Rom. 'Tis the way
To call hers, exquisite, in question more.
These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows,
Being black, put us in mind they hide the fair; 237
He that is strucken blind cannot forget
The precious treasure of his eyesight lost:
Show me a mistress that is passing fair, 240
What doth her beauty serve but as a note
Where I may read who pass'd that passing fair?
Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget.
Ben. I'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt.
Scene Two
[A Street]
Enter Capulet, County Paris, and the Clown.
Cap. But Montague is bound as well as I,
In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think,
For men so old as we to keep the peace.
Par. Of honourable reckoning are you both;
And pity 'tis you liv'd at odds so long. 5
But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
Cap. But saying o'er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world, 8
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
Par. Younger than she are happy mothers made. 12
Cap. And too soon marr'd are those so early made.
Earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,
235 call . . . in question: consider
240 passing: surpassingly
244 pay that doctrine: give that instruction
Scene Two S. d. County: count
Clown; cf. n.
4 reckoning: repute
