ACT FIRST
Scene One
[Verona. A Public Place]
Enter Sampson and Gregory, with swords and bucklers, of the House of Capulet.
Sam. Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry
coals.
Gre. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw.
Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out
o' the collar. 6
Sam. I strike quickly, being moved.
Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves
me. 10
Gre. To move is to stir, and to be valiant is
to stand; therefore, if thou art moved, thou
runnest away.
Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to
stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid
of Montague's. 16
Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the
weakest goes to the wall.
Sam. 'Tis 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.
Gre. The quarrel is between our masters and
us their men. 24
Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant:
Act First, Scene One; cf. n.
S. d. bucklers: shields
1 carry coals: endure affronts; cf. n.
4 an: if
choler: anger
7 moved: exasperated
15 take the wall; cf. n.
