Question

uspense in romeo and juliet, part 7
benvolio: here comes romeo, here comes romeo. (20)
mercutio: without his roe, like a dried herring. o flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! now is he for the numbers that petrarch flowed in: laura to his lady was but a kitchen - wench; marry, she had a better love to be - rime her; dido a dowdy; cleopatra a gipsy; helen and hero hildings and harlots; thisbe, a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. signior romeo, bon jour! there’s a french salutation to your french slop. you gave us the counterfeit fairly last night.
romeo: good morrow to you both. what counterfeit did i give you?
mercutio: the slip, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?
romeo: pardon, good mercutio, my business was great; and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.
mercutio: that’s as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. (25)
romeo: meaning—to curtsy.
mercutio: thou hast most kindly hit it.
romeo: a most courteous exposition.
mercutio: nay, i am the very pink of courtesy.
romeo: pink for flower. (30)
mercutio: right.
how does mercutio offer comic relief in this excerpt?
by complaining about his own love interest
by refusing to treat romeo’s romance seriously
by explaining romantic figures from history
by speaking in different languages

Explanation:

Mercutio makes light - hearted and mocking remarks about Romeo's romantic state, not taking his love seriously, which provides comic relief. He compares Romeo's love to other less - than - ideal romances in a joking way and has a bantering tone with Romeo.

Answer:

by refusing to treat Romeo's romance seriously