cup, draws it on the drawer, when, indeed, there is no need.

Ben. Am I like such a fellow?

Mer. Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy; an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, on his head than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. Thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Did'st thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old ribband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling!

Ben. An' I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and quarter. By my head, here come the Capulets.

Enter TYBALT and two Gentlemen.

Mer. By my heel, care not.

Tyb. Be near at hand, I will speak to them. [Exeunt the two gentlemen. 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 shall 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 ? If thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddle-stick; here's that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort!

Ben. We talk here in the public haunt of men;

D

Either withdraw into some private place,
Or reason coolly 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.
Tyb. Well, peace be with you, sirs! Here comes

my man.

Mer. But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery.

Enter ROMEO.

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 Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting. Villain I am none; Therefore, farewell: I see thou know'st me not. Tyb. Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw. Rom. I do protest I never injured thee; But love thee better than thou can'st devise; And so, good Capulet,--which name I tender As dearly as my own,-be satisfied.

[Exit TYBALT.

Mer. O calm! dishonourable! vile submission!A la stoccata carries it away.

Tybalt,-you, rat-catcher,

Enter TYBALT.

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 withall: Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears, ere it be

out.

Tyb. I am for you, sir.--[Draws. Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

Mer. Come, sir, your passado.

[MERCUTIO and TYBALT fight. Rom. Draw, Benvolio:-beat down their wea

pons ;

Gentlemen!-For shame, forbear this outrage ;-
Hold, Tybalt,-good Mercutio,—

[Exit TYBALT, having wounded MERCUTIO.

Mer. I am hurt :

A plague o' both your 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 :-Go, fetch a surgeon.

Rom. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. Mer. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but, 'tis enough, 'twill serve; I am pepper'd, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses!-What! 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 arithmetic!-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!-They have made worm's meat of me: I have it, and soundly too. Ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find ́ me a grave man.-A plague o' both 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;-O, sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel.

Enter BENVOLIO.

Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead;

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.-
Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

Rom. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain!Away to heaven, respective lenity,

And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now !—

Enter TYBALT.

Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
That late thou gav'st me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,

And thou, or I, must keep him company.

Tyb. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,

Shalt with him hence.

Rom. This shall determine that.

[They fight :-TYBALT falls, and dies.

Ben. Romeo, away! begone!

The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain!—

Stand not amazed; The prince will doom thee death,
If thou art taken ;-Hence !-begone!-away!
Rom. O! I am fortune's fool!

[Exit ROMEO.

· Enter the PRINCE, MONTAGUE, CAPULET, and Attendants.

Prince. Where are the vile beginners of this fray? Ben. O, noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal quarrel; There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman brave Mercutio.

Cap. Unhappy sight! alas, the blood is spill'd Of my dear kinsman!-Now, as thou art a prince, For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. Prince. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Ben. Tybalt here slain :

Romeo bespake him fair, bade him bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urged withall
Your high displeasure :-All this-uttered

With gentle breath, calm looks, knees humbly

bow'd,-

Could not make truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast;
Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tybalt; whose dexterity
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
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled:
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,
And to't they go like lightning; for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain;
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn to fly :-
This is the truth, or let Benvolio suffer.

Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true.
I beg for justice: Justice, gracious prince!
Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live.

Prince. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio,
Who now the price of his dear blood hath paid.
Mon. Romeo but took the forfeit life of Tybalt.
Prince. And we for that offence do banish him.
I have an int'rest in your heady brawls;
My blood doth flow from brave Mercutio's wounds
But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine,
That you shall all repent my loss in him.-
I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;

Nor tears, nor prayers, shall purchase our repeal;
Therefore use none: Let Romeo be gone;
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.