No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet: Act 2 Scene 4 Page 3

Original Text	Modern Text
ROMEO Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give you?	ROMEO Good morning to you both. What do you mean I faked you out?
MERCUTIO 20The slip, sir, the slip. Can you not conceive?	MERCUTIO You gave us the slip, sir, the slip. Can’t you understand what I’m saying?
ROMEO Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.	ROMEO Excuse me, good Mercutio. I had very important business to take care of. It was so important that I had to forget about courtesy and good manners.
MERCUTIO That’s as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.	MERCUTIO In other words “important business” made you flex your buttocks Mercutio implies Romeo’s business was sexual. flex your buttocks .
ROMEO Meaning “to curtsy”?	ROMEO You mean do a curtsy?
MERCUTIO Thou hast most kindly hit it.	MERCUTIO You’ve hit the target This is sexual double entedre. target , sir.
ROMEO 25A most courteous exposition.	ROMEO That’s a very polite and courteous explanation.
MERCUTIO Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.	MERCUTIO Yes, I am the pink flower—the master, of courtesy and manners.
ROMEO Pink for flower.	ROMEO The pink flower “Pink flower” suggests the female genitalia. pink flower .
MERCUTIO Right.	MERCUTIO Right.

Romeo and Juliet