Scene + 

III + 

The same part of the forest as in scene I. + 

Enter Arcite, with meat, wine, files, etc. + 

Arcite + 

I should be near the place.⁠—Hoa, Cousin Palamon! + 

Enter Palamon. + 

Palamon + 

Arcite? + 

Arcite + 

The same: I’ve brought you food and files. + 

Come forth and fear not; here’s no Theseus. + 

Palamon + 

Nor none so honest, Arcite. + 

Arcite + 

That’s no matter: + 

We’ll argue that hereafter. Come, take courage; + 

You shall not die thus beastly: here, sir, drink; + 

I know you’re faint; then I’ll talk further with you. + 

Palamon + 

Arcite, thou mightst now poison me. + 

Arcite + 

I might; + 

But I must fear you first. Sit down; and, good, now, + 

No more of these vain parleys: let us not, + 

Having our ancient reputation with us, + 

Make talk for fools and cowards. To your health! Drinks. + 

Palamon + 

Do. + 

Arcite + 

Pray, sit down, then; and let me entreat you, + 

By all the honesty and honour in you, + 

No mention of this woman! ’twill disturb us; + 

We shall have time enough. + 

Palamon + 

Well, sir, I’ll pledge you. Drinks. + 

Arcite + 

Drink a good hearty draught; it breeds good blood, man. + 

Do not you feel it thaw you? + 

Palamon + 

Stay; I’ll tell you + 

After a draught or two more. + 

Arcite + 

Spare it not; + 

The duke has more, coz. Eat now. + 

Palamon + 

Yes. Eats. + 

Arcite + 

I’m glad + 

You have so good a stomach. + 

Palamon + 

I am gladder + 

I have so good meat to’t. + 

Arcite + 

Is’t not mad lodging + 

Here in the wild woods, cousin? + 

Palamon + 

Yes, for them + 

That have wild consciences. + 

Arcite + 

How tastes your victuals? + 

Your hunger needs no sauce, I see. + 

Palamon + 

Not much: + 

But if it did, yours is too tart, sweet cousin. + 

What is this? + 

Arcite + 

Venison. + 

Palamon + 

’Tis a lusty meat. + 

Give me more wine: here, Arcite, to the wenches + 

We’ve known in our days! The lord-steward’s daughter; + 

Do you remember her? + 

Arcite + 

After you, coz. + 

Palamon + 

She lov’d a black-hair’d man. + 

Arcite + 

She did so: well, sir? + 

Palamon + 

And I have heard some call him Arcite; and⁠— + 

Arcite + 

Out with it, faith! + 

Palamon + 

She met him in an arbour: + 

What did she there, coz? play o’ the virginals? + 

Arcite + 

Something she did, sir. + 

Palamon + 

Made her groan a month for’t; + 

Or two, or three, or ten. + 

Arcite + 

The marshal’s sister + 

Had her share too, as I remember, cousin, + 

Else there be tales abroad: you’ll pledge her? + 

Palamon + 

Yes. + 

Arcite + 

A pretty brown wench ’tis: there was a time + 

When young men went a-hunting, and a wood, + 

And a broad beech; and thereby hangs a tale.⁠— + 

Heigh-ho! + 

Palamon + 

For Emily, upon my life! Fool, + 

Away with this strain’d mirth! I say again, + 

That sigh was breath’d for Emily: base cousin, + 

Dar’st thou break first? + 

Arcite + 

You’re wide. + 

Palamon + 

By heaven and earth, + 

There’s nothing in thee honest. + 

Arcite + 

Then I’ll leave you: + 

You are a beast now. + 

Palamon + 

As thou mak’st me, traitor. + 

Arcite + 

There’s all things needful⁠—files, and shirts, and perfumes: + 

I’ll come again some two hours hence, and bring + 

That that shall quiet all. + 

Palamon + 

A sword and armour? + 

Arcite + 

Fear me not. You are now too foul; farewell: + 

Get off your trinkets; you shall want nought. + 

Palamon + 

Sirrah⁠— + 

Arcite + 

I’ll hear no more. Exit. + 

Palamon + 

If he keep touch, he dies for’t. Exit. + 