A parlous knock; and it cried bitterly. Wilt thou not, Jule? it stinted, and said—Ay. Thou wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nurs'd: La. Cap. Marry, that marry is the very theme I came to talk of :-Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married! Jul. It is an honour that I dream not of. Nurse. An honour! were not I thine only nurse, I'd 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, Nurse. A man, young lady! lady, such a man, Nurse. Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower. This night you shall behold him at our feast: The fish lives in the sea ;4 and 'tis much pride, SCENE IV-A street. Enter Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, with five or six Maskers, Torchbearers, 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:5 We'll have no Cupid hood-wink'd with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper;6 Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke After the prompter, for our entrance: But, let them measure us by what they will, We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. Rom. Give me a torch,8-I am not for this am bling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Rom. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes, 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 boist'rous; 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: [Putting on a mask A visor for a visor!-what care I, Rom. A torch for me: let wantons, light of heart, Mer. Tut! dun's the mouse, the constable's own word: If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire Of this (save reverence) love, wherein thou stick'st Up to the ears.-Come, we burn day-light, ho. Rom. Nay, that's not so. Mer. I mean, sir, in delay We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning; for our judgment sits Five times in that, ere once in our five wits. Rom. And we mean well, in going to this mask; But 'tis no wit to go. Mer. Why, may one ask? Rom. I dreamt a dream to-night. Mer. And so did I. Rom. Well, what was yours? Mer. That dreamers often lie. Rom. In bed, asleep, while they do dream things|| SCENE V-A hall in Capulet's house. Mu true. Mer. O, then, I see, queen Mab hath been with She is the fairies' midwife; and she comes On courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight: O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees: Rom. True, I talk of dreams; Supper is done, and we shall come too late. With this night's revels; and expire the term (1) Atoms. [Exeunt. (2) A place in court. (3) . e. Fairy-locks, locks of hair clotted and tangled in the night. sicians 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 marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone, and Nell.-Antony! and Potpan! 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 :---- You are welcome, gentlemen.-Come, musicians, play. A hall! a hall give room, and foot it, girls. 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. Will you tell me that? His son was but a ward two years ago. Rom. What lady's that, which doth enrich the hand 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 shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. 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 : (4) A cupboard set in a corner, like a beaufet, on which the plate was placed. (5) Almond-cake. (7) The dance. (6) . e. Make room. Fetch me my rapier, boy :-What! dares the slave 1 Cap. Why, how now, kinsman? wherefore storm you so? Tyb. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. 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 ;-Go to ;Am I the master here, or you? go to. You'll not endure him!-God shall mend my soul- You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man! Go to, go to, You are a saucy boy:-Is't so, indeed? This trick may chance to scath' you;-I know what. You must contráry me! marry, 'tis time Rom. What is her mother? Nurse. Rom. Marry, bachelor, Her mother is the lady of the house, : I thank you, honest gentlemen; good night:- Jul. What's he, that now is going out of door? 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. Nurse. A rhyme I learn'd even now Well said, my hearts:--You are a princox 2 go:-Of one I danc'd withal. [One calls within, Juliet. Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall, Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall. [Exit. Rom. If I profane with my unworthy hand [To Juliet. This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this,My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand 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; And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss. 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. Then move not, while my prayer's effect Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purg'd. Jul. Anon, anon:Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone. [Exeunt. Enter Chorus. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, That fair, which love groan'd for, and would die, And young affection gapes to be his heir; With tender Juliet match'd is now not fair. Now Romeo is belov'd, and loves again, Alike bewitched by the charm of looks; But to his foe suppos'd he must complain, Being held a foe, he may not have access And she steal love's sweet bait from fearful hooks: 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. Call, good Mercutio. Mer. Nay, I'll conjure too.Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh, Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied; Cry but-Ah me! couple but-love and dove; Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word, One nick-name for her purblind son and heir, Young Adam Cupid, he that shot so trim, When king Cophetua lov'd the beggar-maid.— He heareth not, stirreth not, he moveth not; The ape2 is dead, and I must conjure him.I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes, By her high forehead, and her scarlet lip, By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, 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. Mer. This cannot anger him: 'twould anger him To raise a spirit in his mistress' circle, Of some strange nature, letting it there stand Till she had laid it, and conjur'd it down; That were some spite: 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 To be consorted with the humorous3 night: Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. Come, shall we go? Ben. Go, then; for 'tis in vain To seek him here, that means not to be found. [Exeunt. Jul. Ah me! 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 up-turned 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 Ro- Deny thy father, and refuse thy name : Rom. Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this? Rom. Jul. What man art thou, that, thus bescreen'd in night, So stumblest on my counsel? Rom. By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am: My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, Because it is an enemy to thee; Had I it written, I would tear the word. SCENE II.—Capulet's garden. Enter Romeo. Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound; breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!- 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 For stony limits cannot hold love out: Jul. If they do see thee, they will murder thee. Jul. I would not for the world, they saw thee here. sight; And, but thou love me, let them find me here: Jul. By whose direction found'st thou out this Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise. Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek, Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Rom. Jul. Hist! Romeo, hist!O, for a falconer's To lure this tassel-gentles back again! Rom. It is my soul, that calls upon my name: If my heart's dear love 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. My sweet! Jul. 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. And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Rom. Would'st thou withdraw it? for what pur-So loving-jealous of his liberty. Jul. But to be frank,3 and give it thee again. [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. [Exit Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard, Rom. I would, I were thy bird. sorrow, That I shall say-good night, till it be morrow. [Exit. Rom. Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast!- |