Act V, Scene 4

Enter the Doctor, the Jailer, and the Wooer in the habit of Palamon.

 

DOCTOR Has this advice I told you done any good upon her?
WOOER O, very much. The maids that kept her company
have persuaded her that I am Palamon. Within
this half-hour she came smiling to me, and asked me
what I would eat, and when I would kiss her.
I told her presently, and kissed her twice.
DOCTOR 'Twas well done -- twenty times had been far better,
For there the cure lies mainly.
WOOER Then she told me
She would watch with me tonight, for well she knew
What hour my fit would take me.
DOCTOR Let her do so, ... [V.4.10]
And when your fit comes, fit her home,
And presently.
WOOER She would have me sing.
DOCTOR You did so?
WOOER No.
DOCTOR 'Twas very ill done, then.
You should observe her every way.
WOOER Alas,
I have no voice, sir, to confirm her that way.
DOCTOR  That's all one, if ye make a noise.
If she entreat again, do anything --
Lie with her if she ask you.
JAILER Ho there, Doctor.
DOCTOR Yes, in the way of cure.
JAILER But first, by your leave, ... [V.4.20]
I'th' way of honesty,
DOCTOR That's but a niceness --
Ne'er cast your child away for honesty.
Cure her first this way, then if she will be honest,
She has the path before her.
JAILER Thank ye, Doctor.
DOCTOR Pray bring her in and let's see how she is
WOOER  I will, and tell her her Palamon stays for her.
But, Doctor, methinks you are i' th' wrong still. [Exit Jailer.]
 
DOCTOR Go, go. You fathers are fine fools -- her honesty?
An we should give her physic till we find that --
WOOER Why, do you think she is not honest, sir?
DOCTOR How old is she?
WOOER She's eighteen.
DOCTOR She may be --
But that's all one. 'Tis nothing to our purpose.
Whate'er her father says, if you perceive
Her mood inclining that way that I spoke of,
Videlicet, the way of flesh -- you have me?
WOOER Yes, very well, sir.
DOCTOR Please her appetite,
And do it home -- it cures her, ipso facto,
The melancholy humor that infects her.
WOOER I am of your mind, Doctor.
[Enter the Jailer and his Daughter, mad.]
DOCTOR You'll find it so -- she comes; pray humor her. ... [V.4.40]
[The Doctor and the Wooer stand apart.]
JAILER  [to Daughter.] Come, your love Palamon stays for you, child,
And has done this long hour, to visit you.
DAUGHTER  I thank him for his gentle patience.
He's a kind gentleman, and I am much bound to him.
Did you ne'er see the horse he gave me?
JAILER Yes.
DAUGHTER How do you like him?
JAILER He's a very fair one.
DAUGHTER You never saw him dance?
JAILER No.
DAUGHTER I have, often.
He dances very finely, very comely,
And, for a jig, come cut and long-tail to him,
He turns ye like a top.
JAILER That's fine, indeed.
DAUGHTER He'll dance the morris twenty mile an hour,
And that will founder the best hobbyhorse,
If I have any skill, in all the parish --
And gallops to the tune of 'Light o' love'.
What think you of this horse?
JAILER Having these virtues
I think he might be brought to play at tennis.
DAUGHTER Alas, that's nothing.
JAILER Can he write and read too?
DAUGHTER A very fair hand, and casts himself th'accounts
Of all his hay and provender. That ostler
Must rise betime that cozens him. You know ... [V.4.60]
The chestnut mare the Duke has?
 
JAILER Very well
DAUGHTER She is horribly in love with him, poor beast,
But he is like his master -- coy and scornful.
JAILER What dowry has she?
DAUGHTER Some two hundred bottles
And twenty strike of oats, but he'll ne'er have her.
He lisps in's neighing, able to entice
A miller's mare. He'll be the death of her.
DOCTOR What stuff she utters!
JAILER Make curtsy -- here your love comes.
WOOER [coming forward.] Pretty soul, ... [V.4.70]
How do ye? [She curtsies.] That's a fine maid, there's a curtsy.
DAUGHTER Yours to command, i' th' way of honesty --
How far is't now to th' end o'th' world, my masters?
DOCTOR Why, a day's journey, wench.
DAUGHTER [to Wooer.] ~~~ Will you go with me?
WOOER What shall we do there, wench?
DAUGHTER Why, play at stool-ball --
What is there else to do?
WOOER I am content
If we shall keep our wedding there.
DAUGHTER 'Tis true --
For there, I will assure you, we shall find
Some blind priest for the purpose that will venture
To marry us, for here they are nice, and foolish. ... [V.4.80]
Besides, my father must be hanged tomorrow,
And that would be a blot i' th' business.
Are you not Palamon?
 
WOOER Do not you know me?
DAUGHTER Yes, but you care not for me. I have nothing
But this poor petticoat and two coarse smocks.
WOOER That's all one -- I will have you
DAUGHTER Will you surely?
WOOER Yes, by this fair hand, will I.
DAUGHTER We'll to bed then.
WOOER E'en when you will. [He kisses her.]
DAUGHTER [Rubbing off the kiss]
~~~ O, sir, you would fain be nibbling.
WOOER Why do you rub my kiss off?
DAUGHTER 'Tis a sweet one,
And will perfume me finely against the wedding. ... [V.4.90]
[Indicating the Doctor] Is this not your cousin Arcite?
DOCTOR Yes, sweetheart,
And I am glad my cousin Palamon
Has made so fair a choice.
DAUGHTER Do you think he'll have me?
DOCTOR Yes, without doubt.
DAUGHTER [to the Jailer.] ~~~ Do you think so too?
JAILER Yes.
DAUGHTER We shall have many children. [to the Doctor.]
~~~Lord, how you're grown!
My Palamon, I hope, will grow too, finely,
Now he's at liberty. Alas, poor chicken,
He was kept down with hard meat and ill lodging,
But I'll kiss him up again. [Enter a Messenger.]
MESSENGER What do you here? You'll lose the noblest sight ... [V.4.100]
That e'er was seen.
JAILER Are they i' th' field?
MESSENGER They are --
You bear a charge there too.
JAILER I'll away straight.
[to the others.] I must e'en leave you here.
DOCTOR Nay, we'll go with you --
I will not lose the sight.
JAILER How did you like her?
DOCTOR I'll warrant you, within these three or four days
I'll make her right again.
[Exit the Jailer with the Messenger.]
[to the Wooer.] ~~~ You must not from her,
But still preserve her in this way.
WOOER  I will.
DOCTOR Let's get her in.
WOOER [to the Jailer's Daughter.] ~~~ Come, sweet, we'll go to dinner,
And then we'll play at cards.
DAUGHTER  And shall we kiss too?
WOOER A hundred times.
DAUGHTER And twenty.
WOOER Ay, and twenty.
DAUGHTER And then we'll sleep together
DOCTOR [to the Wooer.] ~~~ Take her offer.
WOOER  [to the Jailer's Daughter] Yes, marry, will we.
DAUGHTER But you shall not hurt me.
WOOER I will not, sweet.
DAUGHTER  If you do, love, I'll cry. [Exeunt.]

 

 

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Full Text Act III, Scene 3/Act III, Scene 4
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Act II, Scene 2 Act V, Scene 1
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