A public place.
[Enter Sampson and Gregory armed with swords and bucklers.]
Sampson. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.
Gregory. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sampson. I mean, an we be in choler we'll draw.
Gregory. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar.
Sampson. I strike quickly, being moved.
Gregory. But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
Sampson. A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
Gregory. To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand.
Therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.
Sampson. A dog of that house shall move me to stand.
I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.
Gregory. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall.
Sampson. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels,
Are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push
Montague's men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall.
Gregory. The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
Sampson. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant.
When I have fought with the men
I will be cruel with the maids,
I will cut off their heads.
Gregory. The heads of the maids?
Sampson. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;
Take it in what sense thou wilt.
Gregory. They must take it in sense that feel it.
Sampson. Me they shall feel while I am able to stand.
And 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
Gregory. 'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou
Hadst been poor-John. Draw thy tool; Here comes
Two of the house of Montagues.
Sampson. My naked weapon is out. quarrel! I will back thee.
Gregory. How! turn thy back and run?
Sampson. Fear me not.
Gregory. No, marry; I fear thee!
Sampson. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.
Gregory. I will frown as I pass by; and let them take it as they list.
Sampson. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them;
Which is disgrace to them if they bear it.
[Enter Abraham and Balthasar.]
Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson. I do bite my thumb, sir.
Abraham. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson. Is the law of our side if I say ay?
Gregory. No.
Sampson. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir.
Gregory. Do you quarrel, sir?
Abraham. Quarrel, sir! no, sir.
Sampson. But if you do, sir, am for you. I serve as good a man as you.
Abraham. No better.
Sampson. Well, sir.
Gregory. Say better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen.
Sampson. Yes, better, sir.
Abraham. You lie.
Sampson. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.
[They fight.]
[Enter Benvolio.]
Benvolio. Part, fools! put up your swords; you know not what you do.
[Beats down their swords.]
[Enter Tybalt.]
Tybalt. What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee Benvolio, look upon thy death.
Benvolio. I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage it to part these men with me.
Tybalt. What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word
As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.
Have at thee, coward!
[They fight.]
[Enter several of both Houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens with clubs.]
1 Citizen. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down!
Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!
[Enter Capulet in his gown, and Lady Capulet.]
Capulet. What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!
Lady Capulet. A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?
Capulet. My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.
[Enter Montague and his Lady Montague.]
Montague. Thou villain Capulet! Hold me not, let me go.
Lady Montague. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.
