ACT II.
ROMEO AND JULIET.
SCKNK VI.
Nurse. Jesn, what haste I can you not stay
awhile ? Do you not see, that I am out of breatli ?
Jul. How art thou out of breath, when thou hast
breath To say to nie — that thou art out of breath 1 The 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 ?
Xursc. Well, you have made a simple choice ; 30U know not how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he ; though his face be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's ; and for a hand, and a foot, and a body, — though they be not to be talked on, yet they are past compare. He is not the flower of courtesj', — but, I'll warrant him, as gen- tle as a lanrb. — 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 aches ! what a head
have I ! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. My back! o' t' other side. — O, my back, my
back !— Beshrew your heart for sending me about. To catch my death with jaunting up and down. Jul. r faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what saj^s 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 oddly thou reply'st ; " Your love says like an honest gentleman, — Where is your mother?"
Nurse. O, God's lady dear!
Are you so hot ? ^laiTy, come up, I trow ; Is this the poultice for my aching bones ? Hencefonvard do your messages yourself.
Jul. Here's such a coil — Come, what says Ro- meo ?
Nurse. Have you got leave to go to shiift 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 burdea soon at night. Go; I'll to dinner: hie you to the cell.
Jul. Hie to high forttme ! — honest nurse, fare-
well.
[Exeunt.
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(Nurse and Peter.)
Scene VI. — Friar Laurence's cell. Enter Friar Laurence and Romeo.
Fri. So smile the heavens upon this holy act. That after-hours with sorrow chide us not !
Rom. Amen, amen! but come what sorrow can, It cannot countervail the exchange of joy
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That one short minute gives me in her sight : Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare ; It is enough I may but call her mine.
Fri. These violent delights have violent ends. And in their triumph die : like fire and powder. Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey
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