Summary
Highlights
Capulet assures Paris that he and Montague will keep the peace. Paris then asks for Juliet's hand in marriage, but Capulet states that Juliet is too young at not yet 14. He suggests waiting two more summers before considering marriage, though he acknowledges younger girls do marry and become mothers. Capulet encourages Paris to woo Juliet and win her affection, stating that her agreement is crucial, and his blessing will follow if she chooses Paris.
Capulet announces his traditional feast for that night and invites Paris to join the guest list. He describes the feast as an opportunity to see many beautiful women, implying Paris might find someone else more appealing than Juliet. He then instructs a servant to invite the people on a list. The servant, being illiterate, struggles with the task, expressing his inability to read the names and his need for someone to help him.
Romeo, feeling lovesick and distraught, discusses ways to overcome sorrow, suggesting that a new pain can lessen an old one, or a new love can cure old lovesickness. The servant then approaches Romeo and Benvolio, asking if they can read the list. Romeo, despite his current misery, agrees to help, highlighting his ability to read.
Romeo reads the guest list for the servant, which includes several prominent families and, significantly, Rosalind, the woman Romeo is currently infatuated with. The servant reveals that the feast is at his master, Capulet's house, and warns Romeo not to attend if he is a Montague. Romeo learns of the Capulet feast and Rosalind's attendance.
Benvolio encourages Romeo to attend the feast to compare Rosalind to other beautiful women. He believes that seeing other women will make Rosalind seem less appealing, suggesting that Romeo's perception of her beauty is exaggerated due to a lack of comparison. Romeo agrees to go, not to find someone better, but to see Rosalind.