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  • Title: Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    And pecks of Crowes, in the fowle feilds of Thebs.
    95He will not suffer us to burne their bones,
    To urne their ashes, nor to take th' offence
    Of mortall loathsomenes from the blest eye
    Of holy Phaebus, but infects the windes
    With stench of our slaine Lords. O pitty Duke,
    100Thou purger of the earth, draw thy feard Sword
    That does good turnes to'th world; give us the Bones
    Of our dead Kings, that we may Chappell them;
    And of thy boundles goodnes take some note
    That for our crowned heades we have no roofe,
    105Save this which is the Lyons, and the Beares,
    And vault to every thing.
    Thes. Pray you kneele not,
    I was transported with your Speech, and suffer'd
    Your knees to wrong themselves; I have heard the fortunes
    110Of your dead Lords, which gives me such lamenting
    As wakes my vengeance, and revenge for 'em.
    King Capaneus, was your Lord the day
    That he should marry you, at such a season,
    As now it is with me, I met your Groome,
    115By Marsis Altar, you were that time faire;
    Not Iunos Mantle fairer then your Tresses,
    Nor in more bounty spread her. Your wheaten wreathe
    Was then nor threashd, nor blasted; Fortune at you
    Dimpled her Cheeke with smiles: Hercules our kinesman
    120(Then weaker than your eies) laide by his Club,
    He tumbled downe upon his Nenuan hide
    And swore his sinews thawd: O greife, and time,
    Fearefull consumers, you will all devoure.
    1, Qu. O I hope some God,
    125Some God hath put his mercy in your manhood
    Whereto heel infuse powre, and presse you forth
    Our undertaker.
    Thes. O no knees, none Widdow,
    Vnto the Helmeted-Belona use them,
    130And pray for me your Souldier.
    Troubled I am. turnes away.
    B 2 2. Qu.
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