Copy of Copy of Romeo & Juliet 12/9 (6/23/2025)

Scene 1: Verona. A street.

(Enter Mercutio, Benvolio, Page, and Men.)

BENVOLIO

1 I pray thee, good Mercutio, let’s retire.

2 The day is hot, the Capels are 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 these fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table, and says, “God send me no need of thee!” and by the operation of the second cup draws him on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.

BENVOLIO

6 Am I like such a fellow?

MERCUTIO

7 Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon mov’d to be moody, and as soon moody to be mov’d.

BENVOLIO

8 And what to?

MERCUTIO

9 Nay, and there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou? Why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling. Thou hast quarrell’d with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath waken’d thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With another for tying his new shoes with old riband? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling!

BENVOLIO

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

MERCUTIO

11 The fee-simple! O simple!

(Enter Tybalt, Petruchio, and others.)

BENVOLIO

12 By my head, here comes the Capulets.

MERCUTIO

13 By my heel, I care not.

TYBALT

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

MERCUTIO

15 And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something, make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT

16 You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, and you will give me occasion.

MERCUTIO

17 Could you not take some occasion without giving?

TYBALT

18 Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo—

MERCUTIO

19 Consort! What, dost thou make us minstrels? And thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords. Here’s my fiddlestick, here’s that shall make you dance. ’Zounds, consort!

BENVOLIO

20 We talk here in the public haunt of men.

21 Either withdraw unto some private place,

22 Or reason coldly of your grievances,

23 Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.

MERCUTIO

24 Men’s eyes were made to look, and let them gaze;

25 I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I.

(Enter Romeo.)

TYBALT

26 Well, peace be with you, sir, here comes my man.

MERCUTIO

27 But I’ll be hang’d, sir, if he wear your livery.

28 Marry, go before to field, he’ll be your follower;

29 Your worship in that sense may call him man.

TYBALT

30 Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford

31 No better term than this: thou art a villain.

ROMEO

32 Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee

33 Doth much excuse the appertaining rage

34 To such a greeting. Villain am I none;

35 Therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not.

TYBALT

36 Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries

37 That thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw.

ROMEO

38 I do protest I never injured thee,

39 But love thee better than thou canst devise,

40 Till thou shalt know the reason of my love,

41 And so, good Capulet—which name I tender

42 As dearly as mine own—be satisfied.

MERCUTIO

43 O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!

44 Alla stoccata carries it away.

(Draws.)

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

TYBALT

46 What wouldst thou have with me?

MERCUTIO

47 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 by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

TYBALT 48 I am for you.

ROMEO 49 Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up. MERCUTIO 50 Come, sir, your passado.

(They fight.)

ROMEO 51 Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons. 52 Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! 53 Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath 54 Forbid this bandying in Verona streets. (Romeo steps between them.) 55 Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio! (Tybalt under Romeo’s arm thrusts Mercutio in. Away Tybalt with his followers.) MERCUTIO 56 I am hurt. 57 A plague a’ both houses! I am sped. 58 Is he gone and hath nothing?

BENVOLIO 59 What, art thou hurt?

MERCUTIO 60 Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch, marry, ’tis enough. 61 Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon. (Exit Page.) ROMEO 62 Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.

MERCUTIO 63 No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am pepper’d, I warrant, for this world. A plague a’ 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 dev’l came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO 64 I thought all for the best. MERCUTIO 65 Help me into some house, Benvolio, 66 Or I shall faint. A plague a’ both your houses! 67 They have made worms’ meat of me. I have it, 68 And soundly too. Your houses! (Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.) ROMEO 69 This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, 70 My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt 71 In my behalf; my reputation stain’d 72 With Tybalt’s slander—Tybalt, that an hour 73 Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet, 74 Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, 75 And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel! (Enter Benvolio.)

BENVOLIO 76 O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! 77 That gallant spirit hath aspir’d the clouds, 78 Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

ROMEO 79 This day’s black fate on more days doth depend, 80 This but begins the woe others must end. (Enter Tybalt.) BENVOLIO 81 Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

ROMEO 82 He gone in triumph, and Mercutio slain! 83 Away to heaven, respective lenity, 84 And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now!

85 Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again 86 That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul 87 Is but a little way above our heads, 88 Staying for thine to keep him company. 89 Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. TYBALT 90 Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, 91 Shalt with him hence. ROMEO 92 This shall determine that. (They fight; Tybalt falls.)

BENVOLIO 93 Romeo, away, be gone! 94 The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. 95 Stand not amazed, the Prince will doom thee death 96 If thou art taken. Hence be gone, away!

ROMEO 97 O, I am fortune’s fool! BENVOLIO 98 Why dost thou stay? (Exit Romeo. Enter Citizens.) FIRST CITIZEN OF VERONA 99 Which way ran he that kill’d Mercutio? 100 Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

BENVOLIO 101 There lies that Tybalt.

FIRST CITIZEN OF VERONA 102 Up, sir, go with me; 103 I charge thee in the Prince’s name, obey. (Enter Prince, old Montague, Capulet, their Wives, and all.)

ESCALUS 104 Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

BENVOLIO 105 O noble Prince, I can discover all 106 The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: 107 There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, 108 That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. LADY CAPULET 109 Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child! 110 O Prince! O husband! O, the blood is spill’d 111 Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, 112 For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. 113 O cousin, cousin! ESCALUS 114 Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? BENVOLIO 115 Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo’s hand did slay! 116 Romeo that spoke him fair, bid him bethink 117 How nice the quarrel was, and urg’d withal 118 Your high displeasure; all this, uttered 119 With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed, 120 Could not take truce with the unruly spleen 121 Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts 122 With piercing steel at bold Mercutio’s breast, 123 Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point, 124 And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats 125 Cold death aside, and with the other sends

126 It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity 127 Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud, 128 “Hold, friends! Friends, part!” and swifter than his tongue, 129 His agile arm beats down their fatal points, 130 And ’twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm 131 An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life 132 Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; 133 But by and by comes back to Romeo, 134 Who had but newly entertain’d revenge, 135 And to’t they go like lightning, for, ere I 136 Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain; 137 And as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. 138 This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. LADY CAPULET 139 He is a kinsman to the Montague, 140 Affection makes him false, he speaks not true. 141 Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, 142 And all those twenty could but kill one life. 143 I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give: 144 Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live. ESCALUS 145 Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; 146 Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

MONTAGUE 147 Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend; 148 His fault concludes but what the law should end, 149 The life of Tybalt.

ESCALUS 150 And for that offense 151 Immediately we do exile him hence. 152 I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding; 153 My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; 154 But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine 155 That you shall all repent the loss of mine. 156 I will be deaf to pleading and excuses, 157 Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses; 158 Therefore use none. Let Romeo hence in haste, 159 Else, when he is found, that hour is his last. 160 Bear hence this body and attend our will; 161 Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. (Exeunt.)

The Fight Scene

Act 3, Scene 1, lines 30–56

TYBALT

30 Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford

31 No better term than this: thou art a villain.

ROMEO

32 Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee

33 Doth much excuse the appertaining rage

34 To such a greeting. Villain am I none;

35 Therefore farewell, I see thou knowest me not.

TYBALT

36 Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries

37 That thou hast done me, therefore turn and draw.

ROMEO

38 I do protest I never injured thee,

39 But love thee better than thou canst devise,

40 Till thou shalt know the reason of my love,

41 And so, good Capulet—which name I tender

42 As dearly as mine own—be satisfied.

MERCUTIO

43 O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!

44 Alla stoccata carries it away.

(Draws.)

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

TYBALT

46 What wouldst thou have with me?

MERCUTIO

47 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 by the ears? Make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.

TYBALT

48 I am for you.

ROMEO

49 Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

MERCUTIO

50 Come, sir, your passado.

(They fight.)

ROMEO

51 Draw, Benvolio, beat down their weapons.

52 Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!

53 Tybalt, Mercutio, the Prince expressly hath

54 Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.

(Romeo steps between them.)

55 Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

(Tybalt under Romeo’s arm thrusts Mercutio in. Away Tybalt with his followers.)

MERCUTIO

56 I am hurt.

57 A plague a’ both houses! I am sped.

58 Is he gone and hath nothing?

BENVOLIO

59 What, art thou hurt?

MERCUTIO

60 Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch, marry, ’tis enough.

61 Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.

(Exit Page.)

ROMEO

62 Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much.

MERCUTIO

63 No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am pepper’d, I warrant, for this world. A plague a’ 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 dev’l came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.

ROMEO

64 I thought all for the best.

MERCUTIO

65 Help me into some house, Benvolio,

66 Or I shall faint. A plague a’ both your houses!

67 They have made worms’ meat of me. I have it,

68 And soundly too. Your houses!

(Exeunt Mercutio and Benvolio.)

ROMEO 69 This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally, 70 My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt 71 In my behalf; my reputation stain’d 72 With Tybalt’s slander—Tybalt, that an hour 73 Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet, 74 Thy beauty hath made me effeminate, 75 And in my temper soft’ned valor’s steel! (Enter Benvolio.) BENVOLIO 76 O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead! 77 That gallant spirit hath aspir’d the clouds, 78 Which too untimely here did scorn the earth. ROMEO 79 This day’s black fate on more days doth depend, 80 This but begins the woe others must end. (Enter Tybalt.) BENVOLIO 81 Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

ROMEO 82 He gone in triumph, and Mercutio slain! 83 Away to heaven, respective lenity, 84 And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now! 85 Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again 86 That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul 87 Is but a little way above our heads, 88 Staying for thine to keep him company.

89 Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. TYBALT 90 Thou wretched boy, that didst consort him here, 91 Shalt with him hence.

ROMEO 92 This shall determine that. (They fight; Tybalt falls.) BENVOLIO 93 Romeo, away, be gone! 94 The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. 95 Stand not amazed, the Prince will doom thee death 96 If thou art taken. Hence be gone, away! ROMEO 97 O, I am fortune’s fool!