Page:Los bandos de Verona, Montescos y Capeletes.pdf/29

Let Romeo and all Montescos die!

Romeo.

For such a deed, so many are too few.

Julia (addresses her father).

Father and lord, if I deserve in aught
The true affection which a daughter claims,
Pray moderate your causeless anger. Know
This Romeo is my master and my lord,
And who kills Romeo, love and honour kills.

The Count replies—

Mine arm is nerved to giant strength to strike
The man that I and all Verona hate.

They one and all draw upon Romeo, when his friend Carlos rushes to his rescue, sword in hand; Julia steps between the combatants, exclaiming—

Hold back your swords! No steel, whose e'er it be,

Shall touch my noble Romeo but through me.[Exeunt, skirmishing. The Count returns, disarmed, pursued by Romeo, Julia, and Elena.

Elena.

Hold! Romeo, hold! How did this fray begin?

He is my husband, am not I thy kin?[Partizans of both houses rush in, shout, and exeunt fighting, and so ends act the first.