Jul.
The clock struck nine, when I did send the nurse:
In half an hour she promis'd to return.
Perchance, she cannot meet him—That's not so—
Oh, she is lame: love's heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glide than the sun-beams,
Driving back shadows over lowring hills.
Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love,
And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.
Now is the Sun upon the highmost hill
Of this day's journey; and from nine 'till twelve
Is three long hours—and yet she is not come;
Had she affections and warm youthful blood,
She'd be as swift in motion as a ball;
My words would bandy her to my sweet love,
And his to me;

Enter Nurse, with Peter.
O God, she comes. O honey Nurse, what news?
Hast thou met with him? send thy man away.

Nurse.
Peter, stay at the gate. [Exit Peter.

Jul.
Now, good sweet Nurse,—
O lord, why look'st thou sad?
^{4 note}Tho' news be sad, yet tell them merrily:
If good, thou sham'st the musick of sweet news,
By playing't to me with so sowre a face.

Nurse.
I am a weary, let me rest a while;
Fy, how my bones ake, what a jaunt have I had?

Jul.
I would, thou hadst my bones, and I thy news!
Nay, come, I pray thee, speak—Good, good nurse, speak.

Nurse.
^{5 note}Jesu! what haste? Can you not stay a while?
Do you not see, that I am out of breath?

Jul.
How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath,
To say to me, that thou art out of breath?
Th' Excuse, that thou dost make in this delay,
Is longer than the Tale thou dost excuse.
Is thy news good or bad? answer to that;
Say either, and I'll stay the circumstance:
Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad?

Nurse.

Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not how to chuse a man: Romeo, no, not he; ^{6 note}though his face be no better than another man's, yet his legs excel all men's; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body, tho' they be not to be talk'd on, yet they

are past compare. ^{7 note}He is not the flower of courtesie, but I warrant him, as gentle as a lamb—Go thy ways, wench, serve God—What, have you dined at home?

Jul.
No, no—but all this did I know before:
What says he of our marriage? what of that?

Nurse.
Lord, how my head akes! what a head have I?
It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces.
My back o'th' other side—O my back, my back:
Beshrew your heart, for sending me about
To catch my death with jaunting up and down.

Jul.
I'faith, I am sorry that thou art so ill.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me what says my love?

Nurse.
Your love says like an honest gentleman,
And a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome,
And, I warrant, a virtuous—where is your mother?

Jul.
Where is my mother?—why she is within;
Where should she be? how odly thou reply'st!
Your love says like an honest gentleman:—
Where is your mother?—

Nurse.
O, God's lady dear,
Are you so hot? marry, come up, I trow,
Is this the poultis for my aking bones?
Hence-forward do your messages yourself.

Jul.
Here's such a coil; come, what says Romeo?

Nurse.
Have you got leave to go to shrift to day?

Jul.
I have.

Nurse.
Then hie you hence to friar Laurence' cell,
There stays a husband to make you a wife.
Now comes the wanton blood up in your cheeks,
They'll be in scarlet straight at any news.
Hie you to church, I must another way,
To fetch a ladder, by the which your love
Must climb a bird's-nest soon, when it is dark.

I am the drudge and toil in your delight,
But you shall bear the burthen soon at night.
Go, I'll to dinner, hie you to the cell.

Jul.
Hie to high fortune;—honest nurse, farewel. [Exeunt.

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