𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱; 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘺𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯.

𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘐, 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘐𝘐; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯.

"But Montague has sworn an oath just like I have, and he's under the same penalty. I don't think it will be hard for men as old as we are to keep the peace." Lord Capulet told Griffin as they were followed by a servant, Thomas. 

"You both have honourable reputations, and it's too bad you've been enemies for so long." Griffin pursed his lips, "But what do you say to my request?"

"I can only repeat what I've said before. My daughter is still very young. She's not even fourteen years old. Let's wait two more summers before we start thinking she's ready to get married." Capulet told him. 

"Girls younger than she often marry and become happy mothers." Griffin pointed out. 

"Girls who marry so young grow up too soon. But go ahead and charm her, gentle Griffin; make her love you. My permission is only part of her decision. If she agrees to marry you, my blessing and fair words will confirm her choice." Capulet said, "Tonight I'm having a feast that we've celebrated for many years. I've invited many of my closest friends, and I'd like to welcome you and add you to the guest list."

"You'll be delighted by young women as fresh as spring flowers." Capulet continued, "Look at anyone you like, and choose whatever woman seems best to you. Once you see a lot of girls, you might not think my daughter's the best anymore. Come along with me."

Capulet turned to Thomas, "Go, little fellow, walk all around Verona. Find the people on this list and tell them they're welcome at my house tonight." Capulet and Griffin left, leaving Thomas staring curiously at the list. 

"Find the people whose names are on this list?" He mumbled, "I've been sent to find the people whose names are written on this list, and I can't read! I'll never find them on my own. I've got to find somebody who knows how to read to help me. But here come some people, right in the nick of time." 

Corbyn and Jack walked towards him, one with a frown, and the other with a desperate expression.

"Come on, man. You can put out one fire by starting another." Jack tried, "A new grief will put the old one out of your mind. Make yourself lovesick by gazing at some new girl, and your old lovesickness will be cured."

"The plantain leaf is excellent for that," Corbyn said.

"For what, Corbyn?" Jack asked.

"For when you cut your shin." He told him.

"What? Corbyn, are you crazy?" Jack exclaimed. 

"I'm not crazy, but I'm tied up tighter than a mental patient in a straitjacket. I'm locked up in a prison and deprived of food. I'm whipped and tortured-" Corbyn spotted Thomas, "Good evening, good fellow." 

"May God give you a good evening. Excuse me, sir, do you know how to read?" He asked. 

"I can read my own fortune in my misery." Corbyn sighed. Thomas flinched in surprise. 

"Perhaps you've learned from life and not from books." Thomas started to smile, "But please tell me, can you read anything you see?"

"Yes, if I know the language and the letters." Corbyn nodded.

"I see. Well, that's an honest answer. Have a nice day." Thomas frowned, turning to leave.

"Stay, fellow. I can read." Corbyn took the list and read it, "Signor Martino and his wife and daughters, Count Anselme and his beautiful sisters, Vitruvio's widow, Signor Placentio and his lovely nieces, Zach and his brother Ryan, my uncle Capulet and his wife and daughters, my fair niece Rosaline and Livia, Signor Valentio and his cousin Jonah, Lucio and the lively Helena." 

"Thank you," Thomas said when Corbyn handed it back.

"That's a nice group of people. Where are they supposed to come?" Corbyn asked.

"Up," Thomas answered.

"Where? To supper?" He questioned.

"To our house."

"Whose house?"

"My master's house."

"Indeed, I should have asked you before who he was," Corbyn said. 

"Now I'll tell you so you don't have to ask. My master is the great and rich Capulet, and if you don't belong to the house of Montague, please come and drink a cup of wine. Have a nice day!" Thomas nodded, before turning and leaving. 

"The beautiful Rosaline whom you love so much will be at Capulet's traditional feast, along with every beautiful woman in Verona." Jack exclaimed, "Go there and compare her objectively to some other girls I'll show you. The woman who you think is as beautiful as a swan is going to look as ugly as a crow to you."

"If my eyes ever lie to me like that, let my tears turn into flames and burn them for being such obvious liars!" Corbyn said, "A woman more beautiful than the one I love? The sun itself has never seen anyone as beautiful since the world began."

"Come on, you first decided she was beautiful when no one else was around. There was no one to compare her to except herself." Jack shrugged, "But let your eyes compare her to another beautiful woman who I'll show you at this feast, and you won't think she's the best anymore."

"I'll go with you. Not because I think you'll show me anything better, but so I can see the woman I love." Corbyn sighed with a nod. 

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵　　‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦.
𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳.