What, man? It's not that long, it's not that
long. It's been since Lucentio's wedding. Let the
years fly by as fast as they like, it's only been
twenty-five years since we wore masks.
CAPULET'S COUSIN
'Tis more, 'tis more. His son is elder, sir.
His son is thirty.
CAPULET'S COUSIN
It's been longer, it's been longer.
Lucentio's son is older than that, sir. He's
thirty years old.
CAPULET
Will you tell me that?
His son was but a ward two years ago.
CAPULET
Are you really going to tell me that? His son was a minor only two
years ago.
ROMEO
40
(to a
SERVINGMAN) What lady is that which
doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?
ROMEO
(to a
SERVINGMAN) Who is the girl on the
arm of that lucky knight over there?
SERVINGMAN
I know not, sir.
SERVINGMAN
I don't know, sir.
ROMEO
Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear,
45
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear.
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.
50
Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.
ROMEO
Oh, she shows the torches how to burn bright! She stands out
against the darkness like a jeweled earring hanging against the
cheek of an African. Her beauty is too good for this world;
she's too beautiful to die and be buried. She outshines the
other women like a white dove in the middle of a flock of crows.
When this dance is over, I'll see where she stands, and
then I'll touch her hand with my rough and ugly one. Did my
heart ever love anyone before this moment? My eyes were liars, then,
because I never saw true beauty before tonight.
