ROMEO AND JULIET 1.5

A hall in Capulet's house.

[Musicians waiting. Enter Servingmen with napkins]

First Servant Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? He

shift a trencher? he scrape a trencher!

Second Servant When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's

hands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing.

First Servant Away with the joint-stools, remove the 5

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!

Second Servant Ay, boy, ready. 10

First Servant You are looked for and called for, asked for and

sought for, in the great chamber.

Second Servant We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys; be

brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.

[Enter CAPULET, with JULIET and others of his house,

meeting the Guests and Maskers]

CAPULET Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes 15

Unplagued with corns will have a bout with you.

Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all

Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty,

She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?

Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day 20

That I have worn a visor and could tell

A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,

Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:

You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play.

A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls. 25

[Music plays, and they dance]

More light, you 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: 30

How long is't now since last yourself and I

Were in a mask?

Second Capulet By'r lady, thirty years.

CAPULET What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:

'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio,

Come pentecost as quickly as it will, 35

Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd.

Second Capulet 'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir;

His son is thirty.

CAPULET Will you tell me that?

His son was but a ward two years ago.

ROMEO [To a Servingman] What lady is that, which doth 40

enrich the hand

Of yonder knight?

Servant I know not, sir.

ROMEO O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night 45

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope'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, 50

And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

TYBALT This, by his voice, should be a Montague.

Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave 55

Come hither, cover'd with an antic 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.

CAPULET Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so? 60

TYBALT Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,

A villain that is hither come in spite,

To scorn at our solemnity this night.

CAPULET Young Romeo is it?

TYBALT 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. 65

CAPULET 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 the town 70

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. 75

TYBALT It fits, when such a villain is a guest:

I'll not endure him.

CAPULET He shall be endured:

What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;

Am I the master here, or you? go to. 80

You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!

You'll make a mutiny among my guests!

You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!

TYBALT Why, uncle, 'tis a shame.

CAPULET Go to, go to; 85

You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?

This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:

You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time.

Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:

Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame! 90

I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!

TYBALT 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. 95

[Exit]

ROMEO [To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, 100

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer. 105

ROMEO O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;

They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake.

ROMEO Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged. 110

JULIET Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

ROMEO Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!

Give me my sin again.

JULIET You kiss by the book.

Nurse Madam, your mother craves a word with you. 115

ROMEO What is her mother?

Nurse Marry, bachelor,

Her mother is the lady of the house,

And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous

I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal; 120

I tell you, he that can lay hold of her

Shall have the chinks.

ROMEO Is she a Capulet?

O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.

BENVOLIO Away, begone; the sport is at the best. 125

ROMEO Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest.

CAPULET 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. 130

More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.

Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late:

I'll to my rest.

[Exeunt all but JULIET and Nurse]

JULIET Come hither, nurse. What is yond gentleman?

Nurse The son and heir of old Tiberio. 135

JULIET What's he that now is going out of door?

Nurse Marry, that, I think, be young Petrucio.

JULIET What's he that follows there, that would not dance?

Nurse I know not.

JULIET Go ask his name: if he be married. 140

My grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Nurse His name is Romeo, and a Montague;

The only son of your great enemy.

JULIET My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late! 145

Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

That I must love a loathed enemy.

Nurse What's this? what's this?

JULIET A rhyme I learn'd even now

Of one I danced withal. 150

[One calls within 'Juliet.']

Nurse Anon, anon!

Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone.

[Exeunt]

First Servant		Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? He
		shift a trencher? he scrape a trencher!

Second Servant		When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's
		hands and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing.

First Servant	Away with the joint-stools, remove the	5
	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!

First Servant		You are looked for and called for, asked for and
		sought for, in the great chamber.

Second Servant		We cannot be here and there too. Cheerly, boys; be
		brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.
		[Enter CAPULET, with JULIET and others of his house,
		meeting the Guests and Maskers]

CAPULET	Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes	15
	Unplagued with corns will have a bout with you.
	Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
	Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty,
	She, I'll swear, hath corns; am I come near ye now?
	Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day	20
	That I have worn a visor and could tell
	A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
	Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:
	You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play.
	A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls.	25
	[Music plays, and they dance]
	More light, you 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:	30
	How long is't now since last yourself and I
	Were in a mask?

CAPULET	What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much:
	'Tis since the nuptials of Lucentio,
	Come pentecost as quickly as it will,	35
	Some five and twenty years; and then we mask'd.

Second Capulet		'Tis more, 'tis more, his son is elder, sir;
		His son is thirty.

CAPULET		Will you tell me that?
		His son was but a ward two years ago.

ROMEO	[To a Servingman] What lady is that, which doth	40
	enrich the hand
	Of yonder knight?

ROMEO	O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
	It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night	45
	Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope'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,	50
	And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
	Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
	For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

TYBALT	This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
	Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave	55
	Come hither, cover'd with an antic 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.

TYBALT		Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe,
		A villain that is hither come in spite,
		To scorn at our solemnity this night.

CAPULET	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 the town	70
	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.	75

TYBALT		It fits, when such a villain is a guest:
		I'll not endure him.

CAPULET	He shall be endured:
	What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;
	Am I the master here, or you? go to.	80
	You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul!
	You'll make a mutiny among my guests!
	You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!

CAPULET	Go to, go to;	85
	You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?
	This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:
	You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time.
	Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:
	Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame!	90
	I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!

TYBALT	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.	95
	[Exit]

ROMEO		[To JULIET] If I profane with my unworthiest hand
		This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
		My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
		To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET	Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,	100
	Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
	For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
	And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.

ROMEO		O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
		They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

ROMEO		Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
		Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.	110

ROMEO		Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
		Give me my sin again.

Nurse	Marry, bachelor,
	Her mother is the lady of the house,
	And a good lady, and a wise and virtuous
	I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal;	120
	I tell you, he that can lay hold of her
	Shall have the chinks.

ROMEO		Is she a Capulet?
		O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.

CAPULET	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.	130
	More torches here! Come on then, let's to bed.
	Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late:
	I'll to my rest.
	[Exeunt all but JULIET and Nurse]

JULIET		Go ask his name: if he be married.	140
		My grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Nurse		His name is Romeo, and a Montague;
		The only son of your great enemy.

JULIET	My only love sprung from my only hate!
	Too early seen unknown, and known too late!	145
	Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
	That I must love a loathed enemy.

JULIET	A rhyme I learn'd even now
	Of one I danced withal.	150
	[One calls within 'Juliet.']