it with something; make it a word and a blow. Tyb. You will find me apt enough to that, sir, if you will give me occasion. Mer. Could you not take some occasion without giving? Tyb. Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo,Mer. Consort? what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort! Ben. We talk here in the public haunt of men; Either withdraw into some private place, Or reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us. Mer. Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I. Enter Romeo. Tyb. Well, peace my man. be with you, sir; here comes Mer. But I'll be hang'd, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Doth much excuse the appertaining rage Mer. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! [Draws. A la stoccata carries it away. Mer. Good king of cats, nothing, but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and, as you shall use me hereafter, dry-beat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher2 by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. Tyb. I am for you. [Drawing. Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. Mer. Come, sir, your passado. Rom. Draw, Benvolio; [They fight. Beat down their weapons:-Gentlemen, for shame Mer. I am hurt : A plague o'both the houses!-I am sped :- Ben. enough.Where is my page?-go, villain, fetch a surgeon. [Exit Page. Rom. Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much. Mer. No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am pepper'd, I warrant, for this world:A plague o'both your houses!-Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic!-Why, the devil, came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. (1) The Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier. (2) Case or scabbard. Rom. 1 thought all for the best. Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint.-A plague o'both your houses! They have made worm's meat of me : I have it, and soundly too:-Your houses! [Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio. Rom. This gentleman, the prince's near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain'd With Tybalt's slander, Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my kinsman :-O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, And in my temper soften'd valour's steel. Re-enter Benvolio. Ben. O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead; That gallant spirit hath aspir'd the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. Rom. This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the wo, others must end. Re-enter Tybalt. Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. Rom. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective1 lenity, And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct2 now!- Shalt with him hence. Rom. This shall determine that. [They fight; Tybalt falls. (1) Cool, considerate gentleness. (2) Conduct for conductor. (3) Accompany. Ben. Romeo, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain : Stand not amaz'd:-the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken :-hence!-be gone!-away! Rom. O! I am fortune's fool! Ben. Why dost thou stay? [Exit Romeo. Enter Citizens, &c. 1 Cit. Which way ran he, that kill'd Mercutio? Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he? Ben. There lies that Tybalt. 1 Cit. Up, sir, go with me; charge thee in the prince's name, obey. Enter Prince, attended; Montague, Capulet, their wives, and others. Prin. Where are the vile beginners of this fray? Ben. O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man slain by young Romeo, That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. La. Cap. Tybalt, my cousin!-O my brother's Unhappy sight! ah me, the blood is spill'd Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink Could not take truce with the unruly spleen (1) Just and upright. (2) Slight, unimportant. Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts Hold, friends! friends, part! and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, La. Cap. He is a kinsman to the Montague, Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? Mon. Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; His fault concludes but, what the law should end, The life of Tybalt. Prin. And, for that offence, I have an interest in your hates' proceeding, (1) Punish by fine. |