PROLOGUE.

T

Wo Houfholds, both alike in Dignity,
In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene)
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood make civil bands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of far-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whofe mif-adventur'd piteous overthrows,

Do, with their death, bury their parents strife.
The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parent's rage,
Which but their childrens end nought could remove,
Is now the two bours traffick of our stage.
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What bere shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

DRAMATIS PERSON Æ.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

PARIS, a young Nobleman in love with Juliet, and Kinsman

to the Prince.

MOUNTAGUE, Two Lords of ancient Families, Enemies CAPULET, S to each other.

ROMEO, Son to Mountague.
MERCUTIO, Kinfman to the Prince, and friend to Romeo.
BENVOLIO, Kinfman and friend to Romeo,
TYBALT, Kinfman to Capulet..

Friar LAWRENCE.

Friar JoHN.
BALTHASAR, Servant to Romeo..

Page to Paris.
SAMPSON,

Servants to Capulet.

GREGORY,

ABRAM, Servant to Mountague.

Apothecary.

PETER, Servant to the Nurse.

Lady MOUNTAGUE, Wife to Mountague.
Lady CAPULET, Wife to Capulet.
JULIET, Daughter to Capulet, in love with Romeo.
Nurfe to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona, feveral men and women relations to Capulet, Muficians, Mafkers, Guards, and other Attendants.

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Act, is in Mantaa; during all the reft of the Play, in and near Verona.

The Plot taken from an Italian Novel of Bandello.

ROMEO and JULIET.

ACT I. SCENE I
The Street in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory, with fwords and bucklers, two Servants of the Capulets.

Sam.

REGORY, on my word, we'll not carry coals.

G

Greg. No, for then we fhould be colliers.
Sam. Iftrike quickly, being mov'd,
Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd

to ftrike.

Sam. A dog of the house of Mountague moves me. Gre. To move, is to ftir; and to be valiant, is to ftand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'ft away.

Sam. A dog of that houfe fhall move me to ftand: Iwill take the wall of any man or maid of Mountague's.

Greg. That fhews thee a weak flave, for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True, and therefore women, being the weakeff veffels, are ever thruft to the wall; therefore I will push Mountague's men from the wall, and thruft his maids to the wall.

Greg. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their

meh.

Sam, 'Tis all one, I will fhew my felf a tyrant: when

I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads.

Greg. The heads of the maids ?

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads, take it in what sense thou wilt.

Greg. They muft take it in sense that feel it.

Sam. Me they fhall feel while I am able to ftand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.

Greg. 'Tis well thou art not fish: if thou hadft, thou hadft been Poor Jobn. Draw thy tool, here comes of the houfe of the Mountagues.

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee.
Greg. How? turn thy back and run?

Sam. Fear me not.

Greg. No, marry: I fear thee!

Sam. Let us take the law of our fides: let them begin. Greg. I will frown as I pafs by, and let them take it as they lift.

Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a difgrace 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 say ay?
Greg, No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sirr 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 ferve as good a man as you.

Abr. No better.

Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio.

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

men.

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