SCENE I. Verona. A public place.
Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, of the house of Capulet, armed with swords and bucklers
SAMPSON
Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.
GREGORY
No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON
I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw.
GREGORY
Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar.
SAMPSON
I strike quickly, being moved.
GREGORY
But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
SAMPSON
A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
GREGORY
To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand:
GREGORY
therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.
SAMPSON
A dog of that house shall move me to stand: I will
SAMPSON
take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.
GREGORY
That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes
SAMPSON
True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,
SAMPSON
are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push
SAMPSON
Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids
GREGORY
The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
SAMPSON
'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I
SAMPSON
have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the
SAMPSON
maids, and cut off their heads.
GREGORY
The heads of the maids?
SAMPSON
Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;
SAMPSON
take it in what sense thou wilt.
GREGORY
They must take it in sense that feel it.
SAMPSON
Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and
SAMPSON
'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
GREGORY
'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou
GREGORY
hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool! here comes
GREGORY
two of the house of the Montagues.
SAMPSON
My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee.
GREGORY
How! turn thy back and run?
GREGORY
No, marry; I fear thee!
SAMPSON
Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.
GREGORY
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as
SAMPSON
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;
SAMPSON
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
Enter ABRAHAM and BALTHASAR
ABRAHAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON
I do bite my thumb, sir.
ABRAHAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON, speaking aside to GREGORY.
SAMPSON
Is the law of our side, if I say ay?
SAMPSON
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I
SAMPSON
bite my thumb, sir.
GREGORY
Do you quarrel, sir?
ABRAHAM
Quarrel sir! no, sir.
SAMPSON
If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.
GREGORY
Say 'better:' here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
SAMPSON
Yes, better, sir.
SAMPSON
Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.
BENVOLIO
Put up your swords; you know not what you do.
TYBALT
What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
TYBALT
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO
I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword,
BENVOLIO
Or manage it to part these men with me.
TYBALT
What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word,
TYBALT
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
TYBALT
Have at thee, coward!
Enter, several of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubs
First Citizen
Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down!
First Citizen
Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!
Enter CAPULET in his gown, and LADY CAPULET
CAPULET
What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
LADY CAPULET
A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword?
CAPULET
My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
CAPULET
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE
MONTAGUE
Thou villain Capulet,--Hold me not, let me go.
LADY CAPULET
Thou shalt not stir a foot to seek a foe.
Enter PRINCE, with Attendants
PRINCE
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
PRINCE
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,--
PRINCE
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
PRINCE
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
PRINCE
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
PRINCE
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
PRINCE
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
PRINCE
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
PRINCE
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
PRINCE
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
PRINCE
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets,
PRINCE
And made Verona's ancient citizens
PRINCE
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
PRINCE
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
PRINCE
Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate:
PRINCE
If ever you disturb our streets again,
PRINCE
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
PRINCE
For this time, all the rest depart away:
PRINCE
You Capulet; shall go along with me:
PRINCE
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
PRINCE
To know our further pleasure in this case,
PRINCE
To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
PRINCE
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.
Exeunt all but MONTAGUE, LADY MONTAGUE, and BENVOLIO
