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 ?^ Here are the beetle-brows shall blush for me. Ben. Come, knock, and enter; and no sooner in, Rom. A torch for me: let wantons, light of heart, 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 Mer. I mean, sir, in delay We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Rom. And we mean well, in going to this mask ; Mer. Why, may one ask? Rom. I dreamt a dream to-night. Mer. And so did I. Rom. Well, what was yours? Mer. That dreamers often lie. 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 In shape no bigger than an agate-stone Her waggon-spokes made of long spinners' legs; The collars, of the moonshine's watry beams; Her whip, of cricket's bone; the lash, of film: Her waggoner, a small grey-coated gnat, Not half so big as a round little worm 問 To quote is to observe. STEEVENS. An allusion to an old proverbial saying, which advises to give over when the game is at the fairest. RITSON. Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid : Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love; Rom. Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace; Mer. True, I talk of dreams ; Which are the children of an idle brain, 8 And more inconstant than the wind, who woes [6] Kissing-comfits. These artificial aids to perfume the breath are mentioned by Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor. MALONE. [7] A sword is called a toledo from the excellence of the Toledan steel. So Gro----------Glaudius Toletanus tius, 66 [8] This was a common superstition; and seems to have had its rise from the horrid disease called Plica Polonica WARBURTON. Turning his face to the dew-dropping south. Ben. This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves Supper is done, and we shall come too late. Rom. I fear, too early for my mind misgives, With this night's revels; and expire the term Ben. Strike, drum. SCENE V. [Exeunt. A Hall in CAPULET's house. Musicians waiting. Enter Servants. 1 Serv. Where's Potpan, that he helps not to tak 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 courtcupboard, look to the plate :-good thou, 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 awhile, and the longer liver take all. [They retire behind. Enter CAPULET, &c. with the Guests, and the Maskers. 1 Cap. Gentlemen, welcome! ladies, that have their toes Unplagu'd with corns, will have a bout with you :— Ah ha, my mistresses! which of Will now deny to dance? she that makes dainty, she, hath corns ; Am I come near you now? I'll swear, you all [6] A court-cupboard was a moveable; a beufet, a fixture. The former was open, and made of plain oak; the latter had folding doors and was painted and gilded on the inside. STEEVENS. [7] Marchpanes were composed of filberts, almonds, pistachoes, pine-kernels, and sugar of roses, with a small proportion of flour: called by some almond-cake, and was a constant article in the deserts of our ancestors. It was in high esteem in Shakespeare's time; as appears from the account of Queen Elizabeth's entertainment at Cambridge. It is said that the university presented Sir William Cecil their chancellor with two pair of gloves, a marchpane, and two sugar-loaves. Peck's Desiderata Curiosa. vol. ii. p. 29. GREY. You are welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day, 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, ye knaves; and turn the tables up,o 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 Cap. By'r lady, thirty years. 1 Cap. What, man! 'tis not so much, 'tis not so much : fis 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 hand Of yonder knight? Serv. I know not, sir. Rom. O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear: The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, [8] This exclamation occurs frequently in the old comedies, and signifies make room. STEEVENS. [9] It should be observed that ancient tables were flat leaves, joined by hinges, and placed on tressels. When they were to be removed, they were therefore turned up. STEEVENS. [1] Cousin was a common expression from one kinsman to another, out of the degree of parent and child, brother and sister. Thus in Hamlet, the King his uncle and stepfather addresses him with "But now my cousin Hamlet and my son."-- Olivia, in the Twelfth Night, constantly calls her uncle Toby cousin. Richard III. calls his nephew York cousin, &c. &c. RITSON. Tyb. This, by his voice, should be a Montague :- 1 Cap. Why, how now, kinsman? wherefore storm you Tyb. Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe; Tyb. 'Tis he, that villain Romeo. 1 Cap. Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; Show a fair presence, and put off these frowns, Tyb. It fits, when such a villain is a guest : 1 Cap. He shall be endur'd; What, goodman boy!-I say, he shall ;-Go to ;— my soul You'll make a mutiny among my guests! 1 Cap. Go to, go to, You are a saucy boy :-Is't so, indeed ?— This trick may chance to scath you ;—I know what. Well said, my hearts :-You are a princox; go :— I will withdraw but this intrusion shall, Now seeming sweet, convert to bitter gall. [Exit. |