Speeches (Lines) for JAILER in "The Two Noble Kinsmen"

THIRD QUEEN. This world's a city full of straying streets,
And death's the market-place where each one meets.
[They exit severally.]

JAILER. [Enter Jailer and Wooer.]
I may depart with little while I live; something I
may cast to you, not much. Alas, the prison I keep,
though it be for great ones, yet they seldom come;
before one salmon you shall take a number of minnows.
I am given out to be better lined than it can
appear to me report is a true speaker. I would I
were really that I am delivered to be. Marry, what
I have, be it what it will, I will assure upon my
daughter at the day of my death.

WOOER. Sir, I demand no more than your own offer,
and I will estate your daughter in what I have
promised.

JAILER. Well, we will talk more of this when the solemnity
is past. But have you a full promise of her?
When that shall be seen, I tender my consent.

[Enter the Jailer's Daughter, carrying rushes.]

WOOER. I have sir. Here she comes.

JAILER. [to Daughter]
Your friend and I have chanced
to name you here, upon the old business. But no
more of that now; so soon as the court hurry is
over, we will have an end of it. I' th' meantime,
look tenderly to the two prisoners. I can tell you they are princes.

DAUGHTER. These strewings are for their chamber. 'Tis
pity they are in prison, and 'twere pity they should
be out. I do think they have patience to make any
adversity ashamed. The prison itself is proud of
'em, and they have all the world in their chamber.

JAILER. They are famed to be a pair of absolute men.

DAUGHTER. By my troth, I think fame but stammers
'em. They stand a grise above the reach of report.

JAILER. I heard them reported in the battle to be the only doers.

DAUGHTER. Nay, most likely, for they are noble suff'rers.
I marvel how they would have looked had they
been victors, that with such a constant nobility enforce
a freedom out of bondage, making misery
their mirth and affliction a toy to jest at.

JAILER. Do they so?

WOOER. I never saw 'em.

JAILER. The Duke himself came privately in the night,
and so did they.

[Enter Palamon and Arcite, in shackles, above.]

What the reason of it is, I know not. Look, yonder
they are; that's Arcite looks out.

DAUGHTER. No, sir, no, that's Palamon. Arcite is the
lower of the twain; you may perceive a part of him.

JAILER. Go to, leave your pointing; they would not
make us their object. Out of their sight.

ARCITE. Do!

JAILER. By your leave, gentlemen.

PALAMON. Now, honest keeper?

JAILER. Lord Arcite, you must presently to th' Duke;
The cause I know not yet.

ARCITE. I am ready, keeper.

JAILER. Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave you
Of your fair cousin's company.

[Arcite and Jailer exit.]

PALAMON. And me too,
Even when you please, of life.--Why is he sent for?
It may be he shall marry her; he's goodly,
And like enough the Duke hath taken notice
Both of his blood and body. But his falsehood!
Why should a friend be treacherous? If that
Get him a wife so noble and so fair,
Let honest men ne'er love again. Once more
I would but see this fair one. Blessed garden
And fruit and flowers more blessed that still
blossom
As her bright eyes shine on you, would I were,
For all the fortune of my life hereafter,
Yon little tree, yon blooming apricock!
How I would spread and fling my wanton arms
In at her window; I would bring her fruit
Fit for the gods to feed on; youth and pleasure
Still as she tasted should be doubled on her;
And, if she be not heavenly, I would make her
So near the gods in nature, they should fear her.

[Enter Jailer, above.]

And then I am sure she would love me.--How now, keeper,
Where's Arcite?

JAILER. Banished. Prince Pirithous
Obtained his liberty, but never more
Upon his oath and life must he set foot
Upon this kingdom.

PALAMON. He's a blessed man.
He shall see Thebes again, and call to arms
The bold young men that, when he bids 'em charge,
Fall on like fire. Arcite shall have a fortune,
If he dare make himself a worthy lover,
Yet in the field to strike a battle for her,
And, if he lose her then, he's a cold coward.
How bravely may he bear himself to win her
If he be noble Arcite--thousand ways!
Were I at liberty, I would do things
Of such a virtuous greatness that this lady,
This blushing virgin, should take manhood to her
And seek to ravish me.

JAILER. My lord, for you
I have this charge to--

PALAMON. To discharge my life?

JAILER. No, but from this place to remove your Lordship;
The windows are too open.

PALAMON. Devils take 'em
That are so envious to me! Prithee, kill me.

JAILER. And hang for 't afterward!

PALAMON. By this good light,
Had I a sword I would kill thee.

JAILER. Why, my lord?

PALAMON. Thou bringst such pelting, scurvy news continually,
Thou art not worthy life. I will not go.

JAILER. Indeed you must, my lord.

PALAMON. May I see the garden?

JAILER. No.

PALAMON. Then I am resolved, I will not go.

JAILER. I must constrain you then; and, for you are dangerous,
I'll clap more irons on you.

JAILER. I must constrain you then; and, for you are dangerous,
I'll clap more irons on you.

JAILER. Do, good keeper.
I'll shake 'em so, you shall not sleep;
I'll make you a new morris. Must I go?

JAILER. Do, good keeper.
I'll shake 'em so, you shall not sleep;
I'll make you a new morris. Must I go?

JAILER. There is no remedy.

THESEUS. Come, I'll give you
Now usage like to princes and to friends.
When you return, who wins I'll settle here;
Who loses, yet I'll weep upon his bier.

[They exit.]

JAILER. [Enter Jailer and his Friend.]

Heard you no more? Was nothing said of me
Concerning the escape of Palamon?
Good sir, remember!

SECOND FRIEND. Be of good comfort, man; I bring you news,
Good news.

JAILER. They are welcome.

SECOND FRIEND. Palamon has cleared you
And got your pardon, and discovered how
And by whose means he escaped, which was your daughter's,
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. You are a good man
And ever bring good news.

SECOND FRIEND. But there be new conditions, which you'll hear of
At better time.

JAILER. I hope they are good.

WOOER. Alas, sir, where's your daughter?

JAILER. Why do you ask?

SECOND FRIEND. [aside]
How he looks!

JAILER. This morning.

FIRST FRIEND. [aside]
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,
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?

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,
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,
From the far shore--thick set with reeds and sedges--
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 near, but yet perceived not
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.

BROTHER. [to Jailer]
You must e'en take it patiently.

JAILER. 'Tis true.

DAUGHTER. Good e'en, 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.

DAUGHTER. They come from all parts of the dukedom
to him; I'll warrant you, 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. [aside]
She's lost past all cure.

DAUGHTER. You are master of a ship?

JAILER. Yes.

DAUGHTER. Where's your compass?

JAILER. Here.

BROTHER. Let's get her in!

JAILER. Up to the top, boy!

DOCTOR. [Enter Jailer, Wooer, Doctor.]
Her distraction is more at some time of the
moon than at other some, is it not?

JAILER. She is continually in a harmless distemper,
sleeps little, altogether without appetite, save often
drinking, dreaming of another world, and a better;
and what broken piece of matter soe'er she's about,
the name Palamon lards it, that she farces ev'ry
business withal, fits it to every question.

[Enter Jailer's Daughter.]

Look where she comes; you shall perceive her behavior.

[They stand aside.]

DOCTOR. [aside to Jailer and Wooer]
What stuff's here?
Poor soul.

JAILER. E'en thus all day long.

DAUGHTER. To hear there a proud lady and a proud city
wife howl together--I were a beast an I'd call it
good sport. One cries "O this smoke!" th' other,
"This fire!"; one cries, "O, that ever I did it behind
the arras!" and then howls; th' other curses a suing
fellow and her garden house.

[Sings.]

I will be true, my stars, my fate, etc.

[Daughter exits.]

JAILER. What think you of her, sir?

DOCTOR. I think she has a perturbed mind, which I
cannot minister to.

JAILER. Alas, what then?

DOCTOR. Understand you she ever affected any man
ere she beheld Palamon?

JAILER. I was once, sir, in great hope she had fixed her
liking on this gentleman, my friend.

DOCTOR. That's all one, if you 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,
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 you, doctor.

DOCTOR. Pray bring her in
And let's see how she is.

JAILER. I will, and tell her
Her Palamon stays for her. But, doctor,
Methinks you are i' th' wrong still.

[Jailer exits.]

DOCTOR. You'll find it so.

[Enter Jailer, Daughter, and Maid.]

She comes; pray humor her.

[Wooer and Doctor stand aside.]

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 you 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 hostler
Must rise betime that cozens him. You know
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?

Three QUEENS. [aside]
What stuff she utters!

[Wooer and Doctor come forward.]

JAILER. Make curtsy; here your love comes.

DAUGHTER. [to Jailer]
Do you think so too?

JAILER. Yes.

DAUGHTER. What do you here? You'll lose the noblest sight
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.--
I must e'en leave you here.

DOCTOR. Nay, we'll go with you.
I will not lose the sight.

JAILER. [aside to Doctor]
How did you like her?

PALAMON. E'en he that led you to this banquet shall
Taste to you all. [To Jailer.] Ah ha, my friend, my friend,
Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once;
You'll see 't done now forever. Pray, how does she?
I heard she was not well; her kind of ill
Gave me some sorrow.

JAILER. Sir, she's well restored,
And to be married shortly.

ALL KNIGHTS. ALL KNIGHTS Commend us to her.

[They give their purses.]

JAILER. The gods requite you all and make her thankful!