#tebaldo capuletti

Scene VII - The Ball

I don’t want to dance, Romeo decided when they arrived at Capuletti’s palazzo. His heart was still sick with love for Rosalina. May his friends be jolly, he couldn’t.

He wandered around in hope he’d raise no suspicion. The other guests were dressed as if it was still carnival. He saw the lord and lady of the house all in red and gold. And he kept an eye on Tebaldo, dressed as Lucifer himself. The young Capuletti in all his cruel beauty danced with young lady.  But he had no eyes for her. His gaze always wandered to another, Romeo noted.

He searched for her himself and found her dancing with the god of the forest. Romeo watched her closely: she was dressed all in gold and was shining brighter than the sun. Something about the girl fascinated him. The way she moved. Her smile. Romeo drew his breath. His mind was completely preoccupied with the heavenly image before him, moving so gracefully to the music. She was an angel. She stood out from the other girls like a snowy dove in a field of crows.

He couldn’t watch any longer and decided to make a move. The girl’s partner bowed and departed right then. Romeo’s chance. His heart was beating faster. She’ll reject me, his conscience told him, but his voice had already spoken:

“May I ask for this dance?”

Scene V: Sweet Offers

„Think of my offer, Signore,” the young count suggested. Tebaldo couldn’t stand him any longer. Paris was the man’s name. Paris - what a silly name! As far as Tebaldo knew, Paris was the city where the French king resided. So, why name a boy Paris?

“Your request of marriage honours the House of Capuletti” Odoardo seemed flattered. Well, when Tebaldo looked at that slimy Paris he knew why. He was rich. The boy was dressed all in gold with stupid knickerbockers and female jewellery. His childish face and carefully trimmed beard looked ridiculous. How old was he? 21? Tebaldo despised him.

“But be careful. Mistakes are made too easily” Odoardo reminded his guest. Right choice, Tebaldo thought.

Even his aunt Caterina seemed quite impressed with the young lord. She constantly smiled at him. Maybe she’d prefer him in her own bed.

“You know I’ll make the perfect groom” Paris declared. “Your Giulietta will be one of the most respected ladies in fair Verona. My heart will not rest until she is mine.”

His heart! Tebaldo was about to laugh. But his uncle told him not to intervene. As hard as it was, he better obeyed.

But his uncle apparently had doubts, as well: “She's just a child, fourteen tender years. To take a heart before its time, would be a rash, irresponsible crime. Come to our ball tonight, meet her, charm her and maybe you’ll catch her heart… if she wants.” As he said so, he put his arm around Paris’ shoulder and together they went off.

Tebaldo spat out when they were gone: “Whom does he think he is? Why does uncle even consider such a marriage?”

Caterina laughed out loud.

“My sweet Tebaldo! Someone is very jealous. You have nothing to fear from Paris. He’ll marry Giulietta, I’ll take care of this. But you are still your uncle’s heir. Nothing will change.”

“You have no idea…”

Masquerade: Tebaldo

The great fountain was always a favourite place of Benvolio. Despite is noble birth, he grew up at the city’s piazza. Here, with his feet in the cold water beneath the monument of some glorious prince, he had his first kiss.

 Here, the young and fierce ones of Verona, regardless of their origin, found together. And more than once they had to fight over that elysium with the Capuletti…

Benvolio glimpsed scarlet cloaks over leather, gauntlets and greaves, shining gold and silver swords. "Behind!" he heard Mercutio cry. "Make way or die!"

"The boy is protecting his lover, I see," their leader said. They wore the colours of Capuletti.

Benvolio walked forward, step by careful step. “Tebaldo. We are not here to quarrel. Just let us leave.”

"I don’t think so. My sword wasn’t red from Montecchi blood in a while"

“And I haven’t slit a Capuletti throat for months”, Mercutio corresponded. No, don’t join his game, Benvolio thought but it was too late.

Tebaldo smiled. "Heard your uncle shit himself when he died? Didn’t deserve better, I think."

Benvolio understood. Tebaldo provoked Mercutio to draw his sword first. And Mercutio did.

He ripped his longsword from its sheath. "Show me your steel, Bastard.”

The Capuletti men had drawn their swords. Eyes watched from nearby windows and the market, but no one was about to intervene.  And so, the fight began. Even for Benvolio…

The whole Piazza was burning within minutes. 

Chaos envolved, Red fought against Blue, merchants were hiding their goods, women escaped screaming. 

...

...

And then, there was only silence.

People bent their knees and rose again, when horses trembled. But not the brave men of Montecchi and Capuletti.

“Stop this madness”, a voice commanded from above and ended the bloody rush.

The Lord Mastino of the noble della Scala family looked down to the fighters, anger in his eyes. Not even Tebaldo dared to speak to him.