A fair assembly [gives back the paper]: whither should they Serv. Up. come? Rom. Whither? Serv. To supper; (9) to our house. Rom. Whose house? Serv. My master's. Rom. Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before. Serv. Now I'll tell you without asking: my master is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. merry! Ben. At this same ancient feast of Capulet's Rest you Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; And these,—who, often drown'd, could never die,— Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun. And she shall scant show well that now shows best. [Exit. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A room in CAPULET's house. Enter Lady CAPULET and Nurse. La. Cap. Nurse, where's my daughter? call her forth to me. Nurse. Now, by my maidenhead,-at twelve year old,I bade her come.—What, lamb! what, lady-bird !— God forbid!—where's this girl?—What, Juliet! La. Cap. This is the matter,-Nurse, give leave awhile, We must talk in secret :-nurse, come back again; I have remember'd me, thou's hear our counsel. Nurse. Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour. Nurse. I'll lay fourteen of my teeth, And yet, to my teen be it spoken, I have but four,— To Lammas-tide? La. Cap. A fortnight and odd days. And since that time it is eleven years; For then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood, I warrant, an I should live a thousand years, I never should forget it: "Wilt thou not, Jule?" quoth he; And, pretty fool, it stinted, and said “Ay.” La. Cap. Enough of this; I pray thee, hold thy peace. Nurse. Yes, madam ;-yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying, and say "Ay:" And yet, I warrant, it had upon its brow A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone; A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly: "Yea," quoth my husband, "fall'st upon thy face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou com'st to age; Wilt thou not, Jule?" it stinted, and said "Ay." Jul. And stint thou too, I pray thee, nurse, say I. Nurse. Peace, I have done. God mark thee to his grace! Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nurs'd: An I might live to see thee married once, La. Cap. Marry, that marry is the very theme Jul. It is an honour that I dream not of. Nurse. An honour! were not I thine only nurse, I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat. La. Cap. Well, think of marriage now; younger than you, Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers: by my count, I was your mother much upon these years That you are now a maid. Thus, then, in brief;— The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. Nurse. A man, young lady! lady, such a man La. Cap. Verona's summer hath not such a flower. La. Cap. What say you? can you love the gentleman? This night you shall behold him at our feast; Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face, And find delight writ there with beauty's pen; And see how one another lends content; The fish lives in the sea; and 'tis much pride Nurse. No less! nay, bigger; women grow by men. But no more deep will I endart mine eye Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. Enter a Servant. Serv. Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in the pantry, and every thing in extremity. I must hence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. La. Cap. We follow thee. [Exit Servant.]-Juliet, the county stays. Nurse. Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others. Rom. What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Or shall we on without apology? Ben. The date is out of such prolixity : Rom. Give me a torch,-I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Mer. You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, Rom. I am too sore enpierced with his shaft, Mer. And, to sink in it, should you burden love; Too great oppression for a tender thing. Rom. Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous; and it pricks like thorn. Mer. If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.— Give me a case to put my visage in: A visor for a visor!-what care I What curious eye doth quote deformities? Here are the beetle-brows shall blush for me. Ben. Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in, But every man betake him to his legs. |