Romeo and Julian

Act 1 scene 3- no more deep will i endart mine eye.

Lady Capulet came into the sitting room where her son's nurse was sewing a pattern on to a handkerchief.

'Nurse.' she said. 'Where's my son? I want to talk to him.'

'he was just in here.' said the Nurse. She turned her head. 'Julian!' she called.

'Where is that boy? Julian!'

'Coming,' a voice called and Julian came running in from an adjoining room.

When he saw his mother his face showed surprise. 'Mother! What do you want?'

'We need to talk,' said Lady Capulet. 'Nurse. leave us. This is a private matter.'

The nurse got up reluctantly but before she reached the door Lady Capulet called her back. 'You might as well stay,' she said. 'Your advice would be helpful.' Lady Capulet cleared her throat. 'You know Julian's getting to the age when...' She frowned, searching for the right word. 'Let's just say he's at a mature age. he's going to be seventeen in two weeks.'

'Oh yes,' said the Nurse. 'At Lammas Eve, he'll be seventeen. he was the same age as my Sebastian, God rest his soul. Anyway, at Lammas Eve he'll be seventeen. I remember it so well: it's eleven years since the earthquake – that's when he was weaned. Ah, I'll never forget it...'

She took no notice of the impatient tapping of Lady Capulet's fingers on the table, nor the glances Lady Capulet and Julian were exchanging.

'You and my Lord were at Mantua then. I had put wormwood on my nipple – sitting in the sun under the dove-house wall – ah, how well I remember it. But as I said, when he tasted the wormwood on the nipple of my breast, tasted its bitterness, he spat my breast out and pulled such a face! And that was eleven years ago. He could walk already – waddle, rather -and he used to rush about and fall over. Just the day before that he fell on his face. And my husband, God be with his soul – ah, such a lovely man – he picked him up and said "Did you fall on your face? When you've got more sense, you'll fall onto your back. won't you Jule?" And God can strike me dead but the little wretch stopped crying and said "Yes". To see that! If I live to be a thousand, I'll never forget it. "Won't you Jule?" he said. And the child stopped crying and said

"yes".' The Nurse slapped her thigh and laughed. 'Won't you, Jule?' he said. And the pretty fool stopped in his tracks and said "yes".'

'Enough of this.' said Lady Capulet. 'Please be quiet for a minute, I beg of you.'

'Yes, Madam,' said the Nurse. 'But I can't help laughing. To think it should stop crying and say "yes". And with a bump as big as an egg – a wicked lump – and it cried bitterly. "Yes", my husband said. "Are you falling on your face? You'll fall backward when you grow up: won't you Jule?" he stopped dead and said "Yes".' The Nurse laughed loudly, repeating the end of her story again whilst almost choking.

'And you stop dead now too, please, Nurse,' said Julian.

'I've finished,' said the Nurse. She looked tenderly at Julian. 'But I must say it. You were the most beautiful baby I ever nursed. If I could only live to see you married I'd die peacefully.'

'Married.' said Lady Capulet. 'That's just what I've come to talk about.' She pulled Julian on to her lap. 'Tell me, Julian, how do you feel about getting married?'

'I've never even thought about it,' said Julian.

'Well start thinking about it now,' said his mother. 'males younger than you are already fathers here in Verona. As a matter of fact, I was your mother when I was much the age you are now. But to cut a long story short. The Daughter of the Count of Paris wants to marry you.'

The Nurse gasped. 'Now there's a lady, young man. The perfect Lady.'

'The best in Verona,' said Lady Capulet.

'Without a doubt.' said the Nurse.

'Well?' said Lady Capulet. 'Do you think you could love her?'

Julian didn't know what to say. It was too unexpected. In addition to that, he didn't necessarily like females...

'You'll see her at the party,' said his mother. 'Have a good look at her. You'll see what I mean. By having her you'll have everything.'

'Come on,' the nurse said. 'What do you think? Do you like the idea?'

Julian spoke carefully. 'I'll look forward to seeing her. Yes. I'll look at her but I'm not going to rush into anything or do anything that you wouldn't want me to.'

There was a knock at the door and Peter came in. 'Madam,' he said. 'The guests are starting to arrive. It's all going on down there. My master wants you.'

Lady Capulet stood up. 'I have to go. Come on Julian, the Count's waiting.'

'Go on, darling.' said the Nurse. 'Go and meet your love.'

834 words :)
Edited and spellchecked 10/4/18