The reading of the present text appears to the left of the square bracket. Unless otherwise noted, the reading to the left of the bracket is from Q, the First Quarto text of 1634 (upon which this edition is based). The earliest sources of readings not in Q are indicated as follows: F is the version of the play in the Beaumont and Fletcher Second Folio Fifty Comedies and Tragedies. Written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Gentlemen of 1679 (The Two Noble Kinsmen was not included in the Beaumont and Fletcher First Folio of 1647, which collected only previously unpublished plays); Ed. is an edition of the play from the eighteenth century or later, the first such edition being The Works of Mr. Francis Beaumont, and Mr. John Fletcher (1711). No sources are given for emendations of punctuation or for corrections of obvious typographical errors, like turned letters that produce no known word. SD means stage direction; SP means speech prefix; uncorr. means the first or uncorrected state of the First Quarto; corr. means a second or corrected state of the First Quarto; ~ stands in place of a word already quoted before the square bracket; ^ indicates the omission of a punctuation mark.
Prologue
0 SD. Flourish] 1 line later in Q;
27. tack] Q (take)
1.1
0. SD Music. Enter . . . The Song] Ed.; Enter . . . The Song, Musike Q;
0. SD Pirithous] Ed.; Theseus Q;
6. thyme] Q (Time);
13–14. sweet | Lie] Q (sweete-| Ly);
16. angel] Q (angle);
20. chough] Ed.; Clough Q;
20. hoar] Ed.; hee Q;
65. lord.] ~^ Q;
68. Mars’s] Q (Marsis);
76. Nemean] Ed.; Nenuan Q;
88. hast] Q (ha’st);
89. scythe] Q (Sith);
100. thy] Ed.; the Q;
100. speech,] ~. Q;
118. was] Ed.; was kneele to Emilia Q;
127. pebbles] Q (peobles);
127. glassy] Ed.; glasse Q;
147, 172. to th’] Q (to’th);
150. longer] Ed.; long Q;
152. Knolls] Q (Knowles);
153. more^] ~. Q;
156. move] F; mooves Q;
156. ospreys] Q (Asprayes);
161. for th’] Q (for’th);
164. human] Q (humaine);
183. Artesius] Artesuis Q;
186. levy] Q corr.; l evy Q uncorr.;
190. hands.] ~^ Q;
203. neglected^] ~, Q;
206. twinning] Q (twyning);
211. drum] Q (Drom);
232. now!] ~^ Q;
246. before,] ~)^ Q;
248. Aulis] Ed.; Anly Q;
255. SD exit] Ed.; Exeunt Q;
265. dost] Q (do’st);
273. do;] ~, Q;
274. human] Q (humane);
275. SD Flourish] 1 line earlier in Q
1.2
20. fought.] ~, Q;
43. every] Q (eve’ry);
59. scissored] Q (Cizard);
78. glory;] ~^ Q;
78. one^] on^ Q uncorr.; on; Q corr.;
92. not^] ~: Q;
93. SD Enter Valerius.] 1 line earlier in Q;
94. Valerius.] ~^ Q
1.3
31. SD Pirithous] Q (Pir.);
37. one] Ed; ore Q;
42. for ’t] Q (fort);
63. Flavina] Ed.; Flauia Q;
68–74. Q sets in left margin: “2. Hearses ready with Palamon: and Arcite: the 3. Queenes. Theseus: and his Lordes ready.”
83. hers] This ed.; her Q;
85. one] Q (on);
86. musical] misicall Q;
94. out] ont Q
1.4
0. SD within] withim Q;
7. herd] Q (Heard);
11. supply ’t] Q (suppl’it);
14. haste] Q (hast);
20. By th’] Q (By’th);
21. smeared] Q corr. (smeard); succard Q uncorr.;
26. Wi’] Ed.; We Q;
31–32. Q sets in left margin: “3. Hearses ready.”
38. waste] Q (wast);
47. friends’] ~, Q;
48. Love’s^] Loves, Q;
52. O’er-] Ed.; Or Q;
56. ’fore] Ed.; for Q;
56. SD Flourish] 1 line earlier in Q
1.5
10. naught . . . woes] Q (&c)
2.1
15. SD Enter . . . rushes.] 1 line earlier in Q;
19. that^] ~. Q;
19. now;] ~, Q;
29. SP DAUGHTER] Q corr. (Daugh.); Dœugh. Q uncorr.;
43. sometimes] Q (sometime);
44. them—] ~. Q;
50. SD Enter . . . above.] 1 line earlier in Q
2.2
0. SD Palamon . . . above.] Ed.; Enter Palamon, and Arcite in prison. Q;
4. war; yet^] ~^ ~, Q;
24. wore] Ed.; were Q;
25. Ravished] Bravishd Q;
115. been,] ~^ Q;
133. SP EMILIA This] Ed.; This Q;
134. What] Ed.; Emil. What Q;
154. Will ’t] Q (wilt);
157. Cousin] Gosen Q;
207. SP PALAMON] Pal. Q corr.; Pal: Q uncorr.;
208. her^] ~; Q;
235. your blood] F; you blood Q;
273. ’twere] Q (tw’er);
280. SD Enter . . . above.] 1 line earlier in Q;
280, 290, 310, 358. SD Jailer] Q (Keeper);
284 and hereafter in this scene. SP JAILER] Ed.; Keeper. Q;
286. to th’] Q (to’th);
298. ne’er] Q (ne’re);
302. you,] ~. Q;
337. Prithee] Q (pre’thee);
344. you] F; yon Q
2.3
6. sins] Q corr.; fins Q uncorr.;
8. hast] Q (ha’st);
25. SD garland] Q corr. (garlond); Garlon Q uncorr.;
32. tickle ’t] Q (tick’lt);
45. you] Ed.; yet Q;
59. means;] ~^ Q;
60. says] Ed.; sees Q;
62. to th’] Q (to’th);
94. plum] Q (plumb)
2.5
0. Scene 5] Ed.; Scæna
4. Q;
0. SD This . . . within.] in small type in the left margin in Q;
0. SD Attendants, and others] Ed.; &c. Q;
40. For] Fo Q;
88. SD Flourish.] 1 line earlier in Q
2.6
3. him;] ~^ Q;
15. dirge^] ~. Q;
24. free man] Q (Freeman);
31. no man] Q (no-man);
35. hubbub] Q (whoobub)
3.1
0. SD Cornets . . . Maying.] in small type in the right margin of Q opposite “Actus Tertius”;
2. laund] Q (land);
2. rite] Q (Right);
11. presence.] ~, Q;
38. looked,] ~^ Q;
38. void’st] Ed.; voydes Q;
38. honor^] ~. Q;
92. house.] ~, Q;
96. prison.] ~, Q;
108. SD Wind . . . cornets.] 1 line earlier in Q;
108. SD off] Q (of);
110. muset] Ed.; Musicke Q;
110. lest] Q (least);
111. ere] Q (er);
116. pour] Q (powre);
121. language.] ~, Q;
122. not] F; nor Q;
123. SD Wind horns.] 2 lines earlier in Q;
130. ’Tis] Ed.; If Q
3.2
1. mistook^] ~; Q;
1. brake] Ed.; Beake Q;
3. matter;] ~, Q;
7. reck] Q (wreake);
14. gyves] Q (Gives);
19. fed] F; feed Q;
25. dozens] Q (dussons);
25. moped] Q (mop’t);
28. brine] bine Q;
35–36. screech owl] Schreichowl Q uncorr.; Schreichowle Q corr.
3.3
4. here’s] Q (her’es);
4. SD Enter Palamon.] 3 lines earlier in Q;
15. SD He drinks.] Ed.; , &c. Q;
19. ’twill] Q (t’will);
36. them] F; then Q;
66. ’tis] Q (t’is);
82. perfumes] per | (fumes Q uncorr.; per-| (fumes Q corr.
3.4
9. Open] Ed.; Vpon Q;
10. tack] Q (take)
3.5
0. Scene 5] Ed.; Scæna 6. Q;
0. SD Enter . . . Bavian] Ed.; Enter a Schoole master .4. Countrymen: and Baum .2. or 3 wenches, with a Taborer Q corr.; Baum^ Q uncorr.;
7. coarse] Q (course);
7. jean] Ed.; jave Q;
17. boar—] ~^ Q;
19. figure,] ~^ Q;
24. SD Enter the Taborer.] See note to
3.5.0 SD above.
58. by th’] Q (by’th);
75–76. In small type in the left margin of Q: “Chaire and stooles out”;
77. Till I] Ed.; till Q;
79. he] Ed.; not in Q;
83–84. master] Q (Mr.);
100. Chi passa] Ed.; Quípassa Q;
107. SD Wind horns.] ~ ~: Q uncorr.; ~ ~^ Q corr.; 2 lines earlier in Q;
109. SD All . . . exit.] Ed.; Ex. all but Schoolemaster. 2 lines earlier in Q;
110. SD Enter . . . train.] Ed.; Enter Thes. Pir. Hip. Emil. Arcite:and traine. Q;
115. SP THESEUS] F; Per. Q;
116. SD Chairs . . . out.] See note to 3.5.75–76 above.
120. favor,] ~; Q;
149. beest] Q (beast);
155. SD Music . . . dance.] Ed.; Musicke Dance. 1 line earlier in Q. (In small type in the left margin of Q: Knocke for Schoole. Enter The Dance.);
157. ye] Ed.; thee Q;
160. thee] F; three Q;
170. you] F; yon Q;
178. deaeque] Q (Deaq)
3.6
0. Scene 6] Ed.; Scæna 7 Q;
17. SD Enter . . . swords.] 1/2 line later in Q;
38. upbraidings] Q (obbraidings);
41. Will ’t] Q (wilt);
58. soldier,] ~. Q;
98. armor’s] Q (Armo’rs);
128. hopes.] ~: Q;
129. SD They . . . stand.] in small type in the left margin in Q opposite lines 129–33 (with an asterisk in the text to mark where the stage action should happen);
190. thine own] Ed.; this owne Q;
223. us;] ~, Q;
224. valiant,] ~; Q;
239. ’em,] ~; Q;
239. ruin.] ~, Q;
242. to th’] Q (to’th);
243. sister;] ~, Q;
244. us.] ~, Q;
279. They’d] Q (The’yld);
283. by th’] Q (by’th);
286. anger;] ~, Q;
287. it.] ~, Q;
289. Besides] Q (Beside);
296. now;] ~, Q;
296. fail] Ed.; fall Q;
300. Opinion!] ~, Q;
302. prune] Q (proyne);
329. He’s] Q (H’es);
355. excellent.] ~^ Q;
383. bier] Q (Beere)
4.1
1. Heard] Ed.; Heare Q;
13. oath] Q (o’th);
19. SD Enter . . . Friend.] 1 line earlier in Q;
38. ’twould] Q (t’would);
45. ’Twill] Q (T’will);
45. SD Enter Wooer.] 1 line earlier in Q;
64–68. sir. . . . WOOER] Ed.; Sir. | I Fr. Not right? | 2 Fr. Not well?—Wooer, No Sir not well. | Woo. Q;
85. ’Twas] Q (T’was);
90. sung] F; song Q;
96. to th’] Q (to’th);
104. antic] Q (Antique);
113. wreath] Ed.; wreake Q;
135. SD Enter . . . others.] 1 line earlier in Q;
137, 151, 209. etc.] Ed.; &c. Q;
151. SD Sings.] moved from end of line in Q to beginning of line;
154. Good] Q (Good’);
160. far] Ed.; For Q;
190. SP SECOND FRIEND] F; I. Fr. Q;
195. to th’] Q (too’th);
196. course] conrse Q;
196. to th’] Q (to’th);
200. bowline] Q (Bowling);
208. Tack] Q (take)
4.2
18. Jove] Ed.; Love Q;
21. carries,] ~? Q;
27. such] sueh Q;
44. ’em?] ~^ Q;
50. Utterly^] Q corr. (Vtterly); Vtterly. Q uncorr.;
58. SD Enter a Gentleman.] Ed.; Enter Emil. and Gent: Q;
59. How] Ed.; Emil. How Q;
83. SD Enter a Messenger.] Ed.; Enter Messengers. Curtis. (3 lines earlier in Q);
94. first] fitst Q;
99. fire] Ed.; faire Q;
107. hast] Q (ha’st);
125. tods] Ed.; tops Q;
130. crown] Ed.; corect Q;
151. auburn] Q (aborne);
184. so—] ~; Q;
184. appear.] ~, Q;
186. SD All . . . exit.] See note to 4.2.188 below.
188. SD She exits] Exeunt Q
4.3
6. soe’er] Q (so’ere);
11. on ’t] Q (o’nt);
19. SP JAILER] Ioy. Q;
23. spirits^ are,] Ed.; spirits, as^ Q;
33. i’ th’ other] F; i’th Thother Q;
40. enough.] Ed.; enough. Exit. Q;
44. navel] Q (Nav’le);
44. to th’] Q (to’th);
46. punishment] Q corr.; punishuent Q uncorr.;
54. were] Q corr.; weare Q uncorr.;
54. I’d] Q (il’d);
55. th’ other] Ed.; another Q;
56. behind] Q corr.; behold Q uncorr.;
59. etc.] Ed.; & c. Q;
71. same] Q corr. (Same); Saɯe Q uncorr.;
90. sweet^] Q uncorr.; ~, Q corr.;
91. carve] F; crave Q
5.1
0. SD Flourish.] 1 line earlier in Q before “Exeunt” at the end of
Act 4;
8. SD Flourish of cornets.] 3 lines earlier in Q;
8. SD Enter . . . Knights.] 1 line earlier in Q;
40. SD Palamon . . . exit.] 1 line earlier in Q;
44. father of] Ed.; farther off Q;
50. blood;] ~, Q;
53. cistern] Q (Cestron);
57. whose approach] Ed.; omit Q;
62. armipotent] Q (armenypotent);
73. cur’st] Ed.; curst Q;
76. boldly.] ~^ Q uncorr.; ~, Q corr.;
84. Her] Q corr.; His Q uncorr.;
84. SD kneel] Ed.; kneele as formerly Q;
87. hast] Q (ha’st);
94. wanton] Q corr.; wonton Q uncorr.;
99. his;] ~^ Q;
104, 115. ’twere] Q (t’wer);
127. done, no companion;] ~; ~ ~^ Q;
128. not, a defier;] ~; ~ ~^ Q;
129. cannot, a rejoicer.] ~; ~ ~, Q;
132. language.] ~, Q;
138. O] Ed.; Pal. O Q;
144. SD They . . . bow.] 2 lines earlier in Q;
145. SD recorders] Records Q;
157. Ne’er] Q (Ne’re);
161. him.] ~^ Q;
163. election.] ~^ Q
5.2
2. kept] hept Q;
51. Yes] F; Yet Q;
56. SD Enter . . . Maid.] 1 line earlier in Q;
57. humor] Ed.; honour Q;
77. tune] Ed.; turne Q;
77. o’] Q (a’);
92. ne’er] Q (ne’re);
101. to th’] Q (to’th);
119. two] Q (too);
152. sight] Ed.; fight Q
5.3
0. SD Flourish.] 1 line earlier in Q before “Exeunt” at the end of
5.2;
0. SD Attendants.] Ed.; Attendants, T. Tucke: Curtis. Q;
4. decision; ev’ry^] ~^ ~; Q;
22. I’d] Q (I’ld);
24. ’twere] Q (t’wer);
51. SD and others] Q (&c.);
58. sometimes] Q (sometime);
83, 111. prithee] Q (pre’thee);
91. in ’t else;] ~ ~; ~^ Q;
93. SD Another . . . cornets] 2 lines earlier in Q;
112, 145. to th’] Q (to’th);
112. SD Cornets . . . victory] 1 line earlier in Q;
126. SD and Others] Q (&c.);
145. all^] ~; Q;
164. your] F; you Q;
173. SD Flourish] 11 lines earlier in Q
5.4
0. SD Enter . . . ax.] Ed.; Enter Palamon and his Knightes pyniond: Iaylor, Executioner &c. Gard. Q;
1. SP PALAMON] Ed.; omit Q;
10. unwappered, not^] ~^ ~, Q;
20. o’er-weigh] Q (ore’-weigh);
29. does] Q (do’es);
36. prithee] Q (pre’thee);
43. quit] Q (quight);
47. SD Lays his head] Ed.; Lies Q;
48. courageous] couragiour Q;
49. SP SECOND and THIRD] Ed.; I.2. Q;
59. dearly] Ed.; early Q;
74. ’twere] Q (t’wer);
74. to th’] Q (to’th);
95. victor’s] Q corr.; victoros Q uncorr.;
103. Arcite.] ~, Q;
104. unbroken,] ~: Q;
128. Hath] Ed.; Hast Q;
156. sorry, still^] ~^ ~, Q