You are here

All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 2Scene 4
Back to the Play
"of the very first house, of the first and second cause"
Cultural Reference
Act 2,
Scene 4
Lines 22-24

A discussion of fencing and the fact that legal challenges that were published as a list in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 4.

Mercutio

in your bosom. The very butcher of a silk button, a duelist,
a duelist, a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and second
cause. Ah, the immortal passado! The punto reverso! The hay!

Mercutio describes Tybalt as a gentleman duelist “of the very first house,” meaning that he takes lessons at the house of the most famous fencing instructor, and that he’s a gentleman duelist “of the first and second cause.” The causes for which one could legally issue a challenge to a duel were published as a numbered list.