Page 3194 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Exit Tybalt (with his followers).

MERCUT IO

I am hurt. [90]
A plague o’ both your houses. I am sped.
Is he gone, and hath nothing?

BENVOLIO

What, art thou hurt?

MERCUT IO

Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough.
Where is my page? Go villain, fetch a surgeon.

(Exit Page.)

ROMEO

Courage, man, the hurt cannot be much. [95]

MERCUT IO

No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door, but ’tis
enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow 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 [100] 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.

MERCUT IO

Help me into some house, Benvolio, [105]
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 with Benvolio).

ROMEO

This gentleman, the Prince’s near ally,
My very friend, hath got this mortal hurt [110]
In my behalf - my reputation stain’d