Enter MERCUTIO, BENVOLIO,
            [PAGE,] and MEN.

      BENVOLIO
  1   I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire:
  2   The day is hot, the Capulets abroad,
  3   And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl;
  4   For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

      MERCUTIO
  5   Thou art like one of those fellows that when he
  6   enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword
  7   upon the table and says "God send me no need of
  8   thee!" and by the operation of the second cup draws
  9   it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.

      BENVOLIO
 10   Am I like such a fellow?

      MERCUTIO
 11   Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as
 12   any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as
 13   soon moody to be moved.

      BENVOLIO
 14   And what to?

      MERCUTIO
 15   Nay, an there were two such, we should have none
 16   shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why,
 17   thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more,
 18   or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou
 19   wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no
 20   other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what
 21   eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel?
 22   Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of
 23   meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as
 24   an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a
 25   man for coughing in the street, because he hath
 26   wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun:
 27   didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing
 28   his new doublet before Easter? with another, for
 29   tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou
 30   wilt tutor me from quarrelling!

      BENVOLIO
 31   An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any
 32   man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour
 33   and a quarter.

      MERCUTIO
 34   The fee-simple! O simple!

Summary

           Enter TYBALT, PETRUCHIO,            and others.

      BENVOLIO
 35   By my head, here come the Capulets.

      MERCUTIO
 36   By my heel, I care not.

      TYBALT
 37   Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
 38   Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.

      MERCUTIO
 39   And but one word with one of us? couple it with
 40   something; make it a word and a blow.

      TYBALT
 41   You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you
 42   will give me occasion.

      MERCUTIO
 43   Could you not take some occasion without
 44   giving?

      TYBALT
 45   Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,—

      MERCUTIO
 46   Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an
 47   thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but
 48   discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall
 49   make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!

      BENVOLIO
 50   We talk here in the public haunt of men:
 51   Either withdraw unto some private place,
 52   And reason coldly of your grievances,
 53   Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.

      MERCUTIO
 54   Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;
 55   I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.

Summary

           Enter ROMEO.

      TYBALT
 56   Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.

      MERCUTIO
 57   But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery:
 58   Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower;
 59   Your worship in that sense may call him "man."

      TYBALT
 60   Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford
 61   No better term than this: thou art a villain.

      ROMEO
 62   Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee
 63   Doth much excuse the appertaining rage
 64   To such a greeting: villain am I none;
 65   Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.

      TYBALT
 66   Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries
 67   That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.

      ROMEO
 68   I do protest I never injured thee,
 69   But love thee better than thou canst devise,
 70   Till thou shalt know the reason of my love:
 71   And so, good Capulet,—which name I tender
 72   As dearly as my own,—be satisfied.

      MERCUTIO
 73   O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
 74   Alla stoccata carries it away.

           [Draws.]

 75   Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

      TYBALT
 76   What wouldst thou have with me?

      MERCUTIO
 77   Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine
 78   lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you
 79   shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the
 80   eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pilcher
 81   by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your
 82   ears ere it be out.

      TYBALT
 83   I am for you.

           [Drawing.]

      ROMEO
 84   Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

      MERCUTIO
 85   Come, sir, your passado.

           [They fight.]

      ROMEO
 86   Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
 87   Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!
 88   Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
 89   Forbidden bandying in Verona streets:

           [Romeo steps between them.]

 90   Hold, Tybalt! good Mercutio!

           [Tybalt under Romeo's arm stabs
           Mercutio.] Away Tybalt [with his followers].

      MERCUTIO
 90                                                   I am hurt.
 91   A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
 92   Is he gone, and hath nothing?

      BENVOLIO
 92                                                 What, art thou hurt?

      MERCUTIO
 93   Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough.
 94   Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

           [Exit Page.]

      ROMEO
 95   Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

      MERCUTIO
 96   No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a
 97   church door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve. Ask for me
 98   tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am
 99   peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both
100   your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to
101   scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain,
102   that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil
103   came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.

      ROMEO
104   I thought all for the best.

      MERCUTIO
105   Help me into some house, Benvolio,
106   Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses!
107   They have made worms' meat of me: I have it,
108   And soundly too. Your houses!

           Exeunt [Mercutio and Benvolio].

      ROMEO
109   This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
110   My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
111   In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
112   With Tybalt's slander,—Tybalt, that an hour
113   Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,
114   Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
115   And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!

           Enter BENVOLIO.

      BENVOLIO
116   O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio's dead!
117   That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
118   Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

      ROMEO
119   This day's black fate on moe days doth depend;
120   This but begins the woe, others must end.

           [Enter TYBALT.]

      BENVOLIO
121   Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

      ROMEO
122   Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain!
123   Away to heaven, respective lenity,
124   And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
125   Now, Tybalt, take the "villain" back again,
126   That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
127   Is but a little way above our heads,
128   Staying for thine to keep him company:
129   Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.

      TYBALT
130   Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
131   Shalt with him hence.

      ROMEO
131                                      This shall determine that.

           They fight; Tybalt falls.

      BENVOLIO
132   Romeo, away, be gone!
133   The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
134   Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death,
135   If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!

      ROMEO
136   O, I am fortune's fool!

      BENVOLIO
136                                      Why dost thou stay?

           Exit Romeo.

           Enter CITIZENS.

      First Citizen
137   Which way ran he that kill'd Mercutio?
138   Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

      BENVOLIO
139   There lies that Tybalt.

      First Citizen
139                                       Up, sir, go with me;
140   I charge thee in the Prince's name, obey.

Summary

           Enter PRINCE, old MONTAGUE,
           CAPULET, their WIVES, and all.

      PRINCE
141   Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

      BENVOLIO
142   O noble prince, I can discover all
143   The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
144   There lies the man, slain by young Romeo,
145   That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio.

      LADY CAPULET
146   Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child!
147   O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt
148   O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
149   For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague.
150   O cousin, cousin!

      PRINCE
151   Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?

      BENVOLIO
152   Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay;
153   Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink
154   How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
155   Your high displeasure: all this uttered
156   With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,
157   Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
158   Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
159   With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,
160   Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
161   And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
162   Cold death aside, and with the other sends
163   It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity,
164   Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud,
165   "Hold, friends! friends, part!" and, swifter than his tongue,
166   His agile arm beats down their fatal points,
167   And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
168   An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
169   Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
170   But by and by comes back to Romeo,
171   Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,
172   And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I
173   Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.
174   And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly.
175   This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.

      LADY CAPULET
176   He is a kinsman to the Montague;
177   Affection makes him false; he speaks not true:
178   Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
179   And all those twenty could but kill one life.
180   I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give;
181   Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live.

      PRINCE
182   Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
183   Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

      MONTAGUE
184   Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend;
185   His fault concludes but what the law should end,
186   The life of Tybalt.

      PRINCE
186                                    And for that offence
187   Immediately we do exile him hence.
188   I have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
189   My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
190   But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine
191   That you shall all repent the loss of mine.
192   I will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
193   Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses:
194   Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste,
195   Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
196   Bear hence this body and attend our will;
197   Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.

           Exeunt.