The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

In plain English

Nurse, where is my daughter? Go get her and bring her to me.

What’s happening

The scene shifts abruptly from Romeo and his friends to the Capulet household. Lady Capulet needs to speak with Juliet, likely about Paris's suit—this is a mother summoning her daughter for an important conversation. The line establishes Lady Capulet's social position and her reliance on the Nurse as intermediary. It also signals a major tonal shift from the previous scene's banter.

Playing the moment

Keep this brisk and authoritative—Lady Capulet is giving a command, not asking a favor. The line should feel natural, not declamatory. Some actresses play her as genuinely warm; others emphasize the formality of a noblewoman speaking to a servant. Either works, but clarity and efficiency of purpose should drive the delivery. The real performance choices come in the scenes that follow.

In plain English

I swear by my virginity from when I was twelve, I told her to come here. Where is she? Juliet!

What’s happening

Lady Capulet has just asked the Nurse to fetch Juliet, and this is the Nurse's immediate, colorful response as she calls out to find the girl. The Nurse is a garrulous, affectionate servant whose bond with Juliet is warm and familiar—she uses pet names and swears casually. This brief moment establishes her character before Juliet's entrance and the scene's turn to marriage negotiations.

Worth knowing

"Maidenhead" means virginity; the Nurse swears by her own maidenhead at twelve, which is ironic given her tendency to overshare about her own body and her later revelation that she was a young mother. "Ladybird" was a common term of endearment for a sweet girl, not yet the insect association moderns might think of.

Playing the moment

Play the fond exasperation of someone who loves the child but finds her elusive. The oath can be throwaway and comic—the Nurse swears easily and often. The pet names should drip with genuine affection, establishing the intimate, maternal dynamic. Pace: quick, bustling, distracted. The mid-line break ("I bade her come.—") signals a shift from aside/interior thought to calling out loud.

In plain English

What's going on? Who's calling for me?

What’s happening

Juliet has been offstage and hears the Nurse calling. This is our first introduction to her — a young girl responding obediently but casually to a summons. The brief line establishes her as dutiful yet unaware that this moment will change her life. She has no idea her mother is about to discuss marriage.

Playing the moment

Keep it simple and youthful — she's probably preoccupied with something and mildly curious. Don't load it with foreboding. The ordinariness of this entrance makes the scene's turn toward marriage negotiations more striking. She should sound like a teenager distracted from her own thoughts, not delivering a dramatic declaration.

In plain English

Your mother is the one calling you.

What’s happening

The Nurse has just been frantically searching for Juliet, calling her affectionate pet names. Now she simply identifies who is asking for her. This brief answer sets up the dynamic between Juliet, her mother, and the Nurse — the two maternal figures in Juliet's life.

Playing the moment

Keep it simple and matter-of-fact — the theatrical weight lies in the contrast between the Nurse's previous gushing affection and this plain identification. A beat of warmth or protectiveness can play underneath; the Nurse is handing Juliet over to a more formal relationship. Don't oversell it.

In plain English

Ma'am, I'm here. What do you want with me?

What’s happening

Juliet has been called by the Nurse on Lady Capulet's behalf and now presents herself obediently. This is the audience's first introduction to Juliet, and the brevity and deference of her response establishes her as a dutiful, obedient daughter. The formality of 'madam' rather than 'mother' suggests distance in their relationship.

Playing the moment

Keep this simple and年轻 — Juliet is barely thirteen and has no reason to be anything but compliant. The delivery should feel natural and unguarded, which makes the contrast with her later boldness more striking. Some actresses play a hint of curiosity or mild apprehension, since being summoned by one's mother often meant something significant was afoot. The physicality should be open and attentive.

In plain English

This is what I wanted to discuss. Nurse, leave us alone for a moment. We need to speak privately. Actually, Nurse, come back. I've just thought of something—you should hear this conversation. You know how old my daughter is.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is about to propose marriage to Juliet on behalf of Paris. She dismisses the Nurse to create intimacy, then immediately calls her back—she lacks confidence to handle this conversation alone. The false start reveals her discomfort and the unnatural formality between mother and daughter. The Nurse serves as a social buffer Lady Capulet unexpectedly needs.

Worth knowing

Lady Capulet's hesitation may reflect the awkwardness of a mother arranging a marriage for a daughter not much younger than she was when she married. She later reveals she was already a mother at Juliet's current age.

Playing the moment

Play the abrupt reversal. Start formal and commanding with the dismissal, then let urgency or uncertainty break through as you call the Nurse back. The quick change should feel slightly embarrassed—Lady Capulet catches herself revealing too much about her relationship with Juliet. Some actresses play this as calculating (keeping the Nurse as a chaperone), others as genuine nervousness. Either reading works if the shift is sharp and motivated.

In plain English

Honestly, I can tell you her exact age down to the hour.

What’s happening

The Nurse is seizing her moment. Lady Capulet recalled her specifically because of her intimate knowledge of Juliet's age, and the Nurse is eagerly confirming her usefulness. She's bursting to demonstrate how precisely she remembers — this is her domain, her expertise. The line carries pride and affection, but also the self-importance of someone who loves being needed.

Playing the moment

Play the pride and eagerness here. The Nurse has been invited back into a conversation she was just dismissed from — she's chuffed. 'Faith' should land as a hearty assurance, not a casual filler. The emphasis falls on 'hour' — she's showing off. Some actors play this with comic bustle; others with genuine maternal warmth. Either works, but the key is the Nurse's delight in being authoritative about Juliet.

In plain English

She's not yet fourteen years old.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is confirming Juliet's age before discussing marriage plans. She has just recalled the Nurse specifically so she can participate in this conversation about Juliet's future. The line is brief, factual, and somewhat dismissive — Lady Capulet is a woman of few words where the Nurse is concerned. She's eager to move toward her purpose: proposing Paris as a husband for Juliet.

Playing the moment

Keep this dry and matter-of-fact. The brevity is the point — it sets up the Nurse's comically long-winded response. Avoid projecting irritation; Lady Capulet simply has no patience for small talk. The contrast between this clipped correction and the Nurse's upcoming flood of words should land naturally. Some actresses play a slight eye-roll or tight smile, signaling the dynamic between these two women.

In plain English

I'd bet fourteen of my teeth—and I only have four left—that she's not yet fourteen. How long until Lammas Day?

What’s happening

The Nurse is playfully challenging Lady Capulet's assessment of Juliet's age, eager to prove she knows the girl better than her own mother does. She can't resist a rambling joke even in a serious moment. This sets up her famous anecdotal storytelling style that will soon exasperate Lady Capulet.

Worth knowing

Lammastide (August 1st) was the traditional harvest festival, an important date in the Elizabethan calendar for tracking time and agricultural life. 'Teen' means sorrow or vexation—not adolescence.

Playing the moment

The parenthetical aside ('and yet, to my teen be it spoken, I have but four') should land as a self-interrupting comic beat—the Nurse caught in her own exaggeration. She's a natural entertainer who seizes any opportunity for attention. The bet shows warm confidence and intimacy with Juliet. Play the transition from certainty to comedy to practical question with genuine curiosity.

In plain English

About two weeks and a few more days until Lammastide.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is answering the Nurse's question about how soon Lammas Eve arrives—the eve when Juliet will turn fourteen. She's eager to steer the conversation toward her real purpose: discussing Paris's marriage proposal. The Nurse's rambling has already begun to try her patience, and this brief, factual answer attempts to keep things moving.

Worth knowing

Lammastide (August 1) was a harvest festival marking the blessing of first fruits. Juliet's birthday falling near this date would have resonated with audiences as a time of ripeness and fertility—fitting for a play about young love. 'Odd days' means 'a few extra days beyond the fortnight,' not 'strange days.'

Playing the moment

Keep this brisk and slightly clipped. Lady Capulet wants to get back to business; the Nurse keeps interrupting with tedious nostalgia. A hint of impatience beneath the surface. Some actresses deliver it almost as an aside, others with pointed crispness to signal 'enough chatter.' The contrast with the Nurse's upcoming avalanche of memory should be stark.

In plain English

The Nurse recalls that Juliet will turn fourteen on Lammas Eve. She remembers it clearly because it's been eleven years since an earthquake happened the day she weaned Juliet with bitter wormwood on her breast. She then tells a long story about her late husband joking with toddler Juliet after she fell — he quipped that she'd fall backward (have sex) when she was older, and the child stopped crying and said 'Ay.'

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is trying to have a serious conversation with Juliet about marriage to Paris, but the Nurse keeps derailing it with rambling, sentimental memories. The Nurse genuinely loves Juliet and treasures these memories, but she's also performing her role as an old, talkative servant who doesn't know when to stop. Her digression is comic relief that also establishes the Nurse's character and her deep bond with Juliet.

Worth knowing

Lammas-eve is July 31st, the eve of the harvest festival. Wormwood was literally applied to nursing mothers' breasts to make the taste bitter and discourage weaning children. The husband's joke about falling 'backward' is a bawdy pun: falling on her face now, she'll fall on her back (for sex) when older. 'Holidame' refers to the Holy Virgin, not 'holy dame.' 'Stinted' means stopped crying. 'Bear a brain' means to have a good memory.

Playing the moment

This is a showcase comic monologue. The Nurse should be warm, garrulous, and completely oblivious to Lady Capulet's impatience. She's relishing the spotlight and the chance to prove her memory and her importance. Play the earthquake moment with genuine alarm — she really remembers the ground shaking. The husband's joke should be delivered with fond, tearful nostalgia; she misses him. The bawdy pun can be played either innocently (she doesn't realize the innuendo) or with a knowing wink to the audience. The key is that every tangent feels to her like the most important thing in the world. Peggy Ashcroft and Una O'Connor are among noted performances emphasizing the Nurse's comic warmth and rambling energy.

In plain English

That's enough of this. Please, stop talking.

What’s happening

The Nurse has been rambling at length about Juliet's childhood, her late daughter Susan, the earthquake, the weaning, and the toddling accident. Lady Capulet has been trying to discuss marriage prospects for Juliet, and the Nurse's digressive storytelling has completely derailed the conversation. This is an exasperated interruption to regain control of the scene and steer it back to its purpose.

Playing the moment

The key is frustrated patience—this is a woman who has watched the Nurse spiral through a long, digressive anecdote and needs to cut her off firmly but not cruelly. The repeated appeals ('Enough,' 'I pray thee') suggest escalating urgency rather than sudden anger. She still needs the Nurse's goodwill, so warmth can remain underneath the irritation. Some actresses play it with weary amusement; others make it genuinely sharp. The scene's comedy hinges on how long the Nurse has been going and how visibly Lady Capulet's tolerance has worn thin.

In plain English

Yes, my lady, but I can't help laughing when I remember how baby Juliet stopped crying and said 'yes' after my husband joked that she'd end up on her back when she grew up. Even though she had a terrible bump on her forehead from the fall and was crying her eyes out before that.

What’s happening

The Nurse is completely ignoring Lady Capulet's command to stop talking. She cannot resist returning to her favorite anecdote about toddler Juliet's fall and her late husband's bawdy joke. This reveals the Nurse's compulsive loquaciousness and her deep emotional attachment to Juliet — she treasures this memory of her dead husband and Juliet as a baby. Lady Capulet's growing irritation is palpable.

Worth knowing

The husband's joke about falling 'backward' is a crude sexual reference — lying on one's back for intercourse. The fact that baby Juliet said 'Ay' to this is dramatically ironic given she will soon consent to marriage (and a sexual relationship) with Romeo. 'Cock'rel's stone' refers to a young rooster's testicle, a vivid and somewhat vulgar comparison. 'Stinted' means stopped or ceased.

Playing the moment

The Nurse should seem lost in fond memory, barely aware of Lady Capulet's frustration. The contrast between her tender recall and the inappropriate sexual joke should land naturally — she doesn't realize the bawdiness, she just loves remembering her husband making the baby laugh. The description of the bump should be physical and gestural, perhaps touching her own forehead. Pace: leisurely, savoring the story, with a chuckle on 'say Ay.'

In plain English

And please stop talking too, Nurse—that's what I'm saying. You can both be quiet now.

What’s happening

Juliet has been silently enduring the Nurse's rambling anecdote while Lady Capulet already told her to stop. Now Juliet finally speaks up, playfully adding her own request for silence. She's a young girl who's been patient and dutiful, but this mild intervention shows a spark of wit and agency beneath her obedient exterior.

Worth knowing

Juliet is echoing the repeated phrase 'stinted and said "Ay"' from the Nurse's story, cleverly turning it back on her. 'Stint' means to stop or cease. 'Say I' is an archaic way of saying 'that's what I say' or 'I add my voice to this.'

Playing the moment

Keep this light and playful, not exasperated—Juliet is affectionate with the Nurse. A gentle, almost teasing tone works best. Some actresses deliver it with a hint of amusement, as if finally seizing an opening to join the conversation. Brief and bright; don't weigh it down.

In plain English

Quiet, I'm finished. May God guide you with his grace—you were the most beautiful baby I ever nursed. If I could live long enough to see you get married just once, my life would be complete.

What’s happening

The Nurse has been rambling endlessly about Juliet's childhood and finally stops herself after Juliet's gentle rebuke. She shifts abruptly from comic nostalgia to genuine tenderness and prayerful blessing. This quiet moment of sincerity after her chaotic storytelling sets up Lady Capulet's marriage pitch perfectly—the Nurse's wish to see Juliet married gives Lady Capulet her opening.

Playing the moment

The shift here is crucial. After the manic energy of her rambling, the Nurse needs a beat—a full stop—before softening completely. 'God mark thee to his grace' should feel like a genuine blessing, almost reverent. Let the tenderness land. This sincerity makes the Nurse's later grief over Juliet's death devastating. Some actresses play 'I have done' with residual annoyance at being cut off before melting into warmth; others find immediate relief at being stopped. Either works, but the warmth must feel earned and real.

In plain English

Yes, that very marriage is the subject I came to discuss. Tell me, daughter Juliet, how do you feel about getting married?

What’s happening

Lady Capulet has been waiting impatiently while the Nurse rambled through her long, digressive story about Juliet as a baby. The Nurse's mention of marriage has finally given Lady Capulet her opening to broach the real purpose of this conversation: Paris's interest in Juliet. She seizes the moment with barely concealed relief, pivoting abruptly from exasperation to maternal purpose.

Playing the moment

The first half should crackle with impatient energy — Lady Capulet has been trapped listening to the Nurse's rambling and finally sees her chance to redirect. The word 'marry' is both an oath (by the Virgin Mary) and the subject itself, so there's an opportunity for a sharp, ironic emphasis. The second half, addressing Juliet directly, should shift register: more measured, slightly rehearsed, the tone of a woman delivering a speech she has prepared. Some actresses play Lady Capulet as genuinely warm here; others as calculated and socially strategic. The contrast between the clipped irritation at the Nurse and the performative tenderness toward Juliet can reveal much about the character.

In plain English

Marriage is an honor I haven't even dreamed about. I haven't given any thought to getting married.

What’s happening

Juliet has just been asked point-blank by her mother how she feels about marriage. This is a thirteen-year-old girl being put on the spot by her commanding mother, right after the Nurse's rambling, embarrassing story. Juliet's response is carefully diplomatic—neither eager nor rebellious, just honest deflection. She's not ruling marriage out; she's simply saying she hasn't thought about it.

Playing the moment

Play the innocence, but also the social caution. Juliet is navigating between her mother's expectations and her own genuine lack of interest in marriage. Keep the tone light, even slightly evasive—this is a dutiful daughter choosing her words carefully. Some actresses play it with a hint of amusement or wonder at the question; others emphasize nervousness. Either works, but avoid petulance or sarcasm. She's not opposing her mother; she's simply telling the truth.

In plain English

An honor? If I weren't your nurse, I'd say you were so wise you must have gotten it from your own mother's breast milk.

What’s happening

The Nurse is tickled by Juliet's modest, diplomatic answer about marriage. She's been urging Juliet toward marriage and finds her careful response both charming and unexpectedly clever. This is affectionate teasing from someone who has helped raise Juliet and feels genuine pride in her wit.

Worth knowing

The joke plays on the belief that nursing transmitted qualities from nurse to child — so Juliet's wisdom would normally come from the Nurse's milk. Saying Juliet 'sucked wisdom from thy teat' playfully suggests Juliet is her own source of wisdom, bypassing the Nurse entirely.

Playing the moment

Deliver with warm, teasing affection — a delighted cackle or chuckle suits the moment. The Nurse is charmed that 'her girl' gave such a poised answer. Some physical gesture toward Juliet or toward her own breast heightens the bawdy humor. Keep it light and speedy; the Nurse doesn't pause for laughs.

In plain English

Start considering marriage now. Girls younger than you in Verona, from respected families, are already mothers. By my reckoning, I was your mother at roughly the same age you are now as an unmarried girl. In short: the brave Paris wants to court you.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet has been waiting for the Nurse to stop rambling so she can deliver her real purpose: proposing Paris as a husband for Juliet. She is executing a family strategy, likely orchestrated by Capulet, to arrange this advantageous match. She wants Juliet's consent or at least her openness to the idea, and she's using maternal persuasion—citing social pressure and her own example—to bring Juliet around.

Playing the moment

The speech should feel purposeful but not heavy—Lady Capulet is trying to be persuasive, not dictatorial. A slight impatience from the Nurse's interruption may color the opening. The personal detail about her own motherhood at Juliet's age can land as either warmth or social pressure; let the actress choose. The final line naming Paris should carry a lift of genuine pride and approval—he's quite a catch. Some productions play Lady Capulet as stiff and distant; others make her sincerely enthusiastic about what she sees as a happy future for her daughter.

In plain English

What a man, young lady—I tell you, such a man as all the world would agree—he's like a perfect wax figure, flawless and handsome.

What’s happening

The Nurse cannot contain her enthusiasm about Paris. Lady Capulet has just introduced the subject of marriage and named Paris as the suitor; the Nurse immediately erupts with excited approval before Lady Capulet can even make her full pitch. She wants to celebrate this news and validate Juliet's good fortune. Her interruptions reveal her deep affection for Juliet and her romantic, gossipy nature.

Worth knowing

"Man of wax" refers to a figure so handsome he seems sculpted from wax—like an idealized effigy or the finest craftsmanship. Wax models were used for portraits and commemorative figures in this period. The phrase is unique to this play.

Playing the moment

Play the interruptions as genuine, breathless enthusiasm—the Nurse is so excited she keeps tripping over her own words. The dashes mark places where she's catching herself, restarting with greater ardor. Build energy throughout: start warm, then burst forth with the superlative "man of wax." A bustling, physical delivery—perhaps clutching Juliet's arm or bouncing—sells the Nurse's delight. Avoid playing it as comic relief; she is genuinely thrilled for her girl.

In plain English

Even Verona in full summer doesn't have a flower as beautiful as Paris.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is building on the Nurse's praise of Paris, adding her own endorsement of him as a match for Juliet. She is persuading her daughter that Paris is uniquely desirable—the best Verona has to offer. The line completes a tag-team sales pitch between mother and nurse, each amplifying the other's enthusiasm.

Playing the moment

Delivery should be warm and persuasive, completing the Nurse's thought rather than competing with it. A slight wonder in the voice sells the hyperbole. Some actresses play it with social polish—a rehearsed compliment rather than genuine awe—hinting at the calculated nature of the arrangement. The line benefits from a beat of sincerity before the pitch becomes more transactional in the following 'book' metaphor.

In plain English

No, he's truly a flower—in fact, an absolute flower of a man.

What’s happening

The Nurse is eagerly piling onto Lady Capulet's compliment about Paris, outdoing her in enthusiasm. She's already declared him 'a man of wax' and now seizes on Lady Capulet's flower metaphor to agree extravagantly. The Nurse genuinely delights in this matchmaking and wants Juliet to share her excitement.

Playing the moment

Play the repetition of 'flower' as comic emphasis—the Nurse can't resist piling on. The second 'a very flower' should land with gleeful finality, as if she's settling the matter. There's warmth and fondness here; she adores Paris and wants Juliet to adore him too. Let the repetition build rather than trail off.

In plain English

What do you think? Can you love him? Tonight you'll see him at our party. Look at Paris's face like reading a beautiful book—every feature is perfectly formed, and you can read his true feelings in his eyes. He's like a gorgeous book that just needs a cover to complete it. Having him will give you everything he owns without diminishing yourself at all.

What’s happening

Lady Capulet is pitching Paris as a husband to her young daughter. She's nervous but determined—this is a strategic match, and she wants Juliet to be receptive. The extended book metaphor lets her talk about beauty and marriage indirectly, perhaps because she's uncomfortable being direct about desire, or because she's performing maternal persuasion. She wants Juliet's agreement, or at least her willingness to look at Paris favorably.

Worth knowing

The book+cover metaphor was a common Renaissance convention for marriage. Books were often sold unbound; the buyer would commission a cover to match their library—so Juliet would 'complete' Paris. This metaphor echoes the sonnet tradition (especially Sidney's Astrophil and Stella) where love is written and read.

Playing the moment

The speech should build in confidence. Start with a genuine question, then grow more animated as the book metaphor takes hold. The metaphor is elaborate—Lady Capulet may be working harder than she needs to, which can read as social ambition or genuine excitement. The final line should land with satisfying certainty. Some actors play her as steely and strategic; others as a mother who genuinely believes this is best for her daughter.

In plain English

No less? Actually, bigger! Women grow larger when they have men—in pregnancy, but also in status and size.

What’s happening

The Nurse is interrupting Lady Capulet's elegant, extended metaphor about Paris as a precious book. She crashes through the refined language with a bawdy joke: women literally grow bigger when they get men, because they get pregnant. This is classic Nurse—earthy, blunt, and unable to resist a dirty pun, even undermining her employer's persuasive pitch to Juliet.

Worth knowing

The pun on 'grow' carries sexual double meaning: women grow in social standing through marriage, but also physically grow—swell with pregnancy. The word 'men' was pronounced in a way that could suggest 'man' (a husband) or carry bawdier connotations. Shakespeare frequently uses this kind of double entendre in the Nurse's speech, marking her as a character who speaks from the body rather than from poetic artifice.

Playing the moment

This is a thrown-away line that should land like a friendly elbow nudge. The Nurse isn't performing for an audience—she's genuinely amused by her own joke. Play it with a conspiratorial wink toward Juliet, perhaps a gesture toward the belly. The comedy works best if Lady Capulet is visibly irritated or embarrassed. Pacing: quick, almost an interruption, riding right over Lady Capulet's final word. Don't pause for the laugh; the Nurse is already moving on. Many performers deliver this with a chuckle at their own cleverness, eyes twinkling.

In plain English

Tell me plainly. Can you accept Paris as a husband and return his love?

What’s happening

Lady Capulet has just finished an elaborate speech comparing Paris to a beautiful book that only needs a cover (Juliet) to be complete. The Nurse's bawdy interruption about women growing by men has broken the romantic momentum. Lady Capulet cuts through the banter to get a direct answer from her daughter about this arranged marriage proposal.

Playing the moment

The 'Speak briefly' is a redirect — possibly irritated, possibly amused — aimed at the Nurse before pivoting back to Juliet. Some actresses play it as maternal impatience; others as a knowing aside. The actual question to Juliet should carry real weight: this is a mother pressing her teenage daughter for an answer about her future. Energy shifts from the banter to something more intimate and direct. Play the stakes — she genuinely wants Juliet to say yes.

In plain English

I'll try to like him, if looking at him can actually create attraction. But I won't let my gaze penetrate any deeper than you permit. I'll go no further than your consent allows.

What’s happening

Juliet has just been asked directly whether she can love Paris. This is her first substantial line in the play, and she's navigating between obedience to her mother and her own limited agency. She gives a carefully hedged answer — agreeing to look, but committing to nothing more. The response is diplomatic, even evasive, suggesting both her wit and her understanding that her feelings are not entirely her own to govern.

Worth knowing

The repeated L-sounds in line 472 ('look,' 'like,' 'looking,' 'liking') create a tongue-twisting effect that echoes the Nurse's bawdy pun about women 'growing' by men. 'Endart' (to throw like a dart or arrow) connects to Cupid's imagery and the love metaphor running through this scene.

Playing the moment

Many modern productions play this line with knowing irony, as though Juliet already senses her own desire will outrun her promise. But it can also work as genuine deference from a sheltered thirteen-year-old. The wordplay on 'look to like' should be delivered with some lightness — it's witty, but not sarcastic. The final line, with its image of the eye as a dart, can land with quiet certainty, giving the mother an answer that satisfies while committing to nothing.

In plain English

Madam, the guests have arrived, supper is served, you're being called for, Juliet is being asked for, the Nurse is being cursed at in the pantry, and everything is chaotic. I have to go back to work. Please come right away.

What’s happening

A frantic servant bursts in to break up the intimate family conversation about marriage. He's overwhelmed and running through a breathless checklist of crises. His panic provides comic relief after the elevated, formal language of Lady Capulet's pitch about Paris, and urgently propels the scene toward the feast where Romeo and Juliet will meet.

Playing the moment

Play the urgency — this character is genuinely overwhelmed and probably terrified of failing his master. The list should accelerate with each item, building comic momentum. 'The Nurse cursed in the pantry' is a perfect opportunity for a beat of exasperated specificity amid the chaos. 'Follow straight' should land with firm desperation — he needs them to move NOW. The contrast between his breathless prose and the verse that surrounds him highlights his social status and the disruption he brings.

In plain English

We're coming. Juliet, Paris is waiting for you.

What’s happening

The Servant has just announced that guests have arrived and supper is ready. Lady Capulet dismisses him and turns to hurry Juliet along. She is eager to get to the feast where Paris will be present. The line carries a sense of maternal authority and social urgency — they are running late and the evening's romantic agenda depends on Juliet seeing Paris.

Worth knowing

"County" is a common Elizabethan spelling/variant of "count," referring to Paris's title (Count Paris). The word appears frequently in quarto texts of the period.

Playing the moment

Brisk, businesslike delivery. Lady Capulet is already moving as she speaks — this is a woman accustomed to commanding a household. A slight turn toward Juliet on her name, with a pointed emphasis on "the county stays" that reminds Juliet of the evening's purpose: Paris is the prize awaiting her. Keep it short and authoritative; no warmth, just efficiency.

In plain English

Go, Juliet—go find joyful nights that will lead to joyful days ahead.

What’s happening

The Nurse is sending Juliet off to the party at the Capulet house where Paris will be in attendance. She's playfully encouraging Juliet to enjoy herself and, implicitly, to be open to the romantic prospects ahead. This is a warm, conspiratorial moment—the Nurse is both excited for Juliet and nudging her toward the match with Paris that Lady Capulet has just proposed.

Worth knowing

The chiastic structure (nights/days) echoes the play's recurring imagery of light and dark, day and night, which will become central to Romeo and Juliet's relationship. The phrase also carries a bawdy undertone—'happy nights' suggests sexual pleasure, typical of the Nurse's earthy sensibility.

Playing the moment

This should land as affectionate and teasing—a fond push. The Nurse is genuinely fond of Juliet and excited for her. The delivery can be warm, lusty, and conspiratorial, perhaps with a wink or a gesture urging Juliet toward the door. Some actors play it with a knowing leer; others keep it sweeter. The key is that the Nurse thinks she's sending Juliet toward a safe, advantageous match—dramatic irony, given what actually happens.