Count Paris, a kinsman of the Prince, tells Capulet that he wants to marry his daughter, Juliet. Capulet is reluctant to agree because his daughter is so young, but he tells Paris that if Paris can woo Juliet successfully, then Capulet will grant him permission to marry her. To help his cause, Capulet invites Paris to a party they’re having at the Capulet house that night. Capulet then gives his servant a guest list for the party, and asks him to track down and invite the people on it. The servant, who is illiterate, then asks the passing Romeo and Benvolio for help reading it. Realizing that Rosaline — the object of Romeo’s unrequited love — is on the list, Romeo and Benvolio hatch a plan to attend the party, even though it’s at the enemy house. For his part, Benvolio is convinced that when Romeo sees Rosaline with all the other beautiful young women of Verona, he’ll realize that she pales in comparison.
Capulet
But Montague is legally bound to keep the peace by the Prince’s edict just as I am. This shouldn’t be difficult for two old guys like us.
Paris
It’s a pity that two men of such distinction as you are have lived in conflict for so long. But now, my lord, what do you think of my request?
Capulet
I’ll just repeat what I said before. My daughter is so young — not yet 14. We should wait at least two more years before she marries.
Paris
Younger woman than her have become happy mothers.
Capulet
They may have been successfully made mothers, but many were also damaged by being married so young. Juliet is my only surviving child, the heiress to the Capulet estate, the great hope of my world. But you need to court her, Paris. You must win her over. What I want is just one factor in this decision; her consent is the most important one. If she takes to your wooing, then my consent will be in accord with her desires. Tonight I’m throwing my traditional dinner party. I’ve invited many good friends, and you are most welcome to come and be one more guest in that company.
At my modest little villa, you’ll see girls so dazzling that you’ll think the stars have come down to earth and brightened Heaven itself. When you find yourself among these sweet-smelling girls just blooming into women, you’ll feel the delights of spring fever, I assure you. Come join and take it all in. Go after whichever girl you like the best. You may find that among all these lovely women that my daughter Juliet is just one of the crowd to you. Come, walk with me.
Go around Verona and find the people written down on this list. Tell them that I await the pleasure of their company at my party tonight.
Servant
“Find the people written here,” he says! What’s that old saying? “The shoemaker should stick to his yardstick, the tailor should stick to his foot model, the fisher should stick to his drawing pencil and the painter should stick to his fishing nets.” Here I am sent to find the people whose names are on this list, and I can’t read a thing. I have to find someone more educated. And quickly!
Benvolio
Come on man, one burning passion will burn out your previous one. One kind of pain is drowned out by a different one. Be cheerful, and turn things around. One sad thing seems less sad when there’s something new to mourn. Get yourself a new disease by looking around, and your old love sickness will die off.
Romeo
Your basic herbal leaf is good for that.
Benvolio
Good for what?
Romeo
For a broken shin, a broken heart, whatever.
Benvolio
Are you going crazy, or what?
Romeo
No, I’m not going mad, but I feel like a crazy person locked up in an asylum — not eating, tormented ... [To the servant] Good afternoon, good fellow.
Servant
Good afternoon to you. Excuse me, sir, can you read?
Romeo
Well, I can read my own fortune, and it’s full of misery.
Servant
Perhaps you read your future without reading a book. Can you read any writing that you see?
Romeo
Yes, but only if I know the alphabet and the language.
Servant
Thanks for being frank with me. Have a good day.
Romeo
Stay, please. I can read.
“Signior Martino and his wife and daughters; The Count Anselme and his beautiful sisters; The widowed Lady of Vitruvio; Signior Placentio and his lovely nieces; Mercutio and his brother Valentine; My uncle Capulet, his wife and daughters; My fair niece Rosaline and Livia; Signior Valentio and his cousin Tybalt; Lucio and lively Helena.” Quite an impressive group. Where are they all going?
Servant
Up there.
Romeo
Where? To supper?
Servant
To a dinner party at our house.
Romeo
And whose house is that?
Servant
My master’s.
Romeo
Of course, I should have asked who your master was at the beginning.
Servant
No problem, I’ll tell you without you having to ask. My master is the rich Lord Capulet. If you’re not a Montague, you should stop by for a glass of wine tonight. Have a nice day!
Benvolio
Rosaline, your obsession, is going to be at this annual feast Lord Capulet throws, along with most of the beautiful women in Verona. You should go, and try to look around objectively at some of the other women I’ll show you. Compared to those lovely swans, your Rosaline might just look like an ugly crow.
Romeo
If I ever stop worshipping Rosaline, turn my tears into flames and burn my eyes like religious heretics! My love is as beautiful as the sun and there’s never been a woman more lovely in the history of the world.
Benvolio
Hey, you only think she’s beautiful because you haven’t compared her beauty to anyone’s but hers. Now when you compare her to a woman I’ll show you tonight, then Rosaline will hardly measure up.
Romeo
I’ll go to the party just to enjoy the splendor of my Rosaline, because I’m sure you can’t produce such a woman as that.
