Love, heavy lightness! serious vanity! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Dost thou not laugh, my friend ?-Oh, Juliet! Juliet! Rom. Good heart, at what?— Ben. At thy good heart's oppression. Mer. Tell me, in sadness, who she is you love? Mer. I aim'd so near, when I suppos'd you lov'd. Rom. He, that is strucken blind, cannot forget Mer. I warrant thee, if thou'lt but stay to hear. Where all the beauties of Verona meet. Mer. At Capulet's, my friend; Go there, and with an unattainted eye, Compare her face with some that I shall show, 4 Rom. When the devout religion of mine eye Maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires : And burn the heretics. All-seeing Phœbus Ne'er saw her match, since first his course began. Mer. Tut, tut, you saw her fair, none else being by; Herself pois'd with herself; but let be weigh'd Rom. I will along, Mercutio. Mer. 'Tis well. Hear all, all see, try all; and like her most, Rom. My mind is chang'd I will not go to-night. Mer. Why, may one ask? Rom. I dream'd a dream last night. Mer. Ha ha! a dream? O, then I see Queen Mab has been with you. On doctors' fingers, who straight dream on fees; Sometimes she driveth o'er a soldier's neck, Rom. Peace, peace, Thou talk'st of nothing. Mer. True, I talk of dreams; Which are the children of an idle brain, Ben. This wind you talk of, blows us from ourselves, And we shall come too late. Rom. I fear, too early; for my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, From this night's revels-lead, gallant friends, [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO. Let come what may, once more I will behold My Juliet's eyes, drink deeper of affliction : I'll watch the time; and, mask'd from observation, Make known my sufferings, but conceal my name : Tho' hate and discord 'twixt our sires increase, Let in our hearts dwell love and endless peace. [Exit. SCENE IV. CAPULET'S House. Enter LADY CAPULET and NURSE. Lady C. Nurse, where's my daughter? call her forth to me. Nurse. Now by my faith I bade her come; what lamb, what lady-bird, God forbid-where's this girl? what Juliet! Enter JULIET. Jul. How now, who calls? Jul. Madam, I am here, what is your will? -Nurse, give leave a while, we must talk in secret;-Nurse, come back again. I have remembered me, thou shalt hear my counsel. Nurse. Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour. Nurse. I'll lay eighteen of my teeth, and yet to my teeth be it spoken, I have but eight, she's not eighteen. how long is it now to Lammas-tide ? Lady C. A fortnight and odd days. Nurse. Even or odd, of all days in the year, My lord and you were then at Mantua :- Jul. I pray thee, peace. Nurse. Peace, I have done, Heaven mark thee to its grace. Thou wast the prettiest babe that ere I nurs'd: I have my wish. Lady C. And that same marriage is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married? Jul. It is an honour, that I dream not of. Nurse. An honour? were not I thine only nurse, I'd say, thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy breast. Lady C. Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you, Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers. By my 'count, Nurse. A man, young lady, lady, such a man Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. Enter PETER. Peter. Madam, new guests are come, and brave ones, all in masks. You are called; my young lady asked for, the Nurse cursed in the pantry; supper almost ready to be served up, and every thing in extremity. I must hence, and wait. I beseech you, follow straight. Lady C. We follow thee. [Exeunt. |