SAMPSON       I strike quickly, being moved. GREGORY       But thou are not quickly moved to strike. SAMPSON       A dog of the house of Montague moves me. GREGORY       To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand: therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st away. SAMPSON       A dog of that house shall move me […]

Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, with swords and bucklers, of the house of Capulet SAMPSON       Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals. GREGORY       No, for then we should be colliers. SAMPSON       I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw. GREGORY       Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar. (1.1.1-4)   Despite the […]

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona (where we lay our scene), From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Doth with their death bury their […]

I’m in the early stages of preparing to write a new introduction for Romeo and Juliet in the New Cambridge Shakespeare series (Cambridge University Press). I’m planning to write about the play every day in 2018, a few lines at a time. I will also be posting links to other resources, especially reviews and other […]