Act IV, Scene 1

JAILER	Hear you no more? Was nothing said of me Concerning the escape of Palamon? Good sir, remember.
FRIEND	Nothing 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-eyed Emily upon their knees Begged with such handsome pity that the Duke, Methought, stood staggering whether he should follow ... [IV.1.10] 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. [Enter the Second Friend.]
JAILER	Pray heaven it hold so.
2 FRIEND	Be of good comfort, man. I bring you news, Good news.
JAILER	They are welcome.
2 FRIEND	Palamon has cleared you, And got your pardon, and discovered how And by whose means he scaped -- which was your daughter's, ... [IV.1.20] Whose pardon is procured 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.
JAILER	Ye are a good man, And ever bring good news.
1 FRIEND	How was it ended?
2 FRIEND	Why, as it should be: they that ne'er begged, But they prevailed, had their suits fairly granted -- The prisoners have their lives.
1 FRIEND	I knew't would be so.
2 FRIEND	But there be new conditions which you'll hear of At better time.
JAILER	I hope they are good.
2 FRIEND	They are honorable -- ... [IV.1.30] How good they'll prove I know not. [Enter the Wooer.]
1 FRIEND	'Twill be known.
WOOER	Alas, sir, where's your daughter?
JAILER	Why do you ask?
WOOER	O, sir, when did you see her?
2 FRIEND	How he looks!
JAILER	This morning.
WOOER	Was she well? Was she in health? Sir, when did she sleep?
1 FRIEND	These are strange questions.
JAILER	I do not think she was very well: for now You make me mind her, but this very day I asked her questions and she answered me So far from what she was, so childishly, So sillily, as if she were a fool, ... [IV.1.40] An innocent -- and I was very angry. But what of her, sir?
WOOER	Nothing but my pity -- But you must know it, and as good by me As by another that less loves her --
JAILER	Well, sir?
1 FRIEND	Not right?
WOOER	No, sir, not well.
2 FRIEND	Not well?
WOOER	'Tis too true -- she is mad.
1 FRIEND	It cannot be.
WOOER	Believe, you'll find it so.
JAILER	I half suspected What you told me -- the gods comfort her! Either this was her love to Palamon, Or fear of my miscarrying on his scape, ... [IV.1.50] Or both.
WOOER	'Tis likely.
JAILER	But why all this haste, sir?
WOOER	I'll tell you quickly. As I late was angling In the great lake that lies behind the palace, 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 hear, but yet perceived not ... [IV.1.60] Who made the sound, the rushes and the reeds Had so encompassed it. I laid me down And listened to the words she sung, for then, Through a small glade cut by the fishermen, I saw it was your daughter.
JAILER	Pray go on, sir.
WOOER	She sung much, but no sense; only I heard her Repeat this often -- 'Palamon is gone, Is gone to th' wood to gather mulberries; I'll find him out tomorrow.'
1 FRIEND	Pretty soul!
WOOER	'His shackles will betray him -- he'll be taken, ... [IV.1.70] And what shall I do then? I'll bring a bevy, A hundred black-eyed 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 talked of you, sir -- That you must lose your head tomorrow 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... [IV.1.80] 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 bull-rush rounded; about her stuck Thousand freshwater flowers of several colors -- That she appeared, methought, like the fair nymph That feeds the lake with waters, or as Iris Newly dropped down from heaven. Rings she made Of rushes that grew by, and to 'em spoke The prettiest posies -- 'Thus our true love's tied', ... [IV.1.90] 'This you may lose, not me', and many a one. And then she wept, and sung again, and sighed -- And with the same breath smiled and kissed her hand.
2 FRIEND	Alas, what pity it is!
WOOER	I made in to her; She saw me and straight sought the flood -- I saved her, And set her safe to land, when presently She slipped 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 ... [IV.1.100] I knew to be your brother, where she stayed And fell, scarce to be got away. I left them with her, [Enter the Jailer's Brother, the Jailer's Daughter, and others.] And hither came to tell you -- here they are.
DAUGHTER	[sings.] 'May you never more enjoy the light ...' -- Is not this a fine song?
BROTHER	O, a very fine one.
DAUGHTER	I can sing twenty more.
BROTHER	I think you can
DAUGHTER	Yes, truly can I -- I can sing 'The Broom' And 'Bonny Robin' -- are not you a tailor?
BROTHER	Yes.
DAUGHTER	Where's my wedding gown?
BROTHER	I'll bring it tomorrow.
DAUGHTER	Do, very rarely -- I must be abroad else, ... [IV.1.110] 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 . . .'
BROTHER	[to the Jailer.] You must e'en take it patiently.
JAILER	ÔTis true.
DAUGHTER	Good ev'n, good men. Pray, did you ever hear Of one young Palamon?
JAILER	Yes, wench, we know him.
DAUGHTER	Is't not a fine young gentleman?
JAILER	'Tis, love.
BROTHER	By no mean cross her, she is then distempered Far worse than now she shows.
1 FRIEND	[to the Jailer's Daughter.] ~~~ Yes, he's a fine man.
DAUGHTER	O, is he so? You have a sister.
1 FRIEND	Yes.
DAUGHTER	But she shall never have him, tell her so, For a trick that I know. You'd 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?
1 FRIEND	Yes.
DAUGHTER	There 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 ... [IV.1.130] They must be all gelt for musicians And sing the wars of Theseus.
2 FRIEND	This is strange.
JAILER'S BROTHER	As ever you heard, but say nothing.
1 FRIEND	No.
DAUGHTER	They come from all parts of the dukedom 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.
JAILER	She's lost. Past all cure.
BROTHER	Heaven forbid, man!
DAUGHTER	[to the Jailer.] Come hither -- you are a wise man.
1 FRIEND	Does she know him?
2 FRIEND:	No -- would she did.
DAUGHTER	You are master of a ship?
JAILER	Yes.
DAUGHTER	Where's your compass?
JAILER	Here.
DAUGHTER	Set it to th' north. And now direct your course to th' wood where Palamon Lies longing for me. For the tackling, Let me alone. Come, weigh, my hearts, cheerly all. Uff, uff, uff! 'Tis up. The wind's fair. Top the bowline. Out with the mainsail. Where's your whistle, master?
BROTHER	Let's get her in.
JAILER	Up to the top, boy!
BROTHER	Where's the pilot?
1 FRIEND	Here.
DAUGHTER	What kenn'st thou?
2 FRIEND	A fair wood.
DAUGHTER	Bear for it, master. Tack about! [Sings] 'When Cynthia with her borrowed light' . . . [Exeunt.]

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