Question

Who says the following and why?

. . . [N]ow art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature: for this drivelling love is like a great natural, that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.


A.Mercutio is celebrating the return of the "real" Romeo and comparing love to a slobbering idiot.

B.Romeo is telling his friends that he is over Rosaline (finally!).

C.Nurse is telling Romeo that although she thought Paris was a better match, she feels that Romeo is the one for Juliet.

D.Friar Laurence is commenting the strange behavior of young men in love.

Answer 1

You should look in your book. By reading it out of context, it doesn't seem to really be commenting on the behavior of young men in general when they are in love. Rather it seems to be directed towards someone, as a descriptive of their behavior. Perhaps Romeo. ;)
MERCUTIO
Why, is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable. Now art thou Romeo. Now art thou what thou art—by art as well as by nature, for this driveling love is like a great natural that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole.
act 2, scene 4, page 5
In english, Ill tell you what he is saying.
MERCUTIO
Why, isn’t all this joking better than groaning about love? Now you’re sociable. Now you’re Romeo. Now you are what you’ve learned to be and what you are naturally. This love of yours was like a blithering idiot who runs up and down looking for a hole to hide his
TOY
Toy = a double entendre for penis
toy in.

Answer 2

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet/page_112.html
spark notes took the entire liberty of making a modern translation to what he is saying. rather than that old english. this will totally help you!!