Another's way of speech, when by mine own

I

may be reasonably conceiv'd, sav'd too, Speaking it truly? Why am I bound

By any generous bond to follow him
Follows his tailor, haply so long until
The follow'd make pursuit? or let me know
Why mine own barber is unblest, with him
My poor chin too, for 'tis not scissar'd just
To such a favourite's glass? what canon is there
That does command my rapier from my hip,
To dangle 't in my hand, or to go tip-toe
Before the street be foul? Either I am
The fore-horse in the team, or I am none
That draw i' the sequent trace.

sores

50

These poor slight

Need not a plantain; that which rips my bosom,
Almost to the heart, 's-

60

ARC.

PAL.

Our Uncle Creon.

He,

A most unbounded tyrant, whose successes

Makes Heaven unfear'd, and villainy assur'd

Beyond it's power there's nothing; almost puts
Faith in a fever, and deifies alone

Voluble chance; who only attributes

The faculties of other instruments

To his own nerves and act; commands men's service,
And what they win in 't, boot and glory; one
That fears not to do harm; good dares not. Let
The blood of mine that's sib to him be suck'd
From me with leeches; let them break and fall
Off me with that corruption!

ARC.

Clear-spirited Cousin, Let's 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 kinsmen
In blood, unless in quality.

PAL.
Nothing truer :
I think the echoes of his shames have deaf'd
The ears of heavenly Justice: widows' cries

70

80

ACT I

Sc. II

ACT I
Sc. II

Descend again into their throats, and have not
Due audience of the Gods. Valerius !

Enter VALERIUS.

VAL. The King calls for you; yet be leaden-footed,
Till his great rage be off him: Phœbus, when
He broke his whipstock, and exclaim'd against
The horses of the Sun, but whisper'd, to

The loudness of his fury.

PAL.

But what's the matter?

Small winds shake him:

VAL. Theseus (who where he threats appals) hath sent 90

pronounces

Deadly defiance to him, and
Ruin to Thebes; who is at hand to seal

The promise of his wrath.

ARC.

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 our's)

When that his action 's dregg'd with mind assur'd
'Tis bad he goes about?

PAL.

Leave that unreason'd;

Our services stand now for Thebes, not Creon:
Yet, to be neutral to him were dishonour,
Rebellious to oppose; therefore we must
With him stand to the mercy of our fate,
Who hath bounded our last minute.
ARC.

So we must.

Should be as for our health; which were not spent,

Rather laid out for purchase: but, alas,

Our hands advanc'd before our hearts, what will
The fall o' the stroke do damage?

100

ΙΙΟ

ARC.

Let the event,

ACT I

That never-erring arbitrator, tell us
When we know all ourselves; and let us follow

Sc. II

The becking of our chance.

[exeunt.

SCENE III. Before the Gates of Athens.

Enter PIRITHOUS, HIPPOLYTA, and EMILIA.

PIR. No further!

HIP.

Sir, farewell: repeat my wishes
To our great Lord, of whose success I dare not
Make any timorous question; yet I wish him
Excess and overflow of power, an 't might be,
To dare ill-dealing Fortune. Speed to him;
Store never hurts good governors.

PIR.

Though I know

His ocean needs not my poor drops, yet they
Must yield their tribute there. My precious Maid,
Those best affections that the Heavens infuse

In their best-temper'd pieces, keep enthron'd
In your dear heart!

EMI.

Thanks, Sir.

Remember me

To our all-royal brother; for whose speed
The great Bellona I'll solicit; and

Since, in our terrene state, petitions are not
Without gifts understood, I'll offer to her
What I shall be advis'd she likes.

Are in his army, in his tent.

HIP.

Our hearts

In's bosom.

We have been soldiers, and we cannot weep
When our friends don their helms, or put to sea,
Or tell of babes broach'd on the lance, or women
That have sod their infants in-and after eat them-
The brine they wept at killing 'em: then, if
You stay to see of us such spinsters, we
Should hold you here for ever.

PIR.

As I pursue this war! which shall be then
Beyond further requiring.

ΤΟ

20

Peace be to you,

[exit.

Sc. III

How his longing

Follows his friend! since his depart, his sports,
Though craving seriousness and skill, pass'd slightly
His careless execution, where nor gain

Made him regard, or loss consider; but
Playing one business in his hand, another
Directing in his head, his mind nurse equal

To these so differing twins. Have you observ'd him
Since our great Lord departed?

HIP.

With much labour;

And I did love him for 't. They two have cabin'd

In many as dangerous as poor a corner,

Peril and want contending; they have skiff'd
Torrents whose roaring tyranny and power

30

I' the least of these was dreadful; and they have
Fought out together, where Death's self was lodg'd; 40
Yet Fate hath brought them off. Their knot of love
Tied, weav'd, entangled, with so true, so long,
And with a finger of so deep a cunning,
May be out-worn, never undone. I think
Theseus cannot be umpire to himself,
Cleaving his conscience into twain, and doing
Each side like justice, which he loves best.
EMI.

Doubtless

50

There is a best, and reason has no manners
To say it is not you. I was acquainted
Once with a time when I enjoy'd a playfellow :
You were at wars when she the grave enrich'd
Who made too proud the bed, took leave o' the Moon-
Which then look'd pale at parting-when our count
Was each eleven.

HIP.

EMI.

'Twas Flavina.

Yes.

You talk of Pirithous' and Theseus' love:

Their's has more ground, is more maturely season'd,
More buckled with strong judgment, and their needs
The one of the other may be said to water

Their intertangled roots of love; but I,

And she I sigh and spoke of, were things innocent, 60
Lov'd for we did, and, like the elements

That know not what nor why, yet do effect

ACT I

Sc. III

Rare issues by their operance, our souls

Did so to one another: what she lik'd

Was then of me approv'd; what not, condemn'd,
No more arraignment: the flower that I would pluck
And put between my breasts (O then but beginning
To swell about the blossom) she would long
Till she had such another, and commit it
To the like innocent cradle, where, phoenix-like,
They died in perfume; on my head no toy
But was her pattern; her affections (pretty,
Though happily her careless wear) I follow'd
For my most serious decking: had mine ear
Stol❜n some new air, or at adventure humm'd one
From musical coinage, why, it was a note

Whereon her spirits would sojourn (rather dwell on)
And sing it in her slumbers. This rehearsal
(Which, every innocent wots well, comes in
Like old importment's bastard1) has this end,

That the true love 'tween maid and maid may be
More than in sex dividual.

HIP.

You're out of breath;

And this high-speeded pace is but to say,
That you shall never, like the maid Flavina,
Love any that's call'd man.

EMI.

HIP. Now, alack, weak Sister,

I am sure I shall not.

I must no more believe thee in this point

(Though in 't I know thou dost believe thyself) Than I will trust a sickly appetite,

70

80

That loathes even as it longs. But, sure, my Sister, 90

If I were ripe for your persuasion, you

Have said enough to shake me from the arm
Of the all-noble Theseus; for whose fortunes
I will now in and kneel, with great assurance
That we, more than his Pirithous, possess
The high throne in his heart.

EMI.

I am not

Against your faith; yet I continue mine.

[Cornets: exeunt.

1.e. is not truly born from the matter in hand.

+