PROLOGUE: Two Houfbolds, both alike in Dignity, In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene) From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Do, with their death, bury their parents ftrife, The which if you with patient ears attend, DRAMATIS PERSONE. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. PARIS, a young Nobleman in love with Juliet, and Kinfman to the Prince. MOUNTAGUE, Fab Lords of ancient Families, Enemies CAPULET 1.5 to each other. ROMEO, Son to Mountague. MERCUTIO, Kinfman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo. BENVOLIO, Kinfman and friend to Romeo. TYBALT, Kinfman to Capulet. Friar LAWRENCE,A Friar JOHN. BALTHASARA Servant to Romeo. Page to Paris. SAMPSON, Servants to Capulet. GREGORY, ABRAM, Servant to Mountague, Apothecary. PETER, Servant to the Nurse. Lady MOUNTAGUE, Wife to Mountague. Lady CAPULET, Wife to Capulet. JULIET, Daughter to Capulet, in love with Romeo. Citizens of Verona, feveral men and women relations to Capulet, The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Act, is in Mantya; during all the rest of the Play, in and near Verona. The Plot taken from an Italian Novel of Bandello. Ro ROMEO and JULIET. ACT I. SCENE I Enter Samplon and Gregory, with fwords and bucklers, two Servants of the Capulets. Sam. G to Atrike.... REGORY, on my word, we'll not carry coals. Greg. No, for then we should be colliers. Sam. A dog of the houfe of Mountague moves me. Gre. To move, is to ftir; and to be valiant, is to ftand: therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'ft away. Sam. A dog of that houfe fhall move me to ftand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Mountague's. Greg. That fhews thee a weak flave, for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True, and therefore women, being the weakeft yeffels, are ever thruft to the wall: therefore I will puth Mountague's men from the wall, and thruft his maids to the wall. Greg. The quarrel is between our mafters, and us their men. Sam, 'Tis all one, I will shew my self a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads, Greg. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads, take it in what fenfe thou wilt. Greg. They must take in fenfe that feel it. Sam. Me they fhall feel while I am able to stand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Greg. 'Tis well thou art not fish: if thou hadft, thou hadft been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the houfe of the Mountagues. Enter Abram and Balthafar. Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee, Greg. How? turn thy back and run ?. Sam. Fear me not. Greg. No, marry: I fear thee! Sam. Let us take the law of our fides: let them begin. Greg. 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 difgrace to them if they bear it. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir? Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir. Sir? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Greg. No. Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir but I bite my thumb, Sir. Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir? Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir. Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you; I ferve as good a man as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, Sir. Enter Benvolio. Greg. Say better: here comes one of my master's kinf men. Sam. Yes, better, Sir. Abr. You lie. Sam |