Read Romeo and Juliet Online

ROMEO AND JULIET. 55 

liomeo. Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit 
did I give you ? 

Mercutio. The slip, sir, the slip; can you not conceive ? 

Borneo. Pardon, good Mercutio, rny business was great ; 
and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy. 

Mercutio. That's as much as to say, such a case as 
yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. 

Romeo. Meaning, to courtesy. 

Mercutio. Thou hast most kindly hit it. 

Romeo. A most courteous exposition. 

Mercutio. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. 

Romeo. Pink for flower. 

Merevtlo. Kight. 

Romeo. Why, then is my pump well flowered. 

Mercutio. Well said ; follow me this jest now till thou 
hast worn out thy pumjj, that when the single sole of it is 
worn, the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular. 

Romeo. single-soled jest, solely singular for the sin- 
gleness. 

Mercutio. Come between us, good Benvolio ; my wits 
fail. 

Romeo. Switch and spurs, switch and spurs ; or I'll 
cry a match. 

Mercutio. Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I 
have done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one 
of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five. 
Was T with you there for the goose ?