Verona. A public place.
(Sampson; Gregory; Abram; Balthasar; Benvolio; Tybalt; Citizens; Capulet;
Lady Capulet; Montague; Lady Montague; Prince Escalus; Romeo)
Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers, of the house of
Capulet.
SAMPSON
Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.
GREGORY
No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON
I mean, and we be in choler, we’ll draw.
GREGORY
Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.
SAMPSON
I strike quickly, being mov’d.
GREGORY
But thou art not quickly mov’d to strike.
SAMPSON
A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
GREGORY
To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand; therefore, if thou art mov’d,
thou run’st away.
SAMPSON
A dog of that house shall move me to stand! I will take the wall of any man or
maid of Montague’s.
GREGORY
That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes to the wall.
SAMPSON
’Tis true, and therefore women, being the 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.
GREGORY
The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.
SAMPSON
’Tis all one; I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will
be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads.
GREGORY
The heads of the maids?
SAMPSON
Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads, take it in what sense thou
wilt.
GREGORY
They must take it in sense that feel it.
SAMPSON
Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and ’tis known I am a pretty piece
of flesh.
GREGORY
’Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor-John. Draw thy
tool, here comes two of the house of Montagues.
Enter two other servingmen: Abram and Balthasar.
SAMPSON
My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee.
GREGORY
How, turn thy back and run?
SAMPSON
Fear me not.
GREGORY
No, marry, I fear thee!
SAMPSON
Let us take the law of our sides, let them begin.
GREGORY
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.
SAMPSON
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if
they bear it.
ABRAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON
I do bite my thumb, sir.
ABRAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
SAMPSON
Aside to Gregory
Is the law of our side if I say ay?
GREGORY
Aside to Sampson
No.
SAMPSON
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
GREGORY
Do you quarrel, sir?
ABRAM
Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
SAMPSON
But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you.
ABRAM
No better?
SAMPSON
Well, sir.
Enter Benvolio.
GREGORY
Say “better,” here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.
SAMPSON
Yes, better, sir.
ABRAM
You lie.
SAMPSON
Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy washing blow.
They fight.
BENVOLIO
Part, fools!
Put up your swords, you know not what you do.
Beats down their swords.
Enter Tybalt.
TYBALT
What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
BENVOLIO
I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.
TYBALT
What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
Have at thee, coward!
They fight.
Enter three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.
CITIZENS OF VERONA
Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down!
Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!
Enter old Capulet in his gown, and his wife, Lady Capulet.
CAPULET
What noise is this? Give me my long sword ho!
LADY CAPULET
A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?
CAPULET
My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
Enter old Montague and his wife, Lady Montague.
MONTAGUE
Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not, let me go.
LADY MONTAGUE
Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.
Enter Prince Escalus with his Train.
PRINCE ESCALUS
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbor-stained steel—
Will they not hear?—What ho, you men, you beasts!
That quench t
