Term
SCENE IV. A street.
Enter ROMEO, MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO, with five or six Maskers, Torch-bearers, and others |
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Definition
ROMEO
What, shall this speech be spoke for our excuse?
Or shall we on without a apology? |
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Term
BENVOLIO
The date is out of such prolixity:let them measure us by what they will;
We'll measure them a measure, and be gone. |
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Definition
ROMEO
Give me a torch: I am not for this ambling;
Being but heavy, I will bear the light. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. |
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Definition
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. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
You are a lover; borrow Cupid's wings,
And soar with them above a common bound. |
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Definition
ROMEO
I am too sore enpierced 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. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
And, to sink in it, should you burden love;
Too great oppression for a tender thing. |
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Definition
ROMEO
Is love a tender thing? it is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.
BENVOLIO
Come, knock and enter; and no sooner in,
But every man betake him to his legs. |
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Definition
ROMEO
A torch for me: I'll be a candle-holder, and look on.
The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
Tut, dun's the mouse, Come, we burn daylight, ho! |
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Definition
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Term
MERCUTIO
I mean, sir, in delay
We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. |
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Definition
ROMEO
And we mean well in going to this mask;
But 'tis no wit to go. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
Why, may one ask? |
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Definition
ROMEO
I dream'd a dream to-night. |
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Term
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Definition
ROMEO
Well, what was yours? |
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Term
MERCUTIO
That dreamers often lie. |
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Definition
ROMEO
In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes...
...That presses them and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she-- |
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Definition
ROMEO
Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace!
Thou talk'st of nothing. |
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Term
MERCUTIO
True, I talk of dreams,
Which are the children of an idle brain,
Begot of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air
And more inconstant than the wind,
BENVOLIO
This wind, you talk of, blows us from ourselves;
Supper is done, and we shall come too late. |
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Definition
ROMEO
I fear, too early: for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin his fearful date By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
But He, that hath the steerage of my course,
Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen. |
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