the nurse quotes

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    • A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month. —After Mercutio has hurled a series of naughty jokes at the Nurse, Romeo more or less apologizes for him by saying that he loves to hear himself talk, but means little of what he says.
    • My man ’s as true as steel. —Romeo assures the Nurse that his servant can keep a secret.
    • But old folks — many feign as they were dead; Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead. —Waiting for the Nurse to bring her news from Romeo, Juliet says that old folks are too slow to appreciate the urgency of youth and love.
    • I tell you, he that can lay hold of her Shall have the chinks. —The Nurse, talking to a handsome stranger (Romeo) about her precious Juliet, assures the young man that Juliet is a good catch—both rich and beautiful.
    • Romeo is banish'd; and all the world to nothing,That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you; Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth. Then, since the case so stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the county. O, he's a lovely gentleman! Romeo's a dishclout to him: an eagle, madam, Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eyeAs Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart, I think you are happy in this second match, For it excels your first: or if it did not, Your first is dead; or 'twere as good he were, As living here and you no use of him.
    • I must another way,To fetch a ladder, by the which your loveMust climb a bird's nest soon when its dark. (2.5.9)Here, she's literally talking about getting a ladder for Romeo to climb up so he can spend the night in Juliet's bedroom. To "climb a bird's nest" is also slang for having sex.

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