Act + 

V + 

Scene + 

I + 

Athens. Three altars prepared, and inscribed severally to Mars, Venus, and Diana. + 

A flourish. Enter Theseus, Pirithous, Hippolyta, and Attendants. + 

Theseus + 

Now let ’em enter, and before the gods + 

Tender their holy prayers: let the temples + 

Burn bright with sacred fires, and the altars + 

In hallow’d clouds commend their swelling incense + 

To those above us: let no due be wanting: + 

They have a noble work in hand, will honour + 

The very powers that love ’em. + 

Pirithous + 

Sir, they enter. + 

A flourish of cornets. Enter Palamon, Arcite, and their Knights. + 

Theseus + 

You valiant and strong-hearted enemies, + 

You royal germane foes, that this day come + 

To blow that nearness out that flames between ye, + 

Lay by your anger for an hour, and dove-like + 

Before the holy altars of your helpers, + 

The all-fear’d gods, bow down your stubborn bodies: + 

Your hire is more than mortal; so your help be! + 

And, as the gods regard ye, fight with justice: + 

I’ll leave you to your prayers, and betwixt ye + 

I part my wishes. + 

Pirithous + 

Honour crown the worthiest! Exit Theseus and his Train. + 

Palamon + 

The glass is running now that cannot finish + 

Till one of us expire: think you but thus, + 

That, were there aught in me which strove to show + 

Mine enemy in this business, were’t one eye + 

Against another, arm oppress’d by arm, + 

I would destroy th’ offender; coz, I would, + 

Though parcel of myself: then from this gather + 

How I should tender you. + 

Arcite + 

I am in labour + 

To push your name, your ancient love, our kindred, + 

Out of my memory; and i’ the selfsame place + 

To seat something I would confound: so hoist we + 

The sails, that must these vessels port even where + 

The heavenly lymiter pleases. + 

Palamon + 

You speak well. + 

Before I turn, let me embrace thee, cousin: + 

This I shall never do again. + 

Arcite + 

One farewell! + 

Palamon + 

Why, let it be so: farewell, coz! + 

Arcite + 

Farewell, sir! They embrace.⁠—Exeunt Palamon and his Knights. + 

Knights, kinsmen, lovers, yea, my sacrifices, + 

True worshippers of Mars, whose spirit in you + 

Expels the seeds of fear, and th’ apprehension + 

Which still is farther off it, go with me + 

Before the god of our profession: there + 

Require of him the hearts of lions, and + 

The breath of tigers, yea, the fierceness too, + 

Yea, the speed also⁠—to go on, I mean, + 

Else wish we to be snails: you know my prize + 

Must be dragg’d out of blood; force and great feat + 

Must put my garland on, where she sticks + 

The queen of flowers; our intercession, then, + 

Must be to him that makes the camp a cestron + 

Brimm’d with the blood of men; give me your aid, + 

And bend your spirits towards him. They advance to the altar of Mars, and fall on their faces; then kneel. + 

Thou mighty one, that with thy power hast turn’d + 

Green Neptune into purple; whose approach + 

Comets prewarn; whose havoc in vast field + 

Unearth’d skulls proclaim; whose breath blows down + 

The teeming Ceres’ foyzon; who dost pluck + 

With hand armipotent from forth blue clouds + 

The mason’d turrets; that both mak’st and break’st + 

The stony girths of cities; me thy pupil, + 

Young’st follower of thy drum, instruct this day + 

With military skill, that to thy laud + 

I may advance my streamer, and by thee + 

Be styl’d the lord o’ the day;⁠—give me, great Mars, + 

Some token of thy pleasure. Here they fall on their faces as formerly, and there is heard clanging of armour, with a short thunder, as the burst of a battle, whereupon they all rise and bow to the altar. + 

O great corrector of enormous times, + 

Shaker of o’er-rank states, thou grand decider + 

Of dusty and old titles, that heal’st with blood + 

The earth when it is sick, and cur’st the world + 

O’ the pluresie of people; I do take + 

Thy signs auspiciously, and in thy name + 

To my design march boldly.⁠—Let us go. Exeunt. + 

Reenter Palamon and his Knights. + 

Palamon + 

Our stars must glister with new fire, or be + 

To-day extinct; our argument is love, + 

Which if the goddess of it grant, she gives + 

Victory too: then blend your spirits with mine, + 

You, whose free nobleness do make my cause + 

Your personal hazard: to the goddess Venus + 

Commend we our proceeding, and implore + 

Her power unto our party. They advance to the alter of Venus, and fall on their faces; then kneel. + 

Hail, sovereign queen of secrets, who hast power + 

To call the fiercest tyrant from his rage, + 

And weep unto a girl; that hast the might + 

Even with an eye-glance to choke Mars’s drum, + 

And turn th’ alarm to whispers; that canst make + 

A cripple flourish with his crutch, and cure him + 

Before Apollo; that may’st force the king + 

To be his subject’s vassal, and induce + 

Stale gravity to dance; the poul’d bach’lor⁠— + 

Whose youth, like wonton boys through bonfires, + 

Have skipt thy flame⁠—at seventy thou canst catch, + 

And make him, to the scorn of his hoarse throat, + 

Abuse young lays of love: what godlike power + 

Hast thou not power upon? to Phoebus thou + 

Add’st flames, hotter than his; the heavenly fires + 

Did scorch his mortal son, thine him: the huntress + 

All moist and cold, some say, began to throw + 

Her bow away, and sigh: take to thy grace + 

Me, thy vow’d soldier, who do bear thy yoke + 

As ’twere a wreath of roses, yet is heavier + 

Than lead itself, stings more than nettles: I + 

Have never been foul mouth’d against thy law; + 

Ne’er reveal’d secret, for I knew none⁠—would not, + 

Had I kenn’d all that were; I never practis’d + 

Upon man’s wife, nor would the libels read + 

Of liberal wits; I never at great feasts + 

Sought to betray a beauty, but have blush’d + 

At simpering sirs that did; I have been harsh + 

To large confessors, and have hotly ask’d them, + 

If they had mothers? I had one, a woman, + 

And women ’twere they wrong’d: I knew a man + 

Of eighty winters⁠—this I told them⁠—who + 

A lass of fourteen brided; ’twas thy power + 

To put life into dust; the aged cramp + 

Had screw’d his square foot round, + 

The gout had knit his fingers into knots, + 

Torturing convulsions from his globy eyes + 

Had almost drawn their spheres, that what was life + 

In him seem’d torture; this anatomy + 

Had by his young fair fere a boy, and I + 

Believ’d it was his, for she swore it was, + 

And who would not believe her? Brief, I am + 

To those that prate, and have done, no companion; + 

To those that boast, and have not, a defier; + 

To those that would, and cannot, a rejoicer: + 

Yea, him I do not love, that tells close offices + 

The foulest way, nor names concealments in + 

The boldest language; such a one I am, + 

And vow that lover never yet made sigh + 

Truer than I. O, then, most soft sweet goddess, + 

Give me the victory of this question, which + 

Is true love’s merit, and bless me with a sign + 

Of thy great pleasure. Here music is heard, and doves are seen to flutter: they fall again upon their faces, then on their knees. + 

O thou that from eleven to ninety reign’st + 

In mortal bosoms, whose chase is this world, + 

And we in herds thy game, I give thee thanks + 

For this fair token; which being laid unto + 

Mine innocent true heart, arms in assurance + 

My body to this business.⁠—Let us rise, + 

And bow before the goddess: time comes on. They bow, then exeunt. + 

Still music of records. Enter Emilia in white, her hair about her shoulders, and wearing a wheaten wreath; one in white holding up her train, her hair stuck with flowers; one before her carrying a silver hind, in which is conveyed incense and sweet odours, which being set upon the altar of Diana, her Maids standing aloof, she sets fire to it; then they curtsy and kneel. + 

Emilia + 

O sacred, shadowy, cold, and constant queen, + 

Abandoner of revels, mute, contemplative, + 

Sweet, solitary, white as chaste, and pure + 

As wind-fann’d snow, who to thy female knights + 

Allow’st no more blood than will make a blush, + 

Which is their order’s robe; I here, thy priest, + 

Am humbled ’fore thine altar: O, vouchsafe, + 

With that thy rare green eye⁠—which never yet + 

Beheld thing maculate⁠—look on thy virgin; + 

And, sacred silver mistress, lend thine ear⁠— + 

Which nev’r heard scurril term, into whose port + 

Nev’r entered wanton sound⁠—to my petition, + 

Season’d with holy fear. This is my last + 

Of vestal office; I’m bride-habited, + 

But maiden-hearted: a husband I have ’pointed, + 

But do not know him; out of two I should + 

Choose one, and pray for his success; but I + 

Am guiltless of election: of mine eyes + 

Were I to lose one⁠—they are equal precious⁠— + 

I could doom neither; that which perish’d should + 

Go to’t unsentenc’d: therefore, most modest queen, + 

He, of the two pretenders, that best loves me + 

And has the truest title in’t, let him + 

Take off my wheaten garland, or else grant + 

The file and quality I hold I may + 

Continue in thy band. Here the hind vanishes under the altar, and in the place ascends a rose-tree, having one rose upon it. + 

See what our general of ebbs and flows + 

Out from the bowels of her holy altar + 

With sacred act advances; but one rose! + 

If well inspir’d, this battle shall confound + 

Both these brave knights, and I, a virgin flower, + 

Must grow alone, unpluck’d. Here is heard a sudden twang of instruments, and the rose falls from the tree, which vanishes under the altar. + 

The flower is fall’n, the tree descends.⁠—O mistress, + 

Thou here dischargest me; I shall be gather’d, + 

I think so; but I know not thine own will: + 

Unclasp thy mystery.⁠—I hope she’s pleas’d; + 

Her signs were gracious. They curtsy, and exeunt. + 

Scene + 

II + 

Athens. A room in the prison. + 

Enter Doctor, Gaoler, and Wooer in the habit of Palamon. + 

Doctor + 

Has this advice I told you done any good upon her? + 

Wooer + 

O, very much; the maids that kept her company + 

Have half persuaded her that I am Palamon; + 

Within this half-hour she came smiling to me, + 

And ask’d me what I’d eat, and when I’d kiss her: + 

I told her presently, and kiss’d her twice. + 

Doctor + 

’Twas well done: twenty times had been far better; + 

For there the cure lies mainly. + 

Wooer + 

Then she told me + 

She’d watch with me to-night, for well she knew + 

What hour my fit would take me. + 

Doctor + 

Let her do so; + 

And when your fit comes, fit her home, and presently. + 

Wooer + 

She would have me sing. + 

Doctor + 

You did so? + 

Wooer + 

No. + 

Doctor + 

’Twas very ill done, then; + 

You should observe her every way. + 

Wooer + 

Alas, + 

I have no voice, sir, to confirm her that way! + 

Doctor + 

That’s all one, if ye make a noise: + 

If she entreat again, do anything; + 

Lie with her, if she ask you. + 

Gaoler + 

Hoa, there, doctor! + 

Doctor + 

Yes, in the way of cure. + 

Gaoler + 

But first, by your leave, + 

I’ the way of honesty. + 

Doctor + 

That’s but a niceness; + 

Ne’er cast your child away for honesty: + 

Cure her first this way; then, if she’ll be honest, + 

She has the path before her. + 

Gaoler + 

Thanke ye, doctor. + 

Doctor + 

Pray, bring her in, + 

And let’s see how she is. + 

Gaoler + 

I will, and tell her + 

Her Palamon stays for her: but, doctor, + 

Methinks you are i’ the wrong still. Exit. + 

Doctor + 

Go, go; + 

You fathers are fine fools: her honesty! + 

And we should give her physic till we find that⁠— + 

Wooer + 

Why, do you think she is not honest, sir? + 

Doctor + 

How old is she? + 

Wooer + 

She’s eighteen. + 

Doctor + 

She may be; + 

But that’s all one, ’tis nothing to our purpose: + 

Whate’er her father says, if you perceive + 

Her mood inclining that way that I spoke of, + 

Videlicet, the way of flesh⁠—you have me? + 

Wooer + 

Yes, very well, sir. + 

Doctor + 

Please her appetite, + 

And do it home; it cures her, ipso facto, + 

The melancholy humour that infects her. + 

Wooer + 

I am of your mind, doctor. + 

Doctor + 

You’ll find it so. She comes: pray, humour her. + 

Reenter Gaoler, with Daughter and Maid. + 

Gaoler + 

Come; your love Palamon stays for you, child, + 

And has done this long hour, to visit you. + 

Daughter + 

I thank him for his gentle patience; + 

He’s a kind gentleman, and I’m much bound to him. + 

Did you ne’er see the horse he gave me? + 

Gaoler + 

Yes. + 

Daughter + 

How do you like him? + 

Gaoler + 

He’s a very fair one. + 

Daughter + 

You never saw him dance? + 

Gaoler + 

No. + 

Daughter + 

I have often: + 

He dances very finely, very comely; + 

And, for a jig, come cut and long tail to him; + 

He turns ye like a top. + 

Gaoler + 

That’s fine indeed. + 

Daughter + 

He’ll dance the morris twenty mile an hour, + 

And that will founder the best hobby-horse, + 

If I have any skill, in all the parish; + 

And gallops to the tune of “Light o’ Love:” + 

What think you of this horse? + 

Gaoler + 

Having these virtues, + 

I think he might be brought to play at tennis. + 

Daughter + 

Alas, that’s nothing. + 

Gaoler + 

Can he write and read too? + 

Daughter + 

A very fair hand; and casts himself th’ accounts + 

Of all his hay and provender; that hostler + 

Must rise betime that cozens him. You know + 

The chestnut mare the duke has? + 

Gaoler + 

Very well. + 

Daughter + 

She’s horribly in love with him, poor beast; + 

But he is like his master, coy and scornful. + 

Gaoler + 

What dowry has she? + 

Daughter + 

Some two hundred bottles, + 

And twenty strike of oats; but he’ll ne’er have her: + 

He lisps in’s neighing, able to entice + 

A miller’s mare; he’ll be the death of her. + 

Doctor + 

What stuff she utters! + 

Gaoler + 

Make curtsy; here your love comes. + 

Wooer + 

Pretty soul, + 

How do ye? That’s a fine maid; there’s a curtsy! + 

Daughter + 

Yours to command, i’ the way of honesty. + 

How far is’t now to th’ end o’ the world, my masters? + 

Doctor + 

Why, a day’s journey, wench. + 

Daughter + 

Will you go with me? + 

Wooer + 

What shall we do there, wench? + 

Daughter + 

Why, play at stool-ball: + 

What is there else to do? + 

Wooer + 

I am content, + 

If we shall keep our wedding there. + 

Daughter + 

’Tis true; + 

For there, I will assure you, we shall find + 

Some blind priest for the purpose, that will venture + 

To marry us, for here they’re nice and foolish; + 

Besides, my father must be hang’d to-morrow, + 

And that would be a blot i’ the business. + 

Are not you Palamon? + 

Wooer + 

Do not you know me? + 

Daughter + 

Yes; but you care not for me: I have nothing + 

But this poor petticoat and two coarse smocks. + 

Wooer + 

That’s all one; I will have you. + 

Daughter + 

Will you surely? + 

Wooer + 

Yes, by this fair hand, will I. + 

Daughter + 

We’ll to bed, then. + 

Wooer + 

Even when you will. Kisses her. + 

Daughter + 

O, sir, you’d fain be nibbling. + 

Wooer + 

Why do you rub my kiss off? + 

Daughter + 

’Tis a sweet one, + 

And will perfume me finely ’gainst the wedding. + 

Is not this your cousin Arcite? + 

Doctor + 

Yes, sweetheart; + 

And I am glad my cousin Palamon + 

Has made so fair a choice. + 

Daughter + 

Do you think he’ll have me? + 

Doctor + 

Yes, without doubt. + 

Daughter + 

Do you think so too? + 

Gaoler + 

Yes. + 

Daughter + 

We shall have many children.⁠—Lord, how y’are grown! + 

My Palamon I hope will grow, too, finely, + 

Now he’s at liberty: alas, poor chicken, + 

He was kept down with hard meat and ill lodging; + 

But I’ll kiss him up again. + 

Enter Messenger. + 

Messenger + 

What do you here? you’ll lose the noblest sight + 

That e’er was seen. + 

Gaoler + 

Are they i’ the field? + 

Messenger + 

They are: + 

You bear a charge there too. + 

Gaoler + 

I’ll away straight.⁠— + 

I must even leave you here. + 

Doctor + 

Nay, we’ll go with you; + 

I will not lose the sight. + 

Gaoler + 

How did you like her? + 

Doctor + 

I’ll warrant you, within these three or four days + 

I’ll make her right again.⁠—You must not from her, + 

But still preserve her in this way. + 

Wooer + 

I will. + 

Doctor + 

Let’s get her in. + 

Wooer + 

Come, sweet, we’ll go to dinner; + 

And then we’ll play at cards. + 

Daughter + 

And shall we kiss too? + 

Wooer + 

A hundred times. + 

Daughter + 

And twenty? + 

Wooer + 

Ay, and twenty. + 

Daughter + 

And then we’ll sleep together? + 

Doctor + 

Take her offer. + 

Wooer + 

Yes, marry, will we. + 

Daughter + 

But you shall not hurt me. + 

Wooer + 

I will not, sweet. + 

Daughter + 

If you do, love, I’ll cry. Exeunt. + 

Scene + 

III + 

A part of the forest near Athens, and near the place appointed for the combat. + 

Flourish. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia, Pirithous, and Attendants. + 

Emilia + 

I’ll no step further. + 

Pirithous + 

Will you lose this sight? + 

Emilia + 

I had rather see a wren hawk at a fly, + 

Than this decision: every blow that falls + 

Threats a brave life; each stroke laments + 

The place whereon it falls, and sounds more like + 

A bell than blade: I will stay here⁠— + 

It is enough my hearing shall be punish’d + 

With what shall happen, ’gainst the which there is + 

No deafing, but to hear⁠—not taint mine eye + 

With dread sights it may shun. + 

Pirithous + 

Sir, my good lord, + 

Your sister will no further. + 

Theseus + 

O, she must: + 

She shall see deeds of honour in their kind, + 

Which sometime show well, pencill’d: nature now + 

Shall make and act the story, the belief + 

Both seal’d with eye and ear. You must be present; + 

You are the victor’s meed, the price 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’ the night, and you + 

The only star to shine. + 

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 accurs’d + 

Of many mortal millions, may even now, + 

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 + 

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: + 

Those that remain with you could wish their office + 

To any of their enemies. + 

Hippolyta + 

Farewell, sister: + 

I’m 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 except Emilia and some of the Attendants. + 

Emilia + 

Arcite is gently visag’d; 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 + 

Has a most menacing aspect; his brow + 

Is grav’d, and seems to bury what it frowns on; + 

Yet sometimes ’tis not so, but alters to + 

The quality of his thoughts; long time his eye + 

Will dwell upon his object; melancholy + 

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 him + 

Live in fair dwelling. Cornets; trumpets sound as to a charge, within. + 

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. O, what pity + 

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 crav’d that very time: it is much better + 

I am not there; O, better never born + 

Than minister to such harm. Cornets; and a great cry of “A Palamon!” within. What is the chance? + 

First Servant + 

The cry’s “A Palamon!” + 

Emilia + 

Then he has won. ’Twas ever likely: + 

He look’d all grace and success, and he is + 

Doubtless the prim’st of men. I pry’thee, run + 

And tell me how it goes. Shouts; cornets; and cry of “A Palamon!” within. + 

First Servant + 

Still “Palamon!” + 

Emilia + 

Run and inquire. Exit First 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; + 

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, and cornets, within. This burst of clamour + 

Is sure the end o’ the combat. + 

Reenter First Servant. + 

First Servant + 

They said that Palamon had Arcite’s body + 

Within an inch o’ the pyramid, that the cry + 

Was general “A Palamon!” but anon + 

Th’ assistants made a brave redemption, and + 

The two bold tytlers at this instant are + 

Hand to hand at it. + 

Emilia + 

Were they metamorphos’d + 

Both into one⁠—O, why? there were no woman + 

Worth so compos’d a man: their single share, + 

Their nobleness peculiar to them, gives + 

The prejudice of disparity, values shortness + 

To any lady breathing. Cornets; and cry of “Arcite, Arcite!” within. More exulting? + 

“Palamon” still? + 

First Servant + 

Nay, now the sound is “Arcite.” + 

Emilia + 

I pr’ythee, lay attention to the cry; + 

Set both thine ears to the business. Cornets; and a great shout, and cry of “Arcite, victory!” within. + 

First Servant + 

The cry is + 

“Arcite!” and “victory!” Hark: “Arcite, victory!” + 

The combat’s consummation is proclaim’d + 

By the wind-instruments. + 

Emilia + 

Half-sights saw + 

That Arcite was no babe: God’s lid, his richness + 

And costliness of spirit look’d through him; it could + 

No more be hid in him than fire in flax, + 

Than humble banks can go to law with waters + 

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. They’re coming off: + 

Alas, poor Palamon! Cornets within. + 

Reenter Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous, with Arcite as victor, Attendants, etc. + 

Theseus + 

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: + 

Receive you her, you him; be plighted with + 

A love that grows as you decay. + 

Arcite + 

Emily, + 

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 + 

O lov’d sister, + 

He speaks now of as brave a knight as e’er + 

Did spur a noble steed: surely, the gods + 

Would have him die a bach’lor, lest his race + 

Should show i’ the world too godlike: his behaviour + 

So charm’d me, that methought Alcides was + 

To him a sow of lead: if I could praise + 

Each part of him to th’ all I’ve spoke, your Arcite + 

Did not lose by’t; for he that was thus good + 

Encounter’d yet his better. I have heard + 

Two emulous Philomels beat the ear o’ the night + 

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 far’d + 

Good space between these kinsmen; till heavens did + 

Make hardly one the winner.⁠—Wear the garland + 

With joy that you have won.⁠—For the subdu’d, + 

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.⁠—Arm your prize; + 

I know you will not lose her.⁠—Hippolyta, + 

I see one eye of yours conceives a tear, + 

The which it will deliver. + 

Emilia + 

Is this winning? + 

O all you heavenly powers, where is your mercy? + 

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, + 

That four such eyes should be so fix’d on one, + 

That two must needs be blind for’t! + 

Theseus + 

So it is. Flourish. Exeunt. + 

Scene + 

IV + 

The same; a block prepared. + 

Enter Palamon and his Knights pinioned, Gaoler, Executioner, etc., and Guard. + 

Palamon + 

There’s many a man alive that hath outliv’d + 

The love o’ the people; yea, i’ the selfsame state + 

Stands many a father with his child: some comfort + 

We have by so considering; we expire, + 

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 gray approachers; we come towards the gods, + 

Young and unwapper’d, 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. My dear kinsmen, + 

Whose lives for this poor comfort are laid down, + 

You’ve sold ’em too too cheap. + 

First 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. + 

Second Knight + 

Let us bid farewell; + 

And with our patience anger tottering Fortune, + 

Who, at her certain’st, reels. + 

Third Knight + 

Come; who begins? + 

Palamon + 

Even he that led you to this banquet shall + 

Taste to you all.⁠—Ah, ha, my friend, my friend! + 

Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once; + 

You’ll see’t done now for ever: pray, how does she? + 

I heard she was not well; her kind of ill + 

Gave me some sorrow. + 

Gaoler + 

Sir, she’s well restor’d, + 

And to be married shortly. + 

Palamon + 

By my short life, + 

I am most glad on’t; ’tis the latest thing + 

I shall be glad of; pr’ythee, tell her so; + 

Commend me to her, and, to piece her portion, + 

Tender her this. Gives purse. + 

First Knight + 

Nay, let’s be offerers all. + 

Second Knight + 

Is it a maid? + 

Palamon + 

Verily, I think so; + 

A right good creature, more to me deserving + 

That I can ’quite or speak of. + 

All the Knights + 

Commend us to her. Giving their purses. + 

Gaoler + 

The gods requite you all, and make her thankful! + 

Palamon + 

Adieu; and let my life be now as short + 

As my leave-taking. + 

First Knight + 

Lead, couragious cousin. + 

All the Knights + 

We’ll follow cheerfully. Palamon lays his head on the block. A great noise, and cry of “Run, save, hold!” within. + 

Enter Messenger in haste. + 

Messenger + 

Hold, hold! O, hold, hold, hold! + 

Enter Pirithous in haste. + 

Pirithous + 

Hold, hoa! 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, when + 

Venus I’ve said, is false? How do things fare? + 

Pirithous + 

Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear Palamon rises. + 

That are most dearly sweet and bitter. + 

Palamon + 

What + 

Hath wak’d us from our dream? + 

Pirithous + 

List, then. Your cousin + 

Mounted upon a steed that Emily + 

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 + 

Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins + 

Did rather tell than trample; for the horse + 

Would make his length a mile, if’t pleas’d his rider + 

To put pride in him: as he thus went counting + 

The flinty pavement, dancing as ’twere to the music + 

His own hoofs made⁠—for, as they say, from iron + 

Came music’s origin⁠—what envious flint, + 

Cold as old Saturn, and like him possess’d + 

With fire malevolent, darted a spark, + 

Or what fierce sulphur else, to this end made + 

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 train’d, + 

And of kind manage; pig-like he whines + 

At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather + 

Than any jot obeys; seeks all foul means + 

Of boisterous and rough jadry, to dis-seat + 

His lord that kept it bravely: when nought serv’d, + 

When neither curb would crack, girth break, nor differing plunges + 

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, + 

Seem’d with strange art to hand: his victor’s wreath + 

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 + 

To have some speech with you. Lo, he appears. + 

Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia, Arcite in a chair. + 

Palamon + 

O 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. + 

Arcite + 

Take Emilia, + 

And with her all the world’s joy. Reach thy hand: + 

Farewell; I’ve told my last hour. I was false, + 

Yet never treacherous: forgive me, cousin.⁠— + 

One kiss from fair Emilia. Kisses her.⁠—’Tis done: + 

Take her. I die. + 

Palamon + 

Thy brave soul seek Elysium! + 

Emilia + 

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; even very here + 

I sunder’d you: acknowledge to the gods + 

Our thanks that you are living. + 

His part is play’d, and, though it were too short, + 

He did it well; your day is lengthen’d, and + 

The blissful dew of heaven does arrowze you: + 

The powerful Venus well hath grac’d her altar, + 

And given you your love; our master Mars + 

Hath vouch’d his oracle, and to Arcite gave + 

The grace of the contention: so the deities + 

Have show’d due justice.⁠—Bear this hence. + 

Palamon + 

O cousin, + 

That we should things desire, which do cost us + 

The loss of our desire! that naught could buy + 

Dear love but loss of dear love! + 

Theseus + 

Never fortune + 

Did play a subtler game: the conquer’d triumphs, + 

The victor has the loss; yet in the passage + 

The gods have been most equal. Palamon, + 

Your kinseman hath confess’d the right o’ the lady + 

Did lie in you; for you first saw her, and + 

Even then proclaim’d your fancy; he restor’d her, + 

As your stol’n jewel, and desir’d your spirit + 

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 + 

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 + 

As glad of Arcite, and am now as glad + 

As for him sorry.⁠—O 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 + 

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. + 