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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Scaena 3. Enter Iailor, Wooer, Doctor.
    Doct. Her distraction is more at some time of the Moone,
    Then at other some, is it not?
    2530Iay. She is continually in a harmelesse distemper, sleepes
    Little, altogether without appetite, save often drinking,
    Dreaming of another world, and a better; and what
    Broken peece of matter so'ere she's about, the name
    Palamon lardes it, that she farces ev'ry busines
    2535Enter Daughter.
    Withall, fyts it to every question; Looke where
    Shee comes, you shall perceive her behaviour.
    Daugh. I have forgot it quite; The burden o'nt, was downe
    A downe a, and pend by no worse man, then
    2540Giraldo, Emilias Schoolemaster; he's as
    Fantasticall too, as ever he may goe upon's legs,
    For in the next world will Dido see Palamon, and
    K2 Then
    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.
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Iay. What thinke you of her Sir?
    Doct. I think she has a perturbed minde, which I(cannot minister to.
    Iay. Alas, what then?
    Doct. Vnderstand you, she ever affected any man, ere
    2585She beheld Palamon?
    Iay. I was once Sir, in great hope, she had fixd her
    Liking on this gentleman my friend.
    Woo. I did thinke so too, and would account I had a(great
    Pen-worth on't, to give halfe my state, that both
    2590She and I at this present stood unfainedly on the
    Same tearmes.
    Do. That intemprat surfeit of her eye, hath distemperd(the
    Other sences, they may returne and settle againe to
    Execute their preordaind faculties, but they are
    2595Now in a most extravagant vagary. This you
    Must doe, Confine her to a place, where the light
    May rather seeme to steale in, then be permitted; take
    Vpon you (yong Sir her friend) the name of
    Palamon, say you come to eate with her, and to
    2600Commune of Love; this will catch her attention, for
    This her minde beates upon; other objects that are
    Inserted tweene her minde and eye, become the prankes
    And friskins of her madnes; Sing to her, such greene
    Songs of Love, as she sayes Palamon hath sung in
    2605Prison; Come to her, stucke in as sweet flowers, as the
    Season is mistres of, and thereto make an addition of
    Som other compounded odours, which are grateful to the
    Sence: all this shall become Palamon, for Palamon can
    Sing, and Palamon is sweet, and ev'ry good thing, desire
    2610To eate with her, crave her, drinke to her, and still
    Among, intermingle your petition of grace and acceptance
    Into her favour: Learne what Maides have beene her
    Companions, and play-pheeres, and let them repaire to
    Her with Palamon in their mouthes, and appeare with
    2615Tokens, as if they suggested for him, It is a falsehood
    She is in, which is with fasehoods to be combated.
    This may bring her to eate, to sleepe, and reduce what's
    Now out of square in her, into their former law, and
    K3 Regiment
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Regiment; I have seene it approved, how many times
    2620I know not, but to make the number more, I have
    Great hope in this. I will betweene the passages of
    This project, come in with my applyance: Let us
    Put it in execution; and hasten the successe, which doubt not
    Will bring forth comfort. Florish. Exeunt.
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