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No Fear Shakespheare

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 1, Page 3

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GREGORY
How? Turn thy back and run?
 GREGORY
How will you back me up—by turning your back and running away?

SAMPSON
Fear me not.
 SAMPSON
Don’t worry about me.

GREGORY
No, marry. I fear thee.
 GREGORY
No, really. I am worried about you!

SAMPSON
Let us take the law of our sides. Let them begin.
 SAMPSON
Let’s not break the law by starting a fight. Let them start something.

35		 GREGORY
I will frown as I pass by, and let them take it as they list.
 GREGORY
I’ll frown at them as they pass by, and they can react however they want.

SAMPSON
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. (bites his thumb)
SAMPSON
You mean however they dare. I’ll bite my thumb at them. That’s an insult, and if they let me get away with it they’ll be dishonored. (SAMPSON bites his thumb)

ABRAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
 ABRAM
Hey, are you biting your thumb at us?

SAMPSON
I do bite my thumb, sir.
 SAMPSON
I’m biting my thumb.

ABRAM
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
 ABRAM
Are you biting your thumb at us?

40
 SAMPSON
(aside to GREGORY)
Is the law of our side if I say “ay”?
 SAMPSON
(aside to GREGORY) Is the law on our side if I say yes?


GREGORY
(aside to SAMPSON)
No.
 GREGORY
(aside to SAMPSON) No.

SAMPSON
No, sir. I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir.
 SAMPSON
(to ABRAM) No, sir, I’m not biting my thumb at you, but I am biting my thumb.

45		 GREGORY
Do you quarrel, sir?
 GREGORY
Are you trying to start a fight?

ABRAM
Quarrel, sir? No, sir.
 ABRAM
Start a fight? No, sir.
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