Who says the following and why? . . . . o! she knew well thy love did read by rote and could not spell. mercutio is teasing nurse's illiteracy. friar laurence is telling romeo why he could not successfully woo rosaline. romeo is tearfully remembering his lost love rosaline. benvolio is offering unneeded condolence to romeo.

"Thy love did read by rote that could not spell" OR, in the 1597 edition, "Thy love did read by rote and could not spell."

By rote = by memory.

Basically, the Friar is saying to Romeo that his previous love for Rosaline was not genuine. He's comparing it to memorized poetry, rather than a poem one worked out and composed themselves.

"Oh, she knew well thy love was read by rote and/that could not spell" = "She was aware that your love was created from outside influence and/that was not felt or understood by your own self."

The story involves love between two people