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 loves 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.

Capulet

Welcome, gentlemen! ladies that have their toes

Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you.

Ah, 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 unlooked-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?

Old man

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 masked.

Old man

'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's 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, covered 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;

'A bears him like a portly gentleman;

And, to say truth, Verona brags of him

To be a virtuous and well-governed 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.

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.

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 bitterest gall. Exit.

Romeo

To Juliet

If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle sin 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 purged.

Juliet

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo

Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged!

Give me my sin again.

Juliet

You kiss by the book.

Nurse to Juliet

Madam, your mother craves a word with you.

Romeo

What is her mother?

Nurse to Juliet

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 talked 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, 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 to Juliet

The son and heir of old Tiberio.

Juliet

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

Nurse to Juliet

Marry, that, I think, be young Petruchio.

Juliet

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

Nurse to Juliet

I know not.

Juliet

Nurse to Juliet

His name is Romeo, and a Montague;

The only son of your great enemy.

Juliet

Nurse to Juliet

What's tis? what's tis?

Juliet

A rhyme I learned even now

Of one I danced withal.

“Juliet.”

Nurse to Juliet

Anon, anon!

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