Scene + 

II + 

The same. + 

Enter Palamon and Arcite, above. + 

Palamon + 

How do you, noble cousin? + 

Arcite + 

How do you, sir? + 

Palamon + 

Why, strong enough to laugh at misery, + 

And bear the chance of war yet. We are prisoners + 

I fear for ever, cousin. + 

Arcite + 

I believe it; + 

And to that destiny have patiently + 

Laid up my hour to come. + 

Palamon + 

O, cousin Arcite, + 

Where is Thebes now? where is our noble country? + 

Where are our friends and kindreds? Never more + 

Must we behold those comforts; never see + 

The hardy youths strive for the games of honour, + 

Hung with the painted favours of their ladies, + 

Like tall ships under sail; then start amongst ’em, + 

And, as an east wind, leave ’em all behind us + 

Like lazy clouds, whilst Palamon and Arcite, + 

Even in the wagging of a wanton leg, + 

Outstripp’d the people’s praises, won the garlands, + 

Ere they have time to wish ’em ours. O, never + 

Shall we two exercise, like twins of honour, + 

Our arms again, and feel our fiery horses + 

Like proud seas under us! Our good swords now⁠— + 

Better the red-ey’d god of war ne’er wore⁠— + 

Ravish’d our sides, like age, must run to rust, + 

And deck the temples of those gods that hate us; + 

These hands shall never draw ’em out like lightning, + 

To blast whole armies, more! + 

Arcite + 

No, Palamon, + 

Those hopes are prisoners with us: here we are, + 

And here the graces of our youths must wither, + 

Like a too-timely spring; here age must find us, + 

And, which is heaviest, Palamon, unmarried; + 

The sweet embraces of a loving wife, + 

Loaden with kisses, arm’d with thousand Cupids, + 

Shall never clasp our necks; no issue know us, + 

No figures of ourselves shall we e’er see, + 

To glad our age, and like young eagles teach ’em + 

Boldly to gaze against bright arms, and say + 

“Remember what your fathers were, and conquer!” + 

The fair-ey’d maids shall weep our banishments, + 

And in their songs curse ever-blinded Fortune, + 

Till she for shame see what a wrong she has done + 

To youth and nature: this is all our world; + 

We shall know nothing here but one another; + 

Hear nothing but the clock that tells our woes; + 

The vine shall grow, but we shall never see it; + 

Summer shall come, and with her all delights, + 

But dead-cold winter must inhabit here still. + 

Palamon + 

’Tis too true, Arcite. To our Theban hounds, + 

That shook the aged forest with their echoes, + 

No more now must we holla; no more shake + 

Our pointed javelins, whilst the angry swine + 

Flies like a Parthian quiver from our rages, + 

Struck with our well-steel’d darts: all valiant uses⁠— + 

The food and nourishment of noble minds⁠— + 

In us two here shall perish; we shall die⁠— + 

Which is the curse of honour⁠—lastly, + 

Children of grief and ignorance. + 

Arcite + 

Yet, cousin, + 

Even from the bottom of these miseries, + 

From all that fortune can inflict upon us, + 

I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings, + 

If the gods please, to hold here a brave patience, + 

And the enjoying of our griefs together. + 

Whilst Palamon is with me, let me perish + 

If I think this our prison! + 

Palamon + 

Certainly + 

’Tis a main goodness, cousin, that our fortunes + 

Were twinn’d together: ’tis most true, two souls + 

Put in two noble bodies, let ’em suffer + 

The gall of hazard, so they grow together, + 

Will never sink; they must not, say they could: + 

A willing man dies sleeping, and all’s done. + 

Arcite + 

Shall we make worthy uses of this place, + 

That all men hate so much? + 

Palamon + 

How, gentle cousin? + 

Arcite + 

Let’s think this prison holy sanctuary, + 

To keep us from corruption of worse men: + 

We’re young, and yet desire the ways of honour; + 

That, liberty and common conversation, + 

The poison of pure spirits, might, like women, + 

Woo us to wander from. What worthy blessing + 

Can be, but our imaginations + 

May make it ours? and here being thus together, + 

We are an endless mine to one another; + 

We’re one another’s wife, ever begetting + 

New births of love; we’re father, friends, acquaintance; + 

We are, in one another, families; + 

I am your heir, and you are mine; this place + 

Is our inheritance; no hard oppressor + 

Dare take this from us: here, with a little patience, + 

We shall live long, and loving; no surfeits seek us; + 

The hand of war hurts none here, nor the seas + 

Swallow their youth. Were we at liberty, + 

A wife might part us lawfully, or business; + 

Quarrels consume us; envy of ill men + 

Crave our acquaintance; I might sicken, cousin, + 

Where you should never know it, and so perish + 

Without your noble hand to close mine eyes, + 

Or prayers to the gods: a thousand chaunces, + 

Were we from hence, would sever us. + 

Palamon + 

You’ve made me⁠— + 

I thank you, cousin Arcite⁠—almost wanton + 

With my captivity: what a misery + 

It is to live abroad, and everywhere! + 

’Tis like a beast, methinks: I find the court here, + 

I’m sure, a more content; and all those pleasures + 

That woo the wills of men to vanity + 

I see through now; and am sufficient + 

To tell the world ’tis but a gaudy shadow, + 

That old Time, as he passes by, takes with him. + 

What had we been, old in the court of Creon, + 

Where sin is justice, lust and ignorance + 

The virtues of the great ones? Cousin Arcite, + 

Had not the loving gods found this place for us, + 

We had died as they do, ill old men, unwept, + 

And had their epitaphs, the people’s curses. + 

Shall I say more? + 

Arcite + 

I’d hear you still. + 

Palamon + 

Ye shall. + 

Is there record of any two that lov’d + 

Better than we do, Arcite? + 

Arcite + 

Sure, there cannot. + 

Palamon + 

I do not think it possible our friendship + 

Should ever leave us. + 

Arcite + 

Till our deaths it cannot; + 

And after death our spirits shall be led + 

To those that love eternally. Speak on, sir. + 

Enter Emilia and her Woman below. + 

Emilia + 

This garden has a world of pleasures in’t. + 

What flower is this? + 

Woman + 

’Tis call’d Narcissus, madam. + 

Emilia + 

That was a fair boy certain, but a fool, + 

To love himself: were there not maids enough? + 

Arcite + 

Pray, forward. + 

Palamon + 

Yes. + 

Emilia + 

Or were they all hard-hearted? + 

Woman + 

They could not be to one so fair. + 

Emilia + 

Thou wouldst not. + 

Woman + 

I think I should not, madam. + 

Emilia + 

That’s a good wench! + 

But take heed to your kindness though! + 

Woman + 

Why, madam? + 

Emilia + 

Men are mad things. + 

Arcite + 

Will ye go forward, cousin? + 

Emilia + 

Canst not thou work such flowers in silk, wench? + 

Woman + 

Yes. + 

Emilia + 

I’ll have a gown full of ’em; and of these; + 

This is a pretty colour: will’t not do + 

Rarely upon a skirt, wench? + 

Woman + 

Dainty, madam. + 

Arcite + 

Cousin, cousin! how do you, sir? why, Palamon? + 

Palamon + 

Never till now I was in prison, Arcite. + 

Arcite + 

Why, what’s the matter, man? + 

Palamon + 

Behold, and wonder! + 

By heaven, she is a goddess! + 

Arcite + 

Ha! + 

Palamon + 

Do reverence; + 

She is a goddess, Arcite! + 

Emilia + 

Of all flowers, + 

Methinks, a rose is best. + 

Woman + 

Why, gentle madam? + 

Emilia + 

It is the very emblem of a maid: + 

For when the west wind courts her gently, + 

How modestly she blows, and paints the sun + 

With her chaste blushes! when the north comes near her, + 

Rude and impatient, then, like chastity, + 

She locks her beauties in her bud again, + 

And leaves him to base briers. + 

Woman + 

Yet, good madam, + 

Sometimes her modesty will blow so far + 

She falls for it: a maid, + 

If she have any honour, would be loath + 

To take example by her. + 

Emilia + 

Thou art wanton. + 

Arcite + 

She’s wondrous fair! + 

Palamon + 

She’s all the beauty extant! + 

Emilia + 

The sun grows high; let’s walk in. Keep these flowers; + 

We’ll see how near art can come near their colours, + 

I’m wondrous merry-hearted; I could laugh now. + 

Woman + 

I could lie down, I’m sure. + 

Emilia + 

And take one with you? + 

Woman + 

That’s as we bargain, madam. + 

Emilia + 

Well, agree then. Exeunt Emilia and Woman. + 

Palamon + 

What think you of this beauty? + 

Arcite + 

’Tis a rare one. + 

Palamon + 

Is’t but a rare one? + 

Arcite + 

Yes, a matchless beauty. + 

Palamon + 

Might not a man well lose himself, and love her? + 

Arcite + 

I cannot tell what you have done; I have, + 

Beshrew mine eyes for’t! Now I feel my shackles. + 

Palamon + 

You love her, then? + 

Arcite + 

Who would not? + 

Palamon + 

And desire her? + 

Arcite + 

Before my liberty. + 

Palamon + 

I saw her first. + 

Arcite + 

That’s nothing. + 

Palamon + 

But it shall be. + 

Arcite + 

I saw her too. + 

Palamon + 

Yes; but you must not love her. + 

Arcite + 

I will not, as you do, to worship her, + 

As she is heavenly and a blessed goddess; + 

I love her as a woman, to enjoy her: + 

So both may love. + 

Palamon + 

You shall not love at all. + 

Arcite + 

Not love at all! who shall deny me? + 

Palamon + 

I, that first saw her; I, that took possession + 

First with mine eye of all those beauties in her + 

Reveal’d to mankind. If thou lovest 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! + 

Arcite + 

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 ye, 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. + 

Palamon + 

Have I call’d thee friend? + 

Arcite + 

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. + 

Palamon + 

Yes. + 

Arcite + 

Am not I liable to those affections, + 

Those joys, griefs, angers, fears, my friend shall suffer? + 

Palamon + 

Ye may be. + 

Arcite + 

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? + 

Palamon + 

No; but unjust + 

If thou pursue that sight. + 

Arcite + 

Because another + 

First sees the enemy, shall I stand still, + 

And let mine honour down, and never charge? + 

Palamon + 

Yes, if he be but one. + 

Arcite + 

But say that one + 

Had rather combat me? + 

Palamon + 

Let that one say so, + 

And use thy freedom: else, if thou pursu’st her, + 

Be as that cursed man that hates his country, + 

A branded villain. + 

Arcite + 

You are mad. + 

Palamon + 

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. + 

Arcite + 

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. + 

Palamon + 

O, that now, that now + 

Thy false self and thy friend had but this fortune, + 

To be one hour at liberty, and grasp + 

Our good swords in our hands! I’d quickly teach thee + 

What ’twere to filch affection from another! + 

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! + 

Arcite + 

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. + 

Palamon + 

No more! the keeper’s coming: I shall live + 

To knock thy brains out with my shackles. + 

Arcite + 

Do! + 

Enter Gaoler. + 

Gaoler + 

By your leave, gentlemen. + 

Palamon + 

Now, honest keeper? + 

Gaoler + 

Lord Arcite, you must presently to the duke: + 

The cause I know not yet. + 

Arcite + 

I’m ready, keeper. + 

Gaoler + 

Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave you + 

Of your fair cousin’s company. + 

Palamon + 

And me too, + 

Even when you please, of life. 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 + 

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’m sure she would love me. + 

Reenter Gaoler. + 

How now, keeper! + 

Where’s Arcite? + 

Gaoler + 

Banish’d. Prince Pirithous + 

Obtain’d his liberty; but never more, + 

Upon his oath and life, must he set foot + 

Upon this kingdom. + 

Palamon + 

Aside. 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. + 

Gaoler + 

My lord, for you + 

I have this charge too⁠— + 

Palamon + 

To discharge my life? + 

Gaoler + 

No; but from this place to remove your lordship: + 

The windows are too open. + 

Palamon + 

Devils take ’em + 

That are so envious to me! Pr’ythee, kill me. + 

Gaoler + 

And hang for’t afterward? + 

Palamon + 

By this good light, + 

Had I a sword, I’d kill thee. + 

Gaoler + 

Why, my lord? + 

Palamon + 

Thou bring’st such pelting scurvy news continually, + 

Thou art not worthy life. I will not go. + 

Gaoler + 

Indeed, you must, my lord. + 

Palamon + 

May I see the garden? + 

Gaoler + 

No. + 

Palamon + 

Then I’m resolved I will not go. + 

Gaoler + 

I must + 

Constrain you, then; and, for you’re dangerous, + 

I’ll clap more irons on you. + 

Palamon + 

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. + 

Palamon + 

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. Exeunt. + 