DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. SAMPSON,

Servants to Capulet.
PARIS, a young Nobleman, Kins- GREGORY,
man to the Prince.

PETER, Another Servant lo Capı-
MONTAGCE, Heads of Iwo hostile let.
CAPULET, Houses.

ABRAM, Servant in Montagne.
Uncle to Capulet.

An Apothecary.
ROMEO, Son to Montague.

Three Musicians.
MERCUTIO, Kinsman to the Prince, CHORUS. Boy; Page Paris;
and Friend to Romeo.

an Officer.
BENVOLIO, Nephew to Montague,
and Friend to Romeo.

LADY MONTAGUE, Wife to Mon-
TYBALT, Nephew to Lady Capulet. tague.
FRIAR LAURENCE, a Franciscan. LADY CAPULET, Wife to Capulei.
FRIAR JOHN, of the same Order. JULIET, Daughter to Capule!.
BALTHASAR, Servant to Romeo. Nurse to Juliet.
Citizens of Verona; male and female Relations to boib Houss: Mashops.

Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants.
SCENE, during the greater Part of the Play, in Verona; onge, in ihn

fifth Act, at Mantua.

PROLOGU E.

CHORDS.
Two households, 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 star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd piteous.overthrows

Do, with thepicteath, bucy their parent'strif.

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The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,

And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,

Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

A public place.
Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Swords and

Bucklers.
Sam. Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.
Gre. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we 'll draw.
Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar.
Sam. I strike quickly, being moved.
Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me.

Gre. To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand; therefore, if thou art moved, thou run'st away.

Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.

Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. 'T is true; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore, I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.

Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.

Sam. 'T is all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men,

I will be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads.

Gre. The heads of the maids?

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt.

Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it.

Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand; and, 't is known, I am a pretty piece of flesh.

Gre. 'T is well, thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of the Montagues.

Enter ABRAM and BALTIASAR. Sam. My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee. Gre. How! turn thy back, and run ? Sam. Fear me not. Gre. No marry: I fear thee! Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin. Gre. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they

Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace 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 of our side, if I say — ay?
Gre. No.

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

Gre. Do you quarrel, Sir.
Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir.
Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you : I serve as good a man

Enter BENVOLIO, at a Distance.
Gre. Say -- better: here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
Sam. Yes, better, Sir.
Abr. You lie.

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

[They fight. V.

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