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PROLOGUE.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
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;
Whose misadventur'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 children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here fhall mifs, our toil fhall strive to mend.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

PARIS, a young nobleman, kinfman to the Prince. MONTAGUE, Heads of two Houfes, at variance with each other.

CAPULET,

An old Man, uncle to Capulet.

ROMEO, fon to Montague.

MERCUTIO, kinfman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo.
BENVOLIO, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo.
TYBALT, nephew to Lady Capulet.

Friar LAWRENCE, a Franciscan.
Friar JOHN, of the fame order.
BALTHAZAR, fervant to Romeo.

SAMPSON,

GREGORY,

fervants to Capulet.

ABRAM, fervant to Montague.

An Apothecary.

Three Muficians.

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.

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Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to both boufes; Mafkers, Guards, Watchmen, 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.

▼REGORY, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.

G

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 house of Montague moves me. Gre. To move, is-to ftir; and to be valiant, is-to stand to it: therefore, if thou art moved, thou run'st 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 shows thee a weak flave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. 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 thruft his maids to the wall.

Gre. The quarrel is between our mafters, and us their

men.

B

Sam.

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhow 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 ?

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what fenfe thou wilt.

Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it.

Sam. Me they fhall 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 hadft been Poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of the Montagues.

Enter ABRAM and BALTHASAR.

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 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, fir?

Sam. I do bite my thumb, fir.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, fir?

Sam. Is the law on our fide, if I fay-ay?

Gre. No.

Sam. No, fir, I do not bite my thumb at you, fir; but

I bite my thumb, fir.

Gre. Do you quarrel, fir?

Abr. Quarrel, fir? no, fir.

Sam.

Sam. If you do, fir, I am for you; I ferve as good a

man as you.

Abr. No better.

Sam. Well, fir.

Enter BENVOLIO, at a distance,

Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's kins

men.

Sam. Yes, better, fir.

Abr. You lie.

Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.

[They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your fwords; you know not what you 'do.

[beats down their swords.

Enter TYBALT.

Tyb. 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 fword,

Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tyb. 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 feveral Partizans of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with Clubs.

1. Cit. Clubs, bills, and partizans! ftrike! beat them down!

Down with the Capulets! down with the Montagues!

Enter CAPULET, in his gown; and Lady CAPULET.

Cap. What noife is this?—Give me my long sword, ho! La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch!-Why call you for a fword?

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