ARCITE

Clear spirited Cozen Lets leave his Court, that we may nothing share, Of his loud infamy: for our milk, Will relish of the pasture, and we must Be vile, or disobedient, not his kinesmen In blood, unless in quality. Let him approach; But that we fear the Gods in him, he brings not A jot of terror to us; Yet what man Thirds his own worth (the case is each of ours) When that his actions dregd, with mind assured 'Tis ba he goes about. So we must; Is't said this wars afoot? or it shall be On fail of some condition. Yet Cousin, Even from the bottom of these Misery's From all that fortune can inflict upon us, I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings, If the gods please, to hold here abrave patience, And the enjoying of our griefs together. While Palamon is with me, let me perish If I think this our prison. Shall we make worthy uses of this place That all men hate so much? Let's think this prison, holy sanctuary, To keep us from corruption of worse men, We are young and yet desire the ways of honour, That liberty and common Conversation The poison of pure spirits; might Like women Woo us to wander from. What worthy blessing Can be but our Imaginations May make it ours? And here being thus together, We are and endless mine to one another; We are one another's wife, ever begotting New births of love; we are father, f ends, acquaintance, We are in one another, Families, I am your heir, and you are mine: This place Is our Inheritance: no hard Oppressor Dare take this from us; here with a little patience We shall live long, and loving: No surfeits seek us: The hand of war urts none here, nor the Seas Swallow their youth: we e we at liberty, A wife might partly us lawfully, or business, Quarrels consume us, Envy of men Crave our acquaintance, I might S ken Cousin, Where you should never know it, and so perish Without your noble hand to close mine eyes, Or pra rs to the gods; a thousand chances Were we from hence, would seaver . I would hear you still. Sure there cannot. Till our death's it cannot Enter Emilia and her woman. And after death our spirits shall be led To those that love eternally. Speak on Sir. This garden has a world of pleasures in't. Pray forward. Gosen, Cousin, how do you Sir? Why Palamon? Why whats the matter Man? She is wondrous fair. 'Tis a rare one. Yes a matchless beauty. I cannot tell what you have done, I have, Beshrew mine eyes for't, now I feel my Shackles. Who would not? Be before my liberty. That's nothing I saw her too. I will not as you do; to worship her; As she is heavenly, and a blessed Gods; (I love her as a woman, to enjoy her) So both may love. Not love at all. Who shall deny me? Yes, and have found me so; why are you moved thus? Let me deal coldly with you, am not I Partly of you blood, partly of your soul? you have told me That I was Palamon, and you were Arcite. Am not I liable to those affections, Those joys, griefs, anger's, fears, my friend shall suffer? Why then would you deal so cunningly, So strangely, so unlike a noble kinesman To love alone? speak truly, do you think me Unworthy of her sighed? Because and other First sees the Enemy, shall I stand still And let mine honour down, and never charge? But say that one Had rather combat me? You are mad. Fie Sir. You play the Child extremely: I will love her, I must, I ought to do so, and I dare, And all, this justly. I How darest not fool, thou canst not, thou art feeble. Pu my head out? I'll throw my Body out, And leap the garden, when I see her next Enter Keeper. And pitch between her arms to anger thee. Do. I am ready keeper. By your leaves honest friends: pray you whither go you. Yes, 'tis a question, to me that know not. Not fairy Sir, Are there such Gam S to day? What pastimes are they? Not yet Sir. This is and offered opportunity I durst not wish for. Well, I could have wrestled, The best men called it excellent, and run Swifter, then wind upon a field of Corn (Curling the wealthy ears) never flew: Ill venture, And in some poor disgu ze be there, who knows Whither my brows may not be girded with garlands? And happiness prefer me to a place, Where I may ever dwell in sighed of her. Noble Theseus. To purchase name, and do my ablest service To such a well-found wonder, as thy worth, Foe only in thy Court, of all the world dwells faire-eyd honour. Sir, y'ar a noble Giver: dearest Beauty, Thus let me seal my vowed faith: when your Servant (Your most unworthy Creature) but offends you, Command him die, he shall. I Like him better (Prince) I shall not then Freeze in my Saddle. Dear Cousin Palamon, Not ding in The circuit of my breast, any gross stuff To form me Like your blazon, holds me to This gentleness of answer; 'tis your passion That thus mistakes, the which to you being enemy, Cannot to me be kind: honour, and honesty I cherish, and depend on, how so ever You skip them in me, and with them fair Coz I'll maintain my proceedings; pray be pleased To show in generous terms, your griefs, since that Your question's with your equal, who professes To clear his own way, with the mind and Sword Of a true Gentleman. My Coz, my Coz, you have been well advertised How much I dare, y'ave seen me use my Sword Against th'advice of fear: sure of another You would not hear me doubted, but your silence Should break out, though i'th Sanctuary. Kinsman, you might as well Speak this, and act it in your Glass, as to His care, which now disdains you. Be content, Again betake you to your hawthorn house, With counsel of the night, I will be here With wholesome viands; these impediments Will I file off, you shall have gannents, and Perfumes to kill the nell o'th prison, after When you shall stretch your self, and say but Arcite I am in plighted, there shall be at your choice Both Sword, and Armour. Sweet Palamon. You hear the Horns; Enter your Music least this match between Be crossed, er met, give me your hand, farewell. I'll bring you every needful thing: I pray you Take comfort and be strong. Plainly spoken, Yet pardon me hard language, when I spur Wind horns. My horse, I chide him nor; content, and anger In me have but one face. Hark Sir, they call The scattered to the Banquet; you must guess I have and office there. If a good title, I am persuaded this question sick between, By bleeding must be cured. I am a Suitour, That to your Sword you will be queath this plea, And talk of it no more. I should be near the place, hoa. Cousin Palamon. The same: I have brought you food and files, Come forth and fear not, her'e sno Theseus. That's no matter, We'll argue that hereafter: Come take courage, You shall not die thus beastly, here Sir drink I know you are faint, then isle talk further with you. I might. But I must fear you first: Fit down, and good now No more of these vain parlies; let us not Having our ancient reputation with us Make talk for Fools, and Cowards, To your health, &c. Pray fit down then, and let me entreat you By all the honesty and honour in you, No mention of this woman, will di urbe us, We shall have time enough. Drink a good hearty draught, it breeds good blood man. Do not you feel it thaw you? Spare it not, the Duke has more Cuz: Eat now. I am glad you have so good a stomach. Is't not mad lodging here in the wild woods Cousin How tastes your vittails? your hunger needs no sauce I see, Venison. After you Cuz. She did so; well Sir. Out with't faith. Something she did Sir. The Marshals Sister, Had her share too, as I remember Cofen, Else there be tales abroad, you'll pledge her? A pre ty broune wench t'is-There was a time When young men went a hunting, and a wood, And a broad Beech: and thereby hangs a tale: heigh ho. you are wide. Ther's all things needful, files and shirts, and, per fumes: I'll come again some two hours hence, and bring That that shall quiet all, Fear me not; you are now too fowl; fare well. Cet off your Trinkets, you shall want nought; I'll hear no more. Good morrow noble kinesman, That too much fair Cousin. Is but a debt to honour, and my duty. I shall think either Well done, a noble recompense. Defy me in these fair terms, and you show More then a Mistress to me, no more anger As you love any thing that's honourable; We were not bred to talk man, when we are armed And both upon our guards, then let our fury Like meeting of two tides, fly strongly from us, And then to whom the birthright of this Beauty Truly pertains (without obbraidings, scorns, Dispisings of our persons, and such pouting Fitter for Girls and Schoolboys) will be seen And quickly, you S, or mine: wilt please you arm Sir, Or if you feel your self not sitting yet And furnished with your old strength, isle stay Cousin And every day discourse you into health, As I am spared, your person I am friends with, And I could wish I had not said I loved her Though I had died; But loving such a Lady And justifying my Love, I must not fly from't. Choose you Sir: If you think so Cousin, You are deceived, for as I am a Soldier. I will not spare you. You'll find it That's mine then, I'll ar e you first. 'Tis the Dukes, And to say true, I stole it; do I pinch you. Is't not too heavy? I'll buckl't close. You care not for a Grand guard? I am indifferent. I warrant you. Will you fight bare-armd? But use your Gauntlets though; those are o'th least, Prithee take mine good Cousin. Faith very little; love has used you kindly. Do, and spare not; I'll give you cause sweet osen. That was a very good one, and that day I well remember, you out did me Cousin, I never saw such valour: when you charged Upon the left wing of the Enemy, I spurred hard to come up, and under me I had a right good horse. Yes but all Was vainly laboured in me, you outwent me, Nor could my wishes reach you; yet a little I did by imitation. When I saw you charge first, Me thought I herd a dreadful clap of Thunder Break from the Troop. No, no, 'tis well. Now I am perfect. Take my Sword, I hold it better. And me my love: * Is there ought else to say? They bow see verall ways: then advance and stand. Here Palamon: This hand shall never more Come near thee with such friendship. If I fallen, curse me, and say I was a coward, For none but such, dare die in these just Trials. Once more farewell my Cousin, Lo Cousin, lo, our Folly has undone us. This is the Duke, a hunting as I told you, If we be found, we are wretched, Oh retire For honours sake, and safely presently Into your Bush again; Sir we shall find Too many hours to die in, gentle Cousin: If you be seen you perish instantly For breaking prison, and I, if you reveal me, For my contempt; Then all the world will scorn us, And say we had a noble difference, But base disposers of it. You are not mad? Then come, what can come Thou shalt know Palamon, I dare as well Die, as discourse, or sleep: Only this fears me, The law will have the honour of our ends. Have at thy ife. We seek not Thy breath of mercy Theseus, 'Tis to me A thing as soon to die, as thee to say it, And no more moved: where this man calls me Traitor, Let me say thus much; if in love be Treason, In service of so excellent a Beauty, As I love most, and in that faith will perish, As I have brought my life here to confirm it, As I have served her truest, worthiest, As I dare kill this Cos , that denies it, So let me be most Traitor, and you please me: For scorning thy Edict Duke, ask that Lady Why she is fair, and why her eyes command me Stay here to love her; and if she say Traitor, I am a villain fit to lie unburied. If she refuse me, yet my grave will wed me, And Soldiers sing my Epitaph. I embrace you. One farewell. Farewell Sir; Knights, Kinsmen, Lovers, you my Sacrifices True worshippers of Mars, whose spirit in you Expels the seeds of fear, and apprehension Which still is farther off it, Go with me Before the God of our profession: There Require of him the heart of Lyons, and The breath of Tigers, yea the fearcenesse too, Yea the speed also, to go on, I mean: Else wish we to be Snails; you know my prize Must be dragged out of , force and great feat Must put my Garland on, where she sticks The Queen of Flowers: our intercession then Must be to him that makes the Camp, a Cestron Brymd with the blood of men: give me your aid And bend your spirits towards him. They kneel . Thou mighty one, that with thy power hast turned Green Nepture into purple. Comets prewarne, whose havoc in vast Field Unearthed skulls proclaim, whose breath blows down, The teeming Ceres foyzon, who dost pluck With hand armenypotent from forth blue clouds, The asond Turrets, that both makest, and breakest The stony girths of Cities: me thy puple, Youngest follower of thy Dro , this day With military skill, that to thy laud I may advance my Streamer, and by thee, Be stiled the Lord o'th day, give me great Mars Some token of thy pleasure. Here they fallen on their faces as formerly, and there is herd langing of Armour, with a short as the burst of a Battle, whereupon they all rise and to the Altar. Oh Great Corrector of enormous times; Shaker of ore-rank States, thou grand decider Of dusty, and old titles, that healest with blood The earth when it is sick, and cursed the world O'th pluresie of people; I do take Thy signs auspiciously, and in thy name To my design; march boldly, let us go . Take Emilia And with her, all the world's joy: Reach thy hand, Farewell: I have told my last hour; I was false, Yet never treacherous: Forgive me Cousin: One from fair Emilia: 'Tis done: Take her: I die. Dear Palamon, in love then Blood And our prime Cousin, yet unhardened in The Crimes of nature; Let us leave the City Thebs, and the temptings in't, before we further Sully our gloss of youth, And here to keep in abstinence we shame As in Incontinence; for not to swim I'th aid o'th Current, were almost to sink, At least to frustrate striving, and to follow The common Stream, twold bring us to and Edy Where we should turn or drown; if labour through, Our gain but life, and weakness. Our Uncle Creon. How do you Sir? I believe it, And to that destiny have patiently Laid up my hour to come. No Palamon, Those Hope's are Prisoners with us, here we are And here the graces of our youths must wither Like a too-timely Spring; here age must find us, And which is heaviest ( Palamon ) unmarried, The sweet embraces of a loving wife Laden with kisses, armed with thousand Cupid's Shall never clasp our necks, no issue know us, No figures of our selves shall we ever see, To glad our age, and Like young Eagles teach'em Boldly to gaze against bright arms, and say Remember what your father's were, and conquer. The faire-eyd Maids, shall weep our Bauishments, And in their Songs, curse ever-blinded fortune Till she for shame see what a wrong she has done To youth and nature; This is all our world; We shall know nothing here but one another, Hear nothing but the Clock that tells our woes. The Vine shall grow, but we shall never see it: Summer shall come, and with her all delights; But dead-cold winter must inhabit here still. Will you go forward Cousin? Would. Banishd the kingdom? 'tis a benefit, A mercy I must thank they for, but banishd The free enjoying of that face I die for, O twasa stud died punishment, a death Beyond Imagination: Such a vengeance That were I old and wicked, all my sins Could never pluck upon me. Palamon; Thou ha'st the Start now, thou shalt stay and see Her bright eyes break each morning gainst thy window, And let in life into thee; thou shalt feed Upon the sweetness of a noble beauty, That nature never exceeded, nor never shall: Good gods? what happiness has Palamon? Twenty to one, he'll come to speak to her, And if she be as gentle, as she's fair, I know she's his, he has a Tongue will tame Tempe sts, and make the wild Rocks wanton. Come what can come' The worst is death; I will not leave the Kingdom, I know mine own, is but a heap of ruins, And no redress there, if I go, he has her. I am resolved and other shape shall make me, Or end my Fortune's. Either way, I am happy: I'll see her, and be near her, or no more. I am proud to please you. This; but far off, Prince. My father said so; And to those gentle uses gave me life. His youngest Sir. A little of all noble Qualities: I could have kept a Hawk, and well have hallowed To a deep cry of Dogs; I dare not praise My feat in horsemanship: yet they that knew me Would say it was my best piece: last, and greatest, I would be thought a Soldier. The Duke has lost Hypolita; each took A several land. This is a solemn Right They owe bloomed May, and the Athenians pay it To'th heart of Ceremony: Oh Queen Emilia Fresher then May, sweeter Then his gold Buttons on the bows, or all Th'en amelld knacks o'th Mead, or garden, yea (We challenge too) the bank of any Nymph That makes the stream seem flowers; thou oh Jewel O'th wood, o'th world, hast likewise blessed a pace With thy sole presence, in thy rumination That I poor man might eftsoons come between And chop on some cold thought, thrice blessed chance To drop on such a Mistress, expectation most guiltless on't: tell Oh Lady Fortune (Next after Emely y Soon gne) how far I may be proud. She takes strong note of me, Hath made me near her; and this benteous Morn (The prim'st of all the year) presents me with A brace of horses, two such Steeds might well Be by a pair of Kings backed, in a Field That their crowns titles tried: Alas, alas Poor Cousin Palamon, poor prisoner, thou So lit le dreamest upon my fortune, that Thou thinkest thy self, the happier thing, to be So near Emilia, me thou deemest at Thebs, And therein wretched, although free; But if Thou knewest my Mistress breathed on me, and that I eared her language, lived in her eye; Oh Coz What passion would enclose thee. No, never Duke: 'Tis worse to me than begging To take my life so basely, though I think I never shall enjoy her, yet isle preserve The honour of affection, and die for her, Make death a Devil. Emily, To buy you, I have lost what's dearest to me, Save what is bought, and yet I purchase cheaply, As I do rate your valve. Yes I love her, And if the lives of all my name lay on it, I must do so, I love her with my soul, If that will loose you, faŕewell Palamon, I say again, I love, and in loving her maintain I am as worthy, and as free a lover And have as just a title to her beauty As any Palamon or any living That is a men Son. Nay then. Then I'll leave you: you are a Beast now: 'Tis not this I did begin to speak of: This is virtue Of no respect in Thebs I spoke of Thebs' How dangerous if we will keep our Honours, It is for our r siding, where ev ry evil Hath a good cullor; where every seeming good's A certain evil, where not to be ev Jump As they are, here were to be strangers, and Such things to be meet Monsters. Are you not out? Meet you no ruin, but the Soldierin The Cranks, and turns of Thebs' you did begin As if you met decays of many kinds: Perceive you none, that do arowse your pity But th'un considered Soldier? I am in labour To push your name, your ancient love, our kindred Out of my memory; and i'th self same place To seat something I would confound: So hoist we The sails, that must these vessels port even where The heavenly Lymiter pleases. Let th'event, That never erring Arbitrator, tell us When we know all our selves, and let us follow The becking of our chance. If I do not, Let me find that my Father ever hated, , and blows.