Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

This is the first Edition of ROMEO and JULIET before it received the Alterations and Improvements to be found in the Copy that

follows.

THE

PROLOGUE.

T

WO houfhold frends alike in dignitie,

(In faire Verona, where we lay our Scene)
From ciuill broyles broke into enmitie,
Whose ciuill warre makes ciuill hands vncleane.
From forth the fatall loynes of these two foes,
A paire of starre-croft louers tooke their life :
Whose misaduentures, piteous ouerthrowes,
(Through the continuing of their fathers ftrife,
And death-markt paffage of their parents rage)
Is now the two howres traffique of our stage.
The which if you with patient eares attend,
What here we want wee'l studie to amend.

A 2

TRAGEDIE

O F

ROMEO and IULIET.

Enter 2. feruing-men of the Capolets.

REGORIE, of my word Ile carrie no coales.
2 No, for if you doo, you should be a collier.
1 If I be in choler, Ile draw.

GTM

2 Euer while you liue, draw your necke out

of the the collar.

1 I ftrike quickly being moou'd.

2 I, but you are not quickly mou'd to strike.

1 Dog of the house of the Mountagues moues me.

2 To mooue is to ftirre, and to bee valiant is to ftand to it: therefore (of my word) if thou be mooud thou't runne away.

I There's not a man of them I meete, but Ile take the wall of.

2 That fhewes thee a weakling, for the weakest goes to the wall.

I Thats true, therefore Ile thrust the men from the wall, and thrust the maids to to the walls: nay, thou fhalt see I am a tall peece of flesh.

2 Tis well thou art not fish, for if thou wert thou wouldst be but poore Iohn.

A 3

1 Ile

1 Ile play the tyrant, Ile first begin with the maids, and off with their heads.

2 The heads of the maids?

II the heades of their maides, or the maidenheades, take it in what fence thou wilt.

2 Nay let them take it in fence that feele it, but heere comes two of the Mountagues.

Enter two feruingmen of the Monntagues.

1 Nay feare not me I warrant thee.

2 I feare them no more than thee, but draw.

1 Nay let vs haue the law on our fide, let them begin first. Ile tell thee what Ile doo, as I goe by Ile bite my thumbe, which is difgrace enough if they fuffer it.

2 Content, goe thou by and bite thy thumbe, and Ile come after and frowne.

1 Moun. Doo you bite your thumbe at vs?

1 I bite my thumbe.

2 Moun. I but i'ft at vs?

II bite my thumbe, is the law on our fide? 2 No.

II bite my thumbe.

I Moun. I but i'ft at vs?

Enter Beneuolio.

2 Say I, here comes my mafters kinfman.

They draw, to them enters Tybalt, they fight, to them the Prince, old Mountague, and his wife, old Capulet and his wife, and other citizens and part them.

Prince. Rebellious fubiects enemies to peace,
On paine of torture, from thofe bloody handes
Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground.

Three ciuell brawles bred of an airie word,

By

« AnteriorContinua »