Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 4

Romeo and Juliet
Act II, Scene 4

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Shakespeare
for Scholars: Shakespeare
for Everyone Else:

A Street.
Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO
MERCUTIO
Where the devil should this Romeo be?
Came he not home to-night?

BENVOLIO
Not to his father's; I spoke with his man.

MERCUTIO
Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline.
Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.

Here we are again, in beautiful downtown Verona. It is later that same morning, day two to be exact. Mercutio and Benvolio are hanging around, which is what they do best. Benvolio says that Romeo did not return home at all last night.

Benvolio says that he spoke with Romeo's "man." A person's "man" was his servant. Really. That's all it is. So stop snickering, already.

BENVOLIO
Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet,
Hath sent a letter to his father's house.

MERCUTIO
A challenge, on my life.

BENVOLIO
Romeo will answer it.

MERCUTIO
Any man that can write may answer a letter.

BENVOLIO
Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he
dares, being dared.

MERCUTIO
Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead; stabbed with a
white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a
love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the
blind bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to
encounter Tybalt?

BENVOLIO
Why, what is Tybalt?

MERCUTIO

Benvolio also explains that Tybalt, (Juliet's cousin -- remember? from the party?), has “sent a letter” to Romeo (see line 8).
This “letter” was apparently a formal challenge, to Romeo. Tybalt would like to fight Romeo. Uh-oh. This sounds like important plot development, so pay close attention.

More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is
the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as
you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and
proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and
the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk
button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the
The name "Tybalt" was also a name for a cat.

very first house, of the first and second cause:
ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the
hai!

BENVOLIO
The what?

MERCUTIO

The "passado," the "punto reverso" and the "hai!" are all fencing terms. Now, aren't you glad you know that?

The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting
fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu,
a very good blade! a very tall man! a very good
whore!' Why, is not this a lamentable thing,
grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with
these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these
perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form,
that they cannot at ease on the old bench? O, their
bones, their bones!

Now, Mercutio is making fun of people who speak with a certain accent.

Enter ROMEO
BENVOLIO
Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo.

MERCUTIO
Without his roe, like a dried herring: flesh, flesh,
how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers
that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a
kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to
be-rhyme her; Dido a dowdy; Cleopatra a gipsy;
Helen and Hero hildings and harlots; Thisbe a grey
eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior
Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation
to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit
fairly last night.

ROMEO
Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did
I give you?

MERCUTIO
The ship, sir, the slip; can you not conceive?

ROMEO
Next, Romeo happens to come along, and Mercutio makes fun of his name.
A "roe" is a type of fish.
This sequence has some more of the usual joking and puns, as each one tries to top the other fellow.
Mercutio reminds Romeo that he ditched them, or gave them the "slip" last night.

Pardon, good Mercutio, my
business was great; and in
such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.

MERCUTIO
That's as much as to say, such a case as yours
constrains a man to bow in the hams.

ROMEO
Romeo apologizes and (kiddingly) explains that his business was "great."

Meaning, to curtsy.

MERCUTIO
Thou hast most kindly hit it.

ROMEO
A most courteous exposition.

MERCUTIO
Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.

ROMEO
Pink for flower.

MERCUTIO
Right.

Oh-oh... here we go again. Mercutio starts in with the "puns" once again. He turns the word "courtesy" into "curtsy."

ROMEO
Why, then is my pump well flowered.

MERCUTIO
Well said: follow me this jest now till thou hast
worn out thy pump, that when the single sole of it
is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular.

ROMEO
O single-soled jest, solely singular for the
singleness.

MERCUTIO
Come between us, good Benvolio; my wits faint.

ROMEO
Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match.

The word "pump" can be a shoe. However, it can also be a slang term for something else entirely -- Whatever you do, don't ask your mom about this one.
The shoe has a "sole," but a single thing is also the "sole" thing.

MERCUTIO
Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have
done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of
thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five:
was I with you there for the goose?

ROMEO
Thou wast never with me for
any thing when thou wast
not there for the goose.

MERCUTIO
I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.

ROMEO
Nay, good goose, bite not.

MERCUTIO
Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most
sharp sauce.

ROMEO
And is it not well served in to a sweet goose?

MERCUTIO
O here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an
inch narrow to an ell broad!

ROMEO
I stretch it out for that
word 'broad' - which added
to the goose, proves thee far
and wide a broad goose.

The word "goose" was always a favorite with those British types. It can mean the bird, or a poke in one's rear, or a prostitute.

MERCUTIO
Why, is not this better now than groaning for love?
now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art
thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature:
for this drivelling love is like a great natural,
that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.

BENVOLIO
Stop there, stop there.

Mercutio notices how much happier he seems than his usual, depressed self.

MERCUTIO
Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair.

BENVOLIO
Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large.

MERCUTIO
O, thou art deceived; I would have made it short:
for I was come to the whole depth of my tale; and
meant, indeed, to occupy the argument no longer.

Now, Mercutio has moved on to humor of a more intellectual type: -the fact that "hare" sounds like "hair" and "tale" sounds like "tail."

ROMEO
Here's goodly gear!
Enter Nurse and PETER
MERCUTIO
A sail, a sail!

BENVOLIO
Two, two; a shirt and a smock.

NURSE
Peter!

PETER
Anon!

This poor comedy routine is interrupted by the arrival of the Nurse. Mercutio sees her coming and makes fun of her clothing (“A sail! A sail!”).

NURSE
My fan, Peter.

MERCUTIO
Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the
fairer face.

NURSE
God ye good morrow, gentlemen.

When she asks her servant, Peter, for a fan, Mercutio makes fun of her face: “Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer of the two!” (see lines 105-106).

MERCUTIO
God ye good den, fair gentlewoman.

NURSE
Is it good den?

MERCUTIO
'Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of the
dial is now upon the prick of noon.

NURSE
Out upon you! what a man are you!

ROMEO
One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to
mar.

NURSE
By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to mar,'
quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I
may find the young Romeo?

ROMEO
I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when
you have found him than he was when you sought him:
I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse.

NURSE
You say well.

MERCUTIO
Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith;
wisely, wisely.

"Good den" means "good evening.

The Nurse is confused, since it is only 9:00 am. Mercutio turns it into another dirty joke. He says the hand of the clock is on the "prick" of noon.

NURSE
If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with
you.
The Nuse has a limited vocabulary, and she made a mistake. She meant to say "conference," but instead she said "confidence."

BENVOLIO
She will "indite" him to some supper.

Benvolio notices this and makes fun of her. He uses the word "indite" when he really means "invite."

MERCUTIO
A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! so ho!

ROMEO
What hast thou found?

MERCUTIO
No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie,
that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.

Then, Mercutio calls her a “bawd,” another word for a prostitute), and sings her a little song. This song, “An Old Hare Hoar,” makes the Nurse even angrier.
The word "ere" always means "before." Ere you knew that you were lost...

MERCUTIO
(Sings:)
An old hare hoar,

And an old hare hoar,

Is very good meat in lent

But a hare that is hoar

Is too much for a score,

When it hoars ere it be spent.

(Speaks:)
Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll
to dinner, thither.

ROMEO
I will follow you.

hare = rabbit

hoar = stale, old, or musty

hair = that stuff that used to be on dad's head
whore = a cheap prostitute

score = twenty men

score = sex, as in "he scored."

spent = money paid to a prostitute

spent = sexually exhausted

ere = before

MERCUTIO
Farewell, ancient lady; farewell,
Singing: 'Lady, lady, lady.'

Even as he leaves, Mercutio is making fun of the Nurse. The term "Lady" was an insult. It was the term used for a prostitute.

Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO
NURSE
Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy
merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?

ROMEO
A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk,
and will speak more in a minute than he will stand
to in a month.

The Nurse is furious at Mercutio. She curses him, and calls him names. It is interesting that she does this only after he has gone.

NURSE
An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him
down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such
Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall.
Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am
none of his skains-mates.
(To Peter:)
And thou must stand by
too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?

The Nurse uses "a" instead of "he." This is typical of a Cockney accent which of course is so very common in Verona, Italy, correct?

PETER
I saw no man use you a pleasure; if I had, my weapon
should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare
draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a
good quarrel, and the law on my side.

NURSE
Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about
me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word:
and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you
out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself;

This line may be a clue to Peter's character. Is he being just as crude as Mercutio?
He says that he saw no man "use" her, and if he had, his "weapon" would quickly have been out. He says he would "draw as soon as another man." Is this more sexual punning? Or, is Peter unaware of what he is saying? Hmmm... What do you think?
(Hint: Look at his name.)

NURSE
but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into
a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross
kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman
is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double
with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered
to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing.

ROMEO
Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I
protest unto thee--

NURSE
Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as much:
Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman.

ROMEO
What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me.

NURSE
I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which, as
I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.

First, the Nurse wants Romeo’s assurance that he will not “deal double” with Juliet. Romeo tries to assure her, but it is too late — she convinces herself.
This guy’s charm, or natural beauty, must just knock them all dead.

ROMEO
Bid her devise
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon;
And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell
Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains.

NURSE
No truly sir; not a penny.

ROMEO
Go to; I say you shall.

NURSE
This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there.

Romeo asks if Juliet can get permission to “come to shrift” this afternoon (lines 174-175). “Shrift” is another word for confession.
Romeo explains that Juliet shall go to confession, and she will confess, and be forgiven, and then she shall also be married.

ROMEO
And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall:
Within this hour my man shall be with thee
And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair;
Which to the high top-gallant of my joy
Must be my convoy in the secret night.
Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains:
Farewell; commend me to thy mistress.

NURSE
Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir.

ROMEO
What say'st thou, my dear nurse?

Romeo also decides that his own servant (Balthasar), will give the Nurse a rope ladder. Romeo has some use in mind for this. He says it will be his “convoy in the secret night” (line 185).

NURSE
Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say,
Two may keep counsel, putting one away?

ROMEO
I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel.

NURSE
Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady -- Lord,
Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing --

The term "your man" means "your servant." The Nurse wants to know if Romeo can trust his servant with a secret such as this.

NURSE
-- O, there
is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain
lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief
see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her
sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer
man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks
as pale as any clout in the versal world. Doth not
rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter?

ROMEO
Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R.

NURSE
Ah. mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for
the--No; I know it begins with some other
letter:--and she hath the prettiest sententious of
it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good
to hear it.

ROMEO
Commend me to thy lady.

NURSE
Ay, a thousand times.
(Exit Romeo.)
Peter!

The Nurse happens to mention the fact that there is a man named Paris who hoped to marry Juliet. The Nurse also tells Romeo not to be concerned, as Juliet does not think much of him. “She had as leif see a toad, a very toad, as see him!” (lines 196-197). The phrase “as leif” can be translated as “would rather.” Either Paris is rather unattractive, or Juliet is quite fond of amphibians.

PETER
Anon!
The word "anon" means "right away," or, "coming!" or "I'll get there when I feel like it!"

NURSE
Peter, take my fan, and go before and apace.
Exeunt The Nurse exits while the audience is still awake.

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Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
A Street. Enter BENVOLIO and MERCUTIO MERCUTIO Where the devil should this Romeo be? Came he not home to-night? BENVOLIO Not to his father's; I spoke with his man. MERCUTIO Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline. Torments him so, that he will sure run mad.	Here we are again, in beautiful downtown Verona. It is later that same morning, day two to be exact. Mercutio and Benvolio are hanging around, which is what they do best. Benvolio says that Romeo did not return home at all last night. Benvolio says that he spoke with Romeo's "man." A person's "man" was his servant. Really. That's all it is. So stop snickering, already.
BENVOLIO Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet, Hath sent a letter to his father's house. MERCUTIO A challenge, on my life. BENVOLIO Romeo will answer it. MERCUTIO Any man that can write may answer a letter. BENVOLIO Nay, he will answer the letter's master, how he dares, being dared. MERCUTIO Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead; stabbed with a white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to encounter Tybalt? BENVOLIO Why, what is Tybalt? MERCUTIO	Benvolio also explains that Tybalt, (Juliet's cousin -- remember? from the party?), has “sent a letter” to Romeo (see line 8). This “letter” was apparently a formal challenge, to Romeo. Tybalt would like to fight Romeo. Uh-oh. This sounds like important plot development, so pay close attention.
More than prince of cats, I can tell you. O, he is the courageous captain of compliments. He fights as you sing prick-song, keeps time, distance, and proportion; rests me his minim rest, one, two, and the third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk button, a duellist, a duellist; a gentleman of the	The name "Tybalt" was also a name for a cat.
very first house, of the first and second cause: ah, the immortal passado! the punto reverso! the hai! BENVOLIO The what? MERCUTIO	The "passado," the "punto reverso" and the "hai!" are all fencing terms. Now, aren't you glad you know that?
The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting fantasticoes; these new tuners of accents! 'By Jesu, a very good blade! a very tall man! a very good whore!' Why, is not this a lamentable thing, grandsire, that we should be thus afflicted with these strange flies, these fashion-mongers, these perdona-mi's, who stand so much on the new form, that they cannot at ease on the old bench? O, their bones, their bones!	Now, Mercutio is making fun of people who speak with a certain accent.
Enter ROMEO BENVOLIO Here comes Romeo, here comes Romeo. MERCUTIO Without his roe, like a dried herring: flesh, flesh, how art thou fishified! Now is he for the numbers that Petrarch flowed in: Laura to his lady was but a kitchen-wench; marry, she had a better love to be-rhyme her; Dido a dowdy; Cleopatra a gipsy; Helen and Hero hildings and harlots; Thisbe a grey eye or so, but not to the purpose. Signior Romeo, bon jour! there's a French salutation to your French slop. You gave us the counterfeit fairly last night. ROMEO Good morrow to you both. What counterfeit did I give you? MERCUTIO The ship, sir, the slip; can you not conceive? ROMEO	Next, Romeo happens to come along, and Mercutio makes fun of his name. A "roe" is a type of fish. This sequence has some more of the usual joking and puns, as each one tries to top the other fellow. Mercutio reminds Romeo that he ditched them, or gave them the "slip" last night.
Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great; and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy. MERCUTIO That's as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams. ROMEO	Romeo apologizes and (kiddingly) explains that his business was "great."
Meaning, to curtsy. MERCUTIO Thou hast most kindly hit it. ROMEO A most courteous exposition. MERCUTIO Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. ROMEO Pink for flower. MERCUTIO Right.	Oh-oh... here we go again. Mercutio starts in with the "puns" once again. He turns the word "courtesy" into "curtsy."
ROMEO Why, then is my pump well flowered. MERCUTIO Well said: follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out thy pump, that when the single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain after the wearing sole singular. ROMEO O single-soled jest, solely singular for the singleness. MERCUTIO Come between us, good Benvolio; my wits faint. ROMEO Switch and spurs, switch and spurs; or I'll cry a match.	The word "pump" can be a shoe. However, it can also be a slang term for something else entirely -- Whatever you do, don't ask your mom about this one. The shoe has a "sole," but a single thing is also the "sole" thing.
MERCUTIO Nay, if thy wits run the wild-goose chase, I have done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five: was I with you there for the goose? ROMEO Thou wast never with me for any thing when thou wast not there for the goose. MERCUTIO I will bite thee by the ear for that jest. ROMEO Nay, good goose, bite not. MERCUTIO Thy wit is a very bitter sweeting; it is a most sharp sauce. ROMEO And is it not well served in to a sweet goose? MERCUTIO O here's a wit of cheveril, that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad! ROMEO I stretch it out for that word 'broad' - which added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose.	The word "goose" was always a favorite with those British types. It can mean the bird, or a poke in one's rear, or a prostitute.
MERCUTIO Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole. BENVOLIO Stop there, stop there.	Mercutio notices how much happier he seems than his usual, depressed self.
MERCUTIO Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair. BENVOLIO Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large. MERCUTIO O, thou art deceived; I would have made it short: for I was come to the whole depth of my tale; and meant, indeed, to occupy the argument no longer.	Now, Mercutio has moved on to humor of a more intellectual type: -the fact that "hare" sounds like "hair" and "tale" sounds like "tail."
ROMEO Here's goodly gear! Enter Nurse and PETER MERCUTIO A sail, a sail! BENVOLIO Two, two; a shirt and a smock. NURSE Peter! PETER Anon!	This poor comedy routine is interrupted by the arrival of the Nurse. Mercutio sees her coming and makes fun of her clothing (“A sail! A sail!”).
NURSE My fan, Peter. MERCUTIO Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the fairer face. NURSE God ye good morrow, gentlemen.	When she asks her servant, Peter, for a fan, Mercutio makes fun of her face: “Good Peter, to hide her face, for her fan’s the fairer of the two!” (see lines 105-106).
MERCUTIO God ye good den, fair gentlewoman. NURSE Is it good den? MERCUTIO 'Tis no less, I tell you, for the bawdy hand of the dial is now upon the prick of noon. NURSE Out upon you! what a man are you! ROMEO One, gentlewoman, that God hath made for himself to mar. NURSE By my troth, it is well said; 'for himself to mar,' quoth a'? Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo? ROMEO I can tell you; but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him: I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse. NURSE You say well. MERCUTIO Yea, is the worst well? very well took, i' faith; wisely, wisely.	"Good den" means "good evening. The Nurse is confused, since it is only 9:00 am. Mercutio turns it into another dirty joke. He says the hand of the clock is on the "prick" of noon.
NURSE If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you.	The Nuse has a limited vocabulary, and she made a mistake. She meant to say "conference," but instead she said "confidence."
BENVOLIO She will "indite" him to some supper.	Benvolio notices this and makes fun of her. He uses the word "indite" when he really means "invite."
MERCUTIO A bawd, a bawd, a bawd! so ho! ROMEO What hast thou found? MERCUTIO No hare, sir; unless a hare, sir, in a lenten pie, that is something stale and hoar ere it be spent.	Then, Mercutio calls her a “bawd,” another word for a prostitute), and sings her a little song. This song, “An Old Hare Hoar,” makes the Nurse even angrier. The word "ere" always means "before." Ere you knew that you were lost...
MERCUTIO (Sings:) An old hare hoar, And an old hare hoar, Is very good meat in lent But a hare that is hoar Is too much for a score, When it hoars ere it be spent. (Speaks:) Romeo, will you come to your father's? we'll to dinner, thither. ROMEO I will follow you.	hare = rabbit hoar = stale, old, or musty hair = that stuff that used to be on dad's head whore = a cheap prostitute score = twenty men score = sex, as in "he scored." spent = money paid to a prostitute spent = sexually exhausted ere = before
MERCUTIO Farewell, ancient lady; farewell, Singing: 'Lady, lady, lady.'	Even as he leaves, Mercutio is making fun of the Nurse. The term "Lady" was an insult. It was the term used for a prostitute.
Exeunt MERCUTIO and BENVOLIO NURSE Marry, farewell! I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery? ROMEO A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.	The Nurse is furious at Mercutio. She curses him, and calls him names. It is interesting that she does this only after he has gone.
NURSE An a' speak any thing against me, I'll take him down, an a' were lustier than he is, and twenty such Jacks; and if I cannot, I'll find those that shall. Scurvy knave! I am none of his flirt-gills; I am none of his skains-mates. (To Peter:) And thou must stand by too, and suffer every knave to use me at his pleasure?	The Nurse uses "a" instead of "he." This is typical of a Cockney accent which of course is so very common in Verona, Italy, correct?
PETER I saw no man use you a pleasure; if I had, my weapon should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a good quarrel, and the law on my side. NURSE Now, afore God, I am so vexed, that every part about me quivers. Scurvy knave! Pray you, sir, a word: and as I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out; what she bade me say, I will keep to myself;	This line may be a clue to Peter's character. Is he being just as crude as Mercutio? He says that he saw no man "use" her, and if he had, his "weapon" would quickly have been out. He says he would "draw as soon as another man." Is this more sexual punning? Or, is Peter unaware of what he is saying? Hmmm... What do you think? (Hint: Look at his name.)
NURSE but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and, therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing. ROMEO Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto thee-- NURSE Good heart, and, i' faith, I will tell her as much: Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman. ROMEO What wilt thou tell her, nurse? thou dost not mark me. NURSE I will tell her, sir, that you do protest; which, as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer.	First, the Nurse wants Romeo’s assurance that he will not “deal double” with Juliet. Romeo tries to assure her, but it is too late — she convinces herself. This guy’s charm, or natural beauty, must just knock them all dead.
ROMEO Bid her devise Some means to come to shrift this afternoon; And there she shall at Friar Laurence' cell Be shrived and married. Here is for thy pains. NURSE No truly sir; not a penny. ROMEO Go to; I say you shall. NURSE This afternoon, sir? well, she shall be there.	Romeo asks if Juliet can get permission to “come to shrift” this afternoon (lines 174-175). “Shrift” is another word for confession. Romeo explains that Juliet shall go to confession, and she will confess, and be forgiven, and then she shall also be married.
ROMEO And stay, good nurse, behind the abbey wall: Within this hour my man shall be with thee And bring thee cords made like a tackled stair; Which to the high top-gallant of my joy Must be my convoy in the secret night. Farewell; be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains: Farewell; commend me to thy mistress. NURSE Now God in heaven bless thee! Hark you, sir. ROMEO What say'st thou, my dear nurse?	Romeo also decides that his own servant (Balthasar), will give the Nurse a rope ladder. Romeo has some use in mind for this. He says it will be his “convoy in the secret night” (line 185).
NURSE Is your man secret? Did you ne'er hear say, Two may keep counsel, putting one away? ROMEO I warrant thee, my man's as true as steel. NURSE Well, sir; my mistress is the sweetest lady -- Lord, Lord! when 'twas a little prating thing --	The term "your man" means "your servant." The Nurse wants to know if Romeo can trust his servant with a secret such as this.
NURSE -- O, there is a nobleman in town, one Paris, that would fain lay knife aboard; but she, good soul, had as lief see a toad, a very toad, as see him. I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man; but, I'll warrant you, when I say so, she looks as pale as any clout in the versal world. Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a letter? ROMEO Ay, nurse; what of that? both with an R. NURSE Ah. mocker! that's the dog's name; R is for the--No; I know it begins with some other letter:--and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it. ROMEO Commend me to thy lady. NURSE Ay, a thousand times. (Exit Romeo.) Peter!	The Nurse happens to mention the fact that there is a man named Paris who hoped to marry Juliet. The Nurse also tells Romeo not to be concerned, as Juliet does not think much of him. “She had as leif see a toad, a very toad, as see him!” (lines 196-197). The phrase “as leif” can be translated as “would rather.” Either Paris is rather unattractive, or Juliet is quite fond of amphibians.
PETER Anon!	The word "anon" means "right away," or, "coming!" or "I'll get there when I feel like it!"
NURSE Peter, take my fan, and go before and apace. Exeunt	The Nurse exits while the audience is still awake.

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hare = rabbit hoar = stale, old, or musty hair = that stuff that used to be on dad's head whore = a cheap prostitute score = twenty men score = sex, as in "he scored." spent = money paid to a prostitute spent = sexually exhausted ere = before

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hare = rabbit

hoar = stale, old, or musty

hair = that stuff that used to be on dad's head
whore = a cheap prostitute

score = twenty men

score = sex, as in "he scored."

spent = money paid to a prostitute

spent = sexually exhausted

ere = before