Scene + 

IV + 

A field before Thebes. + 

A battle struck within; then a retreat; flourish. Then enter Theseus (victor), Herald, and Attendants. The three Queens meet Theseus, and fall on their faces before him. + 

First Queen + 

To thee no star be dark! + 

Second Queen + 

Both heaven and earth + 

Friend thee for ever! + 

Third Queen + 

All the good that may + 

Be wish’d upon thy head, I cry Amen to’t! + 

Theseus + 

Th’ impartial gods, who from the mounted heavens + 

View us their mortal herd, behold who err, + 

And in their time chastise. Go, and find out + 

The bones of your dead lords, and honour them + 

With treble ceremony: rather than a gap + 

Should be in their dear rites, we would supply’t. + 

But those we will depute which shall invest + 

You in your dignities, and even each thing + 

Our haste does leave imperfect. So, adieu, + 

And heaven’s good eyes look on you! Exeunt Queens. + 

Palamon and Arcite borne in on hearses. + 

What are those? + 

Herald + 

Men of great quality, as may be judg’d + 

By their appointment; some of Thebes have told’s + 

They’re sisters’ children, nephews to the king. + 

Theseus + 

By th’ helm of Mars, I saw them in the war⁠— + 

Like to a pair of lions smear’d with prey⁠— + 

Make lanes in troops aghast: I fix’d my note + 

Constantly on them; for they were a mark + 

Worth a god’s view. What was’t that prisoner told me + 

When I enquir’d their names? + 

Herald + 

We ’lieve, they’re called + 

Arcite and Palamon. + 

Theseus + 

’Tis right; those, those. + 

They are not dead? + 

Herald + 

Nor in a state of life: had they been taken + 

When their last hurts were given, ’twas possible + 

They might have been recover’d; yet they breathe, + 

And have the name of men. + 

Theseus + 

Then like men use ’em: + 

The very lees of such, millions of rates + 

Exceed the wine of others: all our surgeons + 

Convent in their behoof; our richest balms, + 

Rather than niggard, waste: their lives concern us + 

Much more than Thebes is worth: rather than have ’em + 

Freed of this plight, and in their morning state, + 

Sound and at liberty, I would ’em dead; + 

But, forty thousand fold, we had rather have ’em + 

Prisoners to us than death. Bear ’em speedily + 

From our kind air⁠—to them unkind⁠—and minister + 

What man to man may do; for our sake, more: + 

Since I have known frights, fury, friends’ behests, + 

Love’s provocations, zeal, a mistress’ task, + 

Desire of liberty, a fever, madness, + 

Hath set a mark⁠—which nature could not reach to + 

Without some imposition⁠—sickness in will, + 

Or wrestling strength in reason. For our love, + 

And great Apollo’s mercy, all our best + 

Their best skill tender!⁠—Lead into the city; + 

Where, having bound things scatter’d, we will post + 

To Athens ’for our army. Flourish. Exeunt; Attendants carrying Palamon and Arcite. + 