CITIZENS OF VERONA, MASKERS, GUARDS, WATCH, and

ATTENDANTS.

Mrs. H. Siddons.
Mrs. Sparks.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

The Street, in Verona.

Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY.

Sam. Gregory, I strike quickly, being moved. Greg. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me. Greg. Draw thy tool, then, for here come of that house.

Enter ABRAM and PETER.

Sam. My naked weapon is out: Quarrel, I wil back thee, but-Let us take the law of our sides let them begin.

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

Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir.

sir ?

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us,
Sam. Is the law on our side, if I say, ay?

Greg. No.

Sam. No, sir, I do not bite 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 serve 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

Tib. 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 sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tib. What, drawn, and talk of peace!

word,

As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee:

I hate the

[Within.] Down with the Capulets, down with the

Have at thee, coward.

[They fight.

[Bell rings.

Montagues.

Enter OLD CAPULET, in his Gown.

Cap. What noise is this? give me my sword;

My sword, I say; old Montague is come,

And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter OLD MONTAGUE.

Mont. Thou villain, Capulet-Hold me not, let

me go.

Enter the PRINCE and ATTENDANTS.

Prince. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of your neighbour-stained steel-
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mis-temper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved Prince.
Three civil broils, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets:
If ever you affright our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time, all the rest depart away.
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this case.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

[Exeunt all but MONTAGUE and BENVOLIO. Mon. Ŏ, where is Romeo? saw you him to-day? Right glad am I he was not at this fray.

Ben. My lord, an hour before the worshipp'd sun Peer'd through the golden window of the east, A troubled mind drew me to walk abroad: Where, underneath the grove of sycamore, That westward rooteth from the city side, So early walking did I see your son; Tow'rds him I made, but he was 'ware of me, And stole into the covert of a wood. I, measuring his affections by my own, (That most are busied when they're most alone,) Pursued my humour, not pursuing him, And gladly shunn'd, who gladly fled from me. Mon. Many a morning hath he there been seen, With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew;