ACT I.
Scene I. A public place.
[Enter Sampson and Gregory armed with swords and bucklers.]
SAMPSON.
Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals.
GREGORY.
No, for then we should be colliers.
SAMPSON.
I mean, an 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 cruel 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.
