Two

"wo Houfholds, both alike in Dignity,
In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene)
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of ftar-crofs'd lovers take their life
Whofe mif-adventur'd pitious overthrows,
Do, with their death, bury their parents Arife.
The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents rage,
Which but their childrens end nought could remove,"
Is now the two hours traffick of our stage.
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here fhall mifs, our toil fhall ftrive to mend

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona,

Paris, a young Nobleman in love with Juliet, and kinfman to the Prince.

Mountague, Two Lords of antient families, Enemies to Capulet each other.

Romeo, Son to Mountague.

Mercutio, Kinfman to the Prince. and friend to Romeo, Benvolio, Kinfman and friend to Romeo.

Tibalt, Kinfman to Capulet.

Friar Lawrence.

Friar John.

Balthafar, Servant to Romeo.
Page to Paris.

Sampfon,

Gregory,

}

Servants to Capulet.

Abram, Servant to Mountague.

Apothecary.

Lady Mountague, Wife to Mountague.

Lady Capuler, Wife to Capulet.

Juliet, Daughter to Capulet, in love with Romeo.
Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona, feveral men and women
relations to Capulet, Maskers, guards
and other attendants.

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth act, is in Mantua; during all the rest of the Play, in and near Verona.

The Plot taken from an Italian Novel of Bandello.

ROMEO

ROMEO and JULIET.

ACTI. SCENE I.

The Street in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory, with fwords and bucklers, two servants 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 it away. Sam. A dog of that house shall 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.

Greg. 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 maidenheads, take it in what fenfe thou wilt.

Greg. They must take it in fenfe that feel it. Sam. Me they fhall 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 hadst, thou hadst been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the house of the Mountagues,

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

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

Greg. How turn thy back and run?

Sam. Fear me hot.

Greg. No, marry: I fear thee.

Sam. Let us take the law of our fides: let them begin. Greg. I will frown as I pafs 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 thumb at us, Sir? Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.

your

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir !
Sam. Is the law on our fide, if I say ay
Greg. No.

કે

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

Greg. Do you quartel, Sir?

Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir.

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

man as you.

Abr. No better?

Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio.

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

Sam

Sam. Yes, better, Sir,

Abr. You lie.

Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy fwashing blow.

[They fights Ben. Part, fools, put up your fwords, you know not what you do.

Enter Tibalt.

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

Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.

Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy fword, Or manage it to part thefe 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.

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 noife 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 fpight of me.

Enter old Mountague and lady Mountague.

Moun. Thou villain, Capulet

let me go.

Hold me not,

La, Moun. Thou shalt not ftir a foot to feck a foe, Enter Prince with attendants.

Prin, Rebellious fubjects, enemies to peace,
Prophaners of this neighbour stained fteel-

Will they not hear? what ho, you inen, 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 mil-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

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