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 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.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 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 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.
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 IWere 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, 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 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 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, 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;