William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition

5.3 Still music of recorders. Enter Emilia in white, her hair about her shoulders, with a wheaten wreath; one in white holding up her train, her hair stuck with flowers; one before her carrying a silver hind in which is conveyed incense and sweet odours, which being set upon the altar, her maids standing apart, she sets fire to it. Then they curtsy and kneel

EMILIA (praying to Diana)

O sacred, shadowy, cold, and constant queen,

Abandoner of revels, mute contemplative,

Sweet, solitary, white as chaste, and pure

As wind-fa

Allow’st no more blood than will make a blush,

Which is their order’s robe: I here, thy priest,

Am humbled fore thine altar. O, vouchsafe

With that thy rare green eye, which never yet

Beheld thing maculate, look on thy virgin;

And, sacred silver mistress, lend thine ear—

Which ne’er heard scurril term, into whose port

Ne‘er entered wanton sound—to my petition,

Seasoned with holy fear. This is my last

Of vestal office. I am bride-habited,

But maiden-hearted. A husband I have ’pointed,

But do not know him. Out of two, I should

Choose one and pray for his success, but I

Am guiltless of election. Of mine eyes

Were I to lose one, they are equal precious—

I could doom neither: that which perished should

Go to’t unsentenced. Therefore, most modest queen,

He of the two pretenders that best loves me

And has the truest title in’t, let him

Take off my wheaten garland, or else grant

The file and quality I hold I may

Continue in thy band.

Here the hind vanishes under the altar and in the place ascends a rose tree having one rose upon it

(To her women) See what our general of ebbs and flows

Out from the bowels of her holy altar,

With sacred act, advances—but one rose!

If well inspired, this battle shall confound

Both these brave knights, and I a virgin flower

Must grow alone, unplucked.

Here is heard a sudden twang of instruments and the rose falls from the tree

The flower is fall’n, the tree descends. (To Diana) O

mistress,

Thou here dischargest me—I shall be gathered.

I think so, but I know not thine own will.

Unclasp thy mystery. ⌈To her women⌉ I hope she’s

pleased;

Her signs were gracious.

They curtsy and exeunt

5.4 Enter the Doctor, the jailer, and the Wooer in the habit of Palamon

DOCTOR Has this advice I told you done any good upon her?

WOOER O, very much. The maids that kept her company have half persuaded her that I am Palamon. Within this half-hour she came smiling to me, and asked me what I would eat, and when I would kiss her. I told her presently, and kissed her twice.

DOCTOR

’Twas well done—twenty times had been far better,

For there the cure lies mainly.

WOOER

Then she told me

She would watch with me tonight, for well she knew

What hour my fit would take me.

DOCTOR

Let her do so, 11

And when your fit comes, fit her home,

And presently.

WOOER

She would have me sing.

DOCTOR

You did so?

WOOER

No.

DOCTOR

’Twas very ill done, then. You should observe her every way.

WOOER

Alas,

I have no voice, sir, to confirm her that way.

DOCTOR

That’s all one, if ye make a noise.

If she entreat again, do anything—

Lie with her if she ask you.

JAILER

Ho there, Doctor.

DOCTOR

Yes, in the way of cure.

JAILER

But first, by your leave,

I’th’ way of honesty.

DOCTOR

That’s but a niceness—

Ne’er cast your child away for honesty.

Cure her first this way, then if she will be honest,

She has the path before her.

JAILER

Thank ye, Doctor.

DOCTOR

Pray bring her in and let’s see how she is.

JAILER

I will, and tell her her Palamon stays for her.

But, Doctor, methinks you are i’th’ wrong still.

Exit Jailer

DOCTOR

Go, go. You fathers are fine fools—her honesty?

An we should give her physic till we find that—

WOOER

Why, do you think she is not honest, sir?

DOCTOR

How old is she?

WOOER

She’s eighteen.

DOCTOR

She may be—

But that’s all one. ’Tis nothing to our purpose.

Whate’er her father says, if you perceive

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 humour 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 humour her.

⌈The Doctor and the Wooer stand apart⌉

JAILER (to his Daughter)

Come, your love Palamon stays for you, child,

And has done this long hour, to visit you.

JAILER’S 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.

JAILER’S DAUGHTER

How do you like him?

JAILER

He’s a very fair one.

JAILER’S DAUGHTER

You never saw him dance?

JAILER

No.

JAILER’S DAUGHTER

I have, often. He dances very finely, very comely,