A Hall in Capulet’s House.

      [Musicians waiting. Enter Servants.]

      1 SERVANT.

       Where’s Potpan, that he helps not to take away? he shift a trencher! he scrape a trencher!

      2 SERVANT.

       When good manners shall lie all in one or two men’s hands, and they unwash’d too, ‘tis a foul thing.

      1 SERVANT.

       Away with the join-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!

      2 SERVANT.

       Ay, boy, ready.

      1 SERVANT.

       You are looked for and called for, asked for and sought for in the great chamber.

      2 SERVANT.

       We cannot be here and there too.—Cheerly, boys; be brisk awhile, and the longer liver take all.

      [They retire behind.]

      [Enter Capulet, &c. with the Guests the Maskers.]

      CAPULET.

       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?

       Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day

       That I have worn a visard; 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 I

       Were in a mask?

      2 CAPULET.

       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 mask’d.

      2 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.

       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 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:—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;

       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 the 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 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!