ROMEO.
Courage, man; the hurt cannot be much.
MERCUTIO.
No, 'tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door;
but 'tis enough, 'twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you
shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this
world. — A plague o' both your houses! — Zounds, a dog, a rat, a
mouse, a cat, to scratch a man to death! a braggart, a rogue, a
villain, that fights by the book of arithmetic! — Why the devil
came you between us? I was hurt under your arm.
ROMEO.
I thought all for the best.
MERCUTIO.
Help me into some house, Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. — A plague o' both your houses!
They have made worms' meat of me:
I have it, and soundly too. — Your houses!
[Exit Mercutio and Benvolio.]
ROMEO.
This gentleman, the prince's near ally,
My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt
In my behalf; my reputation stain'd
With Tybalt's slander, — Tybalt, that an hour
Hath been my kinsman. — O sweet Juliet,
Thy beauty hath made me effeminate
And in my temper soften'd valour's steel.
