English

Corinne Malone

13 May, 13:25

Benvolio: Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

20

Mercutio: Without his roe, like a dried herring. O flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rime her; Dido a dowdy; Cleopatra a gipsy; Helen and Hero hildings and harlots; Thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.

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

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

How does Mercutio offer comic relief in this excerpt?

by explaining romantic figures from history

by speaking in different languages

by refusing to treat Romeo's romance seriously

by complaining about his own love interest