Ch. 765: SCENE IV. Athens. A room in the prison

SCENE IV. Athens. A room in the prison****

Enter Jailer’s Daughter alone.

DAUGHTER.

Why should I love this gentleman? ’Tis odds

He never will affect me. I am base,

My father the mean keeper of his prison,

And he a prince. To marry him is hopeless;

To be his whore is witless. Out upon ’t!

What pushes are we wenches driven to

When fifteen once has found us! First, I saw him;

I, seeing, thought he was a goodly man;

He has as much to please a woman in him,

If he please to bestow it so, as ever

These eyes yet looked on. Next, I pitied him,

And so would any young wench, o’ my conscience,

That ever dreamed, or vowed her maidenhead

To a young handsome man. Then I loved him,

Extremely loved him, infinitely loved him!

And yet he had a cousin, fair as he too,

But in my heart was Palamon, and there,

Lord, what a coil he keeps! To hear him

Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!

And yet his songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken

Was never gentleman. When I come in

To bring him water in a morning, first

He bows his noble body, then salutes me thus:

“Fair, gentle maid, good morrow. May thy goodness

Get thee a happy husband.” Once he kissed me;

I loved my lips the better ten days after.

Would he would do so ev’ry day! He grieves much—

And me as much to see his misery.

What should I do to make him know I love him?

For I would fain enjoy him. Say I ventured

To set him free? What says the law then?

Thus much for law or kindred! I will do it;

And this night, or tomorrow, he shall love me.

[_Exit. _]