THE chief Design of the Alterations in the following Play,

was to clear the-Original as much as posible from the Jingle and Quibble which were always the Objections to the reviving it.

The sudden Change of Romeo's Love from Rosaline to Juliet, was thought by many, at the firs Revival of the Play, to be a blemish in his Character; an Alteration in that particular has been made more in Come pliance to that Opinion, than from a Conviction that Shakespear, the best Judge of human Nature, was faulty.

Bandello, the Italian Novelis, from whom Shake. spear has borrow'd the Subject of this Play, has made Juliet to wake in the Tomb before Romeo dies : This Circumstance Shakespear has omitted, not, perhaps, from Judgment, but from reading the Story in the French or English Translation, both which have injudicioufly left out this Addition to the Catastrophe.

Otway in his Caius Marius, a Tragedy taken from Romeo and Juliet, has made use of this affecting Circumstance, but it is matter of wonder that so great a dramatic Genius did not work up a Scene from it of mare Nature, Terror and Distress. Such a Scene was attempted at the Revival of this Play, and it is hop'd, that an endeavour to fupply the failure of fo great a Mafter will not be deem'd arrogant, or the making use of two or three of his introductory Lines, be accounted & Plagiarifm.

The Persons who from their great Good-nature and Love of Justice have endeavour'd to take away from the prefert

Editor the little Merit of this Scene by aferibing it to Otway, bave unwittingly, from the Nature of the ficcusation, paid bin a Compliment which he believes they never intended him.

Dramatis Perfouæ.

Citizens of Verona, Several Men and Women
relations to Capulet, Maskers, Guards,

and other Attendants.

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Axt, is in Mantud; during all the rest of

ibe Play, in and near Verona.

要来

ROMEO and JULIET.

А СТІ.

SCENE I.

The Street in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory.

SAMP.SO N.
REGORY, I ftrike quickly, being mov'd.

Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to frike. Sam. A dog of the house of Mountague moves me. Greg. Draw thy tool then, for here come of that house.

Enter Abram and Balthasar, Sam. My naked weapon is out; Quarrel, I will back thee, but Let us take thc law of our fides : ler them begin.

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

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

Abra. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir ?
Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.
Abra. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir.
Sam. Is che law on our fide, if I say ay :

Greg. No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir: but I bite my thumb, Sir.

A 4

Greg

men.

1

Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir ?
Abr. Quarrel, Sir! no, Sir.

Sam. If you do, Sir, I ain for you: I ferve as good a man as you.

Abr. No better, Sir.
Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio.
Greg. Say better : here comes one of my master's
kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir.
Abr. You lye.
Sam. Draw, if

you

be Gregory, remember thy swashing blow

(1 hey fighi. Ben. Part, fcols, put up your swords, you know not what you do.

Enter Tibalt.
Tib. What art thou drawn amongst these heartless

hinds ?
Turn thee, Benrclio, look upon thy death.

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

Tib. What drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Mountagues and thee :
Have at thee, coward.

Enter three or four citizens with clubs.
Ofi. Clubs,bills, and partisans ! frike, beat them down.
Down with the Capulets, down with the Mountagues.

Enter old Capulet in his Gown.
Cap. What noise is this? give me my sword,
My tivord, I say: old Mountague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter old Mountague.
Moun. Thou villain, Cepulet ---Hold me not,let me go.

Enter Prince with Attendants.
Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Prophaners of your neighbour-stained feel.

Will