 | Romeo and Juliet |  |
SCENE III.
Enter Prince, Mountague, Capulet, Citizens, &c.Prince.
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
Ben.
O noble prince, I can discover all.
37
There lies the man slain by young Romeo,
That slew thy kinsman brave Mercutio.
Cap.
Unhappy sight! alas the blood is spill'd
Of my dear kinsman—Now as thou art a Prince,
For blood of ours, shed blood of Mountague.
Prince.
Benvolio, who began this fray?
Ben.
Tibalt here slain;
Romeo bespake him fair, bid him bethink
How nice the quarrel was, and urg'd withal
Your high displeasure: all this uttered
With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd,
Could not make truce with the unruly spleen
Of Tibalt, deaf to peace, but he that tilts
With piercing steel at bold Mercutio's breast;
Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point,
And with a martial scorn, with one hand beats
Cold death aside, and with the other sends
It back to Tibalt, whose dexterity
Retorts it: Romeo, he cries aloud
Hold friends, friends part! and swifter than his tongue,
His agil arm beats down their fatal points,
And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm
An envious thrust from Tibalt hit the life
Of stout Mercutio, and then Tibalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertain'd revenge,
And to't they go like light'ning: for ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tibalt slain,
And as he fell, did Romeo turn to fly:
This is the Truth, or let Benvolio suffer.
Cap.
He is a kinsman to the Mountague,
Affection makes him false;
I beg for justice; justice, gracious Prince;
Romeo slew Tibalt, Romeo must not live.
Prin.
Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
And now the price of his dear blood hath pay'd.
Mount.
Romeo but took the forfeit life of Tibalt.
Prin.
And we for that offence do banish him.
I have an int'rest in your heady brawls,
My blood doth flow from brave Mercutio's wounds.
38
That you shall all repent my loss in him.
I will be deaf to pleading and excuse,
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase our repeal:
Therefore use none; let Romeo be gone,
Else when he is found, that hour is his last.
Bear hence this body, and attend our will:
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
[Exeunt.
| Romeo and Juliet | |