Verona. A public Place.
 Enter MERCUTIO, his PAGE, BENVOLIO, and SERVANTS.

Benvolio	I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire.
	The day is hot, the Capels are abroad,
	And if we meet we shall not 'scape a brawl,
	For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.

Mercutio	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	Am I like such a fellow?

Mercutio	Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in 
	Italy; and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to 
	be moved.

Benvolio	And what to?

Mercutio	Nay, an 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 quarrelled with a man for 
	coughing in the street, because he hath wakened 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	An 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	The fee simple! O simple!

                        Enter TYBALT, and OTHERS.

Benvolio	By my head, here comes the Capulets.

Mercutio	By my heel, I care not.

Tybalt	Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
	Gentlemen, good e'en; a word with one of you.

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

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

Mercutio	Could you not take some occasion without giving?

Tybalt	Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.

Mercutio	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!

Benvolio	We talk here in the public haunt of men;
	Either withdraw unto some private place,
	Or reason coldly of your grievances,
	Or else depart. Here all eyes gaze on us.

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

                               Enter ROMEO.

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

Mercutio	But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery.
	Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower.
	Your worship in that sense may call him 'man'.

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

Romeo	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.

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

Romeo	I do protest I never injured 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.

Mercutio	O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!
	Alla stoccata carries it away!
											[Draws.
	Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?

Tybalt	What wouldst thou have with me?

Mercutio	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	I am for you.
											[Draws.
Romeo	Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

Mercutio	Come sir, your passado.
											[They fight.
Romeo	Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons.
	Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage.
	Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath
	Forbid this bandying in Verona streets.
	Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

                            ROMEO intervenes.
              Tybalt under Romeo's arm thrusts Mercutio in.
								 [Exeunt TYBALT and his FOLLOWERS.

Mercutio	I am hurt.
	A plague a' both your houses! I am sped.
	Is he gone, and hath nothing?

Benvolio							What, art thou hurt?

Mercutio	Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, 'tis enough.
	Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
											[Exit PAGE.
Romeo	Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.

Mercutio	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 peppered, 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 devil came you between us? I 
	was hurt under your arm.

Romeo	I thought all for the best.

Mercutio	Help me into some house, Benvolio,
	Or I shall faint. A plague a' both your houses!
	They have made worms' meat of me.
	I have it, and soundly too. Your houses!
											[Exit BENVOLIO with MERCUTIO.

Romeo	This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
	My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt
	In my behalf; my reputation stained
	With Tybalt's slander - Tybalt, that an hour
	Hath been my cousin. O sweet Juliet,
	Thy beauty hath made me effeminate,
	And in my temper softened valour's steel.

                            Re-enter BENVOLIO.

Benvolio	O Romeo, Romeo, brave Mercutio is dead!
	That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds,
	Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.

Romeo	This day's black fate on more days doth depend;
	This but begins the woe others must end.

                             Re-enter TYBALT.

Benvolio	Here comes the furious Tybalt back again.

Romeo	Again! In triumph! And Mercutio slain?
	Away to heaven, respective lenity,
	And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
	Now, Tybalt, take the 'villain' back again
	That late thou gav'st me, for Mercutio's soul
	Is but a little way above our heads,
	Staying for thine to keep him company.
	Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.

Tybalt	Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,
	Shalt with him hence.

Romeo							This shall determine that.
											[They fight. TYBALT falls.
Benvolio	Romeo, away, be gone!
	The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain.
	Stand not amazed; the prince will doom thee death
	If thou art taken. Hence! Be gone, away!

Romeo	O, I am fortune's fool!

Benvolio								Why dost thou stay?
											[Exit ROMEO.
                             Enter CITIZENS.

1st Citizen	Which way ran he that killed Mercutio?
	Tybalt, that murderer, which way ran he?

Benvolio	There lies that Tybalt.

1st Citizen							Up, sir, go with me.
	I charge thee in the prince's name, obey.

             Enter PRINCE, MONTAGUE, CAPULET, LADY MONTAGUE,
                          LADY CAPULET, and ALL.

Prince	Where are the vile beginners of this fray?

Benvolio	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.

Lady Capulet	Tybalt, my cousin! O, my brother's child!
	O prince! O cousin! Husband! O, the blood is spilled
	Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true,
	For blood of ours shed blood of Montague.
	O cousin, cousin!

Prince	Benvolio, who began this bloody fray?

Benvolio	Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay.
	Romeo, that spoke him fair, bid him bethink
	How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal
	Your high displeasure. All this, utterd
	With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bowed,
	Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
	Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts
	With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast,
	Who, all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
	And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
	Cold death aside, and with the other sends
	It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity
	Retorts it. Romeo he cries aloud
	'Hold friends! Friends part!' and swifter than his tongue
	His agile arm beats down their fatal points,
	And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
	An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life
	Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled;
	But by and by comes back to Romeo,
	Who had but newly entertained revenge,
	And to't they go like lightning, for ere I
	Could draw to part them was stout Tybalt slain;
	And as he fell did Romeo turn and fly.
	This is the truth, or let Benvolio die.

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

Prince	Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio:
	Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

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

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