Did Shakespeare make a mistake in Romeo and Juliet?

Question:In Act One, Scene 2 (a street), line 39-42:
'Servant: Find them out whoes names are written. Here it is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard and tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets'

It says 'fisher with his pencil and painter with his nets'. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Is it just a typo in my book or is it really intended? if so, what did Shakespear mean by that?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: In Act One, Scene 2 (a street), line 39-42:
'Servant: Find them out whoes names are written. Here it is written that the shoemaker should meddle with his yard and tailor with his last, the fisher with his pencil and the painter with his nets'

It says 'fisher with his pencil and painter with his nets'. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Is it just a typo in my book or is it really intended? if so, what did Shakespear mean by that?

That man is saying it because he dosen't know how to read, and he is comparing his handicap to other people who would have to deal with things they are not used to

It's how Shakespeare wrote back at that time. It's not a mistake. He was a great poet and the people back at that time spoke...or wrote like that.

research it on the net and see for sure. idk.

The first part of the phrase is backward too. A tailor works with *yards* of material, and a shoemaker works on a *last* (part of a shoe).

Shakespeare's just trying to make the audience laugh with a silly play on words. He does that a lot; even his tragedies have little bits of comic relief here and there.

omg this is of subjec tbut i luv lennon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
???for ever!

I haven't got a copy myself but I think it was written that way as also a tailor would use a yard &shoemaker a last so that also is mixed up. It would have some underlying meaning that I personally don't know. Maybe that people aren't always whom they seem ?Aren't there any sites for shakespeare ? I find it all too hard and too much to read - thats why a lot of actors get acclaim when they can act in a shkespeare play and really get it right and thats why they all want to try, although not too many can get it right. Thankgoodness our Mel Gibson did well in Hamlet. Proud Aussie...................

It's showing the servant is flustered, and mixes up his words. It's a comedic wordplay moment.

If he had said it correctly, it would be "...the shoemaker should meddle with his last and the tailor with his yard..." etc.