SCENE I. A public Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Sampson. REGORY, 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: 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 shews thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. 'Tis 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. 'Tis all one, I will shew 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 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, '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 Montagues. Enter ABRAM and BALTHASAR. 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 list. 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 on our side, if I say Ay? Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir;. but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, sir. 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. en.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. not what you do. [Beats down their Swords. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know Enter TYBALT. Tyb. What! art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me. Tyb. What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward. [They fight. Enter several Persons of both Houses, who join the Fray; then enter Citizens, with Clubs and Partisans. 1 Cit. Clubs, bills, and partizans! strike! beat them down! Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues! Enter CAPULET, in his Gown; and LADY CAPUlet. Cap. What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho! La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword? Cap. My sword, I say! Old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Enter MONTAGUE, and LADY Montague. Mon. Thou villain Capulet !-Hold me not; let me go. La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe. Enter Prince, with Attendants. Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, [Exeunt Prince and Attendants; Capulet, La. He swung about his head, and cut the winds, La. Mon. Oh! where is Romeo? saw you him to- Right glad I am, he was not at this fray. Ben. Madam, an hour before the worship'd sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad; Where, underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from this city-side, So early walking did I see your son. Towards him I made; but he was 'ware of me, And stole into the covert of the wood. I, measuring his affections by my own, -Which there most sought where most might not be found Being one too many by my weary self, Mon. Many a morning hath he there been seen, With tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew, Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs; But all so soon as the all-cheering sun Should in the furthest east begin to draw Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause? |