Act 2 — Scene V. Capulet's orchard.[675]

Jul. The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return.[676] Perchance she cannot meet him: that's not so. O, she is lame! love's heralds should be thoughts,[677] Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams[678] 5 Driving back shadows over louring hills:[679] Therefore do nimble-pinion'd doves draw love,[680] And therefore hath the wind-swift Cupid wings.[681] Now is the sun upon the highmost hill Of this day's journey, and from nine till twelve 10 Is three long hours; yet she is not come.[682] Had she affections and warm youthful blood, She would be as swift in motion as a ball;[683] My words would bandy her to my sweet love, And his to me:[684][685] 15 But old folks, many feign as they were dead;[685][686] Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.[687]

O God, she comes! O honey nurse, what news?[689] Hast thou met with him? Send thy man away. Nurse. Peter, stay at the gate.[690] [Exit Peter.20 Jul. Now, good sweet nurse,—O Lord, why look'st thou sad?[691] Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily;[692][693] If good, thou shamest the music of sweet news[692][694] By playing it to me with so sour a face.[692] Nurse. I am a-weary; give me leave awhile.[695] 25 Fie, how my bones ache! what a jaunce have I had![696] Jul. I would thou hadst my bones and I thy news: Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak.[697] Nurse. Jesu, what haste? can you not stay awhile?[698][699] Do you not see that I am out of breath?[699][700] 30 Jul. How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath[699] To say to me that thou art out of breath?[699] The excuse that thou dost make in this delay[699] Is longer than the tale thou dost excuse.[699] Is thy news good, or bad? answer to that;[701] 35 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[702] not how to choose a man: Romeo! no, not he; though his face[702] be better than any man's, yet his leg excels all men's; and[702][703]40 for a hand, and a foot, and a body, though they be not to be[702][704] talked on, yet they are past compare: he is not the flower of[702] courtesy, but, I'll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb. Go thy[702][705] ways, wench; serve God. What, have you dined at home?[702] Jul. No, no: but all this did I know before.[706] 45 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,—ah, my back, my back![707] Beshrew your heart for sending me about, 50 To catch my death with jauncing up and down![708] Jul. I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.[709] Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love? Nurse. Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and[710] a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I warrant, a[710] 55 virtuous,—Where is your mother?[710] Jul. Where is my mother! why, she is within;[711] Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest![711] 'Your love says, like an honest gentleman, Where is your mother?' Nurse. O God's lady dear![712] 60 Are you so hot? marry, come up, I trow; Is this the poultice for my aching bones? Henceforward 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? 65 Jul. I have. Nurse. Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell;[713] 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.[714] 70 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:[715] I am the drudge, and toil in your delight; But you shall bear the burthen soon at night. 75 Go; I'll to dinner; hie you to the cell. Jul. Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell. [Exeunt.