Citizens of Verona, several men and women
relations to Capulet, Maskers, Guards,
and other Attendants,

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth act, is in Mantua; during all the rest of the Play, in and near Verona.

ROMEO

ROMEO and JULIET.

٠٤٠٩٠٠٠

ACTI.

G

REGORY, I strike quickly, being mov'd. Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to strike.

b

Sam. A dog of the house of Mountague

moves me.

Greg. Draw thy tool then, for here come of that house.

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

Sam. My naked weapon is out; Quarrel, I will back thee, but Let us take the law of our fides: let them begin.

Greg. 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 disgrace to them, if they bear it. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?

Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?
Sam. Is the law on our fide, if I fay ay?

Greg. No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir:

but I bite my thumb, Sir.

Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir?

Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir.

Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you: I serve as good a

Greg. Say better: here comes one of my master's

kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir. bao

Abr. You lye.

Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy

swashing blow.

[They figbt.

Ben. Part, fools, put up your swords, you know not

what you do.

Tib. What, art thou drawn amongst 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.

Tib. What drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word

As I hate hell, all Mountagues and thee:

Have at thee, coward.

Enter three or four citizens with clubs.

[Fight.

Ofi. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them

down.

Down with the Capulets, down with the Mountagues.
Enter old Capulet in his Gown.

Cap. What noise is this? give me my sword,

My sword, I say: old Mountague is come,

And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter old Mountague.

Hold me not, let

Moun. Thou villain, Capulet

me go.

Enter Prince with Attendants.

Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,

Prophaners of your neighbour-stained steel

Will they not hear? what ho! you men! you beasts,

That

That quench the fire of your pernicious rage,
With purple fountains issuing from your veins;
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mif-temper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.
Three civil broils, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Mountague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets:
Aud made Verona's ancient citizens
Caft by their grave beseeming ornaments;
To wield old partizans in hands as old.
If ever you affright our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away,
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And Mountague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this cafe.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

[Exeunt Prince and Capulet, &c.

Moun.

Manent Mountague and Benvolio.

HO set this ancient quarrel now abroach? were you by when it

W Speak, thephew

began ?

Ben. Here were the fervants of your adversary,
And yours, close fighting, ere I did approach;
I drew to part them: In the instant came
The fiery Tibalt, with his sword prepar'd,
Which as he breath'd defiance to my ears,
He swung about his head, and cut the winds,
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
Came more and more, and fought on part and part,
'Till the Prince came.

Moun. O where is Romeo ? Saw you him to day?
Right glad am I, he was not at this fray.

Ben. My lord, an hour before the worshipp'd fun

Peer'd through the golden window of the Eaft,
A troubled mind drew me to walk abroad;

A 5

Where

Where underneath the grove of sycamoor,
That westward rooteth from this city side,
So early walking did I see your son,
Tow'rds him I made, but he was 'ware of me,
And stole into the covert of the wood.
I measuring his affections by my own,
(That most are busied when they're most alone,)
Pursu'd my humour, not pursuing him,
And gladly shunn'd, who gladly fled from me.

Moun. Many a morning hath he there been seen
With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew;
But all so soon as the all-chearing sun
Should, in the farthest east, begin to draw
The shady curtains from Aurora's bed;
Away from light steals home my heavy fon,
And private in his chamber pens himself;
Shuts up his windows, locks fair day-light out,
And makes himself an artificial night.
Black and portentous must this humour prove,
Unless good counsel may the cause remove.

Ben. my noble uncle, do you know the cause ?
Moun. I neither know it, nor can learn it of him.
Ben. Have you importun'd him by any means?
Moun. Both by myself and many other friends;
But he, his own affection's counsellor,
Is to himself, I will not say, how true;
But to himself so secret and fo close.
So far from founding and discovery;
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the fun.

Ben. So please you, Sir, Mercutio and myself Are most near to him; be't that our years, Statures, births, fortunes, studies, inclinations, Measure the rule of his, I know not; but Friendship still loves to fort him with his like. We will attempt upon his privacy, And could we learn from whence his forrows grow, We would as willingly give cure, as knowledge. Moun. 'Twill bind us to you: good Benvolio, go. Ben. We'll know his grievance, or be hard denied.

:

[Exeunt feverally. SCENE