A public place. Enter Sampson and Gregory armed with swords and bucklers.
Sampson
Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.
Gregory
No, for then we should be colliers.
Sampson
I mean, if 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 civil 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 of the house of Montagues.
Enter Abram 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 disgrace to them if they bear it.
Abram
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson
I do bite my thumb, sir.
Abram
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?
Abram
Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
Sampson
But if you do, sir, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you.
Abram
No better.
Sampson
Well, sir.
Enter Benvolio.
Gregory
Say better; here comes one of my master’s kinsmen.
Sampson
Yes, better, sir.
Abram
You lie.
Sampson
Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy washing blow.
[They fight.]
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 three or four Citizens with clubs.
First 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.