289. [Pothecary.] Generally printed "'pothecary" in the modern eds., but not in the early ones. It was a common form of the word. Cf. Chaucer, Pardoneres Tale:—
"And forth he goth, no longer wold he tary,
Into the toun unto a potecary."
[Therewithal.] Therewith, with it. Cf. T.G. of V. iv. 4. 90:—
"Well, give her that ring and therewithal
This letter," etc.
291. [Be.] Cf. Ham. iii. 2. 111, v. 1. 107, etc.
295. [A brace of kinsmen.] Mercutio and Paris. For the former, see iii. 1. 112; and for the latter, iii. 5. 179 and v. 3. 75. Steevens remarks that brace as applied to men is generally contemptuous; as in Temp. v. 1. 126: "But you, my brace of lords," etc. As a parallel to the present passage, cf. T. and C. iv. 5. 175: "You brace of warlike brothers, welcome hither!"
305. [Glooming.] Used by S. only here. Steevens cites Tom Tyler and his Wife, 1578: "If either he gaspeth or gloometh." Cf. Spenser, F.Q. i. 14: "A little glooming light, much like a shade." Young uses the verb in his Night Thoughts, ii.: "A night that glooms us in the noontide ray."
308. [Some shall be pardoned,] etc. In the novel, Juliet's attendant is banished for concealing the marriage; Romeo's servant set at liberty because he had acted under his master's orders; the apothecary tortured and hanged; and Friar Laurence permitted to retire to a hermitage, where he dies five years later.