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Her mood inclining that way that I spoke of,

Videlicet, the way of flesh -- you have me?

WOOER Yes, very well, sir.

DOCTOR Please her appetite,

And do it home -- it cures her, ipso facto,

The melancholy humor that infects her.

WOOER I am of your mind, Doctor.

[Enter the Jailer and his Daughter, mad.]

DOCTOR You'll find it so -- she comes; pray humor her. ...

[The Doctor and the Wooer stand apart.]

JAILER [to Daughter.] Come, your love Palamon stays for you, child,

And has done this long hour, to visit you.

DAUGHTER I thank him for his gentle patience.

He's a kind gentleman, and I am much bound to him.

Did you ne'er see the horse he gave me?

JAILER Yes.

DAUGHTER How do you like him?

JAILER He's a very fair one.

DAUGHTER You never saw him dance?

JAILER No.

DAUGHTER I have, often.

He dances very finely, very comely,

And, for a jig, come cut and long-tail to him,

He turns ye like a top.

JAILER That's fine, indeed.

DAUGHTER He'll dance the morris twenty mile an hour,

And that will founder the best hobbyhorse,

If I have any skill, in all the parish --

And gallops to the tune of 'Light o' love'.

What think you of this horse?

JAILER Having these virtues

I think he might be brought to play at tennis.

DAUGHTER Alas, that's nothing.

JAILER Can he write and read too?

DAUGHTER A very fair hand, and casts himself th'accounts

Of all his hay and provender. That ostler

Must rise betime that cozens him. You know ...

The chestnut mare the Duke has?

JAILER Very well

DAUGHTER She is horribly in love with him, poor beast,

But he is like his master -- coy and scornful.

JAILER What dowry has she?

DAUGHTER Some two hundred bottles

And twenty strike of oats, but he'll ne'er have her.

He lisps in's neighing, able to entice

A miller's mare. He'll be the death of her.

DOCTOR What stuff she utters!

JAILER Make curtsy -- here your love comes.

WOOER [coming forward.] Pretty soul, ...

How do ye? [She curtsies.] That's a fine maid, there's a curtsy.

DAUGHTER Yours to command, i' th' way of honesty --

How far is't now to th' end o'th' world, my masters?

DOCTOR Why, a day's journey, wench.

DAUGHTER [to Wooer.] ~~~ Will you go with me?

WOOER What shall we do there, wench?

DAUGHTER Why, play at stool-ball --

What is there else to do?

WOOER I am content

If we shall keep our wedding there.

DAUGHTER 'Tis true --

For there, I will assure you, we shall find

Some blind priest for the purpose that will venture

To marry us, for here they are nice, and foolish. ...

Besides, my father must be hanged tomorrow,

And that would be a blot i' th' business.

Are you not Palamon?

WOOER Do not you know me?

DAUGHTER Yes, but you care not for me. I have nothing

But this poor petticoat and two coarse smocks.

WOOER That's all one -- I will have you

DAUGHTER Will you surely?

WOOER Yes, by this fair hand, will I.

DAUGHTER We'll to bed then.

WOOER E'en when you will. [He kisses her.]

DAUGHTER [Rubbing off the kiss]

~~~ O, sir, you would fain be nibbling.

WOOER Why do you rub my kiss off?

DAUGHTER 'Tis a sweet one,

And will perfume me finely against the wedding. ...

[Indicating the Doctor] Is this not your cousin Arcite?

DOCTOR Yes, sweetheart,

And I am glad my cousin Palamon

Has made so fair a choice.

DAUGHTER Do you think he'll have me?

DOCTOR Yes, without doubt.

DAUGHTER [to the Jailer.] ~~~ Do you think so too?

JAILER Yes.

DAUGHTER We shall have many children. [to the Doctor.]

~~~Lord, how you're grown!

My Palamon, I hope, will grow too, finely,

Now he's at liberty. Alas, poor chicken,

He was kept down with hard meat and ill lodging,

But I'll kiss him up again. [Enter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER What do you here? You'll lose the noblest sight ...

That e'er was seen.

JAILER Are they i' th' field?

MESSENGER They are --

You bear a charge there too.

JAILER I'll away straight.

[to the others.] I must e'en leave you here.

DOCTOR Nay, we'll go with you --

I will not lose