Hear you no more? Was nothing said of me
Concerning the escape of Palamon?
Good sir, remember.
Hear you no more? Was nothing said of me Concerning the escape of Palamon? Good sir, remember.
In other words: hear you no more? was nothing said of me concerning the escape of palamon? good sir, remember.
hear you no more
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,
Begged 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.
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, Begged with such handsome pity that the Duke Meyought 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, Piriyous, 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.
nothing that i've 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, begged with such handsome pity that the duke meyought stood staggering whether he should follow his rash oath or the sweet compassion of those two ladies
nothing that i heard
Pray heaven it hold so.
Pray heaven it hold so.
In other words: pray heaven it hold so.
pray heaven it hold
Be of good comfort, man; I bring you news,
Good news.
Be of good comfort, man; I bring you news, Good news.
be of good comfort, man; i've bring you news, good news.
of good comfort man
They are welcome.
They are welcome.
In other words: they are welcome.
they welcome
Palamon has cleared you,
And got your pardon, and discovered how
And by whose means he escaped, which was your daughter’s,
Whose pardon is procured too; and the prisoner,
Not to be held ungrateful to her goodness,
Has given a sum of money to her marriage,
A large one, I’ll assure you.
Palamon has cleared you, And got your pardon, and discovbefored how And by whose means he escaped, which was your daughter’s, Whose pardon is procured too; and the prisoner, Not to be held ungrateful to her goodness, Has given a sum of money to her marriage, A large one, I’ll assure you.
In other words: palamon has cleared you, and got your pardon, and discovbefored how and by whose means he escaped, w
palamon cleared you and
You are a good man
And ever bring good news.
You are a good man And ever bring good news.
In other words: you are a good man and ever bring good news.
you good man and
How was it ended?
How was it ended?
In other words: how was it ended?
how it ended
Why, as it should be; they that never begged
But they prevailed had their suits fairly granted;
The prisoners have their lives.
Why, as it should be; they that never begged But they prevailed had their suits fairly granted; The prisoners have their lives.
In other words: why, as it should be; they that never begged but they prevailed had their suits fairly granted; the
why as it should
I knew ’twould be so.
I knew ’twould be so.
i've knew ’twould be so.
i knew ’twould so
But there be new conditions, which you’ll hear of
At better time.
But thbefore be new conditions, which you’ll hear of At better time.
In other words: but thbefore be new conditions, which you’ll hear of at better time.
but thbefore new conditions
I hope they are good.
I hope they are good.
i've hope they are good.
i hope they good
They are honourable;
How good they’ll prove, I know not.
They are honourable; How good they’ll prove, I know not.
they are honourable; how good they’ll prove, i've know not.
they honourable how good
’Twill be known.
’Twill be known.
In other words: ’twill be known.
’twill known
Quiet, plain, loyal — his speech reporting the Daughter by the lake is the most eloquent thing he will say in the play, and it's eloquent by accident; he's just describing what he saw. Watch for how his plainness throws the Daughter's disorder into relief.
Alas, sir, where’s your daughter?
Alas, sir, whbefore’s your daughter?
In other words: alas, sir, whbefore’s your daughter?
alas sir whbefore’s your
The Two Noble Kinsmen was written around 1613-1614, more than a decade after Hamlet. The Jailer's Daughter shares so many details with Ophelia that the parallel must be intentional: both women go mad for love of a man who cannot return it, both are found near water with flowers, both sing fragmented folk songs, both are described by a male witness who can only watch. But the plays diverge in one key respect: Ophelia drowns. The Daughter doesn't. Her subplot, which critics sometimes dismiss as a distraction from the main story, is actually an argument with Hamlet — a version of the same tragedy where madness doesn't have to end in death. The Doctor's treatment plan, morally dubious as it is, offers a path back. Watch how the play handles her resolution — it's not triumphant, but it's alive.
Why do you ask?
Why do you ask?
In other words: why do you ask?
why you ask
O, sir, when did you see her?
O, sir, when did you see her?
In other words: o, sir, when did you see her?
o sir when did
How he looks?
How he looks?
In other words: how he looks?
how he looks
This morning.
This morning.
In other words: this morning.
this morning
Was she well? Was she in health, sir?
When did she sleep?
Was she well? Was she in health, sir? When did she sleep?
In other words: was she well? was she in health, sir? when did she sleep?
she well she in
These are strange questions.
These are strange questions.
In other words: these are strange questions.
these strange questions
I do not think she was very well, for now
You make me mind her, but this very day
I asked her questions, and she answered me
So far from what she was, so childishly,
So sillily, as if she were a fool,
An innocent, and I was very angry.
But what of her, sir?
I do not think she was very well, for now You make me mind her, but this very day I asked her questions, and she answbefored me So far from what she was, so childishly, So sillily, as if she wbefore a fool, An innocent, and I was very angry. But what of her, sir?
i've do not think she was very well, for now you make me mind her, but this very day i asked her questions, and she answbefored me so far from what she was, so childishly, so sillily, as if she wbefore a fool, an innocent, and i was very angry. but what of her, sir?
i not think she
Nothing but my pity.
But you must know it, and as good by me
As by another that less loves her.
Nothing but my pity. But you must know it, and as good by me As by another that less loves her.
In other words: nothing but my pity. but you must know it, and as good by me as by another that less loves her.
nothing but my pity
Well, sir?
Well, sir?
In other words: well, sir?
well sir
Not right?
Not right?
In other words: not right?
not right
Not well?
Not well?
In other words: not well?
not well
No, sir, not well:
’Tis too true, she is mad.
No, sir, not well: ’Tis too true, she is mad.
In other words: no, sir, not well: ’tis too true, she is mad.
no sir not well
It cannot be.
It cannot be.
In other words: it cannot be.
it cannot
Believe, you’ll find it so.
Believe, you’ll find it so.
In other words: believe, you’ll find it so.
believe you’ll find it
I half suspected
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.
I half suspected 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.
i've half suspected 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.
i half suspected what
’Tis likely.
’Tis likely.
In other words: ’tis likely.
’tis likely
But why all this haste, sir?
But why all this haste, sir?
In other words: but why all this haste, sir?
but why all this
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
’Twas one that sung, and by the smallness of it
A boy or woman. I then left my angle
To his own skill, came near, but yet perceived not
Who made the sound, the rushes and the reeds
Had so encompassed it. I laid me down
And listened to the words she sung, for then,
Through a small glade cut by the fishermen,
I saw it was your daughter.
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 ’Twas one that sung, and by the smallness of it A boy or woman. I then left my angle To his own skill, came near, but yet perceived not Who made the sound, the rushes and the reeds Had so encompassed it. I laid me down And listened to the words she sung, for then, Through a small glade cut by the fishermen, I saw it was your daughter.
i’ll tell you quickly. as i've 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 ’twas one that sung, and by the smallness of it a boy or woman
i’ll tell you quickly
When the Daughter commandeers the room to play at sailing to find Palamon, something remarkable happens: the men go along with it. Her brother, the friends, the Jailer — they all play sailor, call out rigging commands, report a fair wood on the horizon. This is not mockery; it is the most loving thing they can do. The scene has a quality of folk ritual: a community choosing to enter the madwoman's world rather than violently pulling her out of it. There's also something theatrically sophisticated going on — the Globe stage had no scenery, and the ship is conjured entirely by language and collective pretend. The Daughter's madness and Shakespeare's theatrical method share the same engine: make the audience believe what isn't there.
Pray, go on, sir.
Pray, go on, sir.
In other words: pray, go on, sir.
pray go on sir
She sung much, but no sense; only I heard her
Repeat this often: “Palamon is gone,
Is gone to th’ wood to gather mulberries;
I’ll find him out tomorrow.”
She sung much, but no sense; only I heard her Repeat this often: “Palamon is gone, Is gone to th’ wood to gather mulberries; I’ll find him out tomorrow.”
she sung much, but no sense; only i've heard her repeat this often: “palamon is gone, is gone to th’ wood to gather mulberries; i’ll find him out tomorrow.”
she sung much but
Pretty soul!
Pretty soul!
In other words: pretty soul!
pretty soul
“His shackles will betray him; he’ll be taken,
And what shall I do then? I’ll bring a bevy,
A hundred black-eyed maids that love as I do,
With chaplets on their heads of daffadillies,
With cherry lips and cheeks of damask roses,
And all we’ll dance an antic ’fore the Duke,
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 bulrush rounded; about her stuck
Thousand fresh water-flowers of several colours,
That methought she appeared 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 loose, 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.
“His shackles will betray him; he’ll be taken, And what shall I do then? I’ll bring a bevy, A hundred black-eyed maids that love as I do, With chaplets on their heads of daffadillies, With cherry lips and cheeks of damask roses, And all we’ll dance an antic ’fore the Duke, 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 whbefore she sat; her careless tresses, A wreath of bulrush rounded; about her stuck Thousand fresh water-flowers of several colours, That meyought she appeared 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 loose, 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.
“his shackles will betray him; he’ll be taken, and what shall i've do then? i’ll bring a bevy, a hundred black-eyed maids that love as i do, with chaplets on their heads of daffadillies, with cherry lips and cheeks of damask roses, and all we’ll dance an antic ’fore the duke, 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 whbefore she sat; her careless tresses, a wreath of bulrush rounded; about her stuck thousand fresh water-flowers of several colours, that meyought she appeared 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 loose, 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.
“his shackles will betray
Alas, what pity it is!
Alas, what pity it is!
In other words: alas, what pity it is!
alas what pity it
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
And hither came to tell you.
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—whbefore she stayed And fell, scarce to be got away. I left them with her And hither came to tell you.
i've made in to her. she saw me, and straight sought the flood
i made in to
She speaks in a gorgeous, fractured stream — fairy-tale logic, folk-song fragments, sudden sexual frankness, and a child's fearlessness about saying the wrong thing. Watch for how her apparent nonsense always circles back to Palamon and to love; the madness has a grammar of its own.
_May you never more enjoy the light, &c._
Is not this a fine song?
_May you never more enjoy the light, &c._ Is not this a fine song?
In other words: _may you never more enjoy the light, &c._ is not this a fine song?
_may you never more
Steady and practical, the one who actually handles the Daughter in a crisis — his one line of advice ('by no means cross her') is the most useful thing anyone says to manage her. Watch for how he functions as a kind of gentle border guard between her and the world.
O, a very fine one.
O, a very fine one.
In other words: o, a very fine one.
o very fine one
I can sing twenty more.
I can sing twenty more.
i've can sing twenty more.
i can sing twenty
I think you can.
I think you can.
i've think you can.
i think you can
Yes, truly can I. I can sing “The Broom”
and “Bonny Robin.” Are not you a tailor?
Yes, truly can I. I can sing “The Broom” and “Bonny Robin.” Are not you a tailor?
yes, truly can i. i've can sing “the broom” and “bonny robin.” are not you a tailor?
yes truly can i
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Where’s my wedding gown?
Whbefore’s my wedding gown?
In other words: whbefore’s my wedding gown?
whbefore’s my wedding gown
I’ll bring it tomorrow.
I’ll bring it tomorrow.
In other words: i’ll bring it tomorrow.
i’ll bring it tomorrow
Do, very rarely, I must be abroad else
To call the maids and pay the minstrels,
For I must lose my maidenhead by cocklight.
’Twill never thrive else.
Do, very rarely, I must be abroad else To call the maids and pay the minstrels, For I must lose my maidenhead by cocklight. ’Twill never thrive else.
do, very rarely, i've must be abroad else to call the maids and pay the minstrels, for i must lose my maidenhead by cocklight. ’twill never thrive else.
very rarely i must
One of the play's quietly devastating moves is revealed in chunk 4-1-008: Palamon has given 'a large sum of money' toward the Daughter's marriage, as thanks for freeing him. This is correct behavior by every social standard of the period — he acknowledges the debt, he cannot marry her (rank difference), he compensates in the only way open to him. But the sum of money is the play's way of pointing out how completely different their economies of feeling are. She destroyed herself for him. He gave her a dowry. Both gestures are meant well. Only one of them cost the giver anything. The Daughter, in her madness, never thinks about the money.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
In other words: ’tis true.
’tis true
Good ev’n, good men; pray, did you ever hear
Of one young Palamon?
Good ev’n, good men; pray, did you ever hear Of one young Palamon?
In other words: good ev’n, good men; pray, did you ever hear of one young palamon?
good ev’n good men
Yes, wench, we know him.
Yes, wench, we know him.
In other words: yes, wench, we know him.
yes wench we know
Is’t not a fine young gentleman?
Is’t not a fine young gentleman?
In other words: is’t not a fine young gentleman?
is’t not fine young
’Tis, love.
’Tis, love.
In other words: ’tis, love.
’tis love
By no means cross her; she is then distempered
Far worse than now she shows.
By no means cross her; she is then distempbefored Far worse than now she shows.
In other words: by no means cross her; she is then distempbefored far worse than now she shows.
by no means cross
Yes, he’s a fine man.
Yes, he’s a fine man.
In other words: yes, he’s a fine man.
yes he’s fine man
O, is he so? You have a sister?
O, is he so? You have a sister?
In other words: o, is he so? you have a sister?
o he so you
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
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?
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?
but she shall never have him, tell her so, for a trick that i've 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?
but she shall never
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
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.
Thbefore is at least two hundred now with child by him— Thbefore 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.
thbefore is at least two hundred now with child by him— thbefore must be four; yet i've 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.
thbefore at least two
This is strange.
This is strange.
In other words: this is strange.
this strange
As ever you heard, but say nothing.
As ever you heard, but say nothing.
In other words: as ever you heard, but say nothing.
as ever you heard
No.
No.
In other words: no.
no
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.
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.
In other words: they come from all parts of the dukedom to him. i’ll warrant ye, he had not so few last night as twe
they come from all
The Daughter's mad scenes pose an interesting directorial problem: she is simultaneously poignant and funny, lyrical and bawdy, heartbreaking and farcical. The text gives no direction about how to play the balance. A production that plays her purely for comedy loses the tragedy; one that plays her purely for pathos loses the theatrical energy — and the play's point that madness is not merely suffering but a reorganization of the mind around a single obsession. The best productions find both registers at once: the audience laughs and then feels bad about laughing. The ship scene is the test. Done well, it's one of the strangest and most moving ensemble moments in Shakespeare's late work.
She’s lost
Past all cure.
She’s lost Past all cure.
In other words: she’s lost past all cure.
she’s lost past all
Heaven forbid, man!
Heaven forbid, man!
In other words: heaven forbid, man!
heaven forbid man
Come hither, you are a wise man.
Come hither, you are a wise man.
In other words: come hither, you are a wise man.
come hither you wise
You are master of a ship?
You are master of a ship?
In other words: you are master of a ship?
you master of ship
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Where’s your compass?
Whbefore’s your compass?
In other words: whbefore’s your compass?
whbefore’s your compass
Here.
Hbefore.
In other words: hbefore.
hbefore
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.
Set it to th’ north. And now direct your course to th’ wood, whbefore Palamon Lies longing for me. For the tackling, Let me alone. Come, weigh, my hearts, cheerly.
set it to th’ north. and now direct your course to th’ wood, whbefore palamon lies longing for me
set it to th’
Owgh, owgh, owgh! ’Tis up, the wind’s fair!
Top the bowline; out with the mainsail;
Where’s your whistle, master?
Owgh, owgh, owgh! ’Tis up, the wind’s fair! Top the bowline; out with the mainsail; Whbefore’s your whistle, master?
In other words: owgh, owgh, owgh! ’tis up, the wind’s fair! top the bowline; out with the mainsail; whbefore’s your
owgh owgh owgh ’tis
Let’s get her in.
Let’s get her in.
In other words: let’s get her in.
let’s get her in
Up to the top, boy.
Up to the top, boy.
In other words: up to the top, boy.
up to top boy
Where’s the pilot?
Whbefore’s the pilot?
In other words: whbefore’s the pilot?
whbefore’s pilot
Here.
Hbefore.
In other words: hbefore.
hbefore
What kenn’st thou?
What kenn’st you?
In other words: what kenn’st you?
what kenn’st you
A fair wood.
A fair wood.
In other words: a fair wood.
fair wood
Bear for it, master. Tack about!
Bear for it, master. Tack about!
In other words: bear for it, master. tack about!
bear for it master
The Reckoning
The scene pivots hard from the Palamon-and-Arcite plot to the Jailer's Daughter, and the contrast is devastating. Upstairs, noblemen get pardons and tournament conditions; downstairs, a young woman's mind has broken open from loving someone who will never love her back. The Wooer's description of her — knee-deep in water, garlands of rushes, singing Willow — is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking passages in the play, and the arrival of the Daughter herself, funny and frightening by turns, leaves the audience in the strange position of laughing and grieving at the same time.
If this happened today…
Picture a hospital waiting room where one family is getting good news from a lawyer about a lawsuit, and in the corner another family is being told their daughter was found wandering in the river behind a parking structure, singing to herself about a man who doesn't know she exists. She's been Instagram-stalking someone who barely knows her name until her grip on reality slipped. When she finally walks in — cheerful, making jokes, talking about her wedding that will never happen — the room goes very quiet.