Extract 1 (Act 1, Scene 1) [Verona, Italy. Servants of the Montague and Capulet families are fighting in the street. Benvolio, holding his sword, is trying to stop them fighting. Enter Tybalt] Tybalt: So you’re fighting with the servants now, are you, Benvolio? [Pulls his sword out] Come and fight with me, and let me kill you! Benvolio: I don’t want to fight with you. I am just trying to stop these men fighting. Put your sword away! Or use it to help me keep the peace. Tybalt: How can you talk about peace when you are holding your sword? Peace! I hate that word. I hate it as much as I hate all the Montagues – and you! [Stabs¹ at Benvolio with his sword] Here, take that! [Some old men from the town arrive with their swords to try and stop the fighting. Enter Old Capulet and Lady Capulet, wearing their night clothes] Capulet: What’s all this noise about? [Sees Tybalt and Benvolio fighting and stands forward] [to his servants] Bring me my sword! Lady Capulet: [Holding him back] No! You are too old to fight! Capulet: [Pulls himself away from Lady Capulet] There’s old Montague! He is holding his sword. Why should I stand back when he is ready to fight? [to his servants] Bring me my sword, I said! [Enter Old Montague and Lady Montague] Montague: You villain², Capulet! [to his wife, who is trying to hold him back] Don’t hold on to me! Let me go! Lady Montague: No! You’ll stay right here! [Enter Prince Escalus] Prince Escalus: [Shouting above the noise of the fighting] Listen to me, you enemies of the peace! What a terrible thing to fight with your neighbours! [No one hears the Prince and the fighting continues] You there! [Shouting more loudly] You men, you animals! Can you only put out the fire of your anger with blood? Put your swords down, and listen to your angry prince, or I will punish you all. [The men finally hear the Prince and stop fighting. The Prince turns angrily to Capulet and Montague] This is the third time that people have fought in the streets because of your silly arguments. You have broken the peace of our town three times. [Points to the old men from the town] Look at these people! They are old men. They haven’t picked up their swords for years, and now they have had to use them again to stop you fighting! If you ever cause trouble in our town again, I will punish you by death. Capulet, come with me now. Montague, come and see me this afternoon. Everyone else can go.
