SCENE I.—A public Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Sam. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.1 Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. Sum. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar. Sam. I strike 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 stir; and to be valiant is a to stand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou run'st away. Sum. 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 slave; 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 thrust his maids to the wall. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men. a The first quarto of 1597 which we mark as (4), "Stand to it." Sum. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be civil with the maids, and cut off their heads. Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it sense, that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and 't is 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 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? Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! Sam. 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. Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.3 Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, sir. Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage The quarto of 1609, which we mark as (C), drawn. For this time, all the rest depart away : Mon. Who set this ancient quarrel new Speak, nephew, .were you by, when it began? La. Mon. O, where is Romeo!— saw you him Right glad am I, he was not at this fray. Ben. Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun 6 Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, Pursued my humour, not pursuing his, And makes himself an artificial night : Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause? Could we but learn from whence his sorrows Rom. Out of her favour, where I am in love. Ben. Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! Rom. Alas, that love, whose view is muffled |