Arc. I cannot tell what you have done; I have,

Pal. I must be,

les.

Pal. You love her then?

Arc. Who would not?
Pal. And desire her?
Arc. Before my liberty.
Pal. I saw her first.
Arc. That's nothing.
Pal. But it shall be.
Arc. I saw her too.

Pal. Yes; but you must not love her.
Arc. I will not, as you do; to worship her,
As she is heav'nly, and a blessed goddess!
I love her as a woman, to enjoy her;
So both may love.

Pal. You shall not love at all.

Arc. Not love at all? who shall deny me? Pal. I, that first saw her; I, that took sion

possesFirst with mine eye of all those beauties in her Reveal'd to mankind! If thou lovest her, Or entertain'st a hope to blast my wishes, Thou art a traitor, Arcite, and a fellow False as thy title to her: Friendship, blood, And all the ties between us, I disclaim, If thou once think upon her!

Arc. 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 lose you, farewell, 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 man's son.

Pal. Have I call'd thee friend?

And, in this madness, if I bazard thee And take thy life, I deal but truly.

Arc. Fy, sir!

What 'twere to filch affection from another!
Thou'rt baser in it than a cutpurse!
Put but thy head out of this window more,
And, as I have a soul, I'll nail thy life to't!
Arc. Thou dar'st not, fool; thou canst not;
thou art feeble!

Put my head out? I'll throw my body out,
And leap the garden, when I see her next,
Enter Jailor.

And pitch between her arms, to anger thee.
Pal. No more! the keeper's coming: I shall
live

To knock thy brains out with my shackles.
Arc. Do!

Jailor. By your leave, gentlemen!
Pal. Now, honest keeper?

Jailor. Lord Arcite, you must presently to th' duke:

The cause I know not yet.

Arc. I'm ready, keeper.

Jailor. Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave

your

told me

Pal. And me too,

[Exit with ARCITE.

Ev'n when you please, of life!-Why is he sent

for?

It may be, he shall marry her; he's goodly,
And like enough the duke hath taken notice
Both of his blood and body. But his falsehood!
Why should a friend be treacherous? If that
Get him a wife so noble, and so fair,

Let honest men ne'er love again. Once more
I would but see this fair one. Blessed garden,
And fruit, and flowers more blessed, that still

blossom

As her bright eyes shine on ye! 'Would I were,
For all the fortune of my life hereafter,
Yon little tree, yon blooming apricot!
How I would spread, and fling my wanton arms
In at her window! I would bring her fruit
Fit for the gods to feed on; youth and pleasure,
Still as she tasted, should be doubled on her;
And, if she be not heav'nly, I would make her
So near the gods in nature, they should fear her;
Enter Jailor.

And then I'm sure she'd love me. How now.
keeper!
Where's Arcite?

Jailor. Banished. Prince Perithous Obtain'd his liberty; but never more, Upon his oath and life, must he set foot Upon this kingdom.

Pal. He's a blessed man !

He shall see Thebes again, and call to arms
The bold young men, that, when he bids 'em
charge,

Fall on like fire: Arcite shall have a fortune,
If he dare make himself a worthy lover,
Yet in the field to strike a battle for her;
And if he lose her then, he's a cold coward:
How bravely may he bear himself to win her,
If he be noble Arcite, thousand ways!
Were I at liberty, I would do things

Of such a virtuous greatness, that this lady,
This blushing virgin, should take manhood to
her,

And let in life into thee; thou shalt feed
Upon the sweetness of a noble beauty,
That nature ne'er exceeded, nor ne'er 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 Tempests, and make the wild rocks wanton, Come what can come,

The worst is death; I will not leave the kingdom:

I know my own is but a heap of ruins,
And no redress there; if I go, he has her.
I am resolved: Another shape shall make me,
Or end my fortunes; either way, I'm happy:
I'll see her, and be near her, or no more.
Enter four Country People; one with a gurland
before them.

1 Coun. My masters, I'll be there, that's certain,

2 Coun. And I'll be there.

3 Coun. And I.