, that, thus bescreen So stumblest on my counsel? Rom. By a name Had I it written, I would tear the word. Jul. My ears have not yet drunk a hundred ward Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? Rom. Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perc For stony limits cannot hold love out : Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thes Rom, Alack! there lies more peril in thine eye, Than twenty of their swords; look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity. Jul. I would not for the world, they saw thee here. [sight; Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their And, but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love. Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? [quire; Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inHe lent me counsel, and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, [face; Rom, Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops,Jul. O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, Rom. If my heart's dear loveJul. Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract to-night: It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be, Ere one can say It lightens. Sweet, good night! This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath, May prove a beauteous flower, when next we meet. Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest Come to thy heart, as that within my breast! Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? Jul. What satisfaction canst thou have to-night? Rom. The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine. [it: Jul. I gave thee mine before thou did'st request And yet I would it were to give again. Rom. Would'st thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love? Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again. Re-enter JULIET, above. Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night, indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, [well, Jul. I come, anon:-But if thou mean'st not I do beseech thee, Nurse. (Within.) Madam! By and by, I come :- Rom. Jul. I will not fail; At what o'clock to-morrow At the hour of nine. I have forgot why I did call thee back. Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Rom. I would, I were thy bird. Jul. Sweet, so would I Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say-good night, till it be morrow. [Exit. Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy 'Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; (Nurse calls within.) I hear some noise within: Dear love, adieu! Anon, good nurse!-Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again. Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Being in night, all this is but a dream, Too flattering-sweet to be substantial. With baleful weeds, and precious-juiced flowers. The earth, that's nature's mother, is her tomb; What is her burying grave, that is her womb : And from her womb children of divers kind In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities: Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Enter ROMEO. Rom. Good morrow, father! Benedicite! Fri. What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?Young son, it argues a distemper'd head, So soon to bid good morrow to thy bed: Care keeps his watch in every old man's eye, And where care lodges, sleep will never lie; But where unbruised youth with unstuff'd brain Doth couch his limbs, there golden sleep doth reign: Therefore thy earliness doth me assure, Thou art up-rous'd by some distemp'rature; Or if not so, then here I hit it rightOur Romeo hath not been in bed to-night. Rom. That last is true, the sweeter rest was mine. Fri. God pardon sin! wast thou with Rosaline? Rom. With Rosaline, my ghostly father? no; I have forgot that name, and that name's woe. Fri. That's my good son: But where hast thou been then? Rom. I'll tell thee, ere thou ask it me again. I have been feasting with mine enemy; Where, on a sudden, one hath wounded me, That's by me wounded; both our remedies Within thy help and holy physic lies: I bear no hatred, blessed man; for lo, My intercession likewise steads my foe. [drift; Fri. Be plain, good son, and homely in thy Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift. Rom. Then plainly know, my heart's dear love On the fair daughter of rich Capulet: [is set As mine on her's, so hers is set on mine; And all combin'd, save what thou must combine By holy marriage: When, and where, and how, We met, we woo'd, and made exchange of vow, I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us this day. Fri. Holy Saint Francis! what a change is here! Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline! Women may fall, when there's no strength in men. Fri. Not in a grave To lay one in, another out to have. SCENE IV-A Street. Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO. Mer. Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came he not home to-night? Ben. Not to his father's; I spoke with his ma Mer. Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline, Torments him so, that he will sure ruu mad. [a letter Mer. Any man, that can write, may answe Ben. Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he dares, being dared. Mer. Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead' stabbed with a white wench's black eye; sht through the ear with a love-song; the very pin his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft, And is he a man to encounter Tybalt? Ben. Why, what is Tybalt? Mer. More than prince of cats, I can tell yo He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, dis O, he is the courageous captain of compliments tance, and proportion; rests me his minim rest. butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist, one, two, and the third in your bosom: the very gentleman of the very first house,—of the first ap second cause: Ah, the immortal passado! punto reverso! the hay! Ben. The what? Mer. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! A good whore! Why, is not this a lamentable thin Jesu, a very good blade!—a very tall man!—asty grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted wit pardonnez-moy's, who stand so much on the nes these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, then i form, that they cannot sit at ease on the old bench O, their bons, their bons! Enter ROMEO. Ben. Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo. Mer. Without his roe, like a dried herring:O, flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified!-Now ish: for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in: Laura, t his lady, was but a kitchen-wench;-marry, she bad a better love to be-rhyme her: Dido, a dowdy Cleopatra, a gipsy; Helen and Hero, hildings and harlots; Thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your French slop. You gati us the counterfeit fairly last night. Rom. Good-morrow to you both. terfeit did I give you? What com [ceive Mer. The slip, sir, the slip; Can you not com Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business ww great; and, in such a case as mine, a man may strain courtesy. Mer. That's as much as to say-such a case yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. Rom. Meaning-to court'sy. Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it. Mer. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. |