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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 4
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"Cupid hoodwinked with a scarf"
Allusion
Act 1,
Scene 4
Lines 1-8

An explanation of the allusion to Cupid in Act 1, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

[Enter Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio, along with several other partygoers on their way to Lord Capulet’s house for a masquerade, a formal costume party. Several are carrying lanterns suspended on poles to light their way.]

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.

In this reference to the mythological figure Cupid, Benvolio imagines their group making a dramatic entrance to the Capulet party. In the scenario he describes, one of their group is dressed up as Cupid, complete with his blindfold to indicate love is blind. Cupid then blindly aims at the guests what looks like a murderous Turkish bow and arrow, scaring the ladies half to death. But it's really just a stage prop.

(Cupid Blindfolded, Piero della Francesca, c. 1466)