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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 2Scene 1
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Venus and Cupid
Mythological Reference
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 12-14

Mythological reference of Venus and Cupid in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 1.

Mercutio

Speak to my gossip Venus one fair word,
One nickname for her purblind son and heir,
Young Abraham Cupid — he that shot so true

Venus is the goddess of love, and Cupid is her son. It was the custom of lovers to refer to Cupid by some cute nickname in their love letters and poems.

(Venus and Cupid, Lorenzo Lotto, c.1530)