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PROLOGUE.

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 mif-adventur'd piteous Overthrows
Do, with their death, bury their Parent's strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their Parent's rage,
Which but their children's End nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage:
The which if you with patient Ears attend,
What bere shall miss, our Toil shall strive to mend.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona..

Paris, Kinsman to the Prince.

Montague,

Capulet, }

Two Lords, Enemies to each other.

Romeo, Son to Montague.

Mercutio, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend to Romeo,

Benvolio, Kinsman to Romeo.

Tybalt, Kinsman to Capulet.

Friar Lawrence,

Friar John.

Balthafar, Servant to Romeo.

Apothecary.

Simon Catling,

Hugh Rebeck,

Samuel Soundboard,

Peter, Servant to the Nurse.

Lady Montague, Wife to Montague.

Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet.

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

CHORUS.

Citizens of Verona, several men and women relations to Capulet, 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, in and near Verona.

Plot from a Novel of Bandello. Pope.

2.

1599. Tho. Crede for Cuthbert Burby. 3. 1637. R. Young for John Smethwick.

4

ROMEO and JULIET.

i

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ACTI. SCENE I

The Street, in Verona.

Enter Sampson and Gregory, (with swords and bucklers) two fervants of the Capulets.

G

SAMPSON.

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

draw...

Greg. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sam. I mean, an' we be in Choler, we'll

:

Greg. Ay, while you live, draw your Neck out of the Collar.

Sam. I strike quickly, being mov'd.
Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to strike.

we'll not carry coals.] A
phrase then in use, to fignify the
bearing injuries. WARBURTON.
This is positively told us; but
if another critic shall as positive-
ly deny it, where is the proof?

:

I do not certainly know the meaning of the phrase, but it seems rather to be to smother an. ger, and to be used of a man who burns inwardly with resentment, to which he gives no vent. CAB

B3

に

Sam.

Sam. A dog of the House of Montague moves me. Greg. To move, is to stir, and to be valiant, is to stand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'st away.

Sam. A dog of that House shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man, or maid of Montague's.

Greg. That shews thee a weak flave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True, and therefore women, being the weakest, are ever thrust to the wall:-therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.

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

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will shew myself 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?

T

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

Greg. They must take it in sense, that feel it.

Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand:

and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesa.

Greg. 'Tis well thou art not fith; if thou hadft, thou hadft been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the House of the Montagues.

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

A

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!فى استم

** cruel wish the maids, The first folio reads dull with the