The Two Noble Kinsmen

1 Enter Jailer’s Daughter alone.
2 DAUGHTER.
3 Why should I love this gentleman? ’Tis odds
4 He never will affect me. I am base,
5 My father the mean keeper of his prison,
6 And he a prince. To marry him is hopeless;
7 To be his whore is witless. Out upon ’t!
8 What pushes are we wenches driven to
9 When fifteen once has found us! First, I saw him;
10 I, seeing, thought he was a goodly man;
11 He has as much to please a woman in him,
12 If he please to bestow it so, as ever
13 These eyes yet looked on. Next, I pitied him,
14 And so would any young wench, o’ my conscience,
15 That ever dreamed, or vowed her maidenhead
16 To a young handsome man. Then I loved him,
17 Extremely loved him, infinitely loved him!
18 And yet he had a cousin, fair as he too,
19 But in my heart was Palamon, and there,
20 Lord, what a coil he keeps! To hear him
21 Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!
22 And yet his songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken
23 Was never gentleman. When I come in
24 To bring him water in a morning, first
25 He bows his noble body, then salutes me thus:
26 “Fair, gentle maid, good morrow. May thy goodness
27 Get thee a happy husband.” Once he kissed me;
28 I loved my lips the better ten days after.
29 Would he would do so ev’ry day! He grieves much—
30 And me as much to see his misery.
31 What should I do to make him know I love him?
32 For I would fain enjoy him. Say I ventured
33 To set him free? What says the law then?
34 Thus much for law or kindred! I will do it;
35 And this night, or tomorrow, he shall love me.
36 [_Exit._]