Much to thy surprise, my course of events today became larger than expected! Just this morning, my fellow tradesmen and I paraded the streets of Rome, yet Flavius and Marullus, two tribunes, interrupted our celebrations. Marullus, seemingly in bad spirits like a trapped rat, asked me which trade I performed, which evoked me to answer, “Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, / as you would say, a cobbler” (Act I. Scene I. Lines 10-11). Much to his surprise, however, I also included a pun about shoe soles to reveal his disheartened soul! Instead of accepting my light-hearted banter, this disconcerted fool’s words shattered the geniality by insisting that I was a “naughty knave” (Act I. Scene I. Line 15). No, sir, I am not a naughty
