Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied;
Cry but "Ay me!" pronounce but "love" and "dove."
– William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 1. When it comes to love, Mercutio is a cynic. In this passage and throughout the play he pokes fun at Romeo and his belief in perfect romantic love. After Romeo disappears over the orchard wall into the Capulets’ garden, Mercutio calls out, describing Romeo as a madman for being so blindly in love and teasing him for his romantic and poetic language.