Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

The Two Noble Kinsmen.
Hip. Twas Flauia.
Emil. Yes
510You talke of Pirithous and Theseus love;
Theirs has more ground, is more maturely seasond,
More buckled with strong Iudgement. and their needes
The one of th'other may be said to water
2. Hearses rea-
dy with Pala-
mon: and Arci
te: the 3.
Queenes.
Theseus: and
his Lordes
ready.
Their intertangled rootes of love, but I
515And shee (I sigh and spoke of) were things innocent,
Lou'd for we did, and like the Elements
That know not what, nor why, yet doe effect
Rare issues by their operance; our soules
Did so to one another; what she lik'd,
520Was then of me approov'd, what not condemd
No more arraignement, the flowre that I would plncke
And put betweene my breasts, oh (then but beginning
To swell about the blossome) she would long
Till shee had such another, and commit it
525To the like innocent Cradle, where Phenix like
They dide in perfume: on my head no toy
But was her patterne, her affections (pretty
Though happely, her careles, were, I followed
For my most serious decking, had mine eare
530Stolne some new aire, or at adventure humd on
From misicall Coynadge, why it was a note
Whereon her spirits would sojourne (rather dwell on)
And sing it in her slumbers; This rehearsall
(Which fury-innocent wots well) comes in
535Like old importments bastard, has this end,
That the true love tweene Mayde, and mayde, may be
More then in sex individuall.
Hip. Y'are ont of breath
And this high speeded-pace, is but to say
540That you shall never (like the Maide Flavina)
Love any that's calld Man.
Emil. I am sure I shall not.
Hip. Now alacke weake Sister,
I must no more beleeve thee in this point
545(Though, in't I know thou dost beleeve thy selfe,)
Then