THE chief Design of the Alterations in the following

Play, was to clear the Original as much as posible from the Jingle and Quibble which were always the Objections to the reviving it.

The sudden Change of Romeo's Love from Rosaline to Juliet, was thought by many, at the first Revival of the Play, to be a blemish in his Character; an Alteration in that particular has been made more in Compliance to that Opinion, than from a Conviction that Shakespeare, the best Judge of human Nature, was faulty.

Bandello, the Italian Novellift, from whom Shake. speare has borrow'd the Subject of this Play, has made Juliet to wake in the Tomb before Romeo dies: This Circumstance Shakespeare has omitted, not perhaps from Judgment, but from reading the Story in the French or English Translation, both which have injudiciously left out this Addition to the Catastrophe.

Mr. Otway in his Caius Marius, a Tragedy taken from Romeo and Juliet, has made use of this affecting Circumstance, but it is matter of Wonder that so great a dramatic Genius did not work up a Scene from it of more Nature, Terror and Distress --Such a Scene was attempted at the Revival of this Play, and it is hop'd, that an Endeavour to supply the failure of so great a Master will not be deem'd arrogant, or the making use of two or three of his Intro. ductory Lines, be accounted a Plagiarism.

The Persons who from their great Good nature and Love of Justice have endeavour'd to take away from the present Éditor the little Merit of this Scene by afcribing it to Otway, have unwittingly, from the Nature of the Accusation, paid him a Compliment which he believes they never intended him.

Dramatis Perfonæ.

Citizens of Verona, several men and womer
relations to Capulet, Maskers, Guards,

and other Attendants,

The SCENE, in the beginning of the fifth act, is in Mantua ; during all the rest of

tbe Play, in and near Verona.

A C T I. S CE N E I.

The Street in Verona.
Enter Sampson and Gregoryer?! 1
SA M P S O N.

10 SREGORY, I strike quickly, being mov'd.

Greg. But thou art not quickly mov'd to
G

Itrike.
Sam. A dog of the house of Mountague

moves me.
Greg. Draw thy tool then, for here

come of that house.

Enter Abram and Balthafar. Sam. My naked weapon is out; Quarrel, I will back thee, but -Let us take the law of our sides : let them begin.

Greg. I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they lift.

Sam. Nay as they dare. I will bite my thumb at
them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
Abr. Do

you
bite

your thumb at us, Sir ?
Sam. I do bite my thumb, Sir.
Abr. Do

you
bite
your

thumb at us, Sir ?
Sam. Is the law on our fide, if I say ay ?
Greg. No.

Sam. No, Sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, Sir: but I bite my thumb, Sir.

A4

Greg.

Greg. Do you quarrel, Sir ?
Abr. Quarrel, Sir ? no, Sir,

Sam. If you do, Sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you.

Abr. No better, Sir.
Sam. Well, Sir.

Enter Benvolio. Greg. Say better : here comes one of my master's kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, Sir.
Abr. You lye.

Sam. Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow.

[They figbt. Ben. Part, fools, pat up your swords, you know not what you do.

Enter Tibalt. Tib. What, art thou drawn amongst these heartless

hinds ? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.

Ben. I do but keep the peace ; put up thy sword, Or manage it to part these men with me.

Tib. What drawn, and talk of peace ? I hate the word As I hate hell, all Mountagues and thee: Have at thee, coward.

[Fight. Enter three or four citizens with clubs. Off. Clubs, bills, and partisans ! ftrike ! beat them

down.
Down with the Capulets, down with the Mountagues,

Enter old Capulet in bis Gown.
Cap. What noise is this? give me my sword,
My sword, I say: old Mountague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Enter old Mountague.
Moun. Thou villain, Capulet- Hold me not, let

me go

Enter Prince with Attendants. Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, Prophaners of your neighbour-stained steel Will they not hear what ho! you men ! you beasts,

That