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Why does Romeo call the poison a "cordial potion" in Act 5, scenes 1-2 of Romeo and Juliet?

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Romeo refers to the poison as a "cordial potion" because, to him, it acts as a medicine rather than a poison. In Act 5, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, he expresses that if Juliet is dead, the poison will bring him relief by reuniting him with her in death. Thus, it is "cordial," or beneficial, as it fulfills his desire to die alongside Juliet.

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I assume you are talking about these lines from Act V, Scene 1:

Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.

It is not exactly what you quote, but it seems to be the only place in the play that the word "cordial" is used.

The reason it is called this is that Shakespeare was using the word "cordial" to mean a medicine. What Romeo is saying is that what the apothecary sold him is not a poison but rather a medicine. In other words, it is good for him. He is saying that if Juliet is dead, then poison is what he needs because all he wants to do is die with her.

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