A bell than blade. I will stay here.

  It is enough my hearing shall be punished

  With what shall happen, ‘gainst the which there is

  No deafing, but to hear, not taint mine eye

  With dread sights it may shun.

  10 PIRITHOUS [to Theseus] Sir, my good lord,

  Your sister will no further.

  THESEUS Oh, she must.

  She shall see deeds of honour in their kind,

  Which sometime show well, pencilled. Nature now

  Shall make and act the story, the belief

  Both sealed with eye and ear. [to Emilia]

  15 You must be present:

  You are the victor’s meed, the prize and garland

  To crown the question’s title.

  EMILIA Pardon me;

  If I were there, I’d wink.

  THESEUS You must be there:

  This trial is as ’twere i’th’ night, and you

  The only star to shine.

  20 EMILIA I am extinct.

  There is but envy in that light which shows

  The one the other. Darkness, which ever was

  The dam of horror, who does stand accursed

  Of many mortal millions, may even now,

  25 By casting her black mantle over both

  That neither could find other, get herself

  Some part of a good name and many a murder

  Set off whereto she’s guilty.

  HIPPOLYTA You must go.

  EMILIA

  In faith, I will not.

  THESEUS Why, the knights must kindle

  30 Their valour at your eye. Know, of this war

  You are the treasure and must needs be by

  To give the service pay.

  EMILIA Sir, pardon me;

  The title of a kingdom may be tried

  Out of itself.

  THESEUS Well, well, then, at your pleasure.

  35 Those that remain with you could wish their office

  To any of their enemies.

  HIPPOLYTA Farewell, sister.

  I am like to know your husband ‘fore yourself

  By some small start of time; he whom the gods

  Do of the two know best, I pray them he

  Be made your lot. Exeunt all but Emilia.

  EMILIA

  40 Arcite is gently visaged, yet his eye

  Is like an engine bent, or a sharp weapon

  In a soft sheath; mercy and manly courage

  Are bedfellows in his visage. Palamon

  45 Has a most menacing aspect; his brow

  Is graved and seems to bury what it frowns on,

  Yet sometime ’tis not so, but alters to

  The quality of his thoughts. Long time his eye

  Will dwell upon his object. Melancholy

  50 Becomes him nobly. So does Arcite’s mirth.

  But Palamon’s sadness is a kind of mirth,

  So mingled as if mirth did make him sad

  And sadness merry. Those darker humours that

  Stick misbecomingly on others, on them

  55 Live in fair dwelling.

  Cornets. Trumpets sound as to a charge.

  Hark how yon spurs to spirit do incite

  The princes to their proof! Arcite may win me

  And yet may Palamon wound Arcite to

  The spoiling of his figure. Oh, what pity

  60 Enough for such a chance? If I were by

  I might do hurt, for they would glance their eyes

  Toward my seat and in that motion might

  Omit a ward or forfeit an offence

  Which craved that very time. It is much better

  I am not there.

  Cornets; a great cry and noise within, crying, ‘A Palamon!’

  65 Oh, better never born

  Than minister to such harm!

  Enter Servant.

  What is the chance?

  SERVANT

  The cry’s ‘A Palamon!’

  EMILIA Then he has won.

  ’Twas ever likely.

  He looked all grace and success and he is

  70 Doubtless the prim’st of men. I prithee, run

  And tell me how it goes.

  Shout, and cornets; cries of ‘A Palamon!’

  SERVANT Still ‘Palamon’!

  EMILIA

  Run and enquire. [Exit Servant.]

  Poor servant, thou hast lost.

  Upon my right side still I wore thy picture,

  Palamon’s on the left. Why so, I know not;

  75 I had no end in’t else; chance would have it so.

  On the sinister side the heart lies. Palamon

  Had the best-boding chance.

  Another cry and shout within, and cornets.

  This burst of clamour

  Is sure th’end o’th’ combat.

  Enter Servant.

  SERVANT

  They said that Palamon had Arcite’s body

  80 Within an inch o’th’ pyramid, that the cry

  Was general, ‘A Palamon!’ But anon

  Th’assistants made a brave redemption and

  The two bold titlers at this instant are

  Hand to hand at it.

  EMILIA Were they metamorphosed

  85 Both into one! – Oh, why? There were no woman

  Worth so composed a man: their single share,

  Their nobleness peculiar to them, gives

  The prejudice of disparity, value’s shortness,

  To any lady breathing.

  Cornets. Cry within, ‘Arcite! Arcite!’

  More exulting?

  ‘Palamon’ still?

  90 SERVANT Nay, now the sound is ‘Arcite!’

  EMILIA

  I prithee, lay attention to the cry.

  Cornets; a great shout and cry, ‘Arcite! Victory!’

  Set both thine ears to th’ business.

  SERVANT The cry is

  ‘Arcite and victory!’ Hark! ‘Arcite! Victory!’

  The combat’s consummation is proclaim’d

  By the wind instruments.

  95 EMILIA Half-sights saw

  That Arcite was no babe. God’s lid, his richness

  And costliness of spirit looked through him; it could

  No more be hid in him than fire in flax,

  Than humble banks can go to law with waters

  100 That drift winds force to raging. I did think

  Good Palamon would miscarry, yet I knew not

  Why I did think so. Our reasons are not prophets

  When oft our fancies are. (Cornets.)

  They are coming off.

  Alas, poor Palamon!

  Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, PIRITHOUS, ARCITE (as victor) and attendants

  THESEUS

  105 Lo, where our sister is in expectation,

  Yet quaking and unsettled. – Fairest Emily,

  The gods by their divine arbitrament

  Have given you this knight; he is a good one

  As ever struck at head. Give me your hands:

  110 Receive you her, you him, be plighted with

  A love that grows as you decay.

  ARCITE Emilia,

  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 value.

  THESEUS Oh, loved sister,

  115 He speaks now of as brave a knight as e’er

  Did spur a noble steed. Surely the gods

  Would have him die a bachelor, lest his race

  Should show i’th world too godlike. His behaviour

  So charmed me that methought Alcides was

  120 To him a sow of lead. If I could praise

  Each part of him to th’all I have spoke, your Arcite

  Did not lose by’t. For he that was thus good

  Encountered yet his better. I have heard

  Two emulous Philomels beat the ear o’th’ night

  125 With their contentious throats, now one the higher,

  Anon the other, then again the first,

  And by and by out-breasted, that the sense

  Could not be judge between ’em. So it fared

  Good space between these kinsmen, till heavens did

  Make hardly one the winner. [to Arcite]

  130 Wear the garland

  With joy that you have won. – For the subdued

  Give them our present justice, since I know

  Their lives but pinch ’em. Let it here be done.

  The scene’s not for our seeing; go we hence,

  Right joyful, with some sorrow. [to Arcite]

  135 Arm your prize;

  I know you will not loose her. – Hippolyta,

  I see one eye of yours conceives a tear,

  The which it will deliver. Flourish.

  EMILIA Is this winning?

  Oh, all you heavenly powers, where is your mercy?

  140 But that your wills have said it must be so,

  And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,

  This miserable prince, that cuts away

  A life more worthy from him than all women,

  I should and would die too.

  HIPPOLYTA Infinite pity

  145 That four such eyes should be so fixed on one

  That two must needs be blind for’t.

  THESEUS So it is. Exeunt.

  [5.4] Enter PALAMON and his Knights, pinioned; Jailer,

  Executioner, Guard [and others, carrying a block and axe].

  PALAMON

  There’s many a man alive that has outlived

  The love o’th’ people; yea, i’th’ selfsame state

  Stands many a father with his child. Some comfort

  We have by so considering. We expire

  5 And not without men’s pity; to live still,

  Have their good wishes. We prevent

  The loathsome misery of age, beguile

  The gout and rheum that in lag hours attend

  For grey approachers; we come towards the gods

  10 Young and unwappered, not halting under crimes

  Many and stale. That sure shall please the gods,

  Sooner than such, to give us nectar with ’em,

  For we are more clear spirits. [to Knights]

  My dear kinsmen,

  Whose lives for this poor comfort are laid down,

  You have sold ’em too, too cheap.

  15 1 KNIGHT What ending could be

  Of more content? O’er us the victors have

  Fortune, whose title is as momentary

  As to us death is certain. A grain of honour

  They not o’erweigh us.

  2 KNIGHT Let us bid farewell

  20 And with our patience anger tottering Fortune,

  Who at her certain’st reels. [They embrace.]

  3 KNIGHT Come, who begins?

  PALAMON

  E’en he that led you to this banquet shall

  Taste to you all. [to Jailer] Aha, my friend, my friend,

  Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once;

  25 You’ll see’t done now forever. Pray, how does she?

  I heard she was not well; her kind of ill

  Gave me some sorrow.

  JAILER Sir, she’s well restored

  And to be married shortly.

  PALAMON By my short life,

  I am most glad on’t. ’Tis the latest thing

  30 I shall be glad of; prithee, tell her so.

  Commend me to her and, to piece her portion,

  Tender her this. [Gives him his purse.]

  1 KNIGHT Nay, let’s be offerers all.

  2 KNIGHT

  Is it a maid?

  PALAMON Verily I think so.

  A right good creature, more to me deserving

  Than I can ’quite or speak of.

  35 THE KNIGHTS [to Jailer] Commend us to her.

  They give their purses.

  JAILER

  The gods requite you all and make her thankful.

  PALAMON

  Adieu; and let my life be now as short

  As my leave-taking. He lays his head on the block.

  1 KNIGHT Lead, courageous cousin.

  2 AND 3 KNIGHT

  We’ll follow cheerfully.

  A great noise within, crying, ‘Run, save, hold!’

  Enter in haste a Messenger.

  MESSENGER

  40 Hold, hold! Oh, hold, hold, hold!

  Enter PIRITHOUS in haste.

  PIRITHOUS

  Hold, ho! It is a cursed haste you made

  If you have done so quickly! – Noble Palamon,

  The gods will show their glory in a life

  That thou art yet to lead.

  PALAMON Can that be,

  45 When Venus, I have said, is false? How do things fare?

  PIRITHOUS

  Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear

  That are most rarely sweet and bitter.

  PALAMON What

  Hath waked us from our dream?

  PIRITHOUS List, then. Your cousin,

  Mounted upon a steed that Emily

  50 Did first bestow on him, a black one, owing

  Not a hair-worth of white, which some will say

  Weakens his price and many will not buy

  His goodness with this note – which superstition

  Here finds allowance – on this horse is Arcite

  55 Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins

  Did rather tell than trample; for the horse

  Would make his length a mile, if’t pleased his rider

  To put pride in him. As he thus went counting

  The flinty pavement, dancing as ’twere to th’ music

  60 His own hoofs made (for, as they say, from iron

  Came music’s origin), what envious flint,

  Cold as old Saturn and, like him, possessed

  With fire malevolent, darted a spark,

  Or what fierce sulphur else, to this end made,

  65 I comment not. The hot horse, hot as fire,

  Took toy at this and fell to what disorder

  His power could give his will; bounds, comes on end,

  Forgets school-doing, being therein trained

  And of kind manage; pig-like he whines

  70 At the sharp rowell, which he frets at rather

  Than any jot obeys; seeks all foul means

  Of boist’rous and rough jad’ry to disseat

  His lord, that kept it bravely. When nought served –

  When neither curb would crack, girth break, nor diff’ring plunges

  75 Disroot his rider whence he grew, but that

  He kept him ’tween his legs – on his hind hoofs

  On end he stands,

  That Arcite’s legs, being higher than his head,

  Seemed with strange art to hang. His victor’s wreath

  80 Even then fell off his head and presently

  Backward the jade comes o’er and his full poise

  Becomes the rider’s load. Yet is he living,

  But such a vessel ’tis, that floats but for

  The surge that next approaches. He much desires

  85 To have some speech with you. Lo, he appears.

  Enter THESEUS, HIPPOLYTA, EMILIA, ARCITE [carried] in a chair.

  PALAMON

  Oh miserable end of our alliance!

  The gods are mighty. Arcite, if thy heart,

  Thy worthy, manly heart, be yet unbroken,

  Give me thy last words. I am Palamon,

  One that yet loves thee dying.

  90 ARCITE 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 kiss from fair Emilia. [Emilia kisses Arcite.]

  ’Tis done.

  Take her. I die.

  PALAMON Thy brave soul seek Elysium! [Arcite dies.]

  EMILIA

  96 I’ll close thine eyes, Prince; blessed souls be with thee.

  Thou art a right good man and, while I live,

  This day I give to tears.

  PALAMON And I to honour.

  THESEUS

  In this place first you fought: e’en very here

  100 I sundered you. Acknowledge to the gods

  Our thanks that you are living.

  His part is played and, though it were too short,

  He did it well; your day is lengthened and

  The blissful dew of heaven does arrose you.

  105 The powerful Venus well hath graced her altar

  And given you your love. Our master Mars

  Hath vouched his oracle and to Arcite gave

  The grace of the contention. So the deities

  Have showed due justice. Bear this hence.

  PALAMON Oh, cousin!

  110 That we should things desire, which do cost us

  The loss of our desire! That nought could buy

  Dear love, but loss of dear love! [Arcite’s body is carried out.]

  THESEUS Never Fortune

  Did play a subtler game. The conquered triumphs;

  The victor has the loss; yet in the passage

  115 The gods have been most equal. – Palamon,

  Your kinsman hath confessed the right o’th’ lady

  Did lie in you, for you first saw her and

  Even then proclaimed your fancy. He restored her

  As your stol’n jewel and desired your spirit

  120 To send him hence forgiven. The gods my justice

  Take from my hand and they themselves become

  The executioners. Lead your lady off

  And call your lovers from the stage of death,

  Whom I adopt my friends. A day or two

  125 Let us look sadly and give grace unto

  The funeral of Arcite, in whose end

  The visages of bridegrooms we’ll put on

  And smile with Palamon – for whom an hour,

  But one hour since, I was as dearly sorry

  130 As glad of Arcite, and am now as glad

  As for him sorry. Oh, you heavenly charmers,

  What things you make of us! For what we lack

  We laugh, for what we have are sorry, still

  Are children in some kind. Let us be thankful

  135 For that which is, and with you leave dispute

  That are above our question. Let’s go off

  And bear us like the time. Flourish. Exeunt.

  [EPILOGUE]

  [Enter Speaker of the Epilogue.]

  I would now ask ye how ye like the play,

  But, as it is with schoolboys, cannot say.

  I am cruel fearful! Pray yet, stay a while,

  And let me look upon ye. No man smile?

  5 Then it goes hard, I see. He that has

  Loved a young handsome wench, then, show his face –

  ’Tis strange if none be here – and, if he will,

  Against his conscience let him hiss, and kill