Romeo - What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse? Or shall we on without apology?
Benvolio - The date is out of such prolixity. We'll have no Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath, scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; But let them measure us by what they will, We'll measure them a measure and be gone.
Romeo - Give me a torch; I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light.
Mercutio - Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance.
Romeo -Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles. I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.
Mercutio - You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings, and soar with them above a common bound.
Romeo - I am too sore empiercèd 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.
Mercutio - And, to sink in it should you burden love, too great oppression for a tender thing.
Romeo - Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.
Mercutio - If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down. [Benvolio holds out several masks from which Mercutio can choose.] Give me a case to put my visage in. A visor for a visor — what care I What curious eye doth quote deformities? [Mercutio selects a mask with a scowling appearance] Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me.
Benvolio - Come, knock and enter, and no sooner in, But every man betake him to his legs.
Romeo - A torch for me. Let wantons, light of heart, Tickle the senseless rushes with their heels; For I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase. I'll be a candle-holder and look on; The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done.
Mercutio - Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word. If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire, Or — save your reverence — love, wherein thou strikes up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!
Romeo - Nay, that's not so.
Mercutio - I mean, sir, in delay we waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits five times in that ere once in our five wits.
Romeo - And we mean well in going to this mask; But 'tis no wit to go.
Mercutio - Why, may one ask?
Romeo - I dreamt a dream tonight.
Mercutio - And so did I.
Romeo - Well, what was yours?
Mercutio - That dreamers often lie.
Romeo - In bed asleep — while they do dream things true.
William Shakespeare
Romeo - Story Time Blog
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