Juliet has fallen instantly in love with Romeo just the night before at the masked ball put on by her father. Romeo has wooed her with his words and has proposed marriage in the early part of Act II. He told Juliet to send a messenger to him to find out when and where they should be married. She sends the nurse, who is berated by Romeo's men, including Mercutio, before she can learn of Romeo's intentions.
At the beginning of Scene 5 Juliet is alone on stage wondering why the Nurse hasn't returned. She calls the Nurse "lame" and says that the old woman would have hurried with the message had she "warm youthful blood." She wishes that the message of love from Romeo could be transmitted by the mind so it would arrive faster. She chastises the Nurse as "Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead."
When the Nurse returns she is tired and does not immediately relay Romeo's message. Given the treatment she received from Mercutio it is not surprising that she is weary and rattled. The reenactment of the scene in Zeffirelli's 1968 movie shows perfectly the rude manner in which she is treated by the obnoxious Mercutio.
Juliet, of course, is anxious for the news and becomes terribly impatient as the Nurse puts her off. The Nurse first describes Romeo as being somewhat unruly but still quite considerate. She says,
He is not the flower of courtesy,
but I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb.
When Juliet's pleadings do no good, she finally tries to soothe the Nurse. She says,
I’ faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my
love?
Finally the Nurse gives in to the appeals of the girl and tells her that she and Romeo are to be married by Friar Lawrence that very afternoon. The Nurse ends the scene by saying she needs to procure a rope ladder so that Romeo may climb onto Juliet's balcony that night for their honeymoon.
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