...On any the least colour.

Posted by Lotg (OZ) on September 06, 2004

In Reply to: ...On any the least colour. posted by ESC on September 05, 2004

: : In a way yes, it address my question but there is a second part that was missing on previous message and is this
: :
: : ON ANY THE LEAST COLOUR

: : any ideas on this one

: : many thanks

: What's the context? What is the rest of the sentence?

I couldn't find any reference to the second line 'on any the least colour'.

Shakespeare in Romeo & Juliet says (sorry it's such a big chunk, just trying to keep it in context):

BENVOLIO
An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter.

MERCUTIO
The fee-simple! O simple!

BENVOLIO
By my head, here come the Capulets.

MERCUTIO
By my heel, I care not.

Enter TYBALT and others

TYBALT
Follow me close, for I will speak to them.
Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you.

MERCUTIO
And but one word with one of us? couple it with
something; make it a word and a blow.

TYBALT
You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you
will give me occasion.

MERCUTIO
Could you not take some occasion without giving?

TYBALT
Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,--

.........Robert Burton says: A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.

So, I interpret Shakespeare's version to mean, let's get behind the sheltershed and work this out like men. ie. Not just an argument, but a fistacuffs too.

BUT on the other hand, the entire John Dryden line is: A knock-down argument; tis but a word and a blow - which to my mind tends to imply more of the meaning conveyed by Robert Burton. ie. that it was such a powerful argument, that the word was in fact as mighty as, or mightier than a blow.

But 'on any the least colour', makes it sounds more like - they'll have an argument/fight over any tiny thing.

Finally, just to further confuse things, I discovered that 'A word and a blow' is a Portuguese proverb. I couldn't find out how and when it originated, nor could I find a clear definition.