Romeo and Juliet

Act One SCENE ONE Verona. 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 runnest 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. 'Tis 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 maiden-heads; 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 the Montagues. Enter Abraham and Balthasar 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 a disgrace to them, if they bear it. 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. (Aside to Gregory) Is the law of our side if I say ay? gregory. (Aside to Sampson) 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. If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you. abraham. No better. sampson. Well, sir. gregory. (Aside to Sampson) 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 persons of both houses, who join the fray; then enter Citizens, with clubs and partisans citizens. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat them down! Down with the Capulets! down with 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! OldShakespeare, William is the author of 'Romeo and Juliet', published 2001 under ISBN 9780679642206 and ISBN 067964220X.