Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Roger Apfelbaum
Peer Reviewed

Romeo and Juliet (Quarto 2, 1599)

The most lamentable Tragedie
first and second cause, ah the immortall Passado, the Punto re-
1130uerso, the Hay.
Ben. The what?
Mer. The Pox of such antique lisping affecting phantacies,
these new tuners of accent : by Iesu a very good blade, a very
tall man, a very good whore. Why is not this a lamētable thing
1135graundsir, that we should be thus afflicted with these straunge
flies: these fashion-mongers, these pardons mees, who stand so
much on the new forme, that they cannot sit at ease on the old
bench. O their bones, their bones.
1140 Enter Romeo.
Ben. Here Comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.
Mer. Without his Roe, like a dried Hering, O flesh, flesh,
how art thou fishified? now is he for the numbers that Petrach
flowed in: Laura to his Lady, was a kitchin wench, marrie
1145she had a better loue to berime her: Dido a dowdie, Cleopatra
a Gipsie, Hellen and Hero, hildings and harlots: Thisbie a grey
eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior Romeo, Bonieur, theres
a French salutation to your French slop: you gaue vs the coun-
terfeit fairly last night.
Ro. Goodmorrow to you both, what counterfeit did I giue
Mer. The slip sir, the slip, can you not conceiue?
Ro. Pardon good Mercutio,my businesse was great, and in
1155such a case as mine, a man may straine curtesie.
Mer. Thats as much as to say, such a case as yours, constrains
a man to bow in the hams.
Ro. Meaning to cursie.
Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it.
1160Ro. A most curtuous exposition.
Mer. Nay I am the very pinck of curtesie.
Ro. Pinck for flower.
Mer. Right.
Ro. Why then is my pump well flowerd.
1165 Mer. Sure wit follow me this ieast, now till thou hast worne
out thy pump, that when the single sole of it is worne, the ieast
may remaine after the wearing, soly singular.
Ro. O