Act 1

First Servingman Where’s Potpan that he helps not

to take away? He shift a trencher? He scrape a

trencher?

Second Servingman When good manners shall lie

all in one or two men’s hands, and they unwashed

too, ’tis a foul thing.

First Servingman 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.–Anthony and Potpan!

Third Servingman Ay, boy, ready.

First Servingman You are looked for and called for,

asked for and sought for, in the great chamber.

Third Servingman We cannot be here and there too.

Cheerly, boys! Be brisk awhile, and the longer liver

take all. [They move aside.]

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 you

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. [Music plays and they dance.]

A hall, a hall, give room!–And foot it, girls.–

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?

Capulet’s Cousin 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.

Capulet’s Cousin

’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?

Servingman I know not, sir.

Romeo

O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

As 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. [Page exits.]

What, dares the slave

Come hither covered with an antic face

To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?

Now, by the stock and honor 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-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 willful choler meeting

Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.

I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,

Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.

Romeo [taking Juliet’s hand]

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. [He kisses her.]

Juliet You kiss by th’ 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 nursed her daughter that you talked withal.

I tell you, he that can lay hold of her

Shall have the chinks. [Nurse moves away.]

Romeo [aside] Is she a Capulet?

O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.

Benvolio

Away, begone. 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.

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 here, that would not dance?

Nurse I know not.

Juliet

Go ask his name. [The Nurse goes.] If he be married,

My grave is like to be my wedding bed.

Nurse [returning]

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 learned even now

Of one I danced withal.

Nurse Anon, anon.

Come, let’s away. The strangers all are gone.