ACT II
Sc. II

As any Palamon, or any living

That is a man's son.

PAL.

Have I call'd thee friend?

ARC. Yes, and have found me so. Why are you mov'd

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. Ye 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.

If thou pursue that sight.

ARC.

No! but unjust

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.

Had rather combat me?
PAL.

But say that one

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 !

191

200

ARC.

PAL.

You are mad.

I must be,

Till thou art worthy, Arcite; it concerns me;

And, in this madness, if I hazard thee

And take thy life, I deal but truly.

ARC.

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.

PAL.

O, that now, that now

Thy false self and thy friend had but this fortune,
To be one hour at liberty, and grasp

210

Our good swords in our hands! I'ld quickly teach ACT II thee

What 'twere to filch affection from another!

Sc. II

Thou art 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,
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!

220

Enter Gaoler.

GAOLER. By your leave, Gentlemen.

PAL.

Now, honest Keeper?

GAOLER. Lord Arcite, you must presently to the Duke:

The cause I know not yet.

ARC.

I'm ready, Keeper.

GAOLER. Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave you

Of fair cousin's company. your

PAL.

Even when you please, of life.

And me too,

[Exeunt Gaoler and ARCITE.

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 apricock!
How I would spread, and fling my wanton arms
In at her window! I would bring her fruit

230,

240t

ACT II
Sc. II

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
And then I am sure she would love me.

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.

GAOLER.

I have this charge too

PAL.

My Lord, for you

To discharge my life?

260

GAOLER. No; but from this place to remove your

PAL. Thou bring'st such pelting scurvy news continually,
Thou art not worthy life. I will not go.

270

Constrain you, then; and, for you 're dangerous,
I'll clap more irons on you.

PAL.

Do, good Keeper:

I'll shake 'em so, ye shall not sleep;

I'll make ye a new morris. Must I go? GAOLER. There is no remedy.

PAL. [aside.]

Farewell, kind Window;

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

280

[exeunt.

SCENE III. The Country near Athens.

Enter ARCITE.

ARC. Banish'd the Kingdom? 'tis a benefit,
A mercy, I must thank 'em for; but banish'd
The free enjoying of that face I die for,
O, '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.

what can come,

ΤΟ

Come

The worst is death; I will not leave the Kingdom:
I know mine own is but a heap of ruins,

ACT II

Sc. III

And no redress there: if I go, he has her.

I am resolv'd; another shape1 shall make me,
Or end my fortunes; either way, I am happy:
I'll see her, and be near her, or no more.

Enter four Country-people, and one with a garland before them.

FIRST COUN. My Masters, I'll be there, that's certain.

SEC. COUN. And I'll be there.

THIRD COUN. And I.

20

FOURTH COUN. Why, then have with ye, Boys! 'tis but a chiding:

Let the plough play to-day; I'll tickle 't out

Of the jades' tails to-morrow.

FIRST COUN.

I am sure

To have my wife as jealous as a turkey :

30

But that's all one; I'll go through, let her mumble. SEC. COUN. Clap her aboard to-morrow night, and stow

her,

And all's made up again.

THIRD COUN.

Ay, do but put

A fescue in her fist, and you shall see her

Take a new lesson out, and be a good wench.

Do we all hold against the Maying?

And Rycas; and three better lads ne'er danc'd
Under green tree; and ye know what wenches, ha!
But will the dainty domine, the Schoolmaster,
Keep touch, do you think? for he does all, ye know.
THIRD COUN. He'll eat a hornbook, ere he fail:
The matter is too far driven between
Him and the tanner's daughter, to let slip now;

go to!

40

And she must see the Duke, and she must dance

too.

FOURTH COUN. Shall we be lusty?

SEC. COUN.

All the boys in Athens

Blow wind i' the breech on us: and here I'll be,

1 i.e. a disguise.