When Romeo first sees Juliet, what does he compare her to?

seesfor the
first time when he crashes the Capulets' party with his friendsand . As soon as he lays eyes on
Juliet, Romeo is captivated, asking who she is. Romeo then makes his first comparison, likening
her to a brilliant jewel gleaming on the ear of a black person ("Ethiope"). He
states,

Oh, she doth
teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of
night

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiopes ear ...

Romeo is saying that Juliet shines with
such a bright light that everything around her seems dark or black in contrast. This is a
sentiment he will repeat over the course of the play in many ways.

This kind of enthusiasm is typical of Romeo, a young man who is in love
with love. He is not one to hold back, and he lets the love thunderbolt strike him full force
when it comes to Juliet.