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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 Stage:
The which if you with patient ears attend,

What bere ball mifs, our Toil shall ftrive to mend.

in his Second Book De Legibus. I had almoft forgot to obferve, that Pliny exprefly fays, Burning of dead Bodies was not an old Inftitution among the Romans; but their Dead were interr'd.Ipfum cremare apud Romanos non fuit veteris biftituti: terrâ condebantur.

Dramatis

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

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

Montague, 3 Two Lords of antient families, Enemies to Capulet, } each other.

Romeo, Son to Montague.

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

Tybalt, Kinsman to Capulet.

Friar Lawrence.

Friar John.

Balthafar, Servant to Romeo.
Page to Paris.

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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, Maskers, Guards, Watch, and other Attendants.

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

ROMEO and JULIET.

ACT I.

SCENE, The Street, in Verona.

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

SAMPSON.

REGORY, on my word, we'll not carry coals.

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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 Houfe of Montague moves me. Greg. To move, is to ftir; and to be valiant, is to ftand: therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'ft 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.

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

Greg. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their

men.

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhew my felf 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.

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

Enter Abram and Balthafar.

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

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Greg. How: turn thy back and run?

Sam. Fear me not.

Greg. 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 say ay?

Greg. No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite

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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 malter'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 not what 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 thefe 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.

Enter three or four citizens with clubs!

[Fight.

Offic. Clubs, bills, and partifans! ftrike! beat them down!

Down with the Capulets, down with the Montagues!

Enter old Capulet in his 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 sword?

Cap. My fword, I fay: old Montague is come,

And flourishes his blade in fpight of me.

VOL. VII.

I

Enter

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