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| Prince |
Where are the vile beginners of this fray? |
| Benvolio |
O noble prince, I can discover all |
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The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: |
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There lies the man, slain by young Romeo, |
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That slew thy kinsman, brave Mercutio. |
| Lady Capulet |
Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother's child! |
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O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt |
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O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, |
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For blood of ours, shed blood of Montague. |
| Prince |
Benvolio, who began this bloody fray? |
| Benvolio |
Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay; |
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Romeo that spoke him fair, bade him bethink |
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How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal |
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Your high displeasure: all this uttered |
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With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, |
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Could not take truce with the unruly spleen |
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Of Tybalt deaf to peace, but that he tilts |
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With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast, |
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Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point, |
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And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats |
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Cold death aside, and with the other sends |
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It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity, |
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Retorts it: Romeo he cries aloud, |
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'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than |
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His agile arm beats down their fatal points, |
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And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm |
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An envious thrust from Tybalt hit the life |
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Of stout Mercutio, and then Tybalt fled; |
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But by and by comes back to Romeo, |
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Who had but newly entertain'd revenge, |
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And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I |
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Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain. |
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And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. |
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This is the truth, or let Benvolio die. |
| Lady Capulet |
He is a kinsman to the Montague; |
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Affection makes him false; he speaks not true: |
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Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, |
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And all those twenty could but kill one life. |
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I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; |
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Romeo slew Tybalt, Romeo must not live. |
| Prince |
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio; |
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Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe? |
| Montague |
Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend; |
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His fault concludes but what the law should end, |
| Prince |
And for that offence |
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Immediately we do exile him hence: |
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I have an interest in your hate's proceeding, |
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My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; |
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But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine |
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That you shall all repent the loss of mine: |
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I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; |
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Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: |
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Therefore use none: let Romeo hence in haste, |
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Else, when he's found, that hour is his last. |
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Bear hence this body and attend our will: |
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Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill. |
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