Peter. Here be strange fruits whose use I know not. A serving man of the young county Paris’s did to my knowing eat an apple that was brought from afar in a ship’s stomach, being a lusty youth and tall and much given to victual, and he did swell to bursting and died thereof while one might count thirteen by the clock. He made a fearsome dead body, as the saying is.
Nurse. Peter.
Peter. Anon.
Nurse. Thou shalt taste these fruits for me singly and in order, good Peter, and if no such harm come to thee as thou pratest of, then will I eat likewise.
Peter. Nay, but nurse, good nurse, good lady nurse—
Nurse. Hold thy peace, thou scurvy knave. Would’st suffer me to go nigh to death for lack of food and thou stand by the while like a jack o’ the clock when his hour has struck? Out upon thee, and do my pleasure quickly.
[Enter Mercutio and Romeo.
Mercutio. Here’s fine matter toward. Thy Juliet’s nurse, and her man Peter, quarrelling.
Nurse. God ye good den, gentlemen.
Mercutio. God ye good morrow, most ancient, and most fair ancient lady. Thy five wits, meseems, are gone far astray the whiles.