here writ. I must to the learned. In good
time.
Enter Benvolio and Romeo.
Ben. Tut! man, one fire burns out another's burning,
One pain is lessen'd by another's anguish; 48
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning;
One desperate grief cures with another's languish:
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die. 52
Rom. Your plantain leaf is excellent for that.
Ben. For what, I pray thee?
Rom. For your broken shin.
Ben. Why, Romeo, art thou mad?
Rom. Not mad, but bound more than a madman is; 56
Shut up in prison, kept without my food,
Whipp'd and tormented, and—Good den, good fellow.
Serv. God gi' good den. I pray, sir, can you read?
Rom. Ay, mine own fortune in my misery. 60
Serv. Perhaps you have learn'd it without book:
but, I pray, can you read any thing you see?
Rom. Ay, if I know the letters and the language. 64
Serv. Ye say honestly; rest you merry!
[Offering to go.]
Rom. Stay, fellow; I can read.
He reads the letter.
'Signior Martino and his wife and daugh-
ters; County Anselme and his beauteous sis-
ters; the lady widow of Vitruvio; Signior
Placentio, and his lovely nieces; Mercutio and
45 In good time; cf. n.
58 Good den: good evening
