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- Actl1 Scenel3
-
- The Nurse talks about Juliets childhood, and
- Lady Capulet tells her daughter that she has
- a suitor, the County Paris.
- 2 by . . . old. The Nurse swears by the
- fact that she was a virgin when she was
- twelve years old.
- 3 ladybird: the English ladybird is a
- minute flying insect, whose wings are red
- with black spots on them. The Nurse uses
- the name as a term of endearment.
- 4 God forbid: i.e. that anything has
- happened to Juliet.
- 7 What is your will: what do you
- want ?
- 8 give leave awhile: leave us for a
- time.
- 10 thouÆs: you shall.
- counsel: conversation.
- 11 of a pretty age: (a) at an attractive
- age; (b) old enough.
- Faith: by my faith.
- 14 lay: wager.
- teen: sorrow
- 15 be it spoken: it must be said.
- 16 Lammas: Lammas Day is 1 August
- (the name comes from the Old English word
- for a loaf of bread, and the festival
- celebrates the harvest).
- tide: time.
- 17 odd: a few.
- 19 Lammas Eve: the day before
- Lammas (i.e. 31 July).
- 20 Susan: the NurseÆs own daughter
- 21 of an age: the same age. with God:
- i.e. dead.
- 24 marry: by the Virgin Mary.
- 28 wormwood: a bitter herbal
- preparation (used by the Nurse to persuade
- the infant to stop suckling and start eating
- properly).
- dug: breast.
- 29 dove-house: doves were housed in
- round sheds, where they could nest in
- safety.
- 31 bear a brain: have a good memory.
- 32 it: the baby, Juliet.
- 34 tetchy: irritable.
- fall out: quarrel.
- 35, 36 It seemed to the Nurse as though the
- dove-house was saying æShakeÆ and warning
- her to go away (because of the earthquake).
- I trow: I am sure.
- 36 trudge: get away.
- 38 high-lone: upright by herself.
- the rood: the cross of Christ.
- 39 all about: everywhere.
- 40 broke her brow: cut her head open.
- 42 A: he.
- took up: picked up.
- 43 quoth: said.
- 44 wit: sense.
- 45 holidom: holiness.
- 46 left: stopped.
- 47 jest: joke.
- come about: come true.
- 48 I warrant: IÆm sure.
- and: if
- 50 stinted: stopped (crying).
- 51 hold thy peace: be quiet.
- 53 leave: stop.
- 54 it brow: its forehead.
- 55 stone: testicle.
- 58 comÆst to age: are old enough.
- 61 God . . . grace: may God choose
- you for His special grace.
- 62 nursÆd: was nurse to.
- 63, 64 If I could live to see you married
- one day, I would have all I could wish for.
- 67 How do you feel about being
- married?
- 69 Were . . . nurse: if I were not the
- only nurse who has fed you.
- 72 ladies of esteem: noble ladies.
- 73 count: reckoning.
- 74 much upon these years: at just about
- the same age.
- 78 a man of wax: a perfect model of a
- man.
- 80 in faith: indeed.
- 83-94 Read . . . story. Lady Capulet makes
- a long and complicated comparison
- 83 volume: part of a book (as the face
- is part of the whole man).
- 84 writ: written.
- 85 married: harmoniously united.
- lineament: line (in a book)
- 86 one another lends: one lends to
- another.
- content: meaning (in a book);
- beauty (in Paris's face).
- 87, 86 Difficulties in the main text of a
- book were explained by notes in the margin
- (æmargentÆ). Lady Capulet tells Juliet that if
- she finds anything difficult (obscure) in
- ParisÆs face, she will be able to understand
- the expression in his eyes.
- 89 unbound: without a cover (the book)
- 91, 92 People like to have good books
- bound in handsome covers: the lovely
- outside appearance conceals the excellent
- contents. In the same way, fish (which are
- beautiful) are at home, and live happily, in
- the sea (which is also very beautiful).
- 93 in manyÆs eyes: in the opinion of
- many people.
- 94 gold clasps: very grand books were
- fastened with gold clasps, which could even
- be locked with small keys.
- 96 By marrying Paris, Juliet will
- increase her status, not lower it.
- 97 grow: (a) achieve status; (b) become
- pregnant.
- 98 like of: approve of.
- 99 IÆll . . . like: I will look at him with
- the intention of liking him.
- if looking liking move: if looking at
- Paris is enough to make me like him.
- 100, 102 I will not go any further
- than you allow me to do.
- 100 endart. The Elizabethans believed
- that beams of light came from the eyes (like
- modern electric torch beams), and
- illuminated the object that was being
- observed.
- 101 fly. Juliet thinks of her eye-beam as
- a dart, given power to fly by her mothers
- approval of Paris.
- 104 in extremity: in a terrible mess.
- 105 to wait: to serve food and drink.
- straight: immediately.
- 106 the County stays: Count Paris is
- waiting for you.
-