No Fear Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2
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GREGORY
That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes
to the wall.
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GREGORY
That means you’re the weak one, because weaklings get
pushed up against the wall.
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SAMPSON
'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.
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SAMPSON
You’re right. That’s why girls get pushed up
against walls—they’re weak. So what
I’ll do is push the Montague men into the street and the
Montague women up against the wall.
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GREGORY
The quarrel is between our masters and us their men.
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GREGORY
The fight is between our masters, and we men who work for
them.
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SAMPSON
'Tis all one. I will show myself a tyrant. When I
have fought with the men, I will be civil with the
maids. I will cut off their heads.
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SAMPSON
It’s all the same. I’ll be a harsh master to
them. After I fight the men, I’ll be nice to the
women—I’ll cut off their heads.
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GREGORY
The heads of the maids?
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GREGORY
Cut off their heads? You mean their maidenheads?
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SAMPSON
Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads.
Take it in what sense thou wilt.
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SAMPSON
Cut off their heads, take their maidenheads—whatever.
Take my remark in whichever sense you like.
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GREGORY
They must take it in sense that feel it.
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GREGORY
The women you rape are the ones who’ll have to
“sense” it.
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SAMPSON
Me they shall feel while I am able to stand, and
’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh.
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SAMPSON
They’ll feel me as long as I can keep an erection.
Everybody knows I’m a nice piece of flesh.
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GREGORY
'Tis well thou art not fish. If thou hadst, thou hadst
been poor-john.
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GREGORY
It’s a good thing you’re not a piece of fish.
You’re dried and shriveled like salted fish.
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Enter ABRAM and another
SERVINGMAN
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ABRAM and another servant of the
Montagues enter. |
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Draw thy tool! Here comes of the house of Montagues.
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Pull out your tool now. These guys are from the house of
Montague.
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SAMPSON
My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I will back thee.
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SAMPSON
I have my naked sword out. Fight, I’ll back you
up.
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