PROLOGUE. TWO Houfhalds, both alike in Dignity, In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene) Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. A pair of far-croft lovers take their life; Do, with their death, bury their Parents' firife. And the continuance of their Parents' rage, ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. Montague, Two Lords, Enemies to each "other. Romeo, Son to Montague. Mercutio, Kinfman to the Prince, and Friend to Romeo. Friar John. Balthafar, Servant to Romeo. Sampfon, } Abram, Servant to Montague. Servants to Capulet. Apothecary. } 33 Muficians. Lady Montague, Wife to Montague. Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet. Juliet, Daughter to Capulet, in love with Romeo. CHORUS. Citizens of Verona, feveral men and women relations to Capulet, Maskers, Guards, Watch, and other Attendants. The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Act, is in Mantua; during all the reft of the Play, in and near Verona. Plot from a Novel of Bandello. Pope. This Novel is tranflated in Painter's Palace of Plea fure. Editions of this Play. 1. 1597. John Danter. 2. 1599. Tho. Crede for Cuthbert Burby. 3. 1637. R. Young for John Smethwick. 4. No date. John Smethwick. I have only the folio. ACT I. SCENE I. The Street in Verona. Enter Sampfon and Gregory, (with fwords and bucklers) two fervants of the Capulets. SAMPSON. REGORY, on my word, (1) we'll not carry coals. .* Greg. No, for then we fhould be colliers. G draw. Greg. Ay, while you live, draw your Neck out of the Collar. (1) we'll not carry coals.] A phrafe then in ufe, to fignify the bearing injuries. WARBURTON. This is pofitively told us; but if another critic fhall as positively deny it, where is the proof? I do not certainly know the meaning of the phrafe, but it seems rather to be to fmother anger, and to be used of a man who burns inwardly with refentment, to which he gives no vent. Shakespeare ufes it in this fenfe, Life of King Henry V. act iii. fc. iii. Boy. Nym and Bardolph are fworn brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a fire-fhovel; I know by that piece of fervice "the men would carry coals." So it is used by Skelton, in his poem, intitled, Why come ye not to Court? Works, p. 142. "Will you bear no coals?" + And by Ben Jobnfon, Every Man out of bis Humour, act v. fc. i. Puntarvolo to the groom. "See here comes one that will carry coals; "" "Ergo, will hold my dog.' And again, act v. fc. iii. do "Take heed, Sir Puntarvole, what you I therefore retract my note on this paffage. A 3 Dr. GRAY Sam. Sam. I ftrike quickly, being mov'd. Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to strike. Sam. A dog of the Houfe of Montague moves me. Greg. To move, is to ftir; and to be valiant, is to stand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'ft away. Sam. A dog of that houfe fhall move me to ftand. I will take the wall of any man, or maid of Montague's. Greg. That fhews thee a weak flave; for the weakest goes to the wall, Sam. True, and therefore women, being the weakest, are ever thrust to the wall:-therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thruft his maids to the wall. Greg. The quarrel is between our mafters, and us their men. Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhew myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be (2) cruel with the inaids, and cut off their heads. Greg. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or the maidenheads, take it in what fenfe thou wilt. Greg. They must take it in fenfe, that feel it. Sam. Me they fhall feel, while I am able to ftand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh. Greg. 'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadft, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool, here comes-of the Houfe of the Montagues. Enter Abram 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 be gin. Greg. I will frown as I país by, and let them take it as they lift. (2) cruel with the maids,] The first folio reads civil with the maids. Sam. |