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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 4
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Party entrance
Cultural Reference
Act 1,
Scene 4
Lines 1-2

A cultural reference to the convention that male guests, arriving at a party, were to give a speech paying tribute to the host and complimenting the women in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 4.

[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?

It was the social convention of the time that when the male guests arrived at a masquerade they gave a clever speech that was appropriate to their costumes. In the speech they would pay tribute to the host, compliment the women, and in the case of Romeo and his friends, make an apology for crashing the party.