Act I, Scene v:
A Hall in Capulet's House.

[Musicians waiting. Enter Servants.]

1 Servant.

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

he shift a trencher! he scrape a trencher!

2 Servant.

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

hands, and they unwash'd too, 'tis a foul thing.

1 Servant.

Away with the join-stools, remove the court-cupboard, look

to the plate:—good thou, save me a piece of marchpane; and as

thou loves me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone and Nell.—

Antony! and Potpan!

2 Servant.

Ay, boy, ready.

1 Servant.

You are looked for and called for, asked for

and sought for in the great chamber.

2 Servant.

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

be brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.

[They retire behind.]

[Enter Capulet, &c. with the Guests the Maskers.]

Capulet.:

Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes

Unplagu'd 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 you now?

Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day

That I have worn a visard; 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.—

[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;

How long is't now since last yourself and I

Were in a mask?

2 Capulet.

By'r Lady, thirty years.

Capulet.:

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 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.:

What lady is that, which doth 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

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 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

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?

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.

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

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,

An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.

Tybalt.:

It fits, when such a villain is a guest:

I'll not endure him.

Capulet.:

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'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!

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!

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.

[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,

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.

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 thine my sin is purg'd.

[Kissing her.]

Juliet.:

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo.:

Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg'd!

Give me my sin again.

Juliet.:

You kiss by the book.

Nurse.:

Madam, your mother craves a word with you.

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 nurs'd her daughter that you talk'd withal;

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, be gone; the sport is at the best.

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.—

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

Ah, sirrah[to 2 Capulet], 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.

Juliet.:

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

Nurse.:

Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.

Juliet.:

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

Nurse.:

I know not.

Juliet.:

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.

Juliet.:

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?

Juliet.:

A rhyme I learn'd even now

Of one I danc'd withal.

[One calls within, 'Juliet.']

Nurse.:

Anon, anon!

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

[Exeunt.]

[Enter Chorus.]

Chorus.:

Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie,

And young affection gapes to be his heir;

That fair for 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 us'd to swear;

And she as much in love, her means much less

To meet her new beloved anywhere:

But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,

Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.

[Exit.]