Romeo and Juliet.

A

TRAGEDY,

BY

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

ACCURATELY PRINTED

FROM THE TEXT OF

MR. STEEVENS'S LAST EDITION.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

}

Escalus, Prince of Verona.
Paris, a young nobleman, kinsman to the Prince.
Montague, Heads of two Houses, at variance with
Capulet,

each other.
An old Man, úncle to Capulet.
Romeo, son to Montague.
Mercutio, kinsman 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 same order.
Balthazar, servant to Romeo.

Sampson; }

Gregory, } servants to Capulet.

Abram, servant to Montague.
An Apothecary.
Three Musicians.
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.

Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, relations to

both Houses; Maskers, 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 swords and

bucklers. Sam. Gregory, o'my word, we'll not carry coals. 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 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 —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 slave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True; and therefore women, being the

B

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.

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show 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 sense thou wilt.

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

Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and, ʼtis 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 two of the house of the Montagues.

Enter Abr'am 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 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.

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 side, if I say-ay?
Gre. No.

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

Gre. Do you quarrel, sir?
Abr. Quarrel, sir? no, sir.

Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you; I serve as good a man as you.

Abr. No better.
Sam. Well, sir.

Enter Benvolio, at a distance. Gre. Say—better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, sir.
Abr. You lie.

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

[They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; 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 sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.

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

word,