Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
2145
Actus Quartus.
Scæna 1.
Enter Iailor, and his friend.
Iailor. Heare you no more, was nothing saide of me
Concerning the escape of Palamon?
Good Sir remember.
21501. Fr. Nothing that I heard,
For I came home before the busines
Was fully ended: Yet I might perceive
Ere I departed, a great likelihood
Of both their pardons: For Hipolita,
2155And faire-eyd Emilie, upon their knees
Begd with such hansom pitty, that the Duke
Me thought stood staggering, whether he should follow
His rash o'th, or the sweet compassion
Of those two Ladies; and to second them,
2160That truely noble Prince Perithous
Halfe his owne heart, set in too, that I hope
All shall be well: Neither heard I one question
Of your name, or his scape.
Enter 2. Friend.
Iay. Pray heaven it hold so.
21652. Fr: Be of good comfort man; I bring you newes,
Good newes.
Iay. They are welcome,
2. Fr. Palamon has cleerd you,
And got your pardon, and discoverd
2170How, and by whose meanes he escapt, which was your
Whose pardon is procurd too, and the Prisoner
Not to be held ungratefull to her goodnes,
Has given a summe of money to her Marriage,
A large one ile assure you.
2175Iay. Ye are a good man
And ever bring good newes.
1. Fr. How was it ended?
2. Fr. Why, as it should be; they that nev'r begd
But they prevaild, had their suites fairely granted,
2180The prisoners have their lives.
1. Fr. I knew t'would be so.
2. Fr. But there be new conditions, which you'l heare of
At better time.
Iay. I hope they are good.
21852. Fr. They are honourable,
How good they'l prove, I know not.
Enter Wooer.
1. Fr. T'will be knowne.
Woo. Alas Sir, wher's your Daughter?
2190Iay. Why doe you aske?
Woo. O Sir when did you see her?
2. Fr. How he lookes?
Iay. This morning.
Woo. Was she well? was she in health? Sir, when did
21951. Fr. These are strange Questions.
Iay, I doe not thinke she was very well, for now
You make me minde her, but this very day
I ask'd her questions, and she answered me
So farre from what she was, so childishly.
2200So sillily, as if she were a foole,
An Inocent, and I was very angry.
But what of her Sir?
Woo. Nothing but my pitty; but you must know it, and
As by an other that lesse loves her:
2205Iay. Well Sir.
1. Fr. Not right?
2. Fr. Not well?---Wooer, No Sir not well.
Woo. Tis too true, she is mad.
1. Fr. It cannot be.
2210Woo. Beleeve you'l finde it so.
Iay. I halfe suspected
What you told me: the gods comfort her:
Either this was her love to Palamon,
Or feare of my miscarrying on his scape,
2215Or both.
Woo. Tis likely.
Iay. But why all this haste Sir?
Woo. Ile tell you quickly. As I late was angling
In the great Lake that lies behind the Pallace,
2220From the far shore, thicke set with reedes, and Sedges,
As patiently I was attending sport,
I heard a voyce, a shrill one, and attentive
I gave my eare, when I might well perceive
T'was one that sung, and by the smallnesse of it
2225A boy or woman. I then left my angle
To his owne skill, came neere, but yet perceivd not
Who made the sound; the rushes, and the Reeds
Had so encompast it: I laide me downe
And listned to the words she song, for then
2230Through a small glade cut by the Fisher men,
I saw it was your Daughter.
Iay. Pray goe on Sir?
Woo. She sung much, but no sence; onely I heard her
Repeat this often. Palamon is gone,
2235Is gone to 'th wood to gather Mulberies,
Ile finde him out to morrow.
1. Fr. Pretty soule.
Woo. His shackles will betray him, hee'l be taken,
And what shall I doe then? Ile bring a beavy,
2240A hundred blacke eyd Maides, that love as I doe
With Chaplets on their heads of Daffadillies,
With cherry-lips, and cheekes of Damaske Roses,
And all wee'l daunce an Antique fore the Duke,
And beg his pardon; Then she talk'd of you Sir;
2245That you must loose 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 betweene
Ever was, Palamon, faire Palamon,
2250And Palamon, was a tall yong man. The place
Was knee deepe where she sat; her careles Tresses,
A wreake of bull-rush rounded; about her stucke
Thousand fresh water flowers of severall cullors.
That me thought she appeard like the faire Nimph
2255That feedes the lake with waters, or as Iris
Newly dropt downe from heaven; Rings she made
Of rushes that grew by, and to 'em spoke
The prettiest posies: Thus our true love's tide,
This you may loose, not me, and many a one:
2260And then she wept, and sung againe, and sigh'd,
And with the same breath smil'd, and kist her hand.
2. Fr. Alas what pitty it is?
Wooer. I made in to her.
She saw me, and straight sought the flood, I sav'd her,
2265And set her safe to land: when presently
She slipt away, and to the Citty made,
With such a cry, and swiftnes, that beleeve me
Shee left me farre behinde her; three, or foure,
I saw from farre off crosse her, one of 'em
2270I knew to be your brother, where she staid,
And fell, scarce to be got away: I left them with her.
Enter Brother, Daughter, and others.
And hether came to tell you: Here they are.
Daugh. May you never more enjoy the light, &c.
2275Is not this a fine Song?
Bro. O a very fine one.
Daugh. I can sing twenty more.
Bro. I thinke you can,
Daugh. Yes truely can I, I can sing the Broome,
2280And Bony Robin. Are not you a tailour?
Bro. Yes,
Daugh. Wher's my wedding Gowne?
Bro. Ile bring it to morrow.
Daugh. Doe, very rarely, I must be abroad else
2285To call the Maides, and pay the Minstrels
For I must loose my Maydenhead by cocklight
Twill never thrive else.
O faire, oh sweete, &c.
Singes.
Bro. You must ev'n take it patiently.
2290Iay. Tis true,
Daugh. Good'ev'n, good men, pray did you ever heare
Of one yong Palamon?
Iay. Yes wench we know him.
Daugh. Is't not a fine yong Gentleman?
2295Iay. Tis, Love.
Bro. By no meane crosse her, she is then distemperd
For worse then now she showes.
1. Fr. Yes, he's a fine man.
Daugh. O, is he so? you have a Sister.
23001. Fr. Yes.
Daugh. But she shall never have him, tell her so,
For a tricke that I know, y'had best looke to her,
For if she see him once, she's gone, she's done,
And undon in an howre. All the young Maydes
2305Of our Towne are in love with him, but I laugh at 'em
And let 'em all alone, Is't not a wise course?
1. Fr. Yes.
Daugh. There is at least two hundred now with child
There must be fowre; yet I keepe close for all this,
2310Close as a Cockle; and all these must be Boyes,
He has the tricke on't, and at ten yeares old
They must be all gelt for Musitians,
And sing the wars of Theseus.
2. Fr. This is strange.
2315Daugh. As ever you heard, but say nothing.
1. Fr. No.
Daugh. They come from all parts of the Dukedome to him,
Ile warrant ye, he had not so few last night
As twenty to dispatch, hee'l tickl't up
2320In two howres, if his hand be in.
Iay. She's lost
Past all cure.
Bro. Heaven forbid man.
Daugh. Come hither, you are a wise man.
23251. Fr. Do's she know him?
1. Fr. No, would she did.
Daugh. You are master of a Ship?
Iay. Yes.
Daugh. Wher's your Compasse?
2330Iay. Heere.
Daugh. Set it too'th North.
And now direct your conrse to'th wood, wher Palamon
Lyes longing for me; For the Tackling
Let me alone; Come waygh my hearts, cheerely.
2335All. Owgh, owgh, owgh, tis up, the wind's faire, top the
Bowling, out with the maine saile, wher's your
Whistle Master?
Bro. Lets get her in.
Iay. Vp to the top Boy.
2340Bro. Wher's the Pilot?
1. Fr. Heere,
Daugh. What ken'st thou?
2. Fr. A faire wood.
Daugh. Beare for it master: take about:
Singes.
2345When Cinthia with her borrowed light, &c.
Exeunt.