Hear you no more? Was nothing said of me
Concerning the escape of Palamon?
Good sir, remember.
Didn't you hear anything more? Was nothing mentioned about me regarding Palamon's escape? Please, sir, remember.
Is that all? Didn't anyone mention me and Palamon's escape? Come on, remember that, sir.
what about me & palamon's escape? remember?
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.
I didn't hear anything about that because I left before everything was finished. But I could see before I departed that there was a strong chance both of them would be pardoned. Hippolyta and Emily were on their knees begging with such gentle pity that the Duke seemed to be wavering between keeping his rash oath and feeling the sweet compassion those two women were showing. And to support them, that truly noble prince Pirithous, who is like his own other half, joined in too. I hope everything will turn out well. I didn't hear anyone even question your name or his escape.
I didn't hear anything about that because I left early. But before I went, I could see there was a good chance they'd both get pardoned. Hippolyta and Emily were down on their knees begging with such genuine pity that the Duke looked like he was torn between his oath and their compassion. And Pirithous backed them up too, his best friend. I'm hoping everything works out. Nobody even mentioned your name or the escape.
left early, didn't hear much but hippolyta & emily were begging duke seemed torn pirithous backed them up think theyll be ok
Pray heaven it hold so.
I hope the gods make it stay that way.
I hope that holds up.
hope that holds
Be of good comfort, man; I bring you news,
Good news.
Cheer up, my friend. I bring you news—good news.
Hang in there. I've got good news.
cheer up i got good news
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 your name and obtained your pardon. He revealed how and by whose means he escaped—through your daughter's help. She has also been pardoned. The prisoner, not wanting to be ungrateful for her goodness, has given a sum of money toward her marriage—a large one, I assure you.
Palamon cleared you and got your pardon. He said he escaped with your daughter's help and she got a pardon too. Out of gratitude, he gave a big sum of money for her wedding.
palamon cleared you both your daughter helped him escape she got pardoned too he gave her money for wedding
You are a good man
And ever bring good news.
You're a solid person who consistently delivers good news.
You're a good guy and you always show up with good news.
youre good & always bring good news
How was it ended?
How was it all resolved?
How did it all end?
so it worked out?
Why, as it should be; they that never begged
But they prevailed had their suits fairly granted;
The prisoners have their lives.
Well, as it should be. Those who never before asked but succeeded had their requests granted fairly. The prisoners have their lives.
The way it should have been. They asked and got what they wanted. The prisoners get to live.
they got what they asked for prisoners are alive
I knew ’twould be so.
I knew that's how it would turn out.
I knew it'd be that way.
i knew it
But there be new conditions, which you’ll hear of
At better time.
But there are new conditions, which you'll hear about at a better time.
But there are new terms that'll come up later.
theres new conditions youll hear about
I hope they are good.
I hope they're good.
I'm hoping those turn out to be good ones.
hope theyre good
They are honourable;
How good they’ll prove, I know not.
They are honorable. How good they'll turn out to be, I don't know.
They're honorable. How good they'll actually be, I'm not sure.
theyre honorable idk if theyre good
’Twill be known.
It will be known.
We'll find out.
it will be 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, where is your daughter?
Where can I find your daughter?
where is your daughter?
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 are you asking?
Why do you want to know?
why?
O, sir, when did you see her?
Oh, sir, when did you last see her?
When did you last see her?
last time you saw her?
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?
How has she been feeling? Is she in good shape? Has she been sleeping?
Is she doing okay? When's the last time she slept?
is she ok? when did she sleep?
These are strange questions.
That's quite an unusual line of questioning.
That's a weird line of questions.
thats weird
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 don't think she was doing well. Now that you remind me of her, this very day I asked her questions and she answered me so differently from her usual self, so childishly, so foolishly, as if she were an innocent fool, and I was very angry. But what's the matter with her, sir?
She wasn't doing well. Now that you mention it, I questioned her today and she answered like she was out of it, acting childish and stupid. I was furious. But what's wrong with her?
she wasnt well. i asked her today she acted weird childish & stupid i was mad. whats wrong?
Nothing but my pity.
But you must know it, and as good by me
As by another that less loves her.
Nothing but my compassion for her. But you must know this, and I might as well tell you as anyone else who loves her less.
Just that I feel sorry for her. But you need to know what's going on, and I care about her so I'll tell you.
i feel for her you need to know whats happening
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, she's not doing well. Unfortunately, it's true—she's gone insane.
No, she's not okay. The truth is, she's lost her mind.
no shes not ok shes gone mad
It cannot be.
It cannot be.
In other words: it cannot be.
it cannot
Believe, you’ll find it so.
Believe me, you'll find that to be true.
Trust me, you'll see it yourself.
trust me youll see
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're telling me. May the gods comfort her. This was either because of her love for Palamon or fear that I would be executed for helping with his escape, or both.
I kind of figured that. Poor thing. Either it's her love for Palamon or she was scared I'd die for helping him escape, or maybe both.
i kinda knew gods help her shes in love with palamon or scared i'll die for his escape or both
’Tis likely.
It is likely.
That's probably it.
likely
But why all this haste, sir?
But why are you in such a hurry, sir?
But why are you rushing to tell me?
why the rush?
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 was fishing recently in the great lake that lies behind the palace, on the far shore where reeds and sedges are thick, while I was patiently waiting for fish, I heard a voice—a shrill one. I paid attention, and I could tell someone was singing, and from how small the voice was, it was either a boy or a woman. I left my fishing line to its own devices, came closer, but still couldn't figure out who was making the sound because the rushes and reeds surrounded it completely. I lay down and listened to the words she was singing. Then, through a small opening cut by the fishermen, I saw that it was your daughter.
I'll tell you fast. I was fishing in the big lake behind the palace, and I heard a voice singing from across all these reeds. It sounded like a boy or woman. I dropped my line and got closer but couldn't see who it was at first because of all the reeds. I laid down and listened to her singing. Through a gap in the reeds, I realized it was your daughter.
was fishing by the lake heard someone singing could be a boy or girl got closer laid down listened through reeds i saw your daughter
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.
Please, continue, sir.
Keep going.
go on
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 sang a lot but nothing that made sense. I only heard her repeat this over and over: "Palamon is gone, gone to the woods to gather mulberries. I'll find him tomorrow."
She was singing a lot of nonsense, but kept repeating this: "Palamon's gone, gone to the woods to pick mulberries. I'll find him tomorrow."
she sang nonsense but kept saying: palamon went for mulberries ill find him tomorrow
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 chains will give him away and he'll be captured. What will I do then? I'll bring a crowd—a hundred dark-eyed girls who love like I do, with garlands of daffodils on their heads, with cherry-red lips and pink cheeks. We'll all dance wildly in front of the Duke and beg for his forgiveness." Then she talked about you, sir—that you must lose your head tomorrow morning and she must gather flowers to bury you and see that the house is made respectable. Then she sang nothing but "Willow, willow, willow," and constantly "Palamon, fair Palamon" and "Palamon was a tall young man." The water was up to her knees where she sat. Her loose hair was wound in a wreath of bulrushes. About her were hundreds of fresh water flowers in many colors, so much so that she appeared like a beautiful water nymph who feeds the lake, or like Iris the rainbow goddess, newly descended from heaven. She made rings out of rushes that grew nearby and spoke the sweetest words to them: "This is how our true love is tied," "You can break free, but not me," and many others. Then she wept, sang again, and sighed, and with the same breath smiled and kissed her own hand.
"His chains will get him caught. What'll I do? I'll bring a hundred girls who love him like I do, with daffodils in their hair, and we'll dance wild in front of the Duke and beg for forgiveness." Then she talked about you, sir—that you have to die tomorrow morning and she has to collect flowers to bury you and clean up the house. Then she just sang "Willow, willow, willow" over and over with "Palamon, fair Palamon" and "Palamon was so tall." She was up to her knees in water, with rushes braided in her hair, covered in water flowers. She looked like a nymph, like a goddess fresh from heaven. She was making rings out of rushes and saying the most beautiful things to them: "This is how true love binds us," "You can break, but I won't," stuff like that. Then she'd cry and sing again, sigh, and then smile and kiss her own hand.
his chains will give him away ill bring 100 girls who love him well dance for duke & beg forgiveness dad youll die tomorrow i need flowers to bury you sang willow willow palamon looked like water nymph made flower rings spoke love words cried sang sighed smiled & kissed her hand
Alas, what pity it is!
What a tragedy this is!
That's so sad.
so sad
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 approached her. She saw me and immediately ran toward the water. I saved her and set her safely on land, but then she immediately slipped away and ran toward the city with such cries and speed that, believe me, she left me far behind. Three or four people I saw from far away crossed her path—one of them I knew to be your brother—where she stopped and fell, barely able to get away. I left them with her and came here to tell you.
I went toward her. She saw me and ran straight for the water. I grabbed her and pulled her to land, but she took off running toward the city, screaming and moving so fast she left me in the dust. I saw maybe four people try to stop her—I think one was your brother—but she just fell and struggled away. I left them with her and came to tell you.
approached her she ran for water i saved her put her on land she bolted for the city screaming left me behind maybe 4 people tried to stop her left them with her came to you
Here they are.
They've arrived.
They're here now.
they're here
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?
Is this not a fine song?
Nice song, right?
nice song huh
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.
Oh, very fine indeed.
Yeah, really nice.
love it
I can sing twenty more.
I can sing twenty more just like that.
I know twenty more songs.
i know 20 more
I think you can.
I believe you can.
I bet you do.
bet you do
Yes, truly can I. I can sing “The Broom”
and “Bonny Robin.” Are not you a tailor?
I absolutely can. I know how to sing "The Broom" and "Bonny Robin." Tell me, are you a tailor by trade?
Yeah, I do. I can sing "The Broom" and "Bonny Robin." You're a tailor, right?
yeah i know the broom & bonny robin youre a tailor right?
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Where’s my wedding gown?
Where is my wedding gown?
Where's my wedding dress?
where my dress?
I’ll bring it tomorrow.
I'll have it for you tomorrow.
I'll get it tomorrow.
ill 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.
[_Sings_.] _O fair, O sweet, &c._
Yes, do so right away. I have to go outside to summon the bridesmaids and pay the musicians, because I must lose my virginity before dawn. It won't work out well if I don't.
Do it right now! I need to get out there and call the bridesmaids and pay the musicians. I have to sleep with him before dawn—it needs to happen then or it won't work.
do it asap i gotta get the bridesmaids and musicians i need to sleep with him before dawn
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.
[_To Jailer._] You must e’en take it patiently.
You must simply bear it patiently.
You just have to put up with it.
just gotta deal with it
’Tis true.
It is true.
That's true.
true
Good ev’n, good men; pray, did you ever hear
Of one young Palamon?
Good evening, good men. Please, have you ever heard of a young man named Palamon?
Evening, guys. You ever heard of this guy Palamon?
hey guys know palamon?
Yes, wench, we know him.
Yes, young woman, we know him.
Yeah, we know him.
we know that guy
Is’t not a fine young gentleman?
Isn't he a fine young gentleman?
He's great, isn't he?
hes great right?
’Tis, love.
It is, love.
Yes, dear.
it is / dear
By no means cross her; she is then distempered
Far worse than now she shows.
By no means contradict her. She becomes far more disturbed than she appears now if you do.
Don't argue with her. She gets way worse if you do.
dont argue or shell get worse
Yes, he’s a fine man.
He certainly is a fine gentleman.
Yeah, he's a good guy.
yeah hes good
O, is he so? You have a sister?
Oh, is that so? You have a sister?
Is that right? You got a sister?
you have a sister?
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 will never have him—tell her that. I know a trick. You better watch out for her, because if she sees him once, she'll be completely undone in an hour. All the young women in our town are in love with him, but I laugh at them and leave them alone. Isn't that a wise way?
But she's not getting him, tell her that. I know why. You better watch out for her because if she sees him once, she's done for. All the girls in town love him, but I think they're stupid and I leave them alone. That's the smart way, right?
she wont get him if she sees him once shes done girls all love him but im smarter i leave them alone
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.
There are at least two hundred women now pregnant by him. There must be at least four of them. Yet I keep hidden through all this, quiet as a clam. All of these babies must be boys—he has the knack for that. At ten years old they'll all be castrated to become musicians and sing songs about the wars of Theseus.
There's like two hundred women pregnant by him. At least four of them. But I keep my mouth shut, stay quiet like a clam. All the babies are gonna be boys—that's his thing. At ten years old they'll all be castrated so they can sing about Theseus's wars as musicians.
200 women pregnant by him at least 4 of them i stay quiet like a clam all babies boys at 10 theyll be castrated musicians
This is strange.
This is strange.
In other words: this is strange.
this strange
As ever you heard, but say nothing.
As strange as anything you've ever heard, but don't say anything about it.
As crazy as you've ever heard it, but don't tell anyone.
craziest thing youll hear but shh
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 over the dukedom to him. I'll bet he had not fewer than twenty last night. He'll get through them all in two hours if he's in the mood.
They come from all over to see him. I bet he had at least twenty last night. He can knock them all out in two hours if he feels like it.
girls come from everywhere he had 20 last night can do them all in 2 hours
She’s lost
Past all cure.
She's lost beyond all hope of recovery.
She's gone. Beyond help.
shes lost forever
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.
Heaven forbid, man!
Heaven forbid, man!
In other words: heaven forbid, man!
heaven forbid man
Come hither, you are a wise man.
Come here, you are a wise man.
Come here, you seem smart.
come here smart guy
[_Aside._] Does she know him?
Has she actually met him?
Does she even know who he is?
she actually know him tho?
[_Aside._] No, would she did.
No, I wish she did.
Nope, but it's a shame she doesn't.
nah but i wish
You are master of a ship?
Are you the captain of a ship?
You captain a ship?
youre a ship captain?
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Where’s your compass?
Where is your compass?
Do you have your compass?
where's the compass
Here.
Here it is.
Right here.
here
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 the north. Now direct your course toward the woods where Palamon is longing for me. For the rigging, leave that to me. Come on, let's go, my friends, cheerfully.
Point it north. Now steer toward the woods where Palamon is waiting for me. I'll handle the rigging. Come on, let's move, guys, let's go!
point north steer to woods where palamon waits ill handle rigging lets go guys
Owgh, owgh, owgh! ’Tis up, the wind’s fair!
Top the bowline; out with the mainsail;
Where’s your whistle, master?
Heave! The anchor's up, the wind is favorable! Secure the bowline. Out with the mainsail. Where's your whistle, captain?
Heave! Anchor's up, good wind! Get the bowline tied. Drop the mainsail. Where's the whistle, captain?
heave anchors up winds good tie bowline drop mainsail wheres the whistle
Let’s get her in.
Let's get her inside.
Get her somewhere safe.
get her inside
Up to the top, boy.
Make your way up to the highest point, boy.
Go climb up there, boy.
climb up
Where’s the pilot?
Where is the pilot?
Is the pilot here?
where's the pilot
Here.
Here I am.
I'm here.
yo
What kenn’st thou?
What do you see?
What do you see?
what do you see?
A fair wood.
A fair wood.
In other words: a fair wood.
fair wood
Bear for it, master. Tack about!
Head for it, captain. Change course!
Head that way, captain. Shift direction!
head that way shift course
_When Cinthia with her borrowed light, &c._
When Cynthia appears with her borrowed light
When the moon brings out the light she borrowed
moon borrowed light
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.