Mercutio lays slain upon the ground, while Tybalt flees the scene. Romeo gives chase.
Romeo: halt Tybalt, thy tyranny knows no bounds of reason;
thy cowardice hath moved thee to stab an unarmed man. Though we are of one
blood and one house, even if you consider it not, it would be a shame upon my
duty were I to let you smear the sin of murder upon our house without it being
cleansed by blood.
Tybalt: Gallant Romeo, thus is your colours
revealed in the flag stained red, draped across your kin’s limp form. Gallant
Romeo indeed! I will reveal you for the villain that thou art. I implore you,
stab me if you will, and rid yourself of this city. Show you and your motley
crew no more in the unstained streets of Verona, else I drown it in your blood.
Romeo: Villain I am not, and gallant, I am yet not.
These hands will be dyed with Capulet blood before the sun dips below the brow,
and yet, I will not be merrier for it. What I do, I do out of duty; though the
passions of my soul howl for revenge upon your head, I will not revenge for
revenge’s sake. I mourn for thee Tybalt, and my heart bleeds for the tears that
Juliet will shed.
Tybalt: Get you gone from my cousin! You are not
worthy to stare upon her fairness, or to kiss the sods upon which she treads. The
sin of murder hath tightened around my neck, let it. A man once hung cannot be
hung again. Let me cleanse Verona of the foulness of the Montague house, and
may the Capulets sing of my glory after justice has been done.
Romeo: I would entreat you to surrender yourself to
the mercy of the state, a vain effort. Thou hast forced by hand; let it be
known, that Romeo dreweth upon his kin not for the pleasure of revenge, but in
the name of justice.
Tybalt: the occasion for talk has passed. Defend!
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