W: This is the matter. Nurse giue leaue a while, we
must talke in secret. Nurce come back again I haue remembred 10
me, thou'se heare our counsaile. Thou knowest
my daughters of a prettie age.
Nurce: Faith I can tell her age vnto a houre.
Wife: Shee's not fourteene.
Nurce: I'll lay fourteene of my teeth, and yet to my 15
teene be it spoken, I haue but foure, shee's not fourteene.
How long is it now to Lammas-tide?
Wife: A fortnight and odde dayes.
Nurce: Euen or odde, of all dayes in the yeare come
Lammas Eue at night shall she be fourteene. Susan and she20
God rest all Christian soules were of an age. Well Susan is
with God, she was too good for me: But as I said on Lammas
Eue at night shall she be fourteene, that shall shee marie
I remember it well. Tis since the Earth-quake nowe eleauen
yeares, and she was weand I neuer shall forget it, of 25
all the daies of the yeare vpon that day: for I had then laid
wormewood to my dug, sitting in the sun vnder the Doue-house
wall. My Lord and you were then at Mantua, nay I
do beare a braine: But as I said, when it did tast the wormwood
on the nipple of my dug, & felt it bitter, pretty foole 30
to see it teachie and fall out with Dugge. Shake quoth the
Doue-house twas no need I trow to bid me trudge, and since
that time it is a leauen yeare: for then could Iuliet stande
high lone, nay by the Roode, shee could haue wadled vp and
downe, for euen the day before shee brake her brow, and then 35
my husband God be with his soule, hee was a merrie man:
Dost thou fall forward Iuliet? thou wilt fall backward when
thou hast more wit: wilt thou not Iuliet? and by my hollidam,
the pretty foole left crying and said I. To see how a
ieast shall come about, I warrant you if I should liue a hundred40
yeare, I neuer should forget it, wilt thou not Iuliet?
and by my troth she stinted and cried I.
Iuliet: And stint thou too, I prethee Nurce say I.
Nurce: Well goe thy waies, God marke thee for his
grace, thou wert the prettiest Babe that euer I nurst, might 45
I but liue to see thee married once, I haue my wish.
Wife: And that same marriage Nurce, is the Theame
I meant to talke of: Tell me Iuliet, howe stand you affected
to be married?
Iul: It is an honor that I dreame not off. 50