1

PROLOGUE.

TWO Houfholds, both alike in Dignity,

In fair Verona, (where we lay our Scene) From ancient Grudge break to new mutiny; Where civil blood makes civil bands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,

A pair of ftar-croft lovers take their life;
Whofe mif-adventur'd piteous Overthrows

Do, with their death, bury their Parent's ftrife.
The fearful paffage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their Parent's rage,
Which but their children's End nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage:
The which if you with patient Ears attend,
What bere fhall mifs, our Toil fhall strive to mend.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.
Paris, Kinsman to the Prince.
Montague,

} Two Lords, Enemies to each other.
Capulet,
Romeo, Son to Montague.
Mercutio, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend to Romeo,
Benvolio, Kinsman to Romeo.
Tybalt, Kinsman to Capulet.
Friar Lawrence.
Friar John.
Balthasar, Servant to Romeo.
Page to Paris.
Sampson, } Servants to Capulet.
Gregory,
Abram, Servant to Montague.
Apothecary.
Simon Catling,
Hugh Rebeck, 3 Musicians.

Peter, Servant to the Nurse.
Lady Montague, Wife to Montague.
Lady Capuler, Wife to Capulet.
Juliet, Daughter io Capulet, in love with Romeo,
Nurse to Juliet,
CHORUS
Citizens of Verona, several men and women relations to
Capulet, Maskers, Guards, Watch, and other Attendants.
The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth Aft, is in

Mantua ; during all the rest of the Play, in and near
Verona.

Plot from a Novel of Bandello. Pope.

This novel is translated in Painters's Palace of Fleasure.

Editions of this Play. 1. 1597: John Danter,

1599. Tho. Crede for Cuthbert Burby.

3. 1637. R. Young for John Smethwick,

4. No date. John Smethwick, I have only the folio.

ROMEO and JULIET.

ACT I. SCENE I.

The Street, in Verona.

Enter Samplon and Gregory, (with fwords and bucklers) two fervants of the Capulets.

SAMPSON.

REGORY, on my word, we'll not carry coals.

GR

draw.

Greg. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sam. I mean, an' we be in Choler, we'll

Greg. Ay, while you live, draw your Neck out of the Collar.

Sam. I ftrike quickly, being mov'd.

Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to strike.

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 pofitively deny it, where is the proof?

I do not certainly know the meaning of the phrafe, but it feems rather to be to fmother an. ger, and to be used of a man who burns inwardly with refentment, to which he gives no vent.

B 3

Sam.

Sam. A dog of the House of Montague moves me. Greg. To move, is to ftir, and to be valiant, is to ftand; therefore, if thou art mov'd, thou runn'st away.

Sam. A dog of that House 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 weakeft, are ever thrust to the wall:-therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.

Greg. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.

2

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will fhew myself a tyrant : when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads.