Page:Romeo and Juliet (1917) Yale.djvu/57

Romeo and Juliet, II. iv

Rom. Good morrow to you both. What

counterfeit did I give you?

Mer. The slip, sir, the slip; can you not con-

ceive?

Rom. Pardon, good Mercutio, my business

was great; and in such a case as mine a man

may strain courtesy.

Mer. That's as much as to say, such a case

as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.

Rom. Meaning—to curtsy.

Mer. Thou hast most kindly hit it.

Rom. A most courteous exposition.

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

Rom. Pink for flower.

Mer. Right.

Rom. Why, then, is my pump well flowered.

Mer. Sure wit! Follow me this jest now till

thou hast worn out the pump, that, when the

single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain

after the wearing sole singular.

Rom. O single-soled jest! solely singular for

the singleness.

Mer. Come between us, good Benvolio; my

wit faints.

Rom. Switch and spurs, switch and spurs;

or I'll cry a match.

Mer. Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose

chase, I am 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 I with you there

for the goose?

 53 conceive: understand

61 kindly: aptly

66 well flowered; cf. n.

69 sole: here, also, 'soul'

70 sole singular: all alone

71 single-soled: contemptible, threadbare

72 singleness: triviality

75 Switch and spurs: arouse your wits

76 cry a match: say you are beaten (?)

77 wild-goose chase; cf. n.

