The fearful pasage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their Parents' rage, Is now the two bours traffick of our Stage : in his Second Book De Legibus. I had almoft forgot to observe, that Pliny expresly says, Burning of dead Bodies was not an old Inftitution among the Romans ; but their Dead were interrd. - Ipfum cremare apud Romanos non fuit veteris Inftituti: terrâ condebantur, ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. to the Prince. Montague, 3 Two Lords of antient families, Enemies to } 3 Musicians. Lady Montague, Wife to Montague. CHORUS Citizens of Verona, several men and women relations to Ca pulet, 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 1. SCE N E, The Street, in Verona. Enter Sampson and Gregory, (with fwords and bucklers,) two fervants of the Capulets. SAMPSON. REGORY, on my word, we'll not carry coals. Greg. No, for then we should be colliers. draw. Greg. Ay, while you live, draw your Neck out of the Collar. Greg. To move, is to stir ; and to be valiant, is to stand: therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'st away. Sam. A dog of that House shall move me to stand : I will take the wall of any man, or maid, of Montague's. Greg. That shews thee a weak Nave; for the weakeft 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 shew my self a tyrani: 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 sense thou wilt. Greg. They must take it in fense, that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand : and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh. Greg. 'Tis well, thou art not fish : if thou hadít, thou hadst been Poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes of the House of the Montagues. Enter Abrain and Balthafar. Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee. 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 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? my thumb at you, Sir : but I bite my thumb, Sir. Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir? Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you ; I serve as good a man, as you. Abr. No better, Enter Benvolio, Greg. Say, better : here comes one of my malter's kinfmen. Sam. Yes, better, Sir, Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy {washing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools, put up your swords, 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 sword, 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 ! Ofic. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down! Down with the Capulets, down with the Montagues! Enter old Capulet in bis gown, and lady Capulet. sword? I Enter why call you for a |