Romeo and Juliet | Page 6

That, when she dies, with beauty dies her store.
Benvolio. Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?
Romeo. She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste; For beauty,
starv'd with her severity, Cuts beauty off from all posterity. She is too
fair, too wise; wisely too fair, To merit bliss by making me despair: She
hath forsworn to love; and in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it
now.
Benvolio. Be rul'd by me, forget to think of her.
Romeo. O, teach me how I should forget to think.
Benvolio. By giving liberty unto thine eyes; Examine other beauties.
Romeo. 'Tis the way To call hers, exquisite, in question more: These
happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows, Being black, puts us in mind
they hide the fair; He that is strucken blind cannot forget The precious
treasure of his eyesight lost: Show me a mistress that is passing fair,
What doth her beauty serve but as a note Where I may read who pass'd
that passing fair? Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.
Benvolio. I'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt.
[Exeunt.]

Scene II. A Street.
[Enter Capulet, Paris, and Servant.]
Capulet. But Montague is bound as well as I, In penalty alike; and 'tis

not hard, I think, For men so old as we to keep the peace.
Paris. Of honourable reckoning are you both; And pity 'tis you liv'd at
odds so long. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
Capulet. But saying o'er what I have said before: My child is yet a
stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe
to be a bride.
Paris. Younger than she are happy mothers made.
Capulet. And too soon marr'd are those so early made. The earth hath
swallowed all my hopes but she,-- She is the hopeful lady of my earth:
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart, My will to her consent is but a
part; An she agree, within her scope of choice Lies my consent and fair
according voice. This night I hold an old accustom'd feast, Whereto I
have invited many a guest, Such as I love; and you among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house
look to behold this night Earth-treading stars that make dark heaven
light: Such comfort as do lusty young men feel When well apparell'd
April on the heel Of limping winter treads, even such delight Among
fresh female buds shall you this night Inherit at my house; hear all, all
see, And like her most whose merit most shall be: Which, among view
of many, mine, being one, May stand in number, though in reckoning
none. Come, go with me.--Go, sirrah, trudge about Through fair Verona;
find those persons out Whose names are written there, [gives a paper]
and to them say, My house and welcome on their pleasure stay.
[Exeunt Capulet and Paris].
Servant.Find them out whose names are written here! It is written that
the shoemaker should meddle with his yard and the tailor with his last,
the fisher with his pencil, and the painter with his nets; but I am sent to
find those persons whose names are here writ, and can never find what
names the writing person hath here writ. I must to the learned:--in good
time!

[Enter Benvolio and Romeo.]
Benvolio. Tut, man, one fire burns out another's burning, One pain is
lessen'd by another's anguish; Turn giddy, and be holp by backward
turning; One desperate grief cures with another's languish: Take thou
some new infection to thy eye, And the rank poison of the old will die.
Romeo. Your plantain-leaf is excellent for that.
Benvolio. For what, I pray thee?
Romeo. For your broken shin.
Benvolio. Why, Romeo, art thou mad?
Romeo. Not mad, but bound more than a madman is; Shut up in prison,
kept without my food, Whipp'd and tormented and--God-den, good
fellow.
Servant. God gi' go-den.--I pray, sir, can you read?
Romeo. Ay, mine own fortune in my misery.
Servant. Perhaps you have learned it without book: but I pray, can you
read anything you see?
Romeo. Ay, If I know the letters and the language.
Servant. Ye say honestly: rest you merry!
Romeo. Stay, fellow; I can read. [Reads.] 'Signior Martino and his wife
and daughters; County Anselmo and his beauteous sisters; the lady
widow of Vitruvio; Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces; Mercutio
and his brother Valentine; mine uncle Capulet, his wife, and daughters;
my fair niece Rosaline; Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt;
Lucio and the lively Helena.' A fair assembly. [Gives