APR

T
HE chief Defign of the Alterations in the following
Play, was to clear the Original as much as poffible
from the Fingle and Quibble which were always the
Objections to the reviving it.

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

Bandello, the Italian Novelist, from whom Shake ́ fpear has borrow'd the Subject of this Play, has made Juliet to wake in the Tomb before Romeo dies: This Circumftance Shakespear has omitted, not, perhaps, from Judgment, but from reading the Story in the French or English Tranflation, both which have injudiciously 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 Circumftance, but it is matter of wonder that fo great a dramatic Genius did not work up a Scene from it of mare Nature, Terror and Diftrefs. 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 ufe of two or three of his introductory Lines, be accounted a Plagiarifm.

The Perfons who from their great Good-nature and Love of fuftice have endeavour'd to take away from the prefent Editor the little Merit of this Scene by afcribing it to Otway, have unwittingly, from the Nature of the Accufation, paid him a Compliment which he believes they never intended him.

Citizens of Verona, feveral Men and Women
relations to Capulet, Maskers, Guards,
and other Attendants.

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Alt, is in Mantua; during all the rest of the Play, in and near Verona.

ROMEO and JULIET.

ACT I SCENE I

The Street in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory.

SAMPSON.

GREGORY, frike quickly being moved.

Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to ftrike. Sam. A dog of the houfe of Mountague moves me. Greg. Draw thy tool then, for here come of that houfe. Enter Abram and Balthafar.

Sam. My naked weapon is out; Quarrel, I will back thee, but Let us take the law of our fides: let

them begin.

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

Sam. Nay as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a difgrace 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 the law on our fide, if I fay ay ?
Greg. No.

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

A 4

Greg.

Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir?

Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir.

Sam. If you do, Sir, I am 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 kinfmen.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir.

Abr. You lye.

Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy fwashing blow.

[They fight. Ben Part, fools, put up your fwords, you know not what you do.

Tib. What art thou drawn amongst these heartless hinds?

Turn thee, Benvelio, look upon thy death.

Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy fword, Or manage it to part thefe 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.

Offi. Clubs,bills, and partisans! ftrike, beat them down. Down with the Capulets, down with the Mountagues. Enter old Capulet in his Gown.

Cap. What noife is this? give me my fword, My fword, I fay: old Mountague is come,

And flourishes his blade in fpite of me.

Enter old Mountague.

Moun. Thou villain, Capulet-Hold me not,let me go. Enter Prince with Attendants.

Prin. Rebellious fubjects, enemies to peace, Prophaners of your neighbour-ftained feel

Will