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  • Title: Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    635Actus Secundus.
    Scaena 1. Enter Iailor, and Wooer.
    Iailor. I may depart with little, while I live, some thing I
    May cast to you, not much: Alas the Prison I
    Keepe, though it be for great ones, yet they seldome
    640Come; Before one Salmon, you shall take a number
    Of Minnowes: I am given out to be better lyn'd
    Then it can appeare, to me report is a true
    Speaker: I would I were really, that I am
    Deliverd to be: Marry, what I have (be it what
    645it will) I will assure upon my daughter at
    The day of my death.
    Wooer. Sir I demaund no more then your owne offer,
    And I will estate your Daughter in what I
    Have promised,
    D Iailor.
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    650Iailor. Wel, we will talke more of this, when the solemnity
    Is past; But have you a full promise of her?
    Enter Daughter.
    When that shall be seene, I tender my consent.
    Wooer. I have Sir; here shee comes.
    655Iailor. Your Friend and I have chanced to name
    You here, upon the old busines: But no more of that.
    Now, so soone as the Court hurry is over, we will
    Have an end of it: I'th meane time looke tenderly
    To the two Prisoners. I can tell you they are princes.
    660Daug. These strewings are for their Chamber; tis pitty they
    Are in prison, and twer pitty they should be out: I
    Doe thinke they have patience to make any adversity
    Asham'd; the prison it selfe is proud of 'em; and
    They have all the world in their Chamber.
    665Iailor. They are fam'd to be a paire of absolute men.
    Daugh. By my troth, I think Fame but stammers 'em, they
    Stand a greise above the reach of report.
    Iai. I heard them reported in the Battaile, to be the only(doers.
    Daugh. Nay most likely, for they are noble suffrers; I
    670Mervaile how they would have lookd had they beene
    Victors, that with such a constant Nobility, enforce
    A freedome out of Bondage, making misery their
    Mirth, and affliction, a toy to jest at.
    Iailor. Doe they so?
    675Daug. It seemes to me they have no more sence of their
    Captivity, then I of ruling Athens: they eate
    Well, looke merrily, discourse of many things,
    But nothing of their owne restraint, and disasters:
    Yet sometime a devided sigh, martyrd as twer
    680I'th deliverance, will breake from one of them.
    When the other presently gives it so sweete a rebuke,
    That I could wish my selfe a Sigh to be so chid,
    Or at least a Sigher to be comforted.
    Wooer. I never saw'em.
    685Iailor. The Duke himselfe came privately in the night,
    Enter Palamon, and Arcite, above.
    And so did they, what the reason of it is, I
    Know
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Know not: Looke yonder they are; that's
    Arcite lookes out.
    690Daugh. No Sir, no, that's Palamon: Arcite is the
    Lower of the twaine; you may perceive a part
    Of him.
    Iai. Goe too, leave your pointing; they would not
    Make us their object; out of their sight.
    695Daugh. It is a holliday to looke on them: Lord, the
    Diffrence of men. Exeunt,
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