*With three fair knights, appear again in this place, *And take heed, as you're gentlemen, this quarrel Come, I'll give ye *Now usage like to princes and to friends. 10 Whether is here equivalent to whichever of the two. [Exeunt. *ACT IV. *SCENE I.. Athens. A Room in the Prison. *Enter Jailer and First Friend. *Jailer. Hear you no more? was nothing said of me *Concerning the escape of Palamon? *Good sir, remember. *1 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 * 'Begg'd with such handsome pity, that the Duke *Methought stood staggering whether he should follow *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. *Jailer. Pray Heaven, it hold so ! *Enter Second Friend. *2 Friend. Be of good comfort, man: I bring you news, *Good news. *Jailer. They're welcome. *2 Friend. Palamon has clear'd you, *And got your pardon, and discover'd how *And by whose means he 'scaped, which was your daughter's, *Whose pardon is procured too; and the prisoner *A large one I'll assure you. *Jailer. *And ever bring good news. *I Friend. Ye're a good man, How was it ended? *2 Friend. Why, as it should be: they that never begg'd *But they prevail'd, had their suits fairly granted; *The prisoners have their lives. *1 Friend. I knew 'twould be so. *2 Friend. But there be new conditions, which you'll *Wooer. Alas, sir, where's your daughter? *Jailer. *Wooer. O, sir, when did you see her? #2 Friend. Why do you ask? How he looks! *Jailer. I do not think she was very well; for, now *You make me mind her, but this very day *I ask'd her questions, and she answer'd me *So sillily, as if she were a fool, *But what of her, sir? *Wooer. Notning but my pity: *But you must know it, and as good by me *As by another that less loves her. *Jailer. *What you have 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 *To his own skill, came near, but yet perceived not *Jailer. Pray, go on, sir. *Wooer. She sung much, but no sense; only I heard her *Repeat this often, Palamon is gone, *1 Friend. *Wooer. His shackles will *And what shall I do then? Pretty soul ! betray him, he'll be taken; *A hundred black-eyed maids that love as I do, *And see the house made handsome. Then she sung *And, Palamon was a tall young man. The place *Was knee-deep where she sat; her careless tresses 1 An antic probably means a comic dance; as to play the antic was to enact the buffoon. See vol. iv. page 198, note 4. 2 The same song, no doubt, that Desdemona so pathetically sings parts of. See vol. xvii. page 278, note 6. 8 The first scene of the fourth Act (by Fletcher again) contains a piece |