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Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
The Two Noble Kinsmen.
I may be prowd. She takes strong note of me,
Hath made me neere her; and this beuteous Morne
(The prim'st of all the yeare) presents me with
A brace of horses, two such Steeds might well
1330Be by a paire of Kings backt, in a Field
That their crownes titles tride: Alas, alas
Poore Cosen Palamon, poore prisoner, thou
So little dream'st upon my fortune, that
Thou thinkst thy selfe, the happier thing, to be
1335So neare Emilia, me thou deem'st at Thebs,
And therein wretched, although free; But if
Thou knew'st my Mistris breathd on me, and that
I ear'd her language, livde in her eye; O Coz
What passion would enclose thee.
1340
Enter Palamon as out of a Bush, with his Shackles: bends
his fist at Arcite.
Palamon. Traytor kinseman,
Thou shouldst perceive my passion, if these signes
Of prisonment were off me, and this hand
1345But owner of a Sword: By all othes in one
I, and the iustice of my love would make thee
A confest Traytor, o thou most persidious
That ever gently lookd the voydes of honour.
That eu'r bore gentle Token; falsest Cosen
1350That ever blood made kin, call'st thou hir thine?
Ile prove it in my Shackles, with these hands,
Void of appointment, that thou ly'st, and art
A very theefe in love, a Chaffy Lord
Nor worth the name of villaine: had I a Sword
1355And these house clogges away.
Arc. Deere Cosin Palamon,
Pal. Cosoner Arcite, give me language, such
As thou hast shewd me feate.
Arc. Not finding in
1360The circuit of my breast, any grosse stuffe
To forme me like your blazon, holds me to
This gentlenesse of answer; tis your passion
That thus mistakes, the which to you being enemy,
Cannot to me be kind: honor, and honestie
I