PROLOGUE. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our fcene, 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 ftar-crofs'd lovers take their life; Whofe mifadventur'd piteous overthrows Do, with their death, bury their parents' ftrife. The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their childrens' end, nought could re move, Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall mifs, our toil fhall ftrive to mend, PERSONS REPRESENTED. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. PARIS, a young Nobleman, kinsman to the Frince. 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 Romea. TYBALT, Nephew to Lady CAPULET. Friar LAWRENCE, a Franciscan. Friar Jons, of the same order. CAMGON} servants to CAPULET, ABRAM, Servant to MONTAGUE. Three Musicians 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, Watchinen, 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 ftrike quickly, being moved, Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Sam. A dog of the houfe of Montague moves me. Gre. To move, is- to ftir; and to be valiant, is -to ftand to it; therefore, if thou art moved, thou run'ft 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 fhows thee a weak flave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker veffels, are ever thruft 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 mafters, and us their men. Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhow myself a tyrant a 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 fhall feel, while I am able to ftand: and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fifh; if thou hadft, thou hadft 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 pafs by; and let them take it as they lift. Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, fir? Sam. No, fir, I do not bite but I bite my thumb, fir. my am for thumb at you, fir; good a man as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, fir. |