Act I
Scene I. Verona. A public place.
EnterSampsonandGregory,ofthehouseofCapulet,armedwithswordsandbucklers
Sampson:Gregory,o’myword,we’llnotcarrycoals.
Gregory:No,forthenweshouldbecolliers.
Sampson:Imean,anwebeincholer,we’lldraw.
Gregory:Ay,whileyoulive,drawyourneckouto’thecollar.
Sampson:Istrikequickly,beingmoved.
Gregory:Butthouartnotquicklymovedtostrike.
Sampson:AdogofthehouseofMontaguemovesme.
Gregory:Tomoveistostir;andtobevaliantistostand:therefore,ifthouartmoved,thourunn’staway.
Sampson:Adogofthathouseshallmovemetostand:IwilltakethewallofanymanormaidofMontague’s.
Gregory:Thatshowstheeaweakslave;fortheweakestgoestothewall.
Sampson:True;andthereforewomen,beingtheweakervessels,areeverthrusttothewall:thereforeIwillpushMontague’smenfromthewall,andthrusthismaidstothewall.
Gregory:Thequarrelisbetweenourmastersandustheirmen.
Sampson:’Tisallone,Iwillshowmyselfatyrant:whenIhavefoughtwiththemen,Iwillbecruelwiththemaids,andcutofftheirheads.
Gregory:Theheadsofthemaids?
Sampson:Ay,theheadsofthemaids,ortheirmaidenheads;takeitinwhatsensethouwilt.
Gregory:Theymusttakeitinsensethatfeelit.
Sampson:MetheyshallfeelwhileIamabletostand:and
’tisknownIamaprettypieceofflesh.
Gregory:’Tiswellthouartnotfish;ifthouhadst,thouhadstbeenpoorJohn.Drawthytool!herecomestwoofthehouseoftheMontagues.
Sampson:Mynakedweaponisout:quarrel,Iwillbackthee.
Gregory:How!turnthybackandrun?
Sampson:Fearmenot.
