Per. Oh, he that's freckle-faced? Mess. The same, my lord: Are they not sweet ones? Per. Yes, they're well. Mess. Methinks, Being so few, and well disposed, they shew Great, and fine art in Nature. He's white hair'd, Not wanton-white, but such a manly colour Next to an auburn; tough, and nimble set, Which shews an active soul; his arms are brawny, Lin'd with strong sinews; to the shoulder-piece Gently they swell, like women new-conceived, Which speaks him prone to labour, never fainting Under the weight of arms; stout-hearted, still, To spy advantages, and where he finds 'em, He shews a lover, when he frowns, a soldier; Per. They're all the sons of honour. Thes. Now, as I have a soul, I long to see 'em! Lady, you shall see men fight now. Hip. I wish it, But not the cause, my lord: They would shew bravely Fighting about the titles of two kingdoms; 'Tis pity Love should be so tyrannous. Oh, my soft-hearted sister, what think you? Weep not, till they weep blood, wench! it must be. Thes. You've steel'd 'em with your beauty. To you I give the field; pray order it. 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 Enter Daughter. Business withal, fits it to every question. Look, where she comes! you shall perceive her behaviour. Daugh. I have forgot it quite; the burden on't Was down-a down-a; and penned by no worse man than Giraldo, Emilia's schoolmaster: He's as Fantastical too, as ever he may go upon's legs; For in the next world will Dido see Palamon, And then will she be out of love with Æneas. Doctor. What stuff's here? poor soul! Jailor. Even thus all day long. Daugh. Now for this charm, that I told you of; you must Bring a piece of silver on the tip of your tongue, That have our livers perish'd, crack'd to pieces Doctor. How prettily she's amiss! note her a little further. Daugh. Faith, I'll tell you; sometime we go to barley-break, We of the bless'd: Alas, 'tis a sore life And usurers' grease, amongst a whole million of cut-purses, And there boil like a gammon of bacon Doctor. How her brain coins! Daugh. Lords and courtiers, that have got They are in this place; they shall stand in fire Freezes: In troth, a very grievous punishment, And then howls; th' other curses a suing fellow, And her garden-house. [Sings.] I will be true, my stars, my fate, &c. [Exit Daugh. Jailor. What think you of her, Sir? Doctor. I think she has a perturbed mind, Which I cannot minister to. Jailor. Alas, what then? Doctor. Understand you she ever affected any man, Ere she beheld Palamon? Jailor. I was once, sir, In great hope she had fix'd her liking on Wooer. I did think so too; And would account I had a great pennyworth on't, To give half my state, that both she and I terms. Doctor. That intemperate surfeit of her eye hath distemper'd The other senses; they may return and settle again To execute their preordained faculties; May rather seem to steal in, than be permitted. For this her mind beats upon; other objects, That are inserted 'tween her mind and eye, Become the pranks and friskins of her mad ness; Sing to her such green songs of love, as she Is mistress of, and thereto make an addition And every good thing; desire to eat with her, It is a falsehood she is in, which is To eat, to sleep, and reduce what are now [Exeunt. SCENE I. ACT V. Enter THESEUS, PERITHOUS, HIPPOLITA, and attendants. Thes. Now let 'em enter, and before the gods Tender their holy prayers! let the temples Burn bright with sacred fires, and the altars In hallow'd clouds commend their swelling in cense To those above us! Let no due be wanting! Enter PALAMON, ARCITE, and their Knights. Thes. You valiant and strong-hearted enemies, You royal germane foes, that this day come To blow that nearness out that flames between ye, Lay by your anger for an hour, and dove-like" Before the holy altars of your helpers (The all-fear'd gods) bow down your stubborn bodies! Your ire is more than mortal; so your help be! Knights, kinsmen, lovers, yea, my sacrifices, Else wish we to be snails: You know my prize Must put my garland on, where she will stick [They kneel. Thou mighty one, that with thy power hast turn'd Green Neptune into purple; whose approach The teeming Ceres' foyzon; who dost pluck The stony girths of cities; me thy pupil, To be his subject's vassal, and induce And make him, to the scorn of his hoarse throat, All moist and cold, some say, began to throw not Had I ken'd all that were; I never practis'd man Young'st follower of thy drum, instruct this day Of eighty winters, (this I told them) who I may advance my streamer, and by thee Some token of thy pleasure! [Here they fall on their faces as formerly, and there is heard clanging of armour, with a short thunder, as the burst of a battle, whereupon they all rise, and bow to the altar. Oh, great corrector of enormous times, Shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand decider Of dusty and old titles, that heal'st with blood The earth when it is sick, and curest the world O'th' pleurisy of people; I do take Thy signs auspiciously, and in thy name To my design march boldly. Let us go! [Exeunt. Enter PALAMON and his Knights, with the former observance. Pal. Our stars must glister with new fire, or To-day extinct: Our argument is love, A lass of fourteen brided; 'twas thy power In him seem'd torture; this anatomy panion; To those that boast, and have not, a defier; Give me the victory of this question, which [Here music is heard, doves are seen to flutter, their knees. [Still music of records. Enter EMILIA in white, her hair about her shoulders, a wheaten wreath; one in white holding up her train, her hair stuck with flowers; one before her carrying a silver hind, in which is conveyed incense and sweet odors, which being set upon the altar, her maid standing aloof, she sets fire to it; then they curt'sy and kneel. Emi. Oh, sacred, shadowy, cold and constant Abandoner of revels, mute, contemplative, He, of the two pretenders, that best loves me [Here the hind vanishes under the altar, and in the place ascends a rose-tree, having one rose upon it. See what our general of ebbs and flows [Here is heard a sudden twang of instruments, and the rose falls from the tree. The flower is fallen, the tree descends! Oh, And when your fit comes, fit her home, and presently! Wooer. She'd have me sing. Doctor. 'Twas very ill done then; I have no voice, sir, to confirm her that way. Jailor. Hoa there, Doctor! 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. Jailor. Thank you, Doctor! Doctor. Pray bring her in, and let's see how she is. Jailor. I will, and tell her Her Palamon stays for her: But, Doctor, [Exit. Doctor. Go, go! You fathers are fine fools: Her honesty? An we should give her physic till we find thatWooer. Why, do you think she is not honest, sir? Doctor. How old is she? But that's all one, 'tis nothing to our purpose: Wooer. Yes, very well, sir. And do it home; it cures her, ipso facto, Enter Jailor, Daughter, and Maid. Doctor. You'll find it so. She comes; pray humour her! Jailor. Come; your love Palamon stays for you, child; And has done this long hour, to visit you. Daugh. I thank him for his gentle patience; Daugh. How do you like him? Jailor. He's a very fair one. Daugh. You never saw him dance? Daugh. 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. Jailor. That's fine indeed. Daugh. He'll dance the morris twenty mile an hour. And that will founder the best hobby-horse Jailor. Having these virtues, I think he might be brought to play at tennis. Daugh. Alas, that's nothing. Jailor. Can he write and read too? Daugh. 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 chesnut mare the duke has? But this poor petticoat, and two coarse smocks. Wooer. That's all one; I will have you. Daugh. Will you surely? Wooer. Yes; by this fair hand, will I. Wooer. Even when you will. Daugh. Oh, Sir, you'd fain be nibbling. Wooer. Why do you rub my kiss off? And will perfume me finely 'gainst the wedding. Doctor. Yes, sweetheart; And I am glad my cousin Palamon Daugh. Do you think he'll have me? Jailor. Yes. Daugh. We shall have many children.-Lord, My Palamon I hope will grow too finely, But I will kiss him up again. Enter a Messenger. Mess. What do you here? You'll lose the noblest sight that e'er was seen. you; Jailor. How did you like her? Doctor. I'll warrant you within these three or four days I'll make her right again. her, You must not from But still preserve her in this way. Doctor. Let's get her in. Wooer. Come, sweet, we'll go to dinner; And then we'll play at cards. Daugh. And shall we kiss too? Wooer. A hundred times. Daugh. And twenty? Wooer. Ay, and twenty. Daugh. And then we'll sleep together? Doctor. Take her offer. Wooer. Yes, marry will we. Daugh. But you shall not hurt me. Wooer. I will not, sweet. Daugh. If you do, love, I'll cry. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLITA, EMILIA, PERITHOUS, and attendants. Emi. I'll no step further. Per. Will you lose this sight? Emi. I had rather see a wren hawk at a fly, Than this decision: Every blow that falls |