They were interrupted by a servant of the Capulet house who showed them an invitation to a supper in his master’s palace.
“If you are not of the house of Montague, please come this evening and drink a cup of wine!” the man said merrily¹², “I must continue my round¹³.”
Benvolio was exultant, that was the remedy: all the admired beauties of Verona were going to the feast, among them Rosaline.
“Why don’t we go there, Romeo?” he suggested, “You will compare your Rosaline to other girls and maybe you will think that your swan14 is only a crow¹⁵.”
And Romeo answered, “Yes, I will come to enjoy the splendour of my love.”
In another street of Verona, the head of the Capulet family was conversing with Paris. The young nobleman, connected with the Prince’s family, was impatient to learn if he could marry Lord Capulet’s daughter, Juliet.
“I must repeat what I said to you before. My daughter, my dear Juliet, is not yet fourteen, she is still a child. Give her two more summers to grow into¹⁶ a woman!” said the lord.
“But at her age many girls are happy mothers!” Paris insisted warmly.
At this Lord Capulet invited Paris to court¹⁷ her gently and to win¹⁸ her heart.
Then he added: “Come to my traditional feast tonight, Paris, come. The most beautiful girls in Verona will be there, my daughter among them; hear all, see all and love the one whose merits you think best!” he added.