Scene I

A public place.

Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, and Men.

BEN:

I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire.
The day is hot, the Capulets abroad.
And if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl,
For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

BEN:

Please, good Mercutio, let's go home.
The day is hot, the Capulets are wandering around,
And, if we meet, we shall not escape a brawl,
Because now, during these hot days, the mad blood is flowing.

MER:

Thou art like one of these fellows that, when he enters(5)
the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the
table and says ‘God send me no need of thee!’ and by the
operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer,
when indeed there is no need.(10)

MER:

You are like one of these fellows that, when he enters the
bar, throws his sword upon the table, and says
”God, I don’t want to use you!” and by the time he’s drunk the second
cup draws the sword on the table, when, indeed, there is no need.

BEN:

Am I like such a fellow?

BEN:

Am I like such a fellow?

MER:

Come, come, thou art as hot a jack in thy mood as any
in Italy; and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon
moody to be moved.

MER:

Come on, you are as hot as any fellow in your mood as anyone else in
Italy; and you are soon moved to be moody, and soon moody to be
moved.

BEN:

And what to?(15)

BEN:

And to what?

MER:

Nay, an there were two such, we should have none
shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou
wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair
less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a
man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but be(20)
cause thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye
would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quar
rels as an egg is full of meat; and yet thy head hath been
beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling. Thou hast quar
rell'd with a man for coughing in the street, because he(25)
hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun.
Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new
doublet before Easter, with another for tying his new
shoes with an old riband? And yet thou wilt tutor me
from quarrelling!(30)

MER:

No, if there were two such fellows, we should have none shortly, because
one would kill the other. You! Why, you will quarrel with a
man that has a hair more or a hair less in his beard than you
have. You will quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no
other reason but because you have hazel eyes; what eye but such
an eye as you have would seek out such a quarrel? Your head is as full of
quarrels as an egg is full of meat; and your head has even been
beaten like a rotten egg for quarrelling. You have quarreled
with a man for coughing in the street, because he woke up
your dog that was asleep in the sun. Didn’t you fall
out with a tailor for wearing his new suit before Easter?
And with another tailor for tying his new shoes with an old blue silk ribbon? And yet you
will teach me to avoid quarrelling?!

BEN:

An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a
quarter.

BEN:

If I were so easy to quarrel as you are, any man should buy
the inherited estate of my life for an hour and a quarter.

MER:

The fee simple? O simple!

MER:

The inherited estate! O how honest!

Enter Tybalt and others.

BEN:

By my head, here come the Capulets.(35)

BEN:

By my head, here come the Capulets.

MER:

By my heel, I care not.

MER:

By my heel, I care not.

TYB:

Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen, good den. A word with one of you.

TYB:

Follow me close, because I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good evening
a word with one of you.

MER:

And but one word with one of us?
Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.(40)

MER:

Only one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make
it a word and a blow.

TYB:

You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will
give me occasion.

TYB:

You shall find me easy enough for that, sir, if you will give
me the opportunity.

MER:

Could you not take some occasion without giving?

MER:

Couldn’t you take some opportunity without my giving you one?

TYB:

Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.

TYB:

Mercutio, you hang out with Romeo,

MER:

Consort? What, dost thou make us minstrels? An(45)
thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
discords. Here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make
you dance. Zounds, consort!

MER:

Hang out! what, do you make us musicians? If you make
us musicians, look to hear nothing but noise. Here's my
fiddlestick! Here's what will make you dance. God’s wounds, hang out!

BEN:

We talk here in the public haunt of men.
Either withdraw unto some private place(50)
And reason coldly of your grievances,
Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.

BEN:

We’re talking here in a public place.
Either move into some private place,
And reason out your grievances cooly,
Or else leave; here, all eyes gaze on us.

MER:

Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze.
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

MER:

Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

Enter Romeo.

TYB:

Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.(55)

TYB:

Well, peace be with you, sir. Here comes my man.

MER:

But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery.
Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower!
Your worship in that sense may call him man.

MER:

But I'll be hanged, sir, if he will put up with your insults.
By Mary, go before him to field, he'll be your follower.
Your honor, in that sense, may call him a man.

TYB:

Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
No better term than this: thou art a villain.(60)

TYB:

Romeo, the love I have for you can give
Me no better term to call you than this. you are a villain.

ROM:

Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
To such a greeting. Villain am I none.
Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not.

ROM:

Tybalt, the reason that I have to love you
Does excuse very much the rage that is appropriate
For such a greeting. I am not a villain.
Therefore, farewell. I see that you don’t know me.

TYB:

Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries(65)
That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

TYB:

Boy, this walking away shall not excuse the injuries
That you have done to me; therefore, turn and draw your sword.

ROM:

I do protest I never injur'd thee,
But love thee better than thou canst devise
Till thou shalt know the reason of my love;
And so good Capulet, which name I tender(70)
As dearly as mine own, be satisfied.

ROM:

I protest! I never injured you,
But love you better than you can possibly imagine,
Until you know the reason for my love.
And so, good Capulet which name I respect
As dearly as my own. Be satisfied.

MER:

O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
Alla stoccata carries it away.

Draws.

Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?

MER:

O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
To choke carries it away.

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk away?

TYB:

What would'st thou have with me?(75)

TYB:

What would you have with me?

MER:

Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives.
That I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use
me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you
pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? Make
haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.(80)

MER:

Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives, that I
intend to be bold besides, and, as you shall use me hereafter,
severely beat the rest of the eight lives out of you. Will you pluck your sword out of
its holder by the handle? Hurry up, for fear my sword will be about your ears
before you get yours out.

TYB:

I am for you.

TYB:

I am for you.

Draws.

ROM:

Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

ROM:

Gentle Mercutio, put up your sword.

MER:

Come, sir, your passado!

MER:

Come, sir, your forward thrust.

They fight.

ROM:

Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame! forbear this outrage!(85)
Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath
Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

ROM:

Draw, Benvolio. Make them put down their weapons.
Gentlemen, for shame! control this anger!
Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince has expressly
Forbidden this fighting in Verona streets.
Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

Tybalt under Romeo's arm thrusts Mercutio in, and flies with his Followers.

MER:

I am hurt.
A plague o’ both your houses! I am sped.(90)
Is he gone and hath nothing?

MER:

I am hurt;
A plague on both your houses! I am finished.
Is he gone, and he has nothing?

BEN:

What, art thou hurt?

BEN:

What, are you hurt?

MER:

Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, 'tis enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

Exit Page.

MER:

Yes, yes, a scratch, a scratch; by Mary, it’s enough.
Where is my page? Go, villain, get a doctor.

ROM:

Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.(95)

ROM:

Courage, man; the injury can’t be much.

MER:

No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church
door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve. Ask for me to-morrow,
and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I
warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both your houses!
Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to(100)
death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the
book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between
us? I was hurt under your arm.

MER:

No, it’s not as deep as a well, or as wide as a church door;
but it’s enough, it will do. Ask for me tomorrow, and you
shall find me a grave man. I am not long, I guarantee, for this
world. A plague on both your houses! God’s wounds! A dog, a rat, a
mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a
villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! [to Romeo] Why the devil
did you come between us? I was hurt under your arm.

ROM:

I thought all for the best.

ROM:

I thought it was all for the best.

MER:

Help me into some house, Benvolio,(105)
Or I shall faint. A plague o’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me. I have it,
And soundly too. Your houses!

Exit, supported by Benvolio.

MER:

Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague on both your houses!
They have made meat for the worms out meat of me.
I have had it, and soundly too. Your houses!

ROM:

This gentleman, the Prince's near ally,
My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt(110)
In my behalf—my reputation stain'd
With Tybalt's slander—Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman. O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soft'ned valour's steel(115)

ROM:

This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, has gotten his fatal wound
On my behalf. My reputation stained
By Tybalt's slander, Tybalt, that has been
My kinsman for an hour. O sweet Juliet,
Your beauty has turned me into a woman,
And, in my temper, softened bravery’s sword.

Enter Benvolio.