Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

The Two Noble Kinsmen.
Then will she be out of love with Eneas.
Doct. What stuff's here? pore soule.
2545Ioy. Ev'n thus all day long.
Daugh. Now for this Charme, that I told you of, you must
Bring a peece of silver on the tip of your tongue,
Or no ferry: then if it be your chance to come where
The blessed spirits, as the'rs a sight now; we maids
2550That have our Lyvers, perish'd, crakt to peeces with
Love, we shall come there, and doe nothing all day long
But picke flowers with Proserpine, then will I make
Palamon a Nosegay, then let him marke me,---then.
Doct. How prettily she's amisse? note her a little further.
2555Dau. Faith ile tell you, sometime we goe to Barly breake,
We of the blessed; alas, tis a sore life they have i'th
Thother place, such burning, frying, boyling, hissing,
Howling, chattring, cursing, oh they have shrowd
Measure, take heede; if one be mad, or hang or
2560Drowne themselves, thither they goe, Iupiter blesse
Vs, and there shall we be put in a Caldron of
Lead, and Vsurers grease, amongst a whole million of
Cutpurses, and there boyle like a Gamon of Bacon
That will never be enough. Exit.
2565Doct. How her braine coynes?
Daugh. Lords and Courtiers, that have got maids with
Child, they are in this place, they shall stand in fire up to the
Nav'le, and in yce up to 'th hart, and there th' offending part
burnes, and the deceaving part freezes; in troth a very gree-
2570vous punishment, as one would thinke, for such a Trifle, be-
leve me one would marry a leaprous witch, to be rid on't
Ile assure you.
Doct. How she continues this fancie? Tis not an engraffed
Madnesse, but a most thicke, and profound mellencholly.
2575Daugh. To heare there a proud Lady, and a proud Citty
wiffe, howle together: I were a beast and il'd call it good
sport: one cries, o this smoake, another this fire; One cries, o,
that ever I did it behind the arras, and then howles; th' other
curses a suing fellow and her garden house.
2580Sings. I will be true, my stars, my fate, &c. Exit. Daugh.
Iaylor.