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And beg his pardon.' Then she talked of you, sir --

That you must lose your head tomorrow morning,

And she must gather flowers to bury you,

And see the house made handsome. Then she sung

Nothing but 'willow, willow, willow', and between...

Ever was 'Palamon, fair Palamon',

And 'Palamon was a tall young man'. The place

Was knee-deep where she sat; her careless tresses

A wreath of bull-rush rounded; about her stuck

Thousand freshwater flowers of several colors --

That she appeared, methought, like the fair nymph

That feeds the lake with waters, or as Iris

Newly dropped down from heaven. Rings she made

Of rushes that grew by, and to 'em spoke

The prettiest posies -- 'Thus our true love's tied', ...

'This you may lose, not me', and many a one.

And then she wept, and sung again, and sighed --

And with the same breath smiled and kissed her hand.

2 FRIEND Alas, what pity it is!

WOOER I made in to her;

She saw me and straight sought the flood -- I saved her,

And set her safe to land, when presently

She slipped away and to the city made,

With such a cry and swiftness that, believe me,

She left me far behind her. Three or four

I saw from far off cross her -- one of 'em ...

I knew to be your brother, where she stayed

And fell, scarce to be got away. I left them with her,

[Enter the Jailer's Brother, the Jailer's Daughter, and others.]

And hither came to tell you -- here they are.

DAUGHTER [sings.] 'May you never more enjoy the light ...' --

Is not this a fine song?

BROTHER O, a very fine one.

DAUGHTER I can sing twenty more.

BROTHER I think you can

DAUGHTER Yes, truly can I -- I can sing 'The Broom'

And 'Bonny Robin' -- are not you a tailor?

BROTHER Yes.

DAUGHTER Where's my wedding gown?

BROTHER I'll bring it tomorrow.

DAUGHTER Do, very rarely -- I must be abroad else, ...

To call the maids and pay the minstrels,

For I must lose my maidenhead by cock light,

'Twill never thrive else. [Sings.] 'O fair, O sweet . . .'

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

JAILER ÔTis true.

DAUGHTER Good ev'n, 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.

BROTHER By no mean cross her, she is then distempered

Far worse than now she shows.

1 FRIEND [to the Jailer's Daughter.] ~~~ Yes, he's a fine man.

DAUGHTER O, is he so? You have a sister.

1 FRIEND Yes.

DAUGHTER But she shall never have him, tell her so,

For a trick that I know. You'd best look to her,

For if she see him once, she's gone -- she's done

And undone in an hour. All the young maids

Of our town are in love with him, but I laugh at 'em

And let 'em all alone. Is't not a wise course?

1 FRIEND Yes.

DAUGHTER There is at least two hundred now with child by him,

There must be four; yet I keep close for all this,

Close as a cockle; and all these must be boys --

He has the trick on't -- and at ten years old ...

They must be all gelt for musicians

And sing the wars of Theseus.

2 FRIEND This is strange.

JAILER'S BROTHER As ever you heard, but say nothing.

1 FRIEND No.

DAUGHTER They come from all parts of the dukedom to him.

I'll warrant ye, 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 She's lost.

Past all cure.

BROTHER Heaven forbid, man!

DAUGHTER [to the Jailer.] Come hither -- you are a wise man.

1 FRIEND Does she know him?

2 FRIEND: No -- would she did.

DAUGHTER You are master of a ship?

JAILER Yes.

DAUGHTER Where's your compass?

JAILER Here.

DAUGHTER Set it to th' north.

And now direct your course to th' wood where Palamon

Lies longing for me. For the tackling,

Let me alone. Come, weigh, my hearts, cheerly all.

Uff, uff, uff! 'Tis up. The wind's fair. Top the bowline.

Out with the mainsail. Where's your whistle, master?

BROTHER Let's get her in.

JAILER Up to the top, boy!

BROTHER Where's the pilot?

1 FRIEND Here.