No better term than this-Thou art a villain. Rom. Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting:-Villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see, thou know'st me not. Tyb. Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn, and draw. Rom. I do protest, I never injur'd thee: ; But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love : And so, good Capulet,-which name I tender As dearly as mine own,-be satisfied. Mer. O calm, dishonourable, vile submission ! A la stoccata3 carries it away Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk? Tyb. What would'st thou have with me? [Draws. 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 pilcher 4 by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out. Tyb. I am for you. [Drawing. [They fight. Rom. Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. Mer. Come, sir, your passado. Rom. Draw, Benvolio; Beat down their weapons :-Gentlemen, for shame Forbear this outrage;-Tybalt-Mercutio The prince expressly hath forbid this bandying 3 The Italian term for a thrust or stab with a rapier. Mer. I am hurt; A plague o' both the houses!-I am sped:- Ben. What, art thou hurt? Mer. Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis 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 peppered, I warrant, for this world:-A plague o'both 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 arithmetick !— Why, the devil, came you between us? I was hurt under your arm. your Rom. I thought all for the best. Mer. Help me into some house, Benvolio, Or I shall faint.-A plague o'both your houses! I have it, and soundly too:-Your houses! [Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO. Rom. This gentleman, the prince's near ally, 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 woe, others must end. Re-enter TYBALT. Ben. Here comes the furious Tybalt back again. Rom. Alive! in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-ey'd fury be my conduct now!— Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. Shalt with him hence, Rom. This shall determine that. [They fight; TY BALT falls. 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! Why dost thou stay? [Exit ROMEO. Ben. 5 Cool, considerate gentleness. 6 Conduct for conductor. 7 Accompany. 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; I 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 child! Unhappy sight! ah me, the blood is spill'd Prin. Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? Ben. Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay; Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,- Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast; 8 Just and upright. 9 Slight, unimportant. Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point, And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats 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; Prin. And, for that offence, Immediately we do exíle him hence: I have an interest in your hates' proceeding, My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a bleeding; |