rlous knock; and it cried bitterly. , quoth my husband, fall'st upon thy face? Thou will 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: 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 hast 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, a Nurse. Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower. La. Cap. What say you ? can you love the tleman ? gen This night you shall behold him at our feast: (2) Well made, as if he had been modelled in wax. (3) The comments on ancient books were al ways printed in the margin. (4) i. e. Is not yet caught, whose skin was wanted to bind him. (5) i. e. Long speeches are out of fashion. (6) A scare-crow, a figure made up to frighten crows, 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 : 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 ; 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 ambling; 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, The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done."1 If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire Mer. Mer. And so did I. That dreamers often lie. Rom. Well, what was yours? Mer. Rom. In bed, asleep, while they do dream things SCENE V.-A hall in Capulet's house. Musi 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. 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, Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night's revels; and expire the term (1) Atoms. tangled in the night. [Exeunt. (2) A place in court. (3) i. e. Fairy-locks, locks of hair clotted and cians 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, is a foul thing. thou 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 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:— gone: You are welcome, gentlemen.-Coine, musicians, play. 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. Will you tell me that? which doth enrich the His son was but a ward two years ago. Rom. What lady's that, hand Of vonder 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. 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; 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, Show a fair presence, and put off these frowns, And 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 ;-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! 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. You must contráry me! marry, 'tis timeWell said, my hearts:-You are a princox ;2 go:Be quiet, or-More light, more light, for shame!I'll make you quiet; What!-Cheerly, my hearts. Tyb. Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting, 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; 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. Rom. Is she a Capulet? 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! Nurse. What's this? what's this? A rhyme I learn'd even now Enter Chorus. Now old desire doth in his death-bed lie, [Exeunt. And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair, which love groan'd for, and would die, 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, 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. Jul. Saints do not move, though grant for SCENE I.-An open place, adjoining Capulet's prayers' sake. Rom. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purg'd. [Kissing her. Jul. Then have my lips the sin that they have took. Rom. Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg'd! Give me my sin again. Jul. you. (1) Do you an injury. (2) A coxcomb. (3) A collation of fruit, wine, &c. garden. Enter Romeo. Call, good Mercutio. By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, Ben. An if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him. Ben. Come, he hath hid himself among those To be consorted with the humorous night: Mer. If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark. And wish his mistress were that kind of fruit, Ben. [Exeunt. SCENE II-Capulet's garden. Enter Romeo. She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art 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? [Aside. Rom. I take thee at thy word: So stumblest on my counsel ? Rom. By a name 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; Rom. He jests at scars, that never felt a wound.-Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague? [Juliet appears above, at a window. But, soft! what light through yonder window It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!- That thou her maid art far more fair than she: O, that she knew she were! She speaks, yet she says nothing; What of that? I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: As daylight doth a lamp; her eye in heaven (1) Alluding to the old ballad of the king and the beggar. (2) This phrase in Shakspeare's time was used as an expression of tenderness. Rom. Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike. 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: Rom. By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore wash'd with the furthest sea, (3) Humid, moist. (4) A votary to the moon, to Diana. (7) Hindrance. (8) Unless thou love me. I would adventure for such merchandise. Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek, And therefore thou may'st think my haviour1 light: Rom. Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear, moon, voice, To lure this tassel-gentle' back again! Rom. It is my soul, that calls upon my name: That monthly changes in her circled orb, Rom. If my heart's dear love- Rom. O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied? for mine. Jul. Romeo! Jul. My sweet! Shall I send to thee? I Rom. At what o'clock to-morrow At the hour of nine. Jul. I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then. Rom. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget, Jul. 'Tis almost morning, I would have thee And yet no further than a wanton's bird; Jul. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again. Rom. Would'st thou withdraw it? for what Jul. But to be frank, and give it thee again. [Nurse calls within. [Exit. Rom. O blessed, blessed night! I am a feard, Jul. Sweet, so would Í : Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! His help to crave, and my dear hap" to tell. [Exit. Fri. The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning Checkering the eastern clouds with streaks of light; (6) Fetters. (7) Chance, fortune. SR |