I came to talk of: - Tell me, daughter Juliet, Jul. It is an honour that I dream not of. Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers: by my count, Nurse. A man, young lady! lady, such a man, This night you shall behold him at our feast: 6 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.- Juliet, the county stays. SCENE IV. A Street. [Exeunt. Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Rom. I am too sore enpierced with his shaft Mer. And, to sink in it, should you burden love; Rom. Is love a tender thing? it is too rough. Mer. If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Give me a case to put my visage in; [Putting on a Mask. A visor for a visor! what care I, Rom. A torch for me: let wantons, light of heart, If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire Mer. Mer. And so did I. That dreamers often lie. Rom. In bed, asleep, while they do dream things true. Mer. O, then, I see, queen Mab hath been with you.. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six On the fore-finger of an alderman, Rom. What, shall this speech be spoke for our Or shall we on without apology? Ben. The date is out of such prolixity: → Well made, as if he had been modelled in wax. 6 The comments on ancient books were always printed in the margin. 7 i. e. Is not yet caught, whose skin was wanted to bind him. A scare-crow, a figure made up to frighten crows. 9 A dance. 1 A torch-bearer was a constant appendage to every troop of maskers, Drawn with a team of little atomies 4 And in this state she gallops night by night 2 Observe. 3 It was anciently the custom to strew rooms with rushes. 4 Atoms. Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace; Mer. True, I talk of dreams; Which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy; Which is as thin of substance as the air; And more inconstant than the wind, who wooes Even now the frozen bosom of the north, And, being anger'd, puffs away from thence, Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Ben. This wind you talk of, blows us from ourselves; Supper is done, and we shall come too late. Rom. I fear, too early: for my mind misgives, With this night's revels; and expire the term But He, that hath the steerage of my course, Ben. Strike, drum. [Exeunt. A Hall in Capulet's House. Musicians waiting. Enter Servants. 1 Serv. Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? he shift a trencher! he scrape a trencher! 2 Serv. When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's hands, and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing. 1 Serv. Away with the joint stools, remove the court-cupboard, look to the plate: — good thou, save me a piece of march-pane7; and, as thou lovest me, let the porter let in Susan and Nell. -Antony! and Potpan! A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, A hall! a hall! 8 give room, and foot it girls. 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 shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows, The measure 9 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; 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. 1 Cap. He shall be endur'd; What, goodman boy!-I say, he shall;-Go to;Am I the master here, or you? go to. You'll make a mutiny among my guests! You will set a cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man! Tyb. Why, uncle, 'tis a shame. 1 Cap. Go to, go to, You are a saucy boy: - Is't so indeed? This trick may chance to scath' you;-I know what. [Exit. To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. Jul. 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. Rom. Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too? Jul. Ay, pilgrim, lips, that they must use in prayer. Rom. O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair. Jul. Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake. : 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 3, 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. Nurse. What's this? what's this? Jul. A rhyme I learn'd even now [One calls within, Juliet! Anon, anon:Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone. Rom. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I Of one I danc'd withal. [Kissing her. Jul. You kiss by the book. Enter CHORUS. [Exeunt. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks; And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: Being held a foe, he may not have access To breathe such vows as lovers use to swear; And she as much in love, her means much less To meet her new-beloved any where: But passion lends them power, time means to meet, Temp'ring extremities with extreme sweet. [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. -An open Place, adjoining Capulet's Cry but-Ah me! couple but love and dove; - Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. Mer. This cannot anger him: my invocation Is fair and honest, and, in his mistress' name, I conjure only but to raise up him. Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among those trees, Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound.[JULIET appears above, at a Window. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks! It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; O, that she knew she were! — She speaks, yet she says nothing: What of that? Rom. She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white-upturned wond'ring eyes Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him, When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds, And sails upon the bosom of the air. Jul. O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father, and refuse thy name: Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I'll no longer be a Capulet. Rom. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? [Aside. Jul. 'Tis but thy name, that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O, be some other name! What's in a name? that which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes 7, Without that title: - Romeo, doff's thy name; And for that name which is no part of thee, Take all myself. Rom. I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. 6 Huinid, moist. 7 Owns, possesses. 8 Do off, put off. I know not how to tell thee who I am: Had I it written, I would tear the word. Jul. My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words 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. Jul. How cam'st thou hither, tell me? and wherefore? The orchard walls are high, and hard to climb; Rom. With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out : Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. 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. Rom. I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And, but thou love me, let them find me here: Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this place? Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, Jul. Thou know'st the mask of night is on my 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 Jul. Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee, Rom. O,.wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: Rom. Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what pur- Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again. [Nurse calls within. [Exit. Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Re-enter JULIET, above. Jul. Three words, dear Romeo, and good night, If that thy bent of love be honourable, : Jul. I come, anon:- But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee, Nurse. [Within.] Madam. Jul. By and by, I come:- Rom. So thrive my soul,- Love goes toward love, as school-boys from their But love from love, toward school with heavy looks. [Retiring slowly. Re-enter JULIET, above. 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. Let me stand here till thou remember it. Jul. I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Rememb'ring how I love thy company. Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Jul. 'Tis almost morning, I would have thee gone: Rom. I would, I were thy bird. Sweet, so would I : Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!-O, for a falconer's Poison hath residence, and med'cine power: voice, To lure this tassel-gentle 4 back again! And make her airy tongue more hoarse than mine 3 Inclination. The teircel is the male hawk, the falcon the female. |