ROMEO AND JULIET. ACT I. SCENE I. A public place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with swords and bucklers. Samp. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.1 Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. Samp. I mean, an we be in choler, we 'll draw. Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar. Samp. I strike quickly, being moved. me. Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Samp. A dog of the house of Montague moves Gre. To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand to it: therefore, if thou art moved, thou runnest away. Samp. A dog of that house shall move me to A phrase formerly in use to signify the bearing of injuries. 1 stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Samp. 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. Samp. '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? Samp. 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. Samp. 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 BALTHASAR. Samp. My naked weapon is out: quarrel; I will back thee. Gre. How? turn thy back, and run? Samp. Fear me not. Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! 'Poor John is hake, dried and salted. Samp. 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. Samp. 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? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Samp. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Samp. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you. Abr. No better. Enter BENVOLIO, at a distance. Gre. Say, better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen. Samp. Yes, better, sir. Abr. You lie. Samp. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember the swashing 1 blow. [they fight. I Noisy. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords: you know [beats down their swords. not what you do. Enter TYBALT. Ty. 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. Ty. 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 Partisans of both houses, who join the fray; then enter CITIZENS, with clubs. 1 Cit. Clubs, bills, and partisans ! 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! L. Cap. A crutch, a crutch !—Why call you for a sword? Cap. My sword, I say!-Old Montague is come, A bill is a battle-axe, and a partisan a kind of pike. And florishes his blade in spite of me. Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE. Mon. Thou villain, Capulet,-hold me not; let me go. L. Mon. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe. Enter PRINCE, with Attendants. Prince. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel,— Will they not hear?-what, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. 1 Angry. |