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 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 courtesy, but I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb. Go thy ways, wench, serve God. What, have you dined at home?
Juliet
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 jauncing up and down.
Juliet
I’faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
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?
Juliet
Where is my mother? Why, she is within.
Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest.
‘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 poultice for my aching bones?
Henceforward do your messages yourself.
Juliet
Here’s such a coil. Come, what says Romeo?
Nurse
Have you got leave to go to shrift today?
Juliet
I have.
Nurse
Then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ 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 burden soon at night.
Go. I’ll to dinner; hie you to the cell.
Juliet
Hie to high fortune! Honest Nurse, farewell.