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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 2Scene 4
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"a very good blade"
Language
Act 2,
Scene 4
Lines 26-28

A discussion of young nobleman's odd descriptions of his fellow man in myShakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 4.

Mercutio

The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting phantasims,
these new tuners of accent! 'By Jesu, a very good blade,
a very tall man, a very good whore.' Why, is not this a

Rather than speaking simply and directly, the young noblemen used inflated, contrived language.  A good fellow became “a very good blade” and a brave man became “a very tall man.”