1 But Montague is bound as well as I, 2 In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think, 3 For men so old as we to keep the peace.
PARIS
4 Of honourable reckoning are you both; 5 And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long. 6 But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET
7 But saying o'er what I have said before: 8 My child is yet a stranger in the world; 9 She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, 10 Let two more summers wither in their pride, 11 Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS
12 Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET
13 And too soon marr'd are those so early made. 14 The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she, 15 She is the hopeful lady of my earth: 16 But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, 17 My will to her consent is but a part; 18 An she agree, within her scope of choice 19 Lies my consent and fair according voice. 20 This night I hold an old accustom'd feast, 21 Whereto I have invited many a guest, 22 Such as I love; and you, among the store, 23 One more, most welcome, makes my number more. 24 At my poor house look to behold this night 25 Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven light: 26 Such comfort as do lusty young men feel 27 When well-apparell'd April on the heel 28 Of limping winter treads, even such delight 29 Among fresh female buds shall you this night 30 Inherit at my house; hear all, all see, 31 And like her most whose merit most shall be: 32 Which on more view, of many mine being one 33 May stand in number, though in reckoning none, 34 Come, go with me. To Servant, giving a paper 35 Go, sirrah, trudge about 36 Through fair Verona; find those persons out 37 Whose names are written there, and to them say, 38 My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
Exeunt CAPULET and PARIS
Servant
39 Find them out whose names are written here! It is 40 written, that the shoemaker should meddle with his 41 yard, and the tailor with his last, the fisher with 42 his pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I am 43 sent to find those persons whose names are here 44 writ, and can never find what names the writing 45 person hath here writ. I must to the learned.--In good time.
Enter BENVOLIO and ROMEO
BENVOLIO
46 Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning, 47 One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish; 48 Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning; 49 One desperate grief cures with another's languish: 50 Take thou some new infection to thy eye, 51 And the rank poison of the old will die.
ROMEO
52 Your plaintain-leaf is excellent for that.
BENVOLIO
53 For what, I pray thee?
ROMEO
54 For your broken shin.
BENVOLIO
55 Why, Romeo, art thou mad?
ROMEO
56 Not mad, but bound more than a mad-man is; 57 Shut up in prison, kept without my food, 58 Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good fellow.
Servant
59 God gi' god-den. I pray, sir, can you read?
ROMEO
60 Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
Servant
61 Perhaps you have learned it without book: but, I 62 pray, can you read any thing you see?
ROMEO
63 Ay, if I know the letters and the language.
Servant
64 Ye say honestly: rest you merry!
ROMEO
65 Stay, fellow; I can read. Reads 66 'Signior Martino and his wife and daughters; 67 County Anselme and his beauteous sisters; the lady 68 widow of Vitravio; Signior Placentio and his lovely 69 nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; mine 70 uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; my fair niece 71 Rosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousin 72 Tybalt, Lucio and the lively Helena.' A fair 73 assembly: whither should they come?
Servant
74 Up.
ROMEO
75 Whither?
Servant
76 To supper; to our house.
ROMEO
77 Whose house?
Servant
78 My master's.
ROMEO
79 Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before.
Servant
80 Now I'll tell you without asking: my master is the 81 great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house 82 of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. 83 Rest you merry!
Exit
BENVOLIO
84 At this same ancient feast of Capulet's 85 Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, 86 With all the admired beauties of Verona: 87 Go thither; and, with unattainted eye, 88 Compare her face with some that I shall show, 89 And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.
ROMEO
90 When the devout religion of mine eye 91 Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; 92 And these, who often drown'd could never die, 93 Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! 94 One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun 95 Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun.
BENVOLIO
96 Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, 97 Herself poised with herself in either eye: 98 But in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd 99 Your lady's love against some other maid 100 That I will show you shining at this feast, 101 And she shall scant show well that now shows best.
ROMEO
102 I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, 103 But to rejoice in splendor of mine own.