Tyb. Follow me close, for I will speak to them. — Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you. Mer. And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow. Tyb. You will find me apt enough to that, sir, if you will give me occasion. Mer. Could you not take some occasion without giving? Tyb. Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo, Mer. Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels ! an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! Ben. We talk here in the publick haunt of men : Either withdraw into some private place, Or reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. Mer. Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; ! I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I. Enter ROMEO. Tyb. Well, peace be with you, sir! here comes my man. Mer. But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Your worship, in that sense, may call him man. Tyb. Romeo, the hate I bear thee, can afford No better term than this Thou art a villain. Rom. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee To such a greeting: - Villain am I none; But love thee better than thou canst devise, Mer. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! A la stoccata carries it away. Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? Tyb. What would'st thou have with me? [Draws. Mer. Good king of cats, nothing, but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears 3? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. Tyb. I am for you. Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. Rom. Draw, Benvolio; Beat down their weapons: [Drawing. [They fight. Gentlemen, for shame Forbear this outrage; - Tybalt-Mercutio The prince expressly hath forbid this bandying Mer. I am hurt; [Exeunt TYBALT and his Partizans. A plague o' both the houses! I am sped: Is he gone, and hath nothing? Ben. What, art thou hurt? Mer. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. Where is my page?-go, villain, fetch a surgeon. [Exit Page. Rom. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. 2 A la stoccata-] Stoccata is the Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier. 3 Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears?] We should read pilche, which signifies a cloke or coat of skins, meaning the scabbard. VOL. VIII. Mer. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world: A plague o'both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetick! - Why, the devil, came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. Rom. I thought all for the best. Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint. A plague o'both your houses! I have it, and soundly too:- Your houses! [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO. Rom. This gentleman, the prince's near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain'd With Tybalt's slander, Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman : O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, And in my temper soften'd valour's steel. Re-enter BENVOLIO. Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead; That gallant spirit hath aspir'd the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. Rom. This day's black fate on more days doth de pend; 4 This but begins the woe, others must end. Re-enter TYBALT. Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again, 4 This day's black fate on more days doth depend;] This day's unhappy destiny hangs over the days yet to come. There will yet be more mischief. Rom. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain! And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct now! 6 Staying for thine to keep him company; Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. Tyb. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. Rom. This shall determine that. [They fight; TYBALT falls. Ben. Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain : — Stand not amaz'd:- the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken: hence ! be gone!-away! Rom. I am fortune's fool! Ben. Why dost thou stay? [Exit ROMEO. Enter Citizens, &c. 1 Cit. Which way ran he, that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? Ben. There lies that Tybalt. 1 Cit. Up, sir, go with me; I charge thee in the prince's name, obey. Enter Prince, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this fray? 5 respective lenity,] Cool, considerate gentleness. 6 be my conduct now Conduct for conductor. La. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin!-O my brother's child! Unhappy sight! ah me, the blood is spill'd Of my dear kinsman! - Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.-O cousin, cousin! Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Ben. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink How nice the quarrel was, and urg'd withal With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,- Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, Hold, friends! friends, part! and swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life La. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague, 7 as thou art true,] as thou art just and upright. 8 How nice -] How slight, how unimportant, how petty. • Affection makes him false,] The charge of falsehood on Benvolio, though produced at hazard, is very just. The author, who seems |