Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress. I protest unto
thee—
ROMEO
Nurse, give my regards to to your lady. I swear to
you—
NURSE
Good heart, and i' faith, I will tell her as much. Lord,
Lord, she will be a joyful woman.
NURSE
You have a good heart, and believe me, I'll tell her
that. Lord, Lord, she'll be a happy woman.
ROMEO
What wilt thou tell her, Nurse? Thou dost not mark me.
ROMEO
What are you going to tell her, Nurse? You're not paying
attention to me.
NURSE
I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as I take it, is
a gentlemanlike offer.
NURSE
Sir, I'll tell her that you protest
to her, which I think is the gentlemanly thing to
do..
ROMEO
Bid her devise
85
Some means to come to shrift this afternoon.
And there she shall at Friar Lawrence' cell
Be shrived and married.
(gives her
coins)
Here is for thy pains.
ROMEO
Tell her to devise a plan to get out of her house and come to
confession at the abbey this afternoon. At Friar Lawrence's
cell she can make confession and be married.
(giving her coins) Here is a reward
for your efforts.
NURSE
No, truly, sir. Not a penny.
NURSE
No, really, I won't take a penny.
ROMEO
Go to. I say you shall.
ROMEO
Go on, I insist you take it.
NURSE
90
(takes the money) This afternoon,
sir? Well, she shall be there.
NURSE
(taking the money) This afternoon,
sir? She'll be there.
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
95
Must be my convoy in the secret night.
Farewell. Be trusty, and I'll quit thy pains.
Farewell. Commend me to thy mistress.
ROMEO
Wait good Nurse. Within an hour, one of my men will come to you
behind the abbey wall and give you a rope ladder. I'll use
the rope ladder to climb over the walls at night. Then I'll
meet Juliet joyfully and in secret. Goodbye. Be honest and helpful,
and I'll repay you for your efforts. Goodbye. Sing my
praises to your mistress.
