Mer. Could you not take some occasion without giving?

Ty. Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.

Mer. Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort! Ben. We talk here in the public haunt of men : Either withdraw into some private place, Or reason coldly 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.

Enter ROMEO.

Ty. Well, peace be with you, sir! here comes my man.

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

livery.

Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower:
Your worship, in that sense, may call him man.
Ty. Romeo, the hate I bear thee, can afford
No better term than this;-thou art a villain.
Ro. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting.-Villain am I none;
Therefore farewell; I see, thou know'st me not.
Ty. Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
That thou hast done me; therefore turn, and draw.

Ro. I do protest, I never injured thee;
But love thee better than thou canst devise,
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
And so, good Capulet,—which name I tender
As dearly as mine own,-be satisfied.

Mer. O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
A la stoccata1 carries it away.-

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

Ty. What wouldst thou have with me?

[draws.

Mer. Good king of cats, nothing, but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher 2 by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

Ty. I am for you.

Ro. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.
Mer. Come, sir, your passado.

Ro. Draw, Benvolio;

[drawing.

[they fight.

Beat down their weapons :-gentlemen, for shame Forbear this outrage ;-Tybalt-Mercutio—

The prince expressly hath forbid this bandying

In Verona streets :-hold, Tybalt ;-good Mercutio. [Exeunt Tybalt and his partisans.

Mer. I am hurt ;

A plague o' both the houses!—I am sped :-
Is he gone, and hath nothing?

1 The Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier.

2 Case or scabbard.

Ben.

What, art thou hurt?

Mer. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis

enough.

Where is my page ?-go, villain; fetch a surgeon. [Exit Page. Ro. 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 ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world :a plague o' both your houses!-Zounds, 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.

Ro. 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 :-your houses!

[Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.

Ro. 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, Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman.-O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,
And in my temper soften'd valor's steel.

Re-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.

Ro. This day's black fate on more days doth depend;

This but begins the woe, others must end.

Re-enter TYBALT.

Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. Ro. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain ! Away to heaven, respective 1 lenity,

And fire-eyed fury be my conduct 2 now!—
Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
Ty. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him
here,

Shalt with him hence.

Ro.

This shall determine that.

[they fight; Tybalt falls.

Ben. Romeo, away, be gone!

The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain :—

Stand not amazed:-the prince will doom thee

death,

If thou art taken :-hence !-be gone!—away!

Ro. O! I am Fortune's fool!

I Considerate.

2 For conductor.

Ben.

Why dost thou stay? [Exit Romeo.

Enter CITIZENS, &c.

1 Cit. Which way ran he, that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

Ben. There lies that Tybalt.

1 Cit.

Up, sir, go

with me:

I charge thee, in the prince's name, obey.

Enter PRINCE, attended; MONTAGUE, CAPULET, their Wives, and others.

Prince. Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

Ben. O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

L. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin!-O my brother's

child!

Unhappy sight! ah me, the blood is spill'd
Of my dear kinsman !-Prince, as thou art true,1
For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.-
O cousin, cousin!

Prince. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Ben. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay.

1 Just and upright.