the nurse cursed in the pantry, and every thing in extremity. I must hence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight. La. Cap. We follow thee.-Juliet the county stays. Nurse. Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy [Exeunt. days. SCENE IV. A Street. Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or sir Maskers, Torch-bearers, and Others. Rom. What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Or shall we on without apology? Ben. The date is out of such prolixity. We'll have no cupid hood-wink'd with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; Nor no without-book prologue, faintly spoke After the prompter, for our entrance: But, let them measure us by what they will, We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. Rom. Give me a torch,-I am not for this ambling; Being but heavy, I will bear the light. Mer. Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Rom. Not I, believe me: you have dancing shoes, With nimble soles: I have a soul of lead, Mer. You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, And soar with them above a common bound. Rom. I am too sore enpierced with his shaft, To soar with his light feathers; and so bound, I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe: Under love's heavy burden do I sink. Mer. And, to sink in it, should you burden love, Too great oppression for a tender thing. Rom. Is love a tender thing? it is too rough, Too rude, too boist'rous; and it pricks like thorn. Mer. If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. Give me a case to put my visage in : [Putting on a Mask. A visor for a visor !-what care I, What curious eye doth quote deformities? But every man betake him to his legs. Rom. A torch for me: let wantons, light of heart, Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels; For I am proverb'd with a grandsire phrase,I'll be a candle-holder, and look on, The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. Mer. Tut! dun's the mouse, the constable's own word: If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire Of this (save reverence) love, wherein thou stick'st Up to the ears.-Come, we burn day-light, ho. Rom. Nay, that's not so. Mer. Mer. And so did I. That dreamers often lie. Rom. Well, what was yours? Rom. In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. Mer. O, then, I see queen Mab hath been with you. She is the fairies' midwife; and she comes On the forefinger of an alderman, Drawn with a team of little atomies Her waggoner a small gray-coated gnat, Made by the joiner squirrel, or old grub, On courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight: O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees: O'er ladies' lips, who straight on kisses dream; Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues, Because their breaths with sweet-meats tainted are. Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose, This, this is she Rom. Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace; Thou talk'st of nothing. Mer. Which is as thin of substance as the air; Ben. This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves; Supper is done, and we shall come too late. With this night's revels; and expire the term [Exeunt. SCENE V. A Hall in Capulet's House. Musicians waiting. Enter Servants. 1 Serv. Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away? he shift a trencher! he scrape a trencher! 2 Serv. When good manners shall lie all in one or two men's hands, and they unwashed too, 'tis a foul thing. 1 Serv. Away with the joint-stools, remove the court capboard, look to the plate:-good thon, save me a piece of marchpane; and, as thou lovest me, let the porter let in Susan Grindstone, and Nell.-Antony! and Potpan! 2 Serv. Ay, boy; ready. 1 Serv. You are looked for, and called for, asked for, and sought for, in the great chamber. 2 Serv. We cannot be here and there too.Cheerly, boys; be brisk a while, and the longer liver take all. [They retire behind. Enter CAPULET, &c. with the Guests and the Maskers. Cap. Gentlemen, welcome! ladies, that have their toes Unplagu'd with corns, will have a bout with you. Ah ba, 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? You are welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day, That I have worn a visor; and could tell You are welcome, gentlemen!-Come, musicians, play. A hall! a hall! give room, and foot it, girls. 2 Cap. By'r lady, thirty years. 1 Cap. 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 Cap. 'Tis more, 'tis more: his son is elder, sir: His son is thirty. 1 Cap. Will you tell me that? His son was but a ward two years ago. Rom. What lady's that which doth enrich the Of yonder knight? Serv. I know not, sir. [hand Rom. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night And, touching hers, make happy my rude hand. Tyb. This, by his voice, should be a Monta. gue : Fetch me my rapier, boy:-What! dares the slave |