Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Scene

Act I: Scene 1

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 two of the house of Montagues.

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.

[Enter Abraham and Balthasar.]

ABRAHAM.
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON.
I do bite my thumb, sir.

ABRAHAM.
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

SAMPSON.
Is the law of our side if I say ay?

GREGORY.
No.

SAMPSON.
No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my
thumb, sir.

GREGORY.
Do you quarrel, sir?

ABRAHAM.
Quarrel, sir! no, sir.

SAMPSON.
But if you do, sir, am for you: I serve as good a man as
you.

ABRAHAM.
No better.

SAMPSON.
Well, sir.


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