Publisher's Synopsis
An age-old vendetta between two powerful families erupts into bloodshed. A group of masked Montagues risk further conflict by gatecrashing a Capulet party. A young lovesick Romeo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliet Capulet, who is due to marry her father's choice, the County Paris. With the help of Juliet's nurse, the women arrange for the couple to marry the next day, but Romeo's attempt to halt a street fight leads to the death of Juliet's own cousin, Tybalt, for which Romeo is banished. In a desperate attempt to be reunited with Romeo, Juliet follows the Friar's plot and fakes her own death. SAMPSON. Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.GREGORY. No, for then we should be colliers.SAMPSON. I mean, if we be in choler, we'll draw.GREGORY. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out o' the collar.SAMPSON. I strike quickly, being moved.GREGORY. But thou art not quickly moved to strike.SAMPSON. A dog of the house of Montague moves me.GREGORY. To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand: therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away.SAMPSON. A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.GREGORY. That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes to the wall.SAMPSON. True, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.GREGORY. The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.SAMPSON. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men I will be civil with the maids, I will cut off their heads.GREGORY. The heads of the maids?SAMPSON. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt.GREGORY. They must take it in sense that feel it.SAMPSON. Me they shall feel while I am able to stand: and 'tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.GREGORY. 'Tis well thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes of the house of Montagues.Enter ABRAM and BALTHASAR.SAMPSON. My naked weapon is out: quarrel, I will back thee.GREGORY. How? Turn thy back and run?SAMPSON. Fear me not.GREGORY. No, marry; I fear thee!SAMPSON. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.GREGORY. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.SAMPSON. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace to them if they bear it.ABRAM. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
