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18

I was your mother much upon these years

That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief,

The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.

Nurse. A man, young lady! lady, such a man

As all the world—why, he's a man of wax.

Lady Cap. Verona's summer hath not such a flower.

Nurse. Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower.

Lady Cap. What say you? can you love the gentleman?

This night you shall behold him at our feast;

Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face

And find delight writ there with beauty's pen;

Examine every married lineament,

And see how one another lends content;

And what obscur'd in this fair volume lies

Find written in the margent of his eyes.

This precious book of love, this unbound lover,

To beautify him, only lacks a cover:

The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride

For fair without the fair within to hide:

That book in many eyes doth share the glory,

That in gold clasps locks in the golden story:

So shall you share all that he doth possess,

By having him making yourself no less.

Nurse. No less! nay, bigger; women grow by men.

Lady Cap. Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?

Jul. I'll look to like, if looking liking move;

But no more deep will I endart mine eye

Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.

 76 man of wax: beautiful as a wax model

83 married: harmonious

86 margent: margin; cf. n.

89 fish; cf. n.

98 endart: shoot as a dart 