ROMEO

AND

JULIE T

B

VOL. X.

TWO housholds, 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 star-croft lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows

Do, with their death, bury their parents' strife,
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their childrens' end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage;

The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend *.

*This prologue, after the first copy was published in 1597, received several alterations, both in respect of correctness and versification. In the folio it is omitted.- -The play was originally performed by the Right Honourable the Lord of Hunsdon his servants.

In the first of K. James I. was made an act of parliament for some restraint or limitation of noblemen in the protection of players, or of players under their sanction. STEEVENS.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.
Paris, Kinfman to the Prince.

Montague, Heads of two Houses, at variance with
Capulet, each other.

Romeo, Son to Montague.

Mercutio,} Friends of Romeo.

Tybalt, Kinfman to Capulet.
An old Man, bis Coufin.
Friar Lawrence, a Francifcan.
Friar John, of the fame order.
Balthafar, Servant to Romeo.
Sampfon, Servants to Capulet.
}
Gregory,

Abram, Servant to Montague.
Three Muficians.

Peter.

Lady Montague, Wife to Montague.
Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet.

Juliet, Daughter to Capulet, in love with Romeo.
Nurse to Juliet.

CHORUS, Page, Boy to Paris, an Officer, an Apothecary.

Citizens of Verona, several Men and Women, relations to both Houses; Maskers, Guards, Watch and other Attendants.

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth act, is in Mantua; during all the rest of the play, at Verona.

A C T I.` SCENE I.

A

STREET.

Enter Sampson, and Gregory, two servants of Capulet.

2

Sam. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals. Greg. No, for then we should be colliers.

Sam.

The story on which this play is founded, is related as a true one in Girolamo de la Corte's History of Verona. It was originally published by an anonymous Italian novelist in 1549 at Venice; and again in 1553, at the fame place. The first edition of Bandello's work appeared a year later than the last of these already mentioned. Pierre Boisteau copied it with alterations and additions. Belleforest adopted it in the first volume of his collection 1596; but very probably some edition of it yet more ancient had

we'll not carry coals.] Dr. Warburton very juftly obferves, that this was a phrase formerly in ufe to fignify the bearing injuries; but, as he has given no inftances in fupport of his declaration, I thought it neceffary to fubjoin the following:

Nah, in his Have with you to Saffron Walden, 1595, fays: "We will bear no coles, I warrant you.” So, Skelton:

-

You, I fay, Julian,

"Wyll you beare no coles ?"

So, in Marston's Antonio and Mellida, 2nd part, 1602: "He has had wrong, and if I were he, I would bear no coles." So, in Law Tricks, or, Who would have thought it? a comedy, by John Day, 1608: "I'll carry coals an you will, no horns." Again, in May Day, a comedy by Chapman, 1610: "You muft fwear by no man's beard but your own, for that may breed a quarrel: above all things, you must carry no coals." And again, in the fame play: "Now my ancient being a man of an un-coal-carrying spirit, &c." Again, in B. Jonson's