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 pepper'd, 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. Rom. I thought all for the best. Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio, I have it, and soundly too: your houses! [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO Rom. This gentleman, the Prince's near ally, Enter BENVOLIO. Ben. O Romeo, Romeo! brave Mercutio's dead: That gallant spirit hath aspir'd the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. Rom. This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end. Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. Rom. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to Heaven, respective lenity, And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct now! Enter TYBALT. Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. 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. Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this fray? The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: La. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin!-O my brother's child! O Prince! O husband! O, the blood is spill'd Of my dear kinsman! - Prince, as thou art true, O cousin, cousin! Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Ben. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay: Romeo, that spoke him fair, bade him bethink Your high displeasure: - all this, uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, Of Tybalt, deaf to peace, but that he tilts It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud, 'Hold, friends! friends, part!" and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm, An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life But by and by comes back to Romeo, This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. La. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague; Affection makes him false, he speaks not true: Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give: Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; friend; Mercutio's His fault concludes but what the law should end, Prin. And for that offence, Immediately we do exile him hence: I have an interest in your hate's proceeding, [Exeunt. SCENE II. JULIET'S Apartment. JULIET seated near the window. Jul. Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, By their own beauties; or if Love be blind, And learn me how to lose a winning match, Come night, come Romeo, come thou day in night; Come, gentle night; Give me my Romeo: (and, when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, To an impatient child that hath new robes, And may not wear them. O, here comes my nurse. And she brings news; and ev'ry tongue that speaks But Romeo's name speaks heavenly eloquence. Enter Nurse, with cords. Now, Nurse, what news? What hast thou there? the cords That Romeo bade thee fetch? Nurse. Ay, ay, the cords. Jul. Ah me! what news? why dost thou wring thy hands? |