ROMEO and JULIET.

ACTI. SCENE I.

The Street in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory, with Swords and bucklers, two fervants of the Capulets.

G

SAMPSON,

REGORY, on my word we'll not carry
coals.

Greg. No, for then we fhould be colliers.
Sam. I ftrike quickly, being mov'd.
Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd
to ftrike.

Sam. A dog of the house of Mountague moves me. Greg. To move, is to ftir: and to be valiant, is to ftand: therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'ft away. Sam. A dog of that houfe fhall move me to ftand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Mountague's. Greg. That fhews thee a weak flave, for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True, and therefore women, being the weakeft veffels, are ever thruft to the wall: therefore I will push Mountague's men from the wall, and thruft his maids to the wall.

A 3

Greg

Grog. The quarrel is between our mafters, and us their men.

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhew my felf a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be as cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads.

Greg. The heads of the maids?

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maisenheads, take it in what fenfe thou wilt,

Greg. They must take it in fense that feel it.

Sam. Me they hall feel while I am able to stand; and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.

Greg, 'Tis well thou art not filh: if thou hadft, theu hadft been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the houfe of the Mountagues.

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

* SVGH

Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee.

Greg. How turn thy back and run?

Sam. Fear me not.

Greg. No, marry: I fear thee,

Sam. Let us take the law of our fides: let them begin. Greg. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they lift.

Sam. Nay as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
them, which is a difgrace to them, if they bear it.
Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?
Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir !
Sam. Is the law on our fide, if I fay ay?

Greg. No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir but I bite my thumb, Sir.

Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir?

Abr. Quarrel, Sir no, Sir.

Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you; I ferve as good

a man as you..

Abr. No better?

Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio.

Greg. Say better : here comes one of my mafter's kiasmen.

Sam.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir.
Abr. You lie.

Sam. Draw, if you be men.

thy fwathing blow.

Gregory, remember [They fight

Ben. Part, fools, put up your fwords, you know

not what you do.

Enter Tibalt.

Tib. What, art thou drawn amongst thefe heartless hinds?

Turn thee, Benvolie, look upon thy death.

Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy fword, Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tib. What draw, and talk of peace? I hate the word As I hate hell, all Mountagues and thee:

Have at thee, coward.

[Fight. de Enter three or four citizens with clubs. Offic. Clubs, bills, and partifans! ftrike! beat them down.

Down with the Capulets, down with the Mountagues. Enter old Capulet in his gown, and lady Capulet. Cap. What noile is this? give me my long fword, ho La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch: why call you for a

fword?

Cap. A fword, I fay old Mountague is come,
And flourishes his blade in (pight of me,
Enter old Mountague and lady Mountague.

Moun. Thou villain, Capulet

let me go.

Hold me not,

La. Mony, Thou shalt not stir a foot to feek a foc. Enter Prince with attendants.

Prin. Rebellious fubjects, enemies to peace,
Prophaners of this neighbour-ftained freel

Will they not hear? what ho, you men, you beafts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage,
With purple fountains iffuing from your veins :
On pain of torture. from thefe bloody hands
Throw your mif-temper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the fentence of your moved prince.
Three civil broils, bred of an airy word,

By thee, old Capulet, and Mountague,
A 4

Have

Have thrice difturb'd the quiet of our streets,
And made Verona's antient citizens
Caft by their grave befeeming ornaments;
If ever you disturb our treets again,
Your lives fhall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the reft depart away,
You, Capulet, fhall go along with me;
And, Mountague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this cafe,
To old Free-town, our common judgment-place :
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

[Exeunt Prince and Capulet,&c.

SCENE II.

La. Moun. Who fet this antient quarrel new abroach? Speak, nephew, were you by when it began? Ben. Here were the fervants of your adverfary, And yours, clofe fighting, ere I did approach; I drew to part them: In the instant came The fiery Tibalt, with his fword prepar'd, Which as he breath'd defiance to my ears, He fwung about his head, and cut the winds. While we were interchanging thrufts and blows, Came more and more, and fought on part and part, 'Till the Prince came.

La. Moun. O where is Romeo ?

Right glad am I, he was not at this fray.

Ben. Madam, an hour before the worfhipp'dfun
Peep'd through the golden window of the Eaft,
A troubled mind drew me from company;
Where underneath the grove of fycamour,
That weftward rooteth from this city fide,
So early walking did I fee your fon.

*

befeeming ornaments,

To wield old partizans, in hands as old,
Cankred with peace, to part your cankred hate ;
If ever you

I.

Tow'rds

Tow'rds him I made, but he was 'ware of me,
And ftole into the covert of the wood.
I measuring his affections by my own,
That most are bufied when they're left alone,
Purfued my humour, not purfuing his;
And gladly fhun'd, who gladly fled from me.
Moun. Many a morning hath he there been feen
With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew;
But all fo foon as the all-chearing fun
Should, in the fartheft eaft, begin to draw
The fhady curtains from Aurora's bed;
Away from light fteals home my heavy fon,
And private in his chamber pens himself;
Shuts up his windows, locks fair day-light out,
And makes himself an artificial night.
Black and portentous muft this humour prove,
Unlefs good counsel may the cause remove.

Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause
Moun. I neither know it, nor can learn it of him.
Ben. Have you importun'd him by any means?
Moun. Both by my felf and many other friends ;;
But he, his own affection's counsellor,
Is to himself [I will not fay how true)
But to himself fo fecret and so close,
So far from founding and difcovery;
As is the bud bit with an envious worm.
Ere he can fpread his fweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the fun.

Could we but learn from whence his forrows grow,. We would as willingly give cure, as know.

Enter Romeo,

Ben. See where he comes: fo please you ftsp afide;.'

I'll know his grievance, or be much deny'd.

Moun. I would thou wert fo happy by thy ftay, To bear true fhrift. Come, madam, let's away. [Exe.. Ben. Good morrow, Coufin.

Rom. Is the day fo young?

Ben But now ftruck nine..