Page 1340 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Scene III IT

Enter Gaoler’s Daughter alone.

DAUGHTER
Why should I love this gentleman? ’Tis odds
He never will affect me; I am base,

My father the mean keeper of his prison,
And he a prince. To marry him is hopeless;
To be his whore is witless. Out upon’t! [5]
What pushes are we wenches driven to

When fifteen once has found us! First I saw him;
I, seeing, thought he was a goodly man;
He has as much to please a woman in him −
If he please to bestow it so − as ever [10]

These eyes yet looked on. Next, I pitied him,
And so would any young wench, o’ my conscience,
That ever dreamed, or vowed her maidenhead
To a young handsome man. Then I loved him,

Extremely loved him, infinitely loved him; [15]
And yet he had a cousin, fair as he too;
But in my heart was Palamon, and there,
Lord, what a coil he keeps! To hear him

Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!
And yet his songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken [20]
Was never gentleman; when I come in
To bring him water in a morning, first

He bows his noble body, then salutes me, thus:
‘Fair, gentle maid, good morrow; may thy goodness
Get thee a happy husband.’ Once he kissed me; [25]
I loved my lips the better ten days after −

Would he would do so every day! He grieves much,
And me as much to see his misery.
What should I do to make him know I love him?
For I would fain enjoy him. Say I ventured [30]

To set him free? What says the law then? Thus much
For law or kindred! I will do it;
And this night, or tomorrow, he shall love me.