ARKCODEX
Act IV, Scene 1
1Athens. A room in the prison.
2Enter Gaoler and First Friend.
3GaolerHear you no more? was nothing said of me
Concerning the escape of Palamon?
Good sir, remember.
4First FriendNothing that I heard;
For I came home before the business
Was fully ended: yet I might perceive,
Ere I departed, a great likelihood
Of both their pardons; for Hippolyta
And fair-ey’d Emily upon their knees
Begg’d with such handsome pity, that the duke
Methought stood staggering whether he should follow
His rash oath, or the sweet compassion
Of those two ladies; and to second them,
That truly noble Prince Pirithous,
Half his own heart, set in too, that I hope
All shall be well: neither heard I one question
Of your name or his scape.
5GaolerPray heaven, it hold so!
6Enter Second Friend.
7Second FriendBe of good comfort, man: I bring you news,
Good news.
8GaolerThey’re welcome.
9Second FriendPalamon has clear’d you,
And got your pardon, and discover’d how
And by whose means he escap’d, which was your daughter’s,
Whose pardon is procur’d too; and the prisoner—
Not to be held ungrateful to her goodness—
Has given a sum of money to her marriage,
A large one, I’ll assure you.
10GaolerYe’re a good man,
And ever bring good news.
11First FriendHow was it ended?
12Second FriendWhy, as it should be; they that never begg’d
But they prevail’d, had their suits fairly granted:
The prisoners have their lives.
13First FriendI knew ’twould be so.
14Second FriendBut there be new conditions, which you’ll hear of
At better time.
15GaolerI hope they’re good.
16Second FriendThey’re honourable:
How good they’ll prove, I know not.
17First Friend’Twill be known.
18Enter Wooer.
19WooerAlas, sir, where’s your daughter?
20GaolerWhy do you ask?
21WooerO, sir, when did you see her?
22Second FriendHow he looks!
23GaolerThis morning.
24WooerWas she well? was she in health, sir?
When did she sleep?
25First FriendThese are strange questions.
26GaolerI do not think she was very well; for, now
You make me mind her, but this very day
I ask’d her questions, and she answer’d me
So far from what she was, so childishly,
So sillily, as if she were a fool,
An innocent; and I was very angry.
But what of her, sir?
27WooerNothing but my pity:
But you must know it, and as good by me
As by another that less loves her.
28GaolerWell, sir?
29First FriendNot right?
30Second FriendNot well?
31WooerNo, sir; not well:
’Tis too true, she is mad.
32First FriendIt cannot be.
33WooerBelieve, you’ll find it so.
34GaolerI half suspected
What you have told me; the gods comfort her!
Either this was her love to Palamon,
Or fear of my miscarrying on his scape,
Or both.
35Wooer’Tis likely.
36GaolerBut why all this haste, sir?
37WooerI’ll tell you quickly. As I late was angling
In the great lake that lies behind the palace,
From the far shore, thick set with reeds and sedges,
As patiently I was attending sport,
I heard a voice, a shrill one; and attentive
I gave my ear; when I might well perceive
’Twas one that sung, and, by the smallness of it,
A boy or woman. I then left my angle
To his own skill, came near, but yet perceiv’d not
Who made the sound, the rushes and the reeds
Had so encompass’d it: I laid me down,
And listen’d to the words she sung; for then,
Through a small glade cut by the fishermen,
I saw it was your daughter.
38GaolerPray, go on, sir.
39WooerShe sung much, but no sense; only I heard her
Repeat this often, “Palamon is gone,
Is gone to the wood to gather mulberries;
I’ll find him out to-morrow.”
40First FriendPretty soul!
41Wooer“His shackles will betray him, he’ll be taken;
And what shall I do then? I’ll bring a bevy,
A hundred black-ey’d maids that love as I do,
With chaplets on their heads of daffodillies,
With cherry lips, and cheeks of damask roses,
And all we’ll dance an antic ’fore the duke,
And beg his pardon.” Then she talk’d of you, sir;
That you must lose your head to-morrow morning,
And she must gather flowers to bury you,
And see the house made handsome. Then she sung
Nothing but “Willow, willow, willow;” and between
Ever was, “Palamon, fair Palamon,”
And “Palamon was a tall young man.” The place
Was knee-deep where she sat; her careless tresses
A wreath of bulrush rounded; about her stuck
Thousand fresh water-flowers of several colours;
That methought she appear’d like the fair nymph
That feeds the lake with waters, or as Iris
Newly dropt down from heaven. Rings she made
Of rushes that grew by, and to ’em spoke
The prettiest posies—“Thus our true love’s tied,”
“This you may loose, not me,” and many a one;
And then she wept, and sung again, and sigh’d,
And with the same breath smil’d, and kiss’d her hand.
42Second FriendAlas, what pity ’tis!
43WooerI made in to her:
She saw me, and straight sought the flood; I sav’d her,
And set her safe to land: when presently
She slipt away, and to the city made,
With such a cry, and swiftness, that, believe me,
She left me far behind her. Three or four
I saw from far off cross her, one of ’em
I knew to be your brother; where she stay’d,
And fell, scarce to be got away: I left them with her,
And hither came to tell you. Here they are.
44Enter Gaoler’s Brother, Daughter, and others.
45DaughterSings. May you never more enjoy the light, etc. Is not this a fine song?
46BrotherO, a very fine one!
47DaughterI can sing twenty more.
48BrotherI think you can.
49DaughterYes, truly, can I; I can sing “The Broom,”
And “Bonny Robin.” Are not you a tailor?
50BrotherYes.
51DaughterWhere’s my wedding-gown?
52BrotherI’ll bring’t to-morrow.
53DaughterDo, very rarely; I must be abroad else,
To call the maids and pay the minstrels;
For I must lose my maidenhead by cock-light;
’Twill never thrive else. Sings.
O fair, O sweet, etc.
54BrotherYou must even take it patiently.
55Gaoler’Tis true.
56DaughterGood even, good men. Pray, did you ever hear
Of one young Palamon?
57GaolerYes, wench, we know him.
58DaughterIs’t not a fine young gentleman?
59Gaoler’Tis love!
60BrotherBy no mean cross her; she is then distemper’d
Far worse than now she shows.
61First FriendYes, he’s a fine man.
62DaughterO, is he so? You have a sister?
63First FriendYes.
64DaughterBut she shall never have him, tell her so,
For a trick that I know: y’had best look to her,
For, if she see him once, she’s gone; she’s done,
And undone in an hour. All the young maids
Of our town are in love with him: but I laugh at ’em,
And let ’em all alone; is’t not a wise course?
65First FriendYes.
66DaughterThere is at least two hundred now with child by him—
There must be four; yet I keep close for all this,
Close as a cockle; and all these must be boys—
He has the trick on’t; and at ten years old
They must be all gelt for musicians,
And sing the wars of Theseus.
67Second FriendThis is strange.
68DaughterAs ever you heard: but say nothing.
69First FriendNo.
70DaughterThey come from all parts of the dukedome to him;
I’ll warrant ye, he had not so few last night
As twenty to dispatch; he’ll tickle’t up
In two hours, if his hand be in.
71GaolerShe’s lost,
Past all cure.
72BrotherHeaven forbid, man!
73DaughterCome hither; you’re a wise man.
74First FriendDoes she know him?
75Second FriendNo; would she did!
76DaughterYou’re master of a ship?
77GaolerYes.
78DaughterWhere’s your compass?
79GaolerHere.
80DaughterSet it to the north;
And now direct your course to the wood, where Palamon
Lies longing for me; for the tackling
Let me alone: come, weigh, my hearts, cheerly!
81AllOwgh, owgh, owgh! ’tis up, the wind is fair:
Top the bowling; out with the main-sail:
Where’s your whistle, master?
82BrotherLet’s get her in.
83GaolerUp to the top, boy!
84BrotherWhere’s the pilot?
85First FriendHere.
86DaughterWhat kenn’st thou?
87Second FriendA fair wood.
88DaughterBear for it, master:
Tack about! Sings.
When Cynthia with her borrow’d light, etc. Exeunt.