Scene I

Veron. A public place.

Enter Sampson and Gregory with swords and bucklers of the house of Capulet.

SAMP:

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

SAMP:

Gregory, on my word, we will not be humiliated, like carrying coal.

GREG:

No, for then we should be colliers.

GREG:

No, for that we should be coal miners.

SAMP:

I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw.

SAMP:

I mean, if we are angry, we will draw our swords.

GREG:

Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar.

GREG:

Yeah, while you’re alive, you’ll only draw your neck out of the hangman’s collar.

SAMP:

I strike quickly, being moved.(5)

SAMP:

I can hit quickly, if I’m motivated.

GREG:

But thou art not quickly moved to strike.

GREG:

But you’re not quickly motivated to hit.

SAMP:

A dog of the house of Montague moves me.

SAMP:

A dog of the house of Montague motivates me.

GREG:

To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand.
Therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.

GREG:

To be motivated is to act, and to be valiant is to face the challenge;
When you are “motivated,” you run away.

SAMP:

A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will(10)
take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.

SAMP:

A dog of that house will motivate me to face the challenge;
I will tear down the castle wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.

GREG:

That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to
the wall.

GREG:

That shows you are a weak slave, because the castle wall
is the weakest spot in the castle.

SAMP:

'Tis true; and therefore women, being the weaker
vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push(15)
Montague's men from the wall and thrust his maids to
the wall.

SAMP:

True; and that’s why women, being so weak,
are always “thrust to the wall;” Watch me, I will push Montague’s men
from the castle wall, and thrust his maids to their “castle wall.”

GREG:

The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.

GREG:

The feud is between our masters, and by extension, all their men.

SAMP:

'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(20)
cut off their heads.

SAMP:

Makes no difference. I will be a tyrant in battle;
when I have finished fighting with the men, I will be cruel to the maids.
I will cut off their heads.

GREG:

The heads of the maids?

GREG:

You mean you’d cut off a woman’s head?

SAMP:

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

SAMP:

Yes, the heads of maids, or their virginity. Take it any way you like.

GREG:

They must take it in sense that feel it.(25)

GREG:

It’s the maids who will feel what you mean, not take it.

SAMP:

Me they shall feel while I am able to stand; and 'tis
known, I am a pretty piece of flesh.

SAMP:

They’ll feel me all right, as long as I can keep it up,
And everyone knows, I’m well endowed.

GREG:

'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.(30)

GREG:

It’s a good thing you’re not a fish. If you were,
you’d be dried and salted! Draw your weapon-
Here come two guys from Montague’s house.

Enter two other Servingmen, Abram and Balthasar.

SAMP:

My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I will back thee.

SAMP:

It’s out already! You pick a fight with them and I’ll back you up.

GREG:

How? turn thy back and run?

GREG:

You’ll back me up? How? By running away?

SAMP:

Fear me not.

SAMP:

Don’t worry about me.

GREG:

No, marry. I fear thee!

GREG:

Yeah right!

SAMP:

Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.(35)

SAMP:

Let’s do this legally. Let them start with us.

GREG:

I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they
list.

GREG:

I’ll make a face at them. Let them take it whatever way they will.

SAMP:

Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;
which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

SAMP:

No, before they start, I’ll give them the finger, which is
a disgrace if they don’t respond.

ABR:

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?(40)

ABR:

Did you just give us the finger, sir?

SAMP:

I do bite my thumb, sir.

SAMP:

I did give the finger, sir.

ABR:

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

ABR:

Did you give the finger to us, sir?

SAMP:

Aside to Gregory.

Is the law of our side, if I say ay?

SAMP:

Is it legal if I say “Yes?”

GREG:

Aside to Sampson.

No.

GREG:

No.

SAMP:

No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my(45)
thumb, sir.

SAMP:

No, sir, I did not give the finger to you, sir, but I did give the finger.

GREG:

Do you quarrel, sir?

GREG:

Are you picking a fight with us, sir?

ABR:

Quarrel, sir? No, sir.

ABR:

Fight, sir! No, sir.

SAMP:

But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good a
man as you.(50)

SAMP:

But if you do fight, sir, then I will fight you. I work for as good a man as
you do.

ABR:

No better.

ABR:

No better?

SAMP:

Well, sir.

SAMP:

Well, sir.

Enter Benvolio.

GREG:

Aside to Sampson.

Say ‘better.’ Here comes one of
my master's kinsmen.

GREG:

Say “better.” Here comes one of Capulet’s relatives.

SAMP:

Yes, better, sir.(55)

SAMP:

Yes, better, sir.

ABR:

You lie.

ABR:

You’re a liar!

SAMP:

Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swash-
ing blow.

SAMP:

Draw your swords if you are men – Gregory, remember your best shot.

They fight.

BEN:

Part, fools!

He beats down their swords.

Put up your swords. You know not what you do.(60)

BEN:

Break it up, you fools.

You don’t know what you’re doing!

Enter Tybalt.

TYB:

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio! look upon thy death.

TYB:

What, is your sword out among these stupid servants?
Turn to me, Benvolio, and see your death.

BEN:

I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.

BEN:

I’m only trying to keep the peace. Put your sword away,
or use it to help me break up this fight.

TYB:

What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word(65)
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
Have at thee, coward!

TYB:

Are you kidding? Your sword is out and you talk about “peace?” I hate the word
as much as I hate hell, all the Montagues, and you! Fight me, coward!

They fight

Enter an officer, followers of both houses, and three or four Citizens with clubs or partisans.

CITIZENS:

Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! beat them
down! Down with the Capulets! Down with the
Montagues!(70)

CITIZENS:

Clubs, pikes, and more pikes! Strike! Beat them down!
Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!

Enter Old Capulet in his gown, and his Wife.

CAP:

What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!

CAP:

What’s going on? Give me my long sword, hey!

WIFE:

A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?

WIFE:

You need a crutch, a crutch! Why do you want a sword!?

CAP:

My sword, I say! Old Montague is come
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

CAP:

My sword, I say! Old Montague is out there,
and waves his blade in spite of me.

Enter Old Montague and his Wife.

MON:

Thou villain Capulet!—Hold me not, let me go.(75)

MON:

You are a villain, Capulet! (to his wife) Don’t hold me back – Let me go!

M.WIFE:

Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.

M.WIFE:

You will not move one foot to fight!

Enter Prince Escalus, with his Train.

PRINCE:

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel—
Will they not hear? What, ho! you men, you beasts,
That quench the fire of your pernicious rage(80)
With purple fountains issuing from your veins!
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground
And hear the sentence of your moved Prince.
Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word(85)
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,(90)
Canker’d with peace, to part your canker'd hate.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time all the rest depart away.
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;(95)
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our farther pleasure in this case,
To old Freetown, our common judgment place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

PRINCE:

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace.
Misusing your swords to kill your neighbors!
Won’t they listen to me? What! Hey! You men, you beasts,
That put out the fire of your evil anger
With dark red fountains of blood from your veins -
On pain of torture, from your bloody hands,
Throw your evil, misused weapons to the ground
And hear the sentence of your angry Prince!
Three civil brawls, started by a meaningless comment,
By you, old Capulet, and you, Montague
Have three times disturbed the quiet of our streets
And made Verona’s senior citizens
Take out sober mementos of war and fighting,
To use them again as weapons, in their old hands,
Rusted from not being used, as hate has rusted your families.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
You will suffer the death penalty for breaking the peace.
Now, -everyone leave this place-
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And, Montague, you can come this afternoon,
To old Freetown, the court building.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

Exeunt all but Montague, his Wife, and Benvolio.

MON:

Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?(100)
Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?

MON:

Who started it this time?
Speak, nephew, where you there when it started?

BEN:

Here were the servants of your adversary
And yours, close fighting ere I did approach.
I drew to part them. In the instant came
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar'd;(105)
Which, as he breath'd defiance to my ears,
He swung about his head and cut the winds,
Who, nothing hurt withal, hiss'd him in scorn.
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
Came more and more, and fought on part and part,(110)
Till the Prince came, who parted either part.

BEN:

The servants of Capulet,
And your servants, were fighting before I got there.
I drew my sword to separate them; as soon as I did,
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword already out,
Which, as he shouted defiant words into my ears—
He swung about his head, slicing the Air,
Who, having not hurt anything, hissed at him in scorn;
While we ere interchanging thrusts and blows,
The brawl became hotter and more furious on both sides,
Until the Prince came, who broke it all up.

M. WIFE:

O, where is Romeo? Saw you him to-day?
Right glad I am he was not at this fray.

M. WIFE:

O, where is Romeo? Have you seen him today.
I am very happy he wasn’t at this fight.

BEN:

Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd sun
Peer'd forth the golden window of the East,(115)
A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;
Where, underneath the grove of sycamore
That westward rooteth from the city's side,
So early walking did I see your son.
Towards him I made; but he was ware of me(120)
And stole into the covert of the wood.
I, measuring his affections by my own,
Which then most sought where most might not be found,
Being one too many by my weary self—
Pursu'd my humour, not pursuing his,(125)
And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.

BEN:

Madam, and hour before the sun
Rose in the east,
My troubled mind got me up and I went for a walk;
Where, underneath the sycamore trees
The grow on the city’s West Side
In my early morning walk, I saw your son;
I went towards him, but he became aware of me
And went off to hide in the woods.
I thought he was feeling the way I was,
That many people are at their busiest when they’re alone,
Kept on walking and thinking, not worrying about him,
And I gladly walked away from him who gladly fled from me.