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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 4
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"prick love for pricking"
Innuendo
Act 1,
Scene 4
Lines 25-26

A sexual innuendo remarked by Romeo in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 4.

Mercutio

If love be rough with you, be rough with love;
Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.

If love has pricked Romeo (sexually aroused him) then he should prick love back (have sex) which will “beat love down” (end his arousal).