There are other translations of this pun in Act II, scene
4 of Romeo and Juliet. A pump is a
light shoe. This definition is given in the Modern Text
of Romeo and Juliet noted as such in an edition by John A Price. In this
line,Romeo makes a pun on another use for "pink" which Mercutio uses in "I am the very
pink of courtesy," with "pink" meaning Mercutio is a paragon of courtesy. Romeo plays
on the word, saying "pink for pattern." In Romeo's line, "Pink"means to decorate in a
perforated pattern."
Then, Mercutio says to keep jesting
until the sole is worn out, punning on the words sole/soul; Romeo finishes the pun by
saying,
O
single-soled jest, solely singular for the singularness! (II,iv,64) [the pun is
singular/unusual because of its silly
simplicity]
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