6am. 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 Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, Sir? Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir: but I bite my thumb, Sir. Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir? Abr. Quarrel, Sir? no, Sir. Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you, I ferve as good à man, as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, Sir. Enter Benvolio. Greg. Say, better. Here comes one of my master's kinfmen. Sam. Yes, better, Sir. Abr. Youlye. Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy fwashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools, put up your fwords, you know hot what you do. Enter Tybalt. Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these heartless. hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. 3 Enter Benvolio.] Much of this scene is added fince the firft edition but probably by Shake pear, fince we find it in that of the year 1599. POPE. Ben. I do but keep the peace; put up thy fword, Or manage it to part these men with me. Tyb. What drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee. Enter three or four citizens with clubs. [Fight. Cit. 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. 4 Cap. What noife is this? + give me my long fword, ho! La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch. Why call you for a fword? Cap. My fword, I fay: old Montague is come. And flourishes his blade in fpight of me. Enter old Montague, and Lady Montague. Mon. Thou villain, Capulet Hold me not, let me go. La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir a foot to feek a foe. Enter Prince with attendants. Prin. Rebellious Subjects, enemies to peace, Profaners of this neighbour-ftained steelWill they not hear? what ho! you men, you beafts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage 4 give me my lorg word.] The in war, which was fometimes long werd was the fword ufed wielded with both hands. With purple fountains iffuing from your veins; Have thrice difturb'd the Quiet of our streets; Caft by their grave, befeeming, ornaments; [Exeunt Prince and Capulet, &c. SCENE II. La. Mon. Who fet this ancient quarrel new abroach; Speak, nephew, were you by, when it began? Ben. Here were the fervants of your adverfary, And yours, clofe fighting, ere I did approach; I drew to part them: In the inftant came The fiery Tybalt, with his fword prepar'd, Which, as he breath'd defiance to my ears, He fwung about his head, and cut the winds, Who, nothing hurt withal, hifs'd him in fcorn. While we were interchanging thrusts and blows, Came more and more, and fought on part and part, 'Till the Prince came, who parted either Part. La. Mon. O where is Romeo! Saw you him to day? Right glad am I, he was not at this fray. Ben. Ben. Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd Sun Tow'rds him I made; but he was 'ware of me, And gladly fhun'd, who gladly fled from me. Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause? Mon. I neither know it, nor can learn it of him. 7 Ben. Have you importun'd him by any means? Mon. Both by myself and many other friends; But he, his own affections' counsellor, Is to himself, I will not fay, how true, Could we but learn from whence his forrows grow, Enter Romeo. Ben. See, where he comes. So please you, step afide, I'll know his grievance, or be much deny'd. Mon. I would, thou wert fo happy by thy stay To hear true fhrift. Come, Madam, let's away. Ben. Good-morrow, coufin. Ben. But new ftruck nine. Rom. Ah me, fad hours feem long! [Exeunt. -Was that my father that went hence fo faft? Ben. In love? Rom. Out Or dedicate his beauty to the Same.] When we come to confider, that there is fome power elfe befides balmy air, that brings forth, and makes the tender buds spread themfelves, I do not think it improbable that the Poet wrote; Or dedicate his beauty to the Sun. Or, according to the more ob folete fpelling, Sunne; which brings it nearer to the traces of the corrupted text. THEOB. I cannot but fufpect that fome lines are loft, which connected this fimile more closely with the foregoing fpeech; thefe lines, if fuch there were, lamented the danger that Romeo will die of. his melancholy, before his virtues or abilities are known to the world. Ben |