Page:Romeo and Juliet (The Illustrated Shakespeare, 1847).djvu/20



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 awhile, and the longer liver take all.

Enter, &c., with the Guests, and the Maskers.

Cap. 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? You are welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day, 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. 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.

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. His son was but a ward two years ago.

Rom. What lady is 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 Æthiop'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! I never 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 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.

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 it?

Tyb.

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, An 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'll make a mutiny among my guests. You will set 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. 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!

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.

Rom. 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.

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. Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purg'd.

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.

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

Rom. What is her mother?

Nurse. 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.