PROLOGUE. Two households, both alike in dignity, move, Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend, PERSONS REPRESENTED. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. PARIS, a young Nobleman, kinsman to the Prince. MONTAGUE, Heads of two Houses, at variance with CAPULET, each other. An old Man, Uncle to Capulet. ROMEO, Son to MONTAGUE. MERCUTIO, kinsman to the Prince, and friend to ROMEO. BENVOLIO, Nephew to MONTAGUE, and friend to ROMEO. TYBALT, Nephew to Lady CAPULET. Friar LAWRENCE, a Franciscan. Friar Jown, of the same order. BALTHAZAR, Servant to ROMEO. Chorus. Boy; Page to PARIS; PETER; an Officer. Lady MONTAGUE, Wife to MONTAGUE. Lady CAPULET, Wife to CAPULET. JULIET, Daughter to CAPULET. Nurse to JULIET. Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants. SCENE, during the greater part of the play in Verona: once in the fifth Act at Mantua. ROMEO AND JULIET. ACT I. SCENE I. A publick Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with fwords and bucklers. Sampson. GREGORY, o'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 to it: 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 flave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall:-therefore will I 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. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids; I will cut off their heads, Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maiden. heads; 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, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. 'Tis 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 BALTHAZAR. 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 fides; let them begin. Gre. 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 disgrace to them, if they bear it, Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, fir? Sam. I do bite my thumb, fir. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, fir? Gre. No. Sam, No, fir, I do not bite my thumb at you, fir; but I bite my thumb, fir. Gre. Do you quarrel, fir? Abr. Quarrel, fir? no, fir. L Sam. If you do, fir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you. Abr. No better, Sam, Well, fir, |