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Arc. I cannot tell what you have done; I have, Beshrew mine eyes for't! Now I feel my shackles.

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 possession

First with mine eye of all those beauties in her
Revealed to mankind! If thou lov'st 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 called thee friend?

Arc. Yes, and have found me so. Why are you moved thus?

Let me deal coldly with you: am not I
Part of your blood, part of your soul? You've
told me

That I was Palamon, and you were Arcite.
Pal. Yes.

Arc. Am not I liable to those affections, Those joys, griefs, angers, fears, my friend shall

suffer?

Pal. You may be.

Arc. Why, then, would you deal so cunningly, So strangely, so unlike a Noble Kinsman, To love alone? Speak truly; do you think me Unworthy of her sight?

Pal. No; but unjust, If thou pursue that sight.

Arc. Because another

First sees the enemy, shall I stand still,

And let mine honour down, and never charge?
Pal. Yes, if he be but one.
Arc. But say that one
Had rather combat me?

Pal. Let that one say so,

And use thy freedom! else, if thou pursuest her,
Be as that cursed man that hates his country,
A branded villain !

Arc. You are mad.

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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 heavenly, 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 Obtained 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 seek to ravish me.

Jailor. My lord, for you

I have this charge too.

Pal. To discharge my life?

Jailor. No; but from this place to remove your lordship;

The windows are too open.

Pal. Devils take 'em,

That are so envious to me! Prithee kill me!

Jailor. And hang for❜t afterward?

Pal. By this good light,

Had I a sword, I'd kill thee!

Jailor. Why, my lord?

Pal. Thou bring'st such pelting scurvy news continually,

Thou art not worthy life! I will not go.
Jailor. Indeed you must, my lord.
Pal. May I see the garden?

Jailor. No.

Pal. Then I'm resolved I will not go.
Juilor. I must

Constrain you, then; and, for you're dangerous,

I'll clap more irons on you.

Pal. Do, good keeper!

I'll shake 'em so, you shall not sleep;
I'll make you a new morris! Must I go?
Jailor. There is no remedy.

Pal. Farewell, kind window!

May rude wind never hurt thee! Oh, my lady,
If ever thou hast felt what sorrow was,
Dream how I suffer! Come, now bury me.

SCENE III.

Enter ARCITE.

[Exeunt.

Arc. Banished the kingdom? 'Tis a benefit, A mercy, I must thank 'em for; but banished The free enjoying of that face I die for, Oh, 'twas a studied punishment, a death Beyond imagination! Such a vengeance, That, were I old and wicked, all my sins Could never pluck upon me. Palamon,

Thou hast 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 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 garland before them.

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

2 Coun. And I'll be there.

3 Coun. And I.

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Arc. Not far, sir.

Are there such games to-day?

1 Coun. Yes, marry are there;

And such as you ne'er saw: The duke himself

Will be in person there.

Arc. What pastimes are they?

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
These eyes yet looked on: Next, I pitied him ;
And so would any young wench, o' my con-
science,

That ever dreamed, or vowed her maidenhead
To a young handsome man: Then, I loved him,
Extremely loved him, infinitely loved him!
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
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 good-

ness

'Get thee a happy husband!' Once he kissed

me;

I loved my lips the better ten days after :
Would he would do so ev'ry day! He grieves
much,

And me as much to see his misery:

What should I do to make him know I love him?

2 Coun. Wrastling and running.-'Tis a pret- For I would fain enjoy him: Say I ventured

ty fellow.

3 Coun. Thou wilt not go along?

Arc. Not yet, sir.

4 Coun. Well, sir,

Take your own time. Come, boys!

1 Coun. My mind misgives me,

This fellow has a vengeance trick o'th' hip;
Mark, how his body's made for't!

2 Coun. I'll be hanged, though,

If he dare venture! hang him, plumb-porridge! He wrastle? He roast eggs. Come, let's be gone, lads! [Exeunt Countrymen.

Arc. This is an offered opportunity

I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled,

The best men called it excellent; and run, Swifter the wind upon a field of corn, (Curling the wealthy ears) ne'er flew. I'll venture,

And in some poor disguise be there: Who knows Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands, And happiness prefer me to a place,

Where I may ever dwell in sight of her? [Erit.

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To set him free? what says the law then?
Thus much for law, or kindred! I will do it,
And this night, or to-morrow: He shall love me!

SCENE V.

[Exit.

[A short flourish of cornets, and shouts within.]
Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLITA, PERITHOUS, EMI-
LIA, and ARCITE, with a garland, &c.
Thes. You have done worthily; I have not

seen,

Since Hercules, a man of tougher sinews:
Whate'er you are, you run the best, and wrestle,
That these times can allow.

Arc. I'm proud to please you.
Thes. What country bred you?
Arc. This; but far off, prince.
Thes. Are you a gentleman?
Arc. My father said so;
And to those gentle uses gave me life.
Thes. Are you his heir?
Arc. His youngest, sir.
Thes. Your father

Sure is a happy sire, then. What prove you?
Arc. A little of all noble qualities:

I could have kept a hawk, and well have hallooed
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 great-

est,

I would be thought a soldier.

Thes. You are perfect.

Per. Upon my soul, a proper man!
Emi. He is so.

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His face methinks goes

Hip. But his body,

that way.

And fiery mind, illustrate a brave father.

Per. Mark how his virtue, like a hidden sun, Breaks through his baser garments.

Hip. He's well got, sure.

Thes. What made you seek this place, sir?
Arc. Noble Theseus,

To purchase name, and do my ablest service
To such a well-found wonder as thy worth;
For only in thy court, of all the world,
Dwells fair-eyed Honour.

Per. All his words are worthy.

Thes. Sir, we are much indebted to your travel, Nor shall you lose your wishes. Perithous, Dispose of this fair gentleman.

Per. Thanks, Theseus!

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Whate'er you are, you're mine; and I shall give What a stout-hearted child thou art! My father

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Durst better have endured cold iron than done it.
I love him beyond love, and beyond reason,
Or wit, or safety! I have made him know it:
I care not; I am desperate! If the law
Find me, and then condemn me for't, some
wenches,

Some honest-hearted maids, will sing my dirge,
And tell to memory my death was noble,
Dying almost a martyr. That way he takes,
I purpose, is my way too: Sure he cannot
Be so unmanly as to leave me here!
If he do, maids will not so easily

Trust men again: And yet he has not thank'd

me

For what I've done; no, not so much as kiss'd me;

And that, methinks, is not so well; nor scarcely
Could I persuade him to become a freeman,
He made such scruples of the wrong he did
To me and to my father. Yet, I hope,
When he considers more, this love of mine
Will take more root within him: Let him do
What he will with me, so he use me kindly!
For use me so he shall, or I'll proclaim him,
And to his face, no man. I'll presently
Provide him necessaries, and pack my clothes

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SCENE I.

ACT III.

Pal. Cozener Arcite, give me language such As thou hast shew'd me feat!

Arc. Not finding, in

Cornets in sundry places. Noise and hallooing, The circuit of my breast, any gross stuff

as people a-maying. Enter ARCITE.

Arc. The duke has lost Hippolita; each took A several land. This is a solemn rite They owe bloom'd May, and the Athenians pay it To th' heart of ceremony. Oh, queen Emilia, Fresher than May, sweeter

Than her gold buttons on the boughs, or all Th' enamell'd 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 blest a place

With thy sole presence. In thy rumination
That I poor man might eftsoons come between,
And chop on some cold thought!-Thrice bless-
ed chance,

To drop on such a mistress! Expectation
Most guiltless of't! Tell me, oh, lady Fortune,
(Next after Emily my sovereign) how far
I may be proud. She takes strong note of me,
Hath made me near her, and this beauteous 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 back'd, in a field
That their crowns' titles tried. Alas, alas,
Poor cousin Palamon, poor prisoner! thou
So little dream'st upon my fortune, that
Thou think'st thyself the happier thing, to be
So near Emilia; me thou deem'st at Thebes,
And therein wretched, although free: But if
Thou knew'st my mistress breathed on me, and
that

I car'd her language, lived in her eye, oh, coz,
What passion would enclose thee!

Enter PALAMON as out of a bush, with his shackles; bends his fist at ARCITE.

Pal. Traitor kinsman!

Thou shouldst perceive my passion, if these signs
Of prisonment were off me, and this hand
But owner of a sword. By all oaths in one,
I, and the justice of my love, would make thee
A confess'd traitor! Oh, thou most perfidious
That ever gently look'd! the void'st of honour
That e'er bore gentle token! falsest cousin
That ever blood made kin! call'st thou her
thine?

I'll prove it in my shackles, with these hands
Void of appointment, that thou liest, and art
A very thief in love, a chaffy lord,

Nor worth the name of villain! Had I a sword,
And these house-clogs away-

Arc. Dear cousin Palamon

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, howsoe'er
You skip them in me; and with them, fair coz,
I'll maintain my proceedings. Pray be pleased
To shew 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 gentlemar..

Pal. That thou durst, Arcite!

Arc. My coz, my coz, you have been well advertised

How much I dare: You've 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.

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Arc. Kinsman, you might as well Speak this, and act it in your glass, as to His ear, which now disdains you!

Pal. Come up to me!

Quit me of these cold gyves, give me a sword (Though it be rusty), and the charity

Of one meal lend me; come before me then,
A good sword in thy hand, and do but say
That Emily is thine, I will forgive
The trespass thou hast done me, yea my life,
If then thou carry't; and brave souls in shades,
That have died manly, which will seek of me
Some news from earth, they shall get none but
this,

That thou art brave and noble.

Arc. 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 garments, and
Perfumes to kill the smell o' th' prison; after,
When you shall stretch yourself, and say but,
"Arcite,

"I am in plight!" there shall be at your choice Both sword and armour.

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