The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which but their children's end nought could remove,
Is now the two hours traffick of our ftage:
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

this fear of his, Cicero has likewife alluded in his fecond book De Legibus. I had almost forgot to observe, that Pliny exprefly fays, burning of dead bodies was not an old inftitution among the Romans; but their dead weré interr'd.Ipfum cremare apud Romanos nom fuit veteris inftituti: terrâ condebantur.

A32

Dramatis Perfonæ.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

Paris, a young Nobleman in love with Juliet, and kinsman: to the Prince.

} T

Montague, Two Lords of antient familie, enemies ta Capulet, each other.

Romeo, Son to Montague.

Mercutio, Kinfman to the Prince, and Friend to Romeo.. Benvolio, Kinfman and Friend to Romeo.

Tybalt, Kinfman to Capulet.

Friar Lawrence..

Friar John.

Peter, Servant to the Nurse..

Lady Montague, Wife to Montague..

Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet.

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

CHORUS.

Citizens of Verona, feveral men and women relations to Capulet, Makers, Guards, Watch, and other Attendants..

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Act, is in Man-tua;, during all the rest of the Play, in and near Verona..

ROMEO and JULIET.

A C T I.

SCENE, The Street, in Verona.

Enter Sampfon and Gregory, (with fwords and: buckiers) two fervants of the Capulets.

G

SAMPSON.

REGORY, on my word, we'll not

carry coals. Greg. No, for then we fhould be colliers. Sam. I mean, an' we be in choler, we'll draw.

Greg. Ay, while you live, draw your neck

out of the collar.

Sam. I ftrike quickly, being mov'd.

Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to strike. Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me. Greg. To move, is to stir; and to be valiant, is to ftand therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'st away. Sam. A dog of that house fhall move me to ftand: I will take the wall of any man, or maid, of Montague's. Greg. That fhews thee a weak flave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

A 4

Sam.

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

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

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhew 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 ?

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

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

Sam. Me they fhall feel, while I am able to ftand: and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh.

Greg. 'Tis well thou art not fish: if thou hadft, thou hadft been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the houfe of the Montagues.

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee.

G eg. How turn thy back and run?

Sam. Fear me not.

G eg. No, marry: I fear thee!

Sam. 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. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir?

Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.

Abr. 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.

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.

Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio. ·

Greg. Say, better: here comes one of my master's kinfmen.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir.

Abr. You lie.

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

[They fight. Ben. Part, fools, put up your fwords, you know notwhat you do.

Enter Tybalt.

Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these heartless › hinds?

Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.

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

Tyb. What drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee:

Have at thee, coward..

[Fight."

Enter three or four citizens with clubs. Cit. Clubs, bills, and partifans! ftrike! beat them down!

Down with the Capulets, down with the Montagues!

Enter old Capulet in bis gown, and lady Capulet." Cap. What noife is this? give me my long fword, ho! La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch-why call you for a fword?

Cap. My fword, I fay: old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in fpight of me.

Enter old Montague, and Lady Montague.

Mon. Thou villain, Capulet-Hold me not, let me go.

La. Mon. Thou shalt not ftir a foot to seek a fee.

A