
Act 3 Scene 1
ACT III
SCENE I. A public place.
Enter SIRIUS BLACK, REMUS LUPIN, Page, and Servants
REMUS LUPIN
I pray thee, good Sirius, let's retire: The day is hot, the Black’s abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.
SIRIUS BLACK
Thou art like one of those fellows that when he enters the confines of a tavern claps me his sword upon the table and says 'God send me no need of thee!' and by the operation of the second cup draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need.
REMUS LUPIN
Am I like such a fellow?
SIRIUS BLACK
Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved.
REMUS LUPIN
And what to?
SIRIUS BLACK
Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou! why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more, or a hair less, in his beard, than thou hast: thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes: what eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as fun of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling: thou hast quarrelled with a man for coughing in the street, because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun: didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? with another, for tying his new shoes with old riband? and yet thou wilt tutor me from quarrelling!
REMUS LUPIN
An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.
SIRIUS BLACK
The fee-simple! O simple!
REMUS LUPIN
By my head, here come the Black’s.
SIRIUS BLACK
By my heel, I care not.
Enter SIRIUS BLACK and others
SIRIUS BLACK
Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.
SIRIUS BLACK
And but one word with one of us? couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.
SIRIUS BLACK
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.
SIRIUS BLACK
Could you not take some occasion without giving?
SIRIUS BLACK
Sirius, thou consort'st with Sirius,--
SIRIUS BLACK
Consort! what, dost thou make us minstrels? an thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here's my fiddlestick; here's that shall make you dance. 'Zounds, consort!
REMUS LUPIN
We talk here in the public haunt of men: Either withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your grievances, Or else depart; here all eyes gaze on us.
SIRIUS BLACK
Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze; I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I.
Enter SIRIUS BLACK
SIRIUS BLACK
Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.
SIRIUS BLACK
But I'll be hanged, sir, if he wear your livery: Marry, go before to field, he'll be your follower; Your worship in that sense may call him 'man.'
SIRIUS BLACK
Sirius, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this,--thou art a villain.
SIRIUS BLACK
Sirius, the reason that I have to love thee Doth much excuse the appertaining rage To such a greeting: villain am I none; Therefore farewell; I see thou know'st me not.
SIRIUS BLACK
Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw.
SIRIUS BLACK
I do protest, I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love: And so, good Black,--which name I tender As dearly as my own,--be satisfied.
SIRIUS BLACK
O calm, dishonourable, vile submission! Alla stoccata carries it away.
Draws
Sirius, you rat-catcher, will you walk?
SIRIUS BLACK
What wouldst thou have with me?
SIRIUS BLACK
Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives; that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use me hereafter, drybeat the rest of the eight. Will you pluck your sword out of his pitcher by the ears? make haste, lest mine be about your ears ere it be out.
SIRIUS BLACK
I am for you.
Drawing
SIRIUS BLACK
Gentle Sirius, put thy rapier up.
SIRIUS BLACK
Come, sir, your passado.
They fight
SIRIUS BLACK
Draw, Remus; beat down their weapons. Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage! Sirius, Sirius, the prince expressly hath Forbidden bandying in Verona streets: Hold, Sirius! good Sirius!
SIRIUS under SIRIUS’ arm stabs SIRIUS, and flees with his followers
SIRIUS BLACK
I am hurt. A plague o' both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing?
REMUS LUPIN
What, art thou hurt?
SIRIUS BLACK
Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch; marry, 'tis enough. Where is my page? Go, villain, fetch a surgeon.
Exit SIRIUS
SIRIUS BLACK
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
SIRIUS BLACK
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but 'tis enough,'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o' both your houses! 'Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
SIRIUS BLACK
I thought all for the best.
SIRIUS BLACK
Help me into some house, Remus, Or I shall faint. A plague o' both your houses! They have made worms' meat of me: I have it, And soundly too: your houses!
Exeunt SIRIUS BLACK and REMUS LUPIN
SIRIUS BLACK
This gentleman, the prince's near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my reputation stain'd With Sirius’ slander,--Sirius, that an hour Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Sirius, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And in my temper soften'd valour's steel!
Re-enter REMUS LUPIN
REMUS LUPIN
O Sirius, Sirius, brave Sirius is dead! That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds, Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.
SIRIUS BLACK
This day's black fate on more days doth depend; This but begins the woe, others must end.
REMUS LUPIN
Here comes the furious Sirius back again.
SIRIUS BLACK
Alive, in triumph! and Sirius slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
Re-enter SIRIUS BLACK
Now, Sirius, take the villain back again, That late thou gavest me; for Sirius’ soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
SIRIUS BLACK
Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence.
SIRIUS BLACK
This shall determine that.
They fight; SIRIUS falls
REMUS LUPIN
Sirius, away, be gone! The citizens are up, and Sirius slain. Stand not amazed: the prince will doom thee death, If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!
SIRIUS BLACK
O, I am fortune's fool!
REMUS LUPIN
Why dost thou stay?
Exit SIRIUS BLACK
Enter Citizens, & c
SIRIUS BLACK
Which way ran he that kill'd Sirius? Sirius, that murderer, which way ran he?
REMUS LUPIN
There lies that Sirius.
SIRIUS BLACK
Up, sir, go with me; I charge thee in the princes name, obey.
Enter Prince SIRIUS BLACK, attended; SIRIUS BLACK, SIRIUS BLACK, their Wives, and others
PRINCE SIRIUS BLACK
Where are the vile beginners of this fray?
REMUS LUPIN
O noble prince, I can discover all The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl: There lies the man, slain by young Sirius, That slew thy kinsman, brave Sirius.
LADY SIRIUS BLACK
Sirius, my cousin! O my brother's child! O prince! O cousin! husband! O, the blood is spilt O my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours, shed blood of Black. O cousin, cousin!
PRINCE SIRIUS BLACK
Remus, who began this bloody fray?
REMUS LUPIN
Sirius, here slain, whom Sirius’ hand did slay; Sirius that spoke him fair, bade him bethink How nice the quarrel was, and urged withal Your high displeasure: all this uttered With gentle breath, calm look, knees humbly bow'd, Could not take truce with the unruly spleen Of Sirius deaf to peace, but that he tilts With piercing steel at bold Sirius’ breast, Who all as hot, turns deadly point to point, And, with a martial scorn, with one hand beats Cold death aside, and with the other sends It back to Sirius, whose dexterity, Retorts it: Sirius he cries aloud, 'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue, His agile arm beats down their fatal points, And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose arm An envious thrust from Sirius hit the life Of stout Sirius, and then Sirius fled; But by and by comes back to Sirius, Who had but newly entertain'd revenge, And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I Could draw to part them, was stout Sirius slain. And, as he fell, did Sirius turn and fly. This is the truth, or let Remus die.
LADY SIRIUS BLACK
He is a kinsman to the Black; Affection makes him false; he speaks not true: Some twenty of them fought in this black strife, And all those twenty could but kill one life. I beg for justice, which thou, prince, must give; Sirius slew Sirius, Sirius must not live.
PRINCE SIRIUS BLACK
Sirius slew him, he slew Sirius; Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
SIRIUS BLACK
Not Sirius, prince, he was Sirius’ friend; His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Sirius.
PRINCE SIRIUS BLACK
And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence: I have an interest in your hate's proceeding, My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding; But I'll amerce you with so strong a fine That you shall all repent the loss of mine: I will be deaf to pleading and excuses; Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: Therefore use none: let Sirius hence in haste, Else, when he's found, that hour is his last. Bear hence this body and attend our will: Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
Exeunt