When subtle Greeks surprised King Priam's Troy; Or who hath brought the fatal engine in That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound. l; But floods of tears will drown my oratory, Here is a captain, let him tell the tale; Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak. Were they that murdered our emperor's brother; Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out, My scars can witness, dumb although they are, For when no friends are by, men praise themselves. Marc. Now is my turn to speak. Behold the child: [Pointing to the Child in the arms of an Attendant. Of this was Tamora delivered ; The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes: The villain is alive in Titus' house, And as he is, to witness this is true. Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Romans? Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down, The common voice do cry it shall be so. Marc. Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house, [To Attendants. And hither hale that misbelieving Moor, To be adjudged some direful slaughtering death, As punishment for his most wicked life. [Exeunt Attendants. Lucius, Marcus, and the others descend. All. Lucius, all hail, Rome's gracious governor! Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans: may I govern so, To heal Rome's harms and wipe away her woe! But, gentle people, give me aim awhile, For nature puts me to a heavy task; Stand all aloof; but, uncle, draw you near, To shed obsequious tears upon this trunk. O, take this warm kiss on thy pale cold lips, [Kissing Titus. These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face, The last true duties of thy noble son! Marc. Tear for tear and loving kiss for kiss Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips : Meet and agreeing with thine infancy; Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring, Friends should associate friends in grief and woe: Boy. O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart That hath been breeder of these dire events. For the offence he dies. This is our doom: I should repent the evils I have done : I do repent it from my very soul. Luc. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence, My father and Lavinia shall forthwith Be closed in our household's monument. As for that heinous tiger, Tamora, No funeral rite, nor man in mourning weeds, But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey: [Exeunt. Citizens of Verona; kinsfolk of both houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants. Chorus. SCENE: Verona; Mantua. THE PROLOGUE Enter Chorus. Chor. Two households, both alike in dignity, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Do with their death bury their parents' strife. ACT I-SCENE I Verona. A public place. Enter Sampson and Gregory, of the house of Capulet, Sam. Gregory, on my word, we 'll not carry coals. Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we 'll draw. Gre. Ay, while vou live, draw your neck out o' the collar. Sam. I strike quickly, being moved. Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike. Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves me. Gre. To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand: therefore, if thou art moved, 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. [wall. Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the Sam. '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. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters and us their men. Sam. '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. Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it in sense that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. '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. Enter Abraham and Balthasar. Sam. My naked weapon is out: quarrel; I will back thee. Sam. Fear me not. Gre. No, marry; I fear thee! Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin. Gre. 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? Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Sam. [Aside to Gre.] Is the law of our side, if I say ay? Gre. No. Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Abr. Quarrel, sir! no, sir. Sam. But if you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man Abr. No better. [as you. Sam. Well, sir. |